How the first metabolic network was organized to power a cell remains an enigma. Now, simple iron–sulfur peptides have been used to generate a pH-gradient across a protocell membrane by catalysing hydrogen peroxide reduction. This indicates that short peptides could have fulfilled the role of redox active metalloproteins in early life.
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Islam, S., Powner, M.W. Protocells realize their potential. Nat Catal 1, 569–570 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-018-0131-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-018-0131-4