DNA Length-dependent Division of a Giant Vesicle-based Model Protocell

Matsuo, Mitsuhiro; Kan, Yumi; Kurihara, Kensuke; Jimbo, Takehiro; Imai, Masayuki; Toyota, Taro; Hirata, Yuiko; Suzuki, Kentaro; Sugawara, Tadashi

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-43367-4

Cited by 27 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Nucleic acids could have functioned as information carriers to control the self-reproduction process. Self-reproduction induced by hyperconcentration has been reported in vesicles [48][49][50] . If the nucleic acids concentrated within the present droplets altered the self-reproduction behavior of the droplets by collecting molecules around the droplets, it is likely that the droplet functioned as a carrier of information that affected the rates of survival and proliferation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Proliferating droplets formed via prebiotic polymerisation: the missing link between chemistry and biology on the origin of life

Matsuo¹,

Kurihara²

2020

Preprint

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The hypothesis that prebiotic molecules were transformed into polymers that evolved into proliferating molecular assemblages and eventually a primitive cell was first proposed about a hundred years ago. However, no proliferating model prebiotic system has yet been realised because different conditions are required for polymer generation and self-assembly of polymers. In this study, we identified conditions suitable for concurrent peptide generation and self-assembly, and we showed how a proliferating peptide-based droplet could be created by using synthesised amino acid thioesters as prebiotic monomers. Oligopeptides generated from the monomers spontaneously formed droplets through liquid–liquid phase separation in water. The droplets underwent a steady growth–division cycle by periodic addition of monomers through autocatalytic self-reproduction. Heterogeneous enrichment of RNA and lipids within droplets enabled RNA to protect the droplet from dissolution by lipids. These results provide experimental platforms for origin-of-life research and open up novel directions in peptide-based material development.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Proliferating droplets formed via prebiotic polymerisation: the missing link between chemistry and biology on the origin of life

Matsuo¹,

Kurihara²

2020

Preprint

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“…The other way for membrane growth is to synthesize membrane component in situ. [ 171,238–244 ] The membrane growth of GUVs (with proliferative DNA molecules) was achieved by the synthesis of membrane component from added precursor V* (Figure 8b). The membrane precursor was catalyzed by an amphiphilic catalyst inserted into the membrane to produce electrolyte (E) and new membrane component molecules (V), which made the membrane grow and finally led to the division of mother vesicles into two daughter vesicles containing genetic substance (Figure 8b).…”

Section: Synthetic Cells Based On Phospholipid Assembliesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Versatile Phospholipid Assemblies for Functional Synthetic Cells and Artificial Tissues

Wang

et al. 2020

Advanced Materials

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The bottom‐up construction of a synthetic cell from nonliving building blocks capable of mimicking cellular properties and behaviors helps to understand the particular biophysical properties and working mechanisms of a cell. A synthetic cell built in this way possesses defined chemical composition and structure. Since phospholipids are native biomembrane components, their assemblies are widely used to mimic cellular structures. Here, recent developments in the formation of versatile phospholipid assemblies are described, together with the applications of these assemblies for functional membranes (protein reconstituted giant unilamellar vesicles), spherical and nonspherical protoorganelles, and functional synthetic cells, as well as the high‐order hierarchical structures of artificial tissues. Their biomedical applications are also briefly summarized. Finally, the challenges and future directions in the field of synthetic cells and artificial tissues based on phospholipid assemblies are proposed.

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“…In particular, the DNA lengths also influenced the self‐reproduction capacity of the vesicles. [ 123 ] The imbalance of membrane molecule between the inner and outer leaflets induced the morphological change of the host vesicles. The work chemically linked the amplification of genes and the self‐reproduction of artificial compartments.…”

Section: Dynamic Behaviorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Advances of Cell‐Free Systems toward Artificial Cells

et al. 2020

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models have attracted considerable attentions in order to unravel the inherent complexity. Although engineering modern cells has achieved some progress, [2] the arbitrary elimination of genomic information could probably remove some distinguished characteristics (top-down strategy). Building chemical systems that resemble the structure and behaviors of living cells by stepwise integration of pivotal components is also conceivable (bottom-up strategy). [3] These synthetic systems with biomimetic cellularity provide conceptual pathway from inanimate matter to artificial life, which are often known as artificial cells. [4] Due to the lack of full comprehension about the molecular mechanism of living cells, laborious reconstitution of complicated networks would be difficult and the disparities of protein behaviors in the artificial cells have been observed. Herein, we prefer to construct artificial cells by preserving certain endogenous machinery already existing in living cells. Such principle is conducible for maintaining essential features of living cells while leaving design space for synthetic biologists to study specific cellular behavior in bottom-up manner. [5] Cell-free system, also referred to as in vitro transcription and translation system is a universal toolbox to study the organisms of cell biology. [6] Cell-free extracts inherit most of the endogenous machinery including functional macromolecules as well as metabolic networks and the addition of desired resources could initiate coupled protein expressions. Indeed, the first appearance of cell-free systems could date back to 1961 when Nirenberg and Matthaei deciphered the genetic codes. [7] Featured by the accessible utilization of molecular machinery, cellfree systems could circumvent the frangibility and membrane barrier of biological cells. The transformative development of protein synthesis using recombinant elements (PURE) system with well-defined components greatly enhances the systemic manipulation and controllability. [8] In principle, the quintessence behind cell-free system is the central dogma that reflects the flow of genetic information, from plasmid DNA to messenger RNA (mRNA), to eventually make functional proteins. As such, artificial cells encapsulated with cell-free system could serve as the valuable candidate to construct numerous biological processes. [9] The powerful ability of protein expressions, which is deprived in other synthetic systems, offers advantageous scenario for enzymatic processes that are also guided by flexible and programmable regulations of gene circuit. [10] The execution of larger genetic programs could further permit the construction of complex biochemical systems. [11] More importantly, Artificial cells that mimic the architectural and functional characteristics of living cells not only shed light on the physical principle of life but also facilitate development in the areas such as cell engineering and biomedicine. Cell-free systems carry out the central dogma that refers to the transcription and translation ...

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DNA Length-dependent Division of a Giant Vesicle-based Model Protocell

Cited by 27 publications

References 35 publications

Proliferating droplets formed via prebiotic polymerisation: the missing link between chemistry and biology on the origin of life

Proliferating droplets formed via prebiotic polymerisation: the missing link between chemistry and biology on the origin of life

Versatile Phospholipid Assemblies for Functional Synthetic Cells and Artificial Tissues

Emerging Advances of Cell‐Free Systems toward Artificial Cells

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