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Design of multi-phase dynamic chemical networks
Chenrui Chen1, Junjun Tan1, Ming-Chien Hsieh2
1Departments of Chemistry and Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
Nature Chemistry
|July 30, 2017
Summary
Researchers created dynamic polymerization networks using prion cross-β phases to form chain-length-specific peptide-like oligomers. This work reveals pathways for the emergence and amplification of self-selected biopolymers, mimicking early life processes.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Synthetic Biology
- Origin of Life Studies
Background:
- Template-directed polymerization is crucial for biopolymer information storage, mirroring life's central dogma.
- The initial steps in creating sequence- and chain-length-specific polymer templates are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and construct dynamic polymerization networks that mimic early biopolymer formation.
- To investigate the role of metastable prion cross-β phases in template-directed synthesis.
- To reveal pathways for the emergence and amplification of specific biopolymers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized dynamic polymerization networks exploiting metastable prion cross-β phases.
- Engineered mixed-phase environments emerging from growing peptide oligomers.
- Observed nucleation and selection of ordered templates within these dynamic phases.
Main Results:
- Developed templates that direct the amplification of chain-length-specific peptide-like oligomers.
- Demonstrated that dynamic, multi-phase environments naturally emerge from peptide assembly.
- Showcased the self-selection and amplification of ordered biopolymer templates.
Conclusions:
- Multi-phase biopolymer dynamics offer insights into the emergence of self-selected, chain-length-specific polymers.
- This approach provides a model for understanding the origins of sequence-specific biopolymers.
- Metastable prion phases can serve as scaffolds for creating complex, ordered synthetic polymers.
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