Universal features of autocatalytic systems

Autocatalytic networks are prevalent in nature, from the metabolism of single cells to the food webs of ecosystems. Inspired by the universal constructor model introduced by von Neumman, we study universal features of these networks, which are shared by all self-replicating living systems. Minimal autocatalytic subnetworks or cores are an example of such universal properties because they should be present in all autocatalytic networks. These autocatalytic cores are topological structures which can be identified based only considerations of stoichiometry. We then establish a connection between this stoichiometric analysis of autocatalytic networks and von Neumann model of a growing economy, of which Leontief model is a particular case. Finally, we show how these ideas provide a new path into the modeling of cell metabolism.