Section 3: Energetics of Life Flashcards
(204 cards)
3 key common features of life
Proton gradients
Reducing power (FAD/FADH, NAD+/NADH, Fe2+/Fe3+, FeS compounds)
ATP (energy currency)
Proton gradients
Essentially universal for metabolism by all living organisms
An energy-coupling mechanism that uses energy stored in the form of an H+ gradient across a membrane to drive cellular work
Proton gradients - mitochondria
Energy for gradient from: food
Proton gradient concentrated in: intermembrane space
Proton gradients - bacteria
Energy for gradient from: nutrients
Proton gradient concentrated in: intermembrane space
Proton gradients - chloroplasts
Energy for gradient from: light
Proton gradient concentrated in: thylakoid lumen
Electron donor AKA
Reducing agent
Electron acceptor AKA
Oxidising agent
Oxygen is an example of a(n) _____ agent
Oxidising
What is ferredoxin
An example of an FeS compound
What does nature use to produce cellular products
Both reducing power and ATP
What are NAD(P)H and ATP widely used in
Widely used in metabolism to reduce CO2
Structure of NAD+, NADP+ and FAD
Share structural similarities
NADP+ is NAD+ except with a phosphate group attached to the ribose sugar
FAD also structurally similar
(must be able to recognise the structures!)
Levels of NAD+ and NADH that indicate energy state of a cell
Low NADH compared to NAD+ = low energy
High NADH compared to NAD+ = high energy
What was present in LUCA
Proton gradients
Reducing power (ferredoxin)
ATP
What did LUCA’s metabolism rely on
Relied on using H2 as an energy source to reduce CO2
O2 was largely absent –> very reducing atmosphere
LUCA genes
Those of a strictly anaerobic H2-dependent thermophilic
Genetic data places LUCA in a ___ setting, rich in ____
Hydrothermal vent setting
H2, CO2, transition metals, sulfur
Lots of abundant Fe2+
LUCA might have evolved at…
Alkaline hydrothermal vents
White smokers
Chimneys characterised by barium, calcium and silicon deposit which are white
What did the alkaline vent provide
Provided a natural proton gradient
Ocean had pH 6 and vent had pH 9
pH = ?
-log10 [H+]
Each pH unit represents a 10-fold change in H+ conc
Hadean ocean - H+ conc
Contained 1000x more H+ than the alkaline vent
What led to the reduction of CO2 by hydrogen
A combination of proton gradients and reducing power (FeS clusters)
Vents: Reduction of CO2 by H - steps
H2 within vent transfers its e- to FeS clusters at vent interface
FeS clusters transfer these e- to CO2 to reduce it to formic acid (HCOOH) and more reduced compounds (CH2O)