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Kalapos MP, de Bari L. The evolutionary arch of bioenergetics from prebiotic mechanisms to the emergence of a cellular respiratory chain. Biosystems 2024; 244:105288. [PMID: 39128646 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2024.105288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
This article proposes an evolutionary trajectory for the development of biological energy producing systems. Six main stages of energy producing system evolution are described, from early evolutionary pyrite-pulled mechanism through the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) to contemporary systems. We define the Last Pure Chemical Entity (LPCE) as the last completely non-enzymatic entity. LPCE could have had some life-like properties, but lacked genetic information carriers, thus showed greater instability and environmental dependence than LUCA. A double bubble model is proposed for compartmentalization and cellularization as a prerequisite to both highly efficient protein synthesis and transmembrane ion-gradient. The article finds that although LUCA predominantly functioned anaerobically, it was a non-exclusive anaerobe, and sulfur dominated metabolism preceded phosphate dominated one.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lidia de Bari
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, Bari, Italy
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2
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Singh A, Parvin P, Saha B, Das D. Non-equilibrium self-assembly for living matter-like properties. Nat Rev Chem 2024:10.1038/s41570-024-00640-z. [PMID: 39179623 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-024-00640-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
The soft and wet machines of life emerged as the spatially enclosed ensemble of biomolecules with replicating capabilities integrated with metabolic reaction cycles that operate at far-from-equilibrium. A thorough step-by-step synthetic integration of these elements, namely metabolic and replicative properties all confined and operating far-from-equilibrium, can set the stage from which we can ask questions related to the construction of chemical-based evolving systems with living matter-like properties - a monumental endeavour of systems chemistry. The overarching concept of this Review maps the discoveries on this possible integration of reaction networks, self-reproduction and compartmentalization under non-equilibrium conditions. We deconvolute the events of reaction networks and transient compartmentalization and extend the discussion towards self-reproducing systems that can be sustained under non-equilibrium conditions. Although enormous challenges lie ahead in terms of molecular diversity, information transfer, adaptation and selection that are required for open-ended evolution, emerging strategies to generate minimal metabolic cycles can extend our growing understanding of the chemical emergence of the biosphere of Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Singh
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur, India
- Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur, India
| | - Payel Parvin
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur, India
- Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur, India
| | - Bapan Saha
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur, India
- Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur, India
| | - Dibyendu Das
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur, India.
- Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur, India.
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3
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Prosdocimi F, de Farias ST. Major evolutionary transitions before cells: A journey from molecules to organisms. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 191:11-24. [PMID: 38971326 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2024.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Basing on logical assumptions and necessary steps of complexification along biological evolution, we propose here an evolutionary path from molecules to cells presenting four ages and three major transitions. At the first age, the basic biomolecules were formed and become abundant. The first transition happened with the event of a chemical symbiosis between nucleic acids and peptides worlds, which marked the emergence of both life and the process of organic encoding. FUCA, the first living process, was composed of self-replicating RNAs linked to amino acids and capable to catalyze their binding. The second transition, from the age of FUCA to the age of progenotes, involved the duplication and recombination of proto-genomes, leading to specialization in protein production and the exploration of protein to metabolite interactions in the prebiotic soup. Enzymes and metabolic pathways were incorporated into biology from protobiotic reactions that occurred without chemical catalysts, step by step. Then, the fourth age brought origin of organisms and lineages, occurring when specific proteins capable to stackle together facilitated the formation of peptidic capsids. LUCA was constituted as a progenote capable to operate the basic metabolic functions of a cell, but still unable to interact with lipid molecules. We present evidence that the evolution of lipid interaction pathways occurred at least twice, with the development of bacterial-like and archaeal-like membranes. Also, data in literature suggest at least two paths for the emergence of DNA biosynthesis, allowing the stabilization of early life strategies in viruses, archaeas and bacterias. Two billion years later, the eukaryotes arouse, and after 1,5 billion years of evolution, they finally learn how to evolve multicellularity via tissue specialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Prosdocimi
- Laboratório de Biologia Teórica e de Sistemas, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Sávio Torres de Farias
- Laboratório de Genética Evolutiva Paulo Leminski, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil; Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life (NoRCEL), Leeds, LS7 3RB, UK
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4
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Williamson MP. Autocatalytic Selection as a Driver for the Origin of Life. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:590. [PMID: 38792611 PMCID: PMC11122578 DOI: 10.3390/life14050590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection was revolutionary because it provided a mechanism by which variation could be selected. This mechanism can only operate on living systems and thus cannot be applied to the origin of life. Here, we propose a viable alternative mechanism for prebiotic systems: autocatalytic selection, in which molecules catalyze reactions and processes that lead to increases in their concentration. Crucially, this provides a driver for increases in concentrations of molecules to a level that permits prebiotic metabolism. We show how this can produce high levels of amino acids, sugar phosphates, nucleotides and lipids and then lead on to polymers. Our outline is supported by a set of guidelines to support the identification of the most likely prebiotic routes. Most of the steps in this pathway are already supported by experimental results. These proposals generate a coherent and viable set of pathways that run from established Hadean geochemistry to the beginning of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike P Williamson
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
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5
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Manoj KM. Murburn posttranslational modifications of proteins: Cellular redox processes and murzyme-mediated metabolo-proteomics. J Cell Physiol 2024; 239:e30954. [PMID: 36716112 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Murburn concept constitutes the thesis that diffusible reactive species or DRS are obligatorily involved in routine metabolic and physiological activities. Murzymes are defined as biomolecules/proteins that generate/modulate/sustain/utilize DRS. Murburn posttranslational modifications (PTMs) result because murburn/murzyme functionalism is integral to cellular existence. Cells must incorporate the inherently stochastic nature of operations mediated by DRS. Due to the earlier/inertial stigmatic perception that DRS are mere agents of chaos, several such outcomes were either understood as deterministic modulations sponsored by house-keeping enzymes or deemed as unregulated nonenzymatic events resulting out of "oxidative stress". In the current review, I dispel the myths around DRS-functions, and undertake systematic parsing and analyses of murburn modifications of proteins. Although it is impossible to demarcate all PTMs into the classical or murburn modalities, telltale signs of the latter are evident from the relative inaccessibility of the locus, non-specificities and mechanistic details. It is pointed out that while many murburn PTMs may be harmless, some others could have deleterious or beneficial physiological implications. Some details of reversible/irreversible modifications of amino acid residues and cofactors that may be subjected to phosphorylation, halogenation, glycosylation, alkylation/acetylation, hydroxylation/oxidation, etc. are listed, along with citations of select proteins where such modifications have been reported. The contexts of these modifications and their significance in (patho)physiology/aging and therapy are also presented. With more balanced explorations and statistically verified data, a definitive understanding of normal versus pathological contexts of murburn modifications would be obtainable in the future.
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6
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Zimmermann J, Mayer RJ, Moran J. A single phosphorylation mechanism in early metabolism - the case of phosphoenolpyruvate. Chem Sci 2023; 14:14100-14108. [PMID: 38098731 PMCID: PMC10717536 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc04116f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphorylation is thought to be one of the fundamental reactions for the emergence of metabolism. Nearly all enzymatic phosphorylation reactions in the anabolic core of microbial metabolism act on carboxylates to give acyl phosphates, with a notable exception - the phosphorylation of pyruvate to phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), which involves an enolate. We wondered whether an ancestral mechanism for the phosphorylation of pyruvate to PEP could also have involved carboxylate phosphorylation rather than the modern enzymatic form. The phosphorylation of pyruvate with P4O10 as a model phosphorylating agent was found to indeed occur via carboxylate phosphorylation, as verified by mechanistic studies using model substrates, time course experiments, liquid and solid-state NMR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. The in situ generated acyl phosphate subsequently undergoes an intramolecular phosphoryl transfer to yield PEP. A single phosphorylation mechanism acting on carboxylates appears sufficient to initiate metabolic networks that include PEP, strengthening the case that metabolism emerged from self-organized chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joris Zimmermann
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), CNRS UMR 7006, Université de Strasbourg 8 Allée Gaspard Monge 67000 Strasbourg France
| | - Robert J Mayer
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), CNRS UMR 7006, Université de Strasbourg 8 Allée Gaspard Monge 67000 Strasbourg France
| | - Joseph Moran
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), CNRS UMR 7006, Université de Strasbourg 8 Allée Gaspard Monge 67000 Strasbourg France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) France
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa Ottawa Ontario K1N 6N5 Canada
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7
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Nogal N, Sanz-Sánchez M, Vela-Gallego S, Ruiz-Mirazo K, de la Escosura A. The protometabolic nature of prebiotic chemistry. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:7359-7388. [PMID: 37855729 PMCID: PMC10614573 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00594a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The field of prebiotic chemistry has been dedicated over decades to finding abiotic routes towards the molecular components of life. There is nowadays a handful of prebiotically plausible scenarios that enable the laboratory synthesis of most amino acids, fatty acids, simple sugars, nucleotides and core metabolites of extant living organisms. The major bottleneck then seems to be the self-organization of those building blocks into systems that can self-sustain. The purpose of this tutorial review is having a close look, guided by experimental research, into the main synthetic pathways of prebiotic chemistry, suggesting how they could be wired through common intermediates and catalytic cycles, as well as how recursively changing conditions could help them engage in self-organized and dissipative networks/assemblies (i.e., systems that consume chemical or physical energy from their environment to maintain their internal organization in a dynamic steady state out of equilibrium). In the article we also pay attention to the implications of this view for the emergence of homochirality. The revealed connectivity between those prebiotic routes should constitute the basis for a robust research program towards the bottom-up implementation of protometabolic systems, taken as a central part of the origins-of-life problem. In addition, this approach should foster further exploration of control mechanisms to tame the combinatorial explosion that typically occurs in mixtures of various reactive precursors, thus regulating the functional integration of their respective chemistries into self-sustaining protocellular assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemí Nogal
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marcos Sanz-Sánchez
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sonia Vela-Gallego
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Kepa Ruiz-Mirazo
- Biofisika Institute (CSIC, UPV/EHU), University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
- Department of Philosophy, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Andrés de la Escosura
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
- Institute for Advanced Research in Chemistry (IAdChem), Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
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Werner E, Pinna S, Mayer RJ, Moran J. Metal/ADP Complexes Promote Phosphorylation of Ribonucleotides. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:21630-21637. [PMID: 37750669 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c08047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Under enzyme catalysis, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) transfers a phosphoryl group to canonical ribonucleotide diphosphates (NDPs) to form ribonucleotide triphosphates (NTPs), the direct biosynthetic precursors to RNA. However, it remains unclear whether the phosphorylation of NDPs could have occurred in water before enzymes existed and why an adenosine derivative, rather than another canonical NTP, typically performs this function. Here, we show that adenosine diphosphate (ADP) in the presence of Fe3+ or Al3+ promotes phosphoryl transfer from acetyl phosphate to all canonical NDPs to produce their corresponding NTP in water at room temperature and in the absence of enzymes. No other NDPs were found to promote phosphorylation, giving insight into why adenosine derivatives specifically became used for this purpose in biology. The metal-ADP complexes also promote phosphoryl transfer to ribonucleoside monophosphates (NMPs) to form a mixture of the corresponding NDPs and NTPs, albeit less efficiently. This work represents a rare example in which a single nucleotide carries out a function critical to biology without enzymes. ADP-metal complexes may have played an important role in nucleotide phosphorylation in prebiotic chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Werner
- ISIS UMR 7006, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Silvana Pinna
- ISIS UMR 7006, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Robert J Mayer
- ISIS UMR 7006, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Joseph Moran
- ISIS UMR 7006, University of Strasbourg, CNRS, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 75005 Paris, France
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
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9
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Dang CV. Cancer Metabolism Historical Perspectives: A Chronicle of Controversies and Consensus. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2023; 13:a041530. [PMID: 37553212 PMCID: PMC10691493 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
A century ago, Otto Warburg's work sparked the field of cancer metabolism, which has since taken a tortuous path. As evidence accumulated over the decades, consensus views of causes of cancer emerged, whereby genetic and epigenetic oncogenic drivers promoted immune evasion and induced new blood vessels and neoplastic metabolism to support tumor growth. Neoplastic cells abandon social cues of intercellular cooperation, escape tissue confinement, metastasize, and ultimately kill the host. Herein, key milestones in the study of cancer metabolism are chronicled with an emphasis on carbohydrate metabolism. The field began with a cancer cell-autonomous view that has been refined by a richer understanding of solid cancers as growing, immune-suppressive, complex organs comprising different cell types that are nourished by a variety of nutrients and variable amounts of oxygen through abnormal neovasculatures. Based on foundational historical studies, our current understanding of cancer metabolism offers a hopeful outlook for targeting metabolism to enhance cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi V Dang
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York 10017, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA
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10
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Shegay PV, Shatova OP, Zabolotneva AA, Shestopalov AV, Kaprin AD. Moonlight functions of glycolytic enzymes in cancer. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1076138. [PMID: 37449059 PMCID: PMC10337784 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1076138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Since an extensive genome research has started, basic principle "one gene-one protein-one function" was significantly revised. Many proteins with more than one function were identified and characterized as "moonlighting" proteins, which activity depend not only on structural peculiarities but also on compartmentation and metabolic environment. It turned out that "housekeeping" glycolytic enzymes show important moonlight functions such as control of development, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, regulation of transcription and cell signaling. Glycolytic enzymes emerged very early in evolution and because of the limited content of genomes, they could be used as ancient regulators for intercellular and intracellular communication. The multifunctionality of the constitutively expressed enzymes began to serve cancer cell survival and growth. In the present review we discuss some moonlight functions of glycolytic enzymes that important for malignant transformation and tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr V. Shegay
- Federal State Budget Institution, National Medical Research Radiology Center of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga P. Shatova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- Biochemistry Department, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasia A. Zabolotneva
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- National Medical Research Centre for Endocrinology, Laboratory of Biochemistry of Signaling Pathways, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksandr V. Shestopalov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- National Medical Research Centre for Endocrinology, Laboratory of Biochemistry of Signaling Pathways, Moscow, Russia
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrei D. Kaprin
- Federal State Budget Institution, National Medical Research Radiology Center of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Biochemistry Department, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Moscow, Russia
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Harrison SA, Webb WL, Rammu H, Lane N. Prebiotic Synthesis of Aspartate Using Life's Metabolism as a Guide. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13051177. [PMID: 37240822 DOI: 10.3390/life13051177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A protometabolic approach to the origins of life assumes that the conserved biochemistry of metabolism has direct continuity with prebiotic chemistry. One of the most important amino acids in modern biology is aspartic acid, serving as a nodal metabolite for the synthesis of many other essential biomolecules. Aspartate's prebiotic synthesis is complicated by the instability of its precursor, oxaloacetate. In this paper, we show that the use of the biologically relevant cofactor pyridoxamine, supported by metal ion catalysis, is sufficiently fast to offset oxaloacetate's degradation. Cu2+-catalysed transamination of oxaloacetate by pyridoxamine achieves around a 5% yield within 1 h, and can operate across a broad range of pH, temperature, and pressure. In addition, the synthesis of the downstream product β-alanine may also take place in the same reaction system at very low yields, directly mimicking an archaeal synthesis route. Amino group transfer supported by pyridoxal is shown to take place from aspartate to alanine, but the reverse reaction (alanine to aspartate) shows a poor yield. Overall, our results show that the nodal metabolite aspartate and related amino acids can indeed be synthesised via protometabolic pathways that foreshadow modern metabolism in the presence of the simple cofactor pyridoxamine and metal ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart A Harrison
- Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution (CLOE), Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - William L Webb
- Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution (CLOE), Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Hanadi Rammu
- Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution (CLOE), Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Nick Lane
- Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution (CLOE), Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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Halpern A, Bartsch LR, Ibrahim K, Harrison SA, Ahn M, Christodoulou J, Lane N. Biophysical Interactions Underpin the Emergence of Information in the Genetic Code. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13051129. [PMID: 37240774 DOI: 10.3390/life13051129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The genetic code conceals a 'code within the codons', which hints at biophysical interactions between amino acids and their cognate nucleotides. Yet, research over decades has failed to corroborate systematic biophysical interactions across the code. Using molecular dynamics simulations and NMR, we have analysed interactions between the 20 standard proteinogenic amino acids and 4 RNA mononucleotides in 3 charge states. Our simulations show that 50% of amino acids bind best with their anticodonic middle base in the -1 charge state common to the backbone of RNA, while 95% of amino acids interact most strongly with at least 1 of their codonic or anticodonic bases. Preference for the cognate anticodonic middle base was greater than 99% of randomised assignments. We verify a selection of our results using NMR, and highlight challenges with both techniques for interrogating large numbers of weak interactions. Finally, we extend our simulations to a range of amino acids and dinucleotides, and corroborate similar preferences for cognate nucleotides. Despite some discrepancies between the predicted patterns and those observed in biology, the existence of weak stereochemical interactions means that random RNA sequences could template non-random peptides. This offers a compelling explanation for the emergence of genetic information in biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Halpern
- UCL Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution (CLOE), Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Lilly R Bartsch
- UCL Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution (CLOE), Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Kaan Ibrahim
- UCL Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution (CLOE), Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Stuart A Harrison
- UCL Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution (CLOE), Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Minkoo Ahn
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology (ISMB), University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - John Christodoulou
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology (ISMB), University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Nick Lane
- UCL Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution (CLOE), Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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13
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Prosdocimi F, de Farias ST. Origin of life: Drawing the big picture. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 180-181:28-36. [PMID: 37080436 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2023.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Trying to provide a broad overview about the origin of life in Earth, the most significant transitions of life before cells are listed and discussed. The current approach emphasizes the symbiotic relationships that emerged with life. We propose a rational, stepwise scenario for the origin of life that starts with the origin of the first biomolecules and steps forward until the origins of the first cells. Along this path, we aim to provide a brief, though comprehensive theoretical model that will consider the following steps: (i) how nucleotides and other biomolecules could be made prebiotically in specific prebiotic refuges; (ii) how the first molecules of RNAs were formed; (iii) how the proto-peptidyl transferase center was built by the concatenation of proto-tRNAs; (iv) how the ribosome and the genetic code could be structured; (v) how progenotes could live and reproduce as "naked" ribonucleoprotein molecules; (vi) how peptides started to bind molecules in the prebiotic soup allowing biochemical pathways to evolve from those bindings; (vii) how genomes got bigger by the symbiotic relationship of progenotes and lateral transference of genetic material; (viii) how the progenote LUCA has been formed by assembling most biochemical routes; (ix) how the first virion capsids probably emerged and evolved; (x) how phospholipid membranes emerged probably twice by the evolution of lipid-binding proteins; (xi) how DNA synthesis have been formed in parallel in Bacteria and Archaea; and, finally, (xii) how DNA-based cells of Bacteria and Archaeabacteria have been constituted. The picture provided is conjectural and present epistemological gaps. Future research will help to advance into the elucidation of gaps and confirmation/refutation of current statements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Prosdocimi
- Laboratório de Biologia Teórica e de Sistemas, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Sávio Torres de Farias
- Laboratório de Genética Evolutiva Paulo Leminski, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil; Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life (NoRCEL), Leeds, LS7 3RB, UK
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14
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Shatova OP, Shegay PV, Zabolotneva AA, Shestopalov AV, Kaprin AD. Evolutionary Acquisition of Multifunctionality by Glycolytic Enzymes. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2023. [DOI: 10.1134/s002209302301009x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
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15
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Magalhães ÁF, Powner MW. Prebiotic triose glycolysis promoted by co-catalytic proline and phosphate in neutral water. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:13519-13522. [PMID: 36398592 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc05466c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Proline and phosphate promote a near-quantitative aldol reaction between glycolaldehyde phosphate and formaldehyde at neutral pH in water. Our results demonstrate the important role of general acid-base catalysis in water and underscore the essential role that amino acid catalysis may have played in early evolution of life's core metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro F Magalhães
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
| | - Matthew W Powner
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK.
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16
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Mayer RJ, Moran J. Quantifying Reductive Amination in Nonenzymatic Amino Acid Synthesis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202212237. [PMID: 36121198 PMCID: PMC9828492 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202212237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Amino acid biosynthesis initiates with the reductive amination of α-ketoglutarate with ammonia to produce glutamate. However, the other α-keto acids derived from the glyoxylate and Krebs cycles are converted into amino acids by transamination, rather than by reductive amination. Why is only one amino acid synthesized by reductive amination and not the others? To explore this question, we quantified the inherent reactivities of keto acids in nonenzymatic reduction and reductive amination by using BH3 CN- as a model nucleophile. Biological α-keto acids were found to show pronounced nonenzymatic reactivity differences for the formation of amino acids (α-ketoglutarate<oxaloacetate≈pyruvate≪glyoxylate). Accordingly, the flow of ammonia passes through the least reactive α-keto acid of the Krebs cycle. One possible explanation for this choice is the position of the corresponding amino acid, glutamate, at the top of the thermodynamic landscape for subsequent transamination reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Mayer
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS)CNRS UMR 7006Université de Strasbourg8 Allée Gaspard Monge67000StrasbourgFrance
| | - Joseph Moran
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS)CNRS UMR 7006Université de Strasbourg8 Allée Gaspard Monge67000StrasbourgFrance,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF)75005ParisFrance
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17
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Building the uracil skeleton in primitive ponds at the origins of life: carbamoylation of aspartic acid. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19178. [PMID: 36357418 PMCID: PMC9649776 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21272-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A large set of nucleobases and amino acids is found in meteorites, implying that several chemical reservoirs are present in the solar system. The "geochemical continuity" hypothesis explores how protometabolic paths developed from so-called "bricks" in an enzyme-free prebiotic world and how they affected the origins of life. In the living cell, the second step of synthesizing uridine and cytidine RNA monomers is a carbamoyl transfer from a carbamoyl donor to aspartic acid. Here we compare two enzyme-free scenarios: aqueous and mineral surface scenarios in a thermal range up to 250 °C. Both processes could have happened in ponds under open atmosphere on the primeval Earth. Carbamoylation of aspartic acid with cyanate in aqueous solutions at 25 °C gives high N-carbamoyl aspartic acid yields within 16 h. It is important to stress that, while various molecules could be efficient carbamoylating agents according to thermodynamics, kinetics plays a determining role in selecting prebiotically possible pathways.
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18
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Nunes Palmeira R, Colnaghi M, Harrison SA, Pomiankowski A, Lane N. The limits of metabolic heredity in protocells. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221469. [PMID: 36350219 PMCID: PMC9653231 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The universal core of metabolism could have emerged from thermodynamically favoured prebiotic pathways at the origin of life. Starting with H
2
and CO
2
, the synthesis of amino acids and mixed fatty acids, which self-assemble into protocells, is favoured under warm anoxic conditions. Here, we address whether it is possible for protocells to evolve greater metabolic complexity, through positive feedbacks involving nucleotide catalysis. Using mathematical simulations to model metabolic heredity in protocells, based on branch points in protometabolic flux, we show that nucleotide catalysis can indeed promote protocell growth. This outcome only occurs when nucleotides directly catalyse CO
2
fixation. Strong nucleotide catalysis of other pathways (e.g. fatty acids and amino acids) generally unbalances metabolism and slows down protocell growth, and when there is competition between catalytic functions cell growth collapses. Autocatalysis of nucleotide synthesis can promote growth but only if nucleotides also catalyse CO
2
fixation; autocatalysis alone leads to the accumulation of nucleotides at the expense of CO
2
fixation and protocell growth rate. Our findings offer a new framework for the emergence of greater metabolic complexity, in which nucleotides catalyse broad-spectrum processes such as CO
2
fixation, hydrogenation and phosphorylation important to the emergence of genetic heredity at the origin of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Nunes Palmeira
- Department of Computer Science, Engineering Building, Malet Place, University College London, WC1E 7JG, UK
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Marco Colnaghi
- Department of Computer Science, Engineering Building, Malet Place, University College London, WC1E 7JG, UK
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Stuart A. Harrison
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Andrew Pomiankowski
- Department of Computer Science, Engineering Building, Malet Place, University College London, WC1E 7JG, UK
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Nick Lane
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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19
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Shatova OP, Shegay PV, Zabolotneva AA, Shestopalov AV, Kaprin AD. Lactate: a New Look at the Role of an Evolutionarily Ancient Metabolite. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s002209302206028x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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20
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Abstract
α-Amino acids are essential molecular constituents of life, twenty of which are privileged because they are encoded by the ribosomal machinery. The question remains open as to why this number and why this 20 in particular, an almost philosophical question that cannot be conclusively resolved. They are closely related to the evolution of the genetic code and whether nucleic acids, amino acids, and peptides appeared simultaneously and were available under prebiotic conditions when the first self-sufficient complex molecular system emerged on Earth. This report focuses on prebiotic and metabolic aspects of amino acids and proteins starting with meteorites, followed by their formation, including peptides, under plausible prebiotic conditions, and the major biosynthetic pathways in the various kingdoms of life. Coenzymes play a key role in the present analysis in that amino acid metabolism is linked to glycolysis and different variants of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA, rTCA, and the incomplete horseshoe version) as well as the biosynthesis of the most important coenzymes. Thus, the report opens additional perspectives and facets on the molecular evolution of primary metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Kirschning
- Institute of Organic ChemistryLeibniz University HannoverSchneiderberg 1B30167HannoverGermany
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21
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Abstract
Covering: up to 2022The report provides a broad approach to deciphering the evolution of coenzyme biosynthetic pathways. Here, these various pathways are analyzed with respect to the coenzymes required for this purpose. Coenzymes whose biosynthesis relies on a large number of coenzyme-mediated reactions probably appeared on the scene at a later stage of biological evolution, whereas the biosyntheses of pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) and nicotinamide (NAD+) require little additional coenzymatic support and are therefore most likely very ancient biosynthetic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Kirschning
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Schneiderberg 1B, D-30167 Hannover, Germany.
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22
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Shegay PV, Zabolotneva AA, Shatova OP, Shestopalov AV, Kaprin AD. Evolutionary View on Lactate-Dependent Mechanisms of Maintaining Cancer Cell Stemness and Reprimitivization. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194552. [PMID: 36230479 PMCID: PMC9559641 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of lactic acid (lactate) in cell metabolism has been significantly revised in recent decades. Initially, lactic acid was attributed to the role of a toxic end-product of metabolism, with its accumulation in the cell and extracellular space leading to acidosis, muscle pain, and other adverse effects. However, it has now become obvious that lactate is not only a universal fuel molecule and the main substrate for gluconeogenesis but also one of the most ancient metabolites, with a signaling function that has a wide range of regulatory activity. The Warburg effect, described 100 years ago (the intensification of glycolysis associated with high lactate production), which is characteristic of many malignant tumors, confirms the key role of lactate not only in physiological conditions but also in pathologies. The study of lactate’s role in the malignant transformation becomes more relevant in the light of the “atavistic theory of carcinogenesis,” which suggests that tumor cells return to a more primitive hereditary phenotype during microevolution. In this review, we attempt to summarize the accumulated knowledge about the functions of lactate in cell metabolism and its role in the process of carcinogenesis and to consider the possible evolutionary significance of the Warburg effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr V. Shegay
- Federal State Budget Institution National Medical Research Radiology Center of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 2nd Botkinsky pas., 3, 125284 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasia A. Zabolotneva
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, st. Ostrovityanova, 1, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence:
| | - Olga P. Shatova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, st. Ostrovityanova, 1, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Medicine, RUDN University, st. Miklukho-Maklaya, 6, 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksandr V. Shestopalov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, st. Ostrovityanova, 1, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, st. Samora Mashela, 1, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrei D. Kaprin
- Federal State Budget Institution National Medical Research Radiology Center of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 2nd Botkinsky pas., 3, 125284 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Medicine, RUDN University, st. Miklukho-Maklaya, 6, 117198 Moscow, Russia
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23
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Prosdocimi F, de Farias ST. Entering the labyrinth: A hypothesis about the emergence of metabolism from protobiotic routes. Biosystems 2022; 220:104751. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2022.104751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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24
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Yi J, Kaur H, Kazöne W, Rauscher SA, Gravillier L, Muchowska KB, Moran J. A Nonenzymatic Analog of Pyrimidine Nucleobase Biosynthesis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202117211. [PMID: 35304939 PMCID: PMC9325535 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202117211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic theories for the origin of life posit that inorganic catalysts enabled self-organized chemical precursors to the pathways of metabolism, including those that make genetic molecules. Recently, experiments showing nonenzymatic versions of a number of core metabolic pathways have started to support this idea. However, experimental demonstrations of nonenzymatic reaction sequences along the de novo ribonucleotide biosynthesis pathways are limited. Here we show that all three reactions of pyrimidine nucleobase biosynthesis that convert aspartate to orotate proceed at 60 °C without photochemistry under aqueous conditions in the presence of metals such as Cu2+ and Mn4+ . Combining reactions into one-pot variants is also possible. Life may not have invented pyrimidine nucleobase biosynthesis from scratch, but simply refined existing nonenzymatic reaction channels. This work is a first step towards uniting metabolic theories of life's origin with those centered around genetic molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yi
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS)CNRS UMR 7006Université de Strasbourg8 Allée Gaspard Monge67000StrasbourgFrance
| | - Harpreet Kaur
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS)CNRS UMR 7006Université de Strasbourg8 Allée Gaspard Monge67000StrasbourgFrance
| | - Wahnyalo Kazöne
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS)CNRS UMR 7006Université de Strasbourg8 Allée Gaspard Monge67000StrasbourgFrance
| | - Sophia A. Rauscher
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS)CNRS UMR 7006Université de Strasbourg8 Allée Gaspard Monge67000StrasbourgFrance
| | - Louis‐Albin Gravillier
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS)CNRS UMR 7006Université de Strasbourg8 Allée Gaspard Monge67000StrasbourgFrance
| | - Kamila B. Muchowska
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS)CNRS UMR 7006Université de Strasbourg8 Allée Gaspard Monge67000StrasbourgFrance
| | - Joseph Moran
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS)CNRS UMR 7006Université de Strasbourg8 Allée Gaspard Monge67000StrasbourgFrance
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF)France
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25
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Kalapos MP, de Bari L. Hidden biochemical fossils reveal an evolutionary trajectory for glycolysis in the prebiotic era. FEBS Lett 2022; 596:1955-1968. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lidia de Bari
- Institute of Biomembranes Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies Bari Italy
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26
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Yi J, Kaur H, Kazöne W, Rauscher SA, Gravillier LA, Muchowska KB, Moran J. A Nonenzymatic Analog of Pyrimidine Nucleobase Biosynthesis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202117211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yi
- University of Strasbourg: Universite de Strasbourg ISIS FRANCE
| | - Harpreet Kaur
- University of Strasbourg: Universite de Strasbourg ISIS FRANCE
| | - Wahnyalo Kazöne
- Université de Strasbourg: Universite de Strasbourg ISIS FRANCE
| | | | | | | | - Joseph Moran
- University of Strasbourg ISIS 8 allée Gaspard MongeBP 70028 67083 Strasbourg FRANCE
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27
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Saveljeva S, Sewell GW, Ramshorn K, Cader MZ, West JA, Clare S, Haag LM, de Almeida Rodrigues RP, Unger LW, Iglesias-Romero AB, Holland LM, Bourges C, Md-Ibrahim MN, Jones JO, Blumberg RS, Lee JC, Kaneider NC, Lawley TD, Bradley A, Dougan G, Kaser A. A purine metabolic checkpoint that prevents autoimmunity and autoinflammation. Cell Metab 2022; 34:106-124.e10. [PMID: 34986329 PMCID: PMC8730334 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2021.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Still's disease, the paradigm of autoinflammation-cum-autoimmunity, predisposes for a cytokine storm with excessive T lymphocyte activation upon viral infection. Loss of function of the purine nucleoside enzyme FAMIN is the sole known cause for monogenic Still's disease. Here we discovered that a FAMIN-enabled purine metabolon in dendritic cells (DCs) restrains CD4+ and CD8+ T cell priming. DCs with absent FAMIN activity prime for enhanced antigen-specific cytotoxicity, IFNγ secretion, and T cell expansion, resulting in excessive influenza A virus-specific responses. Enhanced priming is already manifest with hypomorphic FAMIN-I254V, for which ∼6% of mankind is homozygous. FAMIN controls membrane trafficking and restrains antigen presentation in an NADH/NAD+-dependent manner by balancing flux through adenine-guanine nucleotide interconversion cycles. FAMIN additionally converts hypoxanthine into inosine, which DCs release to dampen T cell activation. Compromised FAMIN consequently enhances immunosurveillance of syngeneic tumors. FAMIN is a biochemical checkpoint that protects against excessive antiviral T cell responses, autoimmunity, and autoinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Saveljeva
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Gavin W Sewell
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Katharina Ramshorn
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - M Zaeem Cader
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - James A West
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Simon Clare
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Lea-Maxie Haag
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Rodrigo Pereira de Almeida Rodrigues
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Lukas W Unger
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Ana Belén Iglesias-Romero
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Lorraine M Holland
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Christophe Bourges
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Muhammad N Md-Ibrahim
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - James O Jones
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Richard S Blumberg
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - James C Lee
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Nicole C Kaneider
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Trevor D Lawley
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Allan Bradley
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Gordon Dougan
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Arthur Kaser
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
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28
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Piedrafita G, Varma SJ, Castro C, Messner CB, Szyrwiel L, Griffin JL, Ralser M. Cysteine and iron accelerate the formation of ribose-5-phosphate, providing insights into the evolutionary origins of the metabolic network structure. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001468. [PMID: 34860829 PMCID: PMC8673631 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The structure of the metabolic network is highly conserved, but we know little about its evolutionary origins. Key for explaining the early evolution of metabolism is solving a chicken–egg dilemma, which describes that enzymes are made from the very same molecules they produce. The recent discovery of several nonenzymatic reaction sequences that topologically resemble central metabolism has provided experimental support for a “metabolism first” theory, in which at least part of the extant metabolic network emerged on the basis of nonenzymatic reactions. But how could evolution kick-start on the basis of a metal catalyzed reaction sequence, and how could the structure of nonenzymatic reaction sequences be imprinted on the metabolic network to remain conserved for billions of years? We performed an in vitro screening where we add the simplest components of metabolic enzymes, proteinogenic amino acids, to a nonenzymatic, iron-driven reaction network that resembles glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). We observe that the presence of the amino acids enhanced several of the nonenzymatic reactions. Particular attention was triggered by a reaction that resembles a rate-limiting step in the oxidative PPP. A prebiotically available, proteinogenic amino acid cysteine accelerated the formation of RNA nucleoside precursor ribose-5-phosphate from 6-phosphogluconate. We report that iron and cysteine interact and have additive effects on the reaction rate so that ribose-5-phosphate forms at high specificity under mild, metabolism typical temperature and environmental conditions. We speculate that accelerating effects of amino acids on rate-limiting nonenzymatic reactions could have facilitated a stepwise enzymatization of nonenzymatic reaction sequences, imprinting their structure on the evolving metabolic network. The evolutionary origins of metabolism are largely unknown. This study shows that the prebiotically available proteinogenic amino acid cysteine can promote the metabolism-like rate-limiting formation of ribose-5-phosphate, suggesting that early metabolic pathways could have emerged thought the stepwise enzymatization of non-enzymatic reaction sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Piedrafita
- Department of Biochemistry and Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sreejith J. Varma
- Department of Biochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cecilia Castro
- Department of Biochemistry and Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph B. Messner
- The Molecular Biology of Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lukasz Szyrwiel
- Department of Biochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The Molecular Biology of Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julian L. Griffin
- Department of Biochemistry and Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
- The Rowett Institute, The University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Markus Ralser
- Department of Biochemistry and Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Biochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The Molecular Biology of Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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29
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Abstract
Although the knowledge about biological systems has advanced exponentially in recent decades, it is surprising to realize that the very definition of Life keeps presenting theoretical challenges. Even if several lines of reasoning seek to identify the essence of life phenomenon, most of these thoughts contain fundamental problem in their basic conceptual structure. Most concepts fail to identify either necessary or sufficient features to define life. Here, we analyzed the main conceptual frameworks regarding theoretical aspects that have been supporting the most accepted concepts of life, such as (i) the physical, (ii) the cellular and (iii) the molecular approaches. Based on an ontological analysis, we propose that Life should not be positioned under the ontological category of Matter. Yet, life should be better understood under the top-level ontology of "Process". Exercising an epistemological approach, we propose that the essential characteristic that pervades each and every living being is the presence of organic codes. Therefore, we explore theories in biosemiotics and code biology in order to propose a clear concept of life as a macrocode composed by multiple inter-related coding layers. This way, as life is a sort of metaphysical process of encoding, the living beings became the molecular materialization of that process. From the proposed concept, we show that the evolutionary process is a fundamental characteristic for life's maintenance but it is not necessary to define life, as many organisms are clearly alive but they do not participate in the evolutionary process (such as infertile hybrids). The current proposition opens a fertile field of debate in astrobiology, epistemology, biosemiotics, code biology and robotics.
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Mayer RJ, Kaur H, Rauscher SA, Moran J. Mechanistic Insight into Metal Ion-Catalyzed Transamination. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:19099-19111. [PMID: 34730975 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c08535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Several classes of biological reactions that are mediated by an enzyme and a co-factor can occur, to a slower extent, not only without the enzyme but even without the co-factor, under catalysis by metal ions. This observation has led to the proposal that metabolic pathways progressively evolved from using inorganic catalysts to using organocatalysts of increasing complexity. Transamination, the biological process by which ammonia is transferred between amino acids and α-keto acids, has a mechanism that has been well studied under enzyme/co-factor catalysis and under co-factor catalysis, but the metal ion-catalyzed variant was generally studied mostly at high temperatures (70-100 °C), and the details of its mechanism remained unclear. Here, we investigate which metal ions catalyze transamination under conditions relevant to biology (pH 7, 20-50 °C) and study the mechanism in detail. Cu2+, Ni2+, Co2+, and V5+ were identified as the most active metal ions under these constraints. Kinetic, stereochemical, and computational studies illuminate the mechanism of the reaction. Cu2+ and Co2+ are found to predominantly speed up the reaction by stabilizing a key imine intermediate. V5+ is found to accelerate the reaction by increasing the acidity of the bound imine. Ni2+ is found to do both to a limited extent. These results show that direct metal ion-catalyzed amino group transfer is highly favored even in the absence of co-factors or protein catalysts under biologically compatible reaction conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Mayer
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS UMR 7006, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Harpreet Kaur
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS UMR 7006, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Sophia A Rauscher
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS UMR 7006, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Joseph Moran
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS UMR 7006, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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Evolutionary Aspects of the Oxido-Reductive Network of Methylglyoxal. J Mol Evol 2021; 89:618-638. [PMID: 34718825 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-021-10031-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In the chemoautotrophic theory for the origin of life, offered as an alternative to broth theory, the archaic reductive citric acid cycle operating without enzymes is in the center. The non-enzymatic (methyl)glyoxalase pathway has been suggested to be the anaplerotic route for the reductive citric acid cycle. In the recent years, much has been learned about methylglyoxal, but its importance in the metabolic machinery is still uncovered. If methylglyoxal had been essential participant of the early stage of evolution, then it is a legitimate question whether it might have played a role in the early oxido-reduction network, too. Therefore, an oxido-reduction network of methylglyoxal that might have functioned under ancient circumstances without enzymes was constructed and analyzed by virtue of group contribution method. Taking methylglyoxal as input material, it turned out that the evolutionary value of reactions and biomolecules were not similar. Glycerol, glycerate, and tartonate, the output components, were conserved to different degrees. Although the tartonate route was similarly favorable from energetic point of view, its intermediates are almost not present in extant biochemistry. The presence of two carboxyl or aldehyde groups, or their combination in tricarbons of the constructed network seemed disadvantageous for selection, and the inductive effect, resulting in an asymmetry in electron cloud of chemicals, might have been important. The evolutionary role for cysteine, H2S, and formaldehyde in the emergence of high-energy bonds in the form of thioesters and in Fe-S cluster formation as well as in imidazole synthesis was shown to bridge the gap between prebiotic chemistry and contemporary biochemistry. Overall, the ideas developed here represent an approach fitting to chemoautotrophic origin of life and implying to the role of methylglyoxal in triose formation. The proposed network is expected to have an impact upon how one may think of prebiological chemical processes on methylglyoxal, too. Finally, along the evolutionary time line, the network functioning without enzymes is situated between the formation of simple organic compounds and primeval cells, being closer to the former and well preceding the last common metabolic ancestor developed after primitive cells emerged.
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Abstract
Abstract
On the basis of biomimetic, phylometabolic, and thermodynamic analysis of modern CO2 assimilation pathways, a paleophenotypic reconstruction of ancient autotrophic metabolism systems was carried out. As a chemical basis for CO2 fixation paleometabolism, metabolic networks capable of self-reproduction and evolution are considered, and the reversibility of the transformation reactions of its intermediates is the most important factor in self-development of this network. The substances of the C–H–O system, paragenetically associated with hydrocarbons, create a phase space, which is a set of universal intermediates of the autotrophic paleometabolism chemical network. The concept of two strategies for the origin and development of autotrophic carbon fixation paleometabolism in the oxidized (CO2) and reduced (CH4) redox regimes of degassing of the ancient Earth is proposed. It was shown that P, T, and the redox conditions of hydrothermal systems of the early Archean were favorable for the development of primary methanotrophic metabolism.
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Lauber N, Flamm C, Ruiz-Mirazo K. "Minimal metabolism": A key concept to investigate the origins and nature of biological systems. Bioessays 2021; 43:e2100103. [PMID: 34426986 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The systems view on life and its emergence from complex chemistry has remarkably increased the scientific attention on metabolism in the last two decades. However, during this time there has not been much theoretical discussion on what constitutes a metabolism and what role it actually played in biogenesis. A critical and updated review on the topic is here offered, including some references to classical models from last century, but focusing more on current and future research. Metabolism is considered as intrinsically related to the living but not necessarily equivalent to it. More precisely, the idea of "minimal metabolism", in contrast to previous, top-down conceptions, is formulated as a heuristic construct, halfway between chemistry and biology. Thus, rather than providing a complete or final characterization of metabolism, our aim is to encourage further investigations on it, particularly in the context of life's origin, for which some concrete methodological suggestions are provided. Also see the video abstract here: https://youtu.be/DP7VMKk2qpA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nino Lauber
- Biofisika Institute (CSIC, UPV/EHU), University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.,Department of Philosophy, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Christoph Flamm
- Institute for Theoretical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kepa Ruiz-Mirazo
- Biofisika Institute (CSIC, UPV/EHU), University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.,Department of Philosophy, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
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Abstract
In the current literature, the definitions of aging range from relying on certain sets of distinctive features at the molecular, organismal, populational and/or even evolutional levels/scales to declaring it a treatable disease and, moreover, to treating aging as a mental construct rather than a natural phenomenon. One reason of such a mess may be that it is common in the natural sciences to disregard philosophy of science where several categories of definitions are recognized, among which the nominal are less, and the so-called real ones are more appropriate in scientific contexts. E.g., water is, by its nominal definition, a liquid having certain observable features and, by its real definition, a specific combination (or a product of interaction) of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Noteworthy, the real definition is senseless for people ignorant of atoms. Likewise, the nominal definition of aging as a set of observable features should be supplemented, if not replaced, with its real definition. The latter is suggested here to imply that aging is the product of chemical interactions between the rapidly turning-over free metabolites and the slowly turning-over metabolites incorporated in macromolecules involved in metabolic control. The phenomenon defined in this way emerged concomitantly with metabolic pathways controlled by enzymes coded for by information-storing macromolecules and is inevitable wherever such conditions coincide. Aging research, thus, is concerned with the elucidation of the pathways and mechanisms that link aging defined as above to its hallmarks and manifestations, including those comprised by its nominal definitions. Esoteric as it may seem, defining aging is important for deciding whether aging is what should be declared as the target of interventions aimed at increasing human life and health spans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksei G Golubev
- Department of Carcinogenesis and Oncogerontology, N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
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35
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Abstract
Tremendous chemical diversity is the hallmark of plants and is supported by highly complex biochemical machinery. Plant metabolic enzymes originated and were transferred from eukaryotic and prokaryotic ancestors and further diversified by the unprecedented rates of gene duplication and functionalization experienced in land plants. Unlike microbes, which have frequent horizontal gene transfer events and multiple inputs of energy and organic carbon, land plants predominantly rely on organic carbon generated from CO2 and have experienced very few, if any, gene transfers during their recent evolutionary history. As such, plant metabolic networks have evolved in a stepwise manner and on existing networks under various evolutionary constraints. This review aims to take a broader view of plant metabolic evolution and lay a framework to further explore evolutionary mechanisms of the complex metabolic network. Understanding the underlying metabolic and genetic constraints is also an empirical prerequisite for rational engineering and redesigning of plant metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi A Maeda
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA;
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany;
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The Autotrophic Core: An Ancient Network of 404 Reactions Converts H 2, CO 2, and NH 3 into Amino Acids, Bases, and Cofactors. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020458. [PMID: 33672143 PMCID: PMC7926472 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The metabolism of cells contains evidence reflecting the process by which they arose. Here, we have identified the ancient core of autotrophic metabolism encompassing 404 reactions that comprise the reaction network from H2, CO2, and ammonia (NH3) to amino acids, nucleic acid monomers, and the 19 cofactors required for their synthesis. Water is the most common reactant in the autotrophic core, indicating that the core arose in an aqueous environment. Seventy-seven core reactions involve the hydrolysis of high-energy phosphate bonds, furthermore suggesting the presence of a non-enzymatic and highly exergonic chemical reaction capable of continuously synthesizing activated phosphate bonds. CO2 is the most common carbon-containing compound in the core. An abundance of NADH and NADPH-dependent redox reactions in the autotrophic core, the central role of CO2, and the circumstance that the core’s main products are far more reduced than CO2 indicate that the core arose in a highly reducing environment. The chemical reactions of the autotrophic core suggest that it arose from H2, inorganic carbon, and NH3 in an aqueous environment marked by highly reducing and continuously far from equilibrium conditions. Such conditions are very similar to those found in serpentinizing hydrothermal systems.
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Tomi-Andrino C, Norman R, Millat T, Soucaille P, Winzer K, Barrett DA, King J, Kim DH. Physicochemical and metabolic constraints for thermodynamics-based stoichiometric modelling under mesophilic growth conditions. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1007694. [PMID: 33493151 PMCID: PMC7861524 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic engineering in the post-genomic era is characterised by the development of new methods for metabolomics and fluxomics, supported by the integration of genetic engineering tools and mathematical modelling. Particularly, constraint-based stoichiometric models have been widely studied: (i) flux balance analysis (FBA) (in silico), and (ii) metabolic flux analysis (MFA) (in vivo). Recent studies have enabled the incorporation of thermodynamics and metabolomics data to improve the predictive capabilities of these approaches. However, an in-depth comparison and evaluation of these methods is lacking. This study presents a thorough analysis of two different in silico methods tested against experimental data (metabolomics and 13C-MFA) for the mesophile Escherichia coli. In particular, a modified version of the recently published matTFA toolbox was created, providing a broader range of physicochemical parameters. Validating against experimental data allowed the determination of the best physicochemical parameters to perform the TFA (Thermodynamics-based Flux Analysis). An analysis of flux pattern changes in the central carbon metabolism between 13C-MFA and TFA highlighted the limited capabilities of both approaches for elucidating the anaplerotic fluxes. In addition, a method based on centrality measures was suggested to identify important metabolites that (if quantified) would allow to further constrain the TFA. Finally, this study emphasised the need for standardisation in the fluxomics community: novel approaches are frequently released but a thorough comparison with currently accepted methods is not always performed. Biotechnology has benefitted from the development of high throughput methods characterising living systems at different levels (e.g. concerning genes or proteins), allowing the industrial production of chemical commodities. Recently, focus has been placed on determining reaction rates (or metabolic fluxes) in the metabolic network of certain microorganisms, in order to identify bottlenecks hindering their exploitation. Two main approaches are commonly used, termed metabolic flux analysis (MFA) and flux balance analysis (FBA), based on measuring and estimating fluxes, respectively. While the influence of thermodynamics in living systems was accepted several decades ago, its application to study biochemical networks has only recently been enabled. In this sense, a multitude of different approaches constraining well-established modelling methods with thermodynamics has been suggested. However, physicochemical parameters are generally not properly adjusted to the experimental conditions, which might affect their predictive capabilities. In this study, we have explored the reliability of currently available tools by investigating the impact of varying said parameters in the simulation of metabolic fluxes and metabolite concentration values. Additionally, our in-depth analysis allowed us to highlight limitations and potential solutions that should be considered in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Tomi-Andrino
- Centre for Analytical Bioscience, Advanced Materials and Healthcare Technologies Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Nottingham BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, BioDiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Nottingham BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Rupert Norman
- Nottingham BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, BioDiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Millat
- Nottingham BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, BioDiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Philippe Soucaille
- Nottingham BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, BioDiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- INSA, UPS, INP, Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, (TBI), Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- INRA, UMR792, Toulouse, France
- CNRS, UMR5504, Toulouse, France
| | - Klaus Winzer
- Nottingham BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, BioDiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Barrett
- Centre for Analytical Bioscience, Advanced Materials and Healthcare Technologies Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - John King
- Nottingham BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Dong-Hyun Kim
- Centre for Analytical Bioscience, Advanced Materials and Healthcare Technologies Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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38
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Life lessons. Nat Chem 2020; 12:973. [DOI: 10.1038/s41557-020-00574-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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39
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Stubbs RT, Yadav M, Krishnamurthy R, Springsteen G. A plausible metal-free ancestral analogue of the Krebs cycle composed entirely of α-ketoacids. Nat Chem 2020; 12:1016-1022. [PMID: 33046840 PMCID: PMC8570912 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-020-00560-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Efforts to decipher the prebiotic roots of metabolic pathways have focused on recapitulating modern biological transformations, with metals typically serving in place of cofactors and enzymes. Here we show that the reaction of glyoxylate with pyruvate under mild aqueous conditions produces a series of α-ketoacid analogues of the reductive citric acid cycle without the need for metals or enzyme catalysts. The transformations proceed in the same sequence as the reverse Krebs cycle, resembling a protometabolic pathway, with glyoxylate acting as both the carbon source and reducing agent. Furthermore, the α-ketoacid analogues provide a natural route for the synthesis of amino acids by transamination with glycine, paralleling the extant metabolic mechanisms and obviating the need for metal-catalysed abiotic reductive aminations. This emerging sequence of prebiotic reactions could have set the stage for the advent of increasingly sophisticated pathways operating under catalytic control.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Trent Stubbs
- Department of Chemistry, Furman University, Greenville, SC, USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mahipal Yadav
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Greg Springsteen
- Department of Chemistry, Furman University, Greenville, SC, USA.
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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40
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Freire MÁ. Phosphorylation and acylation transfer reactions: Clues to a dual origin of metabolism. Biosystems 2020; 198:104260. [PMID: 32987142 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2020.104260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Many theories of the origin of life focus on only one primitive polymer as an archetype of a world paradigm. However, life would have emerged within more complex scenarios where a variety of molecules and diverse polymers interconnected by a few similar chemical reactions. Previous work suggested that the ancestors of all major biopolymers would have arisen from abiotic template independent replication processes. They would have been organized in two closed sets of polymerization cycles: polysaccharides, polyribonucleotides and polyphosphates on one site; and peptides, fatty acids and polyhydroxyalkanoates on the other site. Then, these polymerization reaction cycles integrated into a minimal organization closure. Here, the purpose was to explore which kind of reactions could have supported the chemical networks that led to the early (bio)polymers. As a result, the proposed overview suggests that phosphorylation and acylation transfer reactions would have arisen independently and forged two distinct chemical systems that provided the phosphorylated and carboxylated intermediates used for the synthesis of the corresponding polymers. In this sense, modern metabolism may still reflect its dual nature, probably relying on these two reaction networks from the beginnings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Ángel Freire
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC). Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, CC 495, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina.
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41
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Muchowska KB, Varma SJ, Moran J. Nonenzymatic Metabolic Reactions and Life's Origins. Chem Rev 2020; 120:7708-7744. [PMID: 32687326 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Prebiotic chemistry aims to explain how the biochemistry of life as we know it came to be. Most efforts in this area have focused on provisioning compounds of importance to life by multistep synthetic routes that do not resemble biochemistry. However, gaining insight into why core metabolism uses the molecules, reactions, pathways, and overall organization that it does requires us to consider molecules not only as synthetic end goals. Equally important are the dynamic processes that build them up and break them down. This perspective has led many researchers to the hypothesis that the first stage of the origin of life began with the onset of a primitive nonenzymatic version of metabolism, initially catalyzed by naturally occurring minerals and metal ions. This view of life's origins has come to be known as "metabolism first". Continuity with modern metabolism would require a primitive version of metabolism to build and break down ketoacids, sugars, amino acids, and ribonucleotides in much the same way as the pathways that do it today. This review discusses metabolic pathways of relevance to the origin of life in a manner accessible to chemists, and summarizes experiments suggesting several pathways might have their roots in prebiotic chemistry. Finally, key remaining milestones for the protometabolic hypothesis are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sreejith J Varma
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS UMR 7006, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Joseph Moran
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS UMR 7006, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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42
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Merle NS, Singh P, Rahman J, Kemper C. Integrins meet complement: The evolutionary tip of an iceberg orchestrating metabolism and immunity. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 178:2754-2770. [PMID: 32562277 PMCID: PMC8359198 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunologists have recently realized that there is more to the classic innate immune sensor systems than just mere protection against invading pathogens. It is becoming increasingly clear that such sensors, including the inflammasomes, toll-like receptors, and the complement system, are heavily involved in the regulation of basic cell physiological processes and particularly those of metabolic nature. In fact, their "non-canonical" activities make sense as no system directing immune cell activity can perform such task without the need for energy. Further, many of these ancient immune sensors appeared early and concurrently during evolution, particularly during the developmental leap from the single-cell organisms to multicellularity, and therefore crosstalk heavily with each other. Here, we will review the current knowledge about the emerging cooperation between the major inter-cell communicators, integrins, and the cell-autonomous intracellularly and autocrine-active complement, the complosome, during the regulation of single-cell metabolism. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Canonical and non-canonical functions of the complement system in health and disease. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.14/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas S Merle
- Complement and Inflammation Research Section (CIRS), National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Parul Singh
- Complement and Inflammation Research Section (CIRS), National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jubayer Rahman
- Complement and Inflammation Research Section (CIRS), National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Claudia Kemper
- Complement and Inflammation Research Section (CIRS), National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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43
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From self-replication to replicator systems en route to de novo life. Nat Rev Chem 2020; 4:386-403. [PMID: 37127968 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-020-0196-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The process by which chemistry can give rise to biology remains one of the biggest mysteries in contemporary science. The de novo synthesis and origin of life both require the functional integration of three key characteristics - replication, metabolism and compartmentalization - into a system that is maintained out of equilibrium and is capable of open-ended Darwinian evolution. This Review takes systems of self-replicating molecules as starting points and describes the steps necessary to integrate additional characteristics of life. We analyse how far experimental self-replicators have come in terms of Darwinian evolution. We also cover models of replicator communities that attempt to solve Eigen's paradox, whereby accurate replication needs complex machinery yet obtaining such complex self-replicators through evolution requires accurate replication. Successful models rely on a collective metabolism and a way of (transient) compartmentalization, suggesting that the invention and integration of these two characteristics is driven by evolution. Despite our growing knowledge, there remain numerous key challenges that may be addressed by a combined theoretical and experimental approach.
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44
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Cader MZ, de Almeida Rodrigues RP, West JA, Sewell GW, Md-Ibrahim MN, Reikine S, Sirago G, Unger LW, Iglesias-Romero AB, Ramshorn K, Haag LM, Saveljeva S, Ebel JF, Rosenstiel P, Kaneider NC, Lee JC, Lawley TD, Bradley A, Dougan G, Modis Y, Griffin JL, Kaser A. FAMIN Is a Multifunctional Purine Enzyme Enabling the Purine Nucleotide Cycle. Cell 2020; 180:278-295.e23. [PMID: 31978345 PMCID: PMC6978800 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in FAMIN cause arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease in early childhood, and a common genetic variant increases the risk for Crohn's disease and leprosy. We developed an unbiased liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry screen for enzymatic activity of this orphan protein. We report that FAMIN phosphorolytically cleaves adenosine into adenine and ribose-1-phosphate. Such activity was considered absent from eukaryotic metabolism. FAMIN and its prokaryotic orthologs additionally have adenosine deaminase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, and S-methyl-5′-thioadenosine phosphorylase activity, hence, combine activities of the namesake enzymes of central purine metabolism. FAMIN enables in macrophages a purine nucleotide cycle (PNC) between adenosine and inosine monophosphate and adenylosuccinate, which consumes aspartate and releases fumarate in a manner involving fatty acid oxidation and ATP-citrate lyase activity. This macrophage PNC synchronizes mitochondrial activity with glycolysis by balancing electron transfer to mitochondria, thereby supporting glycolytic activity and promoting oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial H+ and phosphate recycling. An unbiased LC-MS screen reveals FAMIN as a purine nucleoside enzyme FAMIN combines adenosine phosphorylase with ADA-, PNP-, and MTAP-like activities FAMIN enables a purine nucleotide cycle (PNC) preventing cytoplasmic acidification The FAMIN-dependent PNC balances the glycolysis-mitochondrial redox interface
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Affiliation(s)
- M Zaeem Cader
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Rodrigo Pereira de Almeida Rodrigues
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - James A West
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; Department of Biochemistry and Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Gavin W Sewell
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Muhammad N Md-Ibrahim
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Stephanie Reikine
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Molecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Giuseppe Sirago
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Lukas W Unger
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Ana Belén Iglesias-Romero
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Katharina Ramshorn
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Lea-Maxie Haag
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Svetlana Saveljeva
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Jana-Fabienne Ebel
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian Albrechts University, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Philip Rosenstiel
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian Albrechts University, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Nicole C Kaneider
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - James C Lee
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | | | - Allan Bradley
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Gordon Dougan
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Yorgo Modis
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Molecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Julian L Griffin
- Department of Biochemistry and Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Arthur Kaser
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
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45
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Seligmann H. First arrived, first served: competition between codons for codon-amino acid stereochemical interactions determined early genetic code assignments. Naturwissenschaften 2020; 107:20. [PMID: 32367155 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-020-01676-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Stereochemical nucleotide-amino acid interactions, in the form of noncovalent nucleotide-amino acid interactions, potentially produced the genetic code's codon-amino acid assignments. Empirical estimates of single nucleotide-amino acid affinities on surfaces and in solution are used to test whether trinucleotide-amino acid affinities determined genetic code assignments pending the principle "first arrived, first served": presumed early amino acids have greater codon-amino acid affinities than ulterior ones. Here, these single nucleotide affinities are used to approximate all 64 × 20 trinucleotide-amino acid affinities. Analyses show that (1) on surfaces, genetic code codon-amino acid assignments tend to match high affinities for the amino acids that integrated earliest the genetic code (according to Wong's metabolic coevolution hypothesis between nucleotides and amino acids) and (2) in solution, the same principle holds for the anticodon-amino acid assignments. Affinity analyses match best genetic code assignments when assuming that trinucleotides competed for amino acids, rather than amino acids for trinucleotides. Codon-amino acid affinities stick better to genetic code assignments than anticodon-amino acid affinities. Presumably, two independent coding systems, on surfaces and in solution, converged, and formed the current translation system. Proto-translation on surfaces by direct codon-amino acid interactions without tRNA-like adaptors coadapted with a system emerging in solution by proto-tRNA anticodon-amino acid interactions. These systems assigned identical or similar cognates to codons on surfaces and to anticodons in solution. Results indicate that a prebiotic metabolism predated genetic code self-organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hervé Seligmann
- The National Natural History Collections, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel. .,Faculty of Medicine, Université Grenoble Alpes, Laboratory AGEIS EA 7407, Team Tools for e-Gnosis Medical & Labcom CNRS/UGA/OrangeLabs Telecoms4Health, F-38700, La Tronche, France.
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46
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Preiner M, Asche S, Becker S, Betts HC, Boniface A, Camprubi E, Chandru K, Erastova V, Garg SG, Khawaja N, Kostyrka G, Machné R, Moggioli G, Muchowska KB, Neukirchen S, Peter B, Pichlhöfer E, Radványi Á, Rossetto D, Salditt A, Schmelling NM, Sousa FL, Tria FDK, Vörös D, Xavier JC. The Future of Origin of Life Research: Bridging Decades-Old Divisions. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:E20. [PMID: 32110893 PMCID: PMC7151616 DOI: 10.3390/life10030020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on the origin of life is highly heterogeneous. After a peculiar historical development, it still includes strongly opposed views which potentially hinder progress. In the 1st Interdisciplinary Origin of Life Meeting, early-career researchers gathered to explore the commonalities between theories and approaches, critical divergence points, and expectations for the future. We find that even though classical approaches and theories-e.g. bottom-up and top-down, RNA world vs. metabolism-first-have been prevalent in origin of life research, they are ceasing to be mutually exclusive and they can and should feed integrating approaches. Here we focus on pressing questions and recent developments that bridge the classical disciplines and approaches, and highlight expectations for future endeavours in origin of life research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Preiner
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (S.G.G.); (F.D.K.T.)
| | - Silke Asche
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G128QQ, UK;
| | - Sidney Becker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK;
| | - Holly C. Betts
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RL, UK;
| | - Adrien Boniface
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 69130 Ecully, France;
| | - Eloi Camprubi
- Origins Center, Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - Kuhan Chandru
- Space Science Center (ANGKASA), Institute of Climate Change, Level 3, Research Complex, National University of Malaysia, UKM Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia;
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Technicka 5, 16628 Prague 6–Dejvice, Czech Republic
| | - Valentina Erastova
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, UK;
| | - Sriram G. Garg
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (S.G.G.); (F.D.K.T.)
| | - Nozair Khawaja
- Institut für Geologische Wissenschaften, Freie Universität Berlin, 12249 Berlin, Germany;
| | | | - Rainer Machné
- Institute of Synthetic Microbiology, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (R.M.); (N.M.S.)
- Quantitative and Theoretical Biology, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Giacomo Moggioli
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4DQ, UK;
| | - Kamila B. Muchowska
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France;
| | - Sinje Neukirchen
- Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Division, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (S.N.); (E.P.); (F.L.S.)
| | - Benedikt Peter
- Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany;
| | - Edith Pichlhöfer
- Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Division, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (S.N.); (E.P.); (F.L.S.)
| | - Ádám Radványi
- Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117 Budapest, Hungary (D.V.)
- Institute of Evolution, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Klebelsberg Kuno u. 3., H-8237 Tihany, Hungary
| | - Daniele Rossetto
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy;
| | - Annalena Salditt
- Systems Biophysics, Physics Department, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80799 Munich, Germany;
| | - Nicolas M. Schmelling
- Institute of Synthetic Microbiology, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (R.M.); (N.M.S.)
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Filipa L. Sousa
- Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Division, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (S.N.); (E.P.); (F.L.S.)
| | - Fernando D. K. Tria
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (S.G.G.); (F.D.K.T.)
| | - Dániel Vörös
- Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117 Budapest, Hungary (D.V.)
- Institute of Evolution, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Klebelsberg Kuno u. 3., H-8237 Tihany, Hungary
| | - Joana C. Xavier
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (S.G.G.); (F.D.K.T.)
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47
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Vasiliadou R, Dimov N, Szita N, Jordan SF, Lane N. Possible mechanisms of CO 2 reduction by H 2 via prebiotic vectorial electrochemistry. Interface Focus 2019; 9:20190073. [PMID: 31641439 PMCID: PMC6802132 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2019.0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Methanogens are putatively ancestral autotrophs that reduce CO2 with H2 to form biomass using a membrane-bound, proton-motive Fe(Ni)S protein called the energy-converting hydrogenase (Ech). At the origin of life, geologically sustained H+ gradients across inorganic barriers containing Fe(Ni)S minerals could theoretically have driven CO2 reduction by H2 through vectorial chemistry in a similar way to Ech. pH modulation of the redox potentials of H2, CO2 and Fe(Ni)S minerals could in principle enable an otherwise endergonic reaction. Here, we analyse whether vectorial electrochemistry can facilitate the reduction of CO2 by H2 under alkaline hydrothermal conditions using a microfluidic reactor. We present pilot data showing that steep pH gradients of approximately 5 pH units can be sustained over greater than 5 h across Fe(Ni)S barriers, with H+-flux across the barrier about two million-fold faster than OH--flux. This high flux produces a calculated 3-pH unit-gradient (equating to 180 mV) across single approximately 25-nm Fe(Ni)S nanocrystals, which is close to that required to reduce CO2. However, the poor solubility of H2 at atmospheric pressure limits CO2 reduction by H2, explaining why organic synthesis has so far proved elusive in our reactor. Higher H2 concentration will be needed in future to facilitate CO2 reduction through prebiotic vectorial electrochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Vasiliadou
- Centre for Life's Origin and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Nikolay Dimov
- School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK
| | - Nicolas Szita
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Bernard Katz Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Sean F. Jordan
- Centre for Life's Origin and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Nick Lane
- Centre for Life's Origin and Evolution, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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48
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Kahana A, Schmitt-Kopplin P, Lancet D. Enceladus: First Observed Primordial Soup Could Arbitrate Origin-of-Life Debate. ASTROBIOLOGY 2019; 19:1263-1278. [PMID: 31328961 PMCID: PMC6785169 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2019.2029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
A recent breakthrough publication has reported complex organic molecules in the plumes emanating from the subglacial water ocean of Saturn's moon Enceladus (Postberg et al., 2018, Nature 558:564-568). Based on detailed chemical scrutiny, the authors invoke primordial or endogenously synthesized carbon-rich monomers (<200 u) and polymers (up to 8000 u). This appears to represent the first reported extraterrestrial organics-rich water body, a conceivable milieu for early steps in life's origin ("prebiotic soup"). One may ask which origin-of-life scenario appears more consistent with the reported molecular configurations on Enceladus. The observed monomeric organics are carbon-rich unsaturated molecules, vastly different from present-day metabolites, amino acids, and nucleotide bases, but quite chemically akin to simple lipids. The organic polymers are proposed to resemble terrestrial insoluble kerogens and humic substances, as well as refractory organic macromolecules found in carbonaceous chondritic meteorites. The authors posit that such polymers, upon long-term hydrous interactions, might break down to micelle-forming amphiphiles. In support of this, published detailed analyses of the Murchison chondrite are dominated by an immense diversity of likely amphiphilic monomers. Our specific quantitative model for compositionally reproducing lipid micelles is amphiphile-based and benefits from a pronounced organic diversity. It thus contrasts with other origin models, which require the presence of very specific building blocks and are expected to be hindered by excess of irrelevant compounds. Thus, the Enceladus finds support the possibility of a pre-RNA Lipid World scenario for life's origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kahana
- Department of Molecular Genetics, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin
- Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, Research Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Neuherberg, Germany
- Technische Universität München, Chair of Analytical Food Chemistry, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Doron Lancet
- Department of Molecular Genetics, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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49
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Tremmel P, Griesser H, Steiner UE, Richert C. How Small Heterocycles Make a Reaction Network of Amino Acids and Nucleotides Efficient in Water. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:13087-13092. [PMID: 31276284 PMCID: PMC6852251 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201905427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Organisms use enzymes to ensure a flow of substrates through biosynthetic pathways. How the earliest form of life established biosynthetic networks and prevented hydrolysis of intermediates without enzymes is unclear. Organocatalysts may have played the role of enzymes. Quantitative analysis of reactions of adenosine 5'-monophosphate and glycine that produce peptides, pyrophosphates, and RNA chains reveals that organocapture by heterocycles gives hydrolytically stabilized intermediates with balanced reactivity. We determined rate constants for 20 reactions in aqueous solutions containing a carbodiimide and measured product formation with cyanamide as a condensing agent. Organocapture favors reactions that are kinetically slow but productive, and networks, over single transformations. Heterocycles can increase the metabolic efficiency more than two-fold, with up to 0.6 useful bonds per fuel molecule spent, boosting the efficiency of life-like reaction systems in the absence of enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Tremmel
- Institut für Organische ChemieUniversität Stuttgart70569StuttgartGermany
| | - Helmut Griesser
- Institut für Organische ChemieUniversität Stuttgart70569StuttgartGermany
| | | | - Clemens Richert
- Institut für Organische ChemieUniversität Stuttgart70569StuttgartGermany
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50
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Ślesak I, Kula M, Ślesak H, Miszalski Z, Strzałka K. How to define obligatory anaerobiosis? An evolutionary view on the antioxidant response system and the early stages of the evolution of life on Earth. Free Radic Biol Med 2019; 140:61-73. [PMID: 30862543 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
One of the former definitions of "obligate anaerobiosis" was based on three main criteria: 1) it occurs in organisms, so-called obligate anaerobes, which live in environments without oxygen (O2), 2) O2-dependent (aerobic) respiration, and 3) antioxidant enzymes are absent in obligate anaerobes. In contrast, aerobes need O2 in order to grow and develop properly. Obligate (or strict) anaerobes belong to prokaryotic microorganisms from two domains, Bacteria and Archaea. A closer look at anaerobiosis covers a wide range of microorganisms that permanently or in a time-dependent manner tolerate different concentrations of O2 in their habitats. On this basis they can be classified as obligate/facultative anaerobes, microaerophiles and nanaerobes. Paradoxically, O2 tolerance in strict anaerobes is usually, as in aerobes, associated with the activity of the antioxidant response system, which involves different antioxidant enzymes responsible for removing excess reactive oxygen species (ROS). In our opinion, the traditional definition of "obligate anaerobiosis" loses its original sense. Strict anaerobiosis should only be restricted to the occurrence of O2-independent pathways involved in energy generation. For that reason, a term better than "obligate anaerobes" would be O2/ROS tolerant anaerobes, where the role of the O2/ROS detoxification system is separated from O2-independent metabolic pathways that supply energy. Ubiquitous key antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and superoxide reductase (SOR) in contemporary obligate anaerobes might suggest that their origin is ancient, maybe even the beginning of the evolution of life on Earth. It cannot be ruled out that c. 3.5 Gyr ago, local microquantities of O2/ROS played a role in the evolution of the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) of all modern organisms. On the basis of data in the literature, the hypothesis that LUCA could be an O2/ROS tolerant anaerobe is discussed together with the question of the abiotic sources of O2/ROS and/or the early evolution of cyanobacteria that perform oxygenic photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ireneusz Ślesak
- The Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239, Krakow, Poland.
| | - Monika Kula
- The Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239, Krakow, Poland.
| | - Halina Ślesak
- Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
| | - Zbigniew Miszalski
- The Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239, Krakow, Poland.
| | - Kazimierz Strzałka
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, 30-387, Krakow, Poland; Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
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