Photoswitchable Molecular Communication between Programmable DNA-Based Artificial Membraneless Organelles.

Spatiotemporal organization of distinct biological processes in cytomimetic compartments is a crucial step towards engineering functional artificial cells. Mimicking controlled bi-directional molecular communication inside artificial cells remains a considerable challenge. Here we present photoswitchable molecular transport between programmable membraneless organelle-like DNA coacervates in a synthetic microcompartment. We use droplet microfluidics to fabricate membraneless non-fusing DNA coacervates by liquid-liquid phase separation in a water-in-oil droplet, and employ the interior DNA coacervates as artificial organelles to imitate intracellular communication via photo-regulated uni- and bi-directional transfer of biomolecules. Our results highlight a promising new route to assembly of multicompartment artificial cells with functional networks. © 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.

Citation

Qi-Hong Zhao, Fang-Hao Cao, Zhen-Hong Luo, Wilhelm T S Huck, Nan-Nan Deng. Photoswitchable Molecular Communication between Programmable DNA-Based Artificial Membraneless Organelles. Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English). 2022 Mar 28;61(14):e202117500

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PMID: 35090078

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