Semi-synthetic minimal cells: Biochemical, physical, and technological aspects

The construction of synthetic cells is one of the major goals of bioengineering. The most successful approach consists in the encapsulation of biochemical materials (DNA, RNA, enzymes, etc.) inside lipid vesicles (liposomes), mimicking a cell structure. In this contribution, that also aims at introducing the reader to 'chemical synthetic biology,' we describe the current state of the art of 'semi-synthetic minimal cells' (SSMCs), namely, cell-like structures containing the minimal number of biological compounds that are required to reconstruct a function of interest. We will first describe how the concept of the minimal cell was originated and its relation with the theory of autopoiesis, then we review the most advanced results focused on genetic/metabolic networks inside liposomes. Next, we emphasize that relevance of physical aspects (too often neglected) that impact on the solute entrapment process, and finally we discuss new technological trends in SSMC research that will probably allow their future use in biotechnology. © 2013 Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Atividade de enzimas digestivas de Lithobates catesbeianus durante o desenvolvimento larval

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Informe de la Primera Reunión de Inversionistas Centroamericanos (auspiciado por la ODECA y el CCE y celebrada en San Salvador, El Salvador, 27-31 octubre 1959)

Incluye Bibliografía

Informe de la primera sesión de trabajo de la Séptima Reunión del Subcomité de Comercio Centroamericano, Guatemala, 18-27 mayo 1960

Incluye Bibliografía