Transition to diversification by competition for multiple resources in catalytic reaction networks
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: All life, including cells and artificial protocells, must integrate diverse molecules into a single unit in order to reproduce. Despite expected pressure to evolve a simple system with the fastest replication speed, the mechanism by which the use of a great variety of components, and the coexistence of diverse cell-types with different compositions are achieved is as yet unknown. RESULTS: Here we show that coexistence of such diverse compositions and cell-types is the result of competitions for a variety of limited resources. We find that a transition to diversity occurs both in chemical compositions and in protocell types, as the resource supply is decreased, when the maximum inflow and consumption of resources are balanced. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that a simple physical principle of competition for a variety of limiting resources can be a strong driving force to diversify intracellular dynamics of a catalytic reaction network and to develop diverse protocell types in a primitive stage of life.
Source: Journal of Systems Chemistry
Authors: Atsushi Kamimura, Kunihiko Kaneko
Institution: The University of Tokyo
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W2113107393