Self-reproducing catalytic micelles as nanoscopic protocell precursors

Dynamic lipid aptamers: non-polymeric chemical path to early life

“…Another study depicts micelles composed of different binary combinations of lipids that catalyze a plethora of synthetic reactions to various degrees. 29 A wide range of such lipidmediated reactions as reviewed 30 suggests that lipids may reveal a spectrum of enzyme-like catalytic capacities, acting as reaction promoters and regulators. 24…”

“…5,[31][32][33] Obviously, the institution of such mutual interaction networks requires the fulfillment of two criteria: intimate molecular proximity and capability for mutual stereospecific recognition. Supporters of a Lipid-First scenario point out that residing at or within a lipid phase (bilayers or micelles) is an excellent way to attain molecular proximity, 1,3,5,30 thus fulfilling the first criterion. Crucially, proximity is not equally promoted in the more dilute aqueous lumen of lipid vesicles.…”

“…1), and are proposed to be crucial for the prebiotic processes that lead to assembly self-reproduction, benefit from The mutually catalytic network model for life's origin without biopolymers gets much of its support from modelling, 4,31 but there are accumulating experimental confirmations, as exemplified 36 and further reviewed. 30 A relevant chemically rigorous computer simulatable model is the Graded Autocatalysis Replication Domain (GARD). 3,5,33 It posits that lipid entry into or endogenous synthesis within an assembly is catalyzed by lipids already present within the assembly.…”

“…Top, two lipids cooperatively enhance the joining of a new lipid to a micelle, as modelled. 33 Bottom, enhanced synthesis of a new lipid by joining an externally supplied headgroup to an apolar tailgroup residing within the micellar core, as experimentally described, 30,36 proposed to happen via cooperative interactions with several lipids, as alluded based on experiments. [27][28][29] (c) A schematic view of the Lipid-First scenario for life's origin.…”

“…Following random fission, the two progeny are similar to each other and to the ancestor, representing compositional reproduction with mutations. 5,30 (d) Replication of an RNA oligonucleotide. An original double-stranded molecule undergoes strand separation, followed by templating of incoming monomers (formally analogous to catalyzed synthesis, panel b), leading to the formation of two double stranded progeny.…”