A self-organized synthetic morphogenic liposome responds with shape changes to local light cues

Nat Commun. 2021 Mar 9;12(1):1548. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21679-2.

Abstract

Reconstituting artificial proto-cells capable of transducing extracellular signals into cytoskeletal changes can reveal fundamental principles of how non-equilibrium phenomena in cellular signal transduction affect morphogenesis. Here, we generated a Synthetic Morphogenic Membrane System (SynMMS) by encapsulating a dynamic microtubule (MT) aster and a light-inducible signaling system driven by GTP/ATP chemical potential into cell-sized liposomes. Responding to light cues in analogy to morphogens, this biomimetic design embodies basic principles of localized Rho-GTPase signal transduction that generate an intracellular MT-regulator signaling gradient. Light-induced signaling promotes membrane-deforming growth of MT-filaments by dynamically elevating the membrane-proximal tubulin concentration. The resulting membrane deformations enable recursive coupling of the MT-aster with the signaling system, which generates global self-organized morphologies that reorganize towards local external cues in dependence on prior shape. SynMMS thereby signifies a step towards bio-inspired engineering of self-organized cellular morphogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Cells
  • Biophysical Phenomena
  • Cell Surface Extensions / physiology
  • Centrosome
  • Cues*
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Liposomes* / chemistry
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Morphogenesis / physiology*
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stathmin / metabolism
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Tubulin / metabolism
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Liposomes
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Stathmin
  • Tubulin
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins