AMP Archives

Conceptual model illustrating a possible evolutionary trajectory of ATP-generating enzymes. Under prebiotic conditions with a limited amino acid repertoire, kinase-like proteins resembling Arc1-12KR or Arc1-11K may have generated ATP through ADP disproportionation (2ADP → ATP + AMP). As the amino acid alphabet expanded toward the LUCA era, this chemistry was likely superseded by the emergence of modern NDKs, which catalyze phosphoryl transfer between NTPs and NDPs, and by adenylate kinases, which catalyze the reversible reaction 2ADP ⇌ ATP + AMP. Ultimately, the evolution of rotary ATP synthases enabled efficient ATP production from ADP and inorganic phosphate. -- biorxiv.org

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

Emergence Of A Potentially Ancestral ATP-synthesizing Activity Under Prebiotic Amino Acid Constraints

by Keith CowingFebruary 25, 2026February 25, 2026

The earliest enzymes are thought to have been composed of the limited amino acid repertoire available on prebiotic Earth. However, how such compositional simplicity shaped catalytic capability remains unclear.

Summarizing figure showing all educts and products detected during simultaneous reduction of NAD+ and NMN. NMN produces more side products than NAD, possibly creating a mechanistic bottleneck for the back reaction, for which only one-time reduced nicotinamides have a comparable reducing strength – both overreduction products such as NMNH3 and hydrolysis products such as NMNH2OH could likely not compete as reducing agents in a prebiotic scenario. Consequently, only single-reduced species such 1,4-NADH and 1,4-NMNH could be coupled for reduction reactions, thus detaching the reduction from a mineral surface. Based on assessments of the redox potential, we assume 1,6-NADH being able to reduce equally well as 1,4-NADH – not accounting for possible steric hindrances. -- Research Square

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

Reduction Of NAD and NMN On Mineral Surfaces With H2 Reveals A Functional Role For The Adenosine Moiety In Prebiotic Evolution

by Keith CowingApril 8, 2025

Many cofactors share a molecular structure – adenosine – that otherwise occurs in nucleic acids. The presence of adenosine in cofactors has presented an evolutionary puzzle.

AMP

Emergence Of A Potentially Ancestral ATP-synthesizing Activity Under Prebiotic Amino Acid Constraints

Reduction Of NAD and NMN On Mineral Surfaces With H2 Reveals A Functional Role For The Adenosine Moiety In Prebiotic Evolution

Planetesimal Formation Across the Stellar Mass Spectrum and its Influence on Exoplanet-Inherited Volatile Budgets

Astronaut Training For Underground Science Expeditions

Achieving Efficient Broadband Spatial Filtering For LIFE: Status And Plan

A Comprehensive Study Of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko In The 2021/2022 Apparition. II. Colorimetry, Polarimetry, Modeling

Mars Express And Psyche Same Day Imagery of Mars