Abstract
IT is generally agreed that stable membranes were prerequisite to the assembly of the earliest self-replicating systems1–4. Phospholipids, which are ubiquitous in biological membranes and which self-assemble in aqueous environments into stable lipid bilayers and vesicles4, are obvious candidates for prebiotic membrane components. We report here the abiotic synthesis of various lipids, including membranogenic phospholipids.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Oparin, A. I., Deborin, G. A. & Yanopolskaya, N. D. in Molecular Evolution (eds. Rohlfing, D. L. & Oparin, A. I.) 343–352 (Plenum, New York, 1972).
Miller, S. L. & Urey, H. C. Science 130, 245–251 (1959).
Weissmann, C. in Cell Membranes: Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Pathology (eds. Weissmann, G. & Claiborne, R.), xiii–xvi (H. P. Publ., New York, 1975).
Bangham, A. D. Prog. Biophys. molec. Biol. 18, 29–95 (1968).
Kenyon, D. H. & Steinman, G. Biochemical Predestination (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1969).
Knauth, L. P. & Epstein, S. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 40, 1095–1108 (1976).
Rohlfing, D. L. Science 193, 68–69 (1976).
Matheja, J. & Degens, E. T. Structural Molecular Biology of Phosphates (Fischer, Stuttgart, 1971).
Harvey, G. R., Mopper, K. & Degens, E. T. Chem. Geol. 9, 79–87 (1972).
Weaver, C. E. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 31, 2181–2196 (1967).
Ireland, H. A. in Silica in Sediments (ed. Ireland, H. A.) 1–3 (Spec. Publs Soc. econ. Paleont. Miner., Tulsa No. 7, 1959).
Degens, E. T. Chem. Geol. 13, 1–10 (1974).
Rohlfing, D. L. & McAlhaney, W. W. Biosystems (in the press).
Bligh, E. G. & Dyer, W. J. Can. J. Biochem. Phvsiol. 37, 911–917 (1959).
Deamer, D. W., Leonard, R., Tardieu, A. & Branton, D. Biochim. biophys. Acta 219, 47–60 (1970).
Nooner, D. W., Gibert, J. M., Gelpi, E. & Oro, J. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 40, 915–925 (1976).
Mindich, L. in Bacterial Membranes and Walls (ed. Leive, L.), 1–36 (Dekker, New York, 1973).
Fox, S. W. & Dose, K. Molecular Evolution and the Origin of Life (Freeman, San Francisco, 1972).
Shah, D. O. in Exobiology (ed. Ponnamperuma, C.), 235–265 (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1972).
Freeman, C. P. & West, D. J. Lipid Res. 7, 324–327 (1966).
Fricke, U. Analyt. Biochem. 63, 555–558 (1975).
Vaskovsky, V. E. & Kostetsky, E. Y. J. Lipid Res. 9, 396 (1968).
Lowry, O. H., Roberts, N. R., Leiner, K. Y., Wu, M-L. & Farr, A. L. J. biol. Chem. 207, 1–17 (1954).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
HARGREAVES, W., MULVIHILL, S. & DEAMER, D. Synthesis of phospholipids and membranes in prebiotic conditions. Nature 266, 78–80 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/266078a0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/266078a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Elucidating N-acyl amino acids as a model protoamphiphilic system
Communications Chemistry (2022)
-
Synthesis of lipid membranes for artificial cells
Nature Reviews Chemistry (2021)
-
Plausible Emergence and Self Assembly of a Primitive Phospholipid from Reduced Phosphorus on the Primordial Earth
Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres (2021)
-
Enzyme-free synthesis of natural phospholipids in water
Nature Chemistry (2020)
-
Prebiological Membranes and Their Role in the Emergence of Early Cellular Life
The Journal of Membrane Biology (2020)