Natural and synthetic evolution of catalysis

Life, as we define it, depends on efficient metabolic networks that break down nutrients and produce biologically relevant building blocks and polymers thereof. In turn, they support key functions such as replication, self-assembly, information flow and storage, and more. Before biological systems existed, however, these components are thought to have emerged through chemical evolution, a process that generated life’s building blocks under early Earth conditions. While it is widely accepted that all modern cells share a common ancestor, how the transition from chemical to biological evolution occurred remains an open question.

This thematic issue aims to explore how diverse catalytic pathways and biocatalysts may have emerged from networks of physical and chemical interactions. Topics include the interconversion of physical and chemical energy, how thermodynamics drive reactions through metabolic energy flows, the interfaces at which chemical reactions take place, and how spatially separated chemical systems that maintain metabolic processes emerged, among other topics.

We also seek to explore how insights into the chemobiological evolution of catalysis can be applied through artificial evolution, where enzymes are engineered to tune their properties and activity beyond natural limits. This includes the use of computational tools, advanced methods to study structure–function relationships, and approaches such as incorporating noncanonical amino acids to design entirely new enzyme functions. Finally, we are also interested in studies on natural evolution (through bioinformatics or engineering to better understand enzyme structure–function relationships).

Submission deadline: January 31, 2027