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Cited by 37Origins and Evolution of LifeMicrobial Community Ecology and PhysiologyRNA and protein synthesis mechanisms

Hyperthermophily and the origin and earliest evolution of life

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Islas, Sara, Velasco, Ana M., Becerra, Arturo, Delaye, Luis, Lazcano, Antonio·2003·International Microbiology
DOI 10.1007/s10123-003-0113-4
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Abstract

The possibility of a high-temperature origin of life has gained support based on indirect evidence of a hot, early Earth and on the basal position of hyperthermophilic organisms in rRNA-based phylogenies. However, although the availability of more than 80 completely sequenced cellular genomes has led to the identification of hyperthermophilic-specific traits, such as a trend towards smaller genomes, reduced protein-encoding gene sizes, and glutamic-acid-rich simple sequences, none of these characteristics are in themselves an indication of primitiveness. There is no geological evidence for the physical setting in which life arose, but current models suggest that the Earth's surface cooled down rapidly. Moreover, at 100 degrees C the half-lives of several organic compounds, including ribose, nucleobases, and amino acids, which are generally thought to have been essential for the emergence of the first living systems, are too short to allow for their accumulation in the prebiotic environment. Accordingly, if hyperthermophily is not truly primordial, then heat-loving lifestyles may be relics of a secondary adaptation that evolved after the origin of life, and before or soon after separation of the major lineages.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s10123-003-0113-4

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  • Low-temperature scenarios for life's origin and early evolution are plausible given the environment.

    “These observations suggest that low-temperature scenarios for the origin and early evolution of life are environmentally plausible, while the hot-start model presents challenges for the stability and accumulation of prebiotically significant compounds (Islas et al. 2003).”

    From Environmental Adaptation from the Origin of Life to the Last Universal Common Ancestor (2018) · cites this paper as Islas et al. 2003

  • A hot-start model faces difficulties with the stability and buildup of prebiotic compounds.

    “These observations suggest that low-temperature scenarios for the origin and early evolution of life are environmentally plausible, while the hot-start model presents challenges for the stability and accumulation of prebiotically significant compounds (Islas et al. 2003).”

    From Environmental Adaptation from the Origin of Life to the Last Universal Common Ancestor (2018) · cites this paper as Islas et al. 2003

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Authors
Islas, S., Velasco, A. M., Becerra, A., Delaye, L., & Lazcano, A.
Affiliations
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX)
Corresponding author
Lazcano, Antonio
ORCID
Venue
International Microbiology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2003-06-01
Volume
6
Issue
2
Pages
87-94
ISSN
  • 1139-6709 (ISSN-L)
  • 1618-1905
DOI
10.1007/s10123-003-0113-4
OpenAlex
W2163993929
Cited by
37
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2
FWCI
1.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • International Microbiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Estudis Romànics (Institut d'Estudis Catalans) (submittedVersion)
  • Hispana (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • University of California, San Diego
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
Keywords
hyperthermophiles, origin of life, early evolution of life, rRNA phylogeny, genome size reduction, prebiotic chemistry, ribose, nucleobases, amino acids, secondary adaptation
MeSH terms
Origin of Life, Adaptation, Physiological, Archaea, DNA, Biological Evolution, Hot Temperature, Models, Biological, Prokaryotic Cells, RNA, Ribosomal, Genome

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