The project in synthetic biology of developing cells from scratch with the most minimal systems possible continues, now with the ability to make movement happen.

Max Planck Institute scientists have taken artificial liposome vesicles made in previous experiments and combined them with Min proteins from E. coli, surprisingly creating a mechanical force gradient and moving the vesicles.

#Motility #SyntheticBiology #Biology #Biotechmistry #Proteins #Science #Scicomm

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-023-02058-8

Mechanochemical feedback loop drives persistent motion of liposomes - Nature Physics

Through a mechanochemical feedback loop involving Min proteins of Escherichia coli, liposomes start to move, which may help to design motile artificial cells.

Nature