RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A thermodynamic chemical reaction network drove autocatalytic prebiotic peptides formation
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 461707
DO 10.1101/461707
A1 Peng Bao
A1 Yu-Qin He
A1 Guo-Xiang Li
A1 Hui-En Zhang
A1 Ke-Qing Xiao
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/08/02/461707.abstract
AB The chemical reaction networks (CRNs), which led to the transition on early Earth from geochemistry to biochemistry remain unknown. We show that under mild hydrothermal circumstances, a thermodynamic chemical reaction network including sulfite/sulfate coupled with anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Sammox), might have driven prebiotic peptides synthesis. Peptides comprise 14 proteinogenic amino acids, endowed Sammox-driven CRNs with autocatalysis. The peptides exhibit both forward and reverse catalysis, with the opposite catalytic impact in sulfite- and sulfate-fueled Sammox-driven CRNs, respectively, at both a variable temperature range and a fixed temperature, resulting in seesaw-like catalytic properties. The ratio of sulfite to sulfate switches the catalytic orientation of peptides, resulting in Sammox-driven CRNs that has both anabolic and catabolic reactions at all times. Furthermore, peptides produced from sulfite-fueled Sammox-driven CRNs could catalyze both sulfite-fueled Sammox and Anammox (nitrite reduction coupled with anaerobic ammonium oxidation) reactions. We propose that Sammox-driven CRNs were critical in the creation of life and that Anammox microorganisms that have both Sammox functions are direct descendants of Sammox-driven CRNs.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.