@article {50205,
	title = {Catalysis, replication, and non-equilibrium behavior: Key determinants for life-like complexity realized using short peptides},
	journal = {Chem},
	volume = {12},
	year = {2026},
	month = {JUL},
	pages = {102914},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>
	The threshold complexity required for the chemical emergence of living matter necessitates the integration of catalytic competency with self-replicating capability operating out of equilibrium. Herein, we report on a catalytic self-replicating system that demonstrates complex behavior from a short peptide building block under non-equilibrium conditions. In a closed system, two distinct populations of imine-based peptide building blocks replicate with an antagonistic relationship exclusively under a non-equilibrium regime by turning over a thermodynamically activated substrate to low-energy waste. Catalytic self-destruction of the preceding replicating entities through substrate degradation (negative feedback) allows replicating networks to adapt and select a new set of fitter successor replicators through catalysis-mediated alteration in the environment (feedforward activation). Mimicking such complex behavior under non-equilibrium conditions foreshadows the emergence of Darwinian threshold (ribosomes integrate catalysis and replication), which is required for realizing systems with living matter-like properties.</p>
},
	issn = {2451-9294},
	doi = {10.1016/j.chempr.2025.102914},
	author = {Goswami, Surashree and Madhugiri, Indrani and Roy, Soumili and Das, Swagata and Gadgil, Chetan and Das, Dibyendu}
}
