Modularize and Unite: Toward Creating a Functional Artificial Cell

An artificial cell is a simplified model of a living system, bringing breakthroughs into both basic life science and applied research. The bottom-up strategy instructs the construction of an artificial cell from nonliving materials, which could be complicated and interdisciplinary considering the in...

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Autores principales:	Chen Wang, Junzhu Yang, Yuan Lu
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Frontiers Media S.A. 2021
Materias:	artificial cell bottom-up construction modularization unity function Biology (General) QH301-705.5
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/cdff456077964aeca17672b121cee6e8
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id	oai:doaj.org-article:cdff456077964aeca17672b121cee6e8
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:cdff456077964aeca17672b121cee6e82021-12-01T13:45:35ZModularize and Unite: Toward Creating a Functional Artificial Cell2296-889X10.3389/fmolb.2021.781986https://doaj.org/article/cdff456077964aeca17672b121cee6e82021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2021.781986/fullhttps://doaj.org/toc/2296-889XAn artificial cell is a simplified model of a living system, bringing breakthroughs into both basic life science and applied research. The bottom-up strategy instructs the construction of an artificial cell from nonliving materials, which could be complicated and interdisciplinary considering the inherent complexity of living cells. Although significant progress has been achieved in the past 2 decades, the area is still facing some problems, such as poor compatibility with complex bio-systems, instability, and low standardization of the construction method. In this review, we propose creating artificial cells through the integration of different functional modules. Furthermore, we divide the function requirements of an artificial cell into four essential parts (metabolism, energy supplement, proliferation, and communication) and discuss the present researches. Then we propose that the compartment and the reestablishment of the communication system would be essential for the reasonable integration of functional modules. Although enormous challenges remain, the modular construction would facilitate the simplification and standardization of an artificial cell toward a natural living system. This function-based strategy would also broaden the application of artificial cells and represent the steps of imitating and surpassing nature.Chen WangJunzhu YangYuan LuFrontiers Media S.A.articleartificial cellbottom-up constructionmodularizationunityfunctionBiology (General)QH301-705.5ENFrontiers in Molecular Biosciences, Vol 8 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	artificial cell bottom-up construction modularization unity function Biology (General) QH301-705.5
spellingShingle	artificial cell bottom-up construction modularization unity function Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Chen Wang Junzhu Yang Yuan Lu Modularize and Unite: Toward Creating a Functional Artificial Cell
description	An artificial cell is a simplified model of a living system, bringing breakthroughs into both basic life science and applied research. The bottom-up strategy instructs the construction of an artificial cell from nonliving materials, which could be complicated and interdisciplinary considering the inherent complexity of living cells. Although significant progress has been achieved in the past 2 decades, the area is still facing some problems, such as poor compatibility with complex bio-systems, instability, and low standardization of the construction method. In this review, we propose creating artificial cells through the integration of different functional modules. Furthermore, we divide the function requirements of an artificial cell into four essential parts (metabolism, energy supplement, proliferation, and communication) and discuss the present researches. Then we propose that the compartment and the reestablishment of the communication system would be essential for the reasonable integration of functional modules. Although enormous challenges remain, the modular construction would facilitate the simplification and standardization of an artificial cell toward a natural living system. This function-based strategy would also broaden the application of artificial cells and represent the steps of imitating and surpassing nature.
format	article
author	Chen Wang Junzhu Yang Yuan Lu
author_facet	Chen Wang Junzhu Yang Yuan Lu
author_sort	Chen Wang
title	Modularize and Unite: Toward Creating a Functional Artificial Cell
title_short	Modularize and Unite: Toward Creating a Functional Artificial Cell
title_full	Modularize and Unite: Toward Creating a Functional Artificial Cell
title_fullStr	Modularize and Unite: Toward Creating a Functional Artificial Cell
title_full_unstemmed	Modularize and Unite: Toward Creating a Functional Artificial Cell
title_sort	modularize and unite: toward creating a functional artificial cell
publisher	Frontiers Media S.A.
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/cdff456077964aeca17672b121cee6e8
work_keys_str_mv	AT chenwang modularizeandunitetowardcreatingafunctionalartificialcell AT junzhuyang modularizeandunitetowardcreatingafunctionalartificialcell AT yuanlu modularizeandunitetowardcreatingafunctionalartificialcell
_version_	1718405140030947328

Modularize and Unite: Toward Creating a Functional Artificial Cell

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