NonEnzymatic · A Non-Enzymatic Gluconeogenesis and Fatty Acid Cycle
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2020-09-01 → 2022-08-31
- EU contribution
- €196,708
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
A Non-Enzymatic Gluconeogenesis and Fatty Acid Cycle
It is generally accepted that the emergence of life occurred gradually, by the natural flow of molecules in metabolism like reaction pathways, which gradually developed complexity over time. In this scenario, key pathways like the rTCA would be present and occurring without the need for enzymes, but rather catalysts like metals (homogenous and heterogenous) and when new catalysts for any one reaction were formed, they would further accelerate their own synthesis (autocatalysis). Other pathways may have their roots in a prebiotic and enzyme free world as well. The overall objective of the project was to investigate gluconeogenesis and the fatty acid cycle to evaluate if an enzyme free reaction could be plausible. Furthermore, we investigated the robustness of these catalysts in the presence of common catalyst poisons and modulators which would also be present in a prebiotic context. Since becoming self-aware, certain questions have plagued humanity, one of which is the question of the emergence of life. The project here further expands the hypothesis that life began from a bottom-up approach, where metabolism was the precursor to complexity. The overall project would solidify that not only the Wood–Ljungdahl and rTCA cycles are prebiotic in nature, but also sugar and fatty acid synthesis.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
All of life’s molecules, including genetic polymers, are built up and broken down by interwoven chemical processes collectively known as metabolism. But how did life’s chemical pathways emerge before there were genetically encoded enzymes to act as catalysts? Why does biochemistry use the reactions and pathways that it does and not others? One compelling answer to these questions is that precursors to core metabolic pathways emerged as the result of spontaneous chemical processes. Indeed, recent work from the supervisor’s lab and others has shown that much of life’s core metabolic chemistry, such as the Krebs cycle, can occur without enzymes, catalyzed by minerals and metals, to produce biochemistry’s universal building blocks. But how did these networks of pre-enzymatic chemical reactions branch out to become the biosynthetic pathways we know today? This project aims to understand the emergence of life’s anabolic pathways for the synthesis of sugars (gluconeogenesis) and fats (the fatty acid cycle), by chemically recreating them in the lab. To achieve these goals, special attention is paid to the pre-organizing and catalytic effect of mineral surfaces. The researcher will bring existing skills in homogeneous catalysis and organic chemistry, and gain new skills in analytical chemistry, heterogeneous catalysis and the chemistry of complex systems.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITE DE STRASBOURG · StrasbourgCoordinatorFrance
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union