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Maffeis V, Heuberger L, Nikoletić A, Schoenenberger C, Palivan CG. Synthetic Cells Revisited: Artificial Cells Construction Using Polymeric Building Blocks. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2305837. [PMID: 37984885 PMCID: PMC10885666 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202305837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The exponential growth of research on artificial cells and organelles underscores their potential as tools to advance the understanding of fundamental biological processes. The bottom-up construction from a variety of building blocks at the micro- and nanoscale, in combination with biomolecules is key to developing artificial cells. In this review, artificial cells are focused upon based on compartments where polymers are the main constituent of the assembly. Polymers are of particular interest due to their incredible chemical variety and the advantage of tuning the properties and functionality of their assemblies. First, the architectures of micro- and nanoscale polymer assemblies are introduced and then their usage as building blocks is elaborated upon. Different membrane-bound and membrane-less compartments and supramolecular structures and how they combine into advanced synthetic cells are presented. Then, the functional aspects are explored, addressing how artificial organelles in giant compartments mimic cellular processes. Finally, how artificial cells communicate with their surrounding and each other such as to adapt to an ever-changing environment and achieve collective behavior as a steppingstone toward artificial tissues, is taken a look at. Engineering artificial cells with highly controllable and programmable features open new avenues for the development of sophisticated multifunctional systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Maffeis
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of BaselMattenstrasse 22BaselCH‐4002Switzerland
- NCCR‐Molecular Systems EngineeringBPR 1095, Mattenstrasse 24aBaselCH‐4058Switzerland
| | - Lukas Heuberger
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of BaselMattenstrasse 22BaselCH‐4002Switzerland
| | - Anamarija Nikoletić
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of BaselMattenstrasse 22BaselCH‐4002Switzerland
- Swiss Nanoscience InstituteUniversity of BaselKlingelbergstrasse 82BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
| | | | - Cornelia G. Palivan
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of BaselMattenstrasse 22BaselCH‐4002Switzerland
- NCCR‐Molecular Systems EngineeringBPR 1095, Mattenstrasse 24aBaselCH‐4058Switzerland
- Swiss Nanoscience InstituteUniversity of BaselKlingelbergstrasse 82BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
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Shin J, Jang Y. Rational design and engineering of polypeptide/protein vesicles for advanced biological applications. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:8834-8847. [PMID: 37505198 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb01103h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic vesicles have gained considerable popularity in recent years for numerous biological and medical applications. Among the various types of synthetic vesicles, the utilization of polypeptides and/or proteins as fundamental constituents has garnered significant interest for vesicle construction owing to the unique bio-functionalities inherent in rationally designed amino acid sequences. Especially the incorporation of functional proteins onto the vesicle surface facilitates a wide range of advanced biological applications that are not easily attainable with traditional building blocks, such as lipids and polymers. The main goal of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in polypeptide/protein vesicles. Moreover, this review encompasses the rational design and engineering strategies employed in the creation of polypeptide/protein vesicles, including the synthesis of building blocks, the modulation of their self-assembly, as well as their diverse applications. Furthermore, this work includes an in-depth discussion of the key challenges and opportunities associated with polypeptide/protein vesicles, providing valuable insights for future research. By offering an up-to-date review of this burgeoning field of polypeptide/protein vesicle research, this review will shed light on the potential applications of these biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jooyong Shin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, 1006 Center Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
| | - Yeongseon Jang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, 1006 Center Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
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3
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Cell-sized asymmetric phospholipid-amphiphilic protein vesicles with growth, fission, and molecule transportation. iScience 2023; 26:106086. [PMID: 36843838 PMCID: PMC9950948 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipid vesicles, which mimic cell membranes in structure and components, have been used to study the origin of life and artificial cell construction. A different approach to developing cell-mimicking systems focuses on the formation of protein- or polypeptide-based vesicles. However, micro-sized protein vesicles that are similar in membrane dynamics to the cell and that reconstitute membrane proteins are difficult to form. In this study, we generated cell-sized asymmetric phospholipid-amphiphilic protein (oleosin) vesicles that allow the reconstitution of membrane proteins and the growth and fission of vesicles. These vesicles are composed of a lipid membrane on the outer leaflet and an oleosin membrane on the inner leaflet. Further, we elucidated a mechanism for the growth and fission of cell-sized asymmetric phospholipid-oleosin vesicles by feeding phospholipid micelles. Our asymmetric phospholipid-oleosin vesicles with the advantages of the lipid leaflet and the protein leaflet will potentially promote understanding of biochemistry and synthetic biology.
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Gonzales DT, Suraritdechachai S, Tang TYD. Compartmentalized Cell-Free Expression Systems for Building Synthetic Cells. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 186:77-101. [PMID: 37306700 DOI: 10.1007/10_2023_221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
One of the grand challenges in bottom-up synthetic biology is the design and construction of synthetic cellular systems. One strategy toward this goal is the systematic reconstitution of biological processes using purified or non-living molecular components to recreate specific cellular functions such as metabolism, intercellular communication, signal transduction, and growth and division. Cell-free expression systems (CFES) are in vitro reconstitutions of the transcription and translation machinery found in cells and are a key technology for bottom-up synthetic biology. The open and simplified reaction environment of CFES has helped researchers discover fundamental concepts in the molecular biology of the cell. In recent decades, there has been a drive to encapsulate CFES reactions into cell-like compartments with the aim of building synthetic cells and multicellular systems. In this chapter, we discuss recent progress in compartmentalizing CFES to build simple and minimal models of biological processes that can help provide a better understanding of the process of self-assembly in molecularly complex systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- David T Gonzales
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - T -Y Dora Tang
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
- Physics of Life, Cluster of Excellence, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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Shin J, Cole BD, Shan T, Jang Y. Heterogeneous Synthetic Vesicles toward Artificial Cells: Engineering Structure and Composition of Membranes for Multimodal Functionalities. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:1505-1518. [PMID: 35266692 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c01504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The desire to develop artificial cells to imitate living cells in synthetic vesicle platforms has continuously increased over the past few decades. In particular, heterogeneous synthetic vesicles made from two or more building blocks have attracted attention for artificial cell applications based on their multifunctional modules with asymmetric structures. In addition to the traditional liposomes or polymersomes, polypeptides and proteins have recently been highlighted as potential building blocks to construct artificial cells owing to their specific biological functionalities. Incorporating one or more functionally folded, globular protein into synthetic vesicles enables more cell-like functions mediated by proteins. This Review highlights the recent research about synthetic vesicles toward artificial cell models, from traditional synthetic vesicles to protein-assembled vesicles with asymmetric structures. We aim to provide fundamental and practical insights into applying knowledge on molecular self-assembly to the bottom-up construction of artificial cell platforms with heterogeneous building blocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jooyong Shin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Blair D Cole
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Ting Shan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Yeongseon Jang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
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Sharma B, Ma Y, Hiraki HL, Baker BM, Ferguson AL, Liu AP. Facile formation of giant elastin-like polypeptide vesicles as synthetic cells. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:13202-13205. [PMID: 34816831 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc05579h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We demonstrate the facile and robust generation of giant peptide vesicles by using an emulsion transfer method. These robust vesicles can sustain chemical and physical stresses. The peptide vesicles can host cell-free expression reactions by encapsulating essential ingredients. We show the incorporation of another cell-free expressed elastin-like polypeptide into the existing membrane of the peptide vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bineet Sharma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
| | - Yutao Ma
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - Harrison L Hiraki
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Brendon M Baker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Andrew L Ferguson
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.,Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA.,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA
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Ibrahimova V, Zhao H, Ibarboure E, Garanger E, Lecommandoux S. Thermosensitive Vesicles from Chemically Encoded Lipid‐Grafted Elastin‐like Polypeptides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202102807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vusala Ibrahimova
- University of Bordeaux CNRS Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629 33600 Pessac France
| | - Hang Zhao
- University of Bordeaux CNRS Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629 33600 Pessac France
| | - Emmanuel Ibarboure
- University of Bordeaux CNRS Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629 33600 Pessac France
| | - Elisabeth Garanger
- University of Bordeaux CNRS Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629 33600 Pessac France
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Ibrahimova V, Zhao H, Ibarboure E, Garanger E, Lecommandoux S. Thermosensitive Vesicles from Chemically Encoded Lipid-Grafted Elastin-like Polypeptides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:15036-15040. [PMID: 33856091 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202102807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Biomimetic design to afford smart functional biomaterials with exquisite properties represents synthetic challenges and provides unique perspectives. In this context, elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) recently became highly attractive building blocks in the development of lipoprotein-based membranes. In addition to the bioengineered post-translational modifications of genetically encoded recombinant ELPs developed so far, we report here a simple and versatile method to design biohybrid brush-like lipid-grafted-ELPs using chemical post-modification reactions. We have explored a combination of methionine alkylation and click chemistry to create a new class of hybrid lipoprotein mimics. Our design allowed the formation of biomimetic vesicles with controlled permeability, correlated to the temperature-responsiveness of ELPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vusala Ibrahimova
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, 33600, Pessac, France
| | - Hang Zhao
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, 33600, Pessac, France
| | - Emmanuel Ibarboure
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, 33600, Pessac, France
| | - Elisabeth Garanger
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, 33600, Pessac, France
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Sharma B, Ma Y, Ferguson AL, Liu AP. In search of a novel chassis material for synthetic cells: emergence of synthetic peptide compartment. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:10769-10780. [PMID: 33179713 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01644f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Giant lipid vesicles have been used extensively as a synthetic cell model to recapitulate various life-like processes, including in vitro protein synthesis, DNA replication, and cytoskeleton organization. Cell-sized lipid vesicles are mechanically fragile in nature and prone to rupture due to osmotic stress, which limits their usability. Recently, peptide vesicles have been introduced as a synthetic cell model that would potentially overcome the aforementioned limitations. Peptide vesicles are robust, reasonably more stable than lipid vesicles and can withstand harsh conditions including pH, thermal, and osmotic variations. This mini-review summarizes the current state-of-the-art in the design, engineering, and realization of peptide-based chassis materials, including both experimental and computational work. We present an outlook for simulation-aided and data-driven design and experimental realization of engineered and multifunctional synthetic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bineet Sharma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
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Frank T, Vogele K, Dupin A, Simmel FC, Pirzer T. Growth of Giant Peptide Vesicles Driven by Compartmentalized Transcription-Translation Activity. Chemistry 2020; 26:17356-17360. [PMID: 32777105 PMCID: PMC7839564 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202003366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Compartmentalization and spatial organization of biochemical reactions are essential for the establishment of complex metabolic pathways inside synthetic cells. Phospholipid and fatty acid membranes are the most natural candidates for this purpose, but also polymers have shown great potential as enclosures of artificial cell mimics. Herein, we report on the formation of giant vesicles in a size range of 1 μm-100 μm using amphiphilic elastin-like polypeptides. The peptide vesicles can accommodate cell-free gene expression reactions, which is demonstrated by the transcription of a fluorescent RNA aptamer and the production of a fluorescent protein. Importantly, gene expression inside the vesicles leads to a strong growth of their size-up to an order of magnitude in volume in several cases-which is driven by changes in osmotic pressure, resulting in fusion events and uptake of membrane peptides from the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Frank
- Physics-Department and ZNNTechnical University MunichAm Coulombwall 4a85748GarchingGermany
| | - Kilian Vogele
- Physics-Department and ZNNTechnical University MunichAm Coulombwall 4a85748GarchingGermany
| | - Aurore Dupin
- Physics-Department and ZNNTechnical University MunichAm Coulombwall 4a85748GarchingGermany
| | - Friedrich C. Simmel
- Physics-Department and ZNNTechnical University MunichAm Coulombwall 4a85748GarchingGermany
| | - Tobias Pirzer
- Physics-Department and ZNNTechnical University MunichAm Coulombwall 4a85748GarchingGermany
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Girotti A, Escalera-Anzola S, Alonso-Sampedro I, González-Valdivieso J, Arias FJ. Aptamer-Functionalized Natural Protein-Based Polymers as Innovative Biomaterials. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:E1115. [PMID: 33228250 PMCID: PMC7699523 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12111115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomaterials science is one of the most rapidly evolving fields in biomedicine. However, although novel biomaterials have achieved well-defined goals, such as the production of devices with improved biocompatibility and mechanical properties, their development could be more ambitious. Indeed, the integration of active targeting strategies has been shown to allow spatiotemporal control of cell-material interactions, thus leading to more specific and better-performing devices. This manuscript reviews recent advances that have led to enhanced biomaterials resulting from the use of natural structural macromolecules. In this regard, several structural macromolecules have been adapted or modified using biohybrid approaches for use in both regenerative medicine and therapeutic delivery. The integration of structural and functional features and aptamer targeting, although still incipient, has already shown its ability and wide-reaching potential. In this review, we discuss aptamer-functionalized hybrid protein-based or polymeric biomaterials derived from structural macromolecules, with a focus on bioresponsive/bioactive systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Girotti
- BIOFORGE Research Group (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER-BBN, University of Valladolid, LUCIA Building, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Sara Escalera-Anzola
- Recombinant Biomaterials Research Group, University of Valladolid, LUCIA Building, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; (S.E.-A.); (I.A.-S.); (J.G.-V.); (F.J.A.)
| | - Irene Alonso-Sampedro
- Recombinant Biomaterials Research Group, University of Valladolid, LUCIA Building, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; (S.E.-A.); (I.A.-S.); (J.G.-V.); (F.J.A.)
| | - Juan González-Valdivieso
- Recombinant Biomaterials Research Group, University of Valladolid, LUCIA Building, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; (S.E.-A.); (I.A.-S.); (J.G.-V.); (F.J.A.)
| | - Francisco. Javier Arias
- Recombinant Biomaterials Research Group, University of Valladolid, LUCIA Building, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; (S.E.-A.); (I.A.-S.); (J.G.-V.); (F.J.A.)
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