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Front Microbiol October 2021 PMID 34759911

Pyrophosphate and Irreversibility in Evolution, or why PP Is Not an Energy Currency and why Nature Chose Triphosphates.

Jessica L E Wimmer, Karl Kleinermanns, William F Martin

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Mentions

11
Peak: 4 in Oct 2021
across 3 sources since Oct 2021

Extended reach

18,604
potential audience

Total likes

36

Video views

297

Mentions per month

Oct 2021 – Jan 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter9 posts
  • YouTube1 videos
  • News1 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discourse displays strong interest and detailed engagement, with posts like the one sharing a link to exploration and discussions emphasizing the significance of PPi's role, such as 'PPi hydrolysis is an ancient mechanism that imparts irreversibility.' The tone and content reflect both curiosity and support for the ideas, highlighting its potential to reshape understanding of metabolic evolution.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions recognize and support the core conclusion that pyrophosphate (PPi) isn't an energy currency, aligning with the publication's findings.

InterestHigh interest

The discussions show high curiosity about the research, evident from multiple posts sharing links and reflecting ongoing thought processes.

EngagementHigh engagement

Several contributors are actively analyzing and questioning the implications, engaging with the concepts at a detailed level.

ImpactModerate impact

The conversations suggest the article could influence perspectives on metabolic evolution and biochemical mechanisms, though broad societal impact appears moderate.

Abstract in brief

  • The study shows that pyrophosphate (PP) is not used as an energy currency in biological reactions, but instead is generated as a byproduct to make reactions irreversible, supporting Kornberg's idea that PP helps direct metabolism towards growth.
  • The reactions that produce PP, like those involved in building nucleic acids and proteins, do so as part of the process, but they do not use PP for energy; ATP, with its three phosphate groups, was chosen by nature because it can control reactions in two ways—either thermodynamically or kinetically.
  • The findings suggest that PP’s role in evolution was not as an ancient energy source but as a mechanism (like a ratchet) that ensures reactions move forward, which explains why triphosphates like ATP became the universal energy currency instead.
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
ShunsukeTAGAMI
@ShunsukeTAGAMI · X

Pyrophosphate and Irreversibility in Evolution, or why PPi Is Not an Energy Currency and why Nature Chose Triphosphates "PPi hydrolysis is an ancient mechanism that imparts irreversibility" https://t.co/dKDk3h5ntW

Nov 15, 2021 · 12 likes · 4 shares · 1,296 followers View post →
Ashley Pride ⍟⃝
@APrideDesigns · X

The link if you're curious about the research rabbit hole I'm going down rn : https://t.co/NNRGHw1n1T

Jul 10, 2022 · 2 likes · 7,157 followers View post →
pennybun01
@pennybun01 · X

@JuliaB_fitness @biorxivpreprint @leecronin @carlzimmer https://t.co/LR8SkoPuar

Oct 10, 2021 · 1 like · 625 followers View post →
Shinya Fushinobu
@sugargroove · X

RT @ShunsukeTAGAMI: Pyrophosphate and Irreversibility in Evolution, or why PPi Is Not an Energy Currency and why Nature Chose Triphosphates…

Nov 15, 2021 · 4 shares · 4,144 followers View post →
Rob Field, PVC Science, UEA
@Rob_Field_Lab · X

RT @ShunsukeTAGAMI: Pyrophosphate and Irreversibility in Evolution, or why PPi Is Not an Energy Currency and why Nature Chose Triphosphates…

Nov 15, 2021 · 4 shares · 3,443 followers View post →
ShunsukeTAGAMI
@ShunsukeTAGAMI · X

@Nori_Ichihashi その辺の話はこの論文が詳しそうです（もともとはアーサー・コーンバーグがそういう議論をしてたらしいですが） https://t.co/dKDk3gOkrW

Apr 2, 2023 · 1,296 followers View post →

All mentions

ShunsukeTAGAMI
@ShunsukeTAGAMI · X

@Nori_Ichihashi その辺の話はこの論文が詳しそうです（もともとはアーサー・コーンバーグがそういう議論をしてたらしいですが） https://t.co/dKDk3gOkrW

Apr 2, 2023 · 1,296 followers View post →
Ashley Pride ⍟⃝
@APrideDesigns · X

The link if you're curious about the research rabbit hole I'm going down rn : https://t.co/NNRGHw1n1T

Jul 10, 2022 · 2 likes · 7,157 followers View post →
NaohiroKAWAMOTO
@KawamotoNaohiro · X

RT @ShunsukeTAGAMI: Pyrophosphate and Irreversibility in Evolution, or why PPi Is Not an Energy Currency and why Nature Chose Triphosphates…

Nov 15, 2021 · 4 shares · 98 followers View post →
Rob Field, PVC Science, UEA
@Rob_Field_Lab · X

RT @ShunsukeTAGAMI: Pyrophosphate and Irreversibility in Evolution, or why PPi Is Not an Energy Currency and why Nature Chose Triphosphates…

Nov 15, 2021 · 4 shares · 3,443 followers View post →
Shinya Fushinobu
@sugargroove · X

RT @ShunsukeTAGAMI: Pyrophosphate and Irreversibility in Evolution, or why PPi Is Not an Energy Currency and why Nature Chose Triphosphates…

Nov 15, 2021 · 4 shares · 4,144 followers View post →
ShunsukeTAGAMI
@ShunsukeTAGAMI · X

Pyrophosphate and Irreversibility in Evolution, or why PPi Is Not an Energy Currency and why Nature Chose Triphosphates "PPi hydrolysis is an ancient mechanism that imparts irreversibility" https://t.co/dKDk3h5ntW

Nov 15, 2021 · 12 likes · 4 shares · 1,296 followers View post →
pennybun01
@pennybun01 · X

@JuliaB_fitness @biorxivpreprint @leecronin @carlzimmer https://t.co/LR8SkoPuar

Oct 10, 2021 · 1 like · 625 followers View post →
Nesslig201
@Nesslig201 · X

@trollinbasement https://t.co/oHAzTVrbtW

Oct 7, 2021 · 103 followers View post →
Nesslig201
@Nesslig201 · X

Pyrophosphate and Irreversibility in Evolution, or why PPi Is Not an Energy Currency and why Nature Chose Triphosphates https://t.co/R5rjXStbDU https://t.co/jvpikg2ers

Oct 7, 2021 · 103 followers View post →
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