Functional abiotic metabolite assembly hypothesis for the early events in the origin of life

Abstract

The RNA world hypothesis provides a compelling framework for the emergence of life, yet a fundamental gap remains between simple abiotic molecules and complex functional RNA polymers. Here, we propose the Functional Abiotic Metabolite Assembly hypothesis, in which simple prebiotically abundant molecules, particularly amino acids and nucleobases, preceded peptides and RNA as self-organizing functional entities. Unlike peptides, which are rarely detected in abiotic contexts, metabolite-like molecules are readily found in meteorites and early Earth simulations and can self-assemble into ordered, amyloid-like structures. Such assemblies could form confined microenvironments, concentrate reactants, and support primitive catalytic functions. Moreover, metal-ion-coordinated amino acids can form catalytically active supramolecular assemblies that accelerate diverse reactions under harsh conditions, consistent with the importance of metal ions in early chemical evolution and modern metalloenzymes. We present this hypothesis as a plausible framework linking prebiotic small molecules to compartmentalization, catalysis, and the emergence of more complex biological systems and evolution. The RNA world hypothesis offers a compelling conceptual framework for the emergence of life, yet a fundamental gap remains between simple abiotic molecules and complex functional RNA polymers. In this Perspective, the authors propose the Functional Abiotic Metabolite Assembly hypothesis, in which simple prebiotically abundant molecules, particularly amino acids and nucleobases, preceded peptides and RNA as self-organizing functional entities.