Activation chemistry drives the emergence of functionalised protocells.

Chemical Science
Claudia BonfioJohn Sutherland

Abstract

The complexity of the simplest conceivable cell suggests that the chemistry of prebiotic mixtures needs to be explored to understand the intricate network of prebiotic reactions that led to the emergence of life. Early cells probably relied upon compatible and interconnected chemistries to link RNA, peptides and membranes. Here we show that several types of vesicles, composed of prebiotically plausible mixtures of amphiphiles, spontaneously form and sustain the methyl isocyanide-mediated activation of amino acids, peptides and nucleotides. Activation chemistry also drives the advantageous conversion of reactive monoacylglycerol phosphates into inert cyclophospholipids, thus supporting their potential role as major constituents of protocells. Moreover, activation of prebiotic building blocks within fatty acid-based vesicles yields lipidated species capable of localising to and functionalising primitive membranes. Our findings describe a potentially prebiotic scenario in which the components of primitive cells undergo activation and provide new species that might have enabled an increase in the functionality of protocells.

References

Sep 5, 1978·Biochemistry·W R Hargreaves, D W Deamer
Jul 27, 1983·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·P WilliamsonR A Schlegel
Jun 6, 2008·Nature·Sheref S MansyJack W Szostak
May 16, 2009·Nature·Jack W Szostak
Apr 11, 2012·Angewandte Chemie·Jeremy S HudsonGreg Springsteen
May 23, 2013·Nature Chemistry·Katarzyna Adamala, Jack W Szostak
Nov 1, 2013·Chemical Reviews·Kepa Ruiz-MirazoAndrés de la Escosura
Mar 13, 2014·Annual Review of Biochemistry·J Craig Blain, Jack W Szostak
Mar 25, 2015·Nature Chemistry·Bhavesh H PatelJohn D Sutherland
Dec 14, 2016·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Enver Cagri IzguJack W Szostak
Mar 25, 2017·Nature Chemistry·Shunsuke TagamiPhilipp Holliger
Apr 19, 2017·Chemical Society Reviews·Gonen AshkenasyAnnette F Taylor
Nov 24, 2017·Nature Chemistry·Claudia BonfioSheref S Mansy
Jan 24, 2018·Nature Chemistry·Clémentine GibardRamanarayanan Krishnamurthy
Jul 3, 2018·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Angelica MarianiJohn D Sutherland
Feb 16, 2019·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Claudia BonfioJohn D Sutherland
Aug 14, 2019·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Caitlin E CornellSarah L Keller

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 22, 2021·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Nicholas J GreenJohn D Sutherland
Dec 23, 2020·Dalton Transactions : an International Journal of Inorganic Chemistry·Claudia Bonfio
Sep 2, 2021·JACS Au·Ö Duhan ToparlakSheref S Mansy
Oct 2, 2021·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Roger Rubio-SánchezClaudia Bonfio

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
confocal microscopy
myristoylation
NMR
FRET

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.