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Stovbun SV, Skoblin AA, Shilkina NG, Lomakin SM, Zlenko DV. A gel lattice alters the phase state of a solvent. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:5815-5822. [PMID: 35899804 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00767c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Some low-molecular-weight substances are able to self-assemble into fiber-like structures (strings) to form gels. One of the examples of such substances is trifluoroacetylated alpha-aminoalcohols (TFAAAs) able to gelate in many organic solvents. Here we report the formation and describe the properties of a layer of an altered solvent covering the strings' surface. The altered solvent layer has a different refractive index and melts at a temperature about several degrees lower than that of the bulk solvent. Moreover, the bulk solvent's melting temperature was also decreased by values far beyond the one expected according to Raoult's law. Based on the Gibbs-Thomson equation it is possible to derive the thickness of the special layer as well as the average gel lattice parameters, which were very stable across the variety of systems investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey V Stovbun
- N.N. Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, RAS, 119334, Kosygina 4/1, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Aleksey A Skoblin
- N.N. Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, RAS, 119334, Kosygina 4/1, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Natalia G Shilkina
- N.N. Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, RAS, 119334, Kosygina 4/1, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Sergey M Lomakin
- N.N. Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, RAS, 119334, Kosygina 4/1, Moscow, Russia.
- N.M. Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, RAS, 119334, Kosygina 4, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry V Zlenko
- N.N. Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, RAS, 119334, Kosygina 4/1, Moscow, Russia.
- M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, 119234, Lenin Hills 1/24, Moscow, Russia
- A.N. Severtson Institute of Ecology and Evolution, 119071, Lenin Avenue, 33, Moscow, Russia
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Zlenko DV, Zanin AM, Stovbun SV. Molecular Self-Assembly as a Trigger of Life Origin and Development. ORIGINS LIFE EVOL B 2022; 52:105-111. [PMID: 35441954 DOI: 10.1007/s11084-022-09620-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The origin and reason for the homochirality of living cells go with the problem of a relatively narrow spectrum of the actual biological monomers compared to the whole theoretically possible spectrum of amino acids or carbohydrates. A limited number of bio-monomers implies some special feature differing from all other similar molecules that are not present in the living cell. Here we propose one of the candidates for such a peculiarity: the ability to form highly elongated helical supramolecular structures (strings) when precipitating from homochiral solutions. The strings' forming can be accompanied by spontaneous splitting and/or chiral purification of the initially racemic mixture. Our previous theoretical reasoning was based mainly on the biomimetic systems, while now we describe the strings forming in homochiral amino acid solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry V Zlenko
- N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, RAS, 119334, Kosygina 4, Moscow, Russia. .,M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, 119234, Lenin Hills 1/12, Moscow, Russia. .,A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, RAS, 119334, Vavilova 34, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Anatoly M Zanin
- N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, RAS, 119334, Kosygina 4, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey V Stovbun
- N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, RAS, 119334, Kosygina 4, Moscow, Russia
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Stovbun S, Skoblin A, Mikhaleva MG, Vedenkin AS, Gatin AK, Usachev SV, Nikolsky SN, Politenkova GG, Zlenko DV. Role of the Exchange Interactions in the Stability of the Cellulose. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:22871-22876. [DOI: 10.1039/d2cp02346f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The problem of the origin of biochirality and the related problem of the initial monomers' selection are still under discussion, and the main point here is not the mechanics of...
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The weak magnetic field inhibits the supramolecular self-ordering of chiral molecules. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17072. [PMID: 33051533 PMCID: PMC7555544 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74297-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The magnetic field can affect processes in the non-magnetic systems, including the biochemical reactions in the living cells. This phenomenon becomes possible due to the fermionic nature of an electron and significant energy gain provided by the exchange interactions. Here we report the inhibition effect of the magnetic field on the processes of the chiral supramolecular, i.e., macroscopic self-ordering in the non-magnetic model system. The observed effect is in tune with the reports on the influence of the magnetic field on the adsorption of the chiral molecules, which was explained by the effect of the chirally-induced spin-selectivity and the inhibition of the chemical reactions caused by the singlet-triplet conversion. The magneto sensitivity of the process of the chiral self-ordering directly indicates its spin-polarization nature. Tacking together all of the results in the field, we can propose that the chirality-driven exchange interactions guide the selection of the chiral molecules and explain their prevalence in the living matter. It is also probable that these forces have played a critical role in the origin of life on Earth.
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