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A transient self-assembling self-replicator

Author

Listed:
  • Ignacio Colomer

    (University of Oxford)

  • Sarah M. Morrow

    (University of Oxford)

  • Stephen P. Fletcher

    (University of Oxford)

Abstract

Developing physical models of complex dynamic systems showing emergent behaviour is key to informing on persistence and replication in biology, how living matter emerges from chemistry, and how to design systems with new properties. Herein we report a fully synthetic small molecule system in which a surfactant replicator is formed from two phase-separated reactants using an alkene metathesis catalyst. The replicator self-assembles into aggregates, which catalyse their own formation, and is thermodynamically unstable. Rather than replicating until the reactants are fully consumed, the metastable replicator is depleted in a second metathesis reaction, and closed system equilibrium is eventually reached. Mechanistic experiments suggest phase separation is responsible for both replicator formation and destruction.

Suggested Citation

  • Ignacio Colomer & Sarah M. Morrow & Stephen P. Fletcher, 2018. "A transient self-assembling self-replicator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-6, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-04670-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04670-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Xianhua Lang & Yingjie Huang & Lirong He & Yixi Wang & Udayabhaskararao Thumu & Zonglin Chu & Wilhelm T. S. Huck & Hui Zhao, 2023. "Mechanosensitive non-equilibrium supramolecular polymerization in closed chemical systems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Benjamin Klemm & Reece W. Lewis & Irene Piergentili & Rienk Eelkema, 2022. "Temporally programmed polymer – solvent interactions using a chemical reaction network," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Fabian Schnitter & Benedikt Rieß & Christian Jandl & Job Boekhoven, 2022. "Memory, switches, and an OR-port through bistability in chemically fueled crystals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    4. Zhanar Abil & Ana María Restrepo Sierra & Andreea R. Stan & Amélie Châne & Alicia Prado & Miguel Vega & Yannick Rondelez & Christophe Danelon, 2024. "Darwinian Evolution of Self-Replicating DNA in a Synthetic Protocell," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.

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