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Recent research news on Artificial Biology


Distinct Network Morphologies from In Situ Polymerization of Microtubules in Giant Polymer-Lipid Hybrid Vesicles

Creating artificial cells with a dynamic cytoskeleton, akin to those in living cells, is a major goal in bottom-up synthetic biology. In this study, we demonstrate the in situ polymerization of microtubules encapsulated in giant polymer-lipid hybrid vesicles (GHVs) composed of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and an amphiphilic block copolymer. The block copolymer is comprised of poly(cholesteryl methacrylate-co-butyl methacrylate) as the hydrophobic block and either poly(6-O-methacryloyl-D-galactopyranose) or poly(carboxyethyl acrylate) as the hydrophilic extension. Depending on the concentrations of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) or its slowly hydrolyzable analog, guanosine-5′-[(α,β)-methyleno]triphosphate (GMPCPP), different microtubule morphologies are observed, including encapsulated microtubule networks, spike protrusions, as well as membrane-associated or aggregated microtubules. Overall, this work represents a step forward in mimicking the cellular cytoskeletons and uncovering the influence of membrane composition on microtubule morphologies.

Recent publications by network


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Dong, M. (2006). Scanning probe microscopy studies of biomolecules on surfaces. Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO).
Krüger, A., Birkedal, V., Raarup, M. K., Kristensen, M., Kjems, J. & Besenbacher, F. (2006). Single-molecule Microscopy on Nucleic Acids. Poster session presented at NANOBIO Summer School "The live cell from nano to micro", Cargese, Corse, France.
Lützelberger, M. & Kjems, J. (2006). Strategies to identify potential therapeutic target sites in RNA. In V. Erdmann, J. Barciszewski & J. Brosius (Eds.), Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology: RNA Towards Medicine (Vol. 173, pp. 243-259). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/b138836
Pedersen, J. S., Flink, J. M., Dikov, D. & Otzen, D. (2006). Sulfates Dramatically Stabilize a Salt-Dependent Type of Glucagon Fibrils. Biophysical Journal, 90(11), 4181-4194. https://doi.org/10.1529/biophysj.105.070912
Paca-Uccaralertkun, S., Damgaard, C. K., Auewarakul, P., Thitithanyanont, A., Suphaphiphat, P., Essex, M., Kjems, J. & Lee, T.-H. (2006). The Effect of a Single Nucleotide Substitution in the Splicing Silencer in the tat/rev Intron on HIV Type 1 Envelope Expression. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, 22(1), 76-82. https://doi.org/10.1089/aid.2006.22.76