title: Predatory behaviour in synthetic protocell communities.
abstract: Recent progress in the chemical construction of colloidal objects comprising integrated biomimetic functions is paving the way towards rudimentary forms of artificial cell-like entities (protocells). Although several new types of protocells are currently available, the design of synthetic protocell communities and investigation of their collective behaviour has received little attention. Here we demonstrate an artificial form of predatory behaviour in a community of protease-containing coacervate microdroplets and protein-polymer microcapsules (proteinosomes) that interact via electrostatic binding. The coacervate microdroplets act as killer protocells for the obliteration of the target proteinosome population by protease-induced lysis of the protein-polymer membrane. As a consequence, the proteinosome payload (dextran, single-stranded DNA, platinum nanoparticles) is trafficked into the attached coacervate microdroplets, which are then released as functionally modified killer protocells capable of rekilling. Our results highlight opportunities for the development of interacting artificial protocell communities, and provide a strategy for inducing collective behaviour in soft matter microcompartmentalized systems and synthetic protocell consortia.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.affiliation: Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058045:Artificial Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry; D003911:Dextrans / Q000737:chemistry; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000737:chemistry; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D003911:Dextrans; D011108:Polymers; D011506:Proteins; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate