Enzyme-free reaction cycles hint at primitive precursor to metabolism
Reactions between small carboxylates and a hydrogen peroxide catalyst resemble the modern citric acid cycle
Researchers have identified two linked, enzyme-free reaction cycles that could have jumpstarted metabolism in early living organisms. Theories about the origin of life envision creating sugars, proteins and nucleic acids for early cells using self-sustaining cycles of chemical reactions. Typically, researchers look to modern biochemistry for clues to cycles that could be primitive precursors to metabolism.