Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e202201419 |
| Journal | Chemistry - a European journal |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 55 |
| Early online date | 21 Jun 2022 |
| Publication status | Published - 6 Oct 2022 |
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.
Keywords
- amino acids, coenzymes, genetic code, metabolism, origin of life
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemical Engineering(all)
- Catalysis
- Chemistry(all)
- Organic Chemistry
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In: Chemistry - a European journal, Vol. 28, No. 55, e202201419, 06.10.2022.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - On the Evolutionary History of the Twenty Encoded Amino Acids
AU - Kirschning, Andreas
N1 - Funding Information: I thank my students and Dr. Carsten Zeilinger (Leibniz University Hannover) who provided important suggestions and ideas. Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.
PY - 2022/10/6
Y1 - 2022/10/6
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - amino acids
KW - coenzymes
KW - genetic code
KW - metabolism
KW - origin of life
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85135167342&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/chem.202201419
DO - 10.1002/chem.202201419
M3 - Review article
C2 - 35726786
AN - SCOPUS:85135167342
VL - 28
JO - Chemistry - a European journal
JF - Chemistry - a European journal
SN - 0947-6539
IS - 55
M1 - e202201419
ER -