Is Research on "Synthetic Cells" Moving to the Next Level?

Overview

Journal Life (Basel)

Specialty Biology

Date 2018 Dec 28

PMID 30587790

Citations 19

Authors

Pasquale Stano

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

"Synthetic cells" research focuses on the construction of cell-like models by using solute-filled artificial microcompartments with a biomimetic structure. In recent years this bottom-up synthetic biology area has considerably progressed, and the field is currently experiencing a rapid expansion. Here we summarize some technical and theoretical aspects of synthetic cells based on gene expression and other enzymatic reactions inside liposomes, and comment on the most recent trends. Such a tour will be an occasion for asking whether times are ripe for a sort of qualitative jump toward novel SC prototypes: is research on "synthetic cells" moving to a next level?

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