Spatiotemporal dynamic and catalytically mediated reconfiguration of compartmentalized cyanuric acid/polyadenine DNA microdroplet condensates

Shijun Xu, Yu Ouyang, Yunlong Qin, Danlong Chen, Zhijuan Duan, Dongxing Song (), Daniel Harries, Fan Xia (), Itamar Willner () and Fujian Huang ()
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Shijun Xu: China University of Geosciences
Yu Ouyang: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Yunlong Qin: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Danlong Chen: China University of Geosciences
Zhijuan Duan: China University of Geosciences
Dongxing Song: Zhengzhou University
Daniel Harries: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Fan Xia: China University of Geosciences
Itamar Willner: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Fujian Huang: China University of Geosciences

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Native cells possess membrane-bound subcompartments, organelles, such as mitochondria and lysosomes, that intercommunicate and regulate cellular functions. Extensive efforts are directed to develop synthetic cells, or protocells, that replicate these structures and functions. Among these approaches, phase-separated coacervate microdroplets composed of polymers, polysaccharides, proteins, or nucleic acids are gaining interest as cell-mimicking systems. Particularly, compartmentalization of the synthetic protocell assemblies and the integration of functional constituents in the containments allowing signaling, programmed transfer of chemical agents, and spatiotemporal controlled catalytic transformations across the protocell subdomains, are challenging goals in developing artificial cells. Here, we report the assembly of compartmentalized, phase-separated cyanuric acid/polyadenine coacervate microdroplets. Hierarchical, co-centric compartmentalization is achieved through the dynamic and competitive spatiotemporal occupation of pre-engineered barcode domains within the polyadenine microdroplet framework by invading DNA strands. By encoding structural and functional information within these DNA-invaded compartments, the light-triggered, switchable reconfiguration of compartments, switchable catalytic reconfiguration of containments, and reversible aggregation/deaggregation of the compartmentalized microdroplets are demonstrated.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58650-4

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