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. 2022 Mar 28;61(14):e202117500.
doi: 10.1002/anie.202117500. Epub 2022 Feb 15.

Photoswitchable Molecular Communication between Programmable DNA-Based Artificial Membraneless Organelles

Qi-Hong Zhao  1 , Fang-Hao Cao  1 , Zhen-Hong Luo  1 , Wilhelm T S Huck  2 , Nan-Nan Deng  1
Affiliations

Photoswitchable Molecular Communication between Programmable DNA-Based Artificial Membraneless Organelles

Qi-Hong Zhao et al. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. .

Abstract

Spatiotemporal organization of distinct biological processes in cytomimetic compartments is a crucial step towards engineering functional artificial cells. Mimicking controlled bi-directional molecular communication inside artificial cells remains a considerable challenge. Here we present photoswitchable molecular transport between programmable membraneless organelle-like DNA coacervates in a synthetic microcompartment. We use droplet microfluidics to fabricate membraneless non-fusing DNA coacervates by liquid-liquid phase separation in a water-in-oil droplet, and employ the interior DNA coacervates as artificial organelles to imitate intracellular communication via photo-regulated uni- and bi-directional transfer of biomolecules. Our results highlight a promising new route to assembly of multicompartment artificial cells with functional networks.

Keywords: Artificial Cells; Artificial Organelles; DNA; Intracellular Communication; Phase Transitions.

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