Abstract It is proposed that the earliest cellular organisms relied upon a novel type of energy transduction termed palirrhotrophy, which generates a high-energy ‘currency’ chemiosmotically by exploiting the rhythmic variations in salinity which occur in the estuarine environment. Calculations based on estimates of contemporary chemiosmotic transduction efficiency suggest that such a mechanism could produce usable energy in high yield. The minimum polypeptide requirement for palirrhotrophy compares favorably with that of a fermentative pathway. It is suggested that palirrhotrophic organisms exist today but are difficult to detect.


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    Title :

    The palirrhotrophic origin of energy metabolism


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1976




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English



    Classification :

    BKL:    44.71 Verkehrsmedizin
    Local classification TIB:    535/3908/4290



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