David Nield
Scientists have precisely simulated the conditions of the earliest Earth in its history, about 4.6 billion years ago, hoping to unlock a more accurate understanding of how amino acids create the first components needed for life. Joining together amino acids form proteins that play many vital roles in organisms. This new research is designed to help understand why a particular group of 20 ‘canonical’ amino acids is used repeatedly in protein production, when there are many more to choose from.
MYSTERIOUS SELECTION PROCESS
These 20 amino acids are thought to be made up of 10 ‘primitive’ acids from the formation Earth’s atmosphere and meteorite fragments, and 10 ‘successor’ acids added later; however, it is not known how the selection process works when it comes to the last 10 amino acids.
Stephen Fried, a chemist at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, USA, says, “From humans to bacteria and archaea*, you find the same amino acids in every organism, and that’s because everything on earth has an origin with an organism that is the ancestor of all living things. “We explain the events that shaped the process of this ancestor’s assimilation of the amino acids it contained.”
The researchers revealed that by reconfiguring primitive protein synthesis, ancient organic compounds would select amino acids that were best at making proteins fit and tailor them for specific functions. In other words, even at this stage, a process of evolution or natural selection was at work: Those chosen were those most suited to a particular job, rather than the most readily available amino acids. Scientists have determined that billions of years ago, if other amino acids were chosen as part of the core group, it would not be very efficient in carrying out the process of building the building blocks of life.
EVOLUTION MAY HAVE OCCURRED BEFORE BIOLOGY
“Protein shaping basically allowed us to evolve even before life appeared on our planet,” Fried says. “You may have evolved before you got a biology; “You may have natural selection for chemicals that are beneficial to life even before DNA is formed.”
Molecules, including proteins, are thought to have begun to assemble simple organisms about 3.8 billion years ago; And yet, there’s an earlier chapter in Earth’s history that scientists were more than keen to explore. In particular, the team conducting the research found that the 10 ‘successor’ amino acids were chosen for their ability to shape proteins and ensure DNA replication. [kendini kopyalamasını] and it makes possible the production of proteins that drive life.
This research can teach us more about the potential of microorganisms living on other planets and on our own planet: The same amino acids transported to Earth via meteorites can be found in many other places in the Universe. “The universe seems to love amino acids,” Fried says. “Maybe if we found life on a different planet it wouldn’t be so different from ours.”
The research was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
*Archaea, (Archaea or Archaebacteria) are a major division of living organisms.
Original article Scitech Alert taken from the website. (Translated by Tarkan Tufan)
