Synthesis and Characterization of Amino Acid Decyl Esters as Early Membranes for the Origins of Life
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Updated: Aug 28, 2025

In Vesiculo Synthesis of Peptide Membrane Precursors for Autonomous Vesicle Growth
Published on: June 28, 2019
Isabella Lago1, Lissa Black1, Maximillian Wilfinger1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Central Connecticut State University, 1615 Stanley St., New Britain, CT 06050, USA.
Abstract:
Understanding how membrane forming amphiphiles are synthesized and aggregate in prebiotic settings is required for understanding the origins of life on Earth 4 billion years ago. Amino acids decyl esters were prepared by dehydration of decanol and amino acid as a model for a plausible prebiotic reaction at two temperatures. Fifteen amino acids were tested with a range of side chain chemistries to understand the role of amino acid identity on synthesis and membrane formation. Products were analyzed using LC-MS as well as microscopy. All amino acids tested produced decyl esters, and some of the products formed membranes when rehydrated in ultrapure water. One of the most abundant prebiotic amino acids, alanine, was remarkably easy to get to generate abundant, uniform membranes, indicating that this could be a selection mechanism for both amino acids and their amphiphilic derivatives.
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