Exponential self-replication enabled through a fibre elongation/breakage mechanism

Mathieu Colomb-Delsuc, Elio Mattia, Jan W. Sadownik and Sijbren Otto ()
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Mathieu Colomb-Delsuc: Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen
Elio Mattia: Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen
Jan W. Sadownik: Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen
Sijbren Otto: Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Self-replicating molecules are likely to have played a central role in the origin of life. Most scenarios of Darwinian evolution at the molecular level require self-replicators capable of exponential growth, yet only very few exponential replicators have been reported to date and general design criteria for exponential replication are lacking. Here we show that a peptide-functionalized macrocyclic self-replicator exhibits exponential growth when subjected to mild agitation. The replicator self-assembles into elongated fibres of which the ends promote replication and fibre growth. Agitation results in breakage of the growing fibres, generating more fibre ends. Our data suggest a mechanism in which mechanical energy promotes the liberation of the replicator from the inactive self-assembled state, thereby overcoming self-inhibition that prevents the majority of self-replicating molecules developed to date from attaining exponential growth.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8427

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