Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic Environments
A basic problem in all postulated pathways of prebiotic chemistry is the low concentration which generally is expected for interesting reactants in fluid environments. Even though compounds, like nucleobases, sugars or peptides, principally may form spontaneously under environmental conditions, they...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/7/1/3 |
| _version_ | 1811187122785222656 |
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| author | Christian Mayer Ulrich Schreiber María J. Dávila |
| author_facet | Christian Mayer Ulrich Schreiber María J. Dávila |
| author_sort | Christian Mayer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A basic problem in all postulated pathways of prebiotic chemistry is the low concentration which generally is expected for interesting reactants in fluid environments. Even though compounds, like nucleobases, sugars or peptides, principally may form spontaneously under environmental conditions, they will always be rapidly diluted in an aqueous environment. In addition, any such reaction leads to side products which often exceed the desired compound and generally hamper the first steps of a subsequent molecular evolution. Therefore, a mechanism of selection and accumulation of relevant prebiotic compounds seems to be crucial for molecular evolution. A very efficient environment for selection and accumulation can be found in the fluid continuum circulating in tectonic fault zones. Vesicles which form spontaneously at a depth of approximately 1 km present a selective trap for amphiphilic molecules, especially for peptides composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids in a suitable sequence. The accumulation effect is shown in a numeric simulation on a simplified model. Further, possible mechanisms of a molecular evolution in vesicle membranes are discussed. Altogether, the proposed scenario can be seen as an ideal environment for constant, undisturbed molecular evolution in and on cell-like compartments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:56:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-29e1e96540a54bd6b9cdcdce7633c312 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:56:52Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-29e1e96540a54bd6b9cdcdce7633c3122022-12-22T04:20:13ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292017-01-0171310.3390/life7010003life7010003Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic EnvironmentsChristian Mayer0Ulrich Schreiber1María J. Dávila2Institute of Physical Chemistry, CENIDE University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, GermanyDepartment of Geology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, GermanyDepartment of Geology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, GermanyA basic problem in all postulated pathways of prebiotic chemistry is the low concentration which generally is expected for interesting reactants in fluid environments. Even though compounds, like nucleobases, sugars or peptides, principally may form spontaneously under environmental conditions, they will always be rapidly diluted in an aqueous environment. In addition, any such reaction leads to side products which often exceed the desired compound and generally hamper the first steps of a subsequent molecular evolution. Therefore, a mechanism of selection and accumulation of relevant prebiotic compounds seems to be crucial for molecular evolution. A very efficient environment for selection and accumulation can be found in the fluid continuum circulating in tectonic fault zones. Vesicles which form spontaneously at a depth of approximately 1 km present a selective trap for amphiphilic molecules, especially for peptides composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids in a suitable sequence. The accumulation effect is shown in a numeric simulation on a simplified model. Further, possible mechanisms of a molecular evolution in vesicle membranes are discussed. Altogether, the proposed scenario can be seen as an ideal environment for constant, undisturbed molecular evolution in and on cell-like compartments.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/7/1/3origin of lifeselectionaccumulationprebiotic chemistrymolecular evolutionvesicles |
| spellingShingle | Christian Mayer Ulrich Schreiber María J. Dávila Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic Environments Life origin of life selection accumulation prebiotic chemistry molecular evolution vesicles |
| title | Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic Environments |
| title_full | Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic Environments |
| title_fullStr | Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic Environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic Environments |
| title_short | Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic Environments |
| title_sort | selection of prebiotic molecules in amphiphilic environments |
| topic | origin of life selection accumulation prebiotic chemistry molecular evolution vesicles |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/7/1/3 |
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