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A recursive vesicle-based model protocell with a primitive model cell cycle

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  • Kensuke Kurihara

    (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo
    Research Center for Complex Systems Biology, The University of Tokyo
    Present address: Department of Bioorganization Research, Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscience, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan; Department of Life and Coordination-Complex Molecular Science, Biomolecular Functions, Institute for Molecular Science, 38 Nishigo-Naka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan.)

  • Yusaku Okura

    (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo)

  • Muneyuki Matsuo

    (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo)

  • Taro Toyota

    (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo
    Research Center for Complex Systems Biology, The University of Tokyo)

  • Kentaro Suzuki

    (Research Center for Complex Systems Biology, The University of Tokyo
    Faculty of Science, Kanagawa University)

  • Tadashi Sugawara

    (Research Center for Complex Systems Biology, The University of Tokyo
    Faculty of Science, Kanagawa University
    Toyota Physical and Chemical Research Institute)

Abstract

Self-organized lipid structures (protocells) have been proposed as an intermediate between nonliving material and cellular life. Synthetic production of model protocells can demonstrate the potential processes by which living cells first arose. While we have previously described a giant vesicle (GV)-based model protocell in which amplification of DNA was linked to self-reproduction, the ability of a protocell to recursively self-proliferate for multiple generations has not been demonstrated. Here we show that newborn daughter GVs can be restored to the status of their parental GVs by pH-induced vesicular fusion of daughter GVs with conveyer GVs filled with depleted substrates. We describe a primitive model cell cycle comprising four discrete phases (ingestion, replication, maturity and division), each of which is selectively activated by a specific external stimulus. The production of recursive self-proliferating model protocells represents a step towards eventual production of model protocells that are able to mimic evolution.

Suggested Citation

  • Kensuke Kurihara & Yusaku Okura & Muneyuki Matsuo & Taro Toyota & Kentaro Suzuki & Tadashi Sugawara, 2015. "A recursive vesicle-based model protocell with a primitive model cell cycle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms9352
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9352
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    Cited by:

    1. Hua Wu & Xuanlin Du & Xiaohui Meng & Dong Qiu & Yan Qiao, 2021. "A three-tiered colloidosomal microreactor for continuous flow catalysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Tony Z. Jia & Yutetsu Kuruma, 2019. "Recent Advances in Origins of Life Research by Biophysicists in Japan," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-21, April.

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