Plant Cell-Inspired Membranization of Coacervate Protocells with a Structured Polysaccharide Layer

Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 145(23), P. 12576 - 12585

Published: June 2, 2023

The design of compartmentalized colloids that exhibit biomimetic properties is providing model systems for developing synthetic cell-like entities (protocells). Inspired by the cell walls in plant cells, we developed a method to prepare membranized coacervates as protocell models coating membraneless liquid-like microdroplets with protective layer rigid polysaccharides. Membranization not only endowed colloidal stability and prevented aggregation coalescence but also facilitated selective biomolecule sequestration chemical exchange across membrane. polysaccharide wall surrounding coacervate protocells acted stimuli-responsive structural barrier enabled enzyme-triggered membrane lysis initiate internalization killing Escherichia coli. were capable spatial organization into structured tissue-like assemblages, offering means mimic metabolism cell-to-cell communication. We envision surface engineering this work generates platform constructing advanced mimetics sophisticated behaviors.

Language: Английский

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Growth, replication and division enable evolution of coacervate protocells

Chemical Communications, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 58(80), P. 11183 - 11200

Published: Jan. 1, 2022

In this Feature Article, we analyze how a minimal cell cycle of growth, replication genetic information and division could be realized in coacervate protocells. This would allow such primitive cells to undergo evolution at the origins life.

Language: Английский

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The protometabolic nature of prebiotic chemistry

Chemical Society Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 52(21), P. 7359 - 7388

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

This tutorial review revises the main synthetic pathways of prebiotic chemistry, suggesting how they could be wired through common intermediates and catalytic cycles, as well boundary conditions under which would become protometabolic.

Language: Английский

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Chemotactic Interactions Drive Migration of Membraneless Active Droplets

Journal of the American Chemical Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 146(23), P. 15965 - 15976

Published: April 15, 2024

In nature, chemotactic interactions are ubiquitous and play a critical role in driving the collective behavior of living organisms. Reproducing these vitro is still paramount challenge due to complexity mimicking controlling cellular features, such as tangled metabolic networks, cytosolic macromolecular crowding, migration, on microorganism size scale. Here, we generate enzymatically active cell-sized droplets able move freely, by following chemical gradient, interact with surrounding manner. The enzyme within generates pH gradient that extends outside edge droplets. We discovered external triggers droplet migration controls its directionality, which selectively toward neighboring Hence, changing activity inside droplet, tuned speed. Furthermore, showed cellular-like features can facilitate reconstitution simple linear protometabolic pathway increase final reaction product generation. Our work suggests stable membraneless reproduce complex biological phenomena, opening new perspectives bioinspired materials synthetic biology tools.

Language: Английский

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Continuous Transformation from Membrane‐less Coacervates to Membranized Coacervates and Giant Vesicles: toward Multicompartmental Protocells with Complex (Membrane) Architectures

Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 63(34)

Published: June 7, 2024

The membranization of membrane-less coacervates paves the way for exploitation complex protocells with regard to structural and cell-like functional behaviors. However, controlled transformation from membranized vesicles remains a challenge. This can provide stable (multi)phase (multi)compartmental architectures through reconfiguration coacervate droplets in presence (bioactive) polymers, bio(macro)molecules and/or nanoobjects. Herein, we present continuous protocell and, ultimately, giant hybrid vesicles. process is orchestrated by altering balance non-covalent interactions varying concentrations an anionic terpolymer, leading dynamic processes such as spontaneous terpolymer nanoparticles at surface, disassembly phase mediated excess charge, redistribution components membrane. diverse during course distinct features molecular permeability. Notably, introduction multiphase this signifies advancements toward creation synthetic cells different diffusible compartments. Our findings emphasize highly reorganization represents novel step development advanced sophisticated more precise compositions (membrane) structures.

Language: Английский

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From vesicles toward protocells and minimal cells

Soft Matter, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 18(26), P. 4823 - 4849

Published: Jan. 1, 2022

Living systems are generally thought to have emerged from inorganic and organic compounds through the formation of compartments (molecular assemblies such as vesicles) “information molecules” in processes driven by metabolic reaction networks.

Language: Английский

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Life, its definition, origin, evolution, and four-dimensional hierarchical structure

Biosystems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 237, P. 105158 - 105158

Published: Feb. 20, 2024

Language: Английский

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Ultrasound‐Stimulated “Exocytosis” by Cell‐Like Microbubbles Enhances Antibacterial Species Penetration and Immune Activation Against Implant Infection

Advanced Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11(10)

Published: Dec. 18, 2023

Abstract Host immune systems serving as crucial defense lines are vital resisting mechanisms against biofilm‐associated implant infections. Nevertheless, biofilms hinder the penetration of anti‐bacterial species, inhibit phagocytosis cells, and frustrate host inflammatory responses, ultimately resulting in weakness system for biofilm elimination. Herein, a cell‐like construct is developed through encapsulation erythrocyte membrane fragments on surface Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticle‐fabricated microbubbles then loaded with hydroxyurea (EMB‐Hu). Under ultrasound (US) stimulation, EMB‐Hu undergoes stable oscillation manner to act an “exocytosis” mechanism disrupting biofilm, releasing agents, enhancing catalytically generated species within biofilms. Additionally, US‐stimulated by can activate pro‐inflammatory macrophage polarization enhance clearance disrupted Collectively, this work has exhibited overcome barrier signal macrophages activation, finally achieving favorable therapeutic effects infections caused methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Language: Английский

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Facile and Programmable Capillary-Induced Assembly of Prototissues via Hanging Drop Arrays

ACS Nano, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 17(17), P. 16787 - 16797

Published: Aug. 28, 2023

An important goal for bottom-up synthetic biology is to construct tissue-like structures from artificial cells. The key the ability control assembly of individual Unlike most methods resorting external fields or sophisticated devices, inspired by hanging drop method used culturing spheroids biological cells, we employ a capillary-driven approach assemble giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs)-based protocells into colonized prototissue arrays means coverslip with patterned wettability. By spatially confining and controllably merging mixed population lipid-coated double-emulsion droplets that hang on water/oil interface, an array constructs can be obtained. Each module in comprises multiple tightly packed droplet compartments where interfacial lipid bilayers are self-assembled at interfaces both between two neighboring aqueous environment. number, shape, composition interconnected precisely controlled. functions as processer, which fast signal transports molecules via cell-cell cell-environment communications have been demonstrated molecular diffusions cascade enzyme reactions, exhibiting biochemical sensing microreactor arrays. Our work provides simple yet scalable programmable form prototissues biology, tissue engineering, high-throughput assays.

Language: Английский

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Peptide-Based Biomimetic Condensates via Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation as Biomedical Delivery Vehicles

Biomacromolecules, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 25(9), P. 5468 - 5488

Published: Aug. 23, 2024

Biomolecular condensates are dynamic liquid droplets through intracellular liquid-liquid phase separation that function as membraneless organelles, which highly involved in various complex cellular processes and functions. Artificial analogs formed via similar pathways can be integrated with biological complexity advanced functions have received tremendous research interest the field of synthetic biology. The coacervate droplet-based compartments partition concentrate a wide range solutes, regarded attractive candidates for mimicking phase-separation behaviors biophysical features biomolecular condensates. use peptide-based materials phase-separating components has advantages such diversity amino acid residues customized sequence design, allows programming their physicochemical properties resulting compartments. In this Perspective, we highlight recent advancements design construction biomimicry from peptides relevant to protein, specific reference molecular self-assembly separation, biorelated applications, envisage emerging biomedical delivery vehicles.

Language: Английский

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