Natural Selection of Cationic Amino Acids: the Formation and Applications of Prebiotic Compartments

Hazra, Bibhas (2023) Natural Selection of Cationic Amino Acids: the Formation and Applications of Prebiotic Compartments. PhD thesis, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.

Text (PhD thesis of Bibhas Hazra (17RS023)) 17RS023.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (16MB)

Abstract

The major objective of the present research is to investigate the role played by various functional groups of prebiotic amphiphiles during the evolution of protocells. Even though important research contributions have been made, there are still many aspects of the origins of life, especially the role of membrane compartments remain unexplored. In chapter 2, we studied the natural selection of cationic amino acids and the surface assisted formation of regioselective peptide bonds. Most of the research on compartmentalization emphasized the importance of anionic fatty acids. The superiority of a mixed amphiphilic system composed of fatty acids and cationic amino acid amphiphiles in protocellular membrane evolution was therefore examined in chapter 3. In chapter 4, we investigated the probable connection between the phospholipids present in modern membrane and fatty acid-based prebiotic lipids. We found that compartment derived from phosphate amphiphiles and cationic amino acid amphiphiles were highly stable. In chapter 5, model radical reaction was carried out in lipid droplet compartment derived from a prebiotic cationic amino acid-based amphiphile through self-immolation. We looked at the function of the α-amine in the presence of the terminal amine of amino acid-based prebiotic amphiphiles in chapter 6. Model polymers with and without the α-amine were synthesized, and their behaviours in terms of bactericidal and transfection capabilities were found to be orthogonal.

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