Simultaneous synthesis of thioesters and iron-sulfur clusters in water: two universal components of energy metabolism.

Thioesters are important intermediates in both synthetic organic and biosynthetic reaction pathways. Here we show that thioesters can be synthesized in an aqueous reaction between thioacetate and thiols. The reaction can be coupled to a second reaction between sulfide and either ferrous or ferric iron, which drives the reaction forward. We furthermore demonstrate that sulfide released during thioester formation can be used in the synthesis of peptide bound [Fe-S] clusters, which like thioesters, are ancient components of metabolism. Together our results reveal a primordial linkage between high-energy ester formation and redox chemistry.