It’s unclear how protometabolic reactions emerged and evolved into extant metabolic pathways such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Now, it has been shown that cyanide acts as a mild and efficient reducing agent, mediating abiotic transformations of tricarboxylic acid intermediates and derivatives.
- Mahipal Yadav
- Sunil Pulletikurti
- Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy