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Zhang Z, Howlett MG, Silvester E, Kukura P, Fletcher SP. A Chemical Reaction Network Drives Complex Population Dynamics in Oscillating Self-Reproducing Vesicles. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:18262-18269. [PMID: 38917079 PMCID: PMC11240260 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
We report chemically fueled oscillations of vesicles. The population cycling of vesicles is driven by their self-reproduction and collapse within a biphasic reaction network involving the interplay of molecular and supramolecular events. We studied the oscillations on the molecular and supramolecular scales and tracked vesicle populations in time by interferometric scattering microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Complex supramolecular events were observed during oscillations─including vesicle reproduction, growth, and decomposition─and differences in the number, size, and mass of aggregates can often be observed within and between pulses. This system's dynamic behavior is reminiscent of a reproductive cycle in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiheng Zhang
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
| | - Michael G. Howlett
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
| | - Emma Silvester
- The
Kavli Institute for NanoScience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K.
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K.
| | - Philipp Kukura
- The
Kavli Institute for NanoScience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K.
- Physical
and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, U.K.
| | - Stephen P. Fletcher
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
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2
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Howlett MG, Fletcher SP. From autocatalysis to survival of the fittest in self-reproducing lipid systems. Nat Rev Chem 2023; 7:673-691. [PMID: 37612460 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-023-00524-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Studying autocatalysis - in which molecules catalyse their own formation - might help to explain the emergence of chemical systems that exhibit traits normally associated with biology. When coupled to other processes, autocatalysis can lead to complex systems-level behaviour in apparently simple mixtures. Lipids are an important class of chemicals that appear simple in isolation, but collectively show complex supramolecular and mesoscale dynamics. Here we discuss autocatalytic lipids as a source of extraordinary behaviour such as primitive chemical evolution, chemotaxis, temporally controllable materials and even as supramolecular catalysts for continuous synthesis. We survey the literature since the first examples of lipid autocatalysis and highlight state-of-the-art synthetic systems that emulate life, displaying behaviour such as metabolism and homeostasis, with special consideration for generating structural complexity and out-of-equilibrium models of life. Autocatalytic lipid systems have enormous potential for building complexity from simple components, and connections between physical effects and molecular reactivity are only just beginning to be discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Howlett
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stephen P Fletcher
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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3
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Valentini M, Frateloreto F, Conti M, Cacciapaglia R, Del Giudice D, Di Stefano S. A Doubly Dissipative System Driven by Chemical and Radiative Stimuli. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202301835. [PMID: 37326465 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202301835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The operation of a dissipative network composed of two or three different crown-ether receptors and an alkali metal cation can be temporally driven by the use (combined or not) of two orthogonal stimuli of a different nature. More specifically, irradiation with light at a proper wavelength and/or addition of an activated carboxylic acid, are used to modulate the binding capability of the above crown-ethers towards the metal ion, allowing to control over time the occupancy of the metal cation in the crown-ether moiety of a given ligand. Thus, application of either or both of the stimuli to an initially equilibrated system, where the metal cation is distributed among the crown-ether receptors depending on the different affinities, causes a programmable change in the receptor occupancies. Consequently, the system is induced to evolve to one or more out-of-equilibrium states with different distributions of the metal cation among the different receptors. When the fuel is exhausted or/and the irradiation interrupted, the system reversibly and autonomously goes back to the initial equilibrium state. Such results may contribute to the achievement of new dissipative systems that, taking advantage of multiple and orthogonal stimuli, are featured with more sophisticated operating mechanisms and time programmability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Valentini
- Department of Chemistry, Università di Roma La Sapienza and ISB-CNR Sede Secondaria di Roma - Meccanismi di Reazione, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
| | - Federico Frateloreto
- Department of Chemistry, Università di Roma La Sapienza and ISB-CNR Sede Secondaria di Roma - Meccanismi di Reazione, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
| | - Matteo Conti
- Department of Chemistry, Università di Roma La Sapienza and ISB-CNR Sede Secondaria di Roma - Meccanismi di Reazione, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
| | - Roberta Cacciapaglia
- Department of Chemistry, Università di Roma La Sapienza and ISB-CNR Sede Secondaria di Roma - Meccanismi di Reazione, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
| | - Daniele Del Giudice
- Department of Chemistry, Università di Roma La Sapienza and ISB-CNR Sede Secondaria di Roma - Meccanismi di Reazione, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
| | - Stefano Di Stefano
- Department of Chemistry, Università di Roma La Sapienza and ISB-CNR Sede Secondaria di Roma - Meccanismi di Reazione, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
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4
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Bartus É, Tököli A, Mag B, Bajcsi Á, Kecskeméti G, Wéber E, Kele Z, Fenteany G, Martinek TA. Light-Fueled Primitive Replication and Selection in Biomimetic Chemical Systems. J Am Chem Soc 2023. [PMID: 37285516 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c03597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The concept of chemically evolvable replicators is central to abiogenesis. Chemical evolvability requires three essential components: energy-harvesting mechanisms for nonequilibrium dissipation, kinetically asymmetric replication and decomposition pathways, and structure-dependent selective templating in the autocatalytic cycles. We observed a UVA light-fueled chemical system displaying sequence-dependent replication and replicator decomposition. The system was constructed with primitive peptidic foldamer components. The photocatalytic formation-recombination cycle of thiyl radicals was coupled with the molecular recognition steps in the replication cycles. Thiyl radical-mediated chain reaction was responsible for the replicator death mechanism. The competing and kinetically asymmetric replication and decomposition processes led to light intensity-dependent selection far from equilibrium. Here, we show that this system can dynamically adapt to energy influx and seeding. The results highlight that mimicking chemical evolution is feasible with primitive building blocks and simple chemical reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Éva Bartus
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Biomimetic Systems Research Group, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Attila Tököli
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Beáta Mag
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Áron Bajcsi
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Kecskeméti
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Edit Wéber
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Biomimetic Systems Research Group, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Kele
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gabriel Fenteany
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Biomimetic Systems Research Group, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
- Institute of Genetics, Biological Research Centre, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Tamás A Martinek
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Biomimetic Systems Research Group, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
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5
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Ayme JF, Bruchmann B, Karmazin L, Kyritsakas N. Transient self-assembly of metal-organic complexes. Chem Sci 2023; 14:1244-1251. [PMID: 36756320 PMCID: PMC9891378 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc06374c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Implementing transient processes in networks of dynamic molecules holds great promise for developing new functional behaviours. Here we report that trichloroacetic acid can be used to temporarily rearrange networks of dynamic imine-based metal complexes towards new equilibrium states, forcing them to express complexes otherwise unfavourable in their initial equilibrium states. Basic design principles were determined for the creation of such networks. Where a complex distribution of products was obtained in the initial equilibrium state of the system, the transient rearrangement temporarily yielded a simplified output, forcing a more structured distribution of products. Where a single complex was obtained in the initial equilibrium state of the system, the transient rearrangement temporarily modified the properties of this complex. By doing so, the mechanical properties of an helical macrocyclic complex could be temporarily altered by rearranging it into a [2]catenane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-François Ayme
- BASF SE, Joint Research Network on Advanced Materials and Systems (JONAS) Carl-Bosch Str. 38 67056 Ludwigshafen Germany
| | - Bernd Bruchmann
- BASF SE, Joint Research Network on Advanced Materials and Systems (JONAS) Carl-Bosch Str. 38 67056 Ludwigshafen Germany
| | - Lydia Karmazin
- Service de Radiocristallographie, Fédération de chimie Le Bel FR2010, Université de Strasbourg 1 rue Blaise Pascal 67008 Strasbourg France
| | - Nathalie Kyritsakas
- Service de Radiocristallographie, Fédération de chimie Le Bel FR2010, Université de Strasbourg 1 rue Blaise Pascal 67008 Strasbourg France
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6
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Del Giudice D, Spatola E, Valentini M, Ercolani G, Di Stefano S. Dissipative Dynamic Libraries (DDLs) and Dissipative Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry (DDCC). CHEMSYSTEMSCHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/syst.202200023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Del Giudice
- Dipartimento di Chimica Università di Roma La Sapienza and ISB-CNR Sede Secondaria di Roma – Meccanismi di Reazione P.le A. Moro 5 I-00185 Roma Italy
| | - Emanuele Spatola
- Dipartimento di Chimica Università di Roma La Sapienza and ISB-CNR Sede Secondaria di Roma – Meccanismi di Reazione P.le A. Moro 5 I-00185 Roma Italy
| | - Matteo Valentini
- Dipartimento di Chimica Università di Roma La Sapienza and ISB-CNR Sede Secondaria di Roma – Meccanismi di Reazione P.le A. Moro 5 I-00185 Roma Italy
| | - Gianfranco Ercolani
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche Università di Roma Tor Vergata Via della Ricerca Scientifica 00133 Roma Italy
| | - Stefano Di Stefano
- Dipartimento di Chimica Università di Roma La Sapienza and ISB-CNR Sede Secondaria di Roma – Meccanismi di Reazione P.le A. Moro 5 I-00185 Roma Italy
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7
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Borodin O, Shchukin Y, Schmid J, von Delius M. Anion-assisted amidinium exchange and metathesis. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:10178-10181. [PMID: 35997205 PMCID: PMC9469691 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc03425e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Dynamic covalent chemistry has become an invaluable tool for the design and preparation of adaptable yet robust molecular systems. Herein we explore the scope of a largely overlooked dynamic covalent reaction - amidinium exchange - and report on conditions that allow formal amidinium metathesis reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Borodin
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Yevhenii Shchukin
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Jonas Schmid
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Max von Delius
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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8
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Del Giudice D, Valentini M, Melchiorre G, Spatola E, Di Stefano S. Dissipative Dynamic Covalent Chemistry (DDCvC) Based on the Transimination Reaction. Chemistry 2022; 28:e202200685. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.202200685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Del Giudice
- Dipartimento di Chimica Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza” P.le A. Moro 5 00185 Rome Italy
| | - Matteo Valentini
- Dipartimento di Chimica Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza” P.le A. Moro 5 00185 Rome Italy
| | - Gabriele Melchiorre
- Dipartimento di Chimica Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza” P.le A. Moro 5 00185 Rome Italy
| | - Emanuele Spatola
- Dipartimento di Chimica Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza” P.le A. Moro 5 00185 Rome Italy
| | - Stefano Di Stefano
- Dipartimento di Chimica Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza” P.le A. Moro 5 00185 Rome Italy
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