Alex Blokhuis

University of Groningen | RUG

Significance Autocatalysis, the ability of chemical systems to make more of themselves, is a hallmark of living systems, as it underlies metabolism, reproduction, and evolution. Here, we present a unified theory of autocatalysis based on stoichiometry. This allows us to identify essential motifs of autocatalytic networks, namely, autocatalytic core...

We experimentally investigate active motion of spherical Janus colloidal particles in a viscoelastic fluid. Self-propulsion is achieved by a local concentration gradient of a critical polymer mixture which is imposed by laser illumination. Even in the regime where the fluid’s viscosity is independent of the deformation rate induced by the particle,...

Natural selection is the cornerstone of Darwinian evolution and acts on reproducing entities exhibiting variations that can be inherited and selected for based on, among others, interactions with the environment. Conversely, the replicating entities can also affect their environment generating a two-way feedback on evolutionary dynamics. The onset...

We demonstrate that a recombinase ribozyme achieves multiple functions in the same reaction network: self-reproduction, iterative elongation and circularization of other RNAs, leading to synthesis of diverse products predicted by...

Self-assembly enables access to complex molecular architectures but is traditionally confined to structures that represent global minima on the Gibbs energy landscape. We now report that it is possible to access structures other than those with the lowest individual Gibbs energy, while remaining under thermodynamic control. We prepared dynamic comb...

Unidirectional molecular rotation based on alternating photochemical and thermal isomerizations of overcrowded alkenes is well established, but rotary cycles based purely on photochemical isomerizations are rare. Herein we report three new second-generation molecular motors featuring a phosphorus center in the lower half, which engenders a unique e...

Autocatalysis is an essential property for theories of abiogenesis and chemical evolution. However, the different formalisms proposed so far seemingly address different forms of autocatalysis and it remains unclear whether all of them have been captured. Furthermore, the lack of unified framework thus far prevents a systematic study of autocatalysi...

(Full manuscript available at: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-02566386/) The academic field of Origins of Life seeks to explain abiogenesis: how abiotic matter can be transformed to living systems. Recent decades have seen a substantial development of prebiotic scenarios: hypotheses on the place, chemistry and physical mechanisms of abiogenes...

We report empirically and theoretically that multiple prebiotic minerals can selectively accumulate longer RNAs, with selectivity enhanced at higher temperatures. We further demonstrate that surfaces can be combined with a catalytic RNA to form longer RNA polymers, supporting the potential of minerals to develop genetic information on the early Ear...

We extend a recently introduced framework for transient compartmentalization of replicators with selection dynamics, by including the effect of mutations and noise in such systems. In the presence of mutations, functional replicators (ribozymes) are turned into non-functional ones (parasites). We evaluate the phase diagram of a system undergoing tr...

We extend a recently introduced framework for transient compartmentalization of replicators with selection dynamics, by including the effect of mutations and noise in such systems. In the presence of mutations, functional replicators (ribozymes) are turned into non-functional ones (parasites). We evaluate the phase diagram of a system undergoing tr...

Kinetic theory and thermodynamics of reaction networks are extended to the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of continuous-flow stirred tank reactors (CSTR) and serial transfers. On the basis of their stoichiometry matrix, the conservation laws and the cycles of the network are determined for both dynamics. It is shown that the CSTR and serial transfer d...

Transient compartments have been recently shown to be able to maintain functional replicators in the context of prebiotic studies. Motivated by this experiment, we show that a broad class of selection dynamics is able to achieve this goal. We identify two key parameters, the relative amplification of non-active replicators (parasites) and the size...

Transient compartments have been recently shown to be able to maintain functional replicators in the context of prebiotic studies. Motivated by this experiment, we show that a broad class of selection dynamics is able to achieve this goal. We identify two key parameters, the relative amplification of non-active replicators (parasites) and the size...

We describe the kinetics and thermodynamics of copolymers undergoing recombination reactions, which are important for prebiotic chemistry. We use two approaches: the first one, based on chemical rate equations and the mass-action law describes the infinite size limit, while the second one, based on the chemical master equation, describes systems of...