Electron transport chains as a window into the earliest stages of evolution.

ABSTRACT: The origin and early evolution of life is generally studied under two different paradigms: bottom up and top down. Prebiotic chemistry and early Earth geochemistry allow researchers to explore possible origin of life scenarios. But for these "bottom-up" approaches, even successful experiments only amount to a proof of principle. On the other hand, "top-down" research on early evolutionary history is able to provide a historical account about ancient organisms, but is unable to investigate stages that occurred during and just after the origin of life. Here, we consider ancient electron transport chains (ETCs) as a potential bridge between early evolutionary history and a protocellular stage that preceded it. Current phylogenetic evidence suggests that ancestors of several extant ETC compone

SUBMITTER: Goldman AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10451490 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature