Carbon–Metal Bonds: Rare and Primordial in Metabolism

Martin, William

doi:10.1016/j.tibs.2019.04.010

Cited by 20 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 123 publications

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“…We see a clear tendency of Ni containing compounds to preferentially produce formate in high concentrations 18 , while pyruvate accumulation is preferentially observed with Fe. These product-catalyst specificities are reflected in the active site metals of the corresponding enzymes of the modern acetyl-CoA pathway [11][12][13][42][43][44][45][46][47] .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A hydrogen-dependent geochemical analogue of primordial carbon and energy metabolism

et al. 2020

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A hydrogen-dependent geochemical analogue of primordial carbon and energy metabolism

et al. 2020

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“…RAFs uncover elements of metabolic evolution that predate the divergence of archaea and bacteria from the LUCA. The intersection of the RAFs of M. maripaludis and M. thermoacetica uncovers commonalities-a core, conserved network with 172 reactions that is enriched in metal catalysis and carbon-metal bonds [72] that points both to early autotrophy [5] and to the origin of the genetic repertoire of LUCA [47]. This conserved network does not produce all 20 amino acids, even though LUCA probably used all of them, given the universality of the genetic code.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autocatalytic chemical networks at the origin of metabolism

et al. 2020

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Modern cells embody metabolic networks containing thousands of elements and form autocatalytic sets of molecules that produce copies of themselves. How the first self-sustaining metabolic networks arose at life's origin is a major open question. Autocatalytic sets smaller than metabolic networks were proposed as transitory intermediates at the origin of life, but evidence for their role in prebiotic evolution is lacking. Here, we identify reflexively autocatalytic food-generated networks (RAFs)—self-sustaining networks that collectively catalyse all their reactions—embedded within microbial metabolism. RAFs in the metabolism of ancient anaerobic autotrophs that live from H 2 and CO 2 provided with small-molecule catalysts generate acetyl-CoA as well as amino acids and bases, the monomeric components of protein and RNA, but amino acids and bases without organic catalysts do not generate metabolic RAFs. This suggests that RAFs identify attributes of biochemical origins conserved in metabolic networks. RAFs are consistent with an autotrophic origin of metabolism and furthermore indicate that autocatalytic chemical networks preceded proteins and RNA in evolution. RAFs uncover intermediate stages in the emergence of metabolic networks, narrowing the gaps between early Earth chemistry and life.

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“…There is a clear record of geochemical origins preserved in metabolism [26]. This record can be resurrected in the laboratory, if we find the right conditions.…”

Section: What If C N and H Are Activated Together?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The continuity between exergonic geochemical and biochemical reactions can be seen as a virtue of hydrothermal origin theories, because it generates concrete mechanistic links between processes catalysed by minerals in the Earth's crust (exergonic CO 2 reduction) [25] and processes catalysed by enzymes in the metabolism of prokaryotic lineages [26]. At hydrothermal vents, life as we know it connects to geochemistry as we know it.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Catalysts, autocatalysis and the origin of metabolism

et al. 2019

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If life on Earth started out in geochemical environments like hydrothermal vents, then it started out from gasses like CO 2 , N 2 and H 2 . Anaerobic autotrophs still live from these gasses today, and they still inhabit the Earth's crust. In the search for connections between abiotic processes in ancient geological systems and biotic processes in biological systems, it becomes evident that chemical activation (catalysis) of these gasses and a constant source of energy are key. The H 2 –CO 2 redox reaction provides a constant source of energy and anabolic inputs, because the equilibrium lies on the side of reduced carbon compounds. Identifying geochemical catalysts that activate these gasses en route to nitrogenous organic compounds and small autocatalytic networks will be an important step towards understanding prebiotic chemistry that operates only on the basis of chemical energy, without input from solar radiation. So, if life arose in the dark depths of hydrothermal vents, then understanding reactions and catalysts that operate under such conditions is crucial for understanding origins.

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Carbon–Metal Bonds: Rare and Primordial in Metabolism

Cited by 20 publications

References 123 publications

A hydrogen-dependent geochemical analogue of primordial carbon and energy metabolism

A hydrogen-dependent geochemical analogue of primordial carbon and energy metabolism

Autocatalytic chemical networks at the origin of metabolism

Catalysts, autocatalysis and the origin of metabolism

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