Amyloids Hold Clues to Origin of Life

Researchers from the Center for the Origin and Spread of ETH Zurich’s Life, led by Professor Roland Rick, have presented new data indicating that amyloids capable of forming in the conditions of early Earth could play a key role in the emergence of life.

Amyloids are protein units that, as studies have shown, can interact with RNA and DNA molecules. These interactions are partly based on electrostatic attraction, as certain amyloids carry a positive charge while genetic material carries a negative charge. Interestingly, the interactions also depend on the sequence of RNA and DNA nucleotides, which could potentially resemble a prototype of the universal genetic code that unifies all living things.

One important aspect of the study is the increased stability of molecules in their interaction with amyloids. In the conditions of ancient Earth, this stability could have provided a significant advantage, as biochemical molecules were highly diluted in the so-called primary broth, unlike in modern biological cells where these molecules are densely packed.

Professor Rick also highlights the role of cooperation in the evolution of life, in addition to competition as proposed by Darwin’s theory. Molecules that benefit from stabilizing interactions between amyloids and RNA and DNA molecules have a higher likelihood of accumulating over time compared to unstable substances. It is possible that molecular cooperation, rather than competition, was the decisive factor in the origin of life. “After all, at that time, there was probably no shortage of space or resources,” states Rick.