Mutual feedback between metabolically active coacervate droplets and nucleic acid catalysts (P16)

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We will study the synergies between protocell-first and the nucleic acid (NA) first hypotheses by developing a protocell model based on active, complex coacervate droplets consisting of prebiotically plausible cationic peptides and oligonucleotides. In the chemically fueled reaction cycle, the active droplets emerge when chemical energy is available, and decay without. Since part of the components is nucleotide-based, these protocells can contain hereditary information and host catalytic activity. We will focus on effects of droplet microenvironment on the activity and molecular evolution of NA catalysts but also how these catalysts can affect droplet survival and / or proliferation.