Regensburg 2022 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 8: Focus Session: Phase Separation in Biochemical Systems

BP 8.10: Talk

Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 12:15–12:30, H15

(De)hydration far away from equilibrium can speed up chemical processes — •Ivar Svalheim Haugerud, Pranay Jaiswal, and Christoph Weber — Institute of Physics, Universität Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany

Under early earth conditions, wet-dry cycles and phase-separated droplets are believed to facilitate chemical processes. Recent experimental studies suggest that chemical reactions can accelerate when subject to non-equilibrium conditions of hydration or dehydration. We develop a theoretical model studying the interplay between wet-dry cycles, phase separation, and chemical processes. We find that both hydration and dehydration can significantly increase chemical reaction rates. Interestingly, we show that the conditions that enhance reaction rates coincide with the conditions necessary for the mixture to phase separate. The findings show under what conditions the physics of wet-dry cycles can play a role similar to enzymes in living cells, speeding up slow reactions in prebiotic soups.