Peptide-based Coacervates: A Biomimetic Protocell

Peptide-based coacervates - compartments - have been considered exciting candidates among other compartments such as proteinosomes, polymersomes, and liposomes for the formation of protocells. Recently, the formation of compartments with life-like properties through a bottom-up approach has attained considerable interest to investigate the origin of life. A physical phenomenon - liquid-liquid phase separation - is involved in the formation of peptide coacervates, which show functionalities similar to living cells and are referred to as biomimetic protocells. Both simple and complex coacervates are formed by the combination of weak molecular interactions. In this chapter, we present the overview of the design principles of peptide building blocks that undergo coacervation to study the evolution of life and the required physicochemical properties of the protocell model. Short peptides, polypeptides, and designer peptide-based complex and simple coacervates for protocell formation are discussed in detail in the context of their role in the emergence of life. In the end, we present the conclusion and future outlook.