#39 - Protein-free fusion of biomimetic polymer and hybrid compartments and applications in bottom-up synthetic biology
Nika Marušič (Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Magdeburg)
Monday, 30 Nov 21:15 - 22:00 CET
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Abstract
Title: Protein-free fusion of biomimetic polymer and hybrid compartments and applications in bottom-up synthetic biology
Author(s): Nika Marušiča, Ziliang Zhaob, Rafael B. Lirab, Rumiana Dimovab, Lado Otrina, Ivan Ivanova and Kai Sundmachera
Affiliation(s): aMax Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Magdeburg, Germany; bMax Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
Abstract: Biomimetic polymer and hybrid (polymer/lipid) compartments are promising substitutes for liposomes in the context of artificial cells and organelles. They have found applications for the segregation of biological gear and the integration of membrane proteins. The fusion of those synthetic vesicles is though underexplored. Therefore, we assessed the fusion of graft poly(dimethylsiloxane)-poly(ethylene oxide) vesicles and blends with soy phosphatidylcholine upon triggers like salts in combination with shear stress and electrostatic attraction. The efficiency was characterized by size distribution and membrane mixing. Furthermore, we showcased that the stochastic fusion of nano-sized polymersomes resulted in visible growth to micron compartments, while the charge-directed binary integration of hybrids enabled the functional coupling of minimal machinery for oxidative phosphorylation.