Prof. Gonen Ashkenasy Research Group

 

Laboratory for Systems Chemistry​​


The main research effort in our lab is devoted to the design and synthesis of multi-component chemical systems, termed as Molecular Networks, and for analysis of their dynamic self-organization. This study within the new field of Systems Chemistry is inspired by the complexity in structure and function observed within cells.

Our findings can be used for understanding the organizational principles of biological systems, to shine light on plausible scenarios in early molecular evolution and the Origins of Life, and to develop devices of nanotechnology and biotechnology importance. We use peptides and proteins as the active components in these studies, and thus the observed structure-function relationships are further interpreted by highlighting fundamental processes, such as protein folding and protein interactions with small molecules and other bio-macromolecules.​

 

Recent review papers: 

  1. ​C. Glionna, V. Kumar, G. Le Saux, B. Pramanik, N. Wagner, R. Cohen-Luria, G. Ashkenasy, N. Ashkenasy “Dynamic Surface Layer Coiled Coil Proteins Processing Analog-to-Digital Information​" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 17441−17451.
  2. M. Frenkel-Pinter, M. Samanta, G. Ashkenasy, L.J. Leman  Prebiotic Peptides​: Molecular Hubs in the Origin of Life​” Chem. Rev. 2020, 11, 4707-4765.​​​
  3. D. Kroiss, G. Ashkenasy​, A. B. Braunsc​hweig, T. Tuttle & R. V. Ulijn "Catalyst: Can Systems Chemistry Unravel the Mysteries of the Chemical Origins of Life?"​ Chem. 2019, 5, 1917-1920.​​​​
  4. N. Wagner, D. Hochberg,  E. Peacock-Lopez & I. Maity, G. Ashkenasy "Open Prebiotic Environments Drive Emergent Phenomena and Complex Behavior." Life,​ 2019, 9(2),​ 45.
  5. Y. BaiA. Chotera, O. TaranC. LiangG. Ashkenasy, D. G. Lynn “Achieving biopolymer synergy in systems chemistry" Chem. Soc. Rev. 2018​, 47, 5444-5456.
  6. G. Ashkenasy, T. M. Hermans, S. Otto, A. F. Taylor "Systems Chemistry​"  Chem. Soc. Rev. 2017, 46, 2543-2554.