title: Transient compartmentalization of RNA replicators prevents extinction due to parasites.
abstract: The appearance of molecular replicators (molecules that can be copied) was probably a critical step in the origin of life. However, parasitic replicators would take over and would have prevented life from taking off unless the replicators were compartmentalized in reproducing protocells. Paradoxically, control of protocell reproduction would seem to require evolved replicators. We show here that a simpler population structure, based on cycles of transient compartmentalization (TC) and mixing of RNA replicators, is sufficient to prevent takeover by parasitic mutants. TC tends to select for ensembles of replicators that replicate at a similar rate, including a diversity of parasites that could serve as a source of opportunistic functionality. Thus, TC in natural, abiological compartments could have allowed life to take hold.
authors.affiliation: École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris (ESPCI Paris), CNRS UMR 8231, 10 Rue Vauquelin, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.|Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), CNRS UMR 7006, Université de Strasbourg, 8 Allée Gaspard Monge, BP 70028, 67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France.|Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, 3190 Gofuku, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeyoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.affiliation: Parmenides Center for the Conceptual Foundations of Science, Munich/Pullach, Germany.|MTA-ELTE-MTM Ecology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Ádám
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Kun
authors.affiliation: Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), CNRS UMR 7006, Université de Strasbourg, 8 Allée Gaspard Monge, BP 70028, 67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France.|Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, CNRS UPR 9002, Université de Strasbourg, 67084 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryckelynck
authors.affiliation: Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), CNRS UMR 7006, Université de Strasbourg, 8 Allée Gaspard Monge, BP 70028, 67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Faith
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coldren
authors.affiliation: Parmenides Center for the Conceptual Foundations of Science, Munich/Pullach, Germany.|MTA-ELTE Theoretical Biology and Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szilágyi
authors.affiliation: Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, CNRS UPR 9002, Université de Strasbourg, 67084 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jossinet
authors.affiliation: Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), CNRS UMR 7006, Université de Strasbourg, 8 Allée Gaspard Monge, BP 70028, 67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France.|Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, CNRS UPR 9002, Université de Strasbourg, 67084 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rick
authors.affiliation: École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris (ESPCI Paris), CNRS UMR 8231, 10 Rue Vauquelin, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nghe
authors.affiliation: Parmenides Center for the Conceptual Foundations of Science, Munich/Pullach, Germany. szathmary.eors@gmail.com andrew.griffiths@espci.fr.|MTA-ELTE-MTM Ecology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.|Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary.|Conflict and Cooperation in Evolutionary Systems Program, Institute of Advanced Studies, Kőszeg, Hungary.
authors.forename: Eörs
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szathmáry
authors.affiliation: École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris (ESPCI Paris), CNRS UMR 8231, 10 Rue Vauquelin, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France. szathmary.eors@gmail.com andrew.griffiths@espci.fr.|Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), CNRS UMR 7006, Université de Strasbourg, 8 Allée Gaspard Monge, BP 70028, 67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D058045:Artificial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D055162:Biocatalysis; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000737:chemistry; D066292:Lipid Droplets / Q000737:chemistry; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D000069497:Origin of Life; D011777:Q beta Replicase / Q000737:chemistry; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry; D013269:Stochastic Processes
chemical_list: D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D012313:RNA; D011777:Q beta Replicase; D004722:Endoribonucleases; C438195:varkud satellite ribozyme