Cited by 305Origins and Evolution of LifeRNA and protein synthesis mechanismsEvolution and Genetic Dynamics

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 157 of the 157 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The first living systems: a bioenergetic perspective

Open access
Deamer, D W·1997·Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews

Abstract

The first systems of molecules having the properties of the living state presumably self-assembled from a mixture of organic compounds available on the prebiotic Earth. To carry out the polymer synthesis characteristic of all forms of life, such systems would require one or more sources of energy to activate monomers to be incorporated into polymers. Possible sources of energy for this process include heat, light energy, chemical energy, and ionic potentials across membranes. These energy sources are explored here, with a particular focus on mechanisms by which self-assembled molecular aggregates could capture the energy and use it to form chemical bonds in polymers. Based on available evidence, a reasonable conjecture is that membranous vesicles were present on the prebiotic Earth and that systems of replicating and catalytic macromolecules could become encapsulated in the vesicles. In the laboratory, this can be modeled by encapsulated polymerases prepared as liposomes. By an appropriate choice of lipids, the permeability properties of the liposomes can be adjusted so that ionic substrates permeate at a sufficient rate to provide a source of monomers for the enzymes, with the result that nucleic acids accumulate in the vesicles. Despite this progress, there is still no clear mechanism by which the free energy of light, ion gradients, or redox potential can be coupled to polymer bond formation in a protocellular structure.

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Crossref · 10.1128/mmbr.61.2.239-261.1997

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Oparin A. I., Orlovskii A. F., Bukhlaeva V. Ia, Gladilin K. L. Vliianie na koatservatnuiu sistemu fermentativnogo sinteza poliadenilovoi kisloty. Dokl Akad Nauk SSSR. 1976 Feb 1;226(4):972–974. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
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Metadata

Authors
Deamer, D. W.
Affiliations
University of California, Santa Cruz (US)
Corresponding author
Deamer, D W
Venue
Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews
Published
1997-06
Volume
61
Issue
2
Pages
239-261
ISSN
  • 1092-2172 (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-5557
OpenAlex
W2122439022
Cited by
305
References
157
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 16
FWCI
8.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
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, prebiotic chemistry, self-assembly, bioenergetics, polymerization, membrane vesicles, liposomes, ion gradients, light energy, redox potential, protocells, energy coupling
MeSH terms
Origin of Life, Energy Metabolism, Lipid Bilayers, Models, Chemical, Permeability, Solar System, Meteoroids, Evolution, Chemical

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