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.
The palirrhotrophic origin of energy metabolism
Origins of life ; 7 , 3
1976
Article (Journal)
English
BKL: | 44.71 Verkehrsmedizin | |
Local classification TIB: | 535/3908/4290 |
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