Iron: Life's primeval transition metal

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Johnson, Jena E.; Present, Theodore M.; Valentine, Joan Selverstone
• 署名单位: University of Michigan System; University of Michigan; California Institute of Technology; University of California System; University of California Los Angeles
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-10211
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318692121
• 发表日期: 2024-09-17
• 关键词: sulfur clusters; chemistry; manganese; ocean; EVOLUTION; enzymes; constraints; catalysis; membrane; proteins

摘要

Modern life requires many different metal ions, which enable diverse biochemical functions. It is commonly assumed that metal ions' environmental availabilities controlled the evolution of early life. We argue that evolution can only explore the chemistry that life encounters, and fortuitous chemical interactions between metal ions and biological compounds can only be selected for if they first occur sufficiently frequently. We calculated maximal transition metal ion concentrations in the ancient ocean, determining that the amounts of biologically important transition metal ions were orders of magnitude lower than ferrous iron. Under such conditions, primitive bioligands would predominantly interact with Fe(II). While interactions with other metals in certain environments may have provided evolutionary opportunities, the biochemical capacities of Fe(II), Fe-S clusters, or the plentiful magnesium and calcium could have satisfied all functions needed by early life. Primitive organisms could have used Fe(II) exclusively for their transition metal ion requirements.