Abstract
At some point in early evolution, life became cellular. Assuming that this step was required for the origin of life, there would necessarily be a pre-existing source of amphihilic compounds capable of assembling into membranous compartments. It is possible to make informed guesses about the properties of such compounds and the conditions most conducive to their self-assembly into boundary structures. The membranes were likely to incorporate mixtures of hydrocarbon derivatives between 10 and 20 carbons in length with carboxylate or hydroxyl head groups. Such compounds can be synthesized by chemical reactions and small amounts were almost certainly present in the prebiotic environment. Membrane assembly occurs most readily in low ionic strength solutions with minimal content of salt and divalent cations, which suggests that cellular life began in fresh water pools associated with volcanic islands rather than submarine hydrothermal vents.
Highlights
In order to understand the conditions in which the first life emerged, it is important to set the stage in terms of the prebiotic environment
We will begin by briefly describing the main properties of amphiphilic molecules that compose the membranes of contemporary cells, because thesein properties will constrain the conditions required
When the hydrocarbon chain is long enough, 10 carbons or more, the molecules can assemble into monolayers at the air-water interface, micelles in solution, and vesicles having boundaries composed of bimolecular membranes
Summary
In order to understand the conditions in which the first life emerged, it is important to set the stage in terms of the prebiotic environment. There is geological evidence that extensive volcanism produced land masses resembling Hawaii and Iceland today [4] When these emerged from the global ocean, precipitation produced the equivalent of distilled water that accumulated on the volcanic land forms as geysers, hot springs and pools. This is an important point, because it has been generally assumed that life began in the sea, perhaps in submarine hydrothermal vents [5,6,7]. Amphiphilic compounds to assemble into membranes in marine hydrothermal vents compared These questions have been the focus of research by Pier Luigi Luisi, Jack Szostak, Peter with hydrothermal fresh water fields. We will begin by briefly describing the main properties of amphiphilic molecules that compose the membranes of contemporary cells, because thesein properties will constrain the conditions required
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