Toward synthetic life: Biomimetic synthetic cell communication

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 165-173
Author(s):  
Abbey O. Robinson ◽  
Orion M. Venero ◽  
Katarzyna P. Adamala
Keyword(s):  
Cell Communication ◽  
Synthetic Cell ◽  
Synthetic Life

scholarly journals Hands-free control of heterologous gene expression in batch cultures

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Borkowski ◽  
Drew Endy ◽  
Pakpoom Subsoontorn
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Batch Culture ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Heterologous Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Culture Conditions ◽  
Heterologous Gene ◽  
Synthetic Cell ◽  
Genetic Systems ◽  
Application Specific

AbstractBackgroundAutonomous cell-based control of heterologous gene expression can simplify batch-culture bioprocessing by eliminating external monitoring and extrinsic control of culture conditions. Existing approaches use auto-induction media, synthetic cell-cell communication systems, or application-specific biosensors. A simpler, resource-efficient, and general-purpose expression control system responsive to common changes during batch culture would be useful.ResultsWe used nativeE.colipromoters and recombinase-based switches to repurpose endogenous transcription signals for control of heterologous gene expression. Specifically, natural changes in transcription from endogenous promoters result in recombinase expression at different phases of batch culture. So-expressed recombinases invert a constitutive promoter regulating expression of arbitrary heterologous genes. We realized reversible and single-use switching, reduced static and dynamic cell-to-cell variation, and overall expression amplification. We used “off-the-shelf” genetic parts and abstraction-based composition frameworks to realize reliable forward engineering of our synthetic genetic systems.ConclusionWe engineered autonomous control systems for regulating heterologous gene expression. Our system uses generic endogenous promoters to sense and control heterologous expression during growth-phase transitions. Our system does not require specialized auto-induction media, production or activation of quorum sensing, or the development of application-specific biosensors. Cells programmed to control themselves could simplify existing bioprocess operations and enable the development of more powerful synthetic genetic systems.

scholarly journals Xenobiology: An expanded semantical review

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 10929
Author(s):  
Adhityo WICAKSONO ◽  
Ghea P. CRISTY
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Synthetic Genome ◽  
Synthetic Cell ◽  
Synthetic Life ◽  
The One ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
Natural And Synthetic

The definition of “xenobiology” has gradually shifted from the study of the foreign, estranged life forms potentially existing in outer space to the study where the natural and synthetic life are involved. The natural concept of xenobiology governs the unseen, hypothetical life on the outer space, and the hidden life with completely different biochemistry on Earth. The life on the outer space might possess different way to harvest energy from the one on Earth. The hidden life on Earth, or the “Shadow Biosphere” might rose from completely different way of creation and evolution on Earth, which lead to its complete difference from the known biosphere. The newest concept of xenobiology involves synthetic life, built with unnatural base pair of the nucleic acid, with analogous or xeno nucleic acid (XNA), has a synthetic genome which capable of self-replicating or enables the synthetic cell to self-replicate, or even possesses a synthetic physiological pathway. By understanding the broad spectrum of xenobiology, in both natural and synthetic concepts, we can expand our view on how life might develop into a completely estranged system, which is different from anthropocentric view of life available around us on Earth. From these perspectives, we might understand how life evolved by evolving it synthetically.

scholarly journals Engineered cell-to-cell signalling within growing bacterial cellulose pellicles

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth T Walker ◽  
Vivianne J Goosens ◽  
Akashaditya Das ◽  
Alicia E Graham ◽  
Tom Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Cellulose ◽  
Cell Signalling ◽  
Polymer Network ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Homoserine Lactone ◽  
Structured Materials ◽  
Signalling Molecule ◽  
Synthetic Cell ◽  
Differential Gene ◽  
High Yields

AbstractBacterial cellulose is a strong and flexible biomaterial produced at high yields by Acetobacter species and has applications in healthcare, biotechnology and electronics. Naturally, bacterial cellulose grows as a large unstructured polymer network around the bacteria that produce it, and tools to enable these bacteria to respond to different locations are required to grow more complex structured materials. Here, we introduce engineered cell-to-cell communication into a bacterial cellulose-producing strain of Komagataeibacter rhaeticus to enable different cells to detect their proximity within growing material and trigger differential gene expression in response. Using synthetic biology tools, we engineer Sender and Receiver strains of K. rhaeticus to produce and respond to the diffusible signalling molecule, acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL). We demonstrate that communication can occur both within and between growing pellicles and use this in a boundary detection experiment, where spliced and joined pellicles sense and reveal their original boundary. This work sets the basis for synthetic cell-to-cell communication within bacterial cellulose and is an important step forward for pattern formation within engineered living materials.

How Do We See That Something Is Living? Synthetic Creatures and Phenomenology of Perception

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Rehmann-Sutter
Keyword(s):  
Life Forms ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Epistemological Question ◽  
Phenomenology Of Perception ◽  
Synthetic Cell ◽  
The World ◽  
Basic Layer ◽  
Synthetic Life ◽  
Basic Concepts

The creation of synthetic life forms raises the question of what we mean when we say that a synthetic cell is “alive.” This paper analyzes the problem of aliveness both as an epistemological question (how can we know?) and as a phenomenological question (how can we perceive?). It introduces basic concepts that can be used in a phenomenological analysis of the “givenness” of life and argues that aliveness can only be seen with reference to the experiences of the observer as him/herself living. Life is therefore inherently ambiguous. When perceiving other life forms, we are aware of our own life. In order to develop a concept of the “other life” of a synthetic bacterium, we need to be aware of projecting perceptual evidence of our own life onto that of other species. The concept of “other life” can address a very basic layer: seeing another life form’s being-in-the-world as (1) a center of its own spontaneity, (2) a particular way of being in time that can be described as duration, and (3) as a system of processes that contain their own sense as practices.

Synthetic cell–cell communication in a three-species consortium for one-step vitamin C fermentation

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 951-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
En-Xu Wang ◽  
Yu Liu ◽  
Qian Ma ◽  
Xiu-Tao Dong ◽  
Ming-Zhu Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin C ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Synthetic Cell ◽  
One Step ◽  
Cell Cell

scholarly journals New approaches in bioprocess-control: Consortium guidance by synthetic cell-cell communication based on fungal pheromones

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 387-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Hennig ◽  
Mandy Wenzel ◽  
Christiane Haas ◽  
Andreas Hoffmann ◽  
Jost Weber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Communication ◽  
Bioprocess Control ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
Synthetic Cell ◽  
Cell Cell

scholarly journals Chemical communication at the synthetic cell/living cell interface

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Mukwaya ◽  
Stephen Mann ◽  
Hongjing Dou
Keyword(s):  
Signal Processing ◽  
Chemical Communication ◽  
Living Cell ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Lipid Vesicles ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Giant Vesicles ◽  
Synthetic Cell ◽  
Living Organisms

AbstractAlthough the complexity of synthetic cells has continued to increase in recent years, chemical communication between protocell models and living organisms remains a key challenge in bottom-up synthetic biology and bioengineering. In this Review, we discuss how communication channels and modes of signal processing can be established between living cells and cytomimetic agents such as giant unilamellar lipid vesicles, proteinosomes, polysaccharidosomes, polymer-based giant vesicles and membrane-less coacervate micro-droplets. We describe three potential modes of chemical communication in consortia of synthetic and living cells based on mechanisms of distributed communication and signal processing, physical embodiment and nested communication, and network-based contact-dependent communication. We survey the potential for applying synthetic cell/living cell communication systems in biomedicine, including the in situ production of therapeutics and development of new bioreactors. Finally, we present a short summary of our findings.

scholarly journals Controlling Synthetic Cell-Cell Communication

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jefferson M. Smith ◽  
Razia Chowdhry ◽  
Michael J. Booth
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecules ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Cellular Function ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Cellular Communication ◽  
Synthetic Cell ◽  
Synthetic Cells ◽  
Chemical Inputs ◽  
Cell Cell

Synthetic cells, which mimic cellular function within a minimal compartment, are finding wide application, for instance in studying cellular communication and as delivery devices to living cells. However, to fully realise the potential of synthetic cells, control of their function is vital. An array of tools has already been developed to control the communication of synthetic cells to neighbouring synthetic cells or living cells. These tools use either chemical inputs, such as small molecules, or physical inputs, such as light. Here, we examine these current methods of controlling synthetic cell communication and consider alternative mechanisms for future use.

Gap junctions in the prothoracic glands of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 706-707
Author(s):  
Ji-da Dai ◽  
M. Joseph Costello ◽  
Lawrence I. Gilbert
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Manduca Sexta ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Prothoracic Glands ◽  
Polyhydroxylated Steroids ◽  
Stimulation Of

Insect molting and metamorphosis are elicited by a class of polyhydroxylated steroids, ecdysteroids, that originate in the prothoracic glands (PGs). Prothoracicotropic hormone stimulation of steroidogenesis by the PGs at the cellular level involves both calcium and cAMP. Cell-to-cell communication mediated by gap junctions may play a key role in regulating signal transduction by controlling the transmission of small molecules and ions between adjacent cells. This is the first report of gap junctions in the PGs, the evidence obtained by means of SEM, thin sections and freeze-fracture replicas.

Plant peptide hormone signalling

2015 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 115-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayane Motomitsu ◽  
Shinichiro Sawa ◽  
Takashi Ishida
Keyword(s):  
Communication Systems ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Peptide Hormone ◽  
Peptide Hormones ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Signalling Molecules ◽  
Receptor Complexes ◽  
Environmental Responses ◽  
Plant Life Cycle ◽  
Multicellular Organisms

The ligand–receptor-based cell-to-cell communication system is one of the most important molecular bases for the establishment of complex multicellular organisms. Plants have evolved highly complex intercellular communication systems. Historical studies have identified several molecules, designated phytohormones, that function in these processes. Recent advances in molecular biological analyses have identified phytohormone receptors and signalling mediators, and have led to the discovery of numerous peptide-based signalling molecules. Subsequent analyses have revealed the involvement in and contribution of these peptides to multiple aspects of the plant life cycle, including development and environmental responses, similar to the functions of canonical phytohormones. On the basis of this knowledge, the view that these peptide hormones are pivotal regulators in plants is becoming increasingly accepted. Peptide hormones are transcribed from the genome and translated into peptides. However, these peptides generally undergo further post-translational modifications to enable them to exert their function. Peptide hormones are expressed in and secreted from specific cells or tissues. Apoplastic peptides are perceived by specialized receptors that are located at the surface of target cells. Peptide hormone–receptor complexes activate intracellular signalling through downstream molecules, including kinases and transcription factors, which then trigger cellular events. In this chapter we provide a comprehensive summary of the biological functions of peptide hormones, focusing on how they mature and the ways in which they modulate plant functions.

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