How Prebiotic Chemistry and Early Life Chose Phosphate

Abstract

The very specific thermodynamic instability and kinetic stability of phosphate esters and anhydrides impart them invaluable properties in living organisms in which highly efficient enzyme catalysts compensate for their low intrinsic reactivity. Considering their role in protein biosynthesis, these properties raise a paradox about early stages: How could these species be selected in the absence of enzymes? This review is aimed at demonstrating that considering mixed anhydrides or other species more reactive than esters and anhydrides can help in solving the paradox. The consequences of this approach for chemical evolution and early stages of life are analysed.

ATP‐Driven Synthetic Supramolecular Assemblies: From ATP as a Template to Fuel

“…In order to function, every machinery requires an energy source. Analogous to this, living beings are biological machinery that requires energy to drive a wide range of processes [17] . The ubiquitous energy source driving muscle contraction, generating electrical impulses, and lighting fireflies is ATP.…”

“…In order to function, every machinery requires an energy source.A nalogous to this,l iving beings are biological machinery that requires energy to drive aw ide range of processes. [17] Theu biquitous energy source driving muscle contraction, generating electrical impulses,a nd lighting fireflies is ATP. Although various other molecules such as GTP can also act as fuel, ATPi st ermed as "biological energy currency" due to its omnipresence in the cellular realm.…”

“…Phosphatases belong to one such class of enzymes;A TPase which hydrolyzes ATPt oA DP,a lkaline phosphatase which hydrolyzes ATPt oP i( phosphate) in asequential pathway via ADP and AMP.T hese enzymes are important for therapeutic applications as their overexpression provides valuable information about health. Yama nd coworkers employed alkynyl platinum(II) terpyridine (17) complexes for the real-time monitoring of the enzymatic activity of the above-mentioned enzymes (Figure 8b). [68] The complexes undergo an ATPi nduced self-assembly with an enhancement in NIR emission attributed to its triplet metalmetal-to-ligand charge transfer ( 3 MMLCT).…”

Small Cyclic Peptide for Pyrophosphate Dependent Ligation in Prebiotic Environments

“…A common feature of the biochemistry of all known organisms is their dependence on phosphorylated molecules as the main intermediates in bioenergetic processes [ 3 ]. As such the question of phosphorylation, availability of phosphorus, and formation of organophosphorus compounds and more specifically organophosphates has been approached multiple times by researchers interested in prebiotic chemistry and the origin-of-life process [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. We have previously postulated [ 4 ] the existence of a hypothetical molecule named Phosphate Transfer Catalyst, which would be of crucial importance in the prebiotic emergence of biochemical pathways.…”

Meteorite‐Assisted Phosphorylation of Adenosine Under Proton Irradiation Conditions

“…These conditions usually required the presence of condensing agents and/or catalysts to overcome the unfavorable thermodynamic balance of the process . Analysis and review of the role of condensing agents and catalysts in abiotic phosphorylation reactions, such as the role of urea in phosphorylation reactions, are reported in the literature . Phosphorylation using hydroxyapatite as source of phosphate was observed in the presence of formamide under thermal conditions .…”