A5025052509- Origins and Evolution of Life
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials
- X-ray Diffraction in Crystallography
- Crystallization and Solubility Studies
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- Nerve injury and regeneration
- Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
- Modular Robots and Swarm Intelligence
- Metabolism and Genetic Disorders
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Porphyrin and Phthalocyanine Chemistry
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
- Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Click Chemistry and Applications
- Algal biology and biofuel production
- DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
- Coastal and Marine Management
- Cancer therapeutics and mechanisms
Central Connecticut State University
2014-2024
University of Southern Denmark
2009-2017
Center for Independent Living
2010-2011
Swedish Chemicals Agency
2010
Los Alamos National Laboratory
2008-2009
University of California, Santa Cruz
2009
The self-assembly of simple amphiphiles like fatty acids into cell-like membranous structures suggests that such were available on prebiotic Earth to support the origin cellular life. However, composition primitive membranes remains unclear because physical properties aqueous environment in which they assembled are relatively unconstrained terms temperature, pH, and ionic concentrations. It seems likely early composed mixtures various an medium warmed by geothermal activity prevalent Archean...
We report the use of photoinduced electron transfer to drive reductive cleavage an ester produce bilayer-forming molecules; specifically, visible photolysis in a mixture decanoic acid precursor, hydrogen donor molecules, and ruthenium-based photocatalyst that employs linked nucleobase (8-oxo-guanine) as generates acid. The overall transformation precursor yield vesicles represents external energy source convert nonstructure forming molecules into amphiphiles spontaneously assemble vesicles....
Vesicles and other bilayered membranous structures can self-assemble from single hydrocarbon chain amphiphiles. Their formation stability are highly dependent on experimental conditions such as ionic strength, pH, temperature. The addition of divalent cations, for example, often results in the disruption vesicles made a fatty acid species through amphiphile precipitation. However, membranes composed mixtures have been shown to be more resistant low millimolar concentrations cations at room...
One of the essential elements any cell, including primitive ancestors, is a structural component that protects and confines metabolism genes while allowing access to nutrients. For targeted protocell model, bilayers decanoic acid, single-chain fatty acid amphiphile, are used as container. These interact with ruthenium–nucleobase complex, metabolic convert amphiphile precursors into more amphiphiles. interactions dependent on non-covalent bonding. The initial rate conversion an oily precursor...
In the search for life beyond Earth, distinguishing living from non-living is paramount. However, this distinction often elusive, as origin of likely a stepwise evolutionary process, not singular event. Regardless favored model, an inherent "grayness" blurs theorized threshold defining life. Here, we explore ambiguities between biotic and abiotic at The role grayness extends into later transitions well. By recognizing limitations posed by grayness, detection researchers will be better able...
All contemporary living cells are composed of a collection self-assembled molecular elements that by themselves non-living but through the creation network exhibit emergent properties self-maintenance, self-reproduction, and evolution. This short review deals with on-going research aims at either understanding how life emerged on early Earth or creating artificial assembled from small chemicals. In particular, this article focuses work carried out to investigate compartments, such as...
Glass microsphere supported protocells were built to investigate the transmission of catalytic function during replication. The chemical system's replication was driven through in situ amphiphile production that resulted formation free bilayers, second "generation". It demonstrated both generations, once separated, still exhibited ability convert precursors. This result shows systems is possible self-replication.
One of the challenges in understanding chemical evolution is large number starting organics and environments that were plausible on early Earth. Starting with realistic organic mixtures using analyses are not biologically biased, interplay between composition environment can be approached statistical analysis. In this work, a mixture 73 was cycled through dehydrating conditions five times, considering environmental parameters pH, salinity, rehydration solution. Products analyzed by HPLC,...
We report the preparation and use of an N-methyl picolinium carbamate protecting group for applications in a phototriggered nonenzymatic DNA phosphoramidate ligation reaction. Selective 5′-amino protection modified 13-mer oligonucleotide is achieved aqueous solution by reaction with N-methyl-4-picolinium carbonyl imidazole triflate precursor. Deprotection carried out photoinduced electron transfer from Ru(bpy)32+ using visible light photolysis ascorbic acid as sacrificial donor....
Understanding how membrane forming amphiphiles are synthesized and aggregate in prebiotic settings is required for understanding the origins of life on Earth 4 billion years ago. Amino acids decyl esters were prepared by dehydration decanol amino acid as a model plausible reaction at two temperatures. Fifteen tested with range side chain chemistries to understand role identity synthesis formation. Products analyzed using LC-MS well microscopy. All produced esters, some products formed...
The first protocells are speculated to have arisen from the self-assembly of simple abiotic carboxylic acids, alcohols, and other amphiphiles into vesicles. To study complex process vesicle formation, we combined laboratory automation with AI-guided experimentation accelerate discovery specific compositions underlying principles governing formation. Using a low-cost commercial liquid handling robot, automated experimental procedures, enabling high-throughput testing various reaction...
The first protocells are speculated to have arisen from the self-assembly of simple abiotic carboxylic acids, alcohols, and other amphiphiles into vesicles. To study complex process vesicle formation, we combined laboratory automation with AI-guided experimentation accelerate discovery specific compositions underlying principles governing formation. Using a low-cost commercial liquid handling robot, automated experimental procedures, enabling high-throughput testing various reaction...
Covalent or noncovalent surface functionalization of soft-matter structures is an important tool for tailoring their function and stability. Functionalized surfaces nanoparticles have found numerous applications in drug delivery diagnostics, new chemistry continuously being developed the discipline bottom-up systems chemistry. The association polar functional molecules, e.g., molecular recognition agents, with can be achieved by derivatization alkyl chains, allowing anchoring into...
Abstract Water has many roles in the context of life on Earth, however throughout universe, other liquids may be able to support emergence life. We looked at ability amino acids, peptides, a depsipeptide, and proteins partition into non-polar decanol phase, with without addition phase transfer agent. Partitioning evaluated using UV detection, or HPLC coupled either charged aerosol detection ESI-MS. For acids short agents were used move biomolecules this was pH dependent. larger molecules,...