Communication and quorum sensing in non-living mimics of eukaryotic cells

Henrike Niederholtmeyer, Cynthia Chaggan and Neal K. Devaraj ()
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Henrike Niederholtmeyer: University of California, San Diego
Cynthia Chaggan: University of California, San Diego
Neal K. Devaraj: University of California, San Diego

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Cells in tissues or biofilms communicate with one another through chemical and mechanical signals to coordinate collective behaviors. Non-living cell mimics provide simplified models of natural systems; however, it has remained challenging to implement communication capabilities comparable to living cells. Here we present a porous artificial cell-mimic containing a nucleus-like DNA-hydrogel compartment that is able to express and display proteins, and communicate with neighboring cell-mimics through diffusive protein signals. We show that communication between cell-mimics allows distribution of tasks, quorum sensing, and cellular differentiation according to local environment. Cell-mimics can be manufactured in large quantities, easily stored, chemically modified, and spatially organized into diffusively connected tissue-like arrangements, offering a means for studying communication in large ensembles of artificial cells.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07473-7

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