Non-associative phase separation in an evaporating droplet as a model for prebiotic compartmentalization

Wei Guo; Andrew B. Kinghorn; Yage Zhang; Qingchuan Li; Aditi Dey Poonam; Julian A. Tanner; Ho Cheung Shum

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-23410-7

Nature Communications (May 2021)

Non-associative phase separation in an evaporating droplet as a model for prebiotic compartmentalization

Wei Guo,
Andrew B. Kinghorn,
Yage Zhang,
Qingchuan Li,
Aditi Dey Poonam,
Julian A. Tanner,
Ho Cheung Shum

Affiliations

Wei Guo: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (SAR)
Andrew B. Kinghorn: School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (SAR)
Yage Zhang: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (SAR)
Qingchuan Li: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (SAR)
Aditi Dey Poonam: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (SAR)
Julian A. Tanner: School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (SAR)
Ho Cheung Shum: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (SAR)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23410-7
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

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Prebiotic compartmentalization could prove essential for the evolution of life. Guo et al. show that liquid-liquid separation in an aqueous two-phase system driven by evaporation may already suffice to facilitate chemical processes required for the RNA world hypothesis.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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