A Compartmentalized Out-of-Equilibrium Enzymatic Reaction Network for Sustained Autonomous Movement.

ABSTRACT: Every living cell is a compartmentalized out-of-equilibrium system exquisitely able to convert chemical energy into function. In order to maintain homeostasis, the flux of metabolites is tightly controlled by regulatory enzymatic networks. A crucial prerequisite for the development of lifelike materials is the construction of synthetic systems with compartmentalized reaction networks that maintain out-of-equilibrium function. Here, we aim for autonomous movement as an example of the conversion of feedstock molecules into function. The flux of the conversion is regulated by a rationally designed enzymatic reaction network with multiple feedforward loops. By compartmentalizing the network into bowl-shaped nanocapsules the output of the network is harvested as kinetic energy. The entire syste

SUBMITTER: Nijemeisland M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5126709 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature