Studies on liposomal protocells comprising phase-separated protein condensates

Abstract

Efforts to create synthetic cells similar to real cells have continued using liposomes, polymersomes, colloidosomes and coacervate etc. However, each scaffold had shortcomings and limitations, such as encapsulation efficiency and environmental change, so that an amphiphile-bound coacervate, a fused form of existing scaffold, appeared to improve those features. Due to its crowd nature, it could imitate the real-cell environment, and encapsulation efficiency could be improved. However, selective abosorption for biomolecules and stability to wash out foreign substances have not been shown yet. Here, I propose lipid coated protein condensates which has improved stability and promoted selective uptake achieved by functionalized protein scaffold. Also, engulfing by outside protein condensates were shown. So far, this study has improved the functionality and stability of protocells, and I hope that it will become a bottom-up strategy for synthetic cells in the future model.