Protocell self-reproduction in a spatially extended metabolism–vesicle system
Open accessAbstract
Cellular life requires the presence of a set of biochemical mechanisms in order to maintain a predictable process of growth and division. Several attempts have been made towards the building of minimal protocells from a top-down approach, i.e. by using available biomolecules. This type of synthetic approach has so far been only partially successful, and appropriate models of the synthetic protocell cycle might be needed to guide future experiments. In this paper, we present a simple biochemically and physically feasible model of cell replication involving a discrete semi-permeable vesicle with an internal minimal metabolism involving two reactive centers. It is shown that such a system can effectively undergo a whole cell replication cycle. The model can be used as a basic framework to model whole protocell dynamics including more complex sets of reactions. The possible implementation of our design in future synthetic protocells is outlined.
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Models have shown that cell division through growth and instability is possible in an information-free context where only metabolism and compartment are present, both in amphiphile-based vesicles and micelles.
“But models have also shown that such a possibility exists in an information-free context where only metabolism and compartment are present, both in amphiphile-based vesicles [167–169] and micelles [164,170].”
From Fundamental constraints to the logic of living systems (2024) · cites this paper as [167]
Cites
Toward the engineering of minimal living cells
Luisi, P. L. (2002) · The Anatomical Record · doi:10.1002/ar.10155 · Cited by 175 · cited 3× · see citing works
“Extensive experimental work has been developed using vesicles under a top- down approach (Luisi, 2002).”
Synthetic Turing protocells: vesicle self-reproduction through symmetry-breaking instabilities
Macía, J., & Solé, R. V. (2007) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2007.2074 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
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Evolution and self-assembly of protocells
Solé, R. V. (2009) · The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology · doi:10.1016/j.biocel.2008.10.004 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Self-citationFundamental constraints to the logic of living systems
Solé, R., Kempes, C. P., Corominas-Murtra, B., De Domenico, M., Kolchinsky, A., Lachmann, M., Libby, E., Saavedra, S., Smith, E., & Wolpert, D. (2024) · Interface Focus · doi:10.1098/rsfs.2024.0010 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
“But models have also shown that such a possibility exists in an information-free context where only metabolism and compartment are present, both in amphiphile-based vesicles [167–169] and micelles [164,170].”
BackgroundSelf-citationSynthetic Turing protocells: vesicle self-reproduction through symmetry-breaking instabilities
Macía, J., & Solé, R. V. (2007) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2007.2074 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Macía, J., & Solé, R. V.
- Affiliations
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ES)
- Corresponding author
- Macía, Javier
- Venue
- Journal of Theoretical Biology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-04
- Volume
- 245
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 400-410
- ISSN
- 0022-5193 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2594762301
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- arxiv.org
- Locations
- Journal of Theoretical Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Funders
- Santa Fe Institute
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computational Theory and Mathematics › Cellular Automata and Applications
- Keywords
- protocells, self-replication, synthetic protocells
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Cell Division, Cell Membrane, Cell Physiological Phenomena, Computer Simulation, Humans, Models, Biological, Osmotic Pressure, Cell Size
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