Asymmetry in Biological Homochirality

Dear Colleagues,

The formulation of physical (and chemical) theories is greatly influenced by our perception of the space we live in and within which we observe the phenomena to be explained on a scientific basis. The certainty of these perceptions is universally taken for granted, and they may lead to the notion that some features of the description of physical (and chemical) systems are matters of convention rather than substance. However, what appears to be a matter of convention sometimes turns out to be a substantive physical assumption. As a result, the “convention” may have important physical (and chemical and biological) consequences.

As case in point: the chemistry of life on Earth is based on a basic asymmetry: it uses only one of the two molecules whose three dimensional geometrical structure cannot be superimposed on its mirror image, or reflection though a mirror.  We say that parity P, or space inversion, a fundamental discrete spatial symmetry transformation of physics, is broken at the molecular level. Such molecules are said to possess chirality or handedness. The mirror images structures of a chiral molecule are called enantiomers. Homochirality is ubiquitous in biological chemistry from its very start. Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, and the sugar backbones present in DNA and RNA are chiral molecules. Thus, the question arises: What are the reasons for molecular systems to break their mirror symmetry? Further, under which conditions? How may a tiny excess of one enantiomer lead to chiral amplification? What is the origin of homochirality on earth? Progress in this problem can only make great strides from the participation of researchers working on chiral symmetry, and coming from diverse backgrounds: Theory, experiment, non-equilibrium thermodynamics, crystallography, catalysis, nucleation, chemical engineering, liquid crystals, surface science, spectroscopy, organic synthesis, and quantum chemistry.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight all aspects of chiral symmetry breaking at the molecular level as a problem in biological homochirality. Comprehensive reviews on a particular subject and accounts of research work describing one or several scientific fields in connection with symmetry in biological homochirality are most welcome. In addition, full research papers, communications, short overviews or comments will also be taken into consideration.

Dr. David Hochberg
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.