TY - JOUR

T1 - Peptide-dominated membranes preceding the genetic takeover by RNA: latest thinking on a classic controversy

AU - Egel, Richard

N1 - Keywords: Cell Membrane; Environment; Evolution, Molecular; Models, Molecular; Models, Theoretical; Peptides; RNA

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - It is commonly presumed that abiotic membranes were colonized by proteins later on. Yet, hydrophobic peptides could have formed primordial protein-dominated membranes on their own. In a metabolism-first context, "autocatalytically closed" sets of statistical peptides could organize a self-maintaining protometabolism, assisted by an unfolding set of ribotide-related cofactors. Pairwise complementary ribotide cofactors may have formed docking guides for stochastic peptide formation, before replicating RNA emerged from this subset. Tidally recurring wet-drying cycles and an early onset of photosynthetic activities are considered most likely to meet the thermodynamic requirements. Conceivably, the earliest peptide-dominated vesicles were engaged in light harvesting, together with isoprenoid-tethered pigments, rather than providing an external boundary. Early on, the bulk of prebiotic organic matter can have formed a contiguous layer covering the mineral sediment, held in place by colloidal coherence of a hydrogel matrix. This unconventional scenario assumes a late onset of cellular individualization - perhaps from within, resembling endosporogenesis.

AB - It is commonly presumed that abiotic membranes were colonized by proteins later on. Yet, hydrophobic peptides could have formed primordial protein-dominated membranes on their own. In a metabolism-first context, "autocatalytically closed" sets of statistical peptides could organize a self-maintaining protometabolism, assisted by an unfolding set of ribotide-related cofactors. Pairwise complementary ribotide cofactors may have formed docking guides for stochastic peptide formation, before replicating RNA emerged from this subset. Tidally recurring wet-drying cycles and an early onset of photosynthetic activities are considered most likely to meet the thermodynamic requirements. Conceivably, the earliest peptide-dominated vesicles were engaged in light harvesting, together with isoprenoid-tethered pigments, rather than providing an external boundary. Early on, the bulk of prebiotic organic matter can have formed a contiguous layer covering the mineral sediment, held in place by colloidal coherence of a hydrogel matrix. This unconventional scenario assumes a late onset of cellular individualization - perhaps from within, resembling endosporogenesis.

U2 - 10.1002/bies.200800226

DO - 10.1002/bies.200800226

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19708018

VL - 31

SP - 1100

EP - 1109

JO - BioEssays

JF - BioEssays

SN - 0265-9247

IS - 10

ER -