Nat Chem January 2025 PMID 39478161

Protocells by spontaneous reaction of cysteine with short-chain thioesters.

Christy J Cho, Taeyang An, Yei-Chen Lai, Alberto Vázquez-Salazar, Alessandro Fracassi, Roberto J Brea, Irene A Chen, Neal K Devaraj

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Discussions emphasize the significance of the research by using phrases like 'great study' and 'new recipe to explain how life emerged,' showing high interest and support. The tone combines curiosity with recognition of the study's potential impact, reflecting a community engaged with cutting-edge origins of life research, though some acknowledge they find the subject complex or beyond immediate understanding.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions express positive support for the significance of the research, highlighting its potential to explain origins of life.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high interest, with many highlighting the novelty and implications of the findings, indicating curiosity and engagement.

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There is active participation, as users share their enthusiasm, mention related concepts, and discuss the process and implications in some detail.

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The overall tone suggests the findings are considered important and potentially transformative for understanding early cellular life, but some recognition of technical complexity tempers this impact.

Abstract in brief

This study shows that the amino acid cysteine can spontaneously react with short-chain thioesters to create diacyl lipids, which then form protocell-like vesicles in water, providing insight into how early cellular compartments might have formed.
The reaction occurs quickly and at low concentrations, and silica can help catalyze the process through simple electrostatic interactions, making it a plausible pathway on prebiotic Earth.
The research also indicates that other amino thiols can produce similar diacyl lipids, and these protocell structures are compatible with functional ribozymes, suggesting they could have played a role in the early development of cellular life.]

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All mentions

Formation of Protocells from Cysteine and Thioesters in Early Earth Conditions

This study demonstrates how cysteine reacts spontaneously with short-chain thioesters to form diacyl lipids that assemble into protocell-like vesicles in water, offering insights into early cellular compartment…

Daily Science Breakthrough · Nov 3, 2024 1,316 views

Formation of Early Cell Membranes on Prebiotic Earth

This video explores how primitive Earth's conditions led to the formation of the first cellular membranes from fatty acids, marking a critical step towards the origin of life. It highlights spontaneous reactions…

CiencIA · Oct 30, 2024 306 views

Frieda Spyder

@FriedaSpyder · X

@seagertp I recognize this is beyond my undertanding... https://t.co/2HXWzcVg2n "Generation of Protocells by Spontaneous Reaction of Cysteine with Short Chain Thioesters" - https://t.co/oqL5rKlS1a

May 20, 2025 · 71 followers View post →

Martín Bonfil Olivera

@mbonfil_65 · X

RT @biophylicos: Te traemos estos artículos científicos que han publicado los miembros de #Biophylia en el primer trimestre del año #2025

Apr 23, 2025 · 1 share · 6,316 followers View post →

Biophylia

@biophylicos · X

Te traemos estos artículos científicos que han publicado los miembros de #Biophylia en el primer trimestre del año #2025

Apr 22, 2025 · 3 likes · 1 share · 198 followers View post →

Abstream

@abstreamme · X

Publisher Correction: Protocells by spontaneous reaction of cysteine with short-chain thioesters #science #publication #research #publications https://t.co/7Dca8LoqIg

Jan 22, 2025 · 786 followers View post →

Miguel Ángel Sogorb

@MASogorb · X

Descubren cómo se crearon las primeras membranas celulares y permitieron la vida https://t.co/3eT3MRGRLn Más información: Protocells by spontaneous reaction of cysteine with short-chain thioesters https://t.co/zGDFz2lHqZ

Nov 23, 2024 · 158 followers View post →

CRCpaleos

@CRCpaleos · X

ARTÍCULO REFERENCIA (resumen) Protocells by spontaneous reaction of cysteine with short-chain thioesters https://t.co/WoDLNOQVN6 vía @NatureChemistry

Nov 21, 2024 · 3,132 followers View post →

サイエンスあれこれ

@sarekore · X

濃度で自発的に反応してジアシル脂質を形成し、生化学反応を維持するのに十分な安定性を持つ原始細胞のような膜小胞を生成することがわかりました。Nature Chemistry誌https://t.co/2pPwumphCD

Nov 18, 2024 · 922 followers View post →

Naresh Niranjan Dhanasekar

@Naresh10091986 · X

RT @RobertoJBrea: Delighted to share our latest work “Protocells by spontaneous reaction of cysteine with short-chain thioesters” published…

Nov 1, 2024 · 6 shares · 280 followers View post →

Ray Berkeley

@ray_berkeley · X

RT @RobertoJBrea: Delighted to share our latest work “Protocells by spontaneous reaction of cysteine with short-chain thioesters” published…

Oct 31, 2024 · 6 shares · 679 followers View post →

Shinya Tsukiji Lab

@TsukijiLab · X

RT @RobertoJBrea: Delighted to share our latest work “Protocells by spontaneous reaction of cysteine with short-chain thioesters” published…

Oct 31, 2024 · 6 shares · 1,246 followers View post →

Itay Budin

@ibudin · X

RT @RobertoJBrea: Delighted to share our latest work “Protocells by spontaneous reaction of cysteine with short-chain thioesters” published…

Oct 31, 2024 · 6 shares · 856 followers View post →

marylynnjuszczak

@marylynnjuszcza · X

Protocells by spontaneous reaction of cysteine with short-chain thioesters https://t.co/RUkncYz1Qn

Oct 31, 2024 · 2,725 followers View post →

Abstream

@abstreamme · X

Protocells by spontaneous reaction of cysteine with short-chain thioesters #science #publication #research #publications https://t.co/uCmReF4EWW

Oct 31, 2024 · 786 followers View post →

CICA

@CICAUDC · X

RT @RobertoJBrea: Delighted to share our latest work “Protocells by spontaneous reaction of cysteine with short-chain thioesters” published…

Oct 31, 2024 · 6 shares · 2,288 followers View post →

Damian Padin Santos, PhD

@DamianPadin · X

RT @RobertoJBrea: Delighted to share our latest work “Protocells by spontaneous reaction of cysteine with short-chain thioesters” published…

Oct 31, 2024 · 6 shares · 362 followers View post →

Roberto J. Brea

@RobertoJBrea · X

Oct 30, 2024 · 17 likes · 6 shares · 75 followers View post →

Synthical

@synthical_ai · X

Jan 30, 2024 · 510 followers View post →

ChemRxiv Bio and Med Chem

@chemRxivBiochem · X

Generation of Protocells by Spontaneous Reaction of Cysteine with Short Chain Thioesters https://t.co/xdYIQF3z7Y #chemrxiv_biochem

Jan 30, 2024 · 1 like · 188 followers View post →

Protocells by spontaneous reaction of cysteine with short-chain thioesters.

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Where it's discussed

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Abstract in brief

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All mentions

Formation of Protocells from Cysteine and Thioesters in Early Earth Conditions

Formation of Early Cell Membranes on Prebiotic Earth