spontaneous formation of vesicles Flashcards
What are vesicles?
Small droplets of fluid enclosed in a membrane.
Where are vesicles commonly found?
Inside cells or produced as extracellular vesicles (e.g., exosomes).
What role might vesicles have played in early cell evolution?
Vesicles likely played a part in the early evolution of cells.
What is the main component of a vesicle’s membrane?
Phospholipids, which are amphipathic (having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts).
How do phospholipids behave when mixed with water?
They naturally assemble into bilayers, with heads facing outward (towards water) and tails facing inward (away from water).
What do phospholipid bilayers spontaneously form?
Stable spherical structures called micelles, which are the basis of vesicles.
How would vesicles have formed on pre-biotic Earth?
If phospholipids or other amphipathic molecules were part of the early “soup”, they would have self-assembled into bilayers, forming vesicles.
What is the significance of the hydrophobic core of a vesicle’s membrane?
The hydrophobic core limits the movement of polar molecules into and out of the vesicle, creating a different internal chemistry from the surroundings.
Why were vesicles cell-like, even though they were not proper cells?
Vesicles could have developed their own internal chemistry, which made them cell-like but not full-fledged cells.
