Prebiotic formation of thioesters via cyclic anhydrides as a key step in the emergence of metabolism.

ABSTRACT: Thioesters are high-energy derivatives of carboxylic acids that are essential in the functioning of today's living cells. Their central role argues in favor of their early introduction in the abiotic reaction network which led to the emergence of life on Earth. We propose that the first thioesters appeared during the establishment of the reverse tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle, an effective metabolic cycle for the synthesis of organic molecules from CO₂. Most of the acids in this cycle are 1,4-diacids. We show that the formation of a cyclic anhydride from aqueous solutions of succinic or citric acid is possible using drying conditions over silica, as it could happen in an evaporating pond. When these 1,4-diacids are dried in the presence of thiols, thioesters are obtained. Our e

SUBMITTER: El Qami A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11868630 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature