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Supramolecular Chemistry and the Life Sciences

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Supramolecular Chemistry

Abstract

Life is introduced as a supramolecular phenomenon and analogies drawn between the interactions associated with biological molecules and those responsible for the formation of supramolecules. The syntheses and structural features of the major biological molecules and supramolecules (amino acids, proteins, sugars, glycoproteins, lipids, RNA and DNA) are described. Self-replication is considered in both biological and artificial systems leading to a discussion about the requirements of replicators, replicator evolution and the orthogonal translation of information from one medium to another. Supramolecular self-replication, self-assembly and self-replicating motifs are described as analogues of biological processes. The relevance of supramolecular chemistry to the origin of life is illustrated with reference to three ‘origin of life’ scenarios: the Lipid World, Iron-Sulfur World and RNA World models. Similarities between supramolecular biology and synthetic biology are explored.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Huxley Bldg, Lewes Road, BN2 4GJ, Brighton, UK

    Dr. Peter J. Cragg

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  1. Dr. Peter J. Cragg
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Correspondence to Peter J. Cragg .

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Cragg, P.J. (2010). Supramolecular Chemistry and the Life Sciences. In: Supramolecular Chemistry. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2582-1_2

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