Nature Communications - Constructing synthetic mimics of membraneless organelles using small molecules can contribute towards our understanding of active phase separation and their role in the...

Complexity in living organism thrives on emergent functions operating far from equilibrium. Here, we show the spontaneous generation of vesicles via self-assembly of bolaamphiphile building blocks accessed from the condensation of a dipeptide and an ester. These vesicles acquire catalytic capability and establish a chemical reaction network to self-sustain under non-equilibrium conditions. This work can offer significant insights for developing life-inspired materials capable of functioning autonomously.

Our findings demonstrate that simple building blocks can access active condensates by exploiting their own catalytic prowess that eventually helps in the realization of an out-of-equilibrium spatiall...

Functions arising from cooperation between protobiopolymers have fueled the chemical emergence of living matter, which requires a continuous supply of energy to exist in a far-from-equilibrium state. ...