Dynamic Co-evolution of Peptides and Chemical Energetics, a Gateway to the Emergence of Homochirality and the Catalytic Activity of Peptides

Commeyras, A.; Taillades, J.; Collet, Hélène; Boiteau, Laurent; Vandenabeele-Trambouze, O.; Pascal, Robert; Rousset, Alain; Garrel, Laurence; Rossi, Jean‐Christophe; Biron, Jean‐Philippe; Lagrille, Olivier; Plasson, Raphaël; Souaïd, Eddy; Danger, Grégoire; Selsis, F.; Dobrijévic, M.; Martin, Hervé

doi:10.1023/b:orig.0000009827.54856.59

Cited by 35 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…However, the formation of the first prebiotic peptides is not a trivial problem, as free amino acids are poorly reactive. Some invoked prebiotic activations of stable amino acids derivatives rely on the formation of N-carboxyanhydrides of ␣-amino acids (NCAs) (11,31), e.g., by the action of nitrogen oxides under mild conditions (32) or carbon monoxide in the presence of (Fe,Ni)S under drastic conditions (33). The chemistry of NCAs (34) is of great interest for building real APED systems:…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recycling Frank: Spontaneous emergence of homochirality in noncatalytic systems

Plasson

Bersini

Commeyras

2004

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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133

189

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In this work, we introduce a prebiotically relevant protometabolic pattern corresponding to an engine of deracemization by using an external energy source. The spontaneous formation of a nonracemic mixture of chiral compounds can be observed in out-ofequilibrium systems via a symmetry-breaking phenomenon. This observation is possible thanks to chirally selective autocatalytic reactions (Frank's model) [Frank, F. C. (1953) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 11, 459 -463]. We show that the use of a Frank-like model in a recycled system composed of reversible chemical reactions, rather than the classical irreversible system, allows for the emergence of a synergetic autoinduction from simple reactions, without any autocatalytic or even catalytic reaction. This model is described as a theoretical framework, based on the stereoselective reactivity of preexisting chiral monomeric building blocks (polymerization, epimerization, and depolymerization) maintained out of equilibrium by a continuous energy income, via an activation reaction. It permits the self-conversion of all monomeric subunits into a single chiral configuration. Real prebiotic systems of amino acid derivatives can be described on this basis. They are shown to be able to spontaneously reach a stable nonracemic state in a few centuries. In such systems, the presence of epimerization reactions is no more destructive, but in contrast is the central driving force of the unstabilization of the racemic state.prebiotic chemistry ͉ protometabolism T he emergence of homochirality is a crucial enigma in the origin of life (1): fundamental biomolecules are different from their mirror images and exist only in either the righthanded or left-handed form. For symmetry reasons, the first chiral prebiotic molecules should have been synthesized in equal amounts of both forms (2), but an initial enantiomeric excess of low value can easily exist (3), thanks to statistical fluctuation (4), asymmetry of weak forces (5), or induction by an asymmetric environment (6-9). The problem thus comes down to understanding how amplification phenomena could take place to enhance such initial deviance from symmetry, constituting a real symmetry breaking toward homochirality. Some explanations based on stereoselective polymerization are classically suggested (10, 11). However, the effect is only proportional to the initial excess and is to be destroyed in the long term by epimerization, so that these models are not sufficient as the racemic state remains stable (12).True symmetry breaking can occur in an dynamical out-ofequilibrium chemical system, as first introduced by Frank (13), allowing the destabilization of the racemic state. Several experimental systems corresponding to such a model have been described (14-18), but as Blackmond (19) recently concluded in an analysis about such experimental models, there is still a need of ''other organic transformations that could provide a closer model for how asymmetric amplification in the prebiotic world could have occurred.'' To be effective, such systems ...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recycling Frank: Spontaneous emergence of homochirality in noncatalytic systems

Plasson

Bersini

Commeyras

2004

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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133

189

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“…A kind of peptide protometabolism can be devised if peptide formation competes with hydrolysis over geological time scales and if some sequences are capable to catalyse their own formation (Figure 1). Cyclic peptide protometabolisms have been proposed on the basis of activation processes leading to α-amino acids N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs), which constitute representative activated monomers capable of polymerizing [26,27]. Several potentially prebiotic pathways leading to NCAs have additionally been disclosed in the last decade [28][29][30] illustrating the plausibility of this pathway.…”

Section: Protometabolisms Of Amino Acids and Peptidesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systems chemistry of α-amino acids and peptides

Danger

Boiteau

Rossi

et al. 2014

BIO Web of Conferences

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Abstract.Pathways have been disclosed in the past decade, which support the possibility that α-amino acids could have contributed to self-organization processes leading to the emergence of life. It is proposed that the systems chemistry of these simple building blocks may have led to features of self-organization through the realization of protometabolisms based on unidirectional loops involving both peptide formation and breakdown and additional feedback processes. Potential peptide activating agents have been identified. Scenarios of peptide elongation are proposed to account for peptide elongation both at the N-terminus and the C-terminus and new indications that these processes could be involved in symmetry breaking have been provided.

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“…They might also use simpler catalysts than proteins even if much less efficient, for instance oligopeptides and minerals (e.g. Rode 1999, Commeyras et al 2004). They might also have a much simpler and rudimentary lipidic membrane that would split without any molecular regulatory system but simply thanks to physical pinching forces (e.g.…”

Section: The 'Ancestral Organisms' and The Tree Of Life Before Themmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lifeness signatures and the roots of the tree of life

Malaterre

2010

Biol Philos

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Do trees of life have roots? What do these roots look like? In this contribution, I argue that research on the origins of life might offer glimpses on the topology of these very roots. More specifically, I argue (1) that the roots of the tree of life go well below the level of the commonly mentioned 'ancestral organisms' down into the level of much simpler, minimally living entities that might be referred to as 'protoliving systems', and (2) that further below, a system of roots gradually dissolves into non-living matter along several functional dimensions. In between non-living and living matter, one finds physico-chemical systems that I propose to characterize by a 'lifeness signature'. In turn, this 'lifeness signature' might also account for a diverse range of biochemical entities that are found to be 'less-than-living' yet 'more-than-nonliving'.

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Dynamic Co-evolution of Peptides and Chemical Energetics, a Gateway to the Emergence of Homochirality and the Catalytic Activity of Peptides

Cited by 35 publications

References 13 publications

Recycling Frank: Spontaneous emergence of homochirality in noncatalytic systems

Recycling Frank: Spontaneous emergence of homochirality in noncatalytic systems

Systems chemistry of α-amino acids and peptides

Lifeness signatures and the roots of the tree of life

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