Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) have for the first time created artificial cells in the laboratory that look and function like the cells of the human body. As the scientists report in their publication in the journal “Nature Chemistry”, this achievement opens new avenues in regenerative medicine, in the development of drug delivery systems and diagnostic tools.
Like and like
In their publication, Dr. Ronit Freeman and her colleagues describe the steps they took to manage the DNA but also proteins – building blocks of life – to create cells that have the same image and behavior as normal cells. “Our discovery will lead to the development of tissues that are sensitive to changes in their environment and behave dynamically,” said Dr. Freeman, an associate professor in the Department of Applied Natural Sciences in UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences.
The vital role of the cytoskeleton
Cells and tissues are made up of proteins that work together to carry out different tasks and create different structures. Proteins are essential for building the framework of our cells called the cytoskeleton. Without it cells would not be able to function as it allows them to be flexible both in shape and in terms of their response to their environment.
The new technology
Scientists in Dr. Freeman’s Laboratory, without using natural proteins, created cells with a functional cytoskeleton that could change shape and react to their environment. To achieve this they used a new DNA and peptide programming technology which essentially directs the peptides (the building blocks of proteins) as well as the genetic material to work together to create a cytoskeleton.
“Architectural” genetic material
“Under normal conditions DNA does not appear in the cytoskeleton. We reprogrammed DNA sequences to act as an architectural material that binds the peptides together. As soon as this programmed material was placed in a drop of water the structures took shape” the professor described.
Tough tough synthetic cells
The ability to program DNA in this way means that scientists will be able to create cells that serve specific functions, and even regulate the cells’ response to exogenous stressors. Although the organism’s cells are more complex compared to the synthetic ones created in Dr. Freeman’s lab, they are also more unpredictable in behavior and more vulnerable when in hostile environments, such as high temperatures. “Our artificial cells were stable even at 50 degrees Celsius, paving the way to create cells with incredible potential even in environments under physiological conditions unsuitable for human life,” said Dr. Freeman.
Beyond biology
According to the researcher, the goal of her team is to create materials that can perform a specific function and then be modified to perform a new function. Depending on the case, different peptides or DNA could be added to program the cells into materials such as tissues or even textiles with potential applications that promise to revolutionize fields such as biotechnology and medicine. “This study helps us understand what creates life. The new technology to create synthetic cells will allow us not only to reproduce what nature does but to create materials that go beyond biology itself,” concluded Dr. Freeman.
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