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Primitive Dark-Phase Cycle of Photosynthesis at the Origin of Life

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Abstract

Simple phosphorylation, isomerization, and aldolisation reactions starting from glyceraldehyde have the potential to lead to the synthesis of pre-ribonucleotide polymers through a primitive form of the Calvin cycle (dark phase of photosynthesis) involving the unusual formation of phospho-nonulose phosphate and phospho-deculose phosphate, as key intermediates. These reactions involve activated phosphates which are generated from schreibersite minerals, geochemically available in Hadean times.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Génétique de Maladies Rares EA7402, Institut Universitaire de Recherche Clinique, Université de Montpellier, 34000, Montpellier, France

    Michel Koenig

  2. Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire, Institut Universitaire de Recherche Clinique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, 641 avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34093, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Michel Koenig

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  1. Michel Koenig
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Correspondence to Michel Koenig.

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Koenig, M. Primitive Dark-Phase Cycle of Photosynthesis at the Origin of Life. J Mol Evol 86, 167–171 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00239-018-9840-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00239-018-9840-1

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