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Schmidt HN, Gaetjens TK, Leopin EE, Abel SM. Compartmental exchange regulates steady states and stochastic switching of a phosphorylation network. Biophys J 2024; 123:598-609. [PMID: 38317416 PMCID: PMC10938077 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The phosphoregulation of proteins with multiple phosphorylation sites is governed by biochemical reaction networks that can exhibit multistable behavior. However, the behavior of such networks is typically studied in a single reaction volume, while cells are spatially organized into compartments that can exchange proteins. In this work, we use stochastic simulations to study the impact of compartmentalization on a two-site phosphorylation network. We characterize steady states and fluctuation-driven transitions between them as a function of the rate of protein exchange between two compartments. Surprisingly, the average time spent in a state before stochastically switching to another depends nonmonotonically on the protein exchange rate, with the most frequent switching occurring at intermediate exchange rates. At sufficiently small exchange rates, the state of the system and mean switching time are controlled largely by fluctuations in the balance of enzymes in each compartment. This leads to negatively correlated states in the compartments. For large exchange rates, the two compartments behave as a single effective compartment. However, when the compartmental volumes are unequal, the behavior differs from a single compartment with the same total volume. These results demonstrate that exchange of proteins between distinct compartments can regulate the emergent behavior of a common signaling motif.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah N Schmidt
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Thomas K Gaetjens
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Emily E Leopin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | - Steven M Abel
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.
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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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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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Gao R, Yu X, Kumar BVVSP, Tian L. Hierarchical Structuration in Protocellular System. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2300422. [PMID: 37438327 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300422] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Spatial control is one of the ubiquitous features in biological systems and the key to the functional complexity of living cells. The strategies to achieve such precise spatial control in protocellular systems are crucial to constructing complex artificial living systems with functional collective behavior. Herein, the authors review recent advances in the spatial control within a single protocell or between different protocells and discuss how such hierarchical structured protocellular system can be used to understand complex living systems or to advance the development of functional microreactors with the programmable release of various biomacromolecular payloads, or smart protocell-biological cell hybrid system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Gao
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Xinran Yu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | | | - Liangfei Tian
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- Department of Ultrasound, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- Innovation Center for Smart Medical Technologies & Devices, Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
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Minton AP. Simplified Equilibrium Model for Exploring the Combined Influences of Concentration, Aggregate Shape, Excluded Volume, and Surface Adsorption upon Aggregation Propensity and Distribution of Globular Macromolecules. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:9303-9311. [PMID: 37871252 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c05594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
A mesoscopic model for the equilibrium self-association of a globular macromolecule that may form oligomers of various shapes and unlimited sizes is presented. Allowance is made within this model for the effects of variation in the free energy of subunit contact within an oligomer of specified size and different shapes, the free energy of adsorption of an oligomer of specified size and shape to a planar surface, and the free energy of nonspecific excluded volume interaction between an oligomer of specified size and shape and an inert species occupying a specified fraction of total volume. The model is analytically soluble and permits rapid calculation and analysis of the effects of variation in each of the three free energy parameters upon the concentration dependence of the weight-average stoichiometry of the oligomer, the fraction of total macromolecule that is adsorbed, and the fraction of differently shaped oligomers that are adsorbed and in free solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen P Minton
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda Maryland 20892-0830, United States
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Wagner L, Jules M, Borkowski O. What remains from living cells in bacterial lysate-based cell-free systems. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:3173-3182. [PMID: 37333859 PMCID: PMC10275740 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Because they mimic cells while offering an accessible and controllable environment, lysate-based cell-free systems (CFS) have emerged as valuable biotechnology tools for synthetic biology. Historically used to uncover fundamental mechanisms of life, CFS are nowadays used for a multitude of purposes, including protein production and prototyping of synthetic circuits. Despite the conservation of fundamental functions in CFS like transcription and translation, RNAs and certain membrane-embedded or membrane-bound proteins of the host cell are lost when preparing the lysate. As a result, CFS largely lack some essential properties of living cells, such as the ability to adapt to changing conditions, to maintain homeostasis and spatial organization. Regardless of the application, shedding light on the black-box of the bacterial lysate is necessary to fully exploit the potential of CFS. Most measurements of the activity of synthetic circuits in CFS and in vivo show significant correlations because these only require processes that are preserved in CFS, like transcription and translation. However, prototyping circuits of higher complexity that require functions that are lost in CFS (cell adaptation, homeostasis, spatial organization) will not show such a good correlation with in vivo conditions. Both for prototyping circuits of higher complexity and for building artificial cells, the cell-free community has developed devices to reconstruct cellular functions. This mini-review compares bacterial CFS to living cells, focusing on functional and cellular process differences and the latest developments in restoring lost functions through complementation of the lysate or device engineering.
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