title: Development of an artificial cell, from self-organization to computation and self-reproduction.
abstract: This article describes the state and the development of an artificial cell project. We discuss the experimental constraints to synthesize the most elementary cell-sized compartment that can self-reproduce using synthetic genetic information. The original idea was to program a phospholipid vesicle with DNA. Based on this idea, it was shown that in vitro gene expression could be carried out inside cell-sized synthetic vesicles. It was also shown that a couple of genes could be expressed for a few days inside the vesicles once the exchanges of nutrients with the outside environment were adequately introduced. The development of a cell-free transcription/translation toolbox allows the expression of a large number of genes with multiple transcription factors. As a result, the development of a synthetic DNA program is becoming one of the main hurdles. We discuss the various possibilities to enrich and to replicate this program. Defining a program for self-reproduction remains a difficult question as nongenetic processes, such as molecular self-organization, play an essential and complementary role. The synthesis of a stable compartment with an active interface, one of the critical bottlenecks in the synthesis of artificial cell, depends on the properties of phospholipid membranes. The problem of a self-replicating artificial cell is a long-lasting goal that might imply evolution experiments.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, 116 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Noireaux
authors.forename: Yusuke T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Libchaber
mesh_terms: D058045:Artificial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division; D019295:Computational Biology; D022162:Cytoplasmic Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010743:Phospholipids