Accelerating the Discovery of Abiotic Vesicles with AI-Guided Automated Experimentation DOI
M. C. Ekosso, Hao Liu,

Avery Glagovich

et al.

Langmuir, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 41(1), P. 858 - 867

Published: Dec. 30, 2024

The first protocells are speculated to have arisen from the self-assembly of simple abiotic carboxylic acids, alcohols, and other amphiphiles into vesicles. To study complex process vesicle formation, we combined laboratory automation with AI-guided experimentation accelerate discovery specific compositions underlying principles governing formation. Using a low-cost commercial liquid handling robot, automated experimental procedures, enabling high-throughput testing various reaction conditions for mixtures seven (7) amphiphiles. Multitemplate multiscale template matching (MMTM) was used automate confocal microscopy image analysis, us quantify formation without tedious manual counting. results were create Gaussian surrogate model, then active learning iteratively direct experiments reduce model uncertainty. Mixtures containing primarily trimethyl decylammonium decylsulfate in equal amounts formed vesicles at submillimolar critical concentrations, more than 20% glycerol monodecanoate prevented forming even high total amphiphile concentrations.

Language: Английский

Maintaining an autocatalytic reaction system in a protocell: Nonenzymatic RNA templating and the link between replication and metabolism DOI Creative Commons

Quentin C. C. Sanders,

Alex Verbeem,

Paul G. Higgs

et al.

Physical review. E, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 111(1)

Published: Jan. 31, 2025

The first protocells must have been driven by a reaction system in which autocatalysis is maintained inside the cell while food molecules outside are unreactive. We show that if there second-order autocatalytic mechanism, then an active state can be stable with high catalyst concentration environment remains unreactive no catalyst. Addition of small amount to does not cause initiation cycle cell. In contrast, for first-order addition initiates unless continual removal from environment. Hence, mechanism maintains difference between and protocell much better than mechanism. formose reaction, although prebiotically plausible system, order therefore unlikely as means support protocells. give other theoretical examples first- networks but note few known real-world chemical systems fit these schemes. However, we nonenzymatic RNA templating constitutes necessary properties protocell. Templating initiated If external supply activated nucleotides, itself metabolic cycle. It additional separate before reactions occur. this view, reactions, usually considered origin replication heredity, also metabolism. Published American Physical Society 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Chemiosmotic ATP synthesis by minimal protocells DOI Creative Commons

Fanchen Yu,

Jinbo Fei, Yi Jia

et al.

Cell Reports Physical Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6(3), P. 102461 - 102461

Published: March 1, 2025

Highlights•Fatty acid membranes can maintain sufficient proton gradients•ATP synthase-embedded minimal protocells produce ATP•The protocell have an influence on ATP synthesisSummaryEnergy conservation is crucial to life's origin and evolution. The common ancestor of all cells used synthase convert gradients into ATP. However, pumps generating lipids maintaining are not universally conserved across lineages. A solution this paradox that ancestral could harness naturally formed geochemical ion with simpler environmentally provided precursors preceding both biogenic membranes. This runs counter traditional views phospholipid bilayers required gradients. Here, we show fatty synthesize by under the steep pH temperature observed in hydrothermal vent systems. These findings shed substantial light early membrane bioenergetics, uncovering a functional intermediate evolution chemiosmotic synthesis during protocellular stages postdating synthase's but advent enzymatically synthesized cell membranes.Graphical abstract

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Prebiotic RNA self-assembling and the origin of life: Mechanistic and molecular modeling rationale for explaining the prebiotic origin and replication of RNA DOI
Juan C. Stockert, Richard W. Horobin

Acta Histochemica, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 152226 - 152226

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
The extraterrestrial hypothesis: an epistemological case for removing the taboo DOI Creative Commons
William C. Lane

European Journal for Philosophy of Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Feb. 8, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Protocell Dynamics: Modelling Growth and Division of Lipid Vesicles Driven by an Autocatalytic Reaction DOI Creative Commons

Japraj Taneja,

Paul G. Higgs

Life, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(5), P. 724 - 724

Published: April 29, 2025

We study a computational model of protocell, in which an autocatalytic reaction sustains itself inside lipid vesicle. The drives volume growth via osmosis. Membrane area grows due to addition lipids from the environment. membrane rate depends on external concentration and tension membrane. In absence division, cell either reaches state homeostasis or point where internal collapses. If becomes elongated, it can divide into two smaller spherical vesicles, conserving total area. determine when is energetically favorable for large vesicle divide. Division requires buildup difference between areas outer inner leaflets occurs most easily flipping relatively slow. too fast, parent without dividing. There typical size at division occurs, producing daughter cells unequal sizes. larger daughters regrow same before next division. Protocells with active metabolism reach stable are well balanced. Active protocells grow conditions inactive cannot.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Osteopontin stabilization and collagen containment slows amorphous calcium phosphate transformation during human aortic valve leaflet calcification DOI Creative Commons
Mayandi Sivaguru,

Shumpei Mori,

Kyle W. Fouke

et al.

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: May 28, 2024

Calcification of aortic valve leaflets is a growing mortality threat for the 18 million human lives claimed globally each year by heart disease. Extensive research has focused on cellular and molecular pathophysiology associated with calcification, yet detailed composition, structure, distribution etiological history mineral deposition remains unknown. Here transdisciplinary geology, biology medicine (GeoBioMed) approaches prove that leaflet calcification driven amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), ACP at threshold transformation toward hydroxyapatite (HAP) cholesterol biomineralization. A paragenetic sequence events observed includes: (1) original formation unaltered tissues: (2) individual coalescing 100's nm- to 1 μm-scale spherules crystals biomineralizing collagen fibers smooth muscle cell myofilaments; (3) osteopontin coatings stabilize containment nodules preventing exposure solution chemistry water content pumping blood, which combine slow HAP; (4) mm-scale nodule growth via spherule coalescence, diagenetic incorporation altered aggregation other nodules; (5) diastole systole flexure causing twist, fold their encasing increase stiffness. These in vivo mechanisms establish previously unexplored hypotheses testing novel drug therapies clinical interventions as viable alternatives current reliance surgical/percutaneous implants.

Language: Английский

Citations

3
Protocells by spontaneous reaction of cysteine with short-chain thioesters DOI
Christy J. Cho, Taeyang An, Yei‐Chen Lai

et al.

Nature Chemistry, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(1), P. 148 - 155

Published: Oct. 30, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Mg2+-driven selection of natural phosphatidic acids in primitive membranes DOI Creative Commons

Krishnakavya Thaipurayil Madanan,

Yuhan Li,

Valeria J. Boide-Trujillo

et al.

Published: May 30, 2024

Biological membranes are composed of phospholipids comprising exclusively glycerol-1-phosphate or glycerol-3- phosphate. By contrast, primitive would have been heterogeneous mixtures phospholipids, including non-natural analogues glycerol-2-phosphate, as delivered by prebiotic synthesis. Thus, it is not clear how the selection natural could come about. Here we show differences in membrane properties, but molecular proper- ties, harnessed to drive phosphatidic acids (the biological precursors all complex phos- pholipids) within membranes. First, demonstrate that at level, no synthesis hydrolysis path- way enabled acids. Second, report supramolecular display a greater tendency self-assemble more packed and rigid than same chain length. Finally, taking advantage these differences, highlight Mg2+, Ca2+, drives selective precipi- tation from obtained synthesis, leaving propor- tionally enriched Our findings delineate plausible pathway which transition towards biologi- cal occurred under conditions compatible with metal-driven processes, such non-enzymatic RNA polymerization.

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Synthetic chemistry recreates transitional forms in prebiotic membrane evolution DOI
Ranajay Saha, Irene A. Chen

Chem, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(6), P. 1631 - 1633

Published: May 31, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Protocol for preparing cyclic-phospholipid decanoate and glyceryl-didecanoate-phosphate-containing vesicles DOI Creative Commons

K. Veena,

Sunil Pulletikurti, Ashok A. Deniz

et al.

STAR Protocols, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(3), P. 103283 - 103283

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

0