1
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Jiang S, Çelen G, Glatter T, Niederholtmeyer H, Yuan J. A cell-free system for functional studies of small membrane proteins. J Biol Chem 2024:107850. [PMID: 39362471 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 09/20/2024] [Accepted: 09/21/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Numerous small proteins have been discovered across all domains of life, among which many are hydrophobic and predicted to localize to the cell membrane. Based on a few that are well-studied, small membrane proteins are regulators involved in various biological processes, such as cell signaling, nutrient transport, drug resistance, and stress response. However, the function of most identified small membrane proteins remains elusive. Their small size and hydrophobicity make protein production challenging, hindering function discovery. Here, we combined a cell-free system with lipid sponge droplets and synthesized small membrane proteins in vitro. Lipid sponge droplets contain a dense network of lipid bilayers, which accommodates and extracts newly synthesized small membrane proteins from the aqueous surroundings. Using small bacterial membrane proteins MgrB, SafA, and AcrZ as proof of principle, we showed that the in vitro produced membrane proteins were functionally active, for example, modulating the activity of their target kinase as expected. The cell-free system produced small membrane proteins, including one from human, up to micromolar concentrations, indicating its high level of versatility and productivity. Furthermore, AcrZ produced in this system was used successfully for in vitro co-immunoprecipitations to identify interaction partners. This work presents a robust alternative approach for producing small membrane proteins, which opens a door to their function discovery in different domains of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Jiang
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and Center for Synthetic Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Gülce Çelen
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and Center for Synthetic Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Timo Glatter
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and Center for Synthetic Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Henrike Niederholtmeyer
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and Center for Synthetic Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany; Technical University of Munich, Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability, 94315 Straubing, Germany
| | - Jing Yuan
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and Center for Synthetic Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
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2
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Khakimzhan A, Izri Z, Thompson S, Dmytrenko O, Fischer P, Beisel C, Noireaux V. Cell-free expression with a quartz crystal microbalance enables rapid, dynamic, and label-free characterization of membrane-interacting proteins. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1005. [PMID: 39152195 PMCID: PMC11329788 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06690-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Integral and interacting membrane proteins (IIMPs) constitute a vast family of biomolecules that perform essential functions in all forms of life. However, characterizing their interactions with lipid bilayers remains limited due to challenges in purifying and reconstituting IIMPs in vitro or labeling IIMPs without disrupting their function in vivo. Here, we report cell-free transcription-translation in a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (TXTL-QCMD) to dynamically characterize interactions between diverse IIMPs and membranes without protein purification or labeling. As part of TXTL-QCMD, IIMPs are synthesized using cell-free transcription-translation (TXTL), and their interactions with supported lipid bilayers are measured using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCMD). TXTL-QCMD reconstitutes known IIMP-membrane dependencies, including specific association with prokaryotic or eukaryotic membranes, and the multiple-IIMP dynamical pattern-forming association of the E. coli division-coordinating proteins MinCDE. Applying TXTL-QCMD to the recently discovered Zorya anti-phage system that is unamenable to labeling, we discovered that ZorA and ZorB integrate within the lipids found at the poles of bacteria while ZorE diffuses freely on the non-pole membrane. These efforts establish the potential of TXTL-QCMD to broadly characterize the large diversity of IIMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aset Khakimzhan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Ziane Izri
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Seth Thompson
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Oleg Dmytrenko
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Fischer
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Chase Beisel
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080, Würzburg, Germany
- Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Vincent Noireaux
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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3
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Yang B, Li C, Ren Y, Wang W, Zhang X, Han X. Construction of the Glycolysis Metabolic Pathway Inside an Artificial Cell for the Synthesis of Amino Acid and Its Reversible Deformation. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:21847-21858. [PMID: 39042264 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c06227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
The bottom-up construction of artificial cells is beneficial for understanding cell working mechanisms. The glycolysis metabolism mimicry inside artificial cells is challenging. Herein, the glycolytic pathway (Entner-Doudoroff pathway in archaea) is reconstituted inside artificial cells. The glycolytic pathway comprising glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), gluconate dehydratase (GAD), and 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate aldolase (KDGA) converts glucose molecules to pyruvate molecules. Inside artificial cells, pyruvate molecules are further converted into alanine with the help of alanine dehydrogenase (AlaDH) to build a metabolic pathway for synthesizing amino acid. On the other hand, the pyruvate molecules from glycolysis stimulate the living mitochondria to produce ATP inside artificial cells, which further trigger actin monomers to polymerize to form actin filaments. With the addition of methylcellulose inside the artificial cell, the actin filaments form adjacent to the inner lipid bilayer, deforming the artificial cell from a spherical shape to a spindle shape. The spindle-shaped artificial cell reverses to a spherical shape by depolymerizing the actin filament upon laser irradiation. The glycolytic pathway and its further extension to produce amino acids (or ATP) inside artificial cells pave the path to build functional artificial cells with more complicated metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 92 West Da-Zhi Street, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Chao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 92 West Da-Zhi Street, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Yongshuo Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 92 West Da-Zhi Street, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Weichen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 92 West Da-Zhi Street, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Xiangxiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 92 West Da-Zhi Street, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Xiaojun Han
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 92 West Da-Zhi Street, Harbin 150001, China
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4
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Matsumura R, Sato G, Kuruma Y. Protocol for in vitro phospholipid synthesis combining fatty acid synthesis and cell-free gene expression. STAR Protoc 2024; 5:103051. [PMID: 38700978 PMCID: PMC11078692 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Phospholipids are important biomolecules for the study of lipidomics, signal transduction, biodiesel, and synthetic biology; however, it is difficult to synthesize and analyze phospholipids in a defined in vitro condition. Here, we present a protocol for in vitro production and quantification of phospholipids. We describe steps for preparing a cell-free system consisting of fatty acid synthesis and a gene expression system that synthesizes acyltransferases on liposomes. The whole reaction can be completed within a day and the products are quantified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Eto et al.1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rumie Matsumura
- Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Natsushima-cho 2-15, Yokosuka 237-0061, Japan
| | - Gaku Sato
- Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Keio University, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan
| | - Yutetsu Kuruma
- Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Natsushima-cho 2-15, Yokosuka 237-0061, Japan.
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5
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Huster D, Maiti S, Herrmann A. Phospholipid Membranes as Chemically and Functionally Tunable Materials. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2312898. [PMID: 38456771 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202312898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
The sheet-like lipid bilayer is the fundamental structural component of all cell membranes. Its building blocks are phospholipids and cholesterol. Their amphiphilic structure spontaneously leads to the formation of a bilayer in aqueous environment. Lipids are not just structural elements. Individual lipid species, the lipid membrane structure, and lipid dynamics influence and regulate membrane protein function. An exciting field is emerging where the membrane-associated material properties of different bilayer systems are used in designing innovative solutions for widespread applications across various fields, such as the food industry, cosmetics, nano- and biomedicine, drug storage and delivery, biotechnology, nano- and biosensors, and computing. Here, the authors summarize what is known about how lipids determine the properties and functions of biological membranes and how this has been or can be translated into innovative applications. Based on recent progress in the understanding of membrane structure, dynamics, and physical properties, a perspective is provided on how membrane-controlled regulation of protein functions can extend current applications and even offer new applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Huster
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstr. 16/18, D-04107, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sudipta Maiti
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai, 400 005, India
| | - Andreas Herrmann
- Freie Universität Berlin, Department Chemistry and Biochemistry, SupraFAB, Altensteinstr. 23a, D-14195, Berlin, Germany
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6
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Bailoni E, Patiño-Ruiz MF, Stan AR, Schuurman-Wolters GK, Exterkate M, Driessen AJM, Poolman B. Synthetic Vesicles for Sustainable Energy Recycling and Delivery of Building Blocks for Lipid Biosynthesis †. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:1549-1561. [PMID: 38632869 PMCID: PMC11106768 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
ATP is a universal energy currency that is essential for life. l-Arginine degradation via deamination is an elegant way to generate ATP in synthetic cells, which is currently limited by a slow l-arginine/l-ornithine exchange. We are now implementing a new antiporter with better kinetics to obtain faster ATP recycling. We use l-arginine-dependent ATP formation for the continuous synthesis and export of glycerol 3-phosphate by including glycerol kinase and the glycerol 3-phosphate/Pi antiporter. Exported glycerol 3-phosphate serves as a precursor for the biosynthesis of phospholipids in a second set of vesicles, which forms the basis for the expansion of the cell membrane. We have therefore developed an out-of-equilibrium metabolic network for ATP recycling, which has been coupled to lipid synthesis. This feeder-utilizer system serves as a proof-of-principle for the systematic buildup of synthetic cells, but the vesicles can also be used to study the individual reaction networks in confinement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Bailoni
- Department
of Biochemistry, and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen
Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology
Institute, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Miyer F. Patiño-Ruiz
- Department
of Biochemistry, and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen
Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology
Institute, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Andreea R. Stan
- Department
of Biochemistry, and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen
Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology
Institute, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gea K. Schuurman-Wolters
- Department
of Biochemistry, and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen
Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology
Institute, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marten Exterkate
- Department
of Membrane Biogenesis and Lipidomics, Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraβe
1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Arnold J. M. Driessen
- Department
of Biochemistry, and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen
Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology
Institute, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bert Poolman
- Department
of Biochemistry, and Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen
Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology
Institute, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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7
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Sato G, Kinoshita S, Yamada TG, Arai S, Kitaguchi T, Funahashi A, Doi N, Fujiwara K. Metabolic Tug-of-War between Glycolysis and Translation Revealed by Biochemical Reconstitution. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:1572-1581. [PMID: 38717981 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Inside cells, various biological systems work cooperatively for homeostasis and self-replication. These systems do not work independently as they compete for shared elements like ATP and NADH. However, it has been believed that such competition is not a problem in codependent biological systems such as the energy-supplying glycolysis and the energy-consuming translation system. In this study, we biochemically reconstituted the coupling system of glycolysis and translation using purified elements and found that the competition for ATP between glycolysis and protein synthesis interferes with their coupling. Both experiments and simulations revealed that this interference is derived from a metabolic tug-of-war between glycolysis and translation based on their reaction rates, which changes the threshold of the initial substrate concentration for the success coupling. By the metabolic tug-of-war, translation energized by strong glycolysis is facilitated by an exogenous ATPase, which normally inhibits translation. These findings provide chemical insights into the mechanism of competition among biological systems in living cells and provide a framework for the construction of synthetic metabolism in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaku Sato
- Department of Biosciences & Informatics, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan
| | - Saki Kinoshita
- Department of Biosciences & Informatics, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan
| | - Takahiro G Yamada
- Department of Biosciences & Informatics, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Satoshi Arai
- Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Kitaguchi
- Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
| | - Akira Funahashi
- Department of Biosciences & Informatics, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan
| | - Nobuhide Doi
- Department of Biosciences & Informatics, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan
| | - Kei Fujiwara
- Department of Biosciences & Informatics, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan
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8
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Schoenmakers LLJ, den Uijl MJ, Postma JL, van den Akker TAP, Huck WTS, Driessen AJM. SecYEG-mediated translocation in a model synthetic cell. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2024; 9:ysae007. [PMID: 38807757 PMCID: PMC11131593 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) provide a powerful model compartment for synthetic cells. However, a key challenge is the incorporation of membrane proteins that allow for transport, energy transduction, compartment growth and division. Here, we have successfully incorporated the membrane protein complex SecYEG-the key bacterial translocase that is essential for the incorporation of newly synthesized membrane proteins-in GUVs. Our method consists of fusion of small unilamellar vesicles containing reconstituted SecYEG into GUVs, thereby forming SecGUVs. These are suitable for large-scale experiments while maintaining a high protein:lipid ratio. We demonstrate that incorporation of SecYEG into GUVs does not inhibit its translocation efficiency. Robust membrane protein functionalized proteo-GUVs are promising and flexible compartments for use in the formation and growth of synthetic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludo L J Schoenmakers
- Physical-Organic Chemistry, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Max J den Uijl
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Molecular Biotechnology, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Jelle L Postma
- General Instrumentation, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Tim A P van den Akker
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Molecular Biotechnology, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Wilhelm T S Huck
- Physical-Organic Chemistry, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Arnold J M Driessen
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Molecular Biotechnology, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
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9
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Baba K, Kamiya K. Molecular Transportation Conversion of Membrane Tension Using a Mechanosensitive Channel in Asymmetric Lipid-Protein Vesicles. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:21623-21632. [PMID: 38594642 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c02370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Giant lipid vesicles composed of a lipid bilayer form complex membrane structures and enzyme network reactions that can be used to construct well-defined artificial cell models based on microfluidic technologies and synthetic biology. As a different approach to cell-mimicking systems, we formed an asymmetric lipid-amphiphilic protein (oleosin) vesicle containing a lipid and an oleosin monolayer in the outer and inner leaflets, respectively. These asymmetric vesicles enabled the reconstitution and function of β-barrel types of membrane proteins (OmpG) and the fission of vesicles stimulated by lysophospholipids. These applications combine the advantages of the high stability of lipids and oleosin leaflets in asymmetric lipid-oleosin vesicles. In this study, to evaluate the versatility of this asymmetric lipid-oleosin vesicle, the molecular transport of the mechanosensitive channel of large conductance (MscL) with an α-helix was evaluated by changing the tension of the asymmetric vesicle membrane with lysophospholipid. A nanopore of MscL assembled as a pentamer of MscLs transports small molecules of less than 10 kDa by sensing physical stress at the lipid bilayer. The amount and maximum size of the small molecules transported via MscL in the asymmetric lipid-oleosin vesicles were compared to those in the lipid vesicles. We revealed the existence of the C- and N-terminal regions (cytoplasmic side) of MscL on the inner leaflet of the asymmetric lipid-oleosin vesicles using an insertion direction assay. Furthermore, the change in the tension of the lipid-oleosin membrane activated the proteins in these vesicles, inducing their transportation through MscL nanopores. Therefore, asymmetric lipid-oleosin vesicles containing MscL can be used as substrates to study the external environment response of complex artificial cell models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kotaro Baba
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Gunma University, 1-5-1 Tenjin-cho, Kiryu, Gunma 376-8515, Japan
| | - Koki Kamiya
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Gunma University, 1-5-1 Tenjin-cho, Kiryu, Gunma 376-8515, Japan
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10
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Morini L, Sakai A, Vibhute MA, Koch Z, Voss M, Schoenmakers LLJ, Huck WTS. Leveraging Active Learning to Establish Efficient In Vitro Transcription and Translation from Bacterial Chromosomal DNA. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:19227-19235. [PMID: 38708277 PMCID: PMC11064174 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c00111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Gene expression is a fundamental aspect in the construction of a minimal synthetic cell, and the use of chromosomes will be crucial for the integration and regulation of complex modules. Expression from chromosomes in vitro transcription and translation (IVTT) systems presents limitations, as their large size and low concentration make them far less suitable for standard IVTT reactions. Here, we addressed these challenges by optimizing lysate-based IVTT systems at low template concentrations. We then applied an active learning tool to adapt IVTT to chromosomes as template DNA. Further insights into the dynamic data set led us to adjust the previous protocol for chromosome isolation and revealed unforeseen trends pointing at limiting transcription kinetics in our system. The resulting IVTT conditions allowed a high template DNA efficiency for the chromosomes. In conclusion, our system shows a protein-to-chromosome ratio that moves closer to in vivo biology and represents an advancement toward chromosome-based synthetic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Morini
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Andrei Sakai
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Mahesh A. Vibhute
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Zef Koch
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
- HAN
University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen 6503GL, The Netherlands
| | - Margo Voss
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Ludo L. J. Schoenmakers
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
- Konrad
Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
| | - Wilhelm T. S. Huck
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
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11
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Ghosh S, Baltussen MG, Ivanov NM, Haije R, Jakštaitė M, Zhou T, Huck WTS. Exploring Emergent Properties in Enzymatic Reaction Networks: Design and Control of Dynamic Functional Systems. Chem Rev 2024; 124:2553-2582. [PMID: 38476077 PMCID: PMC10941194 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The intricate and complex features of enzymatic reaction networks (ERNs) play a key role in the emergence and sustenance of life. Constructing such networks in vitro enables stepwise build up in complexity and introduces the opportunity to control enzymatic activity using physicochemical stimuli. Rational design and modulation of network motifs enable the engineering of artificial systems with emergent functionalities. Such functional systems are useful for a variety of reasons such as creating new-to-nature dynamic materials, producing value-added chemicals, constructing metabolic modules for synthetic cells, and even enabling molecular computation. In this review, we offer insights into the chemical characteristics of ERNs while also delving into their potential applications and associated challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souvik Ghosh
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mathieu G. Baltussen
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nikita M. Ivanov
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rianne Haije
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Miglė Jakštaitė
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tao Zhou
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wilhelm T. S. Huck
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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12
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Gao M, Wang D, Wilsch-Bräuninger M, Leng W, Schulte J, Morgner N, Appelhans D, Tang TYD. Cell Free Expression in Proteinosomes Prepared from Native Protein-PNIPAAm Conjugates. Macromol Biosci 2024; 24:e2300464. [PMID: 37925629 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2023]
Abstract
Towards the goal of building synthetic cells from the bottom-up, the establishment of micrometer-sized compartments that contain and support cell free transcription and translation that couple cellular structure to function is of critical importance. Proteinosomes, formed from crosslinked cationized protein-polymer conjugates offer a promising solution to membrane-bound compartmentalization with an open, semi-permeable membrane. Critically, to date, there has been no demonstration of cell free transcription and translation within water-in-water proteinosomes. Herein, a novel approach to generate proteinosomes that can support cell free transcription and translation is presented. This approach generates proteinosomes directly from native protein-polymer (BSA-PNIPAAm) conjugates. These native proteinosomes offer an excellent alternative as a synthetic cell chassis to other membrane bound compartments. Significantly, the native proteinosomes are stable under high salt conditions that enables the ability to support cell free transcription and translation and offer enhanced protein expression compared to proteinosomes prepared from traditional methodologies. Furthermore, the integration of native proteinosomes into higher order synthetic cellular architectures with membrane free compartments such as liposomes is demonstrated. The integration of bioinspired architectural elements with the central dogma is an essential building block for realizing minimal synthetic cells and is key for exploiting artificial cells in real-world applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfei Gao
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dishi Wang
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V. Hohe Strasse 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
- Organic Chemistry of Polymers, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01602, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michaela Wilsch-Bräuninger
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Weihua Leng
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jonathan Schulte
- Goethe Universität Frankfurt, Institute of physical and theoretical chemistry, Max-von-Lauestrasse 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Nina Morgner
- Goethe Universität Frankfurt, Institute of physical and theoretical chemistry, Max-von-Lauestrasse 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Dietmar Appelhans
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V. Hohe Strasse 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
- Organic Chemistry of Polymers, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01602, Dresden, Germany
| | - T-Y Dora Tang
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- Saarland University, Synthetic biology, Department of Biology, Campus B2.2, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
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13
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Kurisu M, Imai M. Concepts of a synthetic minimal cell: Information molecules, metabolic pathways, and vesicle reproduction. Biophys Physicobiol 2023; 21:e210002. [PMID: 38803330 PMCID: PMC11128301 DOI: 10.2142/biophysico.bppb-v21.0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
How do the living systems emerge from non-living molecular assemblies? What physical and chemical principles supported the process? To address these questions, a promising strategy is to artificially reconstruct living cells in a bottom-up way. Recently, the authors developed the "synthetic minimal cell" system showing recursive growth and division cycles, where the concepts of information molecules, metabolic pathways, and cell reproduction were artificially and concisely redesigned with the vesicle-based system. We intentionally avoided using the sophisticated molecular machinery of the biological cells and tried to redesign the cells in the simplest forms. This review focuses on the similarities and differences between the biological cells and our synthetic minimal cell concerning each concept of cells. Such comparisons between natural and artificial cells will provide insights on how the molecules should be assembled to create living systems to the wide readers in the field of synthetic biology, artificial cells, and protocells research. This review article is an extended version of the Japanese article "Growth and division of vesicles coupled with information molecules," published in SEIBUTSU-BUTSURI vol. 61, p. 378-381 (2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Minoru Kurisu
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, Japan
| | - Masayuki Imai
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, Japan
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14
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Powers J, Jang Y. Advancing Biomimetic Functions of Synthetic Cells through Compartmentalized Cell-Free Protein Synthesis. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:5539-5550. [PMID: 37962115 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic cells are artificial constructs that mimic the structures and functions of living cells. They are attractive for studying diverse biochemical processes and elucidating the origins of life. While creating a living synthetic cell remains a grand challenge, researchers have successfully synthesized hundreds of unique synthetic cell platforms. One promising approach to developing more sophisticated synthetic cells is to integrate cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) mechanisms into vesicle platforms. This makes it possible to create synthetic cells with complex biomimetic functions such as genetic circuits, autonomous membrane modifications, sensing and communication, and artificial organelles. This Review explores recent advances in the use of CFPS to impart advanced biomimetic structures and functions to bottom-up synthetic cell platforms. We also discuss the potential applications of synthetic cells in biomedicine as well as the future directions of synthetic cell research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson Powers
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, 1006 Center Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Yeongseon Jang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, 1006 Center Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
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15
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Eisenreichova A, Humpolickova J, Różycki B, Boura E, Koukalova A. Effects of biophysical membrane properties on recognition of phosphatidylserine, or phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate by lipid biosensors LactC2, or P4M. Biochimie 2023; 215:42-49. [PMID: 37683994 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Lipid biosensors are molecular tools used both in vivo and in vitro applications, capable of selectively detecting specific types of lipids in biological membranes. However, despite their extensive use, there is a lack of systematic characterization of their binding properties in various membrane conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of membrane properties, such as fluidity and membrane charge, on the sensitivity of two lipid biosensors, LactC2 and P4M, to their target lipids, phosphatidylserine (PS) or phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P), respectively. Dual-color fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy, employed in this study, provided a useful technique to investigate interactions of these recombinant fluorescent biosensors with liposomes of varying compositions. The results of the study demonstrate that the binding of the LactC2 biosensor to low levels of PS in the membrane is highly supported by the presence of anionic lipids or membrane fluidity. However, at high PS levels, the presence of anionic lipids does not further enhance binding of LactC2. In contrast, neither membrane charge, nor membrane fluidity significantly affect the binding affinity of P4M to PI4P. These findings provide valuable insights into the role of membrane properties on the binding properties of lipid biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Eisenreichova
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Humpolickova
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Bartosz Różycki
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Evzen Boura
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Koukalova
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
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16
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Van de Cauter L, van Buren L, Koenderink GH, Ganzinger KA. Exploring Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Production for Artificial Cells - Current Challenges and Future Directions. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2300416. [PMID: 37464561 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Creating an artificial cell from the bottom up is a long-standing challenge and, while significant progress has been made, the full realization of this goal remains elusive. Arguably, one of the biggest hurdles that researchers are facing now is the assembly of different modules of cell function inside a single container. Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) have emerged as a suitable container with many methods available for their production. Well-studied swelling-based methods offer a wide range of lipid compositions but at the expense of limited encapsulation efficiency. Emulsion-based methods, on the other hand, excel at encapsulation but are only effective with a limited set of membrane compositions and may entrap residual additives in the lipid bilayer. Since the ultimate artificial cell will need to comply with both specific membrane and encapsulation requirements, there is still no one-method-fits-all solution for GUV formation available today. This review discusses the state of the art in different GUV production methods and their compatibility with GUV requirements and operational requirements such as reproducibility and ease of use. It concludes by identifying the most pressing issues and proposes potential avenues for future research to bring us one step closer to turning artificial cells into a reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori Van de Cauter
- Autonomous Matter Department, AMOLF, Amsterdam, 1098 XG, The Netherlands
| | - Lennard van Buren
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629 HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Gijsje H Koenderink
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629 HZ, The Netherlands
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17
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Lu T, Javed S, Bonfio C, Spruijt E. Interfacing Coacervates with Membranes: From Artificial Organelles and Hybrid Protocells to Intracellular Delivery. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2300294. [PMID: 37354057 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Compartmentalization is crucial for the functioning of cells. Membranes enclose and protect the cell, regulate the transport of molecules entering and exiting the cell, and organize cellular machinery in subcompartments. In addition, membraneless condensates, or coacervates, offer dynamic compartments that act as biomolecular storage centers, organizational hubs, or reaction crucibles. Emerging evidence shows that phase-separated membraneless bodies in the cell are involved in a wide range of functional interactions with cellular membranes, leading to transmembrane signaling, membrane remodeling, intracellular transport, and vesicle formation. Such functional and dynamic interplay between phase-separated droplets and membranes also offers many potential benefits to artificial cells, as shown by recent studies involving coacervates and liposomes. Depending on the relative sizes and interaction strength between coacervates and membranes, coacervates can serve as artificial membraneless organelles inside liposomes, as templates for membrane assembly and hybrid artificial cell formation, as membrane remodelers for tubulation and possibly division, and finally, as cargo containers for transport and delivery of biomolecules across membranes by endocytosis or direct membrane crossing. Here, recent experimental examples of each of these functions are reviewed and the underlying physicochemical principles and possible future applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiemei Lu
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Sadaf Javed
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia Bonfio
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), CNRS UMR 7006, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, 67083, France
| | - Evan Spruijt
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
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18
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Wan X, Zeng R, Wang X, Wang H, Wei Q, Tang D. High-entropy effect with hollow (ZnCdFeMnCu) xS nanocubes for photoelectrochemical immunoassay. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 237:115535. [PMID: 37463532 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
High entropy (HE) compounds with chemically disordered multi-cation structures have become a hot research topic because of their fascinating "cocktail effect". However, high entropy effect with the efficient photoelectric response has not been reported for photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunoassays. Herein, an innovative PEC immunoassay for the sensitive detection of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was ingeniously constructed using hollow nanocubic (ZnCdFeMnCu)xS photoactive matrices with high entropic effect via the cation exchange. Initially, a sandwich-type immunoreaction has behaved using dopamine-loaded liposome labeled with anti-PSA secondary antibodies. In the presence of PSA, addition of Triton X-100 caused the liposomal cleavage to release dopamine, which was then detected as a reduced photocurrent on (ZnCdFeMnCu)xS-based photoelectrode. Under optimal condition, the PEC immunoassay showed good photocurrent responses toward target PSA with the dynamic linear range of 0.1-50 ng mL-1 with a limit of detection of 34.1 pg mL-1. Significantly, this system can provide a new platform for the development of PEC immunoassays by coupling with high-entropy photoactive materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Wan
- Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology (MOE & Fujian Province), Department of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, PR China
| | - Ruijin Zeng
- Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology (MOE & Fujian Province), Department of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, PR China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology (MOE & Fujian Province), Department of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, PR China
| | - Haiyang Wang
- Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology (MOE & Fujian Province), Department of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, PR China
| | - Qiaohua Wei
- Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology (MOE & Fujian Province), Department of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, PR China.
| | - Dianping Tang
- Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology (MOE & Fujian Province), Department of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, PR China.
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19
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Sato T, Matsuda S, Aoki W. Optimizing conditions to construct artificial cells using commercial in vitro transcription-translation system (PUREfrex2.0). J Biosci Bioeng 2023; 136:334-339. [PMID: 37517904 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2023.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Artificial cells containing in vitro transcription and translation (IVTT) systems inside liposomes are important for the reconstruction and analysis of various biological systems. To improve the accessibility of artificial cell research, it is important that artificial cells can be constructed using only commercially available components. Here, we optimized the construction of artificial cells containing PUREfrex2.0, a commercially available IVTT with high transcriptional and translational activity. Specifically, the composition of the inner and outer s olutions of the liposomes and the concentrations of lipids, glucose/sucrose, potassium glutamate, and magnesium acetate were systematically optimized, and finally we found a protocol for the stable construction of artificial cells containing PUREfre×2.0. These findings are expected to be important in expanding the artificial cell research community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiko Sato
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
| | | | - Wataru Aoki
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
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20
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Peruzzi JA, Galvez NR, Kamat NP. Engineering transmembrane signal transduction in synthetic membranes using two-component systems. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2218610120. [PMID: 37126679 PMCID: PMC10175788 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2218610120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells use signal transduction across their membranes to sense and respond to a wide array of chemical and physical signals. Creating synthetic systems which can harness cellular signaling modalities promises to provide a powerful platform for biosensing and therapeutic applications. As a first step toward this goal, we investigated how bacterial two-component systems (TCSs) can be leveraged to enable transmembrane-signaling with synthetic membranes. Specifically, we demonstrate that a bacterial two-component nitrate-sensing system (NarX-NarL) can be reproduced outside of a cell using synthetic membranes and cell-free protein expression systems. We find that performance and sensitivity of the TCS can be tuned by altering the biophysical properties of the membrane in which the histidine kinase (NarX) is integrated. Through protein engineering efforts, we modify the sensing domain of NarX to generate sensors capable of detecting an array of ligands. Finally, we demonstrate that these systems can sense ligands in relevant sample environments. By leveraging membrane and protein design, this work helps reveal how transmembrane sensing can be recapitulated outside of the cell, adding to the arsenal of deployable cell-free systems primed for real world biosensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin A. Peruzzi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
| | - Nina R. Galvez
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
| | - Neha P. Kamat
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
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21
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Godino E, Restrepo Sierra AM, Danelon C. Imaging Flow Cytometry for High-Throughput Phenotyping of Synthetic Cells. ACS Synth Biol 2023. [PMID: 37155828 PMCID: PMC10367129 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The reconstitution of basic cellular functions in micrometer-sized liposomes has led to a surge of interest in the construction of synthetic cells. Microscopy and flow cytometry are powerful tools for characterizing biological processes in liposomes with fluorescence readouts. However, applying each method separately leads to a compromise between information-rich imaging by microscopy and statistical population analysis by flow cytometry. To address this shortcoming, we here introduce imaging flow cytometry (IFC) for high-throughput, microscopy-based screening of gene-expressing liposomes in laminar flow. We developed a comprehensive pipeline and analysis toolset based on a commercial IFC instrument and software. About 60 thousands of liposome events were collected per run starting from one microliter of the stock liposome solution. Robust population statistics from individual liposome images was performed based on fluorescence and morphological parameters. This allowed us to quantify complex phenotypes covering a wide range of liposomal states that are relevant for building a synthetic cell. The general applicability, current workflow limitations, and future prospects of IFC in synthetic cell research are finally discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Godino
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2629HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Ana Maria Restrepo Sierra
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2629HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Christophe Danelon
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2629HZ Delft, The Netherlands
- Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (TBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRAE, INSA, 31077 Toulouse, France
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22
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Yue K, Chen J, Li Y, Kai L. Advancing synthetic biology through cell-free protein synthesis. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:2899-2908. [PMID: 37216017 PMCID: PMC10196276 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid development of synthetic biology has enabled the production of compounds with revolutionary improvements in biotechnology. DNA manipulation tools have expedited the engineering of cellular systems for this purpose. Nonetheless, the inherent constraints of cellular systems persist, imposing an upper limit on mass and energy conversion efficiencies. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) has demonstrated its potential to overcome these inherent constraints and has been instrumental in the further advancement of synthetic biology. Via the removal of the cell membranes and redundant parts of cells, CFPS has provided flexibility in directly dissecting and manipulating the Central Dogma with rapid feedback. This mini-review summarizes recent achievements of the CFPS technique and its application to a wide range of synthetic biology projects, such as minimal cell assembly, metabolic engineering, and recombinant protein production for therapeutics, as well as biosensor development for in vitro diagnostics. In addition, current challenges and future perspectives in developing a generalized cell-free synthetic biology are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Yue
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 22116, China
| | - Junyu Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 22116, China
| | - Yingqiu Li
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 22116, China
| | - Lei Kai
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 22116, China
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23
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Bailoni E, Partipilo M, Coenradij J, Grundel DAJ, Slotboom DJ, Poolman B. Minimal Out-of-Equilibrium Metabolism for Synthetic Cells: A Membrane Perspective. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:922-946. [PMID: 37027340 PMCID: PMC10127287 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Life-like systems need to maintain a basal metabolism, which includes importing a variety of building blocks required for macromolecule synthesis, exporting dead-end products, and recycling cofactors and metabolic intermediates, while maintaining steady internal physical and chemical conditions (physicochemical homeostasis). A compartment, such as a unilamellar vesicle, functionalized with membrane-embedded transport proteins and metabolic enzymes encapsulated in the lumen meets these requirements. Here, we identify four modules designed for a minimal metabolism in a synthetic cell with a lipid bilayer boundary: energy provision and conversion, physicochemical homeostasis, metabolite transport, and membrane expansion. We review design strategies that can be used to fulfill these functions with a focus on the lipid and membrane protein composition of a cell. We compare our bottom-up design with the equivalent essential modules of JCVI-syn3a, a top-down genome-minimized living cell with a size comparable to that of large unilamellar vesicles. Finally, we discuss the bottlenecks related to the insertion of a complex mixture of membrane proteins into lipid bilayers and provide a semiquantitative estimate of the relative surface area and lipid-to-protein mass ratios (i.e., the minimal number of membrane proteins) that are required for the construction of a synthetic cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Bailoni
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Systems Biology, Groningen Biomolecular
Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Michele Partipilo
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Systems Biology, Groningen Biomolecular
Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jelmer Coenradij
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Systems Biology, Groningen Biomolecular
Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Douwe A. J. Grundel
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Systems Biology, Groningen Biomolecular
Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk J. Slotboom
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Systems Biology, Groningen Biomolecular
Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bert Poolman
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Systems Biology, Groningen Biomolecular
Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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24
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De Capitani J, Mutschler H. The Long Road to a Synthetic Self-Replicating Central Dogma. Biochemistry 2023; 62:1221-1232. [PMID: 36944355 PMCID: PMC10077596 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
The construction of a biochemical system capable of self-replication is a key objective in bottom-up synthetic biology. Throughout the past two decades, a rapid progression in the design of in vitro cell-free systems has provided valuable insight into the requirements for the development of a minimal system capable of self-replication. The main limitations of current systems can be attributed to their macromolecular composition and how the individual macromolecules use the small molecules necessary to drive RNA and protein synthesis. In this Perspective, we discuss the recent steps that have been taken to generate a minimal cell-free system capable of regenerating its own macromolecular components and maintaining the homeostatic balance between macromolecular biogenesis and consumption of primary building blocks. By following the flow of biological information through the central dogma, we compare the current versions of these systems to date and propose potential alterations aimed at designing a model system for self-replicative synthetic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo De Capitani
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical
Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Hannes Mutschler
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical
Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
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25
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Kurisu M, Katayama R, Sakuma Y, Kawakatsu T, Walde P, Imai M. Synthesising a minimal cell with artificial metabolic pathways. Commun Chem 2023; 6:56. [PMID: 36977828 PMCID: PMC10050237 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-00856-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A "synthetic minimal cell" is considered here as a cell-like artificial vesicle reproduction system in which a chemical and physico-chemical transformation network is regulated by information polymers. Here we synthesise such a minimal cell consisting of three units: energy production, information polymer synthesis, and vesicle reproduction. Supplied ingredients are converted to energy currencies which trigger the synthesis of an information polymer, where the vesicle membrane plays the role of a template. The information polymer promotes membrane growth. By tuning the membrane composition and permeability to osmolytes, the growing vesicles show recursive reproduction over several generations. Our "synthetic minimal cell" greatly simplifies the scheme of contemporary living cells while keeping their essence. The chemical pathways and the vesicle reproduction pathways are well described by kinetic equations and by applying the membrane elasticity model, respectively. This study provides new insights to better understand the differences and similarities between non-living forms of matter and life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minoru Kurisu
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aramaki, Aoba, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Katayama
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aramaki, Aoba, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Yuka Sakuma
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aramaki, Aoba, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Kawakatsu
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aramaki, Aoba, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Peter Walde
- Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladmir-Prelog-Weg 5, CH-8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Masayuki Imai
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aramaki, Aoba, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.
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26
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Godino E, Danelon C. Gene-Directed FtsZ Ring Assembly Generates Constricted Liposomes with Stable Membrane Necks. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2200172. [PMID: 36593513 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Mimicking bacterial cell division in well-defined cell-free systems has the potential to elucidate the minimal set of proteins required for cytoskeletal formation, membrane constriction, and final abscission. Membrane-anchored FtsZ polymers are often regarded as a sufficient system to realize this chain of events. By using purified FtsZ and its membrane-binding protein FtsA or the gain-of-function mutant FtsA* expressed in PURE (Protein synthesis Using Reconstituted Elements) from a DNA template, it is shown in this study that cytoskeletal structures are formed, and yield constricted liposomes exhibiting various morphologies. However, the resulting buds remain attached to the parental liposome by a narrow membrane neck. No division events can be monitored even after long-time tracking by fluorescence microscopy, nor when the osmolarity of the external solution is increased. The results provide evidence that reconstituted FtsA-FtsZ proto-rings coating the membrane necks are too stable to enable abscission. The prospect of combining a DNA-encoded FtsZ system with assisting mechanisms to achieve synthetic cell division is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Godino
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Christophe Danelon
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629HZ, The Netherlands
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27
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van Buren L, Koenderink GH, Martinez-Torres C. DisGUVery: A Versatile Open-Source Software for High-Throughput Image Analysis of Giant Unilamellar Vesicles. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:120-135. [PMID: 36508359 PMCID: PMC9872171 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are cell-sized aqueous compartments enclosed by a phospholipid bilayer. Due to their cell-mimicking properties, GUVs have become a widespread experimental tool in synthetic biology to study membrane properties and cellular processes. In stark contrast to the experimental progress, quantitative analysis of GUV microscopy images has received much less attention. Currently, most analysis is performed either manually or with custom-made scripts, which makes analysis time-consuming and results difficult to compare across studies. To make quantitative GUV analysis accessible and fast, we present DisGUVery, an open-source, versatile software that encapsulates multiple algorithms for automated detection and analysis of GUVs in microscopy images. With a performance analysis, we demonstrate that DisGUVery's three vesicle detection modules successfully identify GUVs in images obtained with a wide range of imaging sources, in various typical GUV experiments. Multiple predefined analysis modules allow the user to extract properties such as membrane fluorescence, vesicle shape, and internal fluorescence from large populations. A new membrane segmentation algorithm facilitates spatial fluorescence analysis of nonspherical vesicles. Altogether, DisGUVery provides an accessible tool to enable high-throughput automated analysis of GUVs, and thereby to promote quantitative data analysis in synthetic cell research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennard van Buren
- Department
of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZDelft, The Netherlands
| | - Gijsje Hendrika Koenderink
- Department
of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZDelft, The Netherlands
| | - Cristina Martinez-Torres
- Department
of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZDelft, The Netherlands
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28
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Yue K, Li Y, Cao M, Shen L, Gu J, Kai L. Bottom-Up Synthetic Biology Using Cell-Free Protein Synthesis. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 185:1-20. [PMID: 37526707 DOI: 10.1007/10_2023_232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Technical advances in biotechnology have greatly accelerated the development of bottom-up synthetic biology. Unlike top-down approaches, bottom-up synthetic biology focuses on the construction of a minimal cell from scratch and the application of these principles to solve challenges. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems provide minimal machinery for transcription and translation, from either a fractionated cell lysate or individual purified protein elements, thus speeding up the development of synthetic cell projects. In this review, we trace the history of the cell-free technique back to the first in vitro fermentation experiment using yeast cell lysate. Furthermore, we summarized progresses of individual cell mimicry modules, such as compartmentalization, gene expression regulation, energy regeneration and metabolism, growth and division, communication, and motility. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives on the field are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Yue
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yingqiu Li
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Mengjiao Cao
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Lulu Shen
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jingsheng Gu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Lei Kai
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China.
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29
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Gonzales DT, Suraritdechachai S, Tang TYD. Compartmentalized Cell-Free Expression Systems for Building Synthetic Cells. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 186:77-101. [PMID: 37306700 DOI: 10.1007/10_2023_221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
One of the grand challenges in bottom-up synthetic biology is the design and construction of synthetic cellular systems. One strategy toward this goal is the systematic reconstitution of biological processes using purified or non-living molecular components to recreate specific cellular functions such as metabolism, intercellular communication, signal transduction, and growth and division. Cell-free expression systems (CFES) are in vitro reconstitutions of the transcription and translation machinery found in cells and are a key technology for bottom-up synthetic biology. The open and simplified reaction environment of CFES has helped researchers discover fundamental concepts in the molecular biology of the cell. In recent decades, there has been a drive to encapsulate CFES reactions into cell-like compartments with the aim of building synthetic cells and multicellular systems. In this chapter, we discuss recent progress in compartmentalizing CFES to build simple and minimal models of biological processes that can help provide a better understanding of the process of self-assembly in molecularly complex systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- David T Gonzales
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - T -Y Dora Tang
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
- Physics of Life, Cluster of Excellence, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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30
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Kai L, Sonal, Heermann T, Schwille P. Reconstitution of a Reversible Membrane Switch via Prenylation by One-Pot Cell-Free Expression. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 12:108-119. [PMID: 36445320 PMCID: PMC9872162 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Reversible membrane targeting of proteins is one of the key regulators of cellular interaction networks, for example, for signaling and polarization. So-called "membrane switches" are thus highly attractive targets for the design of minimal cells but have so far been tricky to reconstitute in vitro. Here, we introduce cell-free prenylated protein synthesis (CFpPS), which enables the synthesis and membrane targeting of proteins in a single reaction mix including the prenylation machinery. CFpPS can confer membrane affinity to any protein via addition of a 4-peptide motif to its C-terminus and offers robust production of prenylated proteins not only in their soluble forms but also in the direct vicinity of biomimetic membranes. Thus, CFpPS enabled us to reconstitute the prenylated polarity hub Cdc42 and its regulatory protein in vitro, implementing a key membrane switch. We propose CFpPS to be a versatile and effective platform for engineering complex features, such as polarity induction, in synthetic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Kai
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max
Planck Institute of Biochemistry, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany,School
of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Shanghai Road 101, 221116 Xuzhou, P. R. China,. Phone: +86 15852001351
| | - Sonal
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max
Planck Institute of Biochemistry, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany,Biosciences
Division, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, U.K.
| | - Tamara Heermann
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max
Planck Institute of Biochemistry, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Petra Schwille
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max
Planck Institute of Biochemistry, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany,. Phone: +49 89 8578 2900
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31
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Herianto S, Chien PJ, Ho JAA, Tu HL. Liposome-based artificial cells: From gene expression to reconstitution of cellular functions and phenotypes. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2022; 142:213156. [PMID: 36302330 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2022.213156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Bottom-up approaches in creating artificial cells that can mimic natural cells have significant implications for both basic research and translational application. Among various artificial cell models, liposome is one of the most sophisticated systems. By encapsulating proteins and associated biomolecules, they can functionally reconstitute foundational features of biological cells, such as the ability to divide, communicate, and undergo shape deformation. Yet constructing liposome artificial cells from the genetic level, which is central to generate self-sustained systems remains highly challenging. Indeed, many studies have successfully established the expression of gene-coded proteins inside liposomes. Further, recent endeavors to build a direct integration of gene-expressed proteins for reconstituting molecular functions and phenotypes in liposomes have also significantly increased. Thus, this review presents the development of liposome-based artificial cells to demonstrate the process of gene-expressed proteins and their reconstitution to perform desired molecular and cell-like functions. The molecular and cellular phenotypes discussed here include the self-production of membrane phospholipids, division, shape deformation, self-DNA/RNA replication, fusion, and intercellular communication. Together, this review gives a comprehensive overview of gene-expressing liposomes that can stimulate further research of this technology and achieve artificial cells with superior properties in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Herianto
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Po-Jen Chien
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Ja-An Annie Ho
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; BioAnalytical Chemistry and Nanobiomedicine Laboratory, Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Hsiung-Lin Tu
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
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32
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Baldauf L, van Buren L, Fanalista F, Koenderink GH. Actomyosin-Driven Division of a Synthetic Cell. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:3120-3133. [PMID: 36164967 PMCID: PMC9594324 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
One of the major challenges of bottom-up synthetic biology is rebuilding a minimal cell division machinery. From a reconstitution perspective, the animal cell division apparatus is mechanically the simplest and therefore attractive to rebuild. An actin-based ring produces contractile force to constrict the membrane. By contrast, microbes and plant cells have a cell wall, so division requires concerted membrane constriction and cell wall synthesis. Furthermore, reconstitution of the actin division machinery helps in understanding the physical and molecular mechanisms of cytokinesis in animal cells and thus our own cells. In this review, we describe the state-of-the-art research on reconstitution of minimal actin-mediated cytokinetic machineries. Based on the conceptual requirements that we obtained from the physics of the shape changes involved in cell division, we propose two major routes for building a minimal actin apparatus capable of division. Importantly, we acknowledge both the passive and active roles that the confining lipid membrane can play in synthetic cytokinesis. We conclude this review by identifying the most pressing challenges for future reconstitution work, thereby laying out a roadmap for building a synthetic cell equipped with a minimal actin division machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Federico Fanalista
- Department of Bionanoscience,
Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft
University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Gijsje Hendrika Koenderink
- Department of Bionanoscience,
Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft
University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
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33
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Hirschi S, Ward TR, Meier WP, Müller DJ, Fotiadis D. Synthetic Biology: Bottom-Up Assembly of Molecular Systems. Chem Rev 2022; 122:16294-16328. [PMID: 36179355 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The bottom-up assembly of biological and chemical components opens exciting opportunities to engineer artificial vesicular systems for applications with previously unmet requirements. The modular combination of scaffolds and functional building blocks enables the engineering of complex systems with biomimetic or new-to-nature functionalities. Inspired by the compartmentalized organization of cells and organelles, lipid or polymer vesicles are widely used as model membrane systems to investigate the translocation of solutes and the transduction of signals by membrane proteins. The bottom-up assembly and functionalization of such artificial compartments enables full control over their composition and can thus provide specifically optimized environments for synthetic biological processes. This review aims to inspire future endeavors by providing a diverse toolbox of molecular modules, engineering methodologies, and different approaches to assemble artificial vesicular systems. Important technical and practical aspects are addressed and selected applications are presented, highlighting particular achievements and limitations of the bottom-up approach. Complementing the cutting-edge technological achievements, fundamental aspects are also discussed to cater to the inherently diverse background of the target audience, which results from the interdisciplinary nature of synthetic biology. The engineering of proteins as functional modules and the use of lipids and block copolymers as scaffold modules for the assembly of functionalized vesicular systems are explored in detail. Particular emphasis is placed on ensuring the controlled assembly of these components into increasingly complex vesicular systems. Finally, all descriptions are presented in the greater context of engineering valuable synthetic biological systems for applications in biocatalysis, biosensing, bioremediation, or targeted drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Hirschi
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.,Molecular Systems Engineering, National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR), 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas R Ward
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, St. Johanns-Ring 19, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.,Molecular Systems Engineering, National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR), 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Wolfgang P Meier
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, St. Johanns-Ring 19, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.,Molecular Systems Engineering, National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR), 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel J Müller
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.,Molecular Systems Engineering, National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR), 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dimitrios Fotiadis
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.,Molecular Systems Engineering, National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR), 4002 Basel, Switzerland
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34
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Phospholipid synthesis inside phospholipid membrane vesicles. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1016. [PMID: 36167778 PMCID: PMC9515091 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03999-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Construction of living artificial cells from genes and molecules can expand our understanding of life system and establish a new aspect of bioengineering. However, growth and division of cell membrane that are basis of cell proliferation are still difficult to reconstruct because a high-yielding phospholipid synthesis system has not been established. Here, we developed a cell-free phospholipid synthesis system that combines fatty acid synthesis and cell-free gene expression system synthesizing acyltransferases. The synthesized fatty acids were sequentially converted into phosphatidic acids by the cell-free synthesized acyltransferases. Because the system can avoid the accumulation of intermediates inhibiting lipid synthesis, sub-millimolar phospholipids could be synthesized within a single reaction mixture. We also performed phospholipid synthesis inside phospholipid membrane vesicles, which encapsulated all the components, and showed the phospholipids localized onto the mother membrane. Our approach would be a platform for the construction of self-reproducing artificial cells since the membrane can grow sustainably.
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35
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Frey F, Idema T. Membrane area gain and loss during cytokinesis. Phys Rev E 2022; 106:024401. [PMID: 36110005 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.106.024401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In cytokinesis of animal cells, the cell is symmetrically divided into two. Since the cell's volume is conserved, the projected area has to increase to allow for the change of shape. Here we aim to predict how membrane gain and loss adapt during cytokinesis. We work with a kinetic model in which membrane turnover depends on membrane tension and cell shape. We apply this model to a series of calculated vesicle shapes as a proxy for the shape of dividing cells. We find that the ratio of kinetic turnover parameters changes nonmonotonically with cell shape, determined by the dependence of exocytosis and endocytosis on membrane curvature. Our results imply that controlling membrane turnover will be crucial for the successful division of artificial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Frey
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Timon Idema
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
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36
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Miyachi R, Shimizu Y, Ichihashi N. Transfer RNA Synthesis-Coupled Translation and DNA Replication in a Reconstituted Transcription/Translation System. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:2791-2799. [PMID: 35848947 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are key molecules involved in translation. In vitro synthesis of tRNAs and their coupled translation are important challenges in the construction of a self-regenerative molecular system. Here, we first purified EF-Tu and ribosome components in a reconstituted translation system of Escherichia coli to remove residual tRNAs. Next, we expressed 15 types of tRNAs in the repurified translation system and performed translation of the reporter luciferase gene depending on the expression. Furthermore, we demonstrated DNA replication through expression of a tRNA encoded by DNA, mimicking information processing within the cell. Our findings highlight the feasibility of an in vitro self-reproductive system, in which tRNAs can be synthesized from replicating DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Miyachi
- Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Arts and Science, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Shimizu
- Laboratory for Cell-Free Protein Synthesis, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), Suita 565-0874, Osaka, Japan
| | - Norikazu Ichihashi
- Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Arts and Science, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.,Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.,Research Center for Complex Systems Biology, Universal Biology Institute, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
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37
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Godino E, Doerr A, Danelon C. Min waves without MinC can pattern FtsA-anchored FtsZ filaments on model membranes. Commun Biol 2022; 5:675. [PMID: 35798943 PMCID: PMC9262947 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03640-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the essential proteins that drive bacterial cytokinesis have been identified, the precise mechanisms by which they dynamically interact to enable symmetrical division are largely unknown. In Escherichia coli, cell division begins with the formation of a proto-ring composed of FtsZ and its membrane-tethering proteins FtsA and ZipA. In the broadly proposed molecular scenario for ring positioning, Min waves composed of MinD and MinE distribute the FtsZ-polymerization inhibitor MinC away from mid-cell, where the Z-ring can form. Therefore, MinC is believed to be an essential element connecting the Min and FtsZ subsystems. Here, by combining cell-free protein synthesis with planar lipid membranes and microdroplets, we demonstrate that MinDE drive the formation of dynamic, antiphase patterns of FtsA-anchored FtsZ filaments even in the absence of MinC. These results suggest that Z-ring positioning may be achieved with a more minimal set of proteins than previously envisaged, providing a fresh perspective about synthetic cell division. Cell-free protein synthesis of bacterial cytokinesis factors reveals that MinDE surface waves regulate FtsA-anchored FtsZ filaments in time and space independently of MinC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Godino
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Anne Doerr
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Christophe Danelon
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629HZ, The Netherlands.
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38
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Imai M, Sakuma Y, Kurisu M, Walde P. From vesicles toward protocells and minimal cells. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:4823-4849. [PMID: 35722879 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01695d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In contrast to ordinary condensed matter systems, "living systems" are unique. They are based on molecular compartments that reproduce themselves through (i) an uptake of ingredients and energy from the environment, and (ii) spatially and timely coordinated internal chemical transformations. These occur on the basis of instructions encoded in information molecules (DNAs). Life originated on Earth about 4 billion years ago as self-organised systems of inorganic compounds and organic molecules including macromolecules (e.g. nucleic acids and proteins) and low molar mass amphiphiles (lipids). Before the first living systems emerged from non-living forms of matter, functional molecules and dynamic molecular assemblies must have been formed as prebiotic soft matter systems. These hypothetical cell-like compartment systems often are called "protocells". Other systems that are considered as bridging units between non-living and living systems are called "minimal cells". They are synthetic, autonomous and sustainable reproducing compartment systems, but their constituents are not limited to prebiotic substances. In this review, we focus on both membrane-bounded (vesicular) protocells and minimal cells, and provide a membrane physics background which helps to understand how morphological transformations of vesicle systems might have happened and how vesicle reproduction might be coupled with metabolic reactions and information molecules. This research, which bridges matter and life, is a great challenge in which soft matter physics, systems chemistry, and synthetic biology must take joined efforts to better understand how the transformation of protocells into living systems might have occurred at the origin of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Imai
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba, Sendai 980-8578, Japan.
| | - Yuka Sakuma
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba, Sendai 980-8578, Japan.
| | - Minoru Kurisu
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba, Sendai 980-8578, Japan.
| | - Peter Walde
- Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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39
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Natsume Y. Thermo-Statistical Effects of Inclusions on Vesicles: Division into Multispheres and Polyhedral Deformation. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:608. [PMID: 35736315 PMCID: PMC9229943 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12060608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
The construction of simple cellular models has attracted much attention as a way to explore the origin of life or elucidate the mechanisms of cell division. In the absence of complex regulatory systems, some bacteria spontaneously divide through thermostatistically elucidated mechanisms, and incorporating these simple physical principles could help to construct primitive or artificial cells. Because thermodynamic interactions play an essential role in such mechanisms, this review discusses the thermodynamic aspects of spontaneous division models of vesicles that contain a high density of inclusions, with their membrane serving as a boundary. Vesicles with highly dense inclusions are deformed according to the volume-to-area ratio. The phase separation of beads at specific intermediate volume fractions and the associated polyhedral deformation of the membrane are considered in relation to the Alder transition. Current advances in the development of a membrane-growth vesicular model are summarized. The thermostatistical understanding of these mechanisms could become a cornerstone for the construction of vesicular models that display spontaneous cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuno Natsume
- Schoolteacher Training Course/Natural Sciences, Cooperative Faculty of Education, Utsunomiya University, Mine-machi 350, Utsunomiya 321-8505, Japan;
- Institute for Promotion of Research Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Mine-machi 350, Utsunomiya 321-8505, Japan
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40
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Tang M, Lin K, Ramachandran M, Li L, Zou H, Zheng H, Ma Z, Li Y. A mitochondria-targeting lipid-small molecule hybrid nanoparticle for imaging and therapy in an orthotopic glioma model. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:2672-2682. [PMID: 35755275 PMCID: PMC9214052 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hybrid lipid‒nanoparticle complexes have shown attractive characteristics as drug carriers due to their integrated advantages from liposomes and nanoparticles. Here we developed a kind of lipid-small molecule hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) for imaging and treatment in an orthotopic glioma model. LPHNPs were prepared by engineering the co-assembly of lipids and an amphiphilic pheophorbide a‒quinolinium conjugate (PQC), a mitochondria-targeting small molecule. Compared with the pure nanofiber self-assembled by PQC, LPHNPs not only preserve the comparable antiproliferative potency, but also possess a spherical nanostructure that allows the PQC molecules to be administrated through intravenous injection. Also, this co-assembly remarkably improved the drug-loading capacity and formulation stability against the physical encapsulation using conventional liposomes. By integrating the advantages from liposome and PQC molecule, LPHNPs have minimal system toxicity, enhanced potency of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and visualization capacities of drug biodistribution and tumor imaging. The hybrid nanoparticle demonstrates excellent curative effects to significantly prolong the survival of mice with the orthotopic glioma. The unique co-assembly of lipid and small molecule provides new potential for constructing new liposome-derived nanoformulations and improving cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menghuan Tang
- Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Kai Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Mythili Ramachandran
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Longmeng Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Hongye Zou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Huzhi Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zhao Ma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yuanpei Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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41
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Zhu L, Yan T, Alimu G, Zhang L, Ma R, Alifu N, Zhang X, Wang D. Liposome-Loaded Targeted Theranostic Fluorescent Nano-Probes for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cervix Carcinoma. J Biomed Nanotechnol 2022. [DOI: 10.1166/jbn.2022.3332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Near-infrared fluorescence imaging, with its high sensitivity, non-invasiveness, and superior real-time feedback properties, has become a powerful skill for accurate diagnosis in the clinic. Nanoparticle-assisted chemotherapy is an effective cure for cancer. Specifically, the combination
of near-infrared fluorescence imaging with chemotherapy represents a promising method for precise diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer. To realize this approach, it is necessary to design and synthesize therapeutic nano-probes with detection abilities. In this work, an organic NIRF emissive
heptamethine cyanine dye, IR783, was utilized and encapsulated in biocompatible drug-carrier liposomes). Then, the anticancer drug doxorubicin was loaded, to form LP-IR783-DOX nanoparticles. The LP-IR783-DOX nanoparticles had spherical shapes and were smoothly dispersed in aqueous solutions.
Favorable absorption (a peak of 800 nm) and fluorescence (a peak of 896 nm) features were obtained from LP-IR783-DOX nanoparticles in the near-infrared region. Moreover, the specific detection abilities of nanoparticles were confirmed in different cell lines, and nanoparticles exhibited strong
detection abilities in human cervix carcinoma cells in particular. To analyze the chemotherapeutic properties of LP-IR783-DOX nanoparticles, live HeLa cells were studied in detail, and the application of these NPs resulted in a chemotherapeutic efficiency of 56.75% based on fluorescein isothiocyanate
staining and flow cytometry. The results indicate that nanoparticles have great potential for theranostic application of fluorescence imaging and chemotherapy in cases of cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, School of Medical Engineering and Technology, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
| | - Ting Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, School of Medical Engineering and Technology, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
| | - Gulinigaer Alimu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, School of Medical Engineering and Technology, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
| | - Linxue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, School of Medical Engineering and Technology, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
| | - Rong Ma
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
| | - Nuernisha Alifu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, School of Medical Engineering and Technology, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
| | - Xueliang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, School of Medical Engineering and Technology, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
| | - Duoqiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, School of Medical Engineering and Technology, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China
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42
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Shimane Y, Kuruma Y. Rapid and Facile Preparation of Giant Vesicles by the Droplet Transfer Method for Artificial Cell Construction. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:873854. [PMID: 35464723 PMCID: PMC9021372 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.873854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Giant vesicles have been widely used for the bottom-up construction of artificial (or synthetic) cells and the physicochemical analysis of lipid membranes. Although methods for the formation of giant vesicles and the encapsulation of molecules within them have been established, a standardized protocol has not been shared among researchers including non-experts. Here we proposed a rapid and facile protocol that allows the formation of giant vesicles within 30 min. The quality of the giant vesicles encapsulating a cell-free protein expression system was comparable to that of the ones formed using a conventional method, in terms of the synthesis of both soluble and membrane proteins. We also performed protein synthesis in artificial cells using a lyophilized cell-free mixture and showed an equivalent level of protein synthesis. Our method could become a standard method for giant vesicle formation suited for artificial cell research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Shimane
- Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Japan
- Research Institute of Industrial Technology, Toyo University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yutetsu Kuruma
- Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Japan
- PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Saitama, Japan
- Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
- *Correspondence: Yutetsu Kuruma,
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43
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Liu CY, Chen HL, Zhou HJ, Yu SM, Yao WH, Wang N, Lu AH, Qiao WH. Precise delivery of multi-stimulus-responsive nanocarriers based on interchangeable visual guidance. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2022; 134:112558. [PMID: 35525754 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2021.112558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Cancer treatment is imminent, and controlled drug carriers are an important development direction for future clinical chemotherapy. Visual guidance is a feasible means to achieve precise treatment, reduce toxicity and increase drug efficacy. However, the existing visual control methods are limited by imaging time-consuming, sensitivity and side effects. In addition, the ability of the carrier to respond to environmental stimuli in vivo is another difficulty that limits its application. Here, we propose a highly stimulus-responsive GC liposome with precise tracing and sensitive feedback capabilities. It combines magnetic resonance imaging and fluorescence imaging, and addresses the need for precise visualization by alternating imaging modalities. More importantly, GC liposomes are a carrier that can accumulate stimuli. In this paper, by tracking the fragmentation process of empty GC and drug-loaded D-GC liposomes, we confirm the synergistic effect between multiple stimuli, which can result in a more efficient drug release performance. Finally, in mice models we examined the GC liposome imaging approach and the D-GC + UV group guided by this visualization exhibited the highest tumor inhibition efficiency (6.85-fold). This study highlights the advantages of alternate visualization-guided and co-stimulation treatment strategies, and provides design ideas and potential materials for efficient and less toxic cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Yu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, PR China.
| | - Hai-Liang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, PR China
| | - Heng-Jun Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, PR China
| | - Si-Miao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, PR China
| | - Wei-He Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, PR China
| | - Ning Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, PR China
| | - An-Hui Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, PR China
| | - Wei-Hong Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, PR China.
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Lombardo D, Kiselev MA. Methods of Liposomes Preparation: Formation and Control Factors of Versatile Nanocarriers for Biomedical and Nanomedicine Application. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14030543. [PMID: 35335920 PMCID: PMC8955843 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14030543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Liposomes are nano-sized spherical vesicles composed of an aqueous core surrounded by one (or more) phospholipid bilayer shells. Owing to their high biocompatibility, chemical composition variability, and ease of preparation, as well as their large variety of structural properties, liposomes have been employed in a large variety of nanomedicine and biomedical applications, including nanocarriers for drug delivery, in nutraceutical fields, for immunoassays, clinical diagnostics, tissue engineering, and theranostics formulations. Particularly important is the role of liposomes in drug-delivery applications, as they improve the performance of the encapsulated drugs, reducing side effects and toxicity by enhancing its in vitro- and in vivo-controlled delivery and activity. These applications stimulated a great effort for the scale-up of the formation processes in view of suitable industrial development. Despite the improvements of conventional approaches and the development of novel routes of liposome preparation, their intrinsic sensitivity to mechanical and chemical actions is responsible for some critical issues connected with a limited colloidal stability and reduced entrapment efficiency of cargo molecules. This article analyzes the main features of the formation and fabrication techniques of liposome nanocarriers, with a special focus on the structure, parameters, and the critical factors that influence the development of a suitable and stable formulation. Recent developments and new methods for liposome preparation are also discussed, with the objective of updating the reader and providing future directions for research and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Lombardo
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, 98158 Messina, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-090-39762222
| | - Mikhail A. Kiselev
- Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980 Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia;
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Dubna State University, 141980 Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia
- Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Moscow Region, Russia
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45
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Parchekani J, Allahverdi A, Taghdir M, Naderi-Manesh H. Design and simulation of the liposomal model by using a coarse-grained molecular dynamics approach towards drug delivery goals. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2371. [PMID: 35149771 PMCID: PMC8837752 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06380-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The simulated liposome models provide events in molecular biological science and cellular biology. These models may help to understand the cell membrane mechanisms, biological cell interactions, and drug delivery systems. In addition, the liposomes model may resolve specific issues such as membrane transports, ion channels, drug penetration in the membrane, vesicle formation, membrane fusion, and membrane protein function mechanism. One of the approaches to investigate the lipid membranes and the mechanism of their formation is by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In this study, we used the coarse-grained MD simulation approach and designed a liposome model system. To simulate the liposome model, we used phospholipids that are present in the structure of natural cell membranes (1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) and 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE)). Simulation conditions such as temperature, ions, water, lipid concentration were performed based on experimental conditions. Our results showed a liposome model (ellipse vesicle structure) during the 2100 ns was formed. Moreover, the analysis confirmed that the stretched and ellipse structure is the best structure that could be formed. The eukaryotic and even the bacterial cells have elliptical and flexible structures. Usually, an elliptical structure is more stable than other assembled structures. The results indicated the assembly of the lipids is directed through short-range interactions (electrostatic interactions and, van der Waals interactions). Total energy (Van der Waals and electrostatic interaction energy) confirmed the designed elliptical liposome structure has suitable stability at the end of the simulation process. Our findings confirmed that phospholipids DOPC and DOPE have a good tendency to form bilayer membranes (liposomal structure) based on their geometric shapes and chemical-physical properties. Finally, we expected the simulated liposomal structure as a simple model to be useful in understanding the function and structure of biological cell membranes. Furthermore, it is useful to design optimal, suitable, and biocompatible liposomes as potential drug carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jalil Parchekani
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, 14115-154, Iran
| | - Abdollah Allahverdi
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, 14115-154, Iran
| | - Majid Taghdir
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, 14115-154, Iran.
| | - Hossein Naderi-Manesh
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, 14115-154, Iran.
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, 14115-154, Iran.
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46
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Zhang X, Qu Q, Zhou A, Wang Y, Zhang J, Xiong R, Lenders V, Manshian BB, Hua D, Soenen SJ, Huang C. Core-shell microparticles: From rational engineering to diverse applications. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 299:102568. [PMID: 34896747 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2021.102568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Core-shell microparticles, composed of solid, liquid, or gas bubbles surrounded by a protective shell, are gaining considerable attention as intelligent and versatile carriers that show great potential in biomedical fields. In this review, an overview is given of recent developments in design and applications of biodegradable core-shell systems. Several emerging methodologies including self-assembly, gas-shearing, and coaxial electrospray are discussed and microfluidics technology is emphasized in detail. Furthermore, the characteristics of core-shell microparticles in artificial cells, drug release and cell culture applications are discussed and the superiority of these advanced multi-core microparticles for the generation of artificial cells is highlighted. Finally, the respective developing orientations and limitations inherent to these systems are addressed. It is hoped that this review can inspire researchers to propel the development of this field with new ideas.
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47
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Okauchi H, Ichihashi N. Continuous Cell-Free Replication and Evolution of Artificial Genomic DNA in a Compartmentalized Gene Expression System. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:3507-3517. [PMID: 34781676 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
In all living organisms, genomic DNA continuously replicates by the proteins encoded in itself and undergoes evolution through many generations of replication. This continuous replication coupled with gene expression and the resultant evolution are fundamental functions of living things, but they have not previously been reconstituted in cell-free systems. In this study, we combined an artificial DNA replication scheme with a reconstituted gene expression system and microcompartmentalization to realize these functions. Circular DNA replicated through rolling-circle replication followed by homologous recombination catalyzed by the proteins, phi29 DNA polymerase, and Cre recombinase expressed from the DNA. We encapsulated the system in microscale water-in-oil droplets and performed serial dilution cycles. Isolated circular DNAs at Round 30 accumulated several common mutations, and the isolated DNA clones exhibited higher replication abilities than the original DNA due to its improved ability as a replication template, increased polymerase activity, and a reduced inhibitory effect of polymerization by the recombinase. The artificial genomic DNA, which continuously replicates using self-encoded proteins and autonomously improves its sequence, provides a useful starting point for the development of more complex artificial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Okauchi
- Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Arts and Science, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Norikazu Ichihashi
- Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Arts and Science, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
- Research Center for Complex Systems Biology, Universal Biology Institute, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
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48
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Wang C, Yang J, Lu Y. Modularize and Unite: Toward Creating a Functional Artificial Cell. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:781986. [PMID: 34912849 PMCID: PMC8667554 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.781986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
An artificial cell is a simplified model of a living system, bringing breakthroughs into both basic life science and applied research. The bottom-up strategy instructs the construction of an artificial cell from nonliving materials, which could be complicated and interdisciplinary considering the inherent complexity of living cells. Although significant progress has been achieved in the past 2 decades, the area is still facing some problems, such as poor compatibility with complex bio-systems, instability, and low standardization of the construction method. In this review, we propose creating artificial cells through the integration of different functional modules. Furthermore, we divide the function requirements of an artificial cell into four essential parts (metabolism, energy supplement, proliferation, and communication) and discuss the present researches. Then we propose that the compartment and the reestablishment of the communication system would be essential for the reasonable integration of functional modules. Although enormous challenges remain, the modular construction would facilitate the simplification and standardization of an artificial cell toward a natural living system. This function-based strategy would also broaden the application of artificial cells and represent the steps of imitating and surpassing nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biocatalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Junzhu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biocatalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biocatalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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49
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Sharma B, Ma Y, Hiraki HL, Baker BM, Ferguson AL, Liu AP. Facile formation of giant elastin-like polypeptide vesicles as synthetic cells. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:13202-13205. [PMID: 34816831 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc05579h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We demonstrate the facile and robust generation of giant peptide vesicles by using an emulsion transfer method. These robust vesicles can sustain chemical and physical stresses. The peptide vesicles can host cell-free expression reactions by encapsulating essential ingredients. We show the incorporation of another cell-free expressed elastin-like polypeptide into the existing membrane of the peptide vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bineet Sharma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
| | - Yutao Ma
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - Harrison L Hiraki
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Brendon M Baker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Andrew L Ferguson
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.,Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA.,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA
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50
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Qualls ML, Sagar R, Lou J, Best MD. Demolish and Rebuild: Controlling Lipid Self-Assembly toward Triggered Release and Artificial Cells. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:12918-12933. [PMID: 34792362 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c07406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The ability to modulate the structures of lipid membranes, predicated on our nuanced understanding of the properties that drive and alter lipid self-assembly, has opened up many exciting biological applications. In this Perspective, we focus on two endeavors in which the same principles are invoked to achieve completely opposite results. On one hand, controlled liposome decomposition enables triggered release of encapsulated cargo through the development of synthetic lipid switches that perturb lipid packing in the presence of disease-associated stimuli. In particular, recent approaches have utilized artificial lipid switches designed to undergo major conformational changes in response to a range of target conditions. On the other end of the spectrum, the ability to drive the in situ formation of lipid bilayer membranes from soluble precursors is an important component in the establishment of artificial cells. This work has culminated in chemoenzymatic strategies that enable lipid manufacturing from simple components. Herein, we describe recent advancements in these two unique undertakings that are linked by their reliance on common principles of lipid self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Qualls
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, 1420 Circle Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Ruhani Sagar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, 1420 Circle Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Jinchao Lou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, 1420 Circle Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Michael D Best
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, 1420 Circle Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
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