Stabilization of Prebiotic Vesicles by Peptides Depends on Sequence and Chirality: A Mechanism for Selection of Protocell-Associated Peptides
Zachary R. Cohen,
Zoe R. Todd,
Lutz Maibaum
et al.
Abstract:Cells require oligonucleotides and polypeptides with
specific,
homochiral sequences to perform essential functions, but it is unclear
how such oligomers were selected from random sequences at the origin
of life. Cells were probably preceded by simple compartments such
as fatty acid vesicles, and oligomers that increased the stability,
growth, or division of vesicles could have thereby increased in frequency.
We therefore tested whether prebiotic peptides alter the stability
or growth of vesicles composed of a … Show more
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