Enzymatically-active bacterial microcompartments follow substrate gradients and are protected from aggregation in a cell-free system

Abstract

The ability to dynamically control organelle movement and position is essential for cellular function. Yet the underlying mechanisms driving this organization have not been fully resolved. Here, we draw from recent experimental observations and theoretical models of enzyme chemotaxis to demonstrate the chemotaxis of a bacterial organelle, the 1,2 propanediol (1,2-PD) utilization bacterial microcompartment (MCP) from Salmonella enterica. Upon encapsulating MCPs in a cell-like, biomimetic compartment, we observed the directed movement of MCPs along an external gradient of substrate. Our analysis shows that MCPs not only chemotax towards their substrate but also that enzymatic activity and substrate turnover protect them against large-scale aggregation. Our results provide a first experimental demonstration of organelle chemotaxis in a synthetic cellular system and support a recent theoretical model of chemotaxis. Together this work reveals a potentially significant driver of organelle organization while contributing to the construction of synthetic cell-like materials.

Chemomechanical Communication between Liposomes Based on Enzyme Cascades

“…Communication between cells is crucial to the survival of both unicellular and multicellular organisms. The primary mode of communication involves chemical cues. , A notable example is quorum sensing in bacteria, where chemical signals are both released and detected by cells to gauge population density, initiate collective migration, form multicellular assembly, etc. , There is great current interest in mimicking this behavior in synthetic cells to understand the physical basis of intercellular communication and design collective functional behavior. − For instance, enzymatic cascade was employed to facilitate the communication between two populations of synthetic cell, resulting in the production of fluorescent products . Additionally, this chemical communication serves as a bridge between synthetic cells and living organisms, potentially influencing the gene expressions and behaviors of living organisms. , …”