Actomyosin-Driven Division of a Synthetic Cell

Abstract

One of the major challenges of bottom-up synthetic biology is rebuilding a minimal cell division machinery. From a reconstitution perspective, the animal cell division apparatus is mechanically the simplest and therefore attractive to rebuild. An actin-based ring produces contractile force to constrict the membrane. By contrast, microbes and plant cells have a cell wall, so division requires concerted membrane constriction and cell wall synthesis. Furthermore, reconstitution of the actin division machinery helps in understanding the physical and molecular mechanisms of cytokinesis in animal cells and thus our own cells. In this review, we describe the state-of-the-art research on reconstitution of minimal actin-mediated cytokinetic machineries. Based on the conceptual requirements that we obtained from the physics of the shape changes involved in cell division, we propose two major routes for building a minimal actin apparatus capable of division. Importantly, we acknowledge both the passive and active roles that the confining lipid membrane can play in synthetic cytokinesis. We conclude this review by identifying the most pressing challenges for future reconstitution work, thereby laying out a roadmap for building a synthetic cell equipped with a minimal actin division machinery.

Microscopic interactions control a structural transition in active mixtures of microtubules and molecular motors

“…In vivo , these active processes underlie cellular force generation and mechanics [6]. In vitro , they provide a blueprint to build active machines endowed with life-like properties, such as the ability to spontaneously flow [7,8], change shape [9–11], or divide [12,13].…”

“…In vivo, these active processes underlie cellular force generation and mechanics [6]. In vitro, they provide a blueprint to build active machines endowed with life-like properties, such as the ability to spontaneously flow [7,8], change shape [9][10][11], or divide [12,13]. Many examples of in vitro cytoskeletal materials self-organize into distinct states, which reflect the richness of the microscopic interactions between various molecular motors and cytoskeletal filaments.…”

Self-assembly and contraction of micron-scale DNA rings

“…In lipid vesicles, this led to membrane deformations (7). Nevertheless, the reconstitution of a division machinery which can complete the division of lipid vesicles remains an open challenge in bottom-up synthetic biology (8,9).…”

Out With a Bang: Celebrating Global Chemical Biology

“…After a short coffee break (Figure ), the next session started with Prof. Gijsje Koenderink (TU Delft, Netherlands) with a captivating presentation of her latest work toward the creation of synthetic cells. Here, she highlighted the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix as key components with powerful, yet contradictory properties emphasizing the importance of weak catch bonds to generate strong networks. − In the second part of her presentation, she focused on the progress of her laboratory in rebuilding cell division using a novel method to generate giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) encapsulating actin to form a cortex at the inner surface of the vesicle, which is sufficient to create curved membrane structures. , …”

“…20−22 In the second part of her presentation, she focused on the progress of her laboratory in rebuilding cell division using a novel method to generate giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) encapsulating actin to form a cortex at the inner surface of the vesicle, which is sufficient to create curved membrane structures. 23,24 Prof. Tomas Kirchhausen (Harvard Medical School, USA) started with a retrospective to the time 20 years ago before the NCCR started, when they discovered the compound Dynasore, a very potent Dynamin inhibitor. 25 He then presented his inspiring latest research using large scale data visualization to achieve automated recognition of organelles from FIB-SEM data for both cultured cells and tissue using deep learning-aided image processing.…”