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Cited by 620Origins and Evolution of LifeRNA and protein synthesis mechanismsEvolution and Genetic Dynamics

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 111 of the 111 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The Lipid World

Open access
Segré, Daniel, Ben-Eli, Dafna, Deamer, David W., Lancet, Doron·2001·Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere
DOI 10.1023/a:1006746807104
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Abstract

The continuity of abiotically formed bilayer membranes with similar structures in contemporary cellular life, and the requirement for microenvironments in which large and small molecules could be compartmentalized, support the idea that amphiphilic boundary structures contributed to the emergence of life. As an extension of this notion, we propose here a 'Lipid World' scenario as an early evolutionary step in the emergence of cellular life on Earth. This concept combines the potential chemical activities of lipids and other amphiphiles, with their capacity to undergo spontaneous self-organization into supramolecular structures such as micelles and bilayers. In particular, the documented chemical rate enhancements within lipid assemblies suggest that energy-dependent synthetic reactions could lead to the growth and increased abundance of certain amphiphilic assemblies. We further propose that selective processes might act on such assemblies, as suggested by our computer simulations of mutual catalysis among amphiphiles. As demonstrated also by other researchers, such mutual catalysis within random molecular assemblies could have led to a primordial homeostatic system displaying rudimentary life-like properties. Taken together, these concepts provide a theoretical framework, and suggest experimental tests for a Lipid World model for the origin of life.

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Crossref · 10.1023/a:1006746807104

Cites

111 of 111 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • When published mutually catalytic values of lipids from Fendler were analysed, a similar distribution was observed.

    “Not less important, when published mutually catalytic values of lipids from Fendler [82] were analysed, a similar distribution was observed [55].”

    From Systems protobiology: origin of life in lipid catalytic networks (2018) · cites this paper as [55]

    Section 8 (p. 16) says the authors plotted Fendler’s lipid-related catalytic enhancement factors and found a distribution resembling the one used for their model. But Figure 6b (p. 14) identifies Fendler’s values as rate ratios for different reactions, mostly hydrolytic, in micelles—not measured mutual catalytic values between lipids. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Heterogeneous micelles bear similarity to globular proteins, being of similar size, having hydrophobic interior and hydrophilic functional surface with catalytic capacities.

    “In a related vein, heterogeneous micelles bear similarity to globular proteins, being of similar size, having hydrophobic interior and hydrophilic functional surface [55] with catalytic capacities (see next section).”

    From Systems protobiology: origin of life in lipid catalytic networks (2018) · cites this paper as [55]

    Section 6 (p. 11) explicitly describes heterogeneous micelles as bearing a tangible similarity to globular proteins and describes lipid aggregates with catalytic capacity. The polar head groups and hydrophobic tails shown in Section 7 (p. 15), together with the catalytic head groups discussed in Section 9 (p. 18), support the surface-function comparison. Our copy does not establish that the micelles and globular proteins are similar in size. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Lipids are not chemically inert non-catalytic compounds; lipids and other amphiphiles have considerable catalytic function.

    “Lipids are widely thought of as chemically inert non-catalytic compounds whose role is to form membranes. An important aspect of this misconception is the ‘like it is today’ outlook, which infers amphiphile chemical properties based on the molecule types found in present-day cells.”

    From Systems protobiology: origin of life in lipid catalytic networks (2018) · cites this paper as [55]

  • Macromolecules lining the walls would have moderated the movement of molecules into and out of the microchambers, serving as proto-membranes.

    “Macromolecules lining the walls would have moderated the movement of molecules into and out of the microchambers [64,164]), serving as proto-membranes (Figure 4, step 2c).”

    From ‘Whole Organism’, Systems Biology, and Top-Down Criteria for Evaluating Scenarios for the Origin of Life (2021) · cites this paper as [164]

  • The principal capability of membrane vesicles for the early steps of life has been described, and recently it was shown that a possible prebiotic amphiphile (decanoic acid) undergoes distinct binding interactions with nucleobases and proteins, so vesicles may serve as containments for initial metabolic steps and as encapsulated environments for RNA replication.

    “The principal capability of membrane vesicles for the early steps of life has been described on numerous occasions [27,28,29]. Recently, it was shown that a possible prebiotic amphiphile (decanoic acid) undergoes distinct binding interactions with nucleobases and proteins [30,31]. So, at this stage, they may serve as containments for initial metabolic steps and, most prominently, as an ensemble of”

    From Selection of Prebiotic Molecules in Amphiphilic Environments (2017) · cites this paper as [28]

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Citations

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 11

  1. Ben-Eli, D.: submitted, 'From Random Chemistry to Compositional Stationary States in Prebiotic Non-Covalent Assemblies',, Rehovot, Weizmann Institute, M.Sc thesis.
  2. Cavalier-Smith, T.: 1995, Biodiversity and Evolution, M. Kato and Y. Doi. Tokyo, National Science Museum Foundation.
  3. Esterbauer, H.: 1995, 'The Chemistry of Oxidation of Lipoproteins', in C. Rice-Evans and K. R. Bruckdorfer (eds.), Oxidative Stress, Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Disfunctions, Portland Press Research Monograph, No. 6, Portland Press, pp. 55–79.
  4. Fendler, J. H.: 1982, Membrane Mimetic Chemistry, New York, Wiley.
  5. Morowitz, H. J.: 1992, Beginnings of Cellular Life, London, Yale University Press.
  6. Oparin, A. I.: 1957, The Origin of Life on the Earth, London, Oliver and Boyd.
  7. Oparin, A. I., Orlovskii, A. F., Bukhlaeva, V. Y. and Gladilin, K. L.: 1976, Influence of the Enzymatic Synthesis of Polyadenylic Acid on a Coacervate System, Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 226, 972–974.
  8. Rosenwald, S.: 1998, Experimental Testing of the Receptor Affinity Distribution (RAD) model. Rehovot, Israel, Weizmann Institute, M.Sc. thesis.
  9. Segré, D., Ben-Eli, D. and Lancet, D.: 2000b, in G. Lemarchand and K. Meech (eds.), Bioastronomy '99-A New Era in Bioastronomy, ASP Conference Series 213, Kohala Coast, Hawaii, in press.
  10. Segré, D. and Lancet, D.: 1999, A Statistical Chemistry Approach to the Origin of Life, Chemtracts-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 12, 382–397.
  11. Szathmáry, E.: 1999, Chemes, Genes, Memes: A Revised Classification of Replicators, Lectures on Mathematics in the Life Sciences, 26, 1–10.

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Metadata

Authors
Segré, D., Ben-Eli, D., Deamer, D. W., & Lancet, D.
Affiliations
  • Crown Human Genome Center (IL)
  • University of California, Santa Cruz (US)
Corresponding author
Lancet, Doron
ORCID
Venue
Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2001-02
Volume
31
Issue
1-2
Pages
119-145
ISSN
  • 0169-6149 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-0875
DOI
10.1023/a:1006746807104
OpenAlex
W1495374002
Cited by
620
References
111
Citations by year
2026: 28 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 42 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 30
FWCI
10.91
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
Keywords
origin of life, amphiphilic molecules, lipid bilayers, micelles, self-organization, prebiotic chemistry, compartmentalization, homeostasis
MeSH terms
Origin of Life, Catalysis, Cells, Computer Simulation, Lipase, Lipids, Membranes, Evolution, Chemical

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