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Mimicking Cellular Metabolism in Artificial Cells: Universal Molecule Transport across the Membrane through Vesicle Fusion

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Jingjing Zhao, Harbin Institute of Technology
  • ,
  • Ying Zhang, College of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Heilongjiang Institute of Technology
  • ,
  • Xiangxiang Zhang, Harbin Institute of Technology
  • ,
  • Chao Li, Harbin Institute of Technology
  • ,
  • Hang Du, Harbin Institute of Technology
  • ,
  • Steffan Møller Sønderskov
  • ,
  • Wei Mu, Harbin Institute of Technology
  • ,
  • Mingdong Dong
  • Xiaojun Han, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology

Mass transport across cell membranes is a primary process for cellular metabolism. For this purpose, electrostatically mediated membrane fusion is exploited to transport various small molecules including glucose-6-phosphate, isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside, and macromolecules such as DNA plasmids from negatively charged large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) to positively charged giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). After membrane fusion between these oppositely charged vesicles, molecules are transported into GUVs to trigger the NAD+ involved enzyme reaction, bacterial gene expression, and in vitro gene expression of green fluorescent protein from a DNA plasmid. The optimized charged lipid percentages are 10% for both positively charged GUVs and negatively charged LUVs to ensure the fusion process. The experimental results demonstrate a universal way for mass transport into the artificial cells through vesicle fusions, which paves a crucial step for the investigation of complicated cellular metabolism.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAnalytical Chemistry
Volume94
Issue9
Pages (from-to)3811-3818
Number of pages8
ISSN0003-2700
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2022

    Research areas

  • Artificial Cells, Biological Transport, Membrane Fusion, Membranes/metabolism, Unilamellar Liposomes/metabolism

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