英国牛津大学Fletcher, Stephen P.团队报道了一种自主振荡的超分子自复制子。相关研究成果发表在2022年5月26日出版的国际学术期刊《自然化学》。

化学研究的一个关键目标是开发模拟生物学的合成系统，例如最小生命形式的自我组装、自我复制模型。在复杂的生物网络中经常观察到振荡，但振荡的、自我复制的物种尚不清楚，如何控制自治的超分子级振荡系统也尚未建立。

该文中，研究人员展示了一群自组装的自我复制子是如何自主振荡的，从而使简单的胶束物种在时间上反复出现和消失。分子和超分子事件的相互作用是观察振荡的关键：腔室的重复形成和消失与分子级物种形成和分解的反应网络有关。该系统在不同长度尺度上的动态行为为大规模运输提供了机会，正如研究人员通过可逆染料吸收所证明的那样。研究人员相信，这些发现将激发新的仿生系统，并可能解锁纳米技术系统，如（超分子）泵，其中隔室的形成在时间和空间上受到控制。

附：英文原文

Title: An autonomously oscillating supramolecular self-replicator

Author: Howlett, Michael G., Engwerda, Anthonius H. J., Scanes, Robert J. H., Fletcher, Stephen P.

Issue&Volume: 2022-05-26

Abstract: A key goal of chemistry is to develop synthetic systems that mimic biology, such as self-assembling, self-replicating models of minimal life forms. Oscillations are often observed in complex biological networks, but oscillating, self-replicating species are unknown, and how to control autonomous supramolecular-level oscillating systems is also not yet established. Here we show how a population of self-assembling self-replicators can autonomously oscillate, so that simple micellar species repeatedly appear and disappear in time. The interplay of molecular and supramolecular events is key to observing oscillations: the repeated formation and disappearance of compartments is connected to a reaction network where molecular-level species are formed and broken down. The dynamic behaviour of our system across different length scales offers the opportunities for mass transport, as we demonstrate via reversible dye uptake. We believe these findings will inspire new biomimetic systems and may unlock nanotechnology systems such as (supra)molecular pumps, where compartment formation is controlled in time and space.

DOI: 10.1038/s41557-022-00949-6

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-022-00949-6