Early Earth Collection

Early molecules of life likely served both as templates and catalysts, raising the question of how functionally distinct genomes and enzymes arose. Here, the authors show that conflict between evolution at the molecular and cellular levels can drive functional differentiation of the two strands of self-replicating molecules and lead to copy number differences between the two.

The synthetic production of model protocells, which represent potential intermediates between nonliving material and living cells, may help to explain the origin of cellular life. Here, Kuriharaet al. develop a giant vesicle-based model protocell that is able to self-proliferate recursively in response to external stimuli.

Early cells likely consisted of fatty acid vesicles enclosing magnesium-dependent ribozymes. Here, the authors show that fatty acid derivatives can form vesicles that, unlike those formed from only unmodified fatty acids, are stable in the presence of magnesium and could support ribozyme catalysis.

Phase separation of mixtures of oppositely charged polymers provides a simple and direct route to compartmentalisation via coacervation. Here authors demonstrate that a coacervate microenvironment supports RNA catalysis whilst selectively sequestering RNA based on length.

The citric acid cycle (TCA) is a fundamental metabolic pathway to release stored energy in living organisms. Here, the authors report two linked cycles of reactions that each oxidize glyoxylate into CO₂ and generate intermediates shared with the modern TCA cycle, shedding light into a plausible TCA protometabolism.

Selection and persistence of chemical non-equilibrium species is crucial for the emergence of life and the exact mechanisms remain elusive. Here the authors show that phase separation is an efficient way to control selection of chemical species when primitive carboxylic acids are brought out-of-equilibrium by high-energy condensing agents.