Science
Simplified ancestral enzyme makes ATP without amino acid needed for its usual reaction
Source: Phys.org · Published
Proteins perform essential functions in living organisms, from catalyzing biochemical reactions to supporting cellular energy metabolism. Their functions depend on their amino acid composition and three-dimensional structures. However, early proteins may have evolved when fewer amino acid types were available than those used by most modern proteins.
Key points
- Proteins perform essential functions in living organisms, from catalyzing biochemical reactions to supporting cellular energy metabolism.
- Their functions depend on their amino acid composition and three-dimensional structures.
- However, early proteins may have evolved when fewer amino acid types were available than those used by most modern proteins.
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