The exact same energy-carrying molecular is used in all life, as it is called ‘universal cell fuel’. An ancient study in chemistry could explain how this molecule became ATP (adenosinetriphosphate).Reports.
ATP is an organic molecular, which can be charged by photosynthesis (or cellular respiration) and used in every cell. Every day we ATP allows us to recycle our body weight.
In both the above systems, a phosphate molecule is added to ADP (adenosine diphosphate) through a reaction called phosphorylation – resulting in ATP.
Reactions that produce the same phosphate in another process known as hydrolysis provide chemical energy for our cells. These reactions are used to create chemical energy that is useful for many functions, such as brain signaling, movement, and reproduction.
The mystery of how ATP rose to metabolic dominance over many other possible alternatives has been a longstanding concern in biology. This research is the main focus.
“Our results suggest… that the emergence of ATP as the universal energy currency of the cell was not the result of a ‘frozen accident’,” but arose from unique interactions of phosphorylation molecules, explainsNick Lane, evolutionary biochemist from University College London (UCL).
ATP is used in all living things, suggesting that it has been there since the very beginning.
Researchers are baffled at the explanation for this complex structure of ATP. It requires six different phosphorylation reaction and a lot more energy to create.
“The ‘high-energy’ is not special. [phosphorus]”Bonds in ATP” says Silvana Pinna, a biochemist who was at UCL at that time, and her colleagues In their paper.
They also note that ATP is a key component of our cells’ genetic information. This means that it could have been used to generate energy through another pathway.
Pinna, along with her team, suspect other molecules may have been involved in the complex phosphorylation process. So they took a close look at another phosphorylating molecule, AcP, that’s still used by bacteria and archaea in their metabolism of chemicals, including phosphate and thioester – a chemical thought to have been abundant At the beginning of your life.
AcP can phosphorylate ADP in water by using iron ions (Fe3+). Researchers could not replicate the ability of minerals and ions to catalyze ATP production in water after testing this.
“It was very surprising to discover the reaction is so selective – in the metal ion, phosphate donor, and substrate – with molecules that life still uses,” Says Pinna.
This is a significant fact for the origin of all life.
This suggests that AcP may be able to create energy-storing reactions in prebiotic environments, before biological life could hoard or spur the self-perpetuating cycle ATP-production.
Additionally, the team explains that the experiments indicate that the prebiotic ATP is most likely to be created in freshwater. There, photochemical reactions and volcanic eruptions can provide the right combination of ingredients.
They note that while this does not completely prevent it from occurring in the seas, it does suggest that the birth and development of life might have required strong links to land.
Pinna and collaborators concluded that ATP was established as the universal energy currency of a prebiotic monomeric world. This is based on its unique chemistry in water. Write.
Furthermore, hydrothermal systems with pH gradients could have produced an unbalanced ratio of ATP and ADP. This allows ATP to drive work in the prebiotic worlds of small molecules.
“Eventually, ATP will replace AcP as a universal phosphate donor and promote polymerization of amino acid and nucleotides to make RNA, DNA and proteins.” explains Lane.
This research was published by PLOS Biology.
