Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2026
09:37
Preparing Protein Producing Synthetic Cells using Cell Free Bacterial Extracts, Liposomes and Emulsion Transfer
Published on: April 27, 2020
11.6K
Artificial cells with liquid-liquid phase separation-regulated cell-free protein synthesis
Dongdong Fan1, Kaini Liang1, Bingjie Wu1
1School of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Summary
Engineered polymers control protein synthesis in artificial cells via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). This breakthrough enables tunable protein expression, with potential for advanced biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Synthetic biology
- Biochemistry
- Materials science
Background:
- Synthetic biology aims to create artificial cells mimicking natural ones.
- Regulated protein expression remains a key challenge in artificial cell engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for precisely controlling protein expression in artificial cells.
- To leverage liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) for regulating cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS).
Main Methods:
- Engineered polymers with multivalent motifs were used to induce LLPS and protein aggregation.
- A microfluidic platform fabricated giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) encapsulating CFPS systems.
- pH-responsive DNA templates were incorporated for selective protein expression.
Main Results:
- LLPS-induced protein aggregation reversibly regulated translational activity and CFPS.
- The aggregation mechanism broadly inhibited various enzymes, enabling controllable reaction processes.
- Artificial cells demonstrated tunable protein expression in response to pH changes, validated in vivo.
Conclusions:
- Aggregate dynamics offer a novel strategy for precise, in situ modulation of protein synthesis in artificial cells.
- This approach enhances the controllability of artificial cell reaction processes.
- Findings pave the way for advanced biomedical applications of engineered artificial cells.
