Steps towards the formation of a protocell: The possible role of short peptides

作者：Fishkis Maya^*

来源：Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere, 2007, 37(6): 537-553.

DOI：10.1007/s11084-007-9111-4

• protocell
• origin of life
• prebiotic chemistry
• prebiotic environments

The paper deals with molecular self-organization leading to fort-nation of a protocell. Plausible steps towards a protocell include: polymerization of peptides and oligonucleotides on mineral surfaces; coevolution of peptides and oligonucleotides with fort-nation of collectively autocatalytic sets; self-organization of short peptides into vesicles; entrapment of the peptide/oligonucleotide systems in mixed peptide and simple amphiphile membranes; and formation of functioning protocells with metabolism and cell division. The established propensity of short peptides to self-ordering and to formation of vesicles makes this sequence plausible. We further suggest that evolution of a protocell produced cellular ancestors of viruses as well as ancestors of cellular organisms.

• 出版日期2007-12