Laboratory for Systems Chemistry
Research topics
Signaling in Synthetic Reaction Networks
The formation of signaling elements that can regulate functions in time and space is central to the development of synthetic cells featuring lifelike behavior. Such signaling motifs – producing entities of code with specific information to induce downstream activity – can emerge in non-equilibrium systems, exhibiting complex dynamic behaviors like bistability, multistability, oscillations and chaos. Our work in this area focuses on the design and functional analysis of peptide-based networks, propelled by replication reactions and exhibiting bistable behavior. We furthermore search for the exploitation and implementation of these systems as variable signaling motifs in homogenous and heterogenous environments
Emergence of Lifelike Functions in Feedback-controlled Replication Networks
Unravelling the complex machinery that drives biomolecular co-assembly, and metabolism is a major target in biological research. A related, bio-inspired, challenge in the fields of prebiotic chemistry and systems chemistry focuses on understanding how combined reaction cycles, containing primitive molecules belonging to more than one family, have emerged and evolved and have finally become fixed in early chemical evolution. We characterize the self-organization in synthetic networks formed by short, potentially prebiotic peptides, and nucleic acid or carbohydrate counterparts. We have recently found that directed networks are created by rich catalytic processes, that regulate the quantities of peptides (or nucleopeptides) in one replication cycle and, in turn, affect catalytic reactions in coupled downstream cycles. These feedback-controlled networks give rise to various functions, such as selection of the best fit replicators, and Boolean logic and network motifs guided replication.
Functional Mutualism in Peptide-X Molecular Networks
Living cells use biopolymers building blocks to form fascinatingly complex architectures, which in turn display multiple functions necessary for the cell life cycle. The mechanisms and order of events by which forerunners of these extant biopolymers formed on the early earth remain under intensive investigation. Prebiotic chemistry research has recently provided ample evidence that both peptide and nucleic-acid (NA) precursors could be formed in a primordial environment through common synthetic routes. However, until recently, studies directed at the design of functional supramolecular structures have focused primarily on assemblies made of either peptides or NAs. We have recently revealed mutualistic nucleic acid/peptide co-assembly, and utility of these architectures as functional materials capable of substrate binding, catalysis and replication. These new ‘smart’ soft biomaterials may provide insight and extend our understanding of the possible origins of living systems.
