Cited by 270Origins and Evolution of LifeSpace Science and Extraterrestrial LifeRNA and protein synthesis mechanisms

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The First Cell Membranes

Deamer, David, Dworkin, Jason P., Sandford, Scott A., Bernstein, Max P., Allamandola, Louis J.·2002·Astrobiology

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Abstract

Organic compounds are synthesized in the interstellar medium and can be delivered to planetary surfaces such as the early Earth, where they mix with endogenous species. Some of these compounds are amphiphilic, having polar and nonpolar groups on the same molecule. Amphiphilic compounds spontaneously self-assemble into more complex structures such as bimolecular layers, which in turn form closed membranous vesicles. The first forms of cellular life required self-assembled membranes that were likely to have been produced from amphiphilic compounds on the prebiotic Earth. Laboratory simulations show that such vesicles readily encapsulate functional macromolecules, including nucleic acids and polymerases. The goal of future investigations will be to fabricate artificial cells as models of the origin of life.

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“Compartmentalization may be a prerequisite for the emergence of autocatalysis and evolution by natural selection (e.g., Deamer et al., 2002), leading to the first cells and the first cell lineages.”
Background
Hemin-catalyzed oxidative oligomerization of p -aminodiphenylamine (PADPA) in the presence of aqueous sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) micelles
Cvjetan, N., Kissner, R., Bajuk‐Bogdanović, D., Ćirić‐Marjanović, G., & Walde, P. (2022) · RSC Advances · doi:10.1039/d2ra02198f · Cited by 10
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“Vesicle formation is thought to be critical to the origin of life as these structures provide an isolated environment in which life processes are protected from the surrounding medium (Deamer et al. 2002).”
Background
Fungal Biology in the Origin and Emergence of Life
Moore, D. (2013) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9781139524049 · Cited by 28
Molecular diversity as a biosignature
Yoffe, G., Klenner, F., Sober, B., Kaspi, Y., & Halevy, I. (2026) · Nature Astronomy · doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02864-z · Cited by 7
“Differences in original composition, depositional setting and post-depositional history all contribute to the observed structure.”
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“length.[7] In general, longer chain lipids tend to form more stable vesicles (0.”
Background
Genetic Exchange Leading to Self-Assembling RNA Species upon Encapsulation in Artificial Protocells
Zenisek, S.-F. M., Hayden, E. J., & Lehman, N. (2007) · Artificial Life · doi:10.1162/artl.2007.13.3.279 · Cited by 4
“Regarding prebiotic chemistry, Oparin [27], Fox [12], Deamer [8], and Szostak [5], to name a few, have striven to delineate the conditions under which self-replicating polymers could have encapsulated themselves within a membrane-like structure.”
Background
Unidirectional polymerization leading to homochirality in the RNA world
Nilsson, M., Brandenburg, A., Andersen, A. C., & Höfner, S. (2005) · International Journal of Astrobiology · doi:10.1017/s1473550405002752 · Cited by 6
“This led to the concept of a very early lipid world (Segré et al. 2001; Deamer et al. 2002) that would have preceded the often discussed RNA world.”
BackgroundInfluential
Protopeptide backbone affects assembly in aqueous solutions
Fisher, S., Ezerzer, Y., Edri, R., Akulenko, D., Marland, E., & Frenkel‐Pinter, M. (2025) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.2500503122 · Cited by 4
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“Amphiphilic compounds (those with polar and nonpolar components) can spontaneously self-assemble into bi-molecular layers, forming closed membranous vesicles [28].”
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Organization and Compartmentalization by Lipid Membranes Promote Reactions Related to the Origin of Cellular Life
Paleos, C. M. (2018) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/ast.2018.1832 · Cited by 5
Research program for a search of the origin of Darwinian evolution
Tessera, M. (2016) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1007/s11084-016-9482-5 · Cited by 5
“Furthermore, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) may have contributed to stabilizing them as cholesterol stabilizes cell membranes of extant organisms today (Deamer et al. 2002; Konn et al. 2009).”
Background
Bacterial Evolution: What Goes Around Comes Around
Jutras, B. L., & Jacobs, C. (2015) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.05.002 · Cited by 4
SELECTION, INTERPRETATION, AND THE EMERGENCE OF LIVING SYSTEMS
Weber, B. H. (2010) · Zygon® · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9744.2010.01086.x · Cited by 4
Protein-mediated Selective Enclosure of Early Replicators Inside of Membranous Vesicles: First Step Towards Cell Membranes
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“…or by mechanical disruption, and then reformed by rehydration, under suitable chemical conditions (Hargreaves and Deamer 1978; Deamer and Oró 1980; Chakrabarti et al. 1994; Deamer 1998; Szostak et al. 2001, Deamer et al. 2002 , Apel et al. 2002; Monnard et al. 2002; Monnard and Deamer 2003).”
Influential
From Polymerization-Enabled Folding and Assembly to Chemical Evolution: Key Processes for Emergence of Functional Polymers in the Origin of Life
Edri, R., Joshi, M. P., Frenkel‐Pinter, M., Hud, N. V., Keating, C. D., & Leman, L. J. (2025) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1177/15311074251365943 · Cited by 5
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Membrane-Spanning Molecular Lengths as an Agnostic Biosignature
Malaska, M. J., Sandström, H., Hofmann, A. E., Hodyss, R., Rensmo, L., van der Meulen, M., Rahm, M., Cable, M. L., & Lunine, J. I. (2025) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/ast.2024.0125 · Cited by 3
“…synthesis as well as extract of organics from meteorites has shown that some of these molecules may be capable of forming pre-biotic micelles or vesicles (Deamer, 1985; Dworkin et al., 2001) and may have been involved in the early origin of cellular membranes on Earth (Deamer et al., 2002).”
Influential
Did organs precede organisms in the origin of life?
Baquero, F., Bever, G. S., de Lorenzo, V., Lanza, V. F., & Briones, C. (2024) · microLife · doi:10.1093/femsml/uqae025 · Cited by 3
“T he first selfassembled membr anes wer e composed of amphiphilic compounds suc h as fatty acids and fatty alcohols, leading to the formation of micelles and closed vesicles (Deamer et al. 2002 ).”
Environmental constraints on the origin of life based on membrane formation: the role of salinity
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Phosphate-Based Amphiphile and Lipidated Lysine Assemble into Superior Protocellular Membranes over Carboxylate and Sulfate-Based Systems: A Potential Missing Link between Prebiotic and the Modern Era?
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Chance and Necessity in the Evolution of Matter to Life: A Comprehensive Hypothesis
Davankov, V. A. (2021) · Symmetry · doi:10.3390/sym13101918 · Cited by 6
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Radiation exposure and evolutionary perspectives with special references to neutral theory
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Self-citation
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Nonequilibrium Synthesis of Glycolamide (NH2COCH2OH), a Precursor to Amino Acids, on Interstellar Nanoparticles
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Authors: Deamer, D., Dworkin, J. P., Sandford, S. A., Bernstein, M. P., & Allamandola, L. J.
Affiliations: University of California, Santa Cruz (US)
Ames Research Center (US)
ORCID: Deamer, David
Dworkin, Jason P.
Sandford, Scott A.
Allamandola, Louis J.
Venue: Astrobiology
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2002-12
Volume: 2
Issue: 4
Pages: 371-381
ISSN: 1531-1074 (ISSN-L)
1557-8070
DOI: 10.1089/153110702762470482
OpenAlex: W1998228944
Cited by: 270
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 8 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 14
FWCI: 0.65
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Astrobiology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Topics: Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
Keywords: origin of life, plasma membrane, amphiphilic molecules, self-assembly, membrane vesicles, prebiotic chemistry, interstellar medium, early Earth, nucleic acid encapsulation, artificial cells
MeSH terms: Origin of Life, Cell Membrane, Cells, Biological Evolution, Extraterrestrial Environment, Models, Biological, Earth, Planet, Exobiology

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