Issue 47, 2020

Dynamic spatial and structural organization in artificial cells regulates signal processing by protein scaffolding

Abstract

Structural and spatial organization are fundamental properties of biological systems that allow cells to regulate a wide range of biochemical processes. This organization is often transient and governed by external cues that initiate dynamic self-assembly processes. The construction of synthetic cell-like materials with similar properties requires the hierarchical and reversible organization of selected functional components on molecular scaffolds to dynamically regulate signaling pathways. The realization of such transient molecular programs in synthetic cells, however, remains underexplored due to the associated complexity of such hierarchical platforms. In this contribution, we effectuate dynamic spatial organization of effector protein subunits in a synthetic biomimetic compartment, a giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV), by associating in a reversible manner two fragments of a split luciferase to the membrane. This induces their structural dimerization, which consequently leads to the activation of enzymatic signaling. Importantly, such organization and activation are dynamic processes, and can be autonomously regulated – thus opening up avenues toward continuous spatiotemporal control over supramolecular organization and signaling in an artificial cell.

Graphical abstract: Dynamic spatial and structural organization in artificial cells regulates signal processing by protein scaffolding

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
17 júl. 2020
Accepted
04 nóv. 2020
First published
05 nóv. 2020
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2020,11, 12829-12834

Dynamic spatial and structural organization in artificial cells regulates signal processing by protein scaffolding

B. C. Buddingh', A. Llopis-Lorente, L. K. E. A. Abdelmohsen and J. C. M. van Hest, Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 12829 DOI: 10.1039/D0SC03933K

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