期刊
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ASTROBIOLOGY
卷 15, 期 1, 页码 7-15出版社
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S1473550415000282
关键词
extracellular membrane vesicles (EMVs); LUCA; origin of life; viruses and protocells
资金
- ERC grant from the European Union's Seventh Framework Program
Cells from the three domains of life produce extracellular membrane vesicles (EMVs), suggesting that EMV production is an important aspect of cellular physiology. EMVs have been implicated in many aspects of cellular life in all domains, including stress response, toxicity against competing strains, pathogenicity, detoxification and resistance against viral attack. These EMVs represent an important mode of inter-cellular communication by serving as vehicles for transfer of DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids between cells. Here, we review recent progress in the understanding of EMV biology and their various roles. We focus on the role of membrane vesicles in early cellular evolution and how they would have helped shape the nature of the last universal common ancestor. A membrane-protected micro-environment would have been a key to the survival of spontaneous molecular systems and efficient metabolic reactions. Interestingly, the morphology of EMVs is strongly reminiscent of the morphology of some virions. It is thus tempting to make a link between the origin of the first protocell via the formation of vesicles and the origin of viruses.
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