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Periodic vesicle formation in tectonic fault zones: An ideal scenario for molecular evolution
Open accessAbstract
Tectonic fault systems in the continental crust offer huge networks of interconnected channels and cavities. Filled mainly with water and carbon dioxide (CO2), containing a wide variety of hydrothermal chemistry and numerous catalytic surfaces, they may offer ideal reaction conditions for prebiotic chemistry. In these systems, an accumulation zone for organic compounds will develop at a depth of approximately 1 km where CO2 turns sub-critical and dissolved components precipitate. At this point, periodic pressure changes caused for example by tidal influences or geyser activity may generate a cyclic process involving repeated phase transitions of carbon dioxide. In the presence of amphiphilic compounds, this will necessarily lead to the transient formation of coated water droplets in the gas phase and corresponding vesicular structures in the aqueous environment. During this process, the concentration of organic components inside the droplets and vesicles would be drastically increased, allowing for favorable reaction conditions and, in case of the vesicles generated, large trans-membrane concentration gradients. Altogether, the process of periodic formation and destruction of vesicles could offer a perfect environment for molecular evolution in small compartments and for the generation of protocells. The basic process of vesicle formation is reproduced experimentally with a lipid in a water/CO2 system.
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At a depth of approximately −1 km, pressure and temperature conditions induce a local phase transition between supercritical CO2 (scCO2) and subcritical gaseous CO2 (gCO2).
“At a depth of approximately −1 km, pressure and temperature conditions induce a local phase transition between supercritical CO2 (scCO2) and subcritical gaseous CO2 (gCO2).”
From Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic Environments (2017) · cites this paper as [11]
Tectonic fault zones consist of a huge network of interconnected cracks and cavities.
“Tectonic fault zones consist of a huge network of interconnected cracks and cavities [10,11].”
From Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic Environments (2017) · cites this paper as [11]
Experimental evidence from systematic studies using a high-pressure cell filled with water/scCO2 and phospholipid as a model amphiphile shows that pressure cycling results in formation of vesicles, characterized by optical microscopy and PFG-NMR, with sizes between 1 and 60 μm, some multilamellar and containing internal vesicles.
“Experimental evidence for the vesicle formation was gained from systematic studies using a high-pressure cell filled with water/scCO2 in the presence of phospholipid as a model amphiphile. A pressure cycling results in the formation of vesicles which were characterized by optical microscopy and field-gradient nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (PFG-NMR) [11].”
From Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic Environments (2017) · cites this paper as [11]
A mechanism of vesicle formation is expected to occur in tectonic fault zones in the presence of water and CO2.
“Recently, we established a mechanism of vesicle formation which is expected to occur in tectonic fault zones in the presence of water and CO2 [11].”
From Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic Environments (2017) · cites this paper as [11]
PFG-NMR measurements showed the presence of encapsulated water molecules inside membranes of relatively low permeability, supporting the vesicle structure formed by bilayers of amphiphilic molecules.
“The vesicle structure formed by bilayers of amphiphilic molecules could further be supported by PFG-NMR measurements which showed the presence of encapsulated water molecules inside membranes of relatively low permeability [11].”
From Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic Environments (2017) · cites this paper as [11]
Vesicles form spontaneously at a depth of approximately 1 km in tectonic fault zones and present a selective trap for amphiphilic molecules, especially peptides composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids in a suitable sequence.
“Vesicles which form spontaneously at a depth of approximately 1 km present a selective trap for amphiphilic molecules, especially for peptides composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids in a suitable sequence.”
From Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic Environments (2017) · cites this paper as [11]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Mayer, C., Schreiber, U., & Dávila, M. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Duisburg-Essen (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Mayer, Christian
- Venue
- Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres
- Published
- 2015-02-27
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 139-148
- ISSN
- 0169-6149 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-0875
- PMC
- PMC4457167
- OpenAlex
- W2023749531
- Cited by
- 42
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2015: 2
- FWCI
- 1.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Earth Systems and Cosmic Evolution
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Keywords
- vesicle formation, hydrothermal systems, prebiotic chemistry, molecular evolution, protocells, subcritical CO2, amphiphilic molecules, lipid vesicles, compartmentalization
- MeSH terms
- Origin of Life, Carbon Dioxide, Models, Theoretical, Phospholipids, Pressure, Surface-Active Agents, Water, Evolution, Chemical, Evolution, Planetary
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