Evolving lipid vesicles in prebiotic hydrothermal environments.
We compared three different kinds of lipid vesicles made of saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and phospholipids for their evolutionary capabilities in a simulated hydrothermal environment. Encapsulation of the glycine monomers enhanced the oligomerization of peptides in all cases. Fatty acid vesicles remained stable at higher temperatures and efficiently utilized heat energy for this synthetic reaction. Phospholipid vesicles were destabilized by higher temperatures, and thus were found to be better suited to enhance synthetic reactions at lower temperatures.
Furuuchi
Ryo
R
Department of BioEngineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, 940-2188, Japan.
Imai
Ei-Ichi
E
Honda
Hajime
H
Hatori
Kuniyuki
K
Matsuno
Koichiro
K
D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / Q000737:chemistry; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003652:Decanoic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D005998:Glycine / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008566:Membranes / Q000737:chemistry; D000069497:Origin of Life; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
D000596:Amino Acids; D003652:Decanoic Acids; D008055:Lipids; D010455:Peptides; D011108:Polymers; D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine; C031071:decanoic acid; D005998:Glycine