Shedding Light on the Synthesis of Sugars Before the Origin of Life
Date | 11th, Dec 2023 |
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Source | Tokyo Institute of Technology - Organizations and Universities Websites |
DESCRIPTION
Pentoses are essential carbohydrates in the metabolism of modern lifeforms, but their availability during early Earth is unclear since these molecules are unstable. A new study led by the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, reveals a chemical pathway compatible with early Earth conditions and by which C6 aldonates could have acted as a source of pentoses without the need for enzymes. Their findings provide clues about primitive biochemistry and bring us closer to understanding the Origins of Life.