Abstract
A network of aqueous emulsion droplets that exhibits programmed and directional chemical inter-droplet communication is described. A non-reciprocal transfer of substrates between enzyme-containing aqueous emulsion droplets is realized by (biochemically) induced osmolarity gradients and concomitant concentration gradients are used to direct a multistep enzymatic cascade reaction across multiple droplets.
Highlights
A network of aqueous emulsion droplets that exhibits programmed and directional chemical inter-droplet communication is described
Regulation of chemical reactivity in reaction cascades is critical to the functioning and survival of living organisms,[1,2] and striking examples include the metabolization of sugars for cellular energy supply, or the immune system’s capability to respond to perpetrators by transforming chemical recognition events into the release of inflammatory counteragents
An asymmetry in chemical communication is often achieved by compartmentalizing active species, e.g. enzymes, within cells or subcellular organelles.[3,4]
Summary
A network of aqueous emulsion droplets that exhibits programmed and directional chemical inter-droplet communication is described. A non-reciprocal transfer of substrates between enzyme-containing aqueous emulsion droplets is realized by (biochemically) induced osmolarity gradients and concomitant concentration gradients are used to direct a multistep enzymatic cascade reaction across multiple droplets.
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