Ebook: The Minimal Cell: The Biophysics of Cell Compartment and the Origin of Cell Functionality

In the last ten years there has been a considerable increase of interest on the notion of the minimal cell. With this term we usually mean a cell-like structure containing the minimal and sufficient number of components to be defined as alive, or at least capable of displaying some of the fundamental functions of a living cell. In fact, when we look at extant living cells we realize that thousands of molecules are organized spatially and functionally in order to realize what we call cellular life. This fact elicits the question whether such huge complexity is a necessary condition for life, or a simpler molecular system can also be defined as alive. Obviously, the concept of minimal cell encompasses entire families of cells, from totally synthetic cells, to semi-synthetic ones, to primitive cell models, to simple biomimetic cellular systems. Typically, in the experimental approach to the construction of minimal the main ingredient is the compartment. Lipid vesicles (liposomes) are used to host simple and complex molecular transformations, from single or multiple enzymic reactions, to polymerase chain reactions, to gene expression. Today this research is seen as part of the broader scenario of synthetic biology but it is rooted in origins of life studies, because the construction of a minimal cell might provide biophysical insights into the origins of primitive cells, and the emergence of life on earth. The volume provides an overview of physical, biochemical and functional studies on minimal cells, with emphasis to experimental approaches. 15 International experts report on their innovative contributions to the construction of minimal cells.

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In the last ten years there has been a considerable increase of interest on the notion of the minimal cell. With this term we usually mean a cell-like structure containing the minimal and sufficient number of components to be defined as alive, or at least capable of displaying some of the fundamental functions of a living cell. In fact, when we look at extant living cells we realize that thousands of molecules are organized spatially and functionally in order to realize what we call cellular life. This fact elicits the question whether such huge complexity is a necessary condition for life, or a simpler molecular system can also be defined as alive. Obviously, the concept of minimal cell encompasses entire families of cells, from totally synthetic cells, to semi-synthetic ones, to primitive cell models, to simple biomimetic cellular systems. Typically, in the experimental approach to the construction of minimal the main ingredient is the compartment. Lipid vesicles (liposomes) are used to host simple and complex molecular transformations, from single or multiple enzymic reactions, to polymerase chain reactions, to gene expression. Today this research is seen as part of the broader scenario of synthetic biology but it is rooted in origins of life studies, because the construction of a minimal cell might provide biophysical insights into the origins of primitive cells, and the emergence of life on earth. The volume provides an overview of physical, biochemical and functional studies on minimal cells, with emphasis to experimental approaches. 15 International experts report on their innovative contributions to the construction of minimal cells.

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In the last ten years there has been a considerable increase of interest on the notion of the minimal cell. With this term we usually mean a cell-like structure containing the minimal and sufficient number of components to be defined as alive, or at least capable of displaying some of the fundamental functions of a living cell. In fact, when we look at extant living cells we realize that thousands of molecules are organized spatially and functionally in order to realize what we call cellular life. This fact elicits the question whether such huge complexity is a necessary condition for life, or a simpler molecular system can also be defined as alive. Obviously, the concept of minimal cell encompasses entire families of cells, from totally synthetic cells, to semi-synthetic ones, to primitive cell models, to simple biomimetic cellular systems. Typically, in the experimental approach to the construction of minimal the main ingredient is the compartment. Lipid vesicles (liposomes) are used to host simple and complex molecular transformations, from single or multiple enzymic reactions, to polymerase chain reactions, to gene expression. Today this research is seen as part of the broader scenario of synthetic biology but it is rooted in origins of life studies, because the construction of a minimal cell might provide biophysical insights into the origins of primitive cells, and the emergence of life on earth. The volume provides an overview of physical, biochemical and functional studies on minimal cells, with emphasis to experimental approaches. 15 International experts report on their innovative contributions to the construction of minimal cells.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-x
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Towards a Minimal Cytoplasm....Pages 3-30
Evolution of the Cell’s Mechanical Design....Pages 31-50
On the Minimal Requirements for the Emergence of Cellular Crowding....Pages 51-64
How Small is Small?....Pages 65-71
Biochemical Reactions in the Crowded and Confined Physiological Environment: Physical Chemistry Meets Synthetic Biology....Pages 73-89
Front Matter....Pages 91-91
The Influence of Environment and Metabolic Capacity on the Size of a Microorganism....Pages 93-103
The Minimal Cell and Life’s Origin: Role of Water and Aqueous Interfaces....Pages 105-121
Membrane Self-Assembly Processes: Steps Toward the First Cellular Life....Pages 123-151
Approaches to Building Chemical Cells/Chells: Examples of Relevant Mechanistic ‘Couples’....Pages 153-170
Front Matter....Pages 171-171
Construction of an In Vitro Model of a Living Cellular System....Pages 173-193
New and Unexpected Insights on the Formation of Protocells from a Synthetic Biology Approach: The Case of Entrapment of Biomacromolecules and Protein Synthesis Inside Vesicles....Pages 195-216
Liposomes Mediated Synthesis of Membrane Proteins....Pages 217-229
Giant Unilamellar Vesicles: From Minimal Membrane Systems to Minimal Cells?....Pages 231-253
Theoretical Approaches to Ribocell Modeling....Pages 255-273
Evolvability and Self-Replication of Genetic Information in Liposomes....Pages 275-287
Back Matter....Pages 289-298

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In the last ten years there has been a considerable increase of interest on the notion of the minimal cell. With this term we usually mean a cell-like structure containing the minimal and sufficient number of components to be defined as alive, or at least capable of displaying some of the fundamental functions of a living cell. In fact, when we look at extant living cells we realize that thousands of molecules are organized spatially and functionally in order to realize what we call cellular life. This fact elicits the question whether such huge complexity is a necessary condition for life, or a simpler molecular system can also be defined as alive. Obviously, the concept of minimal cell encompasses entire families of cells, from totally synthetic cells, to semi-synthetic ones, to primitive cell models, to simple biomimetic cellular systems. Typically, in the experimental approach to the construction of minimal the main ingredient is the compartment. Lipid vesicles (liposomes) are used to host simple and complex molecular transformations, from single or multiple enzymic reactions, to polymerase chain reactions, to gene expression. Today this research is seen as part of the broader scenario of synthetic biology but it is rooted in origins of life studies, because the construction of a minimal cell might provide biophysical insights into the origins of primitive cells, and the emergence of life on earth. The volume provides an overview of physical, biochemical and functional studies on minimal cells, with emphasis to experimental approaches. 15 International experts report on their innovative contributions to the construction of minimal cells.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-x
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Towards a Minimal Cytoplasm....Pages 3-30
Evolution of the Cell’s Mechanical Design....Pages 31-50
On the Minimal Requirements for the Emergence of Cellular Crowding....Pages 51-64
How Small is Small?....Pages 65-71
Biochemical Reactions in the Crowded and Confined Physiological Environment: Physical Chemistry Meets Synthetic Biology....Pages 73-89
Front Matter....Pages 91-91
The Influence of Environment and Metabolic Capacity on the Size of a Microorganism....Pages 93-103
The Minimal Cell and Life’s Origin: Role of Water and Aqueous Interfaces....Pages 105-121
Membrane Self-Assembly Processes: Steps Toward the First Cellular Life....Pages 123-151
Approaches to Building Chemical Cells/Chells: Examples of Relevant Mechanistic ‘Couples’....Pages 153-170
Front Matter....Pages 171-171
Construction of an In Vitro Model of a Living Cellular System....Pages 173-193
New and Unexpected Insights on the Formation of Protocells from a Synthetic Biology Approach: The Case of Entrapment of Biomacromolecules and Protein Synthesis Inside Vesicles....Pages 195-216
Liposomes Mediated Synthesis of Membrane Proteins....Pages 217-229
Giant Unilamellar Vesicles: From Minimal Membrane Systems to Minimal Cells?....Pages 231-253
Theoretical Approaches to Ribocell Modeling....Pages 255-273
Evolvability and Self-Replication of Genetic Information in Liposomes....Pages 275-287
Back Matter....Pages 289-298
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