Synthesizing simple living cells that contain the minimal elements necessary to perform the basic functions of life will provide insight into the biophysical origins of life. Development of the model vesicle system having the self-reproduction and the membrane traffic abilities is the first step for autopoietic cycles. In this study we show that by coupling geometry of lipid and phase separation simply binary vesicles acquire the self-reproduction and the membrane traffic abilities.The binary giant unilamellar vesicle composed of the inverse-cone-shaped lipids and cylinder-shaped lipids showed vesicle adhesion by forming an hourglass-like interbilayer structure. On the other hand, the binary vesicles composed of cone- and cylinder-shaped lipids exhibit pore formation. Furthermore by using lipids with a phosphoethanolamine head group the binary vesicles show self-reproduction pathways. These model vesicle systems might shed light on the physical aspects of the development from vesicle toward protocell.

From vesicle to protocell

245th National Meeting (2013)

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