Ion gradients are crucial for maintaining cellular processes, fueling essential functions such as nutrient transport, metabolism, and energy production. Synthetic or artificial cells, like their biological counterparts, also require a sustainable energy source to drive these functions. However, previous attempts to power synthetic cells have struggled to maintain long-term energy production.

In a recent study published in Nature Communications, researchers led by Bert Poolman engineered a novel solution to this problem by harnessing the L-malate decarboxylation pathway to generate a stable proton gradient and electrical potential in lipid vesicles. This new approach mimics the energy production processes found in living organisms, particularly in certain fermentative bacteria.

More specifically, the authors proposed using a simple metabolic network where electrogenic L-malate/L-lactate exchange, coupled with L-malate decarboxylation, powers nutrient transport over extended periods. The electrogenic nature of this L-malate/L-lactate exchange was confirmed using solid-supported membrane (SSM)-based electrophysiology (SURFE2R N1).

By co-reconstituting this pathway with GltP and LacY transporters, the team demonstrated sustained accumulation of L-glutamate and lactose over several hours, effectively mimicking nutrient uptake in living cells. Furthermore, they successfully coupled lactose accumulation to the generation of intermediates in the glycolytic and pentose phosphate pathways.

In conclusion, this study demonstrated the sustainable, long-term accumulation of an amino acid and the metabolism of a sugar in lipid vesicles, all driven by a proton motive force-generating pathway. This approach provides a sustainable solution to the energy needs of synthetic cells and opens up exciting possibilities for creating increasingly sophisticated artificial cellular systems.

—

Find the full article here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-52085-z

Learn more about the SSM-Based Electrophysiology and SURFE²R devices here: https://www.nanion.de/products/surfe2r-n1/

#transporters #electrophysiology #ssm #artificialcell