Chemical Signaling and Functional Activation in Colloidosome‐Based Protocells

Sun, Shiyong; Li, Mei; Dong, Faqin; Wang, Shengjie; Tian, Liangfei; Mann, Stephen

doi:10.1002/smll.201600243

Cited by 120 publications

(120 citation statements)

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“…These include energy conversion, [100] metabolism, [101] polarisation, [19] growth, [14,16,102] division, [103] signaling/communication, [97,104] and motility. In the context of using the bottom-up approach for the construction artificial cells, there are a number of functionalities currently being explored.…”

Section: Perspectives For Microfluidic Handling Of Artificial Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microfluidic Handling and Analysis of Giant Vesicles for Use as Artificial Cells: A Review

Robinson

2019

Adv. Biosys.

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One of the goals of synthetic biology is the bottom‐up construction of an artificial cell, the successful realization of which could shed light on how cellular life emerged and could also be a useful tool for studying the function of modern cells. Using liposomes as biomimetic containers is particularly promising because lipid membranes are biocompatible and much of the required machinery can be reconstituted within them. Giant lipid vesicles have been used extensively in other fields such as biophysics and drug discovery, but their use as artificial cells has only recently seen an increase. Despite the prevalence of giant vesicles, many experiments remain challenging or impossible due to their delicate nature compared to biological cells. This review aims to highlight the effectiveness of microfluidic technologies in handling and analyzing giant vesicles. The advantages and disadvantages of different microfluidic approaches and what new insights can be gained from various applications are introduced. Finally, future directions are discussed in which the unique combination of microfluidics and giant lipid vesicles can push forward the bottom‐up construction of artificial cells.

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Section: Perspectives For Microfluidic Handling Of Artificial Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microfluidic Handling and Analysis of Giant Vesicles for Use as Artificial Cells: A Review

Robinson

2019

Adv. Biosys.

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Section: Adaptivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Artificial Cells: Synthetic Compartments with Life-like Functionality and Adaptivity

2017

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ConspectusCells are highly advanced microreactors that form the basis of all life. Their fascinating complexity has inspired scientists to create analogs from synthetic and natural components using a bottom-up approach. The ultimate goal here is to assemble a fully man-made cell that displays functionality and adaptivity as advanced as that found in nature, which will not only provide insight into the fundamental processes in natural cells but also pave the way for new applications of such artificial cells.In this Account, we highlight our recent work and that of others on the construction of artificial cells. First, we will introduce the key features that characterize a living system; next, we will discuss how these have been imitated in artificial cells. First, compartmentalization is crucial to separate the inner chemical milieu from the external environment. Current state-of-the-art artificial cells comprise subcompartments to mimic the hierarchical architecture of eukaryotic cells and tissue. Furthermore, synthetic gene circuits have been used to encode genetic information that creates complex behavior like pulses or feedback. Additionally, artificial cells have to reproduce to maintain a population. Controlled growth and fission of synthetic compartments have been demonstrated, but the extensive regulation of cell division in nature is still unmatched.Here, we also point out important challenges the field needs to overcome to realize its full potential. As artificial cells integrate increasing orders of functionality, maintaining a supporting metabolism that can regenerate key metabolites becomes crucial. Furthermore, life does not operate in isolation. Natural cells constantly sense their environment, exchange (chemical) signals, and can move toward a chemoattractant. Here, we specifically explore recent efforts to reproduce such adaptivity in artificial cells. For instance, synthetic compartments have been produced that can recruit proteins to the membrane upon an external stimulus or modulate their membrane composition and permeability to control their interaction with the environment. A next step would be the communication of artificial cells with either bacteria or another artificial cell. Indeed, examples of such primitive chemical signaling are presented. Finally, motility is important for many organisms and has, therefore, also been pursued in synthetic systems. Synthetic compartments that were designed to move in a directed, controlled manner have been assembled, and directed movement toward a chemical attractant is among one of the most life-like directions currently under research.Although the bottom-up construction of an artificial cell that can be truly considered “alive” is still an ambitious goal, the recent work discussed in this Account shows that this is an active field with contributions from diverse disciplines like materials chemistry and biochemistry. Notably, research during the past decade has already provided valuable insights into complex synthetic systems with life-like properties...

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“…[11] Thee mergence of collective behaviour in mixed populations of synthetic protocells is relatively unexplored, even though increasing levels of protocell interactivity could provide more complex and synergistic functions,s uch as resilience to environmental stress,c hemical signalling for artificial quorum sensing,a nd multiplex tasking via collaboration and specialization. Chemical communication and signalling have been demonstrated between populations of vesicles and bacteria, [12,13] lipid vesicles containing gene circuitry, [14] vesicles and proteinosomes, [15] colloidosomes, [16] modified [17] or immobilized [18] coacervate droplets,a nd in water-in-oil emulsion droplets. [19][20][21] Hierarchically structured compartments involving different types of protocells,such as liposome-encapsulated coacervate droplets, [22] multi-compartmentalized polymersomes, [23] nested vesicles, [24] and giant vesicles comprising light-harvesting organelles, [25] have also been reported.…”

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confidence: 99%

Modulation of Higher‐order Behaviour in Model Protocell Communities by Artificial Phagocytosis

Rodríguez‐Arco

Kumar

et al. 2019

Angew Chem Int Ed

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Collective behaviour in mixed populations of synthetic protocells is an unexplored area of bottom‐up synthetic biology. The dynamics of a model protocell community is exploited to modulate the function and higher‐order behaviour of mixed populations of bioinorganic protocells in response to a process of artificial phagocytosis. Enzyme‐loaded silica colloidosomes are spontaneously engulfed by magnetic Pickering emulsion (MPE) droplets containing complementary enzyme substrates to initiate a range of processes within the host/guest protocells. Specifically, catalase, lipase, or alkaline phosphatase‐filled colloidosomes are used to trigger phagocytosis‐induced buoyancy, membrane reconstruction, or hydrogelation, respectively, within the MPE droplets. The results highlight the potential for exploiting surface‐contact interactions between different membrane‐bounded droplets to transfer and co‐locate discrete chemical packages (artificial organelles) in communities of synthetic protocells.

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Chemical Signaling and Functional Activation in Colloidosome‐Based Protocells

Abstract: General rightsThis document is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the reference above.

Cited by 120 publications

References 36 publications

Microfluidic Handling and Analysis of Giant Vesicles for Use as Artificial Cells: A Review

Microfluidic Handling and Analysis of Giant Vesicles for Use as Artificial Cells: A Review

Artificial Cells: Synthetic Compartments with Life-like Functionality and Adaptivity

Modulation of Higher‐order Behaviour in Model Protocell Communities by Artificial Phagocytosis

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