PROTOCELL METABOLISM - A TRANSITION FROM CHEMICAL EVOLUTION TO CELLULAR-METABOLISM

The origin of metabolism in the course of prebiotic evolution is discu ssed. The idea of succession of chemical evolution and primitive metab olism provides the basis for the authors' concept. It is suggested tha t two- and three-carbon compounds (acetic and lactic acids, glycine an d alanine) formed via chemical evolution were initial substrates for p rotocell metabolism. UV-light of the Sun was a source of energy, where as hydrogen sulfide and formic acid were sources of reducing equivalen ts. A chart for biosynthetic processes of protocell metabolism is prop osed. A mechanism for self-development of catalytic systems of the pro tocell and further development of the metabolic system are discussed.