Scientists restored a 3.2 billion-year-old enzyme
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have achieved a significant scientific breakthrough in human history. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
They succeeded in restoring in the laboratory the oldest enzyme that existed 3.2 billion years ago. The results of this research were published in the journal "Nature Communications" and revealed new knowledge about how life originated on Earth.
The study is based on the nitrogenase enzyme. This enzyme converts atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by living organisms.
According to Professor Betul Kachar, this enzyme was crucial for the formation of the biosphere and the development of life. The scientists used the method of "reverse evolution" to restore the enzyme.
They studied the structure of modern nitrogenases, modeled its ancient form, and inserted this model into the genome of bacteria. This process allowed them to recreate the conditions of life from 3 billion years ago.
In ancient times, Earth's atmosphere was oxygen-free and rich in methane and carbon dioxide. The experiment demonstrated how life survived under these conditions.
By studying the isotopic signatures left by enzymes in rocks, chemical traces of life were identified. The most interesting aspect is that despite significant differences in DNA structure between ancient and modern nitrogenase, their nitrogen fixation mechanism has remained almost unchanged for billions of years.
This confirms the stability of life. This discovery not only enriches knowledge about Earth's history but also creates new opportunities for searching for signs of life on other planets.
Scientists can now use ancient biosignatures in space exploration. In your opinion, when searching for signs of life on other planets, are chemical markers the most reliable method, or is the likelihood of finding living organisms more realistic?
