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Living material assembly of bacteriogenic protocells

Author

Listed:
  • Can Xu

    (University of Bristol)

  • Nicolas Martin

    (Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, UMR5031)

  • Mei Li

    (University of Bristol
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Stephen Mann

    (University of Bristol
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    University of Bristol
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

Abstract

Advancing the spontaneous bottom-up construction of artificial cells with high organizational complexity and diverse functionality remains an unresolved issue at the interface between living and non-living matter1–4. Here, to address this challenge, we developed a living material assembly process based on the capture and on-site processing of spatially segregated bacterial colonies within individual coacervate microdroplets for the endogenous construction of membrane-bounded, molecularly crowded, and compositionally, structurally and morphologically complex synthetic cells. The bacteriogenic protocells inherit diverse biological components, exhibit multifunctional cytomimetic properties and can be endogenously remodelled to include a spatially partitioned DNA–histone nucleus-like condensate, membranized water vacuoles and a three-dimensional network of F-actin proto-cytoskeletal filaments. The ensemble is biochemically energized by ATP production derived from implanted live Escherichia coli cells to produce a cellular bionic system with amoeba-like external morphology and integrated life-like properties. Our results demonstrate a bacteriogenic strategy for the bottom-up construction of functional protoliving microdevices and provide opportunities for the fabrication of new synthetic cell modules and augmented living/synthetic cell constructs with potential applications in engineered synthetic biology and biotechnology.

Suggested Citation

  • Can Xu & Nicolas Martin & Mei Li & Stephen Mann, 2022. "Living material assembly of bacteriogenic protocells," Nature, Nature, vol. 609(7929), pages 1029-1037, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:609:y:2022:i:7929:d:10.1038_s41586-022-05223-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05223-w
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    Cited by:

    1. Cheng Qi & Xudong Ma & Qi Zeng & Zhangwei Huang & Shanshan Zhang & Xiaokang Deng & Tiantian Kong & Zhou Liu, 2024. "Multicompartmental coacervate-based protocell by spontaneous droplet evaporation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Agustín Mangiarotti & Nannan Chen & Ziliang Zhao & Reinhard Lipowsky & Rumiana Dimova, 2023. "Wetting and complex remodeling of membranes by biomolecular condensates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Shubin Li & Yingming Zhao & Shuqi Wu & Xiangxiang Zhang & Boyu Yang & Liangfei Tian & Xiaojun Han, 2023. "Regulation of species metabolism in synthetic community systems by environmental pH oscillations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Shang Dai & Zhenming Xie & Binqiang Wang & Rui Ye & Xinwen Ou & Chen Wang & Ning Yu & Cheng Huang & Jie Zhao & Chunhui Cai & Furong Zhang & Damiano Buratto & Taimoor Khan & Yan Qiao & Yuejin Hua & Ruh, 2023. "An inorganic mineral-based protocell with prebiotic radiation fitness," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Danping Tian & Ruipeng Hao & Xiaoming Zhang & Hu Shi & Yuwei Wang & Linfeng Liang & Haichao Liu & Hengquan Yang, 2023. "Multi-compartmental MOF microreactors derived from Pickering double emulsions for chemo-enzymatic cascade catalysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Merlijn H. I. Haren & Brent S. Visser & Evan Spruijt, 2024. "Probing the surface charge of condensates using microelectrophoresis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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