Coupling of subsystems

In subsequent simulations, we have covalently bound the photo-sensitizer to a nucleic acid strand and varied its catalytic effect between single and double strand configuration. This follows the coupling design in [11] and corresponds to experimental results [3]. Fig. 2 shows that this successfully couples metabolism and genome: surfactant precursor turnover is activated only after successful gene replication.


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Fig. 2: Coupling of metabolism an genome: by making the metabolic turnover rate dependent on the conformation of nucleic acids strands, we can asure that container replication (rightmost panel) only follows successful ligation (center panel).


Container-genome coupling has been studied in simulation by comparing the hybridization complexes of nucleic acids on the container surface with those in water. It has been found that proper hybridization occurs more likely on the oil-water interface whereas nucleic acids dissolved in water from micelle-like structures. 

Gene replication is easier at the surface of an aggregate with a substantial oil core than  one with a little or no oil core. This is mainly due to a higher lateral diffusion of polymers on the oil-water interface than on surfactent coated surfaces.


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