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Peng Z, Iwabuchi S, Izumi K, Takiguchi S, Yamaji M, Fujita S, Suzuki H, Kambara F, Fukasawa G, Cooney A, Di Michele L, Elani Y, Matsuura T, Kawano R. Lipid vesicle-based molecular robots. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:996-1029. [PMID: 38239102 PMCID: PMC10898420 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00860f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
A molecular robot, which is a system comprised of one or more molecular machines and computers, can execute sophisticated tasks in many fields that span from nanomedicine to green nanotechnology. The core parts of molecular robots are fairly consistent from system to system and always include (i) a body to encapsulate molecular machines, (ii) sensors to capture signals, (iii) computers to make decisions, and (iv) actuators to perform tasks. This review aims to provide an overview of approaches and considerations to develop molecular robots. We first introduce the basic technologies required for constructing the core parts of molecular robots, describe the recent progress towards achieving higher functionality, and subsequently discuss the current challenges and outlook. We also highlight the applications of molecular robots in sensing biomarkers, signal communications with living cells, and conversion of energy. Although molecular robots are still in their infancy, they will unquestionably initiate massive change in biomedical and environmental technology in the not too distant future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zugui Peng
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Shoji Iwabuchi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Kayano Izumi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Sotaro Takiguchi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Misa Yamaji
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Shoko Fujita
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Harune Suzuki
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Fumika Kambara
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Genki Fukasawa
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Aileen Cooney
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Lorenzo Di Michele
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Tomoaki Matsuura
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Ryuji Kawano
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
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Lopez A, Vauchez A, Ajram G, Shvetsova A, Leveau G, Fiore M, Strazewski P. From the RNA-Peptide World: Prebiotic Reaction Conditions Compatible with Lipid Membranes for the Formation of Lipophilic Random Peptides in the Presence of Short Oligonucleotides, and More. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:108. [PMID: 38255723 PMCID: PMC10817532 DOI: 10.3390/life14010108] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Deciphering the origins of life on a molecular level includes unravelling the numerous interactions that could occur between the most important biomolecules being the lipids, peptides and nucleotides. They were likely all present on the early Earth and all necessary for the emergence of cellular life. In this study, we intended to explore conditions that were at the same time conducive to chemical reactions critical for the origins of life (peptide-oligonucleotide couplings and templated ligation of oligonucleotides) and compatible with the presence of prebiotic lipid vesicles. For that, random peptides were generated from activated amino acids and analysed using NMR and MS, whereas short oligonucleotides were produced through solid-support synthesis, manually deprotected and purified using HPLC. After chemical activation in prebiotic conditions, the resulting mixtures were analysed using LC-MS. Vesicles could be produced through gentle hydration in similar conditions and observed using epifluorescence microscopy. Despite the absence of coupling or ligation, our results help to pave the way for future investigations on the origins of life that may gather all three types of biomolecules rather than studying them separately, as it is still too often the case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augustin Lopez
- Laboratoire de Chimie Organique 2 (LCO2), Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires (ICBMS, UMR CNRS 5246), Bâtiment Edgar Lederer, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69100 Villeurbanne, France (M.F.)
| | - Antoine Vauchez
- Centre Commun de la Spectrométrie de Masse (CCSM), ICBMS, Bâtiment Edgar Lederer, 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69100 Villeurbanne, France;
| | - Ghinwa Ajram
- Laboratoire de Chimie Organique 2 (LCO2), Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires (ICBMS, UMR CNRS 5246), Bâtiment Edgar Lederer, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69100 Villeurbanne, France (M.F.)
| | - Anastasiia Shvetsova
- Laboratoire de Chimie Organique 2 (LCO2), Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires (ICBMS, UMR CNRS 5246), Bâtiment Edgar Lederer, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69100 Villeurbanne, France (M.F.)
| | - Gabrielle Leveau
- Laboratoire de Chimie Organique 2 (LCO2), Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires (ICBMS, UMR CNRS 5246), Bâtiment Edgar Lederer, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69100 Villeurbanne, France (M.F.)
| | - Michele Fiore
- Laboratoire de Chimie Organique 2 (LCO2), Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires (ICBMS, UMR CNRS 5246), Bâtiment Edgar Lederer, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69100 Villeurbanne, France (M.F.)
| | - Peter Strazewski
- Laboratoire de Chimie Organique 2 (LCO2), Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires (ICBMS, UMR CNRS 5246), Bâtiment Edgar Lederer, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, 1 rue Victor Grignard, 69100 Villeurbanne, France (M.F.)
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Hazra B, Prasad M, Das S, Mandal R, Sardar A, Dewangan N, Tarafdar PK. Phosphate-Based Amphiphile and Lipidated Lysine Assemble into Superior Protocellular Membranes over Carboxylate and Sulfate-Based Systems: A Potential Missing Link between Prebiotic and the Modern Era? LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:17031-17042. [PMID: 37984966 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Amphiphiles are among the most extensively studied building blocks that self-assemble into cell-like compartments. Most literature suggested that the building blocks/amphiphiles of early Earth (fatty acid-based membrane) were much simpler than today's phospholipids. To establish the bridge between the prebiotic fatty acid era and the modern phospholipid era, the investigation and characterization of alternate building blocks that form protocellular membranes are necessary. Herein, we report the potential prebiotic synthesis of alkyl phosphate, alkyl carboxylate, and alkyl sulfate amphiphiles (anionic) using dry-down reactions and demonstrate a more general role of cationic amino acid-based amphiphiles to recruit the anionic amphiphiles via ion-pair, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions. The formation and self-assembly of the catanionic (mixed) amphiphilic system to vesicular morphology were characterized by turbidimetric, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, and glucose encapsulation experiments. Further experiments suggest that the phosphate-based vesicles were more stable than the alkyl sulfate and alkyl carboxylate-based systems. Moreover, the alkyl phosphate system can form vesicles at prebiotically relevant acidic pH (5.0), while alkyl carboxylate mainly forms cluster-type aggregates. An extended supramolecular polymer-type network formation via H-bonding and ion-pair interactions might order the membrane interface and stabilize the phosphate-based vesicles. The results suggest that phosphate-based amphiphiles might be a superior successor to fatty acids as early compartment building blocks. The work highlights the importance of previously unexplored building blocks that participate in protocellular membrane formation to encapsulate important precursors required for the functions of early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibhas Hazra
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Nadia, Mohanpur 741246, West Bengal, India
| | - Mahesh Prasad
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Nadia, Mohanpur 741246, West Bengal, India
| | - Subrata Das
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Nadia, Mohanpur 741246, West Bengal, India
| | - Raki Mandal
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Nadia, Mohanpur 741246, West Bengal, India
| | - Avijit Sardar
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Nadia, Mohanpur 741246, West Bengal, India
| | - Nikesh Dewangan
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Nadia, Mohanpur 741246, West Bengal, India
| | - Pradip K Tarafdar
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Nadia, Mohanpur 741246, West Bengal, India
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Fan Z, Deckel Y, Lowe LA, Loo DWK, Yomo T, Szostak JW, Nisler C, Wang A. Lipid Exchange Promotes Fusion of Model Protocells. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2300126. [PMID: 37246261 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300126] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Vesicle fusion is an important process underlying cell division, transport, and membrane trafficking. In phospholipid systems, a range of fusogens including divalent cations and depletants have been shown to induce adhesion, hemifusion, and then full content fusion between vesicles. This work shows that these fusogens do not perform the same function for fatty acid vesicles, which are used as model protocells (primitive cells). Even when fatty acid vesicles appear adhered or hemifused to each other, the intervening barriers between vesicles do not rupture. This difference is likely because fatty acids have a single aliphatic tail, and are more dynamic than their phospholipid counterparts. To address this, it is postulated that fusion could instead occur under conditions, such as lipid exchange, that disrupt lipid packing. Using both experiments and molecular dynamics simulations, it is verified that fusion in fatty acid systems can indeed be induced by lipid exchange. These results begin to probe how membrane biophysics could constrain the evolutionary dynamics of protocells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyan Fan
- School of Chemistry, Australian Centre for Astrobiology, ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Yaam Deckel
- School of Chemistry, Australian Centre for Astrobiology, ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Lauren A Lowe
- School of Chemistry, Australian Centre for Astrobiology, ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Daniel W K Loo
- School of Chemistry, Australian Centre for Astrobiology, ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Tetsuya Yomo
- Laboratory of Biology and Information Science, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, P. R. China
| | - Jack W Szostak
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Collin Nisler
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Anna Wang
- School of Chemistry, Australian Centre for Astrobiology, ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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5
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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: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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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6
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Salibi E, Peter B, Schwille P, Mutschler H. Periodic temperature changes drive the proliferation of self-replicating RNAs in vesicle populations. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1222. [PMID: 36869058 PMCID: PMC9984477 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36940-z] [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] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Growth and division of biological cells are based on the complex orchestration of spatiotemporally controlled reactions driven by highly evolved proteins. In contrast, it remains unknown how their primordial predecessors could achieve a stable inheritance of cytosolic components before the advent of translation. An attractive scenario assumes that periodic changes of environmental conditions acted as pacemakers for the proliferation of early protocells. Using catalytic RNA (ribozymes) as models for primitive biocatalytic molecules, we demonstrate that the repeated freezing and thawing of aqueous solutions enables the assembly of active ribozymes from inactive precursors encapsulated in separate lipid vesicle populations. Furthermore, we show that encapsulated ribozyme replicators can overcome freezing-induced content loss and successive dilution by freeze-thaw driven propagation in feedstock vesicles. Thus, cyclic freezing and melting of aqueous solvents - a plausible physicochemical driver likely present on early Earth - provides a simple scenario that uncouples compartment growth and division from RNA self-replication, while maintaining the propagation of these replicators inside new vesicle populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elia Salibi
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Benedikt Peter
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Petra Schwille
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Hannes Mutschler
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany.
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Sarkar S, Dagar S, Lahiri K, Rajamani S. pH-Responsive Self-Assembled Compartments as Tuneable Model Protocellular Membrane Systems. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200371. [PMID: 35968882 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200371] [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: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Prebiotically plausible single-chain amphiphiles are enticing as model protocellular compartments to study the emergence of cellular life, owing to their self-assembling properties. Here, we investigated the self-assembly behaviour of mono-N-dodecyl phosphate (DDP) and mixed systems of DDP with 1-dodecanol (DDOH) at varying pH conditions. Membranes composed of DDP showed pH-responsive vesicle formation in a wide range of pH with a low critical bilayer concentration (CBC). Further, the addition of DDOH to DDP membrane system enhanced vesicle formation and stability in alkaline pH regimes. We also compared the high-temperature behaviour of DDP and DDP:DDOH membranes with conventional fatty acid membranes. Both, DDP and DDP:DDOH mixed membranes possess packing that is similar to decanoic acid membrane. However, the micropolarity of these systems is similar to phospholipid membranes. Finally, the pH-dependent modulation of different phospholipid membranes doped with DDP was also demonstrated to engineer tuneable membranes with potential translational implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susovan Sarkar
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Shikha Dagar
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Kushan Lahiri
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Sudha Rajamani
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, 411008, India
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Hazra B, Mondal A, Prasad M, Gayen S, Mandal R, Sardar A, Tarafdar PK. Lipidated Lysine and Fatty Acids Assemble into Protocellular Membranes to Assist Regioselective Peptide Formation: Correlation to the Natural Selection of Lysine over Nonproteinogenic Lower Analogues. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:15422-15432. [PMID: 36450098 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The self-assembly of prebiotically plausible amphiphiles (fatty acids) to form a bilayer membrane for compartmentalization is an important factor during protocellular evolution. Such fatty acid-based membranes assemble at relatively high concentrations, and they lack robust stability. We have demonstrated that a mixture of lipidated lysine (cationic) and prebiotic fatty acids (decanoic acid, anionic) can form protocellular membranes (amino acid-based membranes) at low concentrations via electrostatic, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions. The formation of vesicular membranes was characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), pyrene and Nile Red partitioning, cryo-transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, and glucose encapsulation studies. The lipidated nonproteinogenic analogues of lysine (Lys), such as ornithine (Orn) and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (Dab), also form membranes with decanoate (DA). Time-dependent turbidimetric and 1H NMR studies suggested that the Lys-based membrane is more stable than the membranes prepared from nonproteinogenic lower analogues. The Lys-based membrane embeds a model acylating agent (aminoacyl-tRNA mimic) and facilitates the colocalization of substrates to support regioselective peptide formation via the α-amine of Lys. These membranes thereby assist peptide formation and control the positioning of the reactants (model acylating agent and -NH2 of amino acids) to initiate biologically relevant reactions during early evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibhas Hazra
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, Nadia 741246, West Bengal, India
| | - Anoy Mondal
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, Nadia 741246, West Bengal, India
| | - Mahesh Prasad
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, Nadia 741246, West Bengal, India
| | - Soumajit Gayen
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, Nadia 741246, West Bengal, India
| | - Raki Mandal
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, Nadia 741246, West Bengal, India
| | - Avijit Sardar
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, Nadia 741246, West Bengal, India
| | - Pradip K Tarafdar
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, Nadia 741246, West Bengal, India
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9
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Elucidating N-acyl amino acids as a model protoamphiphilic system. Commun Chem 2022; 5:147. [PMID: 36697941 PMCID: PMC9814278 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-022-00762-9] [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] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Protoamphiphiles are prebiotically-plausible moieties that would have constituted protocell membranes on early Earth. Although prebiotic soup would have contained a diverse set of amphiphiles capable of generating protocell membranes, earlier studies were mainly limited to fatty acid-based systems. Herein, we characterize N-acyl amino acids (NAAs) as a model protoamphiphilic system. To the best of our knowledge, we report a new abiotic route in this study for their synthesis under wet-dry cycles from amino acids and monoglycerides via an ester-amide exchange process. We also demonstrate how N-oleoyl glycine (NOG, a representative NAA) results in vesicle formation over a broad pH range when blended with a monoglyceride or a fatty acid. Notably, NOG also acts as a substrate for peptide synthesis under wet-dry cycles, generating different lipopeptides. Overall, our study establishes NAAs as a promising protoamphiphilic system, and highlights their significance in generating robust and functional protocell membranes on primitive Earth.
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10
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Saha A, Yi R, Fahrenbach AC, Wang A, Jia TZ. A Physicochemical Consideration of Prebiotic Microenvironments for Self-Assembly and Prebiotic Chemistry. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12101595. [PMID: 36295030 PMCID: PMC9604842 DOI: 10.3390/life12101595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The origin of life on Earth required myriads of chemical and physical processes. These include the formation of the planet and its geological structures, the formation of the first primitive chemicals, reaction, and assembly of these primitive chemicals to form more complex or functional products and assemblies, and finally the formation of the first cells (or protocells) on early Earth, which eventually evolved into modern cells. Each of these processes presumably occurred within specific prebiotic reaction environments, which could have been diverse in physical and chemical properties. While there are resources that describe prebiotically plausible environments or nutrient availability, here, we attempt to aggregate the literature for the various physicochemical properties of different prebiotic reaction microenvironments on early Earth. We introduce a handful of properties that can be quantified through physical or chemical techniques. The values for these physicochemical properties, if they are known, are then presented for each reaction environment, giving the reader a sense of the environmental variability of such properties. Such a resource may be useful for prebiotic chemists to understand the range of conditions in each reaction environment, or to select the medium most applicable for their targeted reaction of interest for exploratory studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita Saha
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, 600 1st Ave, Floor 1, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
- Amity Institute of Applied Sciences, Amity University, Kolkata 700135, India
| | - Ruiqin Yi
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1-IE-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Albert C. Fahrenbach
- School of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Anna Wang
- School of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Correspondence: (A.W.); (T.Z.J.)
| | - Tony Z. Jia
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, 600 1st Ave, Floor 1, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1-IE-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
- Correspondence: (A.W.); (T.Z.J.)
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11
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Slootbeek AD, van Haren MHI, Smokers IBA, Spruijt E. Growth, replication and division enable evolution of coacervate protocells. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:11183-11200. [PMID: 36128910 PMCID: PMC9536485 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc03541c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Living and proliferating cells undergo repeated cycles of growth, replication and division, all orchestrated by complex molecular networks. How a minimal cell cycle emerged and helped primitive cells to evolve remains one of the biggest mysteries in modern science, and is an active area of research in chemistry. Protocells are cell-like compartments that recapitulate features of living cells and may be seen as the chemical ancestors of modern life. While compartmentalization is not strictly required for primitive, open-ended evolution of self-replicating systems, it gives such systems a clear identity by setting the boundaries and it can help them overcome three major obstacles of dilution, parasitism and compatibility. Compartmentalization is therefore widely considered to be a central hallmark of primitive life, and various types of protocells are actively investigated, with the ultimate goal of developing a protocell capable of autonomous proliferation by mimicking the well-known cell cycle of growth, replication and division. We and others have found that coacervates are promising protocell candidates in which chemical building blocks required for life are naturally concentrated, and chemical reactions can be selectively enhanced or suppressed. This feature article provides an overview of how growth, replication and division can be realized with coacervates as protocells and what the bottlenecks are. Considerations are given for designing chemical networks in coacervates that can lead to sustained growth, selective replication and controlled division, in a way that they are linked together like in the cell cycle. Ultimately, such a system may undergo evolution by natural selection of certain phenotypes, leading to adaptation and the gain of new functions, and we end with a brief discussion of the opportunities for coacervates to facilitate this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annemiek D Slootbeek
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Merlijn H I van Haren
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Iris B A Smokers
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Evan Spruijt
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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12
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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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13
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Coudon N, Navailles L, Nallet F, Ly I, Bentaleb A, Chapel JP, Béven L, Douliez JP, Martin N. Stabilization of all-aqueous droplets by interfacial self-assembly of fatty acids bilayers. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 617:257-266. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.02.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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14
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Babu D, Katsonis N, Lancia F, Plamont R, Ryabchun A. Motile behaviour of droplets in lipid systems. Nat Rev Chem 2022; 6:377-388. [PMID: 37117430 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-022-00392-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Motility is the capacity for living organisms to move autonomously and with purpose, and is essential to life. The transition from abiotic chemistry into motile cellular compartments has yet to be understood, but motile behaviour likely followed chemical evolution because primeval cell survival depended on scouting for resources effectively. Minimalistic motile systems provide an experimental framework to delineate the emergence mechanisms of such an evolutionary asset. In this Review, we discuss frontier developments in controlling the movement of droplets in lipid systems, in particular, chemotactic behaviours driven by fluctuations in interfacial tension, because of its simple mechanism and prebiotic relevance. Although most efforts have focused on designing oil droplet motility in lipid-rich aqueous solutions, we highlight that water droplets can also move in lipid-enriched oils. First, we describe how droplets evolve chemotactic motility in lipid systems. Next, we review how these oil droplets can adapt their movement to illumination conditions. Finally, we discuss examples where chemical reactivity brings complexity to motility. This work contributes to systems chemistry, where chemical reactions combined with physicochemical phenomena can yield new functions, such that a limited set of molecules can promote complex movement at larger functional scales by following the rules of molecular chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhanya Babu
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Nathalie Katsonis
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
| | - Federico Lancia
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Remi Plamont
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Alexander Ryabchun
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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15
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Gözen I, Köksal ES, Põldsalu I, Xue L, Spustova K, Pedrueza-Villalmanzo E, Ryskulov R, Meng F, Jesorka A. Protocells: Milestones and Recent Advances. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2106624. [PMID: 35322554 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202106624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The origin of life is still one of humankind's great mysteries. At the transition between nonliving and living matter, protocells, initially featureless aggregates of abiotic matter, gain the structure and functions necessary to fulfill the criteria of life. Research addressing protocells as a central element in this transition is diverse and increasingly interdisciplinary. The authors review current protocell concepts and research directions, address milestones, challenges and existing hypotheses in the context of conditions on the early Earth, and provide a concise overview of current protocell research methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irep Gözen
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Elif Senem Köksal
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Inga Põldsalu
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Lin Xue
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Karolina Spustova
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Esteban Pedrueza-Villalmanzo
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
- Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, Universitetsplatsen 1, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden
| | - Ruslan Ryskulov
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
| | - Fanda Meng
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
- School of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250000, China
| | - Aldo Jesorka
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
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16
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Chatterjee A, Reja A, Pal S, Das D. Systems chemistry of peptide-assemblies for biochemical transformations. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:3047-3070. [PMID: 35316323 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs01178b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
During the billions of years of the evolutionary journey, primitive polymers, involved in proto metabolic pathways with low catalytic activity, played critical roles in the emergence of modern enzymes with remarkable substrate specificity. The precise positioning of amino acid residues and the complex orchestrated interplay in the binding pockets of evolved enzymes promote covalent and non-covalent interactions to foster a diverse set of complex catalytic transformations. Recent efforts to emulate the structural and functional information of extant enzymes by minimal peptide based assemblies have attempted to provide a holistic approach that could help in discerning the prebiotic origins of catalytically active binding pockets of advanced proteins. In addition to the impressive sets of advanced biochemical transformations, catalytic promiscuity and cascade catalysis by such small molecule based dynamic systems can foreshadow the ancestral catalytic processes required for the onset of protometabolism. Looking beyond minimal systems that work close to equilibrium, catalytic systems and compartments under non-equilibrium conditions utilizing simple prebiotically relevant precursors have attempted to shed light on how bioenergetics played an essential role in chemical emergence of complex behaviour. Herein, we map out these recent works and progress where diverse sets of complex enzymatic transformations were demonstrated by utilizing minimal peptide based self-assembled systems. Further, we have attempted to cover the examples of peptide assemblies that could feature promiscuous activity and promote complex multistep cascade reaction networks. The review also covers a few recent examples of minimal transient catalytic assemblies under non-equilibrium conditions. This review attempts to provide a broad perspective for potentially programming functionality via rational selection of amino acid sequences leading towards minimal catalytic systems that resemble the traits of contemporary enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayan Chatterjee
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur-741246, India.
| | - Antara Reja
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur-741246, India.
| | - Sumit Pal
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur-741246, India.
| | - Dibyendu Das
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur-741246, India.
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17
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Alkanes as Membrane Regulators of the Response of Early Membranes to Extreme Temperatures. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12030445. [PMID: 35330196 PMCID: PMC8949167 DOI: 10.3390/life12030445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the first steps in the origin of life was the formation of a membrane, a physical boundary that allowed the retention of molecules in concentrated solutions. The proto-membrane was likely formed by self-assembly of simple readily available amphiphiles, such as short-chain fatty acids and alcohols. In the commonly accepted scenario that life originated near hydrothermal systems, how these very simple membrane bilayers could be stable enough in time remains a debated issue. We used various complementary techniques such as dynamic light scattering, small angle neutron scattering, neutron spin-echo spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to explore the stability of a novel protomembrane system in which the insertion of alkanes in the midplane is proposed to shift membrane stability to higher temperatures, pH, and hydrostatic pressures. We show that, in absence of alkanes, protomembranes transition into lipid droplets when temperature increases; while in presence of alkanes, membranes persist for longer times in a concentration-dependent manner. Proto-membranes containing alkanes are stable at higher temperatures and for longer times, have a higher bending rigidity, and can revert more easily to their initial state upon temperature variations. Hence, the presence of membrane intercalating alkanes could explain how the first membranes could resist the harsh and changing environment of the hydrothermal systems. Furthermore, modulating the quantity of alkanes in the first membranes appears as a possible strategy to adapt the proto-membrane behavior according to temperature fluctuations, and it offers a first glimpse into the evolution of the first membranes.
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18
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Zhou L, Koh JJ, Wu J, Fan X, Chen H, Hou X, Jiang L, Lu X, Li Z, He C. Fatty Acid-Based Coacervates as a Membrane-free Protocell Model. Bioconjug Chem 2022; 33:444-451. [PMID: 35138820 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Membrane-less scenarios that involve liquid-liquid phase separation (coacervation) provide clues for how protocells might emerge. Here, we report a versatile approach to construct coacervates by mixing fatty acid with biomolecule dopamine as the protocell model. The coacervate droplets are easily formed over a wide range of concentrations. The solutes with different interaction characteristics, including cationic, anionic, and hydrophobic dyes, can be well concentrated within the coacervates. In addition, reversible self-assemblies of the coacervates can be controlled by concentration, pH, temperature, salinity, and bioreaction realizing cycles between compartmentalization and noncompartmentalization. Through in situ dopamine polymerization, the stability of coacervate droplets is significantly improved, leading to higher resistance toward external factors. Therefore, the coacervates based on fatty acid and dopamine could serve as a bottom-up membrane-less protocell model that provides the links between the simple (small molecule) and complex (macromolecule) systems in the process of cell evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Zhou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - J Justin Koh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Jing Wu
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08-03, Singapore 138634, Singapore
| | - Xiaotong Fan
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08-03, Singapore 138634, Singapore
| | - Haiming Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Xunan Hou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - Lu Jiang
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08-03, Singapore 138634, Singapore
| | - Xuehong Lu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Zibiao Li
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08-03, Singapore 138634, Singapore
| | - Chaobin He
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576, Singapore.,Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08-03, Singapore 138634, Singapore
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19
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Grimes PJ, Galanti A, Gobbo P. Bioinspired Networks of Communicating Synthetic Protocells. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:804717. [PMID: 35004855 PMCID: PMC8740067 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.804717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The bottom-up synthesis of cell-like entities or protocells from inanimate molecules and materials is one of the grand challenges of our time. In the past decade, researchers in the emerging field of bottom-up synthetic biology have developed different protocell models and engineered them to mimic one or more abilities of biological cells, such as information transcription and translation, adhesion, and enzyme-mediated metabolism. Whilst thus far efforts have focused on increasing the biochemical complexity of individual protocells, an emerging challenge in bottom-up synthetic biology is the development of networks of communicating synthetic protocells. The possibility of engineering multi-protocellular systems capable of sending and receiving chemical signals to trigger individual or collective programmed cell-like behaviours or for communicating with living cells and tissues would lead to major scientific breakthroughs with important applications in biotechnology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This mini-review will discuss this new, emerging area of bottom-up synthetic biology and will introduce three types of bioinspired networks of communicating synthetic protocells that have recently emerged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J. Grimes
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Agostino Galanti
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Pierangelo Gobbo
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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20
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Joshi MP, Steller L, Van Kranendonk MJ, Rajamani S. Influence of Metal Ions on Model Protoamphiphilic Vesicular Systems: Insights from Laboratory and Analogue Studies. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11121413. [PMID: 34947944 PMCID: PMC8708898 DOI: 10.3390/life11121413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Metal ions strongly affect the self-assembly and stability of membranes composed of prebiotically relevant amphiphiles (protoamphiphiles). Therefore, evaluating the behavior of such amphiphiles in the presence of ions is a crucial step towards assessing their potential as model protocell compartments. We have recently reported vesicle formation by N-acyl amino acids (NAAs), an interesting class of protoamphiphiles containing an amino acid linked to a fatty acid via an amide linkage. Herein, we explore the effect of ions on the self-assembly and stability of model N-oleoyl glycine (NOG)-based membranes. Microscopic analysis showed that the blended membranes of NOG and Glycerol 1-monooleate (GMO) were more stable than pure NOG vesicles, both in the presence of monovalent and divalent cations, with the overall vesicle stability being 100-fold higher in the presence of a monovalent cation. Furthermore, both pure NOG and NOG + GMO mixed systems were able to self-assemble into vesicles in natural water samples containing multiple ions that were collected from active hot spring sites. Our study reveals that several aspects of the metal ion stability of NAA-based membranes are comparable to those of fatty acid-based systems, while also confirming the robustness of compositionally heterogeneous membranes towards high metal ion concentrations. Pertinently, the vesicle formation by NAA-based systems in terrestrial hot spring samples indicates the conduciveness of these low ionic strength freshwater systems for facilitating prebiotic membrane-assembly processes. This further highlights their potential to serve as a plausible niche for the emergence of cellular life on the early Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manesh Prakash Joshi
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, Maharashtra, India
- Correspondence: (M.P.J.); (S.R.); Tel.: +91-20-2590-8061 (S.R.)
| | - Luke Steller
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia; (L.S.); (M.J.V.K.)
| | - Martin J. Van Kranendonk
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia; (L.S.); (M.J.V.K.)
| | - Sudha Rajamani
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, Maharashtra, India
- Correspondence: (M.P.J.); (S.R.); Tel.: +91-20-2590-8061 (S.R.)
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21
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Jia TZ, Kuruma Y. Increasing complexity of primitive compartments. Biophys Physicobiol 2021; 18:269-273. [PMID: 34909364 PMCID: PMC8639197 DOI: 10.2142/biophysico.bppb-v18.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tony Z Jia
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan.,Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington 98154, USA
| | - Yutetsu Kuruma
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan.,Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research Program, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan.,Japan Science and Technology Agency, PRESTO, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
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