Ribozyme vesicles

Goals

• Create the "simplest possible protocell" capable of having a self-replicating informational molecule and a mechanism for spatial localization such as compartmentalization
• Use membrane boundary that can grow and divide with being too complex and that can allow passive diffusion of ion and substrates
• Encapsulation of catalytic (self-replicating) RNA molecules within self-replicating membrane vesicles.

Experimental Design

The first issue addressed is to create membranes that are stable but can allow passive diffusion of ions and substrates in and out of the vesicle. The reason that this aspect of the protocell is so essential is because the formation of RNA catalysts requires the addition of magnesium ions to create the tertiary structure of the ribozyme. To accomplish this goal, researchers observed the effects of magnesium on the stability and permeability of vesicles consisting of myristoleic acid (MA and glycerol monomyristoleate (GMM).

http://pubs.acs.org/isubscribe/journals/jacsat/127/i38/figures/ja051784pf00001.gif

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