The energetics of organic synthesis inside and outside the cell
Open accessAbstract
Thermodynamic modelling of organic synthesis has largely been focused on deep-sea hydrothermal systems. When seawater mixes with hydrothermal fluids, redox gradients are established that serve as potential energy sources for the formation of organic compounds and biomolecules from inorganic starting materials. This energetic drive, which varies substantially depending on the type of host rock, is present and available both for abiotic (outside the cell) and biotic (inside the cell) processes. Here, we review and interpret a library of theoretical studies that target organic synthesis energetics. The biogeochemical scenarios evaluated include those in present-day hydrothermal systems and in putative early Earth environments. It is consistently and repeatedly shown in these studies that the formation of relatively simple organic compounds and biomolecules can be energy-yielding (exergonic) at conditions that occur in hydrothermal systems. Expanding on our ability to calculate biomass synthesis energetics, we also present here a new approach for estimating the energetics of polymerization reactions, specifically those associated with polypeptide formation from the requisite amino acids.
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The far-from-equilibrium condition is important because it harbours the potential for exergonic chemical reactions.
“The far-from-equilibrium condition is important because it harbours the potential for exergonic chemical reactions [14].”
From Early bioenergetic evolution (2013) · cites this paper as [14]
CO2 reduction and organic synthesis is thermodynamically favoured, exergonic, when reduced vent fluid mixes with more oxidized ocean water at the vent-ocean interface.
“They find that CO2 reduction and organic synthesis is thermodynamically favoured—exergonic—when reduced vent fluid mixes with more oxidized ocean water at the vent–ocean interface, and hence can take place under the conditions presented by hydrothermal vents.”
From Early bioenergetic evolution (2013) · cites this paper as [14]
The far-from-equilibrium conditions and favourable thermodynamic setting of hydrothermal vents do not indicate which chemical syntheses will occur, merely which are energetically possible.
“The far-from-equilibrium conditions and favourable thermodynamic setting of hydrothermal vents do not indicate which chemical syntheses will occur, merely which are energetically possible [14].”
From Early bioenergetic evolution (2013) · cites this paper as [14]
The foregoing would provide a mixture of H2, CO2 and NH3 similar to that assumed by Amend et al. for synthesis of chemical constituents of cells, in an environment laden with transition metal catalysts and abundant hydrothermal HS-.
“The foregoing would provide a mixture of H2, CO2 and NH3 similar to that assumed by Amend et al. [14] for synthesis of chemical constituents of cells, in an environment laden with transition metal catalysts, with abundant hydrothermal HS–.”
From Early bioenergetic evolution (2013) · cites this paper as [14]
Reducing conditions of hydrothermal vents make energetics work in favour of amino acid and peptide synthesis, so an alkaline hydrothermal vent would, in principle, be working in the right direction thermodynamically.
“Keeping in mind that the pyruvate-synthesizing enzyme of acetogens and methanogens, pyruvate synthase, is replete with FeS centres and uses acetyl-CoA, reduced Fd (Fdred) and CO2 as substrates [60], and also that reducing conditions of hydrothermal vents make energetics work in favour of amino acid and peptide synthesis [14], an alkaline hydrothermal vent would, in principle, be working in the”
From Early bioenergetic evolution (2013) · cites this paper as [14]
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References 160 · Cited by 103
- Authors
- Amend, J. P., LaRowe, D. E., McCollom, T. M., & Shock, E. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Southern California (US)
- University of Colorado Boulder (US)
- Arizona State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Amend, Jan P.
- Venue
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
- Publisher
- The Royal Society
- Published
- 2013-07-19
- Volume
- 368
- Issue
- 1622
- Pages
- 20120255
- ISSN
- 0962-8436 (ISSN-L)
- 1471-2970
- PMC
- PMC3685458
- OpenAlex
- W2112898054
- Cited by
- 103
- References
- 160
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 0.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Keywords
- hydrothermal systems, early Earth conditions, redox gradients, exergonic reactions, thermodynamic modeling, amino acids, biomass synthesis, origin of life
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Archaea, Bacteria, Cell Physiological Phenomena, Humans, Organic Chemicals, Thermodynamics
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