Lavickova2020 - Partially Self-Regenerating Synthetic Cell

Title	A partially self-regenerating synthetic cell
Authors	Barbora Lavickova, Nadanai Laohakunakorn, Sebastian J. Maerkl
Publication source	Nature Communications
Year published	2020
DOI URL	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20180-6
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Abstract	The reconstruction of biological processes in vitro offers a powerful route towards the bottom-up construction of synthetic cells. However, the complex dynamics of biological systems make their emulation in synthetic systems a considerable challenge. Here, we present a partially self-regenerating minimal cell consisting of a microfluidic reactor hosting a cell-free gene expression system, which is periodically replenished with small volumes of feeding solution. This system sustains the expression of several essential protein components, including ribosomal proteins, translation factors, and T7 RNA polymerase, over a 24-h period. By maintaining a balance between supply and removal, and by avoiding energy depletion and component degradation, the system exhibits an increase in self-regeneration capacity. Our work demonstrates a step towards the sustained operation of synthetic minimal cells.
Experimental context:	Cell-free
Subsystem tag(s):	Metabolic Subsystem

Relevance to Synthetic Cells

(Falcon) This article presents a major advancement in the development of synthetic cells with regenerative capabilities. The authors demonstrate:

• A microfluidic chemostat capable of continuous feeding to sustain protein synthesis
• Separation and stabilization of energy and protein components, enabling long-term operation
• Use of a modified PURE system for precise control over gene expression components
• Sustained regeneration of essential transcription-translation machinery, a key milestone in synthetic cell autonomy

The work addresses both energy supply and degradation issues, offering practical methods to prolong activity of artificial cells.