Encapsulation of a compartmentalized cytoplasm mimic within a lipid membrane by microfluidics

Chem Commun (Camb). 2017 Apr 27;53(35):4775-4778. doi: 10.1039/c7cc01289f.

Abstract

There is growing interest in analyzing the effect of microenvironments, which may be mimicked through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), on the reactivity of biological macromolecules. We report the encapsulation by microfluidics of the division protein FtsZ and a LLPS system inside microdroplets and their conversion into permeable vesicles (allowing ligand uptake), with higher yield, homogeneity and biomolecular compatibility than those previously described.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Cytoplasm / chemistry*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / chemistry*
  • Escherichia coli / chemistry
  • Lipids / chemistry*
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • FtsZ protein, Bacteria
  • Lipids