Journal
RESEARCH IN MICROBIOLOGY
Volume 160, Issue 7, Pages 449-456Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2009.06.004
Keywords
Origins of cellular life; Amphiphile self-assembly; Membrane permeability; Origin of ion channels
Categories
Funding
- NASA Exobiology Program
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We describe possible pathways for separating amphiphilic molecules from organic material on the early earth to form membrane-bound structures required for the start of cellular life. We review properties of the first membranes and their function as permeability barriers. Finally, we discuss the emergence of protein-mediated ion transport across membranes, which facilitated many other cellular functions. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
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