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Sigawi T, Ilan Y. Using Constrained-Disorder Principle-Based Systems to Improve the Performance of Digital Twins in Biological Systems. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:359. [PMID: 37622964 PMCID: PMC10452845 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8040359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Digital twins are computer programs that use real-world data to create simulations that predict the performance of processes, products, and systems. Digital twins may integrate artificial intelligence to improve their outputs. Models for dealing with uncertainties and noise are used to improve the accuracy of digital twins. Most currently used systems aim to reduce noise to improve their outputs. Nevertheless, biological systems are characterized by inherent variability, which is necessary for their proper function. The constrained-disorder principle defines living systems as having a disorder as part of their existence and proper operation while kept within dynamic boundaries. In the present paper, we review the role of noise in complex systems and its use in bioengineering. We describe the use of digital twins for medical applications and current methods for dealing with noise and uncertainties in modeling. The paper presents methods to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of digital twin systems by continuously implementing variability signatures while simultaneously reducing unwanted noise in their inputs and outputs. Accounting for the noisy internal and external environments of complex biological systems is necessary for the future design of improved, more accurate digital twins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yaron Ilan
- Department of Medicine, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem P.O. Box 12000, Israel;
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2
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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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3
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System concentration shift as a regulator of transcription-translation system within liposomes. iScience 2021; 24:102859. [PMID: 34386726 PMCID: PMC8346668 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Biochemical systems in living cells have their optimum concentration ratio among each constituent element to maintain their functionality. However, in the case of the biochemical system with complex interactions and feedbacks among elements, their activity as a system greatly changes by the concentration shift of the entire system irrespective of the concentration ratio among elements. In this study, by using a transcription-translation (TX-TL) system as the subject, we illustrate the principle of the nonlinear relationship between the system concentration and the activity of the system. Our experiment and simulation showed that shifts of the system concentration of TX-TL by dilution and concentration works as a switch of activity and demonstrated its ability to induce a biochemical system to confer the permeability of small molecules to liposomes. These results contribute to the creation of artificial cells with the switch and provide an insight into the emergence of protocells.
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4
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Garenne D, Noireaux V. Analysis of Cytoplasmic and Membrane Molecular Crowding in Genetically Programmed Synthetic Cells. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:2808-2817. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Garenne
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, 115 Union Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Vincent Noireaux
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, 115 Union Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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5
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Abstract
Cell-free systems (CFS) have recently evolved into key platforms for synthetic biology applications. Many synthetic biology tools have traditionally relied on cell-based systems, and while their adoption has shown great progress, the constraints inherent to the use of cellular hosts have limited their reach and scope. Cell-free systems, which can be thought of as programmable liquids, have removed many of these complexities and have brought about exciting opportunities for rational design and manipulation of biological systems. Here we review how these simple and accessible enzymatic systems are poised to accelerate the rate of advancement in synthetic biology and, more broadly, biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan Tinafar
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College St., Toronto, ON, M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Katariina Jaenes
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College St., Toronto, ON, M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Keith Pardee
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College St., Toronto, ON, M5S 3M2, Canada.
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6
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Abstract
Cells are the basic units of life, and can be mimicked to create artificial analogs enabling the investigation of cellular mechanisms under controlled conditions. Building biomimetic systems ranging from proto-cells to cell-like objects such as compartment membranes can be achieved by collecting biobricks that self-assemble to build simplified models performing specific functions. Hence, scientists can develop and optimize new synthetic cells with biological functions by taking inspiration from nature and exploiting the advantages of synthetic biology. However, the bottom-down approach is not restricted to the basic principles of biological cells, and new mimicry systems can be designed starting with a combination of living and non-living simple molecules to focus on a cellular machinery function. In recent years, microfluidic devices have been well established to engineer bioarchitecture models resembling cell-like structures involving vesicles, compartmentalization, synthetic membranes, and the chip itself as a synthetic cell. This review aims to highlight the role of biological cells and their impact on inspiring the development of biomimetic models. The combination of the principles of synthetic biology with microfluidic technology represents the newly-introduced field of synthetic cells and synthetic membranes that can be further exploited in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
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7
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Allen-Benton M, Findlay HE, Booth PJ. Probing membrane protein properties using droplet interface bilayers. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019; 244:709-720. [PMID: 31053046 PMCID: PMC6552395 DOI: 10.1177/1535370219847939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPACT STATEMENT The paper presents a comprehensive review of integral membrane protein studies utilizing droplet interface bilayers. Droplet interface bilayers are a novel method of constructing artificial lipid bilayers with enhanced stability and physicochemical complexity compared to existing methods. Their unique morphology also suggests applications in the construction of synthetic biological systems and protocells. As well as serving as a guide to in vitro membrane protein functional studies using droplet interface bilayers in the literature to date, a novel in vitro study of a flippase protein in a droplet interface bilayer is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Paula J Booth
- Department of Chemistry, King’s College London,
London SE1 1DB, UK
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Yewdall NA, Mason AF, van Hest JCM. The hallmarks of living systems: towards creating artificial cells. Interface Focus 2018; 8:20180023. [PMID: 30443324 PMCID: PMC6227776 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2018.0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the astonishing diversity and complexity of living systems, they all share five common hallmarks: compartmentalization, growth and division, information processing, energy transduction and adaptability. In this review, we give not only examples of how cells satisfy these requirements for life and the ways in which it is possible to emulate these characteristics in engineered platforms, but also the gaps that remain to be bridged. The bottom-up synthesis of life-like systems continues to be driven forward by the advent of new technologies, by the discovery of biological phenomena through their transplantation to experimentally simpler constructs and by providing insights into one of the oldest questions posed by mankind, the origin of life on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jan C. M. van Hest
- Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513 (STO 3.31), Eindhoven, MB, The Netherlands
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9
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Damiati S, Mhanna R, Kodzius R, Ehmoser EK. Cell-Free Approaches in Synthetic Biology Utilizing Microfluidics. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:E144. [PMID: 29509709 PMCID: PMC5867865 DOI: 10.3390/genes9030144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology is a rapidly growing multidisciplinary branch of science which aims to mimic complex biological systems by creating similar forms. Constructing an artificial system requires optimization at the gene and protein levels to allow the formation of entire biological pathways. Advances in cell-free synthetic biology have helped in discovering new genes, proteins, and pathways bypassing the complexity of the complex pathway interactions in living cells. Furthermore, this method is cost- and time-effective with access to the cellular protein factory without the membrane boundaries. The freedom of design, full automation, and mimicking of in vivo systems reveal advantages of synthetic biology that can improve the molecular understanding of processes, relevant for life science applications. In parallel, in vitro approaches have enhanced our understanding of the living system. This review highlights the recent evolution of cell-free gene design, proteins, and cells integrated with microfluidic platforms as a promising technology, which has allowed for the transformation of the concept of bioprocesses. Although several challenges remain, the manipulation of biological synthetic machinery in microfluidic devices as suitable 'homes' for in vitro protein synthesis has been proposed as a pioneering approach for the development of new platforms, relevant in biomedical and diagnostic contexts towards even the sensing and monitoring of environmental issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar Damiati
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Rami Mhanna
- Biomedical Engineering Program, The American University of Beirut (AUB), Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon.
| | - Rimantas Kodzius
- Mathematics and Natural Sciences Department, The American University of Iraq, Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah 46001, Iraq.
- Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), 80539 Munich, Germany.
- Faculty of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany.
| | - Eva-Kathrin Ehmoser
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute for Synthetic Bioarchitecture, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
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10
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Okano T, Inoue K, Koseki K, Suzuki H. Deformation Modes of Giant Unilamellar Vesicles Encapsulating Biopolymers. ACS Synth Biol 2018; 7:739-747. [PMID: 29382193 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The shapes of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) enclosing polymer molecules at relatively high concentration, used as a model cytoplasm, significantly differ from those containing only small molecules. Here, we investigated the effects of the molecular weights and concentrations of polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and DNA on the morphology of GUVs deflated by osmotic pressure. Although small PEG (MW < 1000) does not alter the mode of shape transformation even at >10% (w/w), PEG with MW > 6000 induces budding and pearling transformation at above 1% (w/w). Larger PEG frequently induced small buddings and tubulation from the membrane of mother GUVs. A similar trend was observed with BSA, indicating that the effect is irrelevant to the chemical nature of polymers. More surprisingly, long strands of DNA (>105 bp) enclosed in GUVs induced budding transformation at concentrations as low as 0.01-0.1% (w/w). We expect that this molecular size dependency arises mainly from the depletion volume effect. Our results showed that curving, budding, and tubulation of lipid membranes, which are ubiquitous in living cells, can result from simple cell-mimics consisting of the membrane and cytosolic macromolecules, but without specific shape-determining proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiji Okano
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan
| | - Koya Inoue
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan
| | - Kaoru Koseki
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Suzuki
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan
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11
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Lu Y. Cell-free synthetic biology: Engineering in an open world. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2017; 2:23-27. [PMID: 29062958 PMCID: PMC5625795 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2017.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free synthetic biology emerges as a powerful and flexible enabling technology that can engineer biological parts and systems for life science applications without using living cells. It provides simpler and faster engineering solutions with an unprecedented freedom of design in an open environment than cell system. This review focuses on recent developments of cell-free synthetic biology on biological engineering fields at molecular and cellular levels, including protein engineering, metabolic engineering, and artificial cell engineering. In cell-free protein engineering, the direct control of reaction conditions in cell-free system allows for easy synthesis of complex proteins, toxic proteins, membrane proteins, and novel proteins with unnatural amino acids. Cell-free systems offer the ability to design metabolic pathways towards the production of desired products. Buildup of artificial cells based on cell-free systems will improve our understanding of life and use them for environmental and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Lu
- Key Lab of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.,Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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12
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Petrov V, Moltchanov D, Akyildiz IF, Koucheryavy Y. Propagation Delay and Loss Analysis for Bacteria-Based Nanocommunications. IEEE Trans Nanobioscience 2016; 15:627-638. [PMID: 27429440 DOI: 10.1109/tnb.2016.2591919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Flagellated bacteria have been suggested as one of the means to deliver information at nanoscales due to their ability to store massive amounts of data in their DNA strands and their mobility properties. In this paper, the propagation delay and message loss rates are mathematically derived for bacterial nanocommunications. The mobility pattern of the flagellated bacteria is investigated and a stochastic model of the bacteria mobility is developed. The proposed model is then used to derive the performance metrics of interest such as the link reliability as well as the propagation delay distribution for the case where N bacteria are used to deliver the messages between two nanomachines. Our solution reveals that at communication distances inherent for bacteria-based nanonetworks (1 ~ 10mm) reliable links can be established using just few hundreds of bacteria. The presented approach provides the so-far missing analytical building block for performance analysis of prospective bacteria-based nanonetworks.
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13
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Current Ideas about Prebiological Compartmentalization. Life (Basel) 2015; 5:1239-63. [PMID: 25867709 PMCID: PMC4500137 DOI: 10.3390/life5021239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Contemporary biological cells are highly sophisticated dynamic compartment systems which separate an internal volume from the external medium through a boundary, which controls, in complex ways, the exchange of matter and energy between the cell's interior and the environment. Since such compartmentalization is a fundamental principle of all forms of life, scenarios have been elaborated about the emergence of prebiological compartments on early Earth, in particular about their likely structural characteristics and dynamic features. Chemical systems that consist of potentially prebiological compartments and chemical reaction networks have been designed to model pre-cellular systems. These systems are often referred to as "protocells". Past and current protocell model systems are presented and compared. Since the prebiotic formation of cell-like compartments is directly linked to the prebiotic availability of compartment building blocks, a few aspects on the likely chemical inventory on the early Earth are also summarized.
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14
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Ding Y, Wu F, Tan C. Synthetic Biology: A Bridge between Artificial and Natural Cells. Life (Basel) 2014; 4:1092-116. [PMID: 25532531 PMCID: PMC4284483 DOI: 10.3390/life4041092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Revised: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial cells are simple cell-like entities that possess certain properties of natural cells. In general, artificial cells are constructed using three parts: (1) biological membranes that serve as protective barriers, while allowing communication between the cells and the environment; (2) transcription and translation machinery that synthesize proteins based on genetic sequences; and (3) genetic modules that control the dynamics of the whole cell. Artificial cells are minimal and well-defined systems that can be more easily engineered and controlled when compared to natural cells. Artificial cells can be used as biomimetic systems to study and understand natural dynamics of cells with minimal interference from cellular complexity. However, there remain significant gaps between artificial and natural cells. How much information can we encode into artificial cells? What is the minimal number of factors that are necessary to achieve robust functioning of artificial cells? Can artificial cells communicate with their environments efficiently? Can artificial cells replicate, divide or even evolve? Here, we review synthetic biological methods that could shrink the gaps between artificial and natural cells. The closure of these gaps will lead to advancement in synthetic biology, cellular biology and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfeng Ding
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616-5270, USA.
| | - Fan Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616-5270, USA.
| | - Cheemeng Tan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616-5270, USA.
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