Prebiotically plausible version of pH gradient generating catalyst
Scientists create simple metal ion system could have facilitated early metabolic processes, like ATP synthesis
All known life forms generate and exploit pH gradients. There are still uncertainties over the systems that present-day organisms use but how primitive life did is even more of a mystery. In new research, however, scientists in Italy attempt to square this circle by demonstrating a simple metal ion system that could have catalysed prebiotic reactions.