The Eukaryotic Cell Originated in the Integration and Redistribution of Hyperstructures from Communities of Prokaryotic Cells Based on Molecular Complementarity

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Vic Norris¹ 

[1] AMMIS Laboratory, EA 3829, University of Rouen, Mont Saint Aignan, 76821 France; E-Mail:

关键词: composome;    intron;    motility;    molecular complementarity;    hyperstructure;    origin of life;    evolution;    cytoskeleton;    mutualism;    symbiosis;    ecology;    ecosystem;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms10062611

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

In the “ecosystems-first” approach to the origins of life, networks of non-covalent assemblies of molecules (composomes), rather than individual protocells, evolved under the constraints of molecular complementarity. Composomes evolved into the hyperstructures of modern bacteria. We extend the ecosystems-first approach to explain the origin of eukaryotic cells through the integration of mixed populations of bacteria. We suggest that mutualism and symbiosis resulted in cellular mergers entailing the loss of redundant hyperstructures, the uncoupling of transcription and translation, and the emergence of introns and multiple chromosomes. Molecular complementarity also facilitated integration of bacterial hyperstructures to perform cytoskeletal and movement functions.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2009 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.