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EVOLUTIONARY THEORY

The early origin of cooperation

Nature Ecology & Evolution volume 4, pages 18–19 (2020)Cite this article

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The physical linkage of the first self-replicating molecules is likely to have been selected based on their capacity to perform cooperative catalysis.

Levin et al. model cooperation between autocatalytic replicators. Picture two independent populations of molecules, which we can call Cats and Stickers, which catalyse their own replication at distinct baseline rates. They can also bind, forming Cat–Sticker complexes. In complexes, Cats and Stickers replicate at a higher rate than they do alone, for example through an induced conformational change or a beneficial waste product. Moreover, Cat and Sticker can mutate, and gain new features: a mutant Cat can catalyse the replication of Stickers as well, and a mutant Sticker binds tighter to a Cat than a wildtype Sticker would. Given these assumptions, Levin et al. simulate the replication of Cats, Stickers and their mutants, and ask: who survives? The model considers several parameters, such as rates of self-replication, destruction, complex formation, by-product benefits, proximity and dissociation. The answers are forthright: starting with Cats and Stickers, if only Cats mutate they will die; if only Stickers mutate, they can thrive, but only if their benefits to the pair are sufficiently large. But if both Cats and Stickers mutate, a new winning combination emerges: both mutants will thrive and no longer be rare.

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Fig. 1: Molecular cooperation at different levels of complexity.

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  1. Institut für Molekulare Evolution, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Joana C. Xavier

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  1. Joana C. Xavier
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Correspondence to Joana C. Xavier.

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The author declares no competing interests.

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Xavier, J.C. The early origin of cooperation. Nat Ecol Evol 4, 18–19 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-019-1075-z

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