We have recently designed and synthesized artificial membranes embedded with synthetic, self-reproducing oligotriazole catalysts capable of perpetuating phospholipid bilayer formation. Replacing the complex biochemical pathways used in nature with an autocatalyst that also drives lipid synthesis leads to the continual formation of triazole phospholipids and membrane-bound oligotriazole catalysts from simpler azide and alkyne starting materials. In addition to continual phospholipid synthesis and vesicle growth, the synthetic membranes are capable of remodeling their physical composition in response to changes in the environment by preferentially incorporating specific precursors. Our results demonstrate that complex membranes capable of indefinite self-synthesis can emerge when supplied with simpler chemical building blocks.

Self-reproducing catalysts capable of driving repeated phospholipid membrane synthesis and growth

251st National Meeting (2016)

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