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Size control and oscillations of active droplets in synthetic cells

Author

Listed:
  • Judit Sastre

    (Lichtenbergstrasse 4)

  • Advait Thatte

    (Universitätsstrasse 1)

  • Alexander M. Bergmann

    (Lichtenbergstrasse 4)

  • Michele Stasi

    (Lichtenbergstrasse 4)

  • Marta Tena-Solsona

    (Lichtenbergstrasse 4)

  • Christoph A. Weber

    (Universitätsstrasse 1)

  • Job Boekhoven

    (Lichtenbergstrasse 4)

Abstract

Oscillations in the formation and dissolution of molecular assemblies inside living cells are pivotal in orchestrating various cellular functions and processes. However, designing such rhythmic patterns in synthetic cells remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrate the spontaneous emergence of spatio-temporal oscillations in the number of droplets, size, and their spatial distribution within a synthetic cell. The coacervate-based droplets in these synthetic cells sediment and fuse at the cell’s bottom. Through a size control mechanism, the sedimented, large droplets shrink by expelling droplet material. The expelled molecules nucleate new droplets at the top of the synthetic cell, which grow and sediment again. These oscillations are sustained by converting chemical fuel into waste and can continue for hundreds of periods without evidence of fatigue. Strikingly, the period of the oscillation is in the minute’s regime and tunable. The design of oscillating artificial organelles in synthetic cells brings us closer to creating more life-like materials and de novo life.

Suggested Citation

  • Judit Sastre & Advait Thatte & Alexander M. Bergmann & Michele Stasi & Marta Tena-Solsona & Christoph A. Weber & Job Boekhoven, 2025. "Size control and oscillations of active droplets in synthetic cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57240-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57240-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Li-Wei Chang & Tyler K. Lytle & Mithun Radhakrishna & Jason J. Madinya & Jon Vélez & Charles E. Sing & Sarah L. Perry, 2017. "Sequence and entropy-based control of complex coacervates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Alexander M. Bergmann & Jonathan Bauermann & Giacomo Bartolucci & Carsten Donau & Michele Stasi & Anna-Lena Holtmannspötter & Frank Jülicher & Christoph A. Weber & Job Boekhoven, 2023. "Liquid spherical shells are a non-equilibrium steady state of active droplets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Carsten Donau & Fabian Späth & Marilyne Sosson & Brigitte A. K. Kriebisch & Fabian Schnitter & Marta Tena-Solsona & Hyun-Seo Kang & Elia Salibi & Michael Sattler & Hannes Mutschler & Job Boekhoven, 2020. "Active coacervate droplets as a model for membraneless organelles and protocells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Sergey N. Semenov & Lewis J. Kraft & Alar Ainla & Mengxia Zhao & Mostafa Baghbanzadeh & Victoria E. Campbell & Kyungtae Kang & Jerome M. Fox & George M. Whitesides, 2016. "Autocatalytic, bistable, oscillatory networks of biologically relevant organic reactions," Nature, Nature, vol. 537(7622), pages 656-660, September.
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