A groundbreaking study by Duke University researchers reveals electrical activity within biological condensates, cellular structures previously thought to lack such properties. Traditionally, scientists believed that electrical imbalances essential for biological functions existed solely across cellular membranes. This new research indicates that similar electrical fields can also be found within and surrounding biological condensates, which exist without a physical membrane boundary. These imbalances may trigger reactive oxygen or “redox” reactions, challenging existing concepts in biological chemistry and potentially explaining how early life forms harnessed energy on Earth.
The study, published in the journal Chem, highlights the importance of these condensates in cellular functioning, indicating they may have a critical chemical role beyond their recognized biological functions. The findings suggest that condensates might have provided the energy necessary for prebiotic reactions, compounding our understanding of life’s energy origins. Researchers demonstrated the electrical behavior of condensates by creating synthetic versions and inducing reactions that resulted in detectable glowing signals.
This work posits that the energy for early life could have derived from the redox processes occurring within biological condensates, expanding the implications for various scientific fields and prompting a reevaluation of our understanding of cellular biochemistry.