自然的苏打水湖为RNA和膜功能提供了相容的条件,这可能使生命的起源成为可能
Zachary R Cohen1,2, Dian Ding3,4, Lijun Zhou5
1Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
PNAS nexus
|March 20, 2024
概括
苏打水湖可能通过缩前体并使RNA和膜组装成为可能,促进了早期生命. 尽管的.
科学领域:
- 天体生物学 天体生物学
- 生命的起源 研究 研究 研究
- 地质化学 地质化学
背景情况:
- 苏打水湖集中了RNA和膜的前体.
- RNA 需要双价离子 (例如 Mg2+) 才能起作用.
- 2+破坏脂肪酸膜,对早期细胞形成构成挑战.
研究的目的:
- 调查RNA和膜是否可以在苏打湖条件下一起工作.
- 确定苏打水湖是否可以支持细胞生命的出现.
主要方法:
- 收集的加拿大苏打水湖水 (高Na+,中等Mg2+,高pH).
- 在湖水中评估了非酶性RNA聚合和 ribozyme 活性.
- 在模拟的湖水中检查了脂肪酸囊泡的形成和溶液的保留.
主要成果:
- 在湖水中观察到RNA聚合和 ribozyme 酶活性.
- 迪卡诺酸和迪卡诺尔形成了囊泡,在模拟的湖水中保留了溶液.
- 在苏打湖环境中发现了RNA和膜组装的兼容条件.
结论:
- 苏打湖条件支持RNA和膜组合,这对细胞起源至关重要.
- 这些发现表明,苏打湖是地球上早期生命出现的合理环境,可能是在其他地方.
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