A chemically fuelled self-replicator

Abstract

The continuous consumption of chemical energy powers biological systems so that they can operate functional supramolecular structures. A goal of modern science is to understand how simple chemical mixtures may transition from non-living components to truly emergent systems and the production of new lifelike materials and machines. In this work a replicator can be maintained out-of-equilibrium by the continuous consumption of chemical energy. The system is driven by the autocatalytic formation of a metastable surfactant whose breakdown products are converted back into building blocks by a chemical fuel. The consumption of fuel allows the high-energy replicators to persist at a steady state, much like a simple metabolic cycle. Thermodynamically-driven reactions effect a unidirectional substrate flux as the system tries to regain equilibrium. The metastable replicator persists at a higher concentration than achieved even transiently in a closed system, and its concentration is responsive to the rate of fuel supply.

Dynamic Environments as a Tool to Preserve Desired Output in a Chemical Reaction Network

“…[1] Examples of networks giving temporal, or spatiotemporal, control over the concentrations of the molecules in the system include the generation of wave fronts, [2] pattern formation with as o-calledg o-fetch model, [3] oscillations, [4][5][6][7][8] supramolecular oscillators [9] synchronisation and pattern formation with multiple oscillators through diffusional spatiotemporal coupling, [10] adaptive response networks, [11] systemss howing homeostasis, [12] self-replicating systems that can diversify into differents pecies, [13] self-replicators that can transiently form micelles, [14,15] temporally controlled material properties [16][17][18] and transientv esicle, [19] droplet, [20] fibril and gel formation. [1] Examples of networks giving temporal, or spatiotemporal, control over the concentrations of the molecules in the system include the generation of wave fronts, [2] pattern formation with as o-calledg o-fetch model, [3] oscillations, [4][5][6][7][8] supramolecular oscillators [9] synchronisation and pattern formation with multiple oscillators through diffusional spatiotemporal coupling, [10] adaptive response networks, [11] systemss howing homeostasis, [12] self-replicating systems that can diversify into differents pecies, [13] self-replicators that can transiently form micelles, [14,15] temporally controlled material properties [16][17][18] and transi...…”

Dynamic Vesicles Formed By Dissipative Self‐Assembly

“…For example, in the dissipative self-assembly of fibers, [19] behavior reminiscent of dynamic instabilities in microtubules , [20,21] and oscillatory behavior between morphologies [22] has been observed. Other examples of recently described dissipative assemblies include active droplets, [23] hydrophobic colloids, [24] autocatalytic micelles, [46] the formation of clusters of nanoparticles, [25,26] DNA-based hydrogels [27,28] and supramolecular polymers. [29,30] Finally, transient vesicles may be formed by an ATP-hydrolyzing reaction cycle.…”

Can Life Emerge from Synthetic Polymers?

“…However, in most cases, these systems end up in thermodynamically or kinetically‐trapped products. An elegant example of chemically‐fuelled self‐replicating system was reported earlier this year by Fletcher and coworkers . This system involves disulfide low molecular weight surfactants and does not allow information transfer.…”

“…An elegant example of chemicallyfuelled self-replicating system was reported earlier this year by Fletcher and coworkers. [58] This system involves disulfide low molecular weight surfactants and does not allow information transfer. Yet, although far from macromolecular science, it demonstrates that simple metabolic cycles can be attained with abiotic components.…”