Search results for "Biomolecular Condensates"
showing 3 items of 3 documents
Synthetic biomolecular condensates to engineer eukaryotic cells
2021
Abstract The compartmentalization of specific functions into specialized organelles is a key feature of eukaryotic life. In particular, dynamic biomolecular condensates that are not membrane enclosed offer exciting opportunities for synthetic biology. In recent years, multiple approaches to generate and control condensates have been reported. Notably, multiple orthogonally translating organelles were designed that enable precise protein engineering inside living cells. Despite being built from only very few components, orthogonal translation can be engineered with subresolution precision at different places inside the same cell to create mammalian cells with multiple expanded genetic codes.…
Dual film-like organelles enable spatial separation of orthogonal eukaryotic translation
2021
Summary Engineering new functionality into living eukaryotic systems by enzyme evolution or de novo protein design is a formidable challenge. Cells do not rely exclusively on DNA-based evolution to generate new functionality but often utilize membrane encapsulation or formation of membraneless organelles to separate distinct molecular processes that execute complex operations. Applying this principle and the concept of two-dimensional phase separation, we develop film-like synthetic organelles that support protein translation on the surfaces of various cellular membranes. These sub-resolution synthetic films provide a path to make functionally distinct enzymes within the same cell. We use t…
Bioanalysis in Femtoliter Scale Printed Artificial Systems
2020
Printing has fueled the development of a new class of artificial biosystems for the qualitative and quantitative determination of bioanalytes [1]. In particular, the multiscale organization (from nanometers to millimeters) and multiplexed molecular composition (DNA, proteins, lipids, polymers) of such platforms enable the determination of molecular interactions in conditions mimicking/redesigning those of the living systems. Since the development of microarrays platforms [2], the downsizing of the “analyzable” feature down to femtoliter (fL) scales has permitted to develop new researches in the field of molecular condensates/confinement. Herein, two relevant examples of fL-scale systems wil…