1
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Solra M, Kapila R, Das S, Bhatt P, Rana S. Transient Metallo-Lipidoid Assemblies Amplify Covalent Catalysis of Aqueous and Non-Aqueous Reactions. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202400348. [PMID: 38315883 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202400348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Dissipative supramolecular assemblies are hallmarks of living systems, contributing to their complex, dynamic structures and emerging functions. Living cells can spatiotemporally control diverse biochemical reactions in membrane compartments and condensates, regulating metabolite levels, signal transduction or remodeling of the cytoskeleton. Herein, we constructed membranous compartments using self-assembly of lipid-like amphiphiles (lipidoid) in aqueous medium. The new double-tailed lipidoid features Cu(II) coordinated with a tetravalent chelator that dictates the binding of two amphiphilic ligands in cis-orientation. Hydrophobic interactions between the lipidoids coupled with intermolecular hydrogen bonding led to a well-defined bilayer vesicle structure. Oil-soluble SNAr reaction is efficiently upregulated in the hydrophobic cavity, acting as a catalytic crucible. The modular system allows easy incorporation of exposed primary amine groups, which augments the catalysis of retro aldol and C-N bond formation reactions. Moreover, a higher-affinity chelator enables consumption of the Cu(II) template leveraging the differential thermodynamic stability, which allows a controllable lifetime of the vesicular assemblies. Concomitant temporal upregulation of the catalytic reactions could be tuned by the metal ion concentration. This work offers new possibilities for metal ion-mediated dynamic supramolecular systems, opening up a massive repertoire of functionally active dynamic "life-like" materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manju Solra
- Materials Research Centre, Division of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, C. V. Raman Road, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Rohit Kapila
- Materials Research Centre, Division of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, C. V. Raman Road, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Sourav Das
- Materials Research Centre, Division of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, C. V. Raman Road, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Preeti Bhatt
- Materials Research Centre, Division of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, C. V. Raman Road, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Subinoy Rana
- Materials Research Centre, Division of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, C. V. Raman Road, Bangalore, 560012, India
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2
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Sato K, Nakagawa Y, Mori M, Takinoue M, Kinbara K. Transient control of lytic activity via a non-equilibrium chemical reaction system. NANOSCALE 2024. [PMID: 38465880 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr06626f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The development of artificial non-equilibrium chemical reaction systems has recently attracted considerable attention as a new type of biomimetic. However, due to the lack of bioorthogonality, such reaction systems could not be linked to the regulation of any biological phenomena. Here, we have newly designed a non-equilibrium reaction system based on olefin metathesis to produce the Triton X-mimetic non-ionic amphiphile as a kinetic product. Using phospholipid vesicles encapsulating fluorescent dyes and red blood cells as cell models, we demonstrate that the developed chemical reaction system is applicable for transient control of the resulting lytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Sato
- School of Life Science and Technology, International Research Frontiers Initiative, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan.
| | - Yume Nakagawa
- School of Life Science and Technology, International Research Frontiers Initiative, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan.
| | - Miki Mori
- School of Life Science and Technology, International Research Frontiers Initiative, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan.
| | - Masahiro Takinoue
- School of Life Science and Technology, International Research Frontiers Initiative, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan.
- Department of Computer Science, International Research Frontiers Initiative, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
- Living Systems Materialogy Research Group, International Research Frontiers Initiative, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Kazushi Kinbara
- School of Life Science and Technology, International Research Frontiers Initiative, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan.
- Living Systems Materialogy Research Group, International Research Frontiers Initiative, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
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3
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Lu H, Blokhuis A, Turk-MacLeod R, Karuppusamy J, Franconi A, Woronoff G, Jeancolas C, Abrishamkar A, Loire E, Ferrage F, Pelupessy P, Jullien L, Szathmary E, Nghe P, Griffiths AD. Small-molecule autocatalysis drives compartment growth, competition and reproduction. Nat Chem 2024; 16:70-78. [PMID: 37550391 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01276-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Sustained autocatalysis coupled to compartment growth and division is a key step in the origin of life, but an experimental demonstration of this phenomenon in an artificial system has previously proven elusive. We show that autocatalytic reactions within compartments-when autocatalysis, and reactant and solvent exchange outpace product exchange-drive osmosis and diffusion, resulting in compartment growth. We demonstrate, using the formose reaction compartmentalized in aqueous droplets in an emulsion, that compartment volume can more than double. Competition for a common reactant (formaldehyde) causes variation in droplet growth rate based on the composition of the surrounding droplets. These growth rate variations are partially transmitted after selective division of the largest droplets by shearing, which converts growth-rate differences into differences in droplet frequency. This shows how a combination of properties of living systems (growth, division, variation, competition, rudimentary heredity and selection) can arise from simple physical-chemical processes and may have paved the way for the emergence of evolution by natural selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Lu
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, Chimie Biologie et Innovation, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Alex Blokhuis
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, Chimie Biologie et Innovation, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Rebecca Turk-MacLeod
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, Chimie Biologie et Innovation, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Jayaprakash Karuppusamy
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, Chimie Biologie et Innovation, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Andrea Franconi
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, Chimie Biologie et Innovation, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Gabrielle Woronoff
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, Chimie Biologie et Innovation, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Cyrille Jeancolas
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, Chimie Biologie et Innovation, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Afshin Abrishamkar
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, Chimie Biologie et Innovation, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Estelle Loire
- Institut de Chimie Physique, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Fabien Ferrage
- Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, Département de chimie, École Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Pelupessy
- Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, Département de chimie, École Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Ludovic Jullien
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, École Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Eörs Szathmary
- Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Evolution, Budapest, Hungary.
- Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology, Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary.
- Parmenides Foundation, Center for the Conceptual Foundations of Science, Pöcking, Germany.
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg, Austria.
| | - Philippe Nghe
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, Chimie Biologie et Innovation, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, Paris, France.
- Laboratoire Biophysique et Evolution, Chimie Biologie et Innovation, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, Paris, France.
| | - Andrew D Griffiths
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, Chimie Biologie et Innovation, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, Paris, France.
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4
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Dev D, Wagner N, Pramanik B, Sharma B, Maity I, Cohen-Luria R, Peacock-Lopez E, Ashkenasy G. A Peptide-Based Oscillator. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:26279-26286. [PMID: 37984498 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c09377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Living organisms are replete with rhythmic and oscillatory behavior at all levels, to the extent that oscillations have been termed as a defining attribute of life. Recent studies of synthetic oscillators that mimic such functions have shown decayed cycles in batch-mode reactions or sustained oscillatory kinetics under flow conditions. Considering the hypothesized functionality of peptides in early chemical evolution and their central role in current bio-nanotechnology, we now reveal a peptide-based oscillator. Oscillatory behavior was achieved by coupling coiled-coil-based replication processes as positive feedback to controlled initiation and inhibition pathways in a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR). Our results stress that assembly into the supramolecular structure and specific interactions with the replication substrates are crucial for oscillations. The replication-inhibition processes were first studied in batch mode, which produced a single damped cycle. Thereafter, combined experimental and theoretical characterization of the replication process in a CSTR under different flow and environmental (pH, redox) conditions demonstrated reasonably sustained oscillations. We propose that studies in this direction might pave the way to the design of robust oscillation networks that mimic the autonomous behavior of proteins in cells (e.g., in the cyanobacterial circadian clock) and hence hint at feasible pathways that accelerated the transition from simple peptides to extant enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dharm Dev
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Nathaniel Wagner
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Bapan Pramanik
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Bhawna Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Indrajit Maity
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
- Centre for Nano and Material Sciences, Jain Global Campus, Bangalore, Karnataka 560070, India
| | - Rivka Cohen-Luria
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Enrique Peacock-Lopez
- Department of Chemistry, Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts 02167, United States
| | - Gonen Ashkenasy
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
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5
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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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6
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Chen X, Kriebisch BAK, Bergmann AM, Boekhoven J. Design rules for reciprocal coupling in chemically fueled assembly. Chem Sci 2023; 14:10176-10183. [PMID: 37772095 PMCID: PMC10530897 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc02062b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Biology regulates the function and assembly of proteins through non-equilibrium reaction cycles. Reciprocally, the assembly of proteins can influence the reaction rates of these cycles. Such reciprocal coupling between assembly and reaction cycle is a prerequisite for behavior like dynamic instabilities, treadmilling, pattern formation, and oscillations between morphologies. While assemblies regulated by chemical reaction cycles gained traction, the concept of reciprocal coupling is under-explored. In this work, we provide two molecular design strategies to tweak the degree of reciprocal coupling between the assembly and reaction cycle. The strategies involve spacing the chemically active site away from the assembly or burying it into the assembly. We envision that design strategies facilitate the creation of reciprocally coupled and, by extension, dynamic supramolecular materials in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyao Chen
- Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich Lichtenbergstrasse 4 85748 Garching bei München Germany
| | - Brigitte A K Kriebisch
- Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich Lichtenbergstrasse 4 85748 Garching bei München Germany
| | - Alexander M Bergmann
- Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich Lichtenbergstrasse 4 85748 Garching bei München Germany
| | - Job Boekhoven
- Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich Lichtenbergstrasse 4 85748 Garching bei München Germany
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7
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Ma H, Xing F, Zhou Y, Yu P, Luo R, Xu J, Xiang Z, Rommens PM, Duan X, Ritz U. Design and fabrication of intracellular therapeutic cargo delivery systems based on nanomaterials: current status and future perspectives. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:7873-7912. [PMID: 37551112 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb01008b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular cargo delivery, the introduction of small molecules, proteins, and nucleic acids into a specific targeted site in a biological system, is an important strategy for deciphering cell function, directing cell fate, and reprogramming cell behavior. With the advancement of nanotechnology, many researchers use nanoparticles (NPs) to break through biological barriers to achieving efficient targeted delivery in biological systems, bringing a new way to realize efficient targeted drug delivery in biological systems. With a similar size to many biomolecules, NPs possess excellent physical and chemical properties and a certain targeting ability after functional modification on the surface of NPs. Currently, intracellular cargo delivery based on NPs has emerged as an important strategy for genome editing regimens and cell therapy. Although researchers can successfully deliver NPs into biological systems, many of them are delivered very inefficiently and are not specifically targeted. Hence, the development of efficient, target-capable, and safe nanoscale drug delivery systems to deliver therapeutic substances to cells or organs is a major challenge today. In this review, on the basis of describing the research overview and classification of NPs, we focused on the current research status of intracellular cargo delivery based on NPs in biological systems, and discuss the current problems and challenges in the delivery process of NPs in biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Ma
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Fei Xing
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Yuxi Zhou
- Department of Periodontology, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Ludwigstraße 23, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Peiyun Yu
- LIMES Institute, Department of Molecular Brain Physiology and Behavior, University of Bonn, Carl-Troll-Str. 31, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Rong Luo
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Jiawei Xu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Zhou Xiang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Pol Maria Rommens
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Biomatics Group, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Xin Duan
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Fifth People's Hospital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Ulrike Ritz
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Biomatics Group, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
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8
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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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9
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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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [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. In this article, 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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10
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Nader S, Sebastianelli L, Mansy SS. Protometabolism as out-of-equilibrium chemistry. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2022; 380:20200423. [PMID: 35599565 PMCID: PMC9125230 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2020.0423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
It is common to compare life with machines. Both consume fuel and release waste to run. In biology, the engine that drives the living system is referred to as metabolism. However, attempts at deciphering the origins of metabolism do not focus on this energetic relationship that sustains life but rather concentrate on nonenzymatic reactions that produce all the intermediates of an extant metabolic pathway. Such an approach is akin to studying the molecules produced from the burning of coal instead of deciphering how the released energy drives the movement of pistons and ultimately the train when investigating the mechanisms behind locomotion. Theories that do explicitly invoke geological chemical gradients to drive metabolism most frequently feature hydrothermal vent conditions, but hydrothermal vents are not the only regions of the early Earth that could have provided the fuel necessary to sustain the Earth's first (proto)cells. Here, we give examples of prior reports on protometabolism and highlight how more recent investigations of out-of-equilibrium systems may point to alternative scenarios more consistent with the majority of prebiotic chemistry data accumulated thus far. This article is part of the theme issue 'Emergent phenomena in complex physical and socio-technical systems: from cells to societies'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge Nader
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2G2
| | - Lorenzo Sebastianelli
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2G2
| | - Sheref S. Mansy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2G2
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11
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Kahana A, Lancet D, Palmai Z. Micellar Composition Affects Lipid Accretion Kinetics in Molecular Dynamics Simulations: Support for Lipid Network Reproduction. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12070955. [PMID: 35888044 PMCID: PMC9325298 DOI: 10.3390/life12070955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Mixed lipid micelles were proposed to facilitate life through their documented growth dynamics and catalytic properties. Our previous research predicted that micellar self-reproduction involves catalyzed accretion of lipid molecules by the residing lipids, leading to compositional homeostasis. Here, we employ atomistic Molecular Dynamics simulations, beginning with 54 lipid monomers, tracking an entire course of micellar accretion. This was done to examine the self-assembly of variegated lipid clusters, allowing us to measure entry and exit rates of monomeric lipids into pre-micelles with different compositions and sizes. We observe considerable rate-modifications that depend on the assembly composition and scrutinize the underlying mechanisms as well as the energy contributions. Lastly, we describe the measured potential for compositional homeostasis in our simulated mixed micelles. This affirms the basis for micellar self-reproduction, with implications for the study of the origin of life.
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12
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Liu B, Wu J, Geerts M, Markovitch O, Pappas CG, Liu K, Otto S. Out-of-Equilibrium Self-Replication Allows Selection for Dynamic Kinetic Stability in a System of Competing Replicators. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202117605. [PMID: 35179808 PMCID: PMC9314957 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202117605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Among the key characteristics of living systems are their ability to self‐replicate and the fact that they exist in an open system away from equilibrium. Herein, we show how the outcome of the competition between two self‐replicators, differing in size and building block composition, is different depending on whether the experiments are conducted in a closed vial or in an open and out‐of‐equilibrium replication–destruction regime. In the closed system, the slower replicator eventually prevails over the faster competitor. In a replication‐destruction regime, implemented through a flow system, the outcome of the competition is reversed and the faster replicator dominates. The interpretation of the experimental observations is supported by a mass‐action‐kinetics model. These results represent one of the few experimental manifestations of selection among competing self‐replicators based on dynamic kinetic stability and pave the way towards Darwinian evolution of abiotic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Liu
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Juntian Wu
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marc Geerts
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Omer Markovitch
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Origins Center, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Charalampos G Pappas
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kai Liu
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sijbren Otto
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
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13
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Liu B, Wu J, Geerts M, Markovitch O, Pappas CG, Liu K, Otto S. Out‐of‐equilibrium self‐replication allows selection for dynamic kinetic stability in a system of competing replicators. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202117605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bin Liu
- University of Groningen: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Stratingh Institute for Chemistry NETHERLANDS
| | - Juntian Wu
- University of Groningen: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Stratingh Institute for Chemistry NETHERLANDS
| | - Marc Geerts
- University of Groningen: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Stratingh Institute for Chemistry NETHERLANDS
| | - Omer Markovitch
- University of Groningen: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Stratingh Institute for Chemistry NETHERLANDS
| | - Charalampos G. Pappas
- University of Groningen: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Stratingh Institute for Chemistry NETHERLANDS
| | - Kai Liu
- University of Groningen: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Stratingh Institute for Chemistry NETHERLANDS
| | - Sijbren Otto
- Stratingh Institute University of Groningen Centre for Systems Chemistry Nijenborgh 4 9747AG Groningen NETHERLANDS
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14
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Abstract
As the remit of chemistry expands beyond molecules to systems, new synthetic targets appear on the horizon. Among these, life represents perhaps the ultimate synthetic challenge. Building on an increasingly detailed understanding of the inner workings of living systems and advances in organic synthesis and supramolecular chemistry, the de novo synthesis of life (i.e., the construction of a new form of life based on completely synthetic components) is coming within reach. This Account presents our first steps in the journey toward this long-term goal. The synthesis of life requires the functional integration of different subsystems that harbor the different characteristics that are deemed essential to life. The most important of these are self-replication, metabolism, and compartmentalization. Integrating these features into a single system, maintaining this system out of equilibrium, and allowing it to undergo Darwinian evolution should ideally result in the emergence of life. Our journey toward de novo life started with the serendipitous discovery of a new mechanism of self-replication. We found that self-assembly in a mixture of interconverting oligomers is a general way of achieving self-replication, where the assembly process drives the synthesis of the very molecules that assemble. Mechanically induced breakage of the growing replicating assemblies resulted in their exponential growth, which is an important enabler for achieving Darwinian evolution. Through this mechanism, the self-replication of compounds containing peptides, nucleobases, and fully synthetic molecules was achieved. Several examples of evolutionary dynamics have been observed in these systems, including the spontaneous diversification of replicators allowing them to specialize on different food sets, history dependence of replicator composition, and the spontaneous emergence of parasitic behavior. Peptide-based replicator assemblies were found to organize their peptide units in space in a manner that, inadvertently, gives rise to microenvironments that are capable of catalysis of chemical reactions or binding-induced activation of cofactors. Among the reactions that can be catalyzed by the replicators are ones that produce the precursors from which these replicators grow, amounting to the first examples of the assimilation of a proto-metabolism. Operating these replicators in a chemically fueled out-of-equilibrium replication-destruction regime was found to promote an increase in their molecular complexity. Fueling counteracts the inherent tendency of replicators to evolve toward lower complexity (caused by the fact that smaller replicators tend to replicate faster). Among the remaining steps on the road to de novo life are now to assimilate compartmentalization and achieve open-ended evolution of the resulting system. Success in the synthesis of de novo life, once obtained, will have far-reaching implications for our understanding of what life is, for the search for extraterrestrial life, for how life may have originated on earth, and for every-day life by opening up new vistas in the form living technology and materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijbren Otto
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh
Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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15
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Schwarz PS, Tena-Solsona M, Dai K, Boekhoven J. Carbodiimide-fueled catalytic reaction cycles to regulate supramolecular processes. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:1284-1297. [PMID: 35014639 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc06428b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Using molecular self-assembly, supramolecular chemists can create Gigadalton-structures with angstrom precision held together by non-covalent interactions. However, despite relying on the same molecular toolbox for self-assembly, these synthetic structures lack the complexity and sophistication of biological assemblies. Those assemblies are non-equilibrium structures that rely on the constant consumption of energy transduced from the hydrolysis of chemical fuels like ATP and GTP, which endows them with dynamic properties, e.g., temporal and spatial control and self-healing ability. Thus, to synthesize life-like materials, we have to find a reaction cycle that converts chemical energy to regulate self-assembly. We and others recently found that this can be done by a reaction cycle that hydrates carbodiimides. This feature article aims to provide an overview of how the energy transduced from carbodiimide hydration can alter the function of molecules and regulate molecular assemblies. The goal is to offer the reader design considerations for carbodiimide-driven reaction cycles to create a desired morphology or function of the assembly and ultimately to push chemically fueled self-assembly further towards the bottom-up synthesis of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S Schwarz
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Marta Tena-Solsona
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Kun Dai
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85748 Garching, Germany.
| | - Job Boekhoven
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85748 Garching, Germany. .,Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 2a, 85748, Garching, Germany
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16
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Vela-Gallego S, Pardo-Botero Z, Moya C, de la Escosura A. Collective Adaptability in a Replication Network of Minimal Nucleobase Sequences. Chem Sci 2022; 13:10715-10724. [PMID: 36320689 PMCID: PMC9491195 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc02419e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
A major challenge for understanding the origins of life is to explore how replication networks can engage in an evolutionary process. Herein, we shed light on this problem by implementing a network constituted by two different types of extremely simple biological components: the amino acid cysteine and the canonical nucleobases adenine and thymine, connected through amide bonds to the cysteine amino group and oxidation of its thiol into three possible disulfides. Supramolecular and kinetic analyses revealed that both self- and mutual interactions between such dinucleobase compounds drive their assembly and replication pathways. Those pathways involving sequence complementarity led to enhanced replication rates, suggesting a potential bias for selection. The interplay of synergistic dynamics and competition between replicators was then simulated, under conditions that are not easily accessible with experiments, in an open reactor parametrized and constrained with the unprecedentedly complete experimental kinetic data obtained for our replicative network. Interestingly, the simulations show bistability, as a selective amplification of different species depending on the initial mixture composition. Overall, this network configuration can favor a collective adaptability to changes in the availability of feedstock molecules, with disulfide exchange reactions serving as 'wires' that connect the different individual auto- and cross-catalytic pathways. A replication network of minimal nucleobase sequences is built from simple biological components. The network shows collective adaptability to changes in the environment, while disulfide exchange wires different auto- and cross-catalytic pathways.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Vela-Gallego
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Campus de Cantoblanco 28049 Madrid Spain
| | | | - Cristian Moya
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Campus de Cantoblanco 28049 Madrid Spain
| | - Andrés de la Escosura
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Campus de Cantoblanco 28049 Madrid Spain
- Institute for Advanced Research in Chemistry (IAdChem) Cantoblanco 28049 Madrid Spain
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17
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Kahana A, Maslov S, Lancet D. Dynamic lipid aptamers: non-polymeric chemical path to early life. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:11741-11746. [PMID: 34541591 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00633a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A widespread dogma asserts that life could not have emerged without biopolymers - RNA and proteins. However, the widely acknowledged implausibility of a spontaneous appearance and proliferation of these complex molecules in primordial messy chemistry casts doubt on this scenario. A proposed alternative is "Lipid-First", based on the evidence that lipid assemblies may spontaneously emerge in heterogeneous environments, and are shown to undergo growth and fission, and to portray autocatalytic self-copying. What seems undecided is whether lipid assemblies have protein-like capacities for stereospecific interactions, a sine qua non of life processes. This Viewpoint aims to alleviate such doubts, pointing to growing experimental evidence that lipid aggregates possess dynamic surface configurations capable of stereospecific molecular recognition. Such findings help support a possible key role of lipids in seeding life's origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kahana
- Dept. of Molecular Genetics, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
| | - Svetlana Maslov
- Dept. of Molecular Genetics, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
| | - Doron Lancet
- Dept. of Molecular Genetics, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
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18
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Kahana A, Lancet D. Self-reproducing catalytic micelles as nanoscopic protocell precursors. Nat Rev Chem 2021; 5:870-878. [PMID: 37117387 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-021-00329-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Protocells at life's origin are often conceived as bilayer-enclosed precursors of life, whose self-reproduction rests on the early advent of replicating catalytic biopolymers. This Perspective describes an alternative scenario, wherein reproducing nanoscopic lipid micelles with catalytic capabilities were forerunners of biopolymer-containing protocells. This postulate gains considerable support from experiments describing micellar catalysis and autocatalytic proliferation, and, more recently, from reports on cross-catalysis in mixed micelles that lead to life-like steady-state dynamics. Such results, along with evidence for micellar prebiotic compatibility, synergize with predictions of our chemically stringent computer-simulated model, illustrating how mutually catalytic lipid networks may enable micellar compositional reproduction that could underlie primal selection and evolution. Finally, we highlight studies on how endogenously catalysed lipid modifications could guide further protocellular complexification, including micelle to vesicle transition and monomer to biopolymer progression. These portrayals substantiate the possibility that protocellular evolution could have been seeded by pre-RNA lipid assemblies.
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19
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Howlett M, Scanes RJH, Fletcher SP. Selection between Competing Self-Reproducing Lipids: Succession and Dynamic Activation. JACS AU 2021; 1:1355-1361. [PMID: 34604845 PMCID: PMC8479773 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Models of chemical evolution are central to advancing origins of life research. To design more lifelike systems, we must expand our understanding of molecular selection mechanisms. Here, we show two selection modes that produce evolving populations of self-reproducing species, formed through thiol-disulfide exchange. Competition between thiol precursors can give clear succession patterns based on steric factors, an intrinsic property. A separate, emergent selection mechanism-dynamic activating metathesis-was found when exploring competing disulfide precursors. These experiments reveal that additional species generated in the mixture open up alternative reaction pathways to form self-reproducing products. Thus, increased compositional complexity provides certain species with a unique competitive advantage at the expense of others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael
G. Howlett
- Department of Chemistry,
Chemistry Research Laboratory, University
of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Robert J. H. Scanes
- Department of Chemistry,
Chemistry Research Laboratory, University
of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen P. Fletcher
- Department of Chemistry,
Chemistry Research Laboratory, University
of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
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20
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Ball R, Brindley J. Does Stochasticity Favour Complexity in a Prebiotic Peptide-Micelle System? ORIGINS LIFE EVOL B 2021; 51:259-271. [PMID: 34480252 DOI: 10.1007/s11084-021-09614-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A primordial environment that hosted complex pre- or proto-biochemical activity would have been subject to random fluctuations. A relevant question is then: What might be the optimum variance of such fluctuations, such that net progress could be made towards a living system? Since lipid-based membrane encapsulation was undoubtedly a key step in chemical evolution, we used a peptide-micelle system in simulated experiments where simple micelles and peptide-stabilized micelles compete for the same amphiphilic lipid substrate. As cyclic thermal driver and energy source we used a thermochemical redox oscillator, to which the micelle reactions are coupled thermally through the activation energies. The long-time series averages taken for increasing values of the fluctuation variance show two distinct minima for simple micelles, but are smoothly increasing for complex micelles. This result suggests that the fluctuation variance is an important parameter in developing and perpetuating complexity. We hypothesize that such an environment may be self-selecting for a complex, evolving chemical system to outcompete simple or parasitic molecular structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowena Ball
- Mathematical Sciences Institute, Australian National University, Canberra, 2602, Australia.
| | - John Brindley
- School of Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
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21
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Primitive selection of the fittest emerging through functional synergy in nucleopeptide networks. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2015285118. [PMID: 33622789 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2015285118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many fundamental cellular and viral functions, including replication and translation, involve complex ensembles hosting synergistic activity between nucleic acids and proteins/peptides. There is ample evidence indicating that the chemical precursors of both nucleic acids and peptides could be efficiently formed in the prebiotic environment. Yet, studies on nonenzymatic replication, a central mechanism driving early chemical evolution, have focused largely on the activity of each class of these molecules separately. We show here that short nucleopeptide chimeras can replicate through autocatalytic and cross-catalytic processes, governed synergistically by the hybridization of the nucleobase motifs and the assembly propensity of the peptide segments. Unequal assembly-dependent replication induces clear selectivity toward the formation of a certain species within small networks of complementary nucleopeptides. The selectivity pattern may be influenced and indeed maximized to the point of almost extinction of the weakest replicator when the system is studied far from equilibrium and manipulated through changes in the physical (flow) and chemical (template and inhibition) conditions. We postulate that similar processes may have led to the emergence of the first functional nucleic-acid-peptide assemblies prior to the origin of life. Furthermore, spontaneous formation of related replicating complexes could potentially mark the initiation point for information transfer and rapid progression in complexity within primitive environments, which would have facilitated the development of a variety of functions found in extant biological assemblies.
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22
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Abstract
A major goal of synthetic biology is to understand the transition between non-living matter and life. The bottom-up development of an artificial cell would provide a minimal system with which to study the border between chemistry and biology. So far, a fully synthetic cell has remained elusive, but chemists are progressing towards this goal by reconstructing cellular subsystems. Cell boundaries, likely in the form of lipid membranes, were necessary for the emergence of life. In addition to providing a protective barrier between cellular cargo and the external environment, lipid compartments maintain homeostasis with other subsystems to regulate cellular processes. In this Review, we examine different chemical approaches to making cell-mimetic compartments. Synthetic strategies to drive membrane formation and function, including bioorthogonal ligations, dissipative self-assembly and reconstitution of biochemical pathways, are discussed. Chemical strategies aim to recreate the interactions between lipid membranes, the external environment and internal biomolecules, and will clarify our understanding of life at the interface of chemistry and biology.
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23
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Schwarz PS, Laha S, Janssen J, Huss T, Boekhoven J, Weber CA. Parasitic behavior in competing chemically fueled reaction cycles. Chem Sci 2021; 12:7554-7560. [PMID: 34163846 PMCID: PMC8171353 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc01106e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-equilibrium, fuel-driven reaction cycles serve as model systems of the intricate reaction networks of life. Rich and dynamic behavior is observed when reaction cycles regulate assembly processes, such as phase separation. However, it remains unclear how the interplay between multiple reaction cycles affects the success of emergent assemblies. To tackle this question, we created a library of molecules that compete for a common fuel that transiently activates products. Often, the competition for fuel implies that a competitor decreases the lifetime of these products. However, in cases where the transient competitor product can phase-separate, such a competitor can increase the survival time of one product. Moreover, in the presence of oscillatory fueling, the same mechanism reduces variations in the product concentration while the concentration variations of the competitor product are enhanced. Like a parasite, the product benefits from the protection of the host against deactivation and increases its robustness against fuel variations at the expense of the robustness of the host. Such a parasitic behavior in multiple fuel-driven reaction cycles represents a lifelike trait, paving the way for the bottom-up design of synthetic life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S Schwarz
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich Lichtenbergstraße 4 85748 Garching Germany
| | - Sudarshana Laha
- Biological Physics, Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems Nöthnitzer Straße 38 01187 Dresden Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden Pfotenhauerstraße 108 01307 Dresden Germany
| | - Jacqueline Janssen
- Biological Physics, Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems Nöthnitzer Straße 38 01187 Dresden Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden Pfotenhauerstraße 108 01307 Dresden Germany
| | - Tabea Huss
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich Lichtenbergstraße 4 85748 Garching Germany
| | - Job Boekhoven
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich Lichtenbergstraße 4 85748 Garching Germany
- Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich Lichtenbergstraße 2a 85748 Garching Germany
| | - Christoph A Weber
- Biological Physics, Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems Nöthnitzer Straße 38 01187 Dresden Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden Pfotenhauerstraße 108 01307 Dresden Germany
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24
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Ameta S, Matsubara YJ, Chakraborty N, Krishna S, Thutupalli S. Self-Reproduction and Darwinian Evolution in Autocatalytic Chemical Reaction Systems. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:308. [PMID: 33916135 PMCID: PMC8066523 DOI: 10.3390/life11040308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the emergence of life from (primitive) abiotic components has arguably been one of the deepest and yet one of the most elusive scientific questions. Notwithstanding the lack of a clear definition for a living system, it is widely argued that heredity (involving self-reproduction) along with compartmentalization and metabolism are key features that contrast living systems from their non-living counterparts. A minimal living system may be viewed as "a self-sustaining chemical system capable of Darwinian evolution". It has been proposed that autocatalytic sets of chemical reactions (ACSs) could serve as a mechanism to establish chemical compositional identity, heritable self-reproduction, and evolution in a minimal chemical system. Following years of theoretical work, autocatalytic chemical systems have been constructed experimentally using a wide variety of substrates, and most studies, thus far, have focused on the demonstration of chemical self-reproduction under specific conditions. While several recent experimental studies have raised the possibility of carrying out some aspects of experimental evolution using autocatalytic reaction networks, there remain many open challenges. In this review, we start by evaluating theoretical studies of ACSs specifically with a view to establish the conditions required for such chemical systems to exhibit self-reproduction and Darwinian evolution. Then, we follow with an extensive overview of experimental ACS systems and use the theoretically established conditions to critically evaluate these empirical systems for their potential to exhibit Darwinian evolution. We identify various technical and conceptual challenges limiting experimental progress and, finally, conclude with some remarks about open questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Ameta
- Simons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Yoshiya J. Matsubara
- Simons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Nayan Chakraborty
- Simons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Sandeep Krishna
- Simons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Shashi Thutupalli
- Simons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
- International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560089, India
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25
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Schnitzer T, Vantomme G. Synthesis of Complex Molecular Systems-The Foreseen Role of Organic Chemists. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2020; 6:2060-2070. [PMID: 33274282 PMCID: PMC7706085 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.0c00974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
How to control the self-assembly of complex molecular systems is unknown. Yet, these complex molecular systems are fundamental for advances in material and biomedical sciences. A step forward is to transform one-step self-assembly into multistep synthesis involving covalent and noncovalent reactions. Key to this approach is to explore the chemical space at the frontiers of advanced covalent synthesis and supramolecular chemistry. Herein, we describe a selection of such reported cases and provide a guide for current limitations and insights for future directions. This outlook is meant to trigger collaborations between synthetic organic and supramolecular chemists, to expand the repertoire of organic syntheses working with supramolecular assemblies and thereby join forces to achieve stepwise emergence of molecular complexity in supramolecular systems.
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26
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Kriebisch BAK, Jussupow A, Bergmann AM, Kohler F, Dietz H, Kaila VRI, Boekhoven J. Reciprocal Coupling in Chemically Fueled Assembly: A Reaction Cycle Regulates Self-Assembly and Vice Versa. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:20837-20844. [PMID: 33237773 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c10486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
In biology, self-assembly of proteins and energy-consuming reaction cycles are intricately coupled. For example, tubulin is activated and deactivated for assembly by a guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-driven reaction cycle, and the emerging microtubules catalyze this reaction cycle by changing the microenvironment of the activated tubulin. Recently, synthetic analogs of chemically fueled assemblies have emerged, but examples in which assembly and reaction cycles are reciprocally coupled remain rare. In this work, we report a peptide that can be activated and deactivated for self-assembly. The emerging assemblies change the microenvironment of their building blocks, which consequently accelerate the rates of building block deactivation and reactivation. We quantitatively understand the mechanisms at play, and we are thus able to tune the catalysis by molecular design of the peptide precursor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitte A K Kriebisch
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Alexander Jussupow
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Alexander M Bergmann
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Fabian Kohler
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 4a, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Hendrik Dietz
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 4a, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Ville R I Kaila
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85748 Garching, Germany.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Job Boekhoven
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85748 Garching, Germany.,Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstrasse 2a, 85748 Garching, Germany
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27
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Pogodaev AA, Lap TT, Huck WTS. The Dynamics of an Oscillating Enzymatic Reaction Network is Crucially Determined by Side Reactions. CHEMSYSTEMSCHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/syst.202000033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandr A. Pogodaev
- Institute for Molecules and Materials Radboud University Heyendaalseweg 135 Nijmegen 6525 AJ The Netherlands
| | - Tijs T. Lap
- Institute for Molecules and Materials Radboud University Heyendaalseweg 135 Nijmegen 6525 AJ The Netherlands
| | - Wilhelm T. S. Huck
- Institute for Molecules and Materials Radboud University Heyendaalseweg 135 Nijmegen 6525 AJ The Netherlands
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28
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Engwerda AHJ, Southworth J, Lebedeva MA, Scanes RJH, Kukura P, Fletcher SP. Coupled Metabolic Cycles Allow Out‐of‐Equilibrium Autopoietic Vesicle Replication. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202007302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Josh Southworth
- Chemistry Research Laboratory University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford UK
| | - Maria A. Lebedeva
- Chemistry Research Laboratory University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford UK
| | - Robert J. H. Scanes
- Chemistry Research Laboratory University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford UK
| | - Philipp Kukura
- Chemistry Research Laboratory University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford UK
| | - Stephen P. Fletcher
- Chemistry Research Laboratory University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford UK
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29
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Engwerda AHJ, Southworth J, Lebedeva MA, Scanes RJH, Kukura P, Fletcher SP. Coupled Metabolic Cycles Allow Out-of-Equilibrium Autopoietic Vesicle Replication. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:20361-20366. [PMID: 32706135 PMCID: PMC7692917 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202007302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We report chemically fuelled out-of-equilibrium self-replicating vesicles based on surfactant formation. We studied the vesicles' autocatalytic formation using UPLC to determine monomer concentration and interferometric scattering microscopy at the nanoparticle level. Unlike related reports of chemically fuelled self-replicating micelles, our vesicular system was too stable to surfactant degradation to be maintained out of equilibrium. The introduction of a catalyst, which introduces a second catalytic cycle into the metabolic network, was used to close the first cycle. This shows how coupled catalytic cycles can create a metabolic network that allows the creation and perseverance of fuel-driven, out-of-equilibrium self-replicating vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Josh Southworth
- Chemistry Research LaboratoryUniversity of Oxford12 Mansfield RoadOxfordUK
| | - Maria A. Lebedeva
- Chemistry Research LaboratoryUniversity of Oxford12 Mansfield RoadOxfordUK
| | | | - Philipp Kukura
- Chemistry Research LaboratoryUniversity of Oxford12 Mansfield RoadOxfordUK
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30
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Schnitter
- Department of Chemistry Technical University of Munich Lichtenbergstrasse 4 85748 Garching Germany
| | - Job Boekhoven
- Department of Chemistry Technical University of Munich Lichtenbergstrasse 4 85748 Garching Germany
- Institute for Advanced Study Technical University of Munich Lichtenbergstrasse 4 85748 Garching Germany
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31
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Engwerda AHJ, Fletcher SP. A molecular assembler that produces polymers. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4156. [PMID: 32814774 PMCID: PMC7438324 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17814-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular nanotechnology is a rapidly developing field, and tremendous progress has been made in developing synthetic molecular machines. One long-sought after nanotechnology is systems able to achieve the assembly-line like production of molecules. Here we report the discovery of a rudimentary synthetic molecular assembler that produces polymers. The molecular assembler is a supramolecular aggregate of bifunctional surfactants produced by the reaction of two phase-separated reactants. Initially self-reproduction of the bifunctional surfactants is observed, but once it reaches a critical concentration the assembler starts to produce polymers instead of supramolecular aggregates. The polymer size can be controlled by adjusting temperature, reaction time, or introducing a capping agent. There has been considerable debate about molecular assemblers in the context of nanotechnology, our demonstration that primitive assemblers may arise from simple phase separated reactants may provide a new direction for the design of functional supramolecular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthonius H J Engwerda
- Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Stephen P Fletcher
- Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK.
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Post EAJ, Fletcher SP. Dissipative self-assembly, competition and inhibition in a self-reproducing protocell model. Chem Sci 2020; 11:9434-9442. [PMID: 34094210 PMCID: PMC8162124 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc02768e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The bottom-up synthesis of artificial, life-like systems promises to enable the study of emergent properties distinctive to life. Here, we report protocell systems generated from phase-separated building blocks. Vesicle protocells self-reproduce through a phase-transfer mechanism, catalysing their own formation. Dissipative self-assembly by the protocells is achieved when a hydrolysis step to destroy the surfactant is introduced. Competition between micelle and vesicle based replicators for a common feedstock shows that environmental conditions can control what species predominates: under basic conditions vesicles predominate, but in a neutral medium micelles are selected for via a mechanism which inhibits vesicle formation. Finally, the protocells enable orthogonal reactivity by catalysing in situ formation of an amphiphilic organocatalyst, which after incorporation into the vesicle bilayer enantioselectively forms a secondary product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias A J Post
- Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Stephen P Fletcher
- Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
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Affiliation(s)
- Iuliia Myrgorodska
- University of OxfordChemistry Research Laboratory 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Ignacio Colomer
- University of OxfordChemistry Research Laboratory 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Stephen P. Fletcher
- University of OxfordChemistry Research Laboratory 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
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Solà J, Jimeno C, Alfonso I. Exploiting complexity to implement function in chemical systems. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:13273-13286. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cc04170j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This feature article reflects a personal overview of the importance of complexity as an additional parameter to be considered in chemical research, being illustrated with selected examples in molecular recognition and catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Solà
- Department of Biological Chemistry
- Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia
- IQAC-CSIC
- 08034 Barcelona
- Spain
| | - Ciril Jimeno
- Department of Biological Chemistry
- Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia
- IQAC-CSIC
- 08034 Barcelona
- Spain
| | - Ignacio Alfonso
- Department of Biological Chemistry
- Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia
- IQAC-CSIC
- 08034 Barcelona
- Spain
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