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Synthesis 2021; 53(16): 2798-2808
DOI: 10.1055/a-1472-7914
short review

Sulfur Amino Acids: From Prebiotic Chemistry to Biology and Vice Versa

Sparta Youssef-Saliba
,
Yannick Vallée  ∗
The research was funded by Agence Nationale de la Recherche in the framework of the Investissements d’Avenir program (ANR-15-IDEX-02), through the funding of the ‘Origin of Life’ project of the Université Grenoble-Alpes, Labex ARCANE, and CBH-EUR-GS (ANR-17-EURE-0003).
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Abstract

Two sulfur-containing amino acids are included in the list of the 20 classical protein amino acids. A methionine residue is introduced at the start of the synthesis of all current proteins. Cysteine, thanks to its thiol function, plays an essential role in a very large number of catalytic sites. Here we present what is known about the prebiotic synthesis of these two amino acids and homocysteine, and we discuss their introduction into primitive peptides and more elaborate proteins.

1 Introduction

2 Sulfur Sources

3 Prebiotic Synthesis of Cysteine

4 Prebiotic Synthesis of Methionine

5 Homocysteine and Its Thiolactone

6 Methionine and Cystine in Proteins

7 Prebiotic Scenarios Using Sulfur Amino Acids

8 Introduction of Cys and Met in the Genetic Code

9 Conclusion

Key words

prebiotic chemistry - abiogenesis - cysteine - methionine - homocysteine - peptides - proteins


Publication History

Received: 11 February 2021

Accepted after revision: 01 April 2021

Accepted Manuscript online:
01 April 2021

Article published online:
22 April 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved

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