How did metabolism and genetic replication get married?

Area of Science:

• Origin of Life Research
• Cellular Metabolism and Replication
• Prebiotic Chemistry and Ecology

Background:

• The fundamental link between metabolism and genetic replication is crucial for understanding life's origins.
• Prebiotic systems likely involved structures and interfacial catalysis, such as composomes.
• Modern cellular structures may descend from these early assemblies, influencing cell cycle control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the origins of the metabolism-replication relationship through a prebiotic composome ecology.
• To propose a new model (Accordion model) for the co-evolution of metabolism, replication, and cell division.
• To understand how early cellular structures and interfacial dynamics governed fundamental life processes.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of prebiotic systems and early cellular structures (composomes).
• Postulation of the Accordion model to explain the integration of metabolism and replication.
• Examination of hyperstructures in modern bacteria as descendants of prebiotic assemblies.

Main Results:

• Functional assemblies of macromolecules (hyperstructures) in modern bacteria are proposed descendants of composomes.
• Interactions at the hyperstructure level are suggested to control the cell cycle.
• The Accordion model integrates metabolism, replication, differentiation, and division at prebiotic interfaces.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the cell cycle is key to deciphering the original metabolism-replication coupling.
• New concepts like metabolic signalling, sensing, and Dualism are needed to explain population-level survival and growth strategies.
• The Accordion model provides a framework for how early life integrated core functions at structural interfaces.