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Perin GB, Moreno S, Zhou Y, Günther M, Boye S, Voit B, Felisberti MI, Appelhans D. Construction of Membraneless and Multicompartmentalized Coacervate Protocells Controlling a Cell Metabolism-like Cascade Reaction. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:5807-5822. [PMID: 37984848 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00828] [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: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, there has been growing attention to designing synthetic protocells, capable of mimicking micrometric and multicompartmental structures and highly complex physicochemical and biological processes with spatiotemporal control. Controlling metabolism-like cascade reactions in coacervate protocells is still challenging since signal transduction has to be involved in sequential and parallelized actions mediated by a pH change. Herein, we report the hierarchical construction of membraneless and multicompartmentalized protocells composed of (i) a cytosol-like scaffold based on complex coacervate droplets stable under flow conditions, (ii) enzyme-active artificial organelles and a substrate nanoreservoir capable of triggering a cascade reaction between them in response to a pH increase, and (iii) a signal transduction component based on the urease enzyme capable of the conversion of an exogenous biological fuel (urea) into an endogenous signal (ammonia and pH increase). Overall, this strategy allows a synergistic communication between their components within the membraneless and multicompartment protocells and, thus, metabolism-like enzymatic cascade reactions. This signal communication is transmitted through a scaffold protocell from an "inactive state" (nonfluorescent protocell) to an "active state" (fluorescent protocell capable of consuming stored metabolites).
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni B Perin
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, 13083-970 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Silvia Moreno
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Yang Zhou
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
- Organic Chemistry of Polymers, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Markus Günther
- Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Susanne Boye
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Brigitte Voit
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
- Organic Chemistry of Polymers, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Maria I Felisberti
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, 13083-970 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dietmar Appelhans
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
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2
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Nobeyama T, Tataka K, Mori M, Murakami T, Yamada Y, Shiraki K. Synthesis of Butterfly-Like Shaped Gold Nanomaterial: For the Regulation of Liquid-Liquid Phase-Separated Biomacromolecule Droplets. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2300362. [PMID: 37596729 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202300362] [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: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Nanotechnology is a critical tool to manipulate the sophisticated behavior of biological structures and has provided new research fields. Liquid-liquid phase-separated (LLPS) droplets gather attention as basic reaction fields in a living cell. Droplets play critical roles in regulating protein behavior, including enzyme compartmentalization, stress response, and disease pathogenesis. The dynamic manipulation of LLPS droplet formation/deformation has become a crucial target in nanobiotechnology. However, the development of nanodevices specifically designed for this purpose remains a challenge. Therefore, this study presents butterfly-shaped gold nanobutterflies (GNBs) as novel nanodevices for manipulating LLPS droplet dynamics. The growth process of the GNBs is analyzed via time-lapse electroscopic imaging, time-lapse spectroscopy, and additives assays. Interestingly, GNBs demonstrate the ability to induce LLPS droplet formation in systems such as adenosine triphosphate/poly-l-lysine and human immunoglobulin G, whereas spherical and rod-shaped gold nanoparticles exhibit no such capability. This indicates that the GNB concave surface interacts with the droplet precursors facilitating the LLPS droplet formation. Near-infrared-laser irradiation applied to GNBs enables on-demand deformation of the droplets through localized heat effects. GNB regulates the enzymatic reaction of lysozymes. The innovative design of GNBs presents a promising strategy for manipulating LLPS dynamics and offers exciting prospects for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Nobeyama
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8573, Japan
| | - Koji Tataka
- Graduate School of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan
- Human Life Technology Research, Toyama Industrial Technology Research and Development Center, 35-1 Iwatakeshin, Nanto, Toyama, 939-1503, Japan
| | - Megumi Mori
- Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Murakami
- Graduate School of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan
| | - Yoichi Yamada
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8573, Japan
| | - Kentaro Shiraki
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8573, Japan
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3
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Wang Z, Zhang M, Zhou Y, Zhang Y, Wang K, Liu J. Coacervate Microdroplets as Synthetic Protocells for Cell Mimicking and Signaling Communications. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2300042. [PMID: 36908048 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300042] [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: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic protocells are minimal systems that mimic certain properties of natural cells and are used to research the emergence of life from a nonliving chemical network. Currently, coacervate microdroplets, which are formed via liquid-liquid phase separation, are receiving wide attention in the context of cell biology and protocell research; these microdroplets are notable because they can provide liquid-like compartment structures for biochemical reactions by creating highly macromolecular crowded local environments. In this review, an overview of recent research on the formation of coacervate microdroplets through phase separation; the design of coacervate-based stimuli-responsive protocells, multichamber protocells, and membranized protocells; and their cell mimic behaviors, is provided. The simplified protocell models with precisely defined and tunable compositions advance the understanding of the requirements for cellular structure and function. Efforts are then discussed to establish signal communication systems in protocell and protocell consortia, as communication is a fundamental feature of life that coordinates matter exchanges and energy fluxes dynamically in space and time. Finally, some perspectives on the challenges and future developments of synthetic protocell research in biomimetic science and biomedical applications are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zefeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Min Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Yan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Yanwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Kemin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Jianbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
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4
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Fraccia TP, Martin N. Non-enzymatic oligonucleotide ligation in coacervate protocells sustains compartment-content coupling. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2606. [PMID: 37160869 PMCID: PMC10169843 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38163-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Modern cells are complex chemical compartments tightly regulated by an underlying DNA-encoded program. Achieving a form of coupling between molecular content, chemical reactions, and chassis in synthetic compartments represents a key step to the assembly of evolvable protocells but remains challenging. Here, we design coacervate droplets that promote non-enzymatic oligonucleotide polymerization and that restructure as a result of the reaction dynamics. More specifically, we rationally exploit complexation between end-reactive oligonucleotides able to stack into long physical polymers and a cationic azobenzene photoswitch to produce three different phases-soft solids, liquid crystalline or isotropic coacervates droplets-each of them having a different impact on the reaction efficiency. Dynamical modulation of coacervate assembly and dissolution via trans-cis azobenzene photo-isomerization is used to demonstrate cycles of light-actuated oligonucleotide ligation. Remarkably, changes in the population of polynucleotides during polymerization induce phase transitions due to length-based DNA self-sorting to produce multiphase coacervates. Overall, by combining a tight reaction-structure coupling and environmental responsiveness, our reactive coacervates provide a general route to the non-enzymatic synthesis of polynucleotides and pave the way to the emergence of a primitive compartment-content coupling in membrane-free protocells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso P Fraccia
- Institut Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, Chimie Biologie et Innovation, UMR 8231, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, CNRS, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005, Paris, France.
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milano, 20133, Milano, Italy.
| | - Nicolas Martin
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, UMR 5031, 115 avenue du Dr. Schweitzer, 33600, Pessac, France.
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5
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Activation of L-lactate oxidase by the formation of enzyme assemblies through liquid-liquid phase separation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1435. [PMID: 36697449 PMCID: PMC9877012 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28040-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The assembly state of enzymes is gaining interest as a mechanism for regulating the function of enzymes in living cells. One of the current topics in enzymology is the relationship between enzyme activity and the assembly state due to liquid-liquid phase separation. In this study, we demonstrated enzyme activation via the formation of enzyme assemblies using L-lactate oxidase (LOX). LOX formed hundreds of nanometer-scale assemblies with poly-L-lysine (PLL). In the presence of ammonium sulfate, the LOX-PLL clusters formed micrometer-scale liquid droplets. The enzyme activities of LOX in clusters and droplets were one order of magnitude higher than those in the dispersed state, owing to a decrease in KM and an increase in kcat. Moreover, the clusters exhibited a higher activation effect than the droplets. In addition, the conformation of LOX changed in the clusters, resulting in increased enzyme activation. Understanding enzyme activation and assembly states provides important information regarding enzyme function in living cells, in addition to biotechnology applications.
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6
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Zong W, Shao X, Li J, Chai Y, Hu X, Zhang X. Synthetic Intracellular Environments: From Basic Science to Applications. Anal Chem 2023; 95:535-549. [PMID: 36625127 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zong
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qiqihar University, No. 42 Wenhua Street, Qiqihar161006, China
| | - Xiaotong Shao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qiqihar University, No. 42 Wenhua Street, Qiqihar161006, China
| | - Jinlong Li
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qiqihar University, No. 42 Wenhua Street, Qiqihar161006, China.,Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Catalytic Synthesis for Fine Chemicals, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar161006, China
| | - Yunhe Chai
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qiqihar University, No. 42 Wenhua Street, Qiqihar161006, China
| | - Xinyu Hu
- Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Optoelectronic Devices (Wenzhou), College of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou325035, China
| | - Xunan Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qiqihar University, No. 42 Wenhua Street, Qiqihar161006, China
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7
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Toor R, Hourdin L, Shanmugathasan S, Lefrançois P, Arbault S, Lapeyre V, Bouffier L, Douliez JP, Ravaine V, Perro A. Enzymatic cascade reaction in simple-coacervates. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 629:46-54. [PMID: 36152580 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
The design of enzymatic droplet-sized reactors constitutes an important challenge with many potential applications such as medical diagnostics, water purification, bioengineering, or food industry. Coacervates, which are all-aqueous droplets, afford a simple model for the investigation of enzymatic cascade reaction since the reactions occur in all-aqueous media, which preserve the enzymes integrity. However, the question relative to how the sequestration and the proximity of enzymes within the coacervates might affect their activity remains open. Herein, we report the construction of enzymatic reactors exploiting the simple coacervation of ampholyte polymer chains, stabilized with agar. We demonstrate that these coacervates have the ability to sequester enzymes such as glucose oxidase and catalase and preserve their catalytic activity. The study is carried out by analyzing the color variation induced by the reduction of resazurin. Usually, phenoxazine molecules acting as electron acceptors are used to characterize glucose oxidase activity. Resazurin (pink) undergoes a first reduction to resorufin (salmon) and then to dihydroresorufin (transparent) in presence of glucose oxidase and glucose. We have observed that resorufin is partially regenerated in the presence of catalase, which demonstrates the enzymatic cascade reaction. Studying this enzymatic cascade reaction within coacervates as reactors provide new insights into the role of the proximity, confinement towards enzymatic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritu Toor
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR 5255, Site ENSCBP, 16 avenue Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France
| | - Lysandre Hourdin
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR 5255, Site ENSCBP, 16 avenue Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France
| | - Sharvina Shanmugathasan
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR 5255, Site ENSCBP, 16 avenue Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France
| | - Pauline Lefrançois
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR 5255, Site ENSCBP, 16 avenue Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France
| | - Stéphane Arbault
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR 5255, Site ENSCBP, 16 avenue Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France
| | - Véronique Lapeyre
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR 5255, Site ENSCBP, 16 avenue Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France
| | - Laurent Bouffier
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR 5255, Site ENSCBP, 16 avenue Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France
| | - Jean-Paul Douliez
- UMR 1332, Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, INRA, Univ. Bordeaux, Centre de Bordeaux, 33883 Villenave d'Ornon, France
| | - Valérie Ravaine
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR 5255, Site ENSCBP, 16 avenue Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France
| | - Adeline Perro
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR 5255, Site ENSCBP, 16 avenue Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France.
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8
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Saini B, Mukherjee TK. Synthetic Protocell as Efficient Bioreactor: Enzymatic Superactivity and Ultrasensitive Glucose Sensing in Urine. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:53462-53474. [PMID: 36404589 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c13112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
It is believed that membraneless cellular condensates play a critical role in accelerating various slow and thermodynamically unfavorable biochemical processes. However, the exact mechanisms behind the enhanced activity within biocondensates remain poorly understood. Here, we report the fabrication of a high-performance integrated cascade bioplatform based on synthetic droplets for ultrasensitive glucose sensing. Using a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and glucose oxidase (GOx) cascade pair, we report an unprecedented enhancement in the catalytic activity of HRP inside the synthetic membraneless droplet. Liquidlike membraneless droplets have been prepared via multivalent electrostatic interactions between adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) in an aqueous medium. Compartmentalized enzymes (GOx/HRP@Droplet) exhibit high encapsulation efficiency, low leakage, prolong retention of activity, and exceptional stability toward protease digestion. Using an HRP@Droplet composite, we have shown that the enzymatic reaction within the droplet follows the classical Michaelis-Menten model. Our findings reveal remarkable enhancement in the catalytic activity of up to 100- and 51-fold for HRP@Droplet and GOx/HRP@Droplet, respectively. These enhanced activities have been explained on the basis of increased local concentrations of enzymes and substrates, along with altered conformations of sequestered enzymes. Furthermore, we have utilized highly efficient and recyclable GOx/HRP@Droplet composite to demonstrate ultrasensitive glucose sensing with a limit of detection of 228 nM. Finally, the composite platform has been exploited to detect glucose in spiked urine samples in solution and filter paper. Our present study illustrates the unprecedented activity of the compartmentalized enzymes and paves the way for next-generation composite bioreactors for a wide range of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhawna Saini
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore, Simrol, Indore453552, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Tushar Kanti Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore, Simrol, Indore453552, Madhya Pradesh, India
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9
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Samanta A, Hörner M, Liu W, Weber W, Walther A. Signal-processing and adaptive prototissue formation in metabolic DNA protocells. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3968. [PMID: 35803944 PMCID: PMC9270428 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31632-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The fundamental life-defining processes in living cells, such as replication, division, adaptation, and tissue formation, occur via intertwined metabolic reaction networks that process signals for downstream effects with high precision in a confined, crowded environment. Hence, it is crucial to understand and reenact some of these functions in wholly synthetic cell-like entities (protocells) to envision designing soft materials with life-like traits. Herein, we report on all-DNA protocells composed of a liquid DNA interior and a hydrogel-like shell, harboring a catalytically active DNAzyme, that converts DNA signals into functional metabolites that lead to downstream adaptation processes via site-selective strand displacement reactions. The downstream processes include intra-protocellular phenotype-like changes, prototissue formation via multivalent interactions, and chemical messenger communication between active sender and dormant receiver cell populations for sorted heteroprototissue formation. The approach integrates several tools of DNA-nanoscience in a synchronized way to mimic life-like behavior in artificial systems for future interactive materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avik Samanta
- A3BMS Lab, University of Mainz, Department of Chemistry, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Maximilian Hörner
- Faculty of Biology, Cluster of Excellence CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Wei Liu
- A3BMS Lab, University of Mainz, Department of Chemistry, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Wilfried Weber
- Faculty of Biology, Cluster of Excellence CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Walther
- A3BMS Lab, University of Mainz, Department of Chemistry, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128, Mainz, Germany. .,Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT - Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, 79110, Freiburg, Germany.
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10
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Chen Y, Yuan M, Zhang YW, Zhou S, Wang K, Wu Z, Liu J. Enzyme-active liquid coacervate microdroplets as artificial membraneless organelles for intracellular ROS scavenging. Biomater Sci 2022; 10:4588-4595. [DOI: 10.1039/d2bm00713d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Artificial organelles are microcompartments capable of performing catalytic reactions in living cells to replace absent or lost cellular functions. Coacervate microdroplets, formed via liquid-liquid phase separation, have been developed as...
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11
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Jacobs MI, Jira ER, Schroeder CM. Understanding How Coacervates Drive Reversible Small Molecule Reactions to Promote Molecular Complexity. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:14323-14335. [PMID: 34856104 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c02231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase-separated coacervate droplets give rise to membraneless compartments that play an important role in the spatial organization and reactivity in cells. Due to their molecularly crowded nature and ability to sequester biomolecules, coacervate droplets create distinct environments for enzymatic reaction kinetics and reaction mechanisms that markedly differ from bulk solution. In this work, we use a combination of experiments and quantitative modeling to understand how coacervate droplets promote reversible small molecule reaction chemistry. In particular, we study a model condensation reaction generating an unstable fluorescent imine in polyacrylic acid-polyethylene glycol coacervate droplets over a range of conditions. At equilibrium, the concentration of the imine product in coacervate droplets is approximately 140-fold larger than that in bulk solution, which arises due to preferential partitioning of reactants and products into coacervate droplets and a reaction equilibrium constant that is roughly threefold larger in coacervate droplets than in solution. A reaction-diffusion model is developed to quantitatively describe how competing reaction and partitioning equilibria govern the spatial distribution of the imine product inside coacervate droplets. Overall, our results show that compartmentalization stabilizes kinetically labile reaction products, which enables larger reactant concentrations in coacervate droplets compared to bulk solution. Broadly, these results provide an improved understanding of how biomolecular condensates promote multistep reaction pathways involving unstable reaction intermediates and suggest how coacervates provide a potential abiotic mechanism to promote molecular complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael I Jacobs
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Edward R Jira
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Charles M Schroeder
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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12
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Ianeselli A, Tetiker D, Stein J, Kühnlein A, Mast CB, Braun D, Dora Tang TY. Non-equilibrium conditions inside rock pores drive fission, maintenance and selection of coacervate protocells. Nat Chem 2021; 14:32-39. [PMID: 34873298 PMCID: PMC8755537 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-021-00830-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Key requirements for the first cells on Earth include the ability to compartmentalize and evolve. Compartmentalization spatially localizes biomolecules from a dilute pool and an evolving cell, which, as it grows and divides, permits mixing and propagation of information to daughter cells. Complex coacervate microdroplets are excellent candidates as primordial cells with the ability to partition and concentrate molecules into their core and support primitive and complex biochemical reactions. However, the evolution of coacervate protocells by fusion, growth and fission has not yet been demonstrated. In this work, a primordial environment initiated the evolution of coacervate-based protocells. Gas bubbles inside heated rock pores perturb the coacervate protocell distribution and drive the growth, fusion, division and selection of coacervate microdroplets. Our findings provide a compelling scenario for the evolution of membrane-free coacervate microdroplets on the early Earth, induced by common gas bubbles within heated rock pores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Ianeselli
- Systems Biophysics, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, München, Germany.,Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig Maximilian University, München, Germany
| | - Damla Tetiker
- Systems Biophysics, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, München, Germany
| | - Julian Stein
- Systems Biophysics, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, München, Germany.,Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig Maximilian University, München, Germany
| | - Alexandra Kühnlein
- Systems Biophysics, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, München, Germany.,Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig Maximilian University, München, Germany
| | - Christof B Mast
- Systems Biophysics, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, München, Germany.,Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig Maximilian University, München, Germany
| | - Dieter Braun
- Systems Biophysics, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, München, Germany. .,Center for NanoScience (CeNS), Ludwig Maximilian University, München, Germany.
| | - T-Y Dora Tang
- Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
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13
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Le Vay K, Song EY, Ghosh B, Tang TD, Mutschler H. Enhanced Ribozyme‐Catalyzed Recombination and Oligonucleotide Assembly in Peptide‐RNA Condensates. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202109267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kristian Le Vay
- Biomimetic Systems Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry Am Klopferspitz 18 82152 Martinsried Germany
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology TU Dortmund University Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Emilie Yeonwha Song
- Biomimetic Systems Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry Am Klopferspitz 18 82152 Martinsried Germany
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology TU Dortmund University Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Basusree Ghosh
- Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics Pfotenhauerstraße 108 01307 Dresden Germany
| | - T.‐Y. Dora Tang
- Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics Pfotenhauerstraße 108 01307 Dresden Germany
| | - Hannes Mutschler
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology TU Dortmund University Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a 44227 Dortmund Germany
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14
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Ura T, Tomita S, Shiraki K. Dynamic behavior of liquid droplets with enzyme compartmentalization triggered by sequential glycolytic enzyme reactions. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:12544-12547. [PMID: 34755724 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc04596b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic droplet formation via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is believed to be involved in the regulation of various biological processes. Here, a model LLPS system coupled with a sequential glycolytic enzymatic reaction was developed to reproduce the dynamic control of liquid droplets; (i) the droplets, which consist of poly-L-lysine and nucleotides, compartmentalize two different enzymes (hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) individually, accelerating the overall reaction, and (ii) each enzymatic reaction triggers the formation, dissolution and long-term retention of the droplets by converting the scaffold nucleotides. This model system will offer a new aspect of enzymes associated with LLPS in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoto Ura
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan. .,Health and Medical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Tomita
- Health and Medical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan
| | - Kentaro Shiraki
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan.
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15
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Saini B, Singh S, Mukherjee TK. Nanocatalysis under Nanoconfinement: A Metal-Free Hybrid Coacervate Nanodroplet as a Catalytic Nanoreactor for Efficient Redox and Photocatalytic Reactions. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:51117-51131. [PMID: 34669368 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c17106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Nature utilizes cellular and subcellular compartmentalization to efficiently drive various complex enzymatic transformations via spatiotemporal control. In this context, designing of artificial nanoreactors for efficient catalytic transformations finds tremendous importance in recent times. One key challenge remains the design of multiple catalytic centers within the confined space of a nanoreactor without unwanted agglomeration and accessibility barrier for reactants. Herein, we report a unique blend of nanoscience and chemical catalysis using a metal-free hybrid synthetic protocell as a catalytic nanoreactor for redox and photocatalytic transformations, which are otherwise incompatible in bulk aqueous medium. Hybrid coacervate nanodroplets (NDs) fabricated from 2.5 nm-sized carbon dots (CDs) and poly(diallyldimethyl)ammonium chloride have been utilized toward reductive hydrogenation of nitroarenes in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). It has been found that the reduction mechanism follows the classical Langmuir-Hinshelwood (LH) model at the surface of embedded CDs inside the NDs via the generation of reactive surface hydroxyl groups. These NDs show excellent recyclability without any compromise on reaction kinetics and conversion yield. Importantly, spatiotemporal control over the hydrogenation reaction has been achieved using two mixed populations of coacervates. Moreover, efficient visible light-induced photoredox conversion of ferricyanide to ferrocyanide and artificial peroxidase-like activity have also been demonstrated inside these catalytic NDs. Our findings indicate that the individual polymer-bound CD inside the NDs acts as the catalytic center for both the redox and photocatalytic reactions. The present study highlights the unprecedented catalytic activity of the metal-free CD-based coacervate NDs and paves the way for next-generation catalytic nanoreactors for a wide range of chemical and enzymatic transformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhawna Saini
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore, Simrol, Indore 453552, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Shivendra Singh
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore, Simrol, Indore 453552, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Tushar Kanti Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore, Simrol, Indore 453552, Madhya Pradesh, India
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16
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Guan M, Garabedian MV, Leutenegger M, Schuster BS, Good MC, Hammer DA. Incorporation and Assembly of a Light-Emitting Enzymatic Reaction into Model Protein Condensates. Biochemistry 2021; 60:3137-3151. [PMID: 34648259 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells partition enzymes and other cellular components into distinct subcellular compartments to generate specialized biochemical niches. A subclass of these compartments form in the absence of lipid membranes, via liquid-liquid phase separation of proteins to form biomolecular condensates or "membraneless organelles" such as nucleoli, stress granules, and P-bodies. Because of their propensity to form compartments from simple starting materials, membraneless organelles are an attractive target for engineering new functionalities in both living cells and protocells. In this work, we demonstrate incorporation of a novel enzymatic activity in protein coacervates with the light-generating enzyme, NanoLuc, to produce bioluminescence. Using condensates comprised of the disordered RGG domain of Caenorhabditis elegans LAF-1, we functionalized condensates with enzymatic activity in vitro and show that enzyme localization to coacervates enhances assembly and activity of split enzymes. To build condensates that function as light-emitting reactors, we designed a NanoLuc enzyme flanked by RGG domains. The resulting condensates concentrated NanoLuc by 10-fold over bulk solution and displayed significantly increased reaction rates. We further show that condensate viscosity impacts light emission due to diffusion-limited behavior. Because our model condensates have low viscosities, we predict NanoLuc diffusion-limited behavior in most other condensates and thus propose the condensate-Nanoluc system as a potential strategy for high-throughput screening of condensate targeting drugs. By splitting the NanoLuc enzyme into its constituent components, we demonstrate that NanoLuc activity can be reconstituted via co-condensation. In addition, we demonstrate control of the spatial localization of the enzyme within condensates by targettng NanoLuc to the surface of in vitro condensates. Collectively, this work demonstrates that membraneless organelles can be endowed with localized enzymatic activity and that this activity can be spatially and temporally controlled via biochemical reconstitution and design of protein surfactants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muyang Guan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Mikael V Garabedian
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Marcel Leutenegger
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Department of NanoBiophotonics, Am Faßberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin S Schuster
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Matthew C Good
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Daniel A Hammer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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17
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Le Vay K, Song EY, Ghosh B, Tang TYD, Mutschler H. Enhanced Ribozyme-Catalyzed Recombination and Oligonucleotide Assembly in Peptide-RNA Condensates. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:26096-26104. [PMID: 34569680 PMCID: PMC9299051 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202109267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The ability of RNA to catalyze RNA ligation is critical to its central role in many prebiotic model scenarios, in particular the copying of information during self‐replication. Prebiotically plausible ribozymes formed from short oligonucleotides can catalyze reversible RNA cleavage and ligation reactions, but harsh conditions or unusual scenarios are often required to promote folding and drive the reaction equilibrium towards ligation. Here, we demonstrate that ribozyme activity is greatly enhanced by charge‐mediated phase separation with poly‐L‐lysine, which shifts the reaction equilibrium from cleavage in solution to ligation in peptide‐RNA coaggregates and coacervates. This compartmentalization enables robust isothermal RNA assembly over a broad range of conditions, which can be leveraged to assemble long and complex RNAs from short fragments under mild conditions in the absence of exogenous activation chemistry, bridging the gap between pools of short oligomers and functional RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian Le Vay
- Biomimetic Systems, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Emilie Yeonwha Song
- Biomimetic Systems, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Basusree Ghosh
- Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - T-Y Dora Tang
- Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Hannes Mutschler
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
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18
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Martin N, Douliez J. Fatty Acid Vesicles and Coacervates as Model Prebiotic Protocells. CHEMSYSTEMSCHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/syst.202100024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Martin
- Univ. Bordeaux CNRS Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal UMR 5031 115 Avenue du Dr. Albert Schweitzer 33600 Pessac France
| | - Jean‐Paul Douliez
- Univ. Bordeaux INRAE Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie UMR 1332 71 Avenue Edouard Bourlaux 33140 Villenave d'Ornon France
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19
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Zervoudis NA, Obermeyer AC. The effects of protein charge patterning on complex coacervation. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:6637-6645. [PMID: 34151335 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00543j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The complex coacervation of proteins with other macromolecules has applications in protein encapsulation and delivery and for determining the function of cellular coacervates. Theoretical or empirical predictions for protein coacervates would enable the design of these coacervates with tunable and predictable structure-function relationships; unfortunately, no such theories exist. To help establish predictive models, the impact of protein-specific parameters on complex coacervation were probed in this study. The complex coacervation of sequence-specific, polypeptide-tagged, GFP variants and a strong synthetic polyelectrolyte was used to evaluate the effects of protein charge patterning on phase behavior. Phase portraits for the protein coacervates demonstrated that charge patterning dictates the protein's binodal phase boundary. Protein concentrations over 100 mg mL-1 were achieved in the coacervate phase, with concentrations dependent on the tag polypeptide sequence covalently attached to the globular protein domain. In addition to shifting the binodal phase boundary, polypeptide charge patterning provided entropic advantages over isotropically patterned proteins. Together, these results show that modest changes of only a few amino acids in the tag polypeptide sequence alter the coacervation thermodynamics and can be used to tune the phase behavior of polypeptides or proteins of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Zervoudis
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Allie C Obermeyer
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
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20
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Gao N, Li M, Tian L, Patil AJ, Pavan Kumar BVVS, Mann S. Chemical-mediated translocation in protocell-based microactuators. Nat Chem 2021; 13:868-879. [PMID: 34168327 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-021-00728-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Artificial cell-like communities participate in diverse modes of chemical interaction but exhibit minimal interfacing with their local environment. Here we develop an interactive microsystem based on the immobilization of a population of enzyme-active semipermeable proteinosomes within a helical hydrogel filament to implement signal-induced movement. We attach large single-polynucleotide/peptide microcapsules at one or both ends of the helical protocell filament to produce free-standing soft microactuators that sense and process chemical signals to perform mechanical work. Different modes of translocation are achieved by synergistic or antagonistic enzyme reactions located within the helical connector or inside the attached microcapsule loads. Mounting the microactuators on a ratchet-like surface produces a directional push-pull movement. Our methodology opens up a route to protocell-based chemical systems capable of utilizing mechanical work and provides a step towards the engineering of soft microscale objects with increased levels of operational autonomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Gao
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,Max Planck-Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Mei Li
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. .,School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
| | - Liangfei Tian
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Avinash J Patil
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - B V V S Pavan Kumar
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
| | - Stephen Mann
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. .,Max Planck-Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. .,School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
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21
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Chen Y, Zhang Y, Li M, Liu S, Yang X, Wang K, Mann S, Liu J. Self-immobilization of coacervate droplets by enzyme-mediated hydrogelation. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:5438-5441. [PMID: 33949484 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc01483h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
An artificial protocell model mimicking stimuli-triggered extracellular matrix formation is demonstrated based on the self-immobilization of coacervate microdroplets. Endogenous enzyme activity within the microdroplets results in the release of Ca2+ ions that trigger hydrogelation throughout the external environment, which in turn mechanically supports and chemically stabilizes the protocells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China.
| | - Yanwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China.
| | - Mei Li
- Centre for Protolife Research, Max Planck-Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China.
| | - Songyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China.
| | - Xiaohai Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China.
| | - Kemin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China.
| | - Stephen Mann
- Centre for Protolife Research, Max Planck-Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China.
| | - Jianbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China.
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22
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Mizuuchi R, Ichihashi N. Translation-coupled RNA replication and parasitic replicators in membrane-free compartments. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 56:13453-13456. [PMID: 33043949 DOI: 10.1039/d0cc06606k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We report RNA self-replication through the translation of its encoded protein within membrane-free compartments generated by liquid-liquid phase separation. The aqueous droplets support RNA self-replication by concentrating a genomic RNA and translation proteins, facilitating the uptake of small substrates, and preventing the replication of parasitic RNAs through compartmentalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Mizuuchi
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan. and JST, PRESTO, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Norikazu Ichihashi
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan. and Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Arts and Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan and Universal Biology Institute, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
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23
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Kubota R, Tanaka W, Hamachi I. Microscopic Imaging Techniques for Molecular Assemblies: Electron, Atomic Force, and Confocal Microscopies. Chem Rev 2021; 121:14281-14347. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ryou Kubota
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Wataru Tanaka
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Itaru Hamachi
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
- JST-ERATO, Hamachi Innovative Molecular Technology for Neuroscience, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8530, Japan
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24
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Rowland AT, Keating CD. Formation and properties of liposome-stabilized all-aqueous emulsions based on PEG/dextran, PEG/Ficoll, and PEG/sulfate aqueous biphasic systems. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:3688-3699. [PMID: 33683232 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01849j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Vesicle-stabilized all-aqueous emulsion droplets are appealing as bioreactors because they provide uniform encapsulation via equilibrium partitioning without restricting diffusion in and out of the interior. These properties rely on the composition of the aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) chosen for the emulsion and the structure of the interfacial liposome layer, respectively. Here, we explore how changing the aqueous two-phase system from a standard poly(ethyleneglycol), PEG, 8 kDa/dextran 10 kDa ATPS to PEG 8 kDa/Ficoll 70 kDa or PEG 8 kDa/Na2SO4 systems impacts droplet uniformity and partitioning of a model solute (U15 oligoRNA). We also compare liposomes formed by two different methods, both of which begin with multilamellar, polydisperse vesicles formed by gentle hydration: (1) extrusion, which produced vesicles of 150 nm average diameter, and (2) vortexing, which produced vesicles of 270 nm average diameter. Our data illustrate that while droplet uniformity and stability are somewhat better for samples based on extruded vesicles, extrusion is not necessary to create functional microreactors, as emulsions stabilized with vortexed liposomes are just as effective at solute partitioning and allow diffusion across the droplet's liposome corona. This work expands the compositions possible for liposome-stabilized, all-aqueous emulsion droplet bioreactors, making them amenable to a wider range of potential reactions. Replacing the liposome extrusion step with vortexing can reduce time and cost of bioreactor production with only modest reductions in emulsion quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T Rowland
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.
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25
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Can coacervation unify disparate hypotheses in the origin of cellular life? Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2020.101415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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26
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Wang X, Du H, Wang Z, Mu W, Han X. Versatile Phospholipid Assemblies for Functional Synthetic Cells and Artificial Tissues. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2002635. [PMID: 32830387 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202002635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
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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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Hang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
- Marine Antifouling Engineering Technology Center of Shangdong Province, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai, 264209, China
| | - Zhao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Wei Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Xiaojun Han
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
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27
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Zhang X, Shao X, Cai Z, Yan X, Zong W. The fabrication of phospholipid vesicle-based artificial cells and their functions. NEW J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d0nj05538g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Phospholipid vesicles as artificial cells are used to simulate the cellular structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xunan Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Qiqihar University
- Qiqihar
- China
| | - Xiaotong Shao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Qiqihar University
- Qiqihar
- China
| | - Zhenzhen Cai
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Qiqihar University
- Qiqihar
- China
| | - Xinyu Yan
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Qiqihar University
- Qiqihar
- China
| | - Wei Zong
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Qiqihar University
- Qiqihar
- China
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28
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Cho E, Lu Y. Compartmentalizing Cell-Free Systems: Toward Creating Life-Like Artificial Cells and Beyond. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:2881-2901. [PMID: 33095011 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Building an artificial cell is a research area that is rigorously studied in the field of synthetic biology. It has brought about much attention with the aim of ultimately constructing a natural cell-like structure. In particular, with the more mature cell-free platforms and various compartmentalization methods becoming available, achieving this aim seems not far away. In this review, we discuss the various types of artificial cells capable of hosting several cellular functions. Different compartmental boundaries and the mature and evolving technologies that are used for compartmentalization are examined, and exciting recent advances that overcome or have the potential to address current challenges are discussed. Ultimately, we show how compartmentalization and cell-free systems have, and will, come together to fulfill the goal to assemble a fully synthetic cell that displays functionality and complexity as advanced as that in nature. The development of such artificial cell systems will offer insight into the fundamental study of evolutionary biology and the sea of applications as a result. Although several challenges remain, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence also appear to help pave the way to address them and achieve the ultimate goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunhee Cho
- Key Lab of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- Key Lab of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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29
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Enzyme-mediated nitric oxide production in vasoactive erythrocyte membrane-enclosed coacervate protocells. Nat Chem 2020; 12:1165-1173. [DOI: 10.1038/s41557-020-00585-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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30
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Jia L, Ji Z, Ji Y, Zhou C, Xing G, Qiao Y. Design and Fluorescence Localization of Lipid‐Rich Domains in Multiphase Coacervate Droplets Based on AIE‐Active Molecules**. CHEMSYSTEMSCHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/syst.202000044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Liyan Jia
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
| | - Zhen Ji
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
| | - Yan‐ming Ji
- College of Chemistry Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Chengcheng Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Yangzhou University Yangzhou 225002 China
| | - Guo‐wen Xing
- College of Chemistry Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Yan Qiao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
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31
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Deng NN. Complex coacervates as artificial membraneless organelles and protocells. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2020; 14:051301. [PMID: 32922586 PMCID: PMC7470879 DOI: 10.1063/5.0023678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Complex coacervates are water droplets dispersed in water, which are formed by spontaneous liquid-liquid phase separation of an aqueous solution of two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. Similar to the membraneless organelles that exist in biological cells, complex coacervate droplets are membraneless and have a myriad of features including easy formation, high viscosity, selective encapsulation of biomolecules, and dynamic behaviors in response to environmental stimuli, which make coacervates an excellent option for constructing artificial membraneless organelles. In this article, I first summarize recent advances in artificial compartments that are built from coacervates and their response to changes in the surrounding environment and then show the advantages of microfluidic techniques in the preparation of monodisperse coacervates and encapsulation of coacervates in droplets and liposomes to construct complex cell-like compartments, and finally discuss the future challenges of such membraneless aqueous compartments in cell mimics and origin of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan-Nan Deng
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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32
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Zhang Y, Liu S, Yao Y, Chen Y, Zhou S, Yang X, Wang K, Liu J. Invasion and Defense Interactions between Enzyme-Active Liquid Coacervate Protocells and Living Cells. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e2002073. [PMID: 32452628 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202002073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The design and construction of mutual interaction models between artificial microsystems and living cells have the potential to open a wide range of novel applications in biomedical and biomimetic technologies. In this study, an artificial form of invasion-defense mutual interactions is established in a community of glucose oxidase (GOx)-containing liquid coacervate microdroplets and living cells, which interact via enzyme-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage. The enzyme-containing coacervate microdroplets, formed via liquid-liquid phase separation, act as invader protocells to electrostatically bind with the host HepG2 cell, resulting in assimilation. Subsequently, the glucose oxidation in the liquid coacervates initiates the generation of H2 O2 , which serves as an ROS resource to block cell proliferation. As a defense strategy, introduction of catalase (CAT) into the host cells is exploited to resist the ROS damage. CAT-mediated decomposition of H2 O2 leads to the ROS scavenging and results in the recovery of cell viability. The results obtained in the current study highlight the remarkable opportunities for the development of mutual interacting communities on the interface of artificial protocells/living cells. They also provide a new approach for engineering cellular behaviors through exploiting artificial nonliving microsystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Songyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Yu Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Yufeng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Shaohong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Xiaohai Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Kemin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
| | - Jianbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China
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33
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Wang L, Song S, van Hest J, Abdelmohsen LKEA, Huang X, Sánchez S. Biomimicry of Cellular Motility and Communication Based on Synthetic Soft-Architectures. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e1907680. [PMID: 32250035 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201907680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Cells, sophisticated membrane-bound units that contain the fundamental molecules of life, provide a precious library for inspiration and motivation for both society and academia. Scientists from various disciplines have made great endeavors toward the understanding of the cellular evolution by engineering artificial counterparts (protocells) that mimic or initiate structural or functional cellular aspects. In this regard, several works have discussed possible building blocks, designs, functions, or dynamics that can be applied to achieve this goal. Although great progress has been made, fundamental-yet complex-behaviors such as cellular communication, responsiveness to environmental cues, and motility remain a challenge, yet to be resolved. Herein, recent efforts toward utilizing soft systems for cellular mimicry are summarized-following the main outline of cellular evolution, from basic compartmentalization, and biological reactions for energy production, to motility and communicative behaviors between artificial cell communities or between artificial and natural cell communities. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives in the field are discussed, hoping to inspire more future research and to help the further advancement of this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin, 150001, China
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri i Reixac 10-12, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Shidong Song
- Department of Biomedical Engineering & Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven, MB, 5600, The Netherlands
| | - Jan van Hest
- Department of Biomedical Engineering & Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven, MB, 5600, The Netherlands
| | - Loai K E A Abdelmohsen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering & Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven, MB, 5600, The Netherlands
| | - Xin Huang
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Samuel Sánchez
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri i Reixac 10-12, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats (ICREA), Pg. Lluis Companys 23, Barcelona, 08010, Spain
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34
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Liu J, Tian L, Qiao Y, Zhou S, Patil AJ, Wang K, Li M, Mann S. Hydrogel‐Immobilized Coacervate Droplets as Modular Microreactor Assemblies. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201916481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and ChemometricsCollege of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringKey Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan ProvinceHunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Liangfei Tian
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Yan Qiao
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Shaohong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and ChemometricsCollege of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringKey Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan ProvinceHunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Avinash J. Patil
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Kemin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and ChemometricsCollege of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringKey Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan ProvinceHunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Mei Li
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Stephen Mann
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
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35
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Love C, Steinkühler J, Gonzales DT, Yandrapalli N, Robinson T, Dimova R, Tang TD. Reversible pH-Responsive Coacervate Formation in Lipid Vesicles Activates Dormant Enzymatic Reactions. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:5950-5957. [PMID: 31943629 PMCID: PMC7187140 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201914893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In situ, reversible coacervate formation within lipid vesicles represents a key step in the development of responsive synthetic cellular models. Herein, we exploit the pH responsiveness of a polycation above and below its pKa , to drive liquid-liquid phase separation, to form single coacervate droplets within lipid vesicles. The process is completely reversible as coacervate droplets can be disassembled by increasing the pH above the pKa . We further show that pH-triggered coacervation in the presence of low concentrations of enzymes activates dormant enzyme reactions by increasing the local concentration within the coacervate droplets and changing the local environment around the enzyme. In conclusion, this work establishes a tunable, pH responsive, enzymatically active multi-compartment synthetic cell. The system is readily transferred into microfluidics, making it a robust model for addressing general questions in biology, such as the role of phase separation and its effect on enzymatic reactions using a bottom-up synthetic biology approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celina Love
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsPfotenhauerstraße 10801307DresdenGermany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of LifeTU Dresden01602DresdenGermany
| | - Jan Steinkühler
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces14424PotsdamGermany
| | - David T. Gonzales
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsPfotenhauerstraße 10801307DresdenGermany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of LifeTU Dresden01602DresdenGermany
- Center for Systems Biology DresdenPfotenhauerstraße 10801307DresdenGermany
| | | | - Tom Robinson
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces14424PotsdamGermany
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces14424PotsdamGermany
| | - T.‐Y. Dora Tang
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticsPfotenhauerstraße 10801307DresdenGermany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of LifeTU Dresden01602DresdenGermany
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36
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Liu J, Tian L, Qiao Y, Zhou S, Patil AJ, Wang K, Li M, Mann S. Hydrogel‐Immobilized Coacervate Droplets as Modular Microreactor Assemblies. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:6853-6859. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201916481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and ChemometricsCollege of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringKey Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan ProvinceHunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Liangfei Tian
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Yan Qiao
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Shaohong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and ChemometricsCollege of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringKey Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan ProvinceHunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Avinash J. Patil
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Kemin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and ChemometricsCollege of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringKey Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan ProvinceHunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Mei Li
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Stephen Mann
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter ChemistrySchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
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37
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Love C, Steinkühler J, Gonzales DT, Yandrapalli N, Robinson T, Dimova R, Tang TD. Reversible pH‐Responsive Coacervate Formation in Lipid Vesicles Activates Dormant Enzymatic Reactions. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201914893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Celina Love
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics Pfotenhauerstraße 108 01307 Dresden Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of LifeTU Dresden 01602 Dresden Germany
| | - Jan Steinkühler
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces 14424 Potsdam Germany
| | - David T. Gonzales
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics Pfotenhauerstraße 108 01307 Dresden Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of LifeTU Dresden 01602 Dresden Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden Pfotenhauerstraße 108 01307 Dresden Germany
| | | | - Tom Robinson
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces 14424 Potsdam Germany
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces 14424 Potsdam Germany
| | - T.‐Y. Dora Tang
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics Pfotenhauerstraße 108 01307 Dresden Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of LifeTU Dresden 01602 Dresden Germany
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38
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Moreau NG, Martin N, Gobbo P, Tang TYD, Mann S. Spontaneous membrane-less multi-compartmentalization via aqueous two-phase separation in complex coacervate micro-droplets. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:12717-12720. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cc05399f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Multiphase coacervate droplets produced by internalised aqueous two-phase separation are used for the spatially dependent chemical transfer of sugar molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolette G. Moreau
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry
- School of Chemistry
- University of Bristol
- Bristol BS8 1TS
- UK
| | - Nicolas Martin
- Univ. Bordeaux
- CNRS
- Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal
- UMR5031
- 33600 Pessac
| | - Pierangelo Gobbo
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry
- School of Chemistry
- University of Bristol
- Bristol BS8 1TS
- UK
| | - T.-Y. Dora Tang
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell and Genetics
- 01307 Dresden
- Germany
| | - Stephen Mann
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry
- School of Chemistry
- University of Bristol
- Bristol BS8 1TS
- UK
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39
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Vaishnav JK, Mukherjee TK. Highly Photostable and Two-Photon Active Quantum Dot-Polymer Multicolor Hybrid Coacervate Droplets. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:11764-11773. [PMID: 31411883 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b01783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Fabrication and precise control of the physicochemical properties of multifunctional organic-inorganic hybrid nanocomposites find great importance in various research fields. Herein, we report the fabrication of a new class of luminescent hybrid coacervate droplets from CdTe quantum dots (QDs) and a poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) aqueous mixture. The colloidal stability of these droplets has been explored over wide ranges of composition, pH, and ionic strength. Although these hybrid droplets are quite stable in a low-ionic-strength medium (<100 mM NaCl) and neutral/basic pH (pH >6.5), they are unstable in a higher-ionic-strength medium (>100 mM NaCl) and acidic pH (pH <5.5). Our findings indicate specific electrostatic interactions between negatively charged QDs and positively charged PDADMAC behind the observed coacervation. They exhibit the preferential sequestration of organic dyes and serum albumins. The intrinsic luminescent properties of these hybrid droplets have been explored using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and epifluorescence microscopy. CLSM reveals the formation of intrinsically luminescent hybrid droplets. In addition, mixed two-color luminescent droplets have been fabricated by simultaneously mixing green- and red-emitting QDs with PDADMAC aqueous solution. Epifluorescence imaging reveals highly photostable and nonbleaching photoluminescence (PL) from individual droplets as a consequence of efficient surface passivation by polymeric chains of PDADMAC. Moreover, using two-photon (2P) confocal imaging we have shown that these hybrid droplets are ideal candidates for 2P confocal imaging applications. The present study can be easily extended to fabricate a wide range of hybrid droplets with various inorganic counterparts having unique optoelectronic properties, which will further expand their applicability in nanocatalysis, bioimaging, and biosensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamuna K Vaishnav
- Discipline of Chemistry , Indian Institute of Technology Indore , Simrol, Khandwa Road , Indore - 453552 , M.P. India
| | - Tushar Kanti Mukherjee
- Discipline of Chemistry , Indian Institute of Technology Indore , Simrol, Khandwa Road , Indore - 453552 , M.P. India
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40
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Martin N, Tian L, Spencer D, Coutable-Pennarun A, Anderson JLR, Mann S. Photoswitchable Phase Separation and Oligonucleotide Trafficking in DNA Coacervate Microdroplets. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:14594-14598. [PMID: 31408263 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201909228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Coacervate microdroplets produced by liquid-liquid phase separation have been used as synthetic protocells that mimic the dynamical organization of membrane-free organelles in living systems. Achieving spatiotemporal control over droplet condensation and disassembly remains challenging. Herein, we describe the formation and photoswitchable behavior of light-responsive coacervate droplets prepared from mixtures of double-stranded DNA and an azobenzene cation. The droplets disassemble and reassemble under UV and blue light, respectively, due to azobenzene trans/cis photoisomerisation. Sequestration and release of captured oligonucleotides follow the dynamics of phase separation such that light-activated transfer, mixing, hybridization, and trafficking of the oligonucleotides can be controlled in binary populations of the droplets. Our results open perspectives for the spatiotemporal control of DNA coacervates and provide a step towards the dynamic regulation of synthetic protocells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Martin
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, UMR5031, 115 Avenue du Dr. Albert Schweitzer, 33600, Pessac, France.,Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Liangfei Tian
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.,BrisSynBio Synthetic Biology Research Centre, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Dan Spencer
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Angélique Coutable-Pennarun
- BrisSynBio Synthetic Biology Research Centre, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK.,School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - J L Ross Anderson
- BrisSynBio Synthetic Biology Research Centre, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK.,School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Stephen Mann
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.,BrisSynBio Synthetic Biology Research Centre, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
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41
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Martin N, Tian L, Spencer D, Coutable‐Pennarun A, Anderson JLR, Mann S. Photoswitchable Phase Separation and Oligonucleotide Trafficking in DNA Coacervate Microdroplets. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201909228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Martin
- Univ. Bordeaux CNRS Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, UMR5031 115 Avenue du Dr. Albert Schweitzer 33600 Pessac France
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry School of Chemistry University of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Liangfei Tian
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry School of Chemistry University of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
- BrisSynBio Synthetic Biology Research Centre, Life Sciences Building University of Bristol Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
| | - Dan Spencer
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry School of Chemistry University of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Angélique Coutable‐Pennarun
- BrisSynBio Synthetic Biology Research Centre, Life Sciences Building University of Bristol Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
- School of Biochemistry University of Bristol University Walk Bristol BS8 1TD UK
| | - J. L. Ross Anderson
- BrisSynBio Synthetic Biology Research Centre, Life Sciences Building University of Bristol Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
- School of Biochemistry University of Bristol University Walk Bristol BS8 1TD UK
| | - Stephen Mann
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry School of Chemistry University of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
- BrisSynBio Synthetic Biology Research Centre, Life Sciences Building University of Bristol Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
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42
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Martin N. Dynamic Synthetic Cells Based on Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation. Chembiochem 2019; 20:2553-2568. [PMID: 31039282 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Living cells have long been a source of inspiration for chemists. Their capacity of performing complex tasks relies on the spatiotemporal coordination of matter and energy fluxes. Recent years have witnessed growing interest in the bottom-up construction of cell-like models capable of reproducing aspects of such dynamic organisation. Liquid-liquid phase-separation (LLPS) processes in water are increasingly recognised as representing a viable compartmentalisation strategy through which to produce dynamic synthetic cells. Herein, we highlight examples of the dynamic properties of LLPS used to assemble synthetic cells, including their biocatalytic activity, reversible condensation and dissolution, growth and division, and recent directions towards the design of higher-order structures and behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Martin
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, UMR 5031, 115 Avenue du Dr. Albert Schweitzer, 33600, Pessac, France
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43
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Tian L, Li M, Patil AJ, Drinkwater BW, Mann S. Artificial morphogen-mediated differentiation in synthetic protocells. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3321. [PMID: 31346180 PMCID: PMC6658542 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11316-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The design and assembly of artificial protocell consortia displaying dynamical behaviours and systems-based properties are emerging challenges in bottom-up synthetic biology. Cellular processes such as morphogenesis and differentiation rely in part on reaction-diffusion gradients, and the ability to mimic rudimentary aspects of these non-equilibrium processes in communities of artificial cells could provide a step to life-like systems capable of complex spatiotemporal transformations. Here we expose acoustically formed arrays of initially identical coacervate micro-droplets to uni-directional or counter-directional reaction-diffusion gradients of artificial morphogens to induce morphological differentiation and spatial patterning in single populations of model protocells. Dynamic reconfiguration of the droplets in the morphogen gradients produces a diversity of membrane-bounded vesicles that are spontaneously segregated into multimodal populations with differentiated enzyme activities. Our results highlight the opportunities for constructing protocell arrays with graded structure and functionality and provide a step towards the development of artificial cell platforms capable of multiple operations. The ability to mimic aspects of cellular process that rely on reaction-diffusion gradients could provide a step to building life-like systems capable of complex behaviour. Here the authors demonstrate morphological differentiation in coacervate micro-droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangfei Tian
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Mei Li
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Avinash J Patil
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Bruce W Drinkwater
- Faculty of Engineering, Queens Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK
| | - Stephen Mann
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
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44
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Zhuang M, Zhang Y, Zhou S, Zhang Y, Wang K, Nie J, Liu J. Uricase-containing coacervate microdroplets as enzyme active membrane-free protocells for detoxification of uric acid in serum. Chem Commun (Camb) 2019; 55:13880-13883. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cc07037k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Based on the unique property of preferential sequestration of guest molecules, coacervate microdroplets are proposed as enzyme active membrane-free protocells, in which uricase is loaded for efficient detoxification of uric acid in serum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaomiao Zhuang
- College of Chemistry and Bioengineering
- Guilin University of Technology
- Guilin 541004
- P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics
| | - Yanwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province
- Hunan University
- Changsha
| | - Shaohong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province
- Hunan University
- Changsha
| | - Yun Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Bioengineering
- Guilin University of Technology
- Guilin 541004
- P. R. China
| | - Kemin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province
- Hunan University
- Changsha
| | - Jinfang Nie
- College of Chemistry and Bioengineering
- Guilin University of Technology
- Guilin 541004
- P. R. China
| | - Jianbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province
- Hunan University
- Changsha
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45
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Liu Z, Wang B, Jin S, Wang Z, Wang L, Liang S. Bioinspired Dual-Enzyme Colloidosome Reactors for High-Performance Biphasic Catalysis. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:41504-41511. [PMID: 30403332 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b14321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, a novel method for the construction of colloidosomes as a microreactor for dual-enzyme cascade biphasic reaction has been reported. A lipase-glucose oxidase (GOx) enzyme pair is employed in this system. A water-soluble enzyme GOx is compartmentalized inside the colloidosomes. A hydrophobic environment-favored enzyme Candida Antarctica lipase B (CalB) is adsorbed on the outer surfaces of the colloidosomes. The catalysis system is set up by introducing these dual-enzyme-immobilized microcapsules into acetic ether. H2O2 is produced in the aqueous phase by the doped GOx, and then H2O2 diffused out of the microcapsules is utilized by CalB to catalyze the oxidation of ethyl acetate. Finally, the formed peracids oxidized N-heteroaromatic in situ. Furthermore, no obvious yield decline is observed in four reaction cycles. Thus, our work provides a new strategy for the design of high-performance biomimicking reactors for multiple enzyme cascade reactions and further expands the potential application area of colloidosomes.
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46
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Tian L, Li M, Liu J, Patil AJ, Drinkwater BW, Mann S. Nonequilibrium Spatiotemporal Sensing within Acoustically Patterned Two-Dimensional Protocell Arrays. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2018; 4:1551-1558. [PMID: 30555908 PMCID: PMC6276052 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.8b00555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Acoustically trapped periodic arrays of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-loaded poly(diallydimethylammonium chloride) / adenosine 5'-triphosphate coacervate microdroplet-based protocells exhibit a spatiotemporal biochemical response when exposed to a codiffusing mixture of substrate molecules (o-phenylenediamine (o-PD) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)) under nonequilibrium conditions. Unidirectional propagation of the chemical concentration gradients gives rise to time- and position-dependent fluorescence signal outputs from individual coacervate microdroplets, indicating that the organized protocell assembly can dynamically sense encoded information in the advancing reaction-diffusion front. The methodology is extended to arrays comprising spatially separated binary populations of HRP- or glucose oxidase-containing coacervate microdroplets to internally generate a H2O2 signal that chemically connects the two protocell communities via a concerted biochemical cascade reaction. Our results provide a step toward establishing a systematic approach to study dynamic interactions between organized protocell consortia and propagating reaction-diffusion gradients, and offer a new methodology for exploring the complexity of protocellular communication networks operating under nonequilibrium conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangfei Tian
- Centre
for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.
| | - Mei Li
- Centre
for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.
| | - Juntai Liu
- School
of Biochemistry, Medical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K.
| | - Avinash J. Patil
- Centre
for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.
| | - Bruce W. Drinkwater
- Faculty
of Engineering, Queens Building, University
of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TR, U.K.
| | - Stephen Mann
- Centre
for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.
- E-mail:
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47
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Crowe CD, Keating CD. Liquid-liquid phase separation in artificial cells. Interface Focus 2018; 8:20180032. [PMID: 30443328 PMCID: PMC6227770 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2018.0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in biology is a recently appreciated means of intracellular compartmentalization. Because the mechanisms driving phase separations are grounded in physical interactions, they can be recreated within less complex systems consisting of only a few simple components, to serve as artificial microcompartments. Within these simple systems, the effect of compartmentalization and microenvironments upon biological reactions and processes can be studied. This review will explore several approaches to incorporating LLPS as artificial cytoplasms and in artificial cells, including both segregative and associative phase separation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christine D. Keating
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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48
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Drobot B, Iglesias-Artola JM, Le Vay K, Mayr V, Kar M, Kreysing M, Mutschler H, Tang TYD. Compartmentalised RNA catalysis in membrane-free coacervate protocells. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3643. [PMID: 30194374 PMCID: PMC6128941 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06072-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Phase separation of mixtures of oppositely charged polymers provides a simple and direct route to compartmentalisation via complex coacervation, which may have been important for driving primitive reactions as part of the RNA world hypothesis. However, to date, RNA catalysis has not been reconciled with coacervation. Here we demonstrate that RNA catalysis is viable within coacervate microdroplets and further show that these membrane-free droplets can selectively retain longer length RNAs while permitting transfer of lower molecular weight oligonucleotides. Phase separation of mixtures of oppositely charged polymers provides a simple and direct route to compartmentalisation via coacervation. Here authors demonstrate that a coacervate microenvironment supports RNA catalysis whilst selectively sequestering RNA based on length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Drobot
- Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Juan M Iglesias-Artola
- Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kristian Le Vay
- Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Viktoria Mayr
- Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Mrityunjoy Kar
- Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Moritz Kreysing
- Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Hannes Mutschler
- Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.
| | - T-Y Dora Tang
- Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
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49
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Antagonistic chemical coupling in self-reconfigurable host-guest protocells. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3652. [PMID: 30194369 PMCID: PMC6128866 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06087-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fabrication of compartmentalised chemical systems with nested architectures and biomimetic properties has important implications for controlling the positional assembly of functional components, spatiotemporal regulation of enzyme cascades and modelling of proto-organelle behaviour in synthetic protocells. Here, we describe the spontaneous capture of glucose oxidase-containing proteinosomes in pH-sensitive fatty acid micelle coacervate droplets as a facile route to multi-compartmentalised host–guest protocells capable of antagonistic chemical and structural coupling. The nested system functions co-operatively at low-substrate turnover, while high levels of glucose give rise to pH-induced disassembly of the droplets, release of the incarcerated proteinosomes and self-reconfiguration into spatially organised enzymatically active vesicle-in-proteinosome protocells. Co-encapsulation of antagonistic enzymes within the proteinosomes produces a sequence of self-induced capture and host–guest reconfiguration. Taken together, our results highlight opportunities for the fabrication of self-reconfigurable host–guest protocells and provide a step towards the development of protocell populations exhibiting both synergistic and antagonistic modes of interaction. Multi-compartmentalised soft micro-systems are used as models of synthetic protocells. Here, the authors developed nested host–guest protocell constructs capable of self-reconfiguration in response to changes in pH generated by antagonistic modes of enzyme-mediated coupling.
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50
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Yin Y, Chang H, Jing H, Zhang Z, Yan D, Mann S, Liang D. Electric field-induced circulation and vacuolization regulate enzyme reactions in coacervate-based protocells. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:6514-6520. [PMID: 30051115 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm01168k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Artificial protocells operating under non-equilibrium conditions offer a new approach to achieve dynamic features with life-like properties. Using coacervate micro-droplets comprising polylysine (PLL) and a short single-stranded oligonucleotide (ss-oligo) as a membrane-free protocell model, we demonstrate that circulation and vacuolization can occur simultaneously inside the droplet in the presence of an electric field. The circulation is driven by electrohydrodynamics and applies specifically to the major components of the protocell (PLL and ss-oligo). Significantly, under low electric fields (E = 10 V cm-1) the circulation regulates the movement of the vacuoles, while high levels of vacuolization produced at higher electric fields can deform or reshape the circulation. By taking advantage of the interplay between vacuolization and circulation, we achieve dynamic localization of an enzyme cascade reaction at specific droplet locations. In addition, the spatial distribution of the enzyme reaction is globalized throughout the droplet by tuning the coupling of the circulation and vacuolization processes. Overall, our work provides a new strategy to create non-equilibrium dynamic behaviors in molecularly crowded membrane-free synthetic protocells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yudan Yin
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Haojing Chang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Hairong Jing
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Zexin Zhang
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
| | - Dadong Yan
- Department of Physics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Stephen Mann
- Centre for Protolife Research, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Dehai Liang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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