Multivalent polyions can undergo complex coacervation, producing membraneless compartments that accumulate ribozymes and enhance catalysis, and offering a mechanism for functional prebiotic compartmentalization in the origins of life. Here, we evaluate the impact of lower, more prebiotically-relevant, polyion multivalency on the functional performance of coacervates as compartments. Positively and negatively charged homopeptides with 1–100 residues and adenosine mono-, di-, and triphosphate nucleotides are used as model polyions. Polycation/polyanion pairs are tested for coacervation, and resulting membraneless compartments are analyzed for salt resistance, ability to provide a distinct internal microenvironment (apparent local pH, RNA partitioning), and effect on RNA structure formation. We find that coacervates formed by phase separation of the shorter polyions more effectively generated distinct pH microenvironments, accumulated RNA, and preserved duplexes than those formed by longer polyions. Hence, coacervates formed by reduced multivalency polyions are not only viable as functional compartments for prebiotic chemistries, they can outperform higher molecular weight analogues.

多价多价离子可经历复杂的凝聚作用，产生无膜区室，这些区室会积累核酶并增强催化作用，并为生命起源中功能性益生元区室化提供了一种机制。在这里，我们评估了更低，更益生元相关的聚离子多价对凝聚层作为隔室的功能性能的影响。具有1–100个残基的带正电荷和带负电荷的同肽以及腺苷单，二和三磷酸核苷酸被用作模型聚离子。测试聚阳离子/聚阴离子对的凝聚，并分析所得的无膜隔室的耐盐性，提供独特的内部微环境（表观局部pH，RNA分配）的能力以及对RNA结构形成的影响。我们发现，由较短的聚离子相分离形成的凝聚层比由较长的聚离子形成的凝聚层更有效地产生独特的pH微环境，积累的RNA和保存的双链体。因此，由降低的多价态聚离子形成的凝聚层不仅可以用作益生元化学的功能部分，而且还可以胜过更高分子量的类似物。