A Fissionable Artificial Eukaryote-like Cell Model

J Am Chem Soc. 2017 Jul 26;139(29):9955-9960. doi: 10.1021/jacs.7b04009. Epub 2017 Jul 14.

Abstract

The use of artificial cells has attracted considerable attention in various fields from biotechnology to medicine. Here, we develop a cell-sized vesicle-in-vesicle (VIV) structure containing a separate inner vesicle (IV) that can be loaded with DNA. We use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to successfully amplify the amount of DNA confined to the IV. Subsequent osmotic stress-induced fission of a mother VIV into two daughter VIVs successfully divides the IV content while keeping it confined to the IV of the daughter VIVs. The fission rate was estimated to be ∼20% quantified by fluorescence microscope. Our VIV structure represents a step forward toward construction of an advanced, fissionable cell model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Cells / chemistry*
  • Artificial Cells / cytology*
  • Cell Division*
  • Cell Size
  • DNA / biosynthesis
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / genetics
  • Eukaryota / chemistry*
  • Eukaryota / cytology*
  • Humans
  • Lipids / chemical synthesis
  • Lipids / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Models, Biological*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Lipids
  • DNA