Skip to main content
Log in

Stochastic models of chiral symmetry breaking in autocatalytic networks with anomalous fluctuations

  • Chirality in Chemistry and Biophysics
  • Published:
Rendiconti Lincei Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many mechanisms and related models concerning chiral symmetry breaking in extended reacting and ecological systems have been formulated in the last years. One common feature of most of these proposals is the important role played by autocatalysis and diffusion. In this paper, a classical model of simulated evolution is discussed in terms of chiral symmetry breaking, and the role played by anomalous fluctuations induced by autocatalysis is shown by a simple stochastic approach. The importance of the kinetics of the loss reactions is also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aquilanti V, Grossi G, Lombardi A et al (2010) Aligned molecular collisions and a stereodynamical mechanism for selective chirality. Rend Fis Acc Lincei 22(2):125–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Babinec P, Krempasky J (1994) Synergetic mechanisms of chiral symmetry breaking in prebiotic evolution. Gen Physiol Biophys 13:267–273

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bergstrom CA, Reimchen TE (2003) Asymmetry in structural defenses: insights into selective predation in the wild. Evolution 57(9):2128–2138

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crusats J, El-Hachemi Z, Ribo JM (2010) Hydrodynamic effects on chiral induction. Chem Soc Rev 39:569

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dewdney AK (1989) Simulated Evolution: wherein bugs learn to hunt bacteria. Sci Am 260(5):138–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Di Gennaro M (2006) Simulated evolution, artificial Life and genetic algorithms. BSc thesis in Physics (in Italian)

  • Elango M, Maciel GS, Palazzetti F et al (2010) Quantum chemistry of C3H6O molecules: structure and stability, isomerization pathways, and chirality changing mechanisms. J Phys Chem A 114(36):9864–9874

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein IR (1995) The consequences of imperfect mixing in autocatalytic chemical and biological systems. Nature 374:312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frank FC (1953) On spontaneous asymmetric synthesis. Biochim Biophys Acta 11:459–463

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gardiner CW (1985) Handbook of Stochastic Methods. Springer-Verlag, Berlin

  • Gayathri VS, Rao M (2007) Fluctuation-induced chiral symmetry breaking in autocatalytic reaction-diffusion system. EPL 80:28001

    Google Scholar 

  • Hegstrom RA, Kondepudi DK (1990) Handedness of the universe. Scientific American 262(1): 108–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Kafri R, Markovitch O, Lancet D (2010) Spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking in early molecular networks. Biol Direct 5:38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kondepudi DK, Nelson GW (1985) Weak neutral currents and the origin of biomolecular chirality. Nature 314:438–441

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loehr J, Leinonen T, Herczeg G, O’Hara RB, Meril J (2012) Heritability of asymmetry and lateral plate number in the threespine stickleback. PLoS One 7(7)

  • Lombardi A, Palazzetti F, Maciel GS et al (2011) Simulation of oriented collision dynamics of simple chiral molecules. Int J Quantum Chem 111(7–8):1651–1658

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Longo S (1995) XeCl* laser kinetics. In: Witteman WJ, Ochkin, VN (eds) Gas Lasers-Recent developments and future prospects. NATO ASI Series

  • Longo S (1997) Chemical instabilities in the XeCl laser discharge: a stochastic approach. Chem Phys Lett 268:306–312

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Longo S (2009) Complex Systems and Creativity. In: L’Abate L et al. (ed) Science, Mind and Creativity. Nova Publisher, New York

  • Metcalfe G, Ottino JM (1994) Autocatalytic processes in mixing flows. Phys Rev Lett 72:2875

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ottino JM (1997) The kinematics of mixing: stretching, chaos, and transport. Cambridge texts in applied mathematics

  • Palazzetti F, Maciel GS, Lombardi A, Grossi G, Aquilanti V (2012) The astrochemical observatory: molecules in the laboratory and in the cosmos. J Chin Chem Soc 59(9):1045–1052

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prigogine I (1981) From being to becoming, time and complexity in the physical sciences. W. H. Freeman & Co, New York

  • Quack M (2012) Molecular Parity Violation and Chirality: The asymmetry of life and the symmetry violations in physics. Quant Sys Chem Physi 47

  • Szurgot M (2012) Chiral symmetry breaking in unstirred crystallization. Cryst Res Technol 47(1):109–114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Kampen NG (1981) Stochastic processes in chemistry and physics. Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Vineberg AM, Aronovitch MM (1946) Situs inversus. Can Med Assoc J 55(5):503–504

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro” (fondi d’Ateneo 2010) and MIUR (PRIN Project 2010ERFKXL_007).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Savino Longo.

Additional information

This contribution is the written, peer-reviewed version of a paper presented at the conference “Molecules at the Mirror-Chirality in Chemistry and Biophysics”, held at Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei in Rome on October 29–30 2012.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Longo, S., Coppola, C.M. Stochastic models of chiral symmetry breaking in autocatalytic networks with anomalous fluctuations. Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 24, 277–281 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-013-0234-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-013-0234-4

Keywords

Navigation