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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Spontaneous Formation and Rearrangement of Artificial Lipid Nanotube Networks as a Bottom-Up Model for Endoplasmic Reticulum

Spontaneous Formation and Rearrangement of Artificial Lipid Nanotube Networks as a Bottom-Up Model for Endoplasmic Reticulum

Published on: January 22, 2019

Nanotube-Mediated Path to Protocell Formation.

Elif S Köksal¹, Susanne Liese², Ilayda Kantarci¹

¹Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine , University of Oslo , 0318 Oslo , Norway.

|June 11, 2019

Summary

Solid surfaces facilitate the spontaneous formation of lipid compartments, crucial for early life. This process, driven by energy minimization, transforms surface deposits into protocells that encapsulate their environment.

Keywords:

biomembrane interface lipid nanotube origin of life protocell

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Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Origin of Life Studies
Materials Science

Background:

Cellular compartments are essential for life, protecting biochemical reactions.
The emergence of life on early Earth likely involved the formation of compartments.
Solid surfaces are increasingly recognized as platforms for prebiotic compartment self-assembly.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the mechanism of prebiotic compartment formation on solid surfaces.
To investigate the role of surface-free energy in vesicle formation.
To understand the transition from surface-adhered lipids to functional protocells.

Main Methods:

Observation of lipid deposit transformation on solid surfaces.
Analysis of topological changes via lipid nanotube networks.
Investigation of energy minimization principles driving the process.

Main Results:

Spontaneous transformation of surface-adhered lipid deposits into unilamellar membrane compartments.
Formation proceeds through interconnected lipid nanotubes.
Vesicle formation is driven by surface-free energy minimization, without external stimuli.
Formed vesicles encapsulate external environment and can migrate.

Conclusions:

Solid surfaces provide a mechanism for the self-directed formation of prebiotic compartments.
Surface-free energy minimization is a key driver for protocell assembly.
This process links surface-bound bioamphiphile assemblies to early protocell formation.