Growth, replication and division enable evolution of coacervate protocells

Slootbeek, Annemiek; Haren, Merlijn van; Smokers, Iris B. A.; Spruijt, Evan

doi:10.1039/d2cc03541c

Cited by 39 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 135 publications

(281 reference statements)

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“…The development of an evolvable protocell capable of undergoing cycles of growth and division is of paramount importance (11). Understanding the dynamics of informationcontaining polymers inside such protocells is very crucial, especially when the internal environment is heterogeneous, e.g .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Constrained dynamics of oligonucleotides in the phase-separated droplets

Singh

Thutupalli

Kumar

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Phase-separated droplets are excellent means of compartmentalizing functional molecules and have been shown as excellent models for protocells. Although complex functions based on oligonucleotides have been studied, we still lack an understanding of how the oligonucleotide dynamics are affected by the condensed internal environment of these droplets. Particularly, we lack high-resolution experimental measurements of the dynamical parameters that control oligonucleotide diffusion inside the phase-separated droplets. In addition, there is no clarity on how these dynamical parameters differ in the charged (coacervates) vs non-charged (aqueous two-phase system, ATPS) environment of these droplets. In this study, using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), we demonstrate the constrained dynamics of oligonucleotides inside membraneless phase-separated droplets at an unprecedented resolution. We further compare transport properties at different lengths of oligonucleotides as well as salt concentrations. We observe that among all the parameters the oligonucleotide's caging (spatial restriction in the movement) inside the matrix has a considerable impact on the diffusive dynamics. Our study provides a way of unravelling, quantifying and understanding physical parameters governing the polymer transport dynamics inside the phase-separated droplets.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Constrained dynamics of oligonucleotides in the phase-separated droplets

Singh

Thutupalli

Kumar

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…One of the most interesting and challenging questions about the role of LLPS-based protocells in the origins of life is how protocells could have gained increasing complexity and life-like functionalities 12 . A common problem of membraneless protocells is their poor stability—against ripening and coalescence, spreading on surfaces and dissolution.…”

Section: Open Questions On Liquid–liquid Phase Separation For the Ori...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Open questions on liquid–liquid phase separation

Spruijt

2023

Commun Chem

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Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) underlies the formation of intracellular membraneless compartments in biology and may have played a role in the formation of protocells that concentrate key chemicals during the origins of life. While LLPS of simple systems, such as oil and water, is well understood, many aspects of LLPS in complex, out-of-equilibrium molecular systems remain elusive. Here, the author discusses open questions and recent insights related to the formation, function and fate of such condensates both in cell biology and protocell research.

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“…The splitting behavior for the 0:1 mixing ratio may provide a straightforward route toward in vitro emulation of biological cellular division and hence provide a highly programmable model system in the study of the origin of life. [141][142][143] Other subcompartmentalization methods using W/O droplets as a template for artificial cells [144] have been achieved with phase transfer [145,146] and microfluidic devices; [147,148] each of these methods is limited by low programmability and time-consuming device fabrication steps, respectively. The high programmability and controllability of multi-compartmentalization is an incomparable advantage of DNA droplets.…”

Section: (12 Of 24)mentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA Droplets: Intelligent, Dynamic Fluid

et al. 2022

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Figure 1. Overview of DNA droplets as a hybrid from DNA nanotechnology and liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) studies. A) DNA droplets, micro-scale condensates of DNA nanostructures (DNA motifs) self-assembled via sticky ends (SEs). A Y-shaped DNA motif (Y-motif) is a branched nanostructure of three single-stranded DNAs (ssDNAs) hybridized to form the branching stems. At the end of each branch, a single-stranded SE protrudes. Two basic features are highlighted: (i) Programmable interactions. DNA droplets favor sequence-specifically selective interactions as encoded in the SE sequences. (ii) Programmability in mechanical properties.The number of the SEs in a single DNA motif, serving as the valency, can be designed to determine the macroscopic rheological properties, including diffusion coefficient and viscoelastic behavior. Adapted with permission. [29]

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Growth, replication and division enable evolution of coacervate protocells

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...

Cited by 39 publications

References 135 publications

Constrained dynamics of oligonucleotides in the phase-separated droplets

Constrained dynamics of oligonucleotides in the phase-separated droplets

Open questions on liquid–liquid phase separation

DNA Droplets: Intelligent, Dynamic Fluid

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