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The first living systems: a bioenergetic perspective

D W Deamer1

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz 95064, USA. deamer@hydrogen.ucsc.edu

Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews : MMBR
|June 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary
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Early life likely self-assembled from organic molecules on prebiotic Earth, requiring energy sources for polymer synthesis. Researchers explored how molecular aggregates captured energy for bond formation in protocells.

Area of Science:

  • Origin of life studies
  • Prebiotic chemistry
  • Molecular self-assembly

Background:

  • The emergence of life required molecular systems capable of self-assembly and polymer synthesis.
  • Activating monomers for polymer formation necessitates accessible energy sources on the prebiotic Earth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore potential energy sources for prebiotic polymer synthesis.
  • To investigate mechanisms for energy capture by self-assembled molecular aggregates.
  • To model encapsulated polymerases within liposomes to study nucleic acid accumulation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of potential energy sources: heat, light, chemical energy, and ionic potentials.
  • Focus on mechanisms of energy capture by self-assembled systems.
  • Laboratory modeling using liposomes encapsulating polymerases and adjusting lipid permeability.
Keywords:
NASA Discipline ExobiologyNon-NASA Center

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Main Results:

  • Exploration of various energy sources (heat, light, chemical, ionic gradients) for polymer synthesis.
  • Demonstration of liposome encapsulation of polymerases leading to nucleic acid accumulation.
  • Identification of challenges in coupling free energy from light, ion gradients, or redox potential to polymer formation.

Conclusions:

  • Membranous vesicles may have encapsulated replicating and catalytic macromolecules on the prebiotic Earth.
  • Liposome models show promise for studying protocellular functions like polymer synthesis.
  • A clear mechanism for coupling free energy to polymer bond formation in protocells remains elusive.