New study sheds light on origins of life on Earth

The origins of life in the primordial soup of ancient Earth may be explained by the structures of the proteins that are found in it. Credit: Rutgers

The origins of life in the primordial soup of ancient Earth may be explained by the structures of the proteins that are found in it.

The journal Science Advances has a study in it.

The researchers looked at how primitive life may have started on the planet. They asked what properties define life, and concluded that anything alive would have needed to collect and use energy from sources such as the Sun.

The ability to shuffle electrons was paramount to life and the researchers decided to explore the combination of the two.

They compared all existing structures that bind metals to see if they had any common features.

The researchers designed a method that found the majority of existing metal-binding proteins are similar regardless of the type of metal they bind to or the function assigned to them.

The metal-binding core of existing proteins are similar even though they may not be, according to the study's lead author. The metal-binding cores are often made up of repeated substructures, like LEGO blocks. These blocks were found in other regions of the proteins, not just metal-binding core, and many other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other other Our observation suggests that the little building blocks may have had a single or a small number of common ancestors and given rise to the whole range of functions that are currently available.

"We have very little information about how life arose on this planet, and our work contributes a previously unavailable explanation," said Bromberg, whose research focuses on decoding the DNA blueprints of life's molecular machinery. This explanation could help us find life on other planets and planetary bodies. Synthetic biology efforts, where scientists aim to construct specifically active proteins anew, may be related to our finding of the specific structural building blocks.

The study was funded by NASA.

The origins of biological electron transfer are suggested by the structural relationships of metal-binding sites. Science.org has an article titled "Sci Adv. abj3984."

Science Advances has journal information.

A new study sheds light on the origins of life on Earth.

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