Towards synthetic cells using peptide-based reaction compartments

Kilian Vogele, Thomas Frank, Lukas Gasser, Marisa A. Goetzfried, Mathias W. Hackl, Stephan A. Sieber, Friedrich C. Simmel and Tobias Pirzer ()
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Kilian Vogele: Technische Universität München
Thomas Frank: Technische Universität München
Lukas Gasser: Technische Universität München
Marisa A. Goetzfried: Technische Universität München
Mathias W. Hackl: Technische Universität München
Stephan A. Sieber: Technische Universität München
Friedrich C. Simmel: Technische Universität München
Tobias Pirzer: Technische Universität München

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Membrane compartmentalization and growth are central aspects of living cells, and are thus encoded in every cell’s genome. For the creation of artificial cellular systems, genetic information and production of membrane building blocks will need to be coupled in a similar manner. However, natural biochemical reaction networks and membrane building blocks are notoriously difficult to implement in vitro. Here, we utilized amphiphilic elastin-like peptides (ELP) to create self-assembled vesicular structures of about 200 nm diameter. In order to genetically encode the growth of these vesicles, we encapsulate a cell-free transcription-translation system together with the DNA template inside the peptide vesicles. We show in vesiculo production of a functioning fluorescent RNA aptamer and a fluorescent protein. Furthermore, we implement in situ expression of the membrane peptide itself and finally demonstrate autonomous vesicle growth due to the incorporation of this ELP into the membrane.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06379-8

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