Scientists from Rutgers University (USA) in the course of laboratory studies have identified a substance that could cause the emergence of life on Earth.
This is reported by EurekAlert.
One of the most likely chemical candidates that kicked off life was a simple peptide with two nickel atoms, which the researchers named “Nickelback” – not because it is related to the famous Canadian rock band, but because of its basic nitrogen atoms. bind two critical nickel atoms.
A peptide is a building block of a protein made up of several elementary building blocks known as amino acids.
Scientists believe that somewhere between 3.5 and 3.8 billion years ago there was a tipping point: something that gave impetus to the transition from prebiotic chemistry – molecules to life – to living, biological systems, the researchers note. “We believe that these changes were caused by several small precursor proteins that performed key steps in an ancient metabolic response. And we believe that we have found one of these “pioneer peptides”.
It is noted that the results obtained by the researchers will help find life on other planets.
Exploring the universe with telescopes and probes looking for signs of past, present, or nascent life, NASA scientists are looking for specific “biosignatures” known to be harbingers of life.
Peptides such as Nickelback could be the latest biosignature used by NASA to detect life-threatening planets.
The researchers suggest that the original provocative chemical must be simple enough to spontaneously assemble into a “prebiotic soup.” But it must be chemically active enough to have the potential to take energy from the environment to start a biochemical process, the article notes.
After a number of experiments, the researchers concluded that Nickelback was the best candidate. The peptide consists of 13 amino acids and binds two nickel ions.
Nickel, they believe, was a common metal in the early oceans. When the nickel atoms bind to the peptide, they become powerful catalysts, attracting additional protons and electrons and forming hydrogen gas. Hydrogen, according to the researchers, was also more abundant on the early Earth and could have been a critical energy source for metabolism.
This is important because while there are many theories for the origin of life, there are very few actual laboratory tests of these ideas, the researchers note. “This work shows that simple protein metabolic enzymes are not only possible, but very stable and active, making them a plausible starting point for life.
Source: EurekAlert
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I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.