title: A Compartmentalized Out-of-Equilibrium Enzymatic Reaction Network for Sustained Autonomous Movement.
abstract: Every living cell is a compartmentalized out-of-equilibrium system exquisitely able to convert chemical energy into function. In order to maintain homeostasis, the flux of metabolites is tightly controlled by regulatory enzymatic networks. A crucial prerequisite for the development of lifelike materials is the construction of synthetic systems with compartmentalized reaction networks that maintain out-of-equilibrium function. Here, we aim for autonomous movement as an example of the conversion of feedstock molecules into function. The flux of the conversion is regulated by a rationally designed enzymatic reaction network with multiple feedforward loops. By compartmentalizing the network into bowl-shaped nanocapsules the output of the network is harvested as kinetic energy. The entire system shows sustained and tunable microscopic motion resulting from the conversion of multiple external substrates. The successful compartmentalization of an out-of-equilibrium reaction network is a major first step in harnessing the design principles of life for construction of adaptive and internally regulated lifelike systems.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen , Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marlies
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nijemeisland
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen , Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Loai K E A
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Abdelmohsen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen , Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wilhelm T S
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Huck
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen , Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Daniela A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering & Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: van Hest