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From bacteria to artificial cells. The problem of self reproduction Albert Libchaber

Explore the concept of self-reproduction in organisms and the potential for synthesizing the most elementary cell compartment using genetic information only. This research delves into the link between computing machines and living organisms, genetic code, and the importance of the environment in cellular life.

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From bacteria to artificial cells. The problem of self reproduction Albert Libchaber

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  1. From bacteria to artificial cells. The problem of self reproduction Albert Libchaber Rockefeller University Institute for Advanced Study

  2. Model organism Bacteria: Escherichia coli (E. coli) Well studied bacteria at normal conditions. Average size = 2mm Division time = 30 min, P=1atm, T=37oC ~1014 in 24 hours

  3. Bacteria under pressure

  4. Pressure dependence of doubling time II I Growth rate decreases upon increasing pressure with a sharp decrease at high pressure.

  5. Recovery of MreB upon depressurization t=270min t=0min t=390min t=500min t=590min t=1000min Kumar, Libchaber (preprint)

  6. In his theory of automata John Von Neumann compared computing machines and living organisms. The self reproduction of automata (1948), was discussed and linked to a Turing like principle. Von Neumann logic implied that self reproduction needed a memory and a code. This was proposed before Crick and Watson model of DNA.

  7. J. Von Neumann Hixon Symposium 1951

  8. Can we synthesize the most elementary cell size compartment that can self reproduce using genetic information only? This would follow Von Neumann logic for self- reproduction . J.Von Neumann Theory of self –reproducing automata (1966)

  9. It is easy to encapsulate a cellular extract plus a DNA program into a phospholipid vesicle Noireaux & Libchaber PNAS 101, 17669 (2004) Noireaux University of Minnesota

  10. Cell-free Transcription-Translation system A cellular extract • 1961: First cell-free protein synthesis study. The genetic code (Matthaei and Nirenberg) • 70s: Gene regulation unraveled with cell-free systems. • 90s: Invention of the efficient hybrid cell-free system (Spirin). - large scale protein synthesis. - high throughput proteomics. - protein evolution. - industrial applications.

  11. Vincent Noireaux lab Phage T7 ● lytic coliphage. ● 40 kbp, 60 genes (35 with known functions). ● almost host independent (2 host proteins required). ● has its own RNA polymerase. ● has its own DNA polymerase.

  12. Vincent Noireaux lab Phage T7 synthesis in a test tube Transcription Translation genome mRNA phage Replication ONLY ● TEM image ● 5-6 hours of incubation ● batch mode reaction J.Shin & V.Noireaux ACS synthetic biology 1, 408 (2012)

  13. A B geodesics Merged Rhodamine-BSA YFP-MreB C Y.T.Maeda, et al. ACS synthetic biology 1 (2011)

  14. Microbes in the soil ecosystem Importance of the environment Alex Petroff , A.L Rockefeller University

  15. Conclusion Physics to Biology : Duality: Sequence space versus object space Genetic code, Self Reference, Self Reproduction. Dangerous dynamics leading to a world of exponentials. Metabolism needs to follow. Darwinian evolution possible. The environment is a fundamental aspect of cellular life. It controls metabolism, development and organization. Research on artificial life is very active in laboratories.

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