Model of protocell compartments – dodecyl hydrogen sulfate vesicles

Dodecyl hydrogen sulfate (DHS), a simple single-alkyl sulfonic acid, can form vesicles spontaneously in water without any additives close to its apparent pKa. Interestingly, DHS vesicles show typical characteristics of primitive cell membranes in respect of selective permeability, fast exchange, self-reproduction and stability under primordial environments.