scholarly journals Toward long-lasting artificial cells that better mimic natural living cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 597-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noël Yeh Martín ◽  
Luca Valer ◽  
Sheref S. Mansy
Keyword(s):  
Simple Model ◽  
Chemical Communication ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Biological Mechanisms ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Artificial Cell ◽  
Natural Living

Chemical communication is ubiquitous in biology, and so efforts in building convincing cellular mimics must consider how cells behave on a population level. Simple model systems have been built in the laboratory that show communication between different artificial cells and artificial cells with natural, living cells. Examples include artificial cells that depend on purely abiological components and artificial cells built from biological components and are driven by biological mechanisms. However, an artificial cell solely built to communicate chemically without carrying the machinery needed for self-preservation cannot remain active for long periods of time. What is needed is to begin integrating the pathways required for chemical communication with metabolic-like chemistry so that robust artificial systems can be built that better inform biology and aid in the generation of new technologies.

scholarly journals Microfluidics for Artificial Life: Techniques for Bottom-Up Synthetic Biology

Micromachines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Supramaniam ◽  
Ces ◽  
Salehi-Reyhani
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Artificial Life ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Cellular Biology ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Artificial Cell ◽  
Central Tenet ◽  
Cell Synthesis ◽  
New Generation

Synthetic biology is a rapidly growing multidisciplinary branch of science that exploits the advancement of molecular and cellular biology. Conventional modification of pre-existing cells is referred to as the top-down approach. Bottom-up synthetic biology is an emerging complementary branch that seeks to construct artificial cells from natural or synthetic components. One of the aims in bottom-up synthetic biology is to construct or mimic the complex pathways present in living cells. The recent, and rapidly growing, application of microfluidics in the field is driven by the central tenet of the bottom-up approach—the pursuit of controllably generating artificial cells with precisely defined parameters, in terms of molecular and geometrical composition. In this review we survey conventional methods of artificial cell synthesis and their limitations. We proceed to show how microfluidic approaches have been pivotal in overcoming these limitations and ushering in a new generation of complexity that may be imbued in artificial cells and the milieu of applications that result.

scholarly journals Modularize and Unite: Toward Creating a Functional Artificial Cell

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Wang ◽  
Junzhu Yang ◽  
Yuan Lu
Keyword(s):  
Applied Research ◽  
Life Science ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Living System ◽  
Functional Modules ◽  
Modular Construction ◽  
Significant Progress ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
The Past ◽  
Artificial Cell

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.

Microtubule Dynamics and Organelle Transport in Reticulomyxa

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 194-195
Author(s):  
Yih-Tai Chen ◽  
Ursula Euteneuer ◽  
Ken B. Johnson ◽  
Michael P. Koonce ◽  
Manfred Schliwa
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Light Microscopy ◽  
Cytoplasmic Dynein ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Microtubule Dynamics ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Organelle Transport ◽  
Biochemical Characteristics ◽  
Dependent Transport

The application of video techniques to light microscopy and the development of motility assays in reactivated or reconstituted model systems rapidly advanced our understanding of the mechanism of organelle transport and microtubule dynamics in living cells. Two microtubule-based motors have been identified that are good candidates for motors that drive organelle transport: kinesin, a plus end-directed motor, and cytoplasmic dynein, which is minus end-directed. However, the evidence that they do in fact function as organelle motors is still indirect.We are studying microtubule-dependent transport and dynamics in the giant amoeba, Reticulomyxa. This cell extends filamentous strands backed by an extensive array of microtubules along which organelles move bidirectionally at up to 20 μm/sec (Fig. 1). Following removal of the plasma membrane with a mild detergent, organelle transport can be reactivated by the addition of ATP (1). The physiological, pharmacological and biochemical characteristics show the motor to be a cytoplasmic form of dynein (2).

Artificial cells containing sustainable energy conversion engines

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 573-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwanwoo Shin
Keyword(s):  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Energy Transduction ◽  
Artificial Cells ◽  
Energy Conversion Process ◽  
Metabolic Reactions ◽  
Metabolic Activities ◽  
Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide

Living cells naturally maintain a variety of metabolic reactions via energy conversion mechanisms that are coupled to proton transfer across cell membranes, thereby producing energy-rich compounds. Until now, researchers have been unable to maintain continuous biochemical reactions in artificially engineered cells, mainly due to the lack of mechanisms that generate energy-rich resources, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). If these metabolic activities in artificial cells are to be sustained, reliable energy transduction strategies must be realized. In this perspective, this article discusses the development of an artificially engineered cell containing a sustainable energy conversion process.

scholarly journals Quantitative linear dichroism imaging of molecular processes in living cells made simple by open software tools

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexey Bondar ◽  
Olga Rybakova ◽  
Josef Melcr ◽  
Jan Dohnálek ◽  
Petro Khoroshyy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Systems ◽  
Linear Dichroism ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Software Tools ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Membrane Properties ◽  
Polarization Microscopy ◽  
Molecular Processes ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractFluorescence-detected linear dichroism microscopy allows observing various molecular processes in living cells, as well as obtaining quantitative information on orientation of fluorescent molecules associated with cellular features. Such information can provide insights into protein structure, aid in development of genetically encoded probes, and allow determinations of lipid membrane properties. However, quantitating and interpreting linear dichroism in biological systems has been laborious and unreliable. Here we present a set of open source ImageJ-based software tools that allow fast and easy linear dichroism visualization and quantitation, as well as extraction of quantitative information on molecular orientations, even in living systems. The tools were tested on model synthetic lipid vesicles and applied to a variety of biological systems, including observations of conformational changes during G-protein signaling in living cells, using fluorescent proteins. Our results show that our tools and model systems are applicable to a wide range of molecules and polarization-resolved microscopy techniques, and represent a significant step towards making polarization microscopy a mainstream tool of biological imaging.

scholarly journals X-ray and UV Radiation Damage of dsDNA/Protein Complexes

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3132
Author(s):  
Paweł Wityk ◽  
Dorota Kostrzewa-Nowak ◽  
Beata Krawczyk ◽  
Michał Michalik ◽  
Robert Nowak
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Simple Model ◽  
Uv Radiation ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Chemical Processes ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Degradation Pathways ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Sensitization Process

Radiation and photodynamic therapies are used for cancer treatment by targeting DNA. However, efficiency is limited due to physico-chemical processes and the insensitivity of native nucleobases to damage. Thus, incorporation of radio- and photosensitizers into these therapies should increase both efficacy and the yield of DNA damage. To date, studies of sensitization processes have been performed on simple model systems, e.g., buffered solutions of dsDNA or sensitizers alone. To fully understand the sensitization processes and to be able to develop new efficient sensitizers in the future, well established model systems are necessary. In the cell environment, DNA tightly interacts with proteins and incorporating this interaction is necessary to fully understand the DNA sensitization process. In this work, we used dsDNA/protein complexes labeled with photo- and radiosensitizers and investigated degradation pathways using LC-MS and HPLC after X-ray or UV radiation.

scholarly journals THE INFLUENCE OF AMMONIUM SALTS ON CELL REACTION

1922 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
Organic Acids ◽  
Neutral Red ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Ammonium Salts ◽  
Degree Of Hydrolysis ◽  
Cell Reaction ◽  
Artificial Cell ◽  
Acid Reaction ◽  
Hydrolysis Of

1. It may be shown by means of cells of the flowers of a hybrid Rhododendron which contain a natural indicator, by means of starfish eggs stained with neutral red, and by means of an "artificial cell" in which living frog's skin is employed that increased intracellular alkalinity may be brought about by solutions of a decidedly acid reaction which contain ammonium salts. 2. These results are analogous to those previously obtained with the CO2-bicarbonate system, and depend on the facts: (a) that NH4OH is sufficiently weak as a base to permit a certain degree of hydrolysis of its salts; and (b) that living cells are freely permeable to NH4OH (or NH3?) and not to mineral and many organic acids, and presumably not at least to the same extent to ammonium salts as such.

scholarly journals Williams Syndrome As a Model for Elucidation of the Pathway Genes - the Brain - Cognitive Functions: Genetics and Epigenetics

Acta Naturae ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Е. А. Nikitina ◽  
A. V. Medvedeva ◽  
G. А. Zakharov ◽  
Е. V. Savvateeva-Popova
Keyword(s):  
Simple Model ◽  
Williams Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Epigenetic Events ◽  
Simple Model System ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Brain Behavior ◽  
The Brain

Genomic diseases or syndromes with multiple manifestations arise spontaneously and unpredictably as a result of contiguous deletions and duplications generated by unequal recombination in chromosomal regions with a specific architecture. The Williams syndrome is believed to be one of the most attractive models for linking genes, the brain, behavior and cognitive functions. It is a neurogenetic disorder resulting from a 1.5 Mb deletion at 7q11.23 which covers more than 20 genes; the hemizigosity of these genes leads to multiple manifestations, with the behavioral ones comprising three distinct domains: 1) visuo-spatial orientation; 2) verbal and linguistic defect; and 3) hypersocialisation. The shortest observed deletion leads to hemizigosity in only two genes: eln and limk1. Therefore, the first gene is supposed to be responsible for cardiovascular pathology; and the second one, for cognitive pathology. Since cognitive pathology diminishes with a patients age, the original idea of the crucial role of genes straightforwardly determining the brains morphology and behavior was substituted by ideas of the brains plasticity and the necessity of finding epigenetic factors that affect brain development and the functions manifested as behavioral changes. Recently, non-coding microRNAs (miRs) began to be considered as the main players in these epigenetic events. This review tackles the following problems: is it possible to develop relatively simple model systems to analyze the contribution of both a single gene and the consequences of its epigenetic regulation in the formation of the Williams syndromes cognitive phenotype? Is it possible to use Drosophila as a simple model system?

scholarly journals Dynamic Tsallis Entropy for Simple Model Systems

2006 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-217
Author(s):  
N.R Khusnutdinov ◽  
R.M Yulmetyev ◽  
N.A Emelyanova
Keyword(s):  
Simple Model ◽  
Tsallis Entropy ◽  
Model Systems

scholarly journals Ecological Immunology of mosquito-malaria interactions: Of non-natural versus natural model systems and their inferences

Parasitology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 136 (14) ◽  
pp. 1935-1942 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. TRIPET
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Population Biology ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Ecological Immunology ◽  
Experimental Systems ◽  
Evolutionary Context ◽  
And Function

SUMMARYThere has been a recent shift in the literature on mosquito/Plasmodium interactions with an increasingly large number of theoretical and experimental studies focusing on their population biology and evolutionary processes. Ecological immunology of mosquito-malaria interactions – the study of the mechanisms and function of mosquito immune responses to Plasmodium in their ecological and evolutionary context – is particularly important for our understanding of malaria transmission and how to control it. Indeed, describing the processes that create and maintain variation in mosquito immune responses and parasite virulence in natural populations may be as important to this endeavor as describing the immune responses themselves. For historical reasons, Ecological Immunology still largely relies on studies based on non-natural model systems. There are many reasons why current research should favour studies conducted closer to the field and more realistic experimental systems whenever possible. As a result, a number of researchers have raised concerns over the use of artificial host-parasite associations to generate inferences about population-level processes. Here I discuss and review several lines of evidence that, I believe, best illustrate and summarize the limitations of inferences generated using non-natural model systems.

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