Entropy-Driven Amino Acid-Based Coacervates with Enzyme-Free Metabolism and Prebiotic Robustness.

ABSTRACT: Protocells capable of nonenzymatic metabolism and environmental adaptation are essential models for understanding the emergence of cellular life. However, existing protocell designs often lack the robustness or prebiotic relevance to explain how functional supramolecular assemblies could have formed under early Earth conditions. In this study, we demonstrate that simple amino acid derivatives, observed on extraterrestrial bodies and under simulated prebiotic Earth conditions, undergo entropy-driven liquid-liquid phase separation to form membraneless protocells through a self-coacervation process. The synergistic effect of selective enrichment of metabolites and interfacial acceleration in these coacervate microdroplets enhances enzyme-free reactions, including sulfur metabolism and prebiot

SUBMITTER: Cao S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12703744 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature