Toward homochiral protocells in noncatalytic peptide systems

Marcelo Gleiser, Sara Imari Walker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

The activation-polymerization-epimerization-depolymerization (APED) model of Plasson et al. has recently been proposed as a mechanism for the evolution of homochirality on prebiotic Earth. The dynamics of the APED model in two-dimensional spatially-extended systems is investigated for various realistic reaction parameters. It is found that the APED system allows for the formation of isolated homochiral proto-domains surrounded by a racemate. A diffusive slowdown of the APED network induced, for example, through tidal motion or evaporating pools and lagoons leads to the stabilization of homochiral bounded structures as expected in the first self-assembled protocells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)479-493
Number of pages15
JournalOrigins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres
Volume39
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Abiogenesis
  • Homochirality
  • Prebiotic chemistry
  • Proto-cells
  • Protometabolism

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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