{"id":4420,"date":"2019-11-08T22:29:00","date_gmt":"2019-11-09T06:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/astrobio\/wordpress\/?p=4420"},"modified":"2020-11-19T14:52:19","modified_gmt":"2020-11-19T22:52:19","slug":"science-highlights-fall-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/astrobio\/wordpress\/2019\/11\/08\/science-highlights-fall-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Science Highlights \u2013 Fall 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Prebiotic amino acids bind to and stabilize prebiotic fatty acid membranes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Members of the Keller Research Group, including UW Astrobiology grad student Zachary Cohen (Chemistry), and his advisor (Sarah Keller, Chemistry), discovered what may be a key mechanism in the origin of life, and published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences earlier this year. Zach and Sarah are also helping us work towards bringing the Chemistry department on as a new campus partner for the Dual-Title Astrobiology PhD program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did the first cells on Earth arise? In a minimal cell, a membrane separates proteins and RNA from the surrounding aqueous environment. Cell-like membranes spontaneously assemble from simple prebiotic surfactants called fatty acids. However, fatty acid membranes are unstable in solutions containing salts that were likely present in environments of the early Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Keller Group found that amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, bind to fatty acid membranes and stabilize them against salts. Moreover, enhanced stabilization persists after dilution as would occur when a dehydrated pool refills with water\u2014a likely setting for the emergence of cells. In addition to explaining how the first membranes were stabilized, their findings answer how key components of the first cells colocalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Discussing the relevance of this work to the field of Astrobiology UWAB Student and co-author on the paper, Zack Cohen<\/strong>, said \u201cUnderstanding the origin of cells on Earth is a critical aim in astrobiology.  This research is a step towards a more general chemical understanding of the transition from non-life to life.  This knowledge is critical if we hope to constrain the possibilities for life elsewhere in the universe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can read their full article here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This work has also received a significant amount of press coverage, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n