Artificial cell mimics as simplified models for the study of cell biology
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Salehi-Reyhani, A
Ces, O
Elani, Y
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Living cells are hugely complex chemical systems composed of a milieu of distinct chemical species (including DNA, proteins, lipids, and metabolites) interconnected with one another through a vast web of interactions: this complexity renders the study of cell biology in a quantitative and systematic manner a difficult task. There has been an increasing drive towards the utilization of artificial cells as cell mimics to alleviate this, a development that has been aided by recent advances in artificial cell construction. Cell mimics are simplified cell-like structures, composed from the bottom-up with precisely defined and tunable compositions. They allow specific facets of cell biology to be studied in isolation, in a simplified environment where control of variables can be achieved without interference from a living and responsive cell. This mini-review outlines the core principles of this approach and surveys recent key investigations that use cell mimics to address a wide range of biological questions. It will also place the field in the context of emerging trends, discuss the associated limitations, and outline future directions of the field.
Date Issued
2017-06-04
Date Acceptance
2017-04-30
Citation
Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2017, 242 (13), pp.1309-1317
ISSN
1535-3702
Publisher
SAGE Publications (UK and US)
Start Page
1309
End Page
1317
Journal / Book Title
Experimental Biology and Medicine
Volume
242
Issue
13
Copyright Statement
© 2017 by the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. This is an open access article under a CC-BY Attribution Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
License URL
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant Number
EP/N016998/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Research & Experimental Medicine
Artificial cells
biomimetics
synthetic biology
biophysics
LIQUID-DISORDERED DOMAINS
IN-VITRO
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
GENE-EXPRESSION
LIPID VESICLES
MEMBRANE CURVATURE
MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES
BENDING RIGIDITY
GIANT VESICLES
RNA SYNTHESIS
Artificial Cells
Cell Physiological Phenomena
Cytological Techniques
11 Medical And Health Sciences
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Publication Status
Published