Proto‐proteins in Protocells

Replicator Dynamics in Protocells

Replicator equations have been studied for three decades as a generic dynamical system modelling replication processes. Here we show how they arise naturally in models of self-replicating polymers and discuss some of their basic properties. We then concentrate on a minimal dynamic model of a protocell by coupling replicating polymers with a growing membrane.

Selection for Replicases in Protocells

We consider a world of nucleotide sequences and protocells. The sequences have the property of spontaneous self-replication. Some sequences - so-called replicases - have enzymatic activity in the sense of enhancing the replication rate of all (or almost all) sequences. In a well-mixed medium, natural selection would not favor such replicases because their presence equally benefits sequences wit...

Computing with synthetic protocells.

In this article we present a new kind of computing device that uses biochemical reactions networks as building blocks to implement logic gates. The architecture of a computing machine relies on these generic and composable building blocks, computation units, that can be used in multiple instances to perform complex boolean functions. Standard logical operations are implemented by biochemical ne...

The Ethics of Protocells

Solvable model for template coexistence in protocells

Compartmentalization of self-replicating molecules (templates) in protocells is a necessary step towards the evolution of modern cells. However, coexistence between distinct template types inside a protocell can be achieved only if there is a selective pressure favoring protocells with a mixed template composition. Here we study analytically a group selection model for the coexistence between t...