Oxygen and the Evolution of Life
This book describes the interlaced histories of life and oxygen. It opens with the generation of the element in ancient stars, and its distribution to newly formed planets like the Earth. But free O2 was not available on the early Earth, so the first life
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Heinz Decker
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Kensal E. van Holde
Oxygen and the Evolution of Life
Professor Dr. Heinz Decker Institut fu¨r Molekulare Biophysik Johannes Gutenberg-Universita¨t Mainz Jakob Welder Weg. 26 55128 Mainz, Germany [email protected]
Kensal E. van Holde Distinguished Professor Emeritus Dept of Biochemistry and Biophysics Oregon State University Corvallis OR 97331 USA [email protected]
ISBN 978-3-642-13178-3 e-ISBN 978-3-642-13179-0 DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-13179-0 # Springer Heidelberg Dordrecht London New York # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Violations are liable to prosecution under the German Copyright Law. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Cover illustration: Different oxygen transport (respiratory) proteins developed after concentration increased some billion years ago: earthworm hemoglobin (red), arthropod (scorpion), mollusc hemocyanin (cephalopod) (front cover, clockwise) and the myriapod (back cover); see also Fig. 5.8. The molecules artwork are courtesy of Ju¨rgen Markl, Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Cover design: WMXDesign GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer ScienceþBusiness Media (www.springer.com)
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Preface
This book has a curious history. It evolved, like its subject, from a much simpler beginning. Both the authors have had long-standing common interests in the proteins and processes of oxygen transport in animals. During a sabbatical year that KvH spent in the laboratory of HD, our discussions broadened to encompass the much deeper question as to how oxygen transport, and indeed oxygen utilization, were related to the evolution of life. As we considered the geological and paleontological evidence, it became clear that changes in the earth’s atmosphere and biological evolution have been, and continue to be, interrelated in complex and fascinating ways. Furthermore, these relationships have important implications for human health and humanity’s future. Thus, the book grew outward from its original focus on oxygen transport, sometimes into areas in which we must confess less confidence than we would like. But, we must ask the reader’s indulgence, for we feel that the fascination of the whole story such that it is vital to try to tell it. One of
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