The dinucleotide structure of NAD enables specific reduction on mineral surfaces DOI Open Access
Delfina P. Henriques Pereira,

Xiulan Xie,

Tuğçe Beyazay

et al.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 13, 2024

Abstract Nucleotide-derived cofactors could function as a missing link between the informational and metabolic part at life’s emergence. One well-known example is nicotinamide dinucleotide (NAD), one of evolutionarily most conserved redox found in metabolism. Here, we propose that role these even extend to links geo- biochemistry. We show NAD + can be reduced under close-to nature conditions with nickel-iron-alloys water-rock-interaction settings rich hydrogen (serpentinizing systems) mononucleotide (NMN), precursor molecule NAD, has different properties regarding reduction specificity sensitivity than NAD. The additional adenosine monophosphate (AMP) “tail” dinucleotide, shared trait many organic cofactors, seems play crucial mechanistic preventing overreduction nicotinamide-bearing nucleotide. This also connected used transition metals. While combination nickel iron promotes 1,4-NADH efficiently, case NMN, presence leads accumulation products. Testing reducing abilities both NADH NMNH abiotic showed molecules act equally effective, soluble hydride donors non-enzymatic, proto-metabolic stages

Language: Английский

Ferredoxin reduction by hydrogen with iron functions as an evolutionary precursor of flavin-based electron bifurcation DOI Creative Commons
Max Brabender, Delfina P. Henriques Pereira,

Natalia Mrnjavac

et al.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 121(13)

Published: March 21, 2024

Autotrophic theories for the origin of metabolism posit that first cells satisfied their carbon needs from CO 2 and were chemolithoautotrophs obtained energy electrons H . The acetyl-CoA pathway fixation is central to view because its antiquity: Among known fixing pathways it only one i) exergonic, ii) occurs in both bacteria archaea, iii) can be functionally replaced full by single transition metal catalysts vitro. In order operate at a pH close 7, however, requires complex multi-enzyme systems capable flavin-based electron bifurcation reduce low potential ferredoxin—the physiological donor pathway—with How primordial if bifurcation? Here, we show native iron (Fe 0 ), but not Ni , Co Mo NiFe, Fe, 3 or Fe O 4 promotes -dependent reduction aqueous Clostridium pasteurianum ferredoxin 8.5 higher within few hours 40 °C, providing function bifurcation, without help enzymes organic redox cofactors. ties early metabolic evolution chemical process Earth’s crust promoted solid-state iron, still deposited serpentinizing hydrothermal vents today.

Language: Английский

Citations

15
Chemiosmotic ATP synthesis by minimal protocells DOI Creative Commons

Fanchen Yu,

Jinbo Fei, Yi Jia

et al.

Cell Reports Physical Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6(3), P. 102461 - 102461

Published: March 1, 2025

Highlights•Fatty acid membranes can maintain sufficient proton gradients•ATP synthase-embedded minimal protocells produce ATP•The protocell have an influence on ATP synthesisSummaryEnergy conservation is crucial to life's origin and evolution. The common ancestor of all cells used synthase convert gradients into ATP. However, pumps generating lipids maintaining are not universally conserved across lineages. A solution this paradox that ancestral could harness naturally formed geochemical ion with simpler environmentally provided precursors preceding both biogenic membranes. This runs counter traditional views phospholipid bilayers required gradients. Here, we show fatty synthesize by under the steep pH temperature observed in hydrothermal vent systems. These findings shed substantial light early membrane bioenergetics, uncovering a functional intermediate evolution chemiosmotic synthesis during protocellular stages postdating synthase's but advent enzymatically synthesized cell membranes.Graphical abstract

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Chemical Antiquity in Metabolism DOI Creative Commons

Natalia Mrnjavac,

Loraine Schwander,

Max Brabender

et al.

Accounts of Chemical Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 57(16), P. 2267 - 2278

Published: July 31, 2024

ConspectusLife is an exergonic chemical reaction. The same was true when the very first cells emerged at life's origin. In order to live, all need a source of carbon, energy, and electrons drive their overall reaction network (metabolism). most cells, these are separate pathways. There only one biochemical pathway that serves three needs simultaneously: acetyl-CoA CO

Language: Английский

Citations

4
The extraterrestrial hypothesis: an epistemological case for removing the taboo DOI Creative Commons
William C. Lane

European Journal for Philosophy of Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Feb. 8, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Bacteria on steroids DOI Creative Commons

Natalia Mrnjavac,

William Martin

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 122(13)

Published: March 24, 2025

Emotions coordinate our behavior and physiological states during survival-salient events pleasurable interactions. Even though we are often consciously aware of current emotional state, such as anger or happiness, the mechanisms giving ...Emotions felt in body, somatosensory feedback has been proposed to trigger conscious experiences. Here reveal maps bodily sensations associated with different emotions using a unique topographical self-report method. In ...

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Simulated early Earth geochemistry fuels a hydrogen-dependent primordial metabolism DOI Creative Commons
Vanessa Helmbrecht, Robert Reichelt, Dina Grohmann

et al.

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 30, 2025

Molecular hydrogen is the electron donor for ancient exergonic reductive acetyl-coenzyme A pathway (acetyl-CoA pathway), which used by hydrogenotrophic methanogenic archaea. How presence of iron-sulfides influenced acetyl-CoA under primordial early Earth geochemistry still poorly understood. Here we show that mackinawite (FeS) and greigite (Fe3S4), formed in chemical garden experiments simulating geochemical conditions Archaean eon (4.0-3.6 billion years ago), produce abiotic H2 sufficient quantities to support growth hyperthermophilic methanogen Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. Abiotic from iron-sulfide formation promoted CO2 fixation methanogenesis induced overexpression genes encoding pathway. We demonstrate precipitation simulated hydrothermal fuels a H2-dependent metabolism.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Ferredoxins: Functions, Evolution, Potential Applications, and Challenges of Subtype Classification DOI Creative Commons
Khajamohiddin Syed

Current Issues in Molecular Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 46(9), P. 9659 - 9673

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Ferredoxins are proteins found in all biological kingdoms and involved essential processes including photosynthesis, lipid metabolism, biogeochemical cycles. classified into different groups based on the iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters that they contain. A new subtype classification nomenclature system, spacing between amino acids Fe-S binding motif, has been proposed order to better understand ferredoxins' diversity evolutionary linkage across organisms. This system revealed an unparalleled ferredoxins helped identify evolutionarily linked species. The current review provides latest insights ferredoxin functions evolution, classification, outlining their potential biotechnological applications future challenges streamlining process.

Language: Английский

Citations

3
Nonenzymatic Hydration of Phosphoenolpyruvate: General Conditions for Hydration in Protometabolism by Searching Across Pathways DOI Creative Commons

Joris Zimmermann,

Atalay Bora Basar,

Joseph Moran

et al.

Published: June 3, 2024

Numerous reactions within metabolic pathways have been reported to occur nonenzymatically, supporting the hypothesis that life began from a primitive nonenzymatic precursor metabolism. However, most of those studies reproduce individual transformations or segments without providing common set conditions for classes span multiple pathways. In this study, we search across recurring chemical transformation in metabolism: alkene hydration. The mild identify (Fe oxides such as green rust) apply all hydration rTCA cycle and gluconeogenesis, including phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) 2-phosphoglycerate (2PGA), which had not previously under conditions. Mechanistic insights were obtained by studying analogous substrates through anoxic radical trapping experiments. Searching provides complementary strategy triangulate conducive emergence protometabolism.

Language: Английский

Citations

2
GTP before ATP: The energy currency at the origin of genes DOI Creative Commons

Natalia Mrnjavac,

William Martin

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Bioenergetics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 149514 - 149514

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

2
The Microbial Ecology of Serpentinites DOI Creative Commons
Daniel R. Colman, Alexis S. Templeton, John R. Spear

et al.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 11, 2024

ABSTRACT Serpentinization, the collective set of geochemical reactions initiated by hydration ultramafic rock, has occurred throughout Earth history and is inferred to occur on several planets moons in our solar system. These generate highly reducing conditions that can drive organic synthesis potentially conducive emergence life, while concomitantly generating fluids are challenging for life owing hyperalkalinity limited inorganic carbon (and oxidant) availability. Consequently, serpentinite-hosted biospheres offer insights into earliest habitable limits potential other planets. However, ability serpentinites support abundant microbial communities was only recognized ∼20 years ago with discovery deep-sea hydrothermal vents emanating serpentinized fluids. Here, we review ecology marine continental conjunction a comparison publicly available metagenomic sequence data from these provide global perspective serpentinite ecology. Synthesis observations across systems reveal consistent themes diversity, ecology, functioning communities. Nevertheless, individual exhibit nuances due local geology, hydrology, input oxidized, near-surface/seawater Further, new old) questions remain including provenance biomass synthesis, physical chemical serpentinites, mode tempo situ evolution, extent which modern serve as analogs those early Earth. topics explored herein outline key knowledge-gaps should be focus future research.

Language: Английский

Citations

1