Reproduction of a protocell by replication of a minority molecule in a catalytic reaction network

Phys Rev Lett. 2010 Dec 31;105(26):268103. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.268103. Epub 2010 Dec 29.

Abstract

For understanding the origin of life, it is essential to explain the development of a compartmentalized structure, which undergoes growth and division, from a set of chemical reactions. In this study, a hypercycle with two chemicals that mutually catalyze each other is considered in order to show that the reproduction of a protocell with a growth-division process naturally occurs when the replication speed of one chemical is considerably slower than that of the other chemical, and molecules are crowded as a result of replication. It is observed that the protocell divides after a minority molecule is replicated at a slow synthesis rate, and thus, a synchrony between the reproduction of a cell and molecule replication is achieved. The robustness of such protocells against the invasion of parasitic molecules is also demonstrated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Cells / cytology*
  • Catalysis
  • Cell Division*
  • DNA Replication*
  • Models, Biological
  • Time Factors