THE ORIGIN OF LIFE: THE TETRASIGNATURE HYPOTHESIS

A physical hypothesis of abiogenesis is proposed, in which the phase topology of water is the primary carrier of structural memory. External influences leave tetrassignatures — metastable redistributions of the α/β-tetrostates of water molecules, which create a physical relief of free energy and direct the orientation and binding of inorganic and organic molecules. Tetrasignatures trigger condensate cycles, which are autocatalytic positive feedback processes in which ordered water stabilizes adsorbed molecules, which in turn enhance the orderliness of water. The result of condensate cycles is the appearance of the first transitional substances, supramolecular ensembles (SMA) of small inorganic molecules with structural memory, catalytic activity, and evolutionary plasticity. The hypothesis allows for a multiplicity of realizations of the first transitional substances (peptide, nucleotide, hybrid, alternative polymer ensembles), which corresponds to the principle of polyphyletic origin of life. The proposed scenario solves the key problems of abiogenesis: reactant concentration, directional ordering, polymerization, heredity, homochirality, compartmentalization, and stability against hydrolysis. The article contains operational experimental predictions and open questions for further research.