Kinetics overcome thermodynamics in primitive analogs of the reverse tricarboxylic acid cycle
Abstract
) that could lower the major transition state barriers. This exploration reveals that the uncatalyzed rTCA pathway lies in a reaction neighborhood that is thermodynamically favored, but several key steps are kinetically challenging in the absence of catalysis owing to competitive intramolecular side-reactions and the absence of favorable parallel cycles. The kinetic modeling also provides intermediates that would accumulate in an uncatalyzed environment, serving as prebiotic signposts.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Origins and Evolution of Life
Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
Chemical Reaction Mechanisms
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Chemical Science
- Publisher
- Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 6197–6207
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN