BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:researchseminars.org CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-WR-CALNAME:researchseminars.org BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Michele Stasi (Technical University Munich) DTSTART:20240521T140000Z DTEND:20240521T160000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/1 DESCRIPTION:Title: Carbodiimide chemistry to drive DNA Nanotechnology\nby Miche le Stasi (Technical University Munich) as part of Systems Chemistry Discus sion Series\n\nAbstract: TBA\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/1/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Thomas Hermans (IMDEA Nanociencia) DTSTART:20240613T140000Z DTEND:20240613T150000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/2 DESCRIPTION:Title: A supramolecular oscillating system\nby Thomas Hermans (IMDE A Nanociencia) as part of Systems Chemistry Discussion Series\n\nAbstract: TBA\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/2/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Yoshiyuki Kageyama (Hokkaido University) DTSTART:20240613T150000Z DTEND:20240613T160000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/3 DESCRIPTION:Title: Robust Dynamics of Synthetic Molecular Systems as a Consequence of Broken Symmetry\nby Yoshiyuki Kageyama (Hokkaido University) as par t of Systems Chemistry Discussion Series\n\nAbstract: TBA\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/3/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Tessel Bouwens (University of Cambridge) DTSTART:20241030T150000Z DTEND:20241030T163000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/4 DESCRIPTION:Title: Application of molecular machinery in photoelectrochemical devic es\nby Tessel Bouwens (University of Cambridge) as part of Systems Che mistry Discussion Series\n\nAbstract: TBA\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/4/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Luis Pantaleone (University of Groningen) DTSTART:20241212T150000Z DTEND:20241212T163000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/5 DESCRIPTION:Title: The role of anisotropy in polymerization motors\nby Luis Pan taleone (University of Groningen) as part of Systems Chemistry Discussion Series\n\n\nAbstract\nBiopolymerization motors are a class of cytoskeletal proteins that can convert chemical energy into useful mechanical work by using self-assembly to mediate the energy transduction process. One of the key challenges in replicating the function of such biological machinery\, which operates in a fluid environment and at a scale dominated by Brownia n motion\, is to transfer the intrinsic directionality embedded in supramo lecular architectures during the process of chemo-mechanical transduction. In this presentation we will discuss strategies aimed at differentiating the reactivity and dynamics of building blocks based on their supramolecul ar structure by using hierarchically structured materials with increased a nisotropic properties compared to traditional supramolecular polymers.\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/5/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Sergey Semenov (Weizmann Institute of Science) DTSTART:20250114T150000Z DTEND:20250114T163000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/6 DESCRIPTION:Title: From life-inspired materials to the origin of life: dissipative structures by molecular design.\nby Sergey Semenov (Weizmann Institute of Science) as part of Systems Chemistry Discussion Series\n\n\nAbstract\ nLiving matter functions conceptually differently from non-living matter. It is active and is organized in\nspace and time through the interaction o f five major types of processes: biochemical reactions\, diffusion\,\nnonc ovalent self-assembly\, phase separation\, and mechanical motion. This des ign provides adaptivity\,\nevolvability\, and the ability to self-replicat e\, which are unique for life. In contrast\, the chemists’ ability to\nb uild dynamically organized systems (e.g.\, chemical oscillators) is limite d. Interconnections and feedback\nloops between different processes make t hem non-modular (holistic) and\, consequently\, hard to\nunderstand and ra tionally construct. Nevertheless\, the ability to construct dynamically or ganized systems\nopens possibilities (i) to obtain materials with life-lik e properties and (ii) to probe the role of dynamic\nself-assembly in the o rigin of Life.\nIn this talk\, I propose using the chemists’ ability to design and synthesize molecules for the rational\nconstruction of dynamic systems and materials. I will illustrate this strategy with the rational d esign of\nchemical oscillators\, waves\, patterns\, actuators\, and micros tructures. In perspective\, this work opens a\npath toward constructing li fe-like dynamic materials and observing emergent phenomena in prebioticall y\nrelevant chemistry.\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/6/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Max Notheis (University of Bonn) DTSTART:20250211T150000Z DTEND:20250211T163000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/7 DESCRIPTION:Title: A light-driven metallo-supramolecular "claw-machine"\nby Max Notheis (University of Bonn) as part of Systems Chemistry Discussion Seri es\n\n\nAbstract\nThe incorporation of light-responsive moieties into liga nd architectures allows for the synthesis of adaptive metal-organic cages. These structures demonstrate potential for applications as molecular tran sporters\, switchable catalysts\, and smart materials.[1] This work invest igates the potential of photo-responsive M2L3 helicates as a light-control led ‘claw machine’ for selectively grabbing a metal ion. The structure self-assembles into a closed state with the diazocine photoswitch in its bent cis ground state. Upon irradiation\, the photoswitch transitions into a metastable and linear trans configuration\, inducing strain and weakeni ng the metal-ligand bonds. This metastable state exhibits a much faster ex change rate in the metal replacement process. When the irradiation ceases\ , thermal relaxation or irradiation with white light results in the struct ure reverting to its original state. Like a claw machine\, the helicate of fers spatiotemporal control over the metal cation replacement process whic h is not easily achieved using stimuli other than light.\n\n1. E. Benchimo l\, J. Tessarolo and G. H. Clever\, Nat. Chem.\, 2024\, 16\, 13–21.\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/7/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Stephen Fielden (University of Birmingham) DTSTART:20250304T150000Z DTEND:20250304T163000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/8 DESCRIPTION:Title: Systems Chemistry at the Nanoscale: Controlled fusion of polymer nanoparticles\nby Stephen Fielden (University of Birmingham) as part of Systems Chemistry Discussion Series\n\n\nAbstract\nParticle fusion is k ey for combining the properties of multiple biological components. For exa mple\, cell fusion plays a crucial role in infection\, muscle formation an d tissue repair.1 The ability to direct analogous co-assembly between popu lations of synthetic nanoparticles also provides access to hybrid material s. Typically\, this relies on incorporating complementary recognition unit s onto particle surfaces to thermodynamically favour co-assembly.2 Here I present a fundamentally different approach\, where kinetically controlled hetero-fusion occurs between two populations of unfunctionalised polymer n anoparticles.3\,4 Fusion extent can be tuned simply by adjusting polymer l ength. We probed fusion using an elemental tag for cryogenic scanning tran smission electron microscopy combined with electron energy loss spectrosco py (cryo-STEM-EELS). Our results demonstrate emergence of a complex proces s when populations of synthetic nanoparticles are combined. We anticipate systems-level behaviour that results from such hetero-fusion will be fashi oned as an elementary mechanism of synthetic communication that enables fu ture technologies. \n\nReferences\n\n1. McNew\, J. A. et al. Compartmental specificity of cellular membrane fusion encoded in SNARE proteins. Nature 407\, 153–159 (2000).\n\n2. Fan\, Y. et al. Co-assembly of Synthetic Pa rticles with Heterogenous Components. Chem. Mater. 36\, 4011–4033 (2024) .\n\n3. Fielden\, S. D. P.\, Derry\, M. J.\, Miller\, A. J.\, Topham\, P. D. & O'Reilly\, R. K. Triggered Polymersome Fusion. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 145\ , 5824–5833 (2023).\n\n4. Fielden\, S. D. P. Kinetically Controlled and Nonequilibrium Assembly of Block Copolymers in Solution. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 146\, 18781–18796 (2024).\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/8/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Karina Nakashima (University of Cambridge) DTSTART:20250401T140000Z DTEND:20250401T153000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/9 DESCRIPTION:Title: Coacervates in a nucleic acid-peptide world – from complex mix tures to functional protocells\nby Karina Nakashima (University of Cam bridge) as part of Systems Chemistry Discussion Series\n\n\nAbstract\nMixt ures of oppositely charged polypeptides are known to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation\, specifically through complex coacervation. Peptide/pep tide coacervates support a “peptide-first” hypothesis for the origin o f life\; however\, with the rise of systems chemistry\, more heterogeneous scenarios have gained traction. Recent studies suggest that nucleotides a nd amino acids could have simultaneously formed and polymerized into short \, non-coded peptide\, DNA\, and RNA oligomers. In this talk\, I will demo nstrate how a systems chemistry approach can help explain the emergence of functional protocells\, sharing our recent work on peptide/nucleic acid c oacervates. Our findings suggest that even in the early stages of a nuclei c acid-peptide world\, coacervate droplets likely formed. I will explore h ow increased compositional complexity—such as heteropolymers\, polydispe rse mixtures\, and mismatched charge concentrations—affects droplet prop erties like stability and viscosity. Supporting the idea that compositiona l diversity is crucial for origin-of-life hypotheses\, I will show that co acervates composed of mixed short DNA and RNA strands offer advantages ove r those composed of a single nucleic acid\, striking an optimal balance of stability and viscosity to facilitate RNA primer extension.\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/9/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ryou Kubota (Kyushu University) DTSTART:20250701T130000Z DTEND:20250701T143000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/10 DESCRIPTION:Title: Self-sorting and Dynamic Instability in Cell-inspired Multicomp onent Supramolecular Hydrogels\nby Ryou Kubota (Kyushu University) as part of Systems Chemistry Discussion Series\n\n\nAbstract\nCytoskeletons a re composed of distinct supramolecular fibers made of proteins such as mic rotubules and actin filaments. These fibers are self-sorted and dynamicall y undergo assembly and disassembly with reversible noncovalent interaction s in the orthogonal manner\, enabling cells to maintain and modulate their mechanical properties in response to external perturbations. Inspired by these elegant biological supramolecular systems\, we have achieved: (1) th e construction of supramolecular double-network hydrogels through self-sor ting of structurally distinct peptide- and lipid-type hydrogelators\, and (2) the realization of synthetic dynamic instability by hybridizing peptid e-type self-assembled fibers with surfactant micelles\, in which the supra molecular fibers exhibit autonomous cycles of growth and shrinkage during the transient state prior to reaching thermodynamic equilibrium. In this p resentation\, I will discuss recent progress in the development of such mu lti-component and non-equilibrium supramolecular hydrogel systems.\n\n\nRe ferences:\n\nS. Torigoe\, K. Nagao\, R. Kubota*\, I. Hamachi*\, Emergence of dynamic instability by hybridizing synthetic self-assembled dipeptide f ibers with surfactant micelles. JACS 146\, 5799–5805 (2024).\n\nhttps:// pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.3c14565\n\n\nK. Nakamura\, W. Tanaka\, K. Sa da\, R. Kubota\, T. Aoyama\, K. Urayama\, I. Hamachi*\, Phototriggered spa tially controlled out-of-equilibrium patterns of peptide nanofibers in a s elf-sorting double network hydrogel. JACS 143\, 19532–19541 (2021).\n\nh ttps://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.1c09172\n\n\nH. Shigemitsu\, T. Fujis aku\, W. Tanaka\, R. Kubota\, S. Minami\, K. Urayama\, I. Hamachi\, An ada ptive supramolecular hydrogel comprising self-sorting double nanofibre net works. Nat. Nanotechnol. 13\, 165–172 (2018).\n\nhttps://www.nature.com/ articles/s41565-017-0026-6\n\n\nS. Onogi\, H. Shigemitsu\, T. Yoshii\, T. Tanida\, M. Ikeda\, R. Kubota\, I. Hamachi\, In situ real-time imaging of self-sorted supramolecular nanofibers. Nat. Chem. 8\, 743–752 (2016).\n\ nhttps://www.nature.com/articles/nchem.2526\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/10/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Francesco Avanzini (University of Padova) DTSTART:20250506T140000Z DTEND:20250506T153000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/11 DESCRIPTION:Title: Nonideal Reaction-Diffusion Systems: Routes to Instability and Thermodynamics\nby Francesco Avanzini (University of Padova) as part o f Systems Chemistry Discussion Series\n\n\nAbstract\nWe will present a fra mework describing the dynamics and thermodynamics of open non-ideal reacti on-diffusion systems\, which embodies Flory-Huggins' theories of mixtures and chemical reaction network theories. Our theory elucidates the mechanis ms underpinning the emergence of self-organized dissipative structures in these systems. On the one hand\, it identifies the nature of the instabili ties yielding self-organization. On the other hand\, it also reveals the r ole of the reaction network in powering and shaping these structures. This framework opens the way to investigating the energetic cost of phenomena such as liquid-liquid phase separation\, coacervation\, and the formation of biomolecular condensates.\n\nReferences\n\nPhys. Rev. Lett. 131 138301 (2023)\n\nJ. Chem. Phys. 161 174108 (2024)\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/11/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Benjamin M. W. Roberts\; Emanuele Penocchio (University of Padova\ ; Northwestern University) DTSTART:20250610T140000Z DTEND:20250610T153000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/12 DESCRIPTION:Title: An information ratchet improves selectivity in molecular recogn ition under nonequilibrium conditions: experiments and theory\nby Benj amin M. W. Roberts\; Emanuele Penocchio (University of Padova\; Northweste rn University) as part of Systems Chemistry Discussion Series\n\n\nAbstrac t\nMolecular recognition is essential for controlling molecular-level proc esses\, passing molecular instructions for responses including structure f ormation\, signalling\, and replication. Usually\, the selectivity of mole cular recognition is under thermodynamic control\, however\, where a highe r fidelity is required\, nature improves recognition selectivity by using an energy-dissipating kinetic-control regime in which error correction can be performed. Although widespread in nature\, this approach has so far re mained largely unexplored in an abiotic context. Exploiting DNA hybridisat ion as a model\, we show that an information ratchet mechanism increases s electivity for the ‘correct’ duplex from 2:1 at equilibrium to 6:1 und er energy-dissipating conditions. Structural asymmetry in the DNA strands introduces kinetic asymmetry in the reaction network\, enabling enrichment under nonequilibrium conditions without kinetic differentiation originati ng from complex bio-machinery. Furthermore\, error reduction based on rela tively minimalistic structures points a way toward solving Eigen’s parad ox by showing that complex structures are not necessary to increase molecu lar recognition fidelities above the thermodynamically expected values.\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/12/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Patrick Hoffmann (University of Ulm) DTSTART:20251202T150000Z DTEND:20251202T163000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/13 DESCRIPTION:Title: Autonomous Phosphodiester Reaction Cycles and Efficient Oxygen- Exchange Methods in Phosphate Chemistry\nby Patrick Hoffmann (Universi ty of Ulm) as part of Systems Chemistry Discussion Series\n\n\nAbstract\nI n the first part of the talk\, I will present a reaction cycle based on th e carbodiimide-driven formation of cyclic phosphodiesters and their select ive ring opening via cleavage of only one P–O bond. This inherent prefer ence provides the physical-organic basis for directional “walking” of a phosphate group along two molecular tracks carrying alcohol footholds. I will also outline endergonic synthetic opportunities enabled by this mech anism. Kinetic modelling clarifies the origin of kinetic selectivity\, the requirements for autonomous walking\, and the system’s fuel efficiency. \n\nThe second part focuses on an applied systems-chemistry method for eff icient oxygen exchange on phosphate species. Together with my colleague St effen\, we optimized this reaction and show that nucleotide phosphate grou ps can be labelled with up to 96% efficiency\, while a second approach add resses the challenge of achieving regioselective labelling on triphosphate s.\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/13/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Alexander Dack (Imperial College London) DTSTART:20251104T150000Z DTEND:20251104T163000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/14 DESCRIPTION:Title: Recurrent neural chemical reaction networks that approximate ar bitrary dynamics\nby Alexander Dack (Imperial College London) as part of Systems Chemistry Discussion Series\n\n\nAbstract\nMany important pheno mena in biochemistry and biology exploit dynamical features such as multi- stability\, oscillations\, and chaos. Construction of novel chemical syste ms with such rich dynamics is a challenging problem central to the fields of synthetic biology and molecular nanotechnology. In this work\, we addre ss this problem by putting forward a molecular version of a recurrent arti ficial neural network\, which we call the recurrent neural chemical reacti on network (RNCRN). The RNCRN uses a modular architecture - a network of c hemical neurons - to approximate arbitrary dynamics.\n\nWe prove that with sufficiently many chemical neurons and suitably fast reactions\, the RNCR N can be systematically trained to achieve any well-behaved dynamics. RNCR Ns with relatively small number of chemical neurons and a moderate range o f reaction rates are then trained on ordinary differential equations (ODEs ) to display a variety of biologically-important dynamical features includ ing oscillations\, robustness\, and bifurcations. We then introduce an alg orithm for producing designer dynamics without an underlying ODE model\, s imply by specifying desired dynamical features. We produce chemical reacti on networks with irregular dynamic behaviours including a heart-shaped att ractor\, disjoint attractors\, and a toroidal attractor.\n\nWe then train chemical systems to toggle between two data-defined target dynamical behav iours (i.e. approximate a discrete-continuous hybrid system). We show that the switching behaviour of these hybrid systems can be trained to depend on non-linear conditions of upstream chemical parameters leading to abstra ct chemical systems reminiscent of the regulatory framework found in life. Finally\, we argue that small RNCRNs are experimentally implementable wit h DNA-strand-displacement technologies and discuss implementation approach es more broadly in synthetic biology.\n\n[1] A. Dack\, B. Qureshi\, T. E. Ouldridge\, and T. Plesa\, “Recurrent neural chemical reaction networks that approximate arbitrary dynamics\,” 2024.\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/14/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Keith Andrews (Durham University) DTSTART:20250909T140000Z DTEND:20250909T153000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/15 DESCRIPTION:Title: Compartmentalising Catalysis\nby Keith Andrews (Durham Univ ersity) as part of Systems Chemistry Discussion Series\n\n\nAbstract\nKeit h works at Durham University (https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/keith-g-andre ws). His research in the fundamentals of catalysis lies on the peripheries of our usual systems chemistry discussion themes\, however\, given the ce ntral role of catalysis in driving nonequilibrium systems\, his talk shoul d be of great interest. Keith applies principles from supramolecular chemi stry to create enzyme mimics to address key questions: “Why are we so te rrible at catalysis compared to biology? What are we missing?”. He is mo ving towards a more systems based approach to address some of the big prob lems that he is tackling. Keith’s talk explores the fundamental principl es of catalysis\, touching on aspects of electric fields (JACS 2024\, Chem Rxiv 2025)\, compartmentalisation (JACS 2025) and dynamics (BJOC 2025).\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/15/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Thomas Ouldridge (Imperial College London) DTSTART:20251104T150000Z DTEND:20251104T163000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/16 DESCRIPTION:Title: The physical limits of molecular templating\nby Thomas Ould ridge (Imperial College London) as part of Systems Chemistry Discussion Se ries\n\n\nAbstract\nThe systems of the biological cell achieve awesome and inspirational feats of molecular assembly. A paradigmatic example is the selective assembly of essentially arbitrary functional RNA and protein mol ecules from only a small number of building blocks. This process is made p ossible by the copying of information from a DNA template sequence into th e sequence of daughter polymers (RNA and then proteins).\n\nTemplating is essential in creating biochemical complexity in living systems\, but it is almost entirely ignored in synthetic contexts. We argue that this oversig ht largely results from the fact that templating is necessarily an extraor dinarily far from equilibrium process\, making it hard to engineer. We als o ask: given that accurate templating results in a far from equilibrium sy stem\, how much chemical work must be put in to maintain such a state in a n arbitrary system in which products are continuously produced and degrade d? We find that the accuracy of the product ensemble is upper bounded\, b y a function of ΔG\, the difference between the maximal and minimal free- energy changes along pathways to product assembly. Remarkably\, however\, although ΔG constrains the information propagated to the product distribu tion\, the systems that saturate the bound do not look like their biologic al counterparts\, instead operating in a pseudo-equilibrium fashion\, with production and degradation for each product sequence largely occurring vi a the same pathway in forward and reverse directions\, rather than through the free-energy consuming cycles observed in biology. Indeed\, the larger the cyclic flux observed in the system\, the worse the precision. This su rprising result raises the question of why biology operates in the limit o f large cyclic flux\, and also suggests a possible low-energy paradigm for molecular computation.\n\n[1] T. E. Ouldridge* and P. R. ten Wolde. Funda mental costs in the production and destruction of persistent polymer copie s. Phys. Rev. Lett. 118: 158103 (2017).\n\n[2] B. Qureshi\, J. M. Poulton and T. E. Ouldridge*.Thermodynamic limits on general far-from-equilibrium molecular templating networks. In press at Newton\; preprint arXiv:2404.02 791.\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/16/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Jiarong Wu & Jake Greenfield (University of St Andrews) DTSTART:20250113T150000Z DTEND:20250113T163000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/17 DESCRIPTION:by Jiarong Wu & Jake Greenfield (University of St Andrews) as part of Systems Chemistry Discussion Series\n\nAbstract: TBA\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/17/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Dr Jake Greenfield (University of St Andrews) DTSTART:20260203T150000Z DTEND:20260203T163000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/18 DESCRIPTION:Title: Using Photoswitchable Imines to Drive (dark)Transimination Reac tions Uphill\nby Dr Jake Greenfield (University of St Andrews) as part of Systems Chemistry Discussion Series\n\n\nAbstract\nMolecules and mater ials comprised of dynamic-covalent imine bonds display many desirable \npr operties\, including stimuli-responsiveness\, recyclability\, and effortle ss preparation\, among \nothers. However\, the E/Z photochromism of imines has often been overlooked due to \nhistorically poor performance compared to other photoswitches\, typically showing less than \n50% conversion to the metastable state and thermal half-lives of under one minute.1 Recently \, \nwe developed a strategy that significantly improves these photoswitch ing properties\, achieving \nquantitative E-to-Z conversion with visible l ight and extending the thermal half-lives of the \nmetastable Z-state to o ver one day.2\,3 We further found that the regiochemistry of the C=N \nbon d plays a significant role in the switching behavior.3\,4 Through a system atic investigation\, a \nset of design rules for this novel class of imine photoswitch has now been reported\,5 along with \nthe first crystal struc ture of an arylimine in its metastable Z-conformation.4\nWith these improv ed photoswitching properties\, we explored the light-dependent dynamiccov alent chemistry of these photoswitches. To our surprise\, we found that th ey can drive \ntransimination reactions energetically uphill when irradiat ed with light\,6 operating via a \nmechanism akin to a light-driven inform ation ratchet.7 Moreover\, a non-photoresponsive \ntransimination could be driven out-of-equilibrium by coupling it to the photoresponsive \ntransim ination reaction.8 This talk will provide an overview of our recent progre ss in this area.9\nReferences\n\n(1) Greb\, L.\; Vantomme\, G.\; Lehn\, J- M. In Molecular Photoswitches\; Wiley\, 2022\; pp 325–349. \n\n(2) Wu\, J.\; Kreimendahl\, L.\; Tao\, S.\; Anhalt\, O.\; Greenfield\, J. L. Chem. Sci. 2024\, 15 (11)\, 3872–3878.\n\n(3) Wu\, J.\; Li\, C.\; Kreimendahl\ , L.\; Greenfield\, J. L. Chem. Commun. 2024\, 60 (85)\, 12365–12368. \n \n(4) Wu\, J.\; Kreimendahl\, L.\; Greenfield\, J. L. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed . 2025\, e202415464. \n\n(5) Wu\, J.\; Kreimendahl\, L.\; Greenfield\, J. L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025\, jacs.5c02404.\n\n(6) Wu\, J.\; Greenfield\, J. L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024\, 146 (30)\, 20720–20727.\n\n(7) Serreli\, V. \; Lee\, C.-F.\; Kay\, E. R.\; Leigh\, D. A. Nature 2007\, 445 (7127)\, 52 3–527. \n\n(8) Wu\, J.\; Greenfield\, J. L. Chem 2025\, 102579. \n\n(9) Wu\, J.\; Greenfield\, J. L. Chem. Sci. 2025\, 16 (39)\, 17991–18004.\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/18/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Héctor Soria Carrera DTSTART:20260303T150000Z DTEND:20260303T163000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/19 DESCRIPTION:Title: Genotype-Phenotype Coupling in Fuel-Dependent Synthetic Cells w ith an Autocatalyst\nby Héctor Soria Carrera as part of Systems Chemi stry Discussion Series\n\n\nAbstract\nThe central dogma of molecular biolo gy describes how a genotype influences a phenotype by transferring genetic information from DNA to RNA to proteins\, thereby shaping the cell’s tr aits. Reciprocally\, the phenotype affects the success of the genotype by determining the organism’s ability to survive\, reproduce\, and thereby pass on its genetic material. This reciprocal genotype-phenotype relations hip is crucial for Darwinian evolution. Creating de novo life from scratch faces the challenge of establishing a similar coupling between genotype a nd phenotype. This study uses fuel-dependent synthetic cells to explore ge notype-phenotype coupling. We endowed these synthetic cells with a genotyp e in the form of a replicator. The droplets selectively filter building bl ocks\, decreasing the replication error rate. Reciprocally\, the replicato r prolongs the droplet’s lifespan but only when produced in the droplets . Excitingly\, under fuel-starvation conditions\, the prolonged lifetime r esults in increased replicator fidelity. Thus\, we show the genotype helps the phenotype\, which\, in the end\, helps the genotype again—genotype- phenotype coupling in a synthetic system. Future research aims to achieve autonomous division of these compartments for generational transfer of the replicator.\n\nReference\n\nH.Soria-Carrera\, L. Kauling and J. Boekhoven "Primitive genotype-phenotype coupling in fuel-dependent synthetic cells with an autocatalyst"\, Chem \, 2026\, 12\, 102816.\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/19/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ghislaine Vantomme (TU Eindhoven) DTSTART:20260407T140000Z DTEND:20260407T153000Z DTSTAMP:20260415T080213Z UID:SysChemDis/20 DESCRIPTION:Title: From Responsive to Adaptive Supramolecular Materials”\nby Ghislaine Vantomme (TU Eindhoven) as part of Systems Chemistry Discussion Series\n\n\nAbstract\nSupramolecular chemistry provides powerful strategi es to construct materials whose properties are more than the sum of their molecular parts\, emerging from non-covalent interactions. In this lecture \, I will show how molecular design and ordered supramolecular structures can be used to translate molecular events into macroscopic function. Throu gh selected examples from our work\, I will highlight systems that display stimuli-responsiveness\, and history-dependent behavior. I will also brie fly present our ongoing efforts to build a self-driving laboratory platfor m for coatings\, integrating automation and data-driven optimization to ac celerate the discovery of supramolecular materials. These advances open ne w directions toward functional molecular systems with applications in bioi nterfaces\, (opto)electronics\, and sustainable materials.\n LOCATION:https://master.researchseminars.org/talk/SysChemDis/20/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR