Light‐Driven ATP Regeneration in Diblock/Grafted Hybrid Vesicles

Abstract

Light‐driven ATP regeneration systems combining ATP synthase and bacteriorhodopsin have been proposed as an energy supply in the field of synthetic biology. Energy is required to power biochemical reactions within artificially created reaction compartments like protocells, which are typically based on either lipid or polymer membranes. The insertion of membrane proteins into different hybrid membranes is delicate, and studies comparing these systems with liposomes are needed. Here we present a detailed study of membrane protein functionality in different hybrid compartments made of graft polymer PDMS‐g‐PEO and diblock copolymer PBd‐PEO. Activity of more than 90 % in lipid/polymer‐based hybrid vesicles could prove an excellent biocompatibility. A significant enhancement of long‐term stability (80 % remaining activity after 42 days) could be demonstrated in polymer/polymer‐based hybrids.

Light-powered reactivation of flagella and contraction of microtubules network: towards building an artificial cell

“…Simple prototypical systems, which combine light-driven proton pumps with the F O F 1 -ATP synthase in liposomes have been demonstrated already in the early 70s, the motivation being to develop in vitro models for the mechanistic understanding of F O F 1 -ATP synthase. By varying several different types of rhodopsins and F O F 1 -ATP synthases as well as of the lipid composition, the productivity of these assemblies was improved as shown by us (22) and other authors (24)(25)(26)(27). Recently some examples showing coupling of light-driven ATP regeneration module with energy intensive tasks like CO 2 fixation (28) and actin contractions (29) as well as protein synthesis (30) were demonstrated.…”

“…Therefore, an ATP regeneration module is required for a self-sustained motility. With respect to this, we recently reviewed 1 different strategies for ATP regeneration in the context of bottom-up synthetic biology and we reported on different types of energy functional modules 35,36 . They are utilizing either chemical 35 or light energy 36 to convert ADP to ATP.…”

Interface Engineering in Multiphase Systems toward Synthetic Cells and Organelles: From Soft Matter Fundamentals to Biomedical Applications

“…[134] For biomacromolecules that do not function well in polymersomes, lipid-copolymer hybrids are utilized to achieve both functionality and durability. [91,269] For instance, bo 3 oxidase, which pumps protons across membrane, reconstituted in PBd-PEO/ POPC hybrid vesicles has shown an extended functional lifetime than that in pure lipid vesicles, as well as higher initial enzyme activity than pure polymersomes (Figure 9d). [91] However, the activity of bo 3 oxidase decreases significantly at a low lipid fraction.…”

“…[137] Lipid-copolymer hybrid vesicles can also offer unique advantage such as controlled distribution of proteins on heterogeneous membrane. [91,158,265,269] For instance, OmpF, one of the most stable membrane proteins for enhancing passive diffusion of small molecules, can spontaneously insert into membranes of copolymer and lipid. When OmpF is incorporated in heterogeneous lipid-copolymer hybrids vesicles, it is homogeneously distributed in the copolymer-rich phases.…”

Recent Advances in Liposome-Based Molecular Robots

“…Furthermore, pore-forming proteins can be reconstituted into polymeric membranes [ 54 , 55 ], with this system already in practical use as a nanopore sequencer (MinION, Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd.). Because of these advantages of polymersomes, they have recently begun to be used as the compartments of artificial cell systems [ 56 ]. In the near future, it is likely that further research aimed towards the application of polymersomes and other capsule technologies to molecular robots will lead to their increased use as compartments.…”