Autocatalytic chemical reactions, whereby a molecule is able to catalyze its own formation, mimic nature’s ability to generate identical copies of relevant biomolecules. While several molecular autocatalysts have been previously reported, linking autocatalytic behavior to macromolecular self-assembly remains both challenging and limited in scope. Here we report a non-enzymatic and chemoselective methodology capable of autocatalytically producing triskelion peptides that self-associate into spherical bioinspired nanostructures. Such spherical architectures offer an opportunity to organize biomolecules and chemical reactions in unique, nanoscale compartments. Additionally, serial transfer experiments demonstrate that autocatalysis successfully drives the continual self-reproduction of three-dimensional nanospheres. Our approach represents a powerful tool for the development of self-reproducing bionanomaterials based on peptide architecture, which may shed light on understanding life’s chemical origins and early evolution.

Continual reproduction of self-assembling peptide nanomaterials

255th National Meeting (2018)

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