# Simplified ancestral enzyme makes ATP without amino acid needed for its usual reaction

- Source: Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories
- Published: 2026-10-29T23:00:06+00:00
- Category: Science
- Original: https://phys.org/news/2026-10-ancestral-enzyme-atp-amino-acid.html
- Canonical: https://groundlevelnews.com/story/simplified-ancestral-enzyme-makes-atp-without-amino-acid-needed-for-it-ae38f8/

Proteins perform essential functions in living organisms, from catalyzing biochemical reactions to supporting cellular energy metabolism. Their functions depend on their amino acid composition and three-dimensional structures. However, early proteins may have evolved when fewer amino acid types were available than those used by most modern proteins.

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