title: A Nonconventional Model of Protocell-like Vesicles: Anionic Clay Surface-Mediated Formation from a Single-Tailed Amphiphile.
abstract: We report a novel model system of precursor cellular membranes, self-assembled from micellar solution of a common anionic single-tailed amphiphile (STA), including sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS). The self-assembly process was mediated with solid surfaces of Mg2Al-CO3 hydrotalcite-like compound (HTlc), an anionic clay, in the absence of cosurfactants or any additives. The resultant STA vesicles were characterized using negative-staining and cryogenic transmission electron microscopies, as well as dynamic light scattering and steady state fluorescence techniques. Interestingly, the obtained STA vesicles displayed good stability even after the removal of the anionic clay surface (ACS), and a self-reproduction phenomenon was observed for the "preformed" STA vesicles when mixing with corresponding STA micellar solutions. More importantly, the micelle-to-vesicle transition for SDS could be still arisen in high-salinity artificial seawater under the ACS mediation. Instead of conventional fatty acid scenario, our finding provides another novel possible model for protocell-like vesicles, which are easily formed under the plausible prebiotic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Shandong University , Jinan 250100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Shandong University , Jinan 250100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ruiying
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Shandong University , Jinan 250100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Haiping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Shandong University , Jinan 250100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Shandong University , Jinan 250100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Renjie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Shandong University , Jinan 250100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wanguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008823:Micelles; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008823:Micelles; C010467:hydrotalcite; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide; C001114:dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide