Protocells: Rapid Growth and Fusion of Protocells in Surface‐Adhered Membrane Networks (Small 38/2020)

Köksal, Elif Senem; Liese, Susanne; Xue, Lin; Ryskulov, Ruslan; Viitala, Lauri; Carlson, Andreas; Gözen, İrep

doi:10.1002/smll.202070209

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“…3). The exact length of the connecting nanotubes in the experiments is difficult to predict, as they are almost never straight due to pinning and branching 37,38 .…”

Section: Geometric Parameters Influencing Transportmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Transport among protocells via tunneling nanotubes

Schanke

Xue

Spustová

et al. 2021

Preprint

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We employ model protocell networks for evaluation of molecular transport through lipid nanotubes as potential means of communication among primitive cells on the early Earth. Network formation is initiated by deposition of multilamellar lipid reservoirs onto a silicon oxide surface in an aqueous environment. These reservoirs autonomously develop into surface-adhered protocells interconnected via lipid nanotubes, and encapsulate solutes from the ambient buffer in the process. We prepare networks in the presence of DNA and RNA and observe encapsulation of these molecules, and their diffusive transport between the lipid compartments via the interconnecting nanotubes. By means of an analytical model we determine key physical parameters affecting the transport, such as nanotube diameter and compartment size. We conclude that nanotube-mediated transport in self-organized nanotube-vesicle networks could have been a possible pathway of chemical communication between primitive, self-assembled protocells under early earth conditions, circumventing the necessity for crossing the membrane barrier. We suggest this transport within a closed protocell network as a feasible means of RNA and DNA exchange under primitive prebiotic conditions, possibly facilitating early replication.

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“…3). The exact length of the connecting nanotubes in the experiments is difficult to predict, as they are almost never straight due to pinning and branching 37,38 .…”

Section: Geometric Parameters Influencing Transportmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The sample was kept at room temperature for 2-3 days for PNN formation and protocell growth. Alternatively, to speed up the protocell growth, the sample was incubated in 35°C until the following day to promote protocell growth 38 .…”

Section: Sample Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%