From Inanimate Macromolecules to the Animate Photocell

Abstract

“Glass-state” thermal proteins (TPs) yielded protocells when moistened (at 100 C, instantly on cooling; at 60 C, within 3 sec; at 20 C, within 3 min; and, at 4 C, within 24 h). The TPs were copolymers of: 20 amino acids (AAs) found in “true” proteins, or conjugated TPs (four types of TPs with DOPA, and one type of TP with glucose, lecithin, adenosine monophosphate, ferric ions, or phosphate ions); and, 18 equimolar AAs with-out aspartic or glutamic acids. The 20 AA copolymer TPs were formed at 180 C (6 h). The 18-AA TPs were formed at 20 C (1 and 5 yr). We infer: the time required to convert TPs (by phase-shifting; TP folding) to protocells is an acellular, “chemical life” process(es). We modified (Italics ours) the NASA definition: Life is a self-sustained chemical system (acellular, chemical life → protocellular, biological life) capable of undergoing Darwinian evolution. We infer AAs → TPs in micrometeorites. Melting micrometeoritic ice would convert TPs into protocells. Thus, such micrometeorites could be cosmozoa or panspermia (in the “glass state,” these could be called “litho-cosmozoa and litho-panspermia).