ATP – My WordPress Site

Conceptual model illustrating a possible evolutionary trajectory of ATP-generating enzymes. Under prebiotic conditions with a limited amino acid repertoire, kinase-like proteins resembling Arc1-12KR or Arc1-11K may have generated ATP through ADP disproportionation (2ADP → ATP + AMP). As the amino acid alphabet expanded toward the LUCA era, this chemistry was likely superseded by the emergence of modern NDKs, which catalyze phosphoryl transfer between NTPs and NDPs, and by adenylate kinases, which catalyze the reversible reaction 2ADP ⇌ ATP + AMP. Ultimately, the evolution of rotary ATP synthases enabled efficient ATP production from ADP and inorganic phosphate. -- biorxiv.org

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life

Emergence Of A Potentially Ancestral ATP-synthesizing Activity Under Prebiotic Amino Acid Constraints

by Keith CowingFebruary 25, 2026February 25, 2026

The earliest enzymes are thought to have been composed of the limited amino acid repertoire available on prebiotic Earth. However, how such compositional simplicity shaped catalytic capability remains unclear.

Structure and electrical connectivity in the Rnf complex of Acetobacterium woodii. Credit Kumar et al., 2025

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life

Without Oxygen: How Primordial Microbes Breathed

by Keith CowingMarch 18, 2025March 18, 2025

Bright field microscopic image corresponding to pTERF image showing control S. cerevisiae cox 2-60, and chimeras S. cerevisiae cox2-60-SynJEC3, S. cerevisiae cox2-60-SynBD2, S. cerevisiae cox2-60-SynBD3 and S. cerevisiae cox2-60-SynBD8. Marged image of bright field chimeric cells (at gray) and pTIRF (X100) microscopic images can be predicted using 561 nm laser for visualization of endosymbiont autofluorescence chlorophyl (in red Em.=653/95 nm) from photosynthetically enabled engineered Syn. No such signal was detected from control yeast cells. SP8 Fluorescent confocal microscopic (x63) image of control S. cerevisiae cox 2–60, and endosymbiontic chimera. Marged images: host cell was stained using Conn A-FITC (emission at 510–520 nm wavelength, in green) and cyanobacterial autofluorescence can detected at 616-650 nm wavelength range. The experiment was repeated three times independently with similar results. -- Nature

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life

New Insight Into Chloroplast Evolution

by Keith CowingDecember 12, 2024December 12, 2024

A schematic illustration of the evolution of the Earth System

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life

Insight Into One Of Life’s Earliest Ancestors Revealed In A New Study

by Keith CowingJuly 13, 2024July 13, 2024

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology

Ancient Nitrogenases Are ATP Dependent

by Keith CowingJune 20, 2024June 20, 2024

Mass fraction (left) and oxygen budget (right) for the detected heavy elements in WD 1647+375. The error bar represents the total uncertainty on the oxygen budget. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Origin & Evolution of Life

Uncovering A Multibillion-year Epic Written Into The Chemistry Of Life

by Keith CowingMay 29, 2024May 29, 2024

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life

New Study Unveils RNA’s Role In Early Life And Future Bioengineering

by Keith CowingApril 18, 2024April 18, 2024

Representation of a newly discovered nitrogen-oxygen-sulphur, known as NOS, link (blue: nitrogen, red: oxygen, yellow: sulphur) between the amino acids glycine and cysteine within an enzyme - Credit Sophia Bazzi (structural data from the Protein Data Bank, visualization using Coot software)

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life

GTP Before ATP: The Energy Currency At The Origin Of Genes

by Keith CowingMarch 24, 2024March 24, 2024

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics

The Origins Of ATP Dependence In Biological Nitrogen Fixation

by Keith CowingFebruary 27, 2024February 27, 2024

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetism, bioelectricity,

Electricity Driving Life

by Keith CowingSeptember 13, 2023September 13, 2023