Selected Publications
- Mahesh D. Pol,‡ Kun Dai,‡ Ralf Thomann, Sandra Moser and Charalampos G. Pappas.Guiding Transient Peptide Assemblies with Structural Elements Around Abiotic Phosphate Fuels [J]. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202404360
- Kun Dai, ‡ Mahesh D. Pol, ‡ Lenard Saile, Arti Sharma, Bin Liu, Ralf Thomann, Johanna L. Trefs, Danye Qiu, Sandra Moser, Stefan Wiesler, Bizan N. Balzer, Thorsten Hugel, Henning J. Jessen and Charalampos G. Pappas. Spontaneous and Selective Peptide Elongation in Water Driven by Aminoacyl Phosphate Esters and Phase Changes [J]. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145 (48), 26086–26094.
- Kun Dai, Jennifer Rodon Fores, Caren Wanzke, Benjamin Winkeljann, Alexander M. Bergmann, Oliver Lieleg, Job Boekhoven. Regulating Chemically Fueled Peptide Assemblies by Molecular Design[J]. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142 (33), 14142-14149.
- Kun Dai, Marta Tena-Solsona, Jennifer Rodon Fores, Job Boekhoven. Morphological transition regulated by chemical fuels[J]. Nanoscale, 2021,13, 19864-19869.
- Kun Dai, Kuan Wang, Yang Li, Jian-Gang Chen, Zhong-Wen Liu, Jian Lu, Zhao-Tie Liu. Selective construction of β-trifluoromethyl enol ether via base-promoted C-O coupling and rearrangement of hydrogen atom[J]. J. Org. Chem., 2017, 82, 4721-4728.
FRIAS Project
Artificial Protocells Driving Peptide Synthesis in Water
Peptides play a crucial role in biological systems and industrial applications, underpinning a wide array of vital functions. However, the exact mechanisms by which peptides formed on early Earth—without the aid of ATP, RNA, or enzymes—remain unclear. In this research, we will convert aminoacyl phosphate esters into building blocks that construct non-equilibrium droplets, who plays a role as protocell, facilitating peptide synthesis within these microenvironments. Furthermore, given the significant pollution and high costs associated with traditional peptide synthesis methods, our approach aims to develop a sustainable approach to peptide synthesis within droplets in drop of water, avoiding harmful solvents and minimizing chemical waste. This research aims to build a bridge from fundamental research to practical applications.