Polymorphism in Glu-Phe-Asp Proteinoids
Panagiotis Mougkogiannis1, Andrew Adamatzky1
1Unconventional Computing Laboratory, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK.
Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 25, 2025
Summary
Glu-Phe-Asp (GFD) proteinoids self-assemble into different structures, altering electrical properties. Microspheres generate nerve-like spikes, while fibers show gradual voltage changes, offering insights into biomimetic computing.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Synthetic Biology
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Proteinoids are synthetic polypeptides with self-assembly capabilities.
- Morphology significantly influences the electrical properties of self-assembled proteinoid structures.
- Understanding structure-property relationships is key for biomimetic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of morphology on the electrical properties of Glu-Phe-Asp (GFD) proteinoids.
- To characterize the electrical behavior of GFD microspheres and fibers.
- To explore the emergent electrical properties of mixed GFD networks.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and self-assembly of GFD proteinoids into distinct morphologies (microspheres, fibers).
- Electrochemical measurements including capacitance, impedance, and resistance.
- Extended electrical recordings and waveform analysis.
Main Results:
- GFD microspheres exhibit low capacitance, high impedance, and low resistance, facilitating rapid spiking behavior.
- GFD fibers display high capacitance, low impedance, and high resistance, supporting slow potential changes.
- Mixed GFD networks demonstrate intermediate electrical properties, indicating emergent hybrid characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Structural polymorphism in GFD proteinoids directly dictates their electrical properties.
- The distinct electrical behaviors are attributed to differences in ion trapping and transport mechanisms.
- These findings hold significance for developing biomimetic computing systems and understanding early life information processing.
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