title: Metalloproteins and the pyrite-based origin of life: a critical assessment.
abstract: We critically examine the proposal by Wächtershäuser (Prokaryotes 1:275-283, 2006a, Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 361: 787-1808, 2006b) that putative transition metal binding sites in protein components of the translation machinery of hyperthermophiles provide evidence of a direct relationship with the FeS clusters of pyrite and thus indicate an autotrophic origin of life in volcanic environments. Analysis of completely sequenced cellular genomes of Bacteria, Archaea and Eucarya does not support the suggestion by Wächtershäuser (Prokaryotes 1:275-283, 2006a, Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 361: 787-1808, 2006b) that aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and ribosomal proteins bear sequence signatures typical of strong covalent metal bonding whose absence in mesophilic species reveals a process of adaptation towards less extreme environments.
authors: Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México DF, Mexico.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Rivas
authors: Arturo
authors: A
authors: Becerra
authors: Juli
authors: J
authors: Peretó
authors: Jeffrey L
authors: JL
authors: Bada
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Lazcano
mesh_terms: D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000378:metabolism; D003067:Coenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020745:Genome, Archaeal; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017015:Methanococcales / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000069497:Origin of Life; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013440:Sulfides / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D002413:Cations, Divalent; D003067:Coenzymes; D008667:Metalloproteins; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D013440:Sulfides; C011342:pyrite; D007501:Iron; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases; D015032:Zinc