Animate Protocells from Inanimate Thermal Proteins

Abstract

Seven thermal protein complexes and the dialyzed products from one of these produced typical protocells (0.1–10 µm in diameter) on their surfaces when moistened with water. Protocells (about 0.5 µm in diameter) were visualized (800–1200x): almost instantly at 60 C; within a few min at 23 C; and, after about 15 min at 4 C. Protocells of about 3.0 µm diameter were observed associated with the thermal protein surfaces: within 30 sec to a few min at 60 C; after 4–10 min at 23 C; and, after 9 hr at 4 C. In all cases, the small protocells were free or in loose aggregates. The large protocells were often: free; linked in chains (filaments) or dendritic structures (5–15 protocells in the branched structures); or, more rarely, multi-linked protocellular clusters (15 or more protocells). This method of observing protocell formation provides opportunities for the study of factors involved in the self-assembly process and in protocell survival (e. g., effects of nutritional requirements for growth, differentiation, and reproduction).