Self-organized spatial targeting of contractile actomyosin rings for synthetic cell division

Abstract A key challenge for bottom-up synthetic biology is engineering a minimal module for self-division of synthetic cells. Actin-based cytokinetic rings are considered a promising structure to produce the forces required for the controlled excision of cell-like compartments such as giant unilame...

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Main Authors: María Reverte-López, Nishu Kanwa, Yusuf Qutbuddin, Viktoriia Belousova, Marion Jasnin, Petra Schwille
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54807-9
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author María Reverte-López
Nishu Kanwa
Yusuf Qutbuddin
Viktoriia Belousova
Marion Jasnin
Petra Schwille
author_facet María Reverte-López
Nishu Kanwa
Yusuf Qutbuddin
Viktoriia Belousova
Marion Jasnin
Petra Schwille
author_sort María Reverte-López
collection DOAJ
description Abstract A key challenge for bottom-up synthetic biology is engineering a minimal module for self-division of synthetic cells. Actin-based cytokinetic rings are considered a promising structure to produce the forces required for the controlled excision of cell-like compartments such as giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Despite prior demonstrations of actin ring targeting to GUV membranes and myosin-induced constriction, large-scale vesicle deformation has been precluded due to the lacking spatial control of these contractile structures. Here we show the combined reconstitution of actomyosin rings and the bacterial MinDE protein system within GUVs. Incorporating this spatial positioning tool, able to induce active transport of membrane-attached diffusible molecules, yields self-organized equatorial assembly of actomyosin rings in vesicles. Remarkably, the synergistic effect of Min oscillations and the contractility of actomyosin bundles induces mid-vesicle deformations and vesicle blebbing. Our system showcases how functional machineries from various organisms may be combined in vitro, leading to the emergence of functionalities towards a synthetic division system.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
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series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-3ca0f63a8d7c4e0bb4b1a559b2d8f80c2024-12-01T12:33:24ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-11-0115111310.1038/s41467-024-54807-9Self-organized spatial targeting of contractile actomyosin rings for synthetic cell divisionMaría Reverte-López0Nishu Kanwa1Yusuf Qutbuddin2Viktoriia Belousova3Marion Jasnin4Petra Schwille5Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of BiochemistryDepartment of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of BiochemistryDepartment of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of BiochemistryDepartment of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of BiochemistryHelmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany; Department of Chemistry, Technical University of MunichDepartment of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of BiochemistryAbstract A key challenge for bottom-up synthetic biology is engineering a minimal module for self-division of synthetic cells. Actin-based cytokinetic rings are considered a promising structure to produce the forces required for the controlled excision of cell-like compartments such as giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Despite prior demonstrations of actin ring targeting to GUV membranes and myosin-induced constriction, large-scale vesicle deformation has been precluded due to the lacking spatial control of these contractile structures. Here we show the combined reconstitution of actomyosin rings and the bacterial MinDE protein system within GUVs. Incorporating this spatial positioning tool, able to induce active transport of membrane-attached diffusible molecules, yields self-organized equatorial assembly of actomyosin rings in vesicles. Remarkably, the synergistic effect of Min oscillations and the contractility of actomyosin bundles induces mid-vesicle deformations and vesicle blebbing. Our system showcases how functional machineries from various organisms may be combined in vitro, leading to the emergence of functionalities towards a synthetic division system.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54807-9
spellingShingle María Reverte-López
Nishu Kanwa
Yusuf Qutbuddin
Viktoriia Belousova
Marion Jasnin
Petra Schwille
Self-organized spatial targeting of contractile actomyosin rings for synthetic cell division
Nature Communications
title Self-organized spatial targeting of contractile actomyosin rings for synthetic cell division
title_full Self-organized spatial targeting of contractile actomyosin rings for synthetic cell division
title_fullStr Self-organized spatial targeting of contractile actomyosin rings for synthetic cell division
title_full_unstemmed Self-organized spatial targeting of contractile actomyosin rings for synthetic cell division
title_short Self-organized spatial targeting of contractile actomyosin rings for synthetic cell division
title_sort self organized spatial targeting of contractile actomyosin rings for synthetic cell division
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54807-9
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AT yusufqutbuddin selforganizedspatialtargetingofcontractileactomyosinringsforsyntheticcelldivision
AT viktoriiabelousova selforganizedspatialtargetingofcontractileactomyosinringsforsyntheticcelldivision
AT marionjasnin selforganizedspatialtargetingofcontractileactomyosinringsforsyntheticcelldivision
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