Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Origin of Cellular Life01:24

Origin of Cellular Life

116
The origin of life on Earth is a complex and enigmatic event rooted in ancient biochemical processes and geological conditions. Experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that life began with the spontaneous formation of organic molecules such as RNA nucleotides, amino acids, and lipids under early Earth conditions. Factors like volcanic activity, intense UV radiation, and a reducing atmosphere without free oxygen likely facilitated these reactions. Hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor are...
116
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs01:15

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

1.3K
Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation.
1.3K
Other Glycolytic Pathways01:24

Other Glycolytic Pathways

1.1K
The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) operates in parallel with glycolysis, facilitating the metabolism of both pentoses and glucose. This pathway consists of two distinct phases: the oxidative and non-oxidative phases. While it does not directly generate ATP, the intermediates formed during the process can integrate into glycolysis, contributing to cellular energy metabolism when required.Oxidative Phase: NADPH ProductionThe oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway is primarily...
1.1K
Biosynthesis in Bacteria01:24

Biosynthesis in Bacteria

1.0K
Biosynthesis in bacteria is a fundamental anabolic process that generates essential macromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides. These macromolecules are critical for cellular growth, replication, and function. The process is tightly regulated and energetically linked to catabolic pathways to ensure optimal resource utilization.Biosynthetic pathways begin with precursor metabolites such as pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, and glucose-6-phosphate derived from glycolysis,...
1.0K
Overview of Metabolism01:40

Overview of Metabolism

25.7K
Living cells constantly carry out various chemical reactions which are necessary for their proper functioning. These reactions are interlinked to one another via multiple pathways. The collection of these chemical reactions is known as metabolism.
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...
25.7K
Introduction to Metabolism01:30

Introduction to Metabolism

3.1K
Metabolism encompasses all biochemical reactions in a living organism, facilitating both the breakdown and synthesis of biomolecules. These metabolic processes are categorized into catabolic and anabolic pathways, which operate in a coordinated manner to ensure energy balance and cellular function.Catabolic Pathways and Energy ReleaseCatabolic pathways involve the breakdown of complex macromolecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins into smaller structures like monosaccharides, fatty...
3.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

XII. Conformational studies of histidine-containing peptides in solution.

Biopolymers·2020
Same author

A Chemical Model of Homeostasis.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2018
Same author

Lipase-catalyzed reactions in vesicles as an approach to vesicle self-reproduction.

Journal of liposome research·2017
Same author

Vesicle aggregates as a model for primitive cellular assemblies.

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP·2017
Same author

Protein Synthesis in Sub-Micrometer Water-in-Oil Droplets.

Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology·2015
Same author

New Insights into the Growth and Transformation of Vesicles: A Free-Flow Electrophoresis Study.

The journal of physical chemistry. B·2015
Same journal

Thermo-flux: generation and analysis of thermodynamic-stoichiometric metabolic network models.

Molecular systems biology·2026
Same journal

Paradoxical non-catalytic kinase functions are driven by inhibitor-induced displacement of autoinhibitory domains.

Molecular systems biology·2026
Same journal

E. coli prepares for starvation by dramatically remodeling its proteome in the first hours after loss of nutrients.

Molecular systems biology·2026
Same journal

Common xenobiotics modulate gut microbial responses to low‑calorie sweeteners in vitro.

Molecular systems biology·2026
Same journal

ParTIpy: a scalable framework for archetypal analysis and Pareto task inference.

Molecular systems biology·2026
Same journal

Quantitative interactome mapping of skeletal muscle insulin resistance.

Molecular systems biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Workflow Based on the Combination of Isotopic Tracer Experiments to Investigate Microbial Metabolism of Multiple Nutrient Sources
12:47

Workflow Based on the Combination of Isotopic Tracer Experiments to Investigate Microbial Metabolism of Multiple Nutrient Sources

Published on: January 22, 2018

9.0K

Prebiotic metabolic networks?

Pier Luigi Luisi1

  • 1Department of Biology, University of Roma Tre, Rome, Italy.

Molecular Systems Biology
|April 29, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers observed an enzyme-free, metabolism-like reaction network under prebiotic conditions. This finding supports the prebiotic origin of metabolism as a key step in the origin of life.

More Related Videos

Metabolic Pathway Confirmation and Discovery Through 13C-labeling of Proteinogenic Amino Acids
07:26

Metabolic Pathway Confirmation and Discovery Through 13C-labeling of Proteinogenic Amino Acids

Published on: January 26, 2012

23.0K
High-Throughput Metabolic Profiling for Model Refinements of Microalgae
11:07

High-Throughput Metabolic Profiling for Model Refinements of Microalgae

Published on: December 4, 2021

3.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Workflow Based on the Combination of Isotopic Tracer Experiments to Investigate Microbial Metabolism of Multiple Nutrient Sources
12:47

Workflow Based on the Combination of Isotopic Tracer Experiments to Investigate Microbial Metabolism of Multiple Nutrient Sources

Published on: January 22, 2018

9.0K
Metabolic Pathway Confirmation and Discovery Through 13C-labeling of Proteinogenic Amino Acids
07:26

Metabolic Pathway Confirmation and Discovery Through 13C-labeling of Proteinogenic Amino Acids

Published on: January 26, 2012

23.0K
High-Throughput Metabolic Profiling for Model Refinements of Microalgae
11:07

High-Throughput Metabolic Profiling for Model Refinements of Microalgae

Published on: December 4, 2021

3.6K

Area of Science:

  • Origin of life studies
  • Prebiotic chemistry
  • Metabolism research

Background:

  • The origin of life remains a fundamental scientific question.
  • Several scenarios propose a prebiotic origin of metabolism.
  • Understanding early metabolic pathways is crucial for origin of life research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the possibility of enzyme-free metabolic networks under prebiotic conditions.
  • To explore reaction systems that mimic metabolic processes without biological enzymes.
  • To provide experimental evidence for the prebiotic plausibility of metabolism.

Main Methods:

  • Simulated prebiotic environmental conditions.
  • Observation of enzyme-free chemical reaction networks.
  • Analysis of metabolism-like reaction pathways.
  • Utilized methodologies by Ralser and colleagues (Keller et al, 2014).

Main Results:

  • An enzyme-free reaction network exhibiting metabolism-like behavior was observed.
  • The reactions occurred under conditions mimicking a plausible prebiotic environment.
  • Demonstrated the potential for complex chemical systems to emerge without biological catalysts.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides experimental support for a prebiotic origin of metabolism.
  • Metabolism-like reactions can arise spontaneously under early Earth conditions.
  • This research contributes to understanding the chemical foundations of life's origins.