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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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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The First Cell Membranes

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