Guo Dong, Zhang Ziyue, Sun Jichao, Zhao Hui, Hou Wanguo, Du Na
Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
National Engineering Technology Research Center for Colloidal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
Molecules. 2024 Jun 4;29(11):2664. doi: 10.3390/molecules29112664.
Protocell models play a pivotal role in the exploration of the origin of life. Vesicles are one type of protocell model that have attracted much attention. Simple single-chain amphiphiles (SACs) and organic small molecules (OSMs) possess primitive relevance and were most likely the building blocks of protocells on the early Earth. OSM@SAC vesicles have been considered to be plausible protocell models. Pyrite (FeS), a mineral with primitive relevance, is ubiquitous in nature and plays a crucial role in the exploration of the origin of life in the mineral-water interface scenario. "How do protocell models based on OSM@SAC vesicles interact with a mineral-water interface scenario that simulates a primitive Earth environment" remains an unresolved question. Hence, we select primitive relevant sodium monododecyl phosphate (SDP), isopentenol (IPN) and pyrite (FeS) mineral particles to build a protocell model. The model investigates the basic physical and chemical properties of FeS particles and reveals the effects of the size, content and duration of interaction of FeS particles on IPN@SDP vesicles. This deepens the understanding of protocell growth mechanisms in scenarios of mineral-water interfaces in primitive Earth environments and provides new information for the exploration of the origin of life.
原细胞模型在生命起源的探索中起着关键作用。囊泡是一种备受关注的原细胞模型。简单单链两亲分子（SACs）和有机小分子（OSMs）具有原始相关性，很可能是早期地球上原细胞的组成部分。OSM@SAC囊泡被认为是合理的原细胞模型。黄铁矿（FeS）是一种具有原始相关性的矿物，在自然界中普遍存在，在矿物 - 水界面情景下的生命起源探索中起着关键作用。“基于OSM@SAC囊泡的原细胞模型如何与模拟原始地球环境的矿物 - 水界面情景相互作用”仍然是一个未解决的问题。因此，我们选择具有原始相关性的十二烷基磷酸钠（SDP）、异戊烯醇（IPN）和黄铁矿（FeS）矿物颗粒来构建一个原细胞模型。该模型研究了FeS颗粒的基本物理和化学性质，并揭示了FeS颗粒的尺寸、含量和相互作用持续时间对IPN@SDP囊泡的影响。这加深了对原始地球环境中矿物 - 水界面情景下原细胞生长机制的理解，并为生命起源的探索提供了新信息。
