scholarly journals Long-lived protein expression in hydrogel particles: towards artificial cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (18) ◽  
pp. 4275-4279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyu Zhou ◽  
Han Wu ◽  
Miao Cui ◽  
Sze Nga Lai ◽  
Bo Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Gene Regulation ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Hydrogel Particles ◽  
Artificial Cell ◽  
Genetic Oscillators

A new artificial cell was capable of long-lived protein expression and supported gene regulation and genetic oscillators.

scholarly journals Protein synthesis in artificial cells: using compartmentalisation for spatial organisation in vesicle bioreactors

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 15534-15537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuval Elani ◽  
Robert V. Law ◽  
Oscar Ces
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Spatial Organisation ◽  
Artificial Cell

Spatially segregated in vitro protein expression in a vesicle-based artificial cell, with different proteins synthesised in defined vesicle regions.

scholarly journals Synchrony and pattern formation of coupled genetic oscillators on a chip of artificial cells

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (44) ◽  
pp. 11609-11614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra M. Tayar ◽  
Eyal Karzbrun ◽  
Vincent Noireaux ◽  
Roy H. Bar-Ziv
Keyword(s):  
Pattern Formation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Reaction Diffusion ◽  
Biochemical Networks ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Diffusion Dynamics ◽  
Oscillatory Reactions ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
On Chip ◽  
Genetic Oscillators

Understanding how biochemical networks lead to large-scale nonequilibrium self-organization and pattern formation in life is a major challenge, with important implications for the design of programmable synthetic systems. Here, we assembled cell-free genetic oscillators in a spatially distributed system of on-chip DNA compartments as artificial cells, and measured reaction–diffusion dynamics at the single-cell level up to the multicell scale. Using a cell-free gene network we programmed molecular interactions that control the frequency of oscillations, population variability, and dynamical stability. We observed frequency entrainment, synchronized oscillatory reactions and pattern formation in space, as manifestation of collective behavior. The transition to synchrony occurs as the local coupling between compartments strengthens. Spatiotemporal oscillations are induced either by a concentration gradient of a diffusible signal, or by spontaneous symmetry breaking close to a transition from oscillatory to nonoscillatory dynamics. This work offers design principles for programmable biochemical reactions with potential applications to autonomous sensing, distributed computing, and biomedical diagnostics.

scholarly journals Self-Propulsion Strategies for Artificial Cell-Like Compartments

Nanomaterials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibon Santiago ◽  
Friedrich C. Simmel
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Biomedical Engineering ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Emulsion Droplet ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Droplet Motion ◽  
Active Particles ◽  
Artificial Cell ◽  
Catalytically Active ◽  
A Current

Reconstitution of life-like properties in artificial cells is a current research frontier in synthetic biology. Mimicking metabolism, growth, and sensing are active areas of investigation; however, achieving motility and directional taxis are also challenging in the context of artificial cells. To tackle this problem, recent progress has been made that leverages the tools of active matter physics in synthetic biology. This review surveys the most significant achievements in designing motile cell-like compartments. In this context, strategies for self-propulsion are summarized, including, compartmentalization of catalytically active particles, phoretic propulsion of vesicles and emulsion droplet motion driven by Marangoni flows. This work showcases how the realization of motile protocells may impact biomedical engineering while also aiming at answering fundamental questions in locomotion of prebiotic cells.

scholarly journals Tuning intercellular adhesion with membrane-anchored oligonucleotides

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (159) ◽  
pp. 20190299
Author(s):  
Ian T. Hoffecker ◽  
Yusuke Arima ◽  
Hiroo Iwata
Keyword(s):  
Protein Expression ◽  
Force Feedback ◽  
Artificial Cell ◽  
Tissue Surface ◽  
Integral Role ◽  
Tissue Surface Tension ◽  
Adhesive Interactions ◽  
Cell Interface ◽  
Adhesion Control ◽  
Cell Cell

Adhesive interactions between cells play an integral role in development, differentiation and regeneration. Existing methods for controlling cell–cell cohesion and adhesion by manipulating protein expression are constrained by biological interdependencies, e.g. coupling of cadherins to actomyosin force-feedback mechanisms. We use oligonucleotides conjugated to PEGylated lipid anchors (ssDNAPEGDPPE) to introduce artificial cell–cell adhesion that is largely decoupled from the internal cytoskeleton. We describe cell–cell doublets with a mechanical model based on isotropic, elastic deformation of spheres to estimate the adhesion at the cell–cell interface. Physical manipulation of adhesion by modulating the PEG-lipid to ssDNAPEGDPPE ratio, and conversely treating with actin-depolymerizing cytochalasin D, resulted in decreases and increases in doublet contact area, respectively. Our data are relevant to the ongoing discussion over mechanisms of tissue surface tension and in agreement with models based on opposing cortical and cohesive forces. PEG-lipid modulation of doublet geometries resulted in a well-defined curve indicating continuity, enabling prescriptive calibration for controlling doublet geometry. Our study demonstrates tuning of basic doublet adhesion, laying the foundation for more complex multicellular adhesion control independent of protein expression.

Hemoperfusion Based on Artificial Cells for Aluminium and Iron Removal, Immunosorption, Fulminant Hepatic Failure, Uremia, Poisoning and Metabolic Assists

1986 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 285-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.M.S. Chang
Keyword(s):  
Fulminant Hepatic Failure ◽  
Hepatic Failure ◽  
Activated Charcoal ◽  
Exchange Resin ◽  
Ion Exchange Resin ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Artificial Cell ◽  
Volume Relationship ◽  
Charcoal Hemoperfusion

The author reviewed artificial cells and their applications in hemoperfusion for chronic renal failure, poisoning, fulminant hepatic failure, removal of aluminium and iron, and metabolic assists. Other areas reviewed included artificial cells containing enzymes, multienzymes, immunosorbents, cell cultures and other areas. Artificial cells can be formed as membrane coated adsorbent or microencapsulated adsorbent, enzymes and cells (1-3). The large surface to volume relationship and the ultrathin membrane of artificial cells allows the rapid equilibration of metabolites (1-3). Artificial cells containing enzymes, ion exchange resin and activated charcoal have been used for hemoperfusion (4). The microencapsulated or membrane coated absorbents, enzymes, cells, immunosorbents and other material are prevented from releasing unwanted material into the circulation and prevented from adverse effects on blood cells. Because of the problem of charcoal in releasing emboli and depleting platelets (5) we first developed coated activated charcoal hemoperfusion for clinical application (6, 7). This has been used extensively in clinical studies. The artificial cell approach has also been applied to a number of other hemoperfusion approaches. The lack of space only allows this paper to summarize some of the approaches originated from this research centre.

Cytoskeletal Protein Expression and its Association within the Hydrophobic Membrane of Artificial Cell Models

ChemBioChem ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 792-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Martino ◽  
Louise Horsfall ◽  
Yan Chen ◽  
Mayuree Chanasakulniyom ◽  
David Paterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Expression ◽  
Cytoskeletal Protein ◽  
Cell Models ◽  
Hydrophobic Membrane ◽  
Artificial Cell

scholarly journals An artificial cell containing cyanobacteria for endosymbiosis mimicking

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boyu Yang ◽  
Shubin Li ◽  
Wei Mu ◽  
Zhao Wang ◽  
Xiaojun Han
Keyword(s):  
Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Horseradish Peroxidase ◽  
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Glucose Dehydrogenase ◽  
Working Mechanism ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Amplex Red ◽  
Enzyme Cascade ◽  
Artificial Cell

AbstractThe bottom-up constructed artificial cells help to understand the cell working mechanism and provide the evolution clues for organisms. Cyanobacteria are believed to be the ancestors of chloroplasts according to endosymbiosis theory. Herein we demonstrate an artificial cell containing cyanobacteria to mimic endosymbiosis phenomenon. The cyanobacteria sustainably produce glucose molecules by converting light energy into chemical energy. Two downstream “metabolic” pathways starting from glucose molecules are investigated. One involves enzyme cascade reaction to produce H2O2 (assisted by glucose oxidase) first, followed by converting Amplex red to resorufin (assisted by horseradish peroxidase). The more biological one involves nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) production in the presence of NAD+ and glucose dehydrogenase. Further, NADH molecules are oxidized into NAD+ by pyruvate catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase, meanwhile, lactate is obtained. Therefore, the sustainable cascade cycling of NADH/NAD+ is built. The artificial cells built here simulate the endosymbiosis phenomenon, meanwhile pave the way for investigating more complicated sustainable energy supplied metabolism inside artificial cells.

scholarly journals Tuning intercellular cohesion with membrane-anchored oligonucleotides

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian T. Hoffecker ◽  
Yusuke Arima ◽  
Hiroo Iwata
Keyword(s):  
Protein Expression ◽  
Force Feedback ◽  
Cohesive Forces ◽  
Artificial Cell ◽  
Tissue Surface ◽  
Integral Role ◽  
Tissue Surface Tension ◽  
Cell Interface ◽  
Physical Manipulation ◽  
Cell Cell

AbstractCohesive interactions between cells play an integral role in development, differentiation, and regeneration. Existing methods for controlling cell-cell cohesion by manipulating protein expression are constrained by biological interdependencies, e.g. coupling of cadherins to actomyosin force-feedback mechanisms. We use oligonucleotides conjugated to PEGylated lipid anchors (ssDNAPEGDPPE) to introduce artificial cell-cell cohesion that is largely decoupled from the internal cytoskeleton. We describe cell-cell doublets with a mechanical model based on isotropic, elastic deformation of spheres to estimate the cohesion at the cell-cell interface. Physical manipulation of cohesion by modulating PEG-lipid to ssDNAPEGDPPE ratio, and conversely treatment with actin-depolymerizing cytochalsin-D, resulted respectively in decreases and increases in doublet contact area. Our data are relevant to the ongoing discussion over mechanisms of tissue surface tension and in agreement with models based on opposing cortical and cohesive forces. PEG-lipid modulation of doublet geometries resulted in a well-defined curve indicating continuity, enabling prescriptive calibration for controlling doublet geometry. Our study demonstrates tuning of basic doublet cohesion, laying the foundation for more complex multicellular cohesion control independent of protein expression.

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