TY - JOUR TI - The evolution of biological & geochemical electron transfer reactions DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3VD6WG9 PY - 2013 AB - The chemistry of life is characterized by a set of oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions far from thermodynamic equilibrium. In this thesis, I examine geological and biological electron transfer systems that would have enabled the existence of self-replicating and energy-transducing organic matter, the origin of life. In chapter 1, I give a brief overview of the topic, which is covered in greater detail in chapters 2,3 and 4. In chapter 2, I demonstrate that photo-induced abiological electron transfer reaction of iron-bearing minerals could have contributed to the oxidation of Earth's atmosphere in the Precambrian and provided reductants for early organisms. In chapter 3, I examine a probable evolutionary pathway of early metalloenzymes. Using bacterial ferredoxins as an example, I show how early protoenzymes, capable of electron transfer reactions, may have evolved from iron-sulfur mineral surfaces. In chapter 4, I reveal structural relationships across metal-binding protein folds that are capable of electron transfer reactions. KW - Chemistry and Chemical Biology KW - Oxidation-reduction reaction LA - eng ER -