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Reconstitution and Coupling of DNA Replication and Segregation in a Biomimetic System
Author(s) -
Hürtgen Daniel,
Mascarenhas Judita,
Heymann Michael,
Murray Seán M.,
Schwille Petra,
Sourjik Victor
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chembiochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1439-7633
pISSN - 1439-4227
DOI - 10.1002/cbic.201900299
Subject(s) - replication (statistics) , dna , dna replication , coupling (piping) , biophysics , nanotechnology , computational biology , chemistry , biology , genetics , materials science , virology , metallurgy
A biomimetic system capable of replication and segregation of genetic material constitutes an essential component for the future design of a minimal synthetic cell. Here we have used the simple T7 bacteriophage system and the plasmid‐derived ParMRC system to establish in vitro DNA replication and DNA segregation, respectively. These processes were incorporated into biomimetic compartments providing an enclosed reaction space. The functional lifetime of the encapsulated segregation system could be prolonged by equipping it with ATP‐regenerating and oxygen‐scavenging systems. Finally, we showed that DNA replication and segregation processes could be coupled in vitro by using condensed DNA nanoparticles resulting from DNA replication. ParM spindles extended over tens of micrometers and could thus be used for segregation in compartments that are significantly longer than bacterial cell size. Overall, this work demonstrates the successful bottom‐up assembly and coupling of molecular machines that mediate replication and segregation, thus providing an important step towards the development of a fully functional minimal cell.