Protocells with ATP-Fueled Dissipative Behaviors as Functional Regulators

Area of Science:

• Synthetic Biology
• Biochemistry
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Living cells are dissipative systems, constantly consuming energy to maintain function and respond to stimuli.
• Understanding and replicating cellular energy dynamics is key to creating artificial life-like systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer a synthetic protocell system that exhibits dissipative behavior.
• To emulate metabolic processes using enzymatic reactions within protocells.
• To develop a platform for creating dynamic and functionally complex synthetic life.

Main Methods:

• Formation of synthetic vesicles from cationic surfactants.
• Induction of fuel-driven liquid-liquid phase separation into coacervate protocells.
• Utilizing alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-catalyzed ATP hydrolysis for dissipation and reverse transition.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a synthetic protocell system capable of fuel-driven transformation and dissipation.
• Showcased enzymatic reaction-regulated transitions between vesicle and coacervate states.
• Engineered functional regulators within protocells to produce secondary signals like fluorescence.

Conclusions:

• Developed a strategy for creating dissipative protocell systems emulating cellular metabolism.
• Achieved dynamic behavior and functional complexity in synthetic protocells.
• Advanced the development of synthetic life-like systems with controllable metabolic processes.