Fanchen Yu, Jinbo Fei, Yi Jia, Tonghui Wang, William F Martin, Junbai Li
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Energy conservation is crucial to life's origin and evolution. The common ancestor of all cells used ATP synthase to convert proton gradients into ATP. However, pumps generating proton gradients and lipids maintaining proton gradients are not universally conserved across all lineages. A solution to this paradox is that ancestral ATP synthase could harness naturally formed geochemical ion gradients with simpler environmentally provided precursors preceding both proton pumps and biogenic membranes. This runs counter to traditional views that phospholipid bilayers are required to maintain proton gradients. Here, we show that fatty acid membranes can maintain sufficient proton gradients to synthesize ATP by ATP synthase under the steep pH and temperature gradients observed in hydrothermal vent systems. These findings shed substantial light on early membrane bioenergetics, uncovering a functional intermediate in the evolution of chemiosmotic ATP synthesis during protocellular stages postdating the ATP synthase's origin but preceding the advent of enzymatically synthesized cell membranes.
期刊介绍:
Cell Reports Physical Science, a premium open-access journal from Cell Press, features high-quality, cutting-edge research spanning the physical sciences. It serves as an open forum fostering collaboration among physical scientists while championing open science principles. Published works must signify significant advancements in fundamental insight or technological applications within fields such as chemistry, physics, materials science, energy science, engineering, and related interdisciplinary studies. In addition to longer articles, the journal considers impactful short-form reports and short reviews covering recent literature in emerging fields. Continually adapting to the evolving open science landscape, the journal reviews its policies to align with community consensus and best practices.