Self-organization of primitive metabolic cycles due to non-reciprocal interactions

Journal article

Kinetic traps are a notorious problem in equilibrium statistical mechanics, where temperature quenches ultimately fail to bring the system to low energy configurations. Using multifarious self-assembly as a model system, we introduce a mechanism to escape kinetic traps by utilizing non-reciprocal interactions between components. Introducing non-equilibrium effects offered by broken action-reaction symmetry in the system, we can push the trajectory of the system out of arrested dynamics. The dynamics of the model is studied using tools from the physics of interfaces and defects. Our proposal can find applications in self-assembly, glassy systems and systems with arrested dynamics

Authors: Ouazan-Reboul, V; Agudo-Canalejo, J; Golestanian, R

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Journal: Nature Communications
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 4496-4496
• Article number: 4496
• Publication date: 2023-07-26
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40241-w
• EISSN: 2041-1723
• ISSN: 2041-1723
• Language: English
• Keywords: Reciprocal; Biology; Computational biology; Computer science