Progress in Lipid Research
Volume 92, November 2023, 101253
The fats of the matter: Lipids in prebiotic chemistry and in origin of life studies
Author Tania C.B. Santos, Anthony H. Futerman
Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Received 3 July 2023, Revised 30 August 2023, Accepted 30 August 2023, Available online 1 September 2023, Version of Record 12 September 2023.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plipres.2023.101253
The Miller-Urey experiment (now located at UCSD, San Diego) that was used to demonstrate the synthesis of biologically relevant molecules in a hypothetical primitive reducing atmosphere.
Abstract
The unique biophysical and biochemical properties of lipids render them crucial in most models of the origin of life (OoL). Many studies have attempted to delineate the prebiotic pathways by which lipids were formed, how micelles and vesicles were generated, and how these micelles and vesicles became selectively permeable towards the chemical precursors required to initiate and support biochemistry and inheritance. Our analysis of a number of such studies highlights the extremely narrow and limited range of conditions by which an experiment is considered to have successfully modeled a role for lipids in an OoL experiment. This is in line with a recent proposal that bias is introduced into OoL studies by the extent and the kind of human intervention. It is self-evident that OoL studies can only be performed by human intervention, and we now discuss the possibility that some assumptions and simplifications inherent in such experimental approaches do not permit determination of mechanistic insight into the roles of lipids in the OoL. With these limitations in mind, we suggest that more nuanced experimental approaches than those currently pursued may be required to elucidate the generation and function of lipids, micelles and vesicles in the OoL.
Abbreviations
CoA coenzyme A DPPC1, 2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine GARD graded autocatalysis replication domain Kinrate of incorporation into a micelle Kout rate of exit from a micelle OoL origin of life PA phosphatidic acid PC phosphatidylcholine PE phosphatidylethanolamine PG phosphatidylglycerol POPC1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine PS phosphatidylserine Ps permeability coefficient R-GARD GARD with real lipids SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate SM sphingomyelin
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