Cited by 493Origins and Evolution of LifeRNA and protein synthesis mechanismsBiochemical and Molecular Research

Coenzymes as fossils of an earlier metabolic state

White, Harold B.·1976·Journal of Molecular Evolution

Abstract

A metabolic system composed of nucleic acid enzymes is proposed to have existed prior to the evolution of ribosomal protein synthesis. Vestiges of these nucleic acid enzymes persist in contemporary coenzymes. This proposal rationalizes the fact that many coenzymes are nucleotides or heterocyclic bases which could be derived from nucleotides.

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Crossref · 10.1007/bf01732468

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  • Present-day low molecular weight cofactors may have been early non-protein catalysts.

    “This notion obtains further support from the experiment-based proposals that present-day low molecular weight cofactors may have been early non-protein catalysts [32,204,205,213,214].”

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Authors
White, H. B.
Affiliations
University of Delaware (US)
Corresponding author
White, Harold B.
Venue
Journal of Molecular Evolution
Published
1976-06
Volume
7
Issue
2
Pages
101-104
ISSN
  • 0022-2844 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-1432
OpenAlex
W2050641111
Cited by
493
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 18
FWCI
1.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Molecular Evolution (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Biochemical and Molecular Research
Keywords
coenzymes, origin of metabolism, nucleic acid enzymes, ribosomal protein synthesis, prebiotic evolution, heterocyclic bases, nucleotides
MeSH terms
Coenzymes, DNA Replication, Biological Evolution, Fossils, Genes, Paleontology, Transcription, Genetic

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