The research group, Yoshihiro Minagawa (Assistant Professor), and Moe Yabuta (PhD student), led by Hiroyuki Noji (Professor) of the Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, in collaboration with Masayuki Su’etsugu (Professor) from the Department of Life Science, College of Science, Rikkyo University, has successfully developed a self-growing protocell model driven by an internal DNA replication reaction. In this study, the research team discovered that the critical concentration of PEG/DEX aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) decreased in the presence of DNA, indicating that DNA stabilizes the two-phase state of PEG/DEX ATPS. By integrating a DNA amplification system within DEX-rich droplets, the researchers successfully achieved over a 10-fold volume expansion of the droplets induced by internal DNA replication. Furthermore, by implementing a cell-free transcription-translation (TXTL) system coupled with DNA replication, the team achieved a self-growing protocell model, in which gene expression, DNA replication, and the growth of DEX-rich droplets are interconnected. This achievement would pave the way for developing protocells with more autonomy; self-division and self-evolution. Additionally, it could serve as a model system for studying the origin and evolution of primitive life forms.
Papers
Journal: Nature Communications
Title: Self-growing protocell models in aqueous two-phase system induced by internal DNA replication reaction
Authors: Yoshihiro Minagawa#, Moe Yabuta#, Masayuki Su’etsugu, & Hiroyuki Noji*
(# contributed equally *Corresponding Author)