TY - JOUR
T1 - Artificial Organelles
T2 - Towards Adding or Restoring Intracellular Activity
AU - Oerlemans, Roy A.J.F.
AU - Timmermans, Suzanne B.P.E.
AU - van Hest, Jan C.M.
PY - 2021/6/15
Y1 - 2021/6/15
N2 - Compartmentalization is one of the main characteristics that define living systems. Creating a physically separated microenvironment allows nature a better control over biological processes, as is clearly specified by the role of organelles in living cells. Inspired by this phenomenon, researchers have developed a range of different approaches to create artificial organelles: compartments with catalytic activity that add new function to living cells. In this review we will discuss three complementary lines of investigation. First, orthogonal chemistry approaches are discussed, which are based on the incorporation of catalytically active transition metal-containing nanoparticles in living cells. The second approach involves the use of premade hybrid nanoreactors, which show transient function when taken up by living cells. The third approach utilizes mostly genetic engineering methods to create bio-based structures that can be ultimately integrated with the cell's genome to make them constitutively active. The current state of the art and the scope and limitations of the field will be highlighted with selected examples from the three approaches.
AB - Compartmentalization is one of the main characteristics that define living systems. Creating a physically separated microenvironment allows nature a better control over biological processes, as is clearly specified by the role of organelles in living cells. Inspired by this phenomenon, researchers have developed a range of different approaches to create artificial organelles: compartments with catalytic activity that add new function to living cells. In this review we will discuss three complementary lines of investigation. First, orthogonal chemistry approaches are discussed, which are based on the incorporation of catalytically active transition metal-containing nanoparticles in living cells. The second approach involves the use of premade hybrid nanoreactors, which show transient function when taken up by living cells. The third approach utilizes mostly genetic engineering methods to create bio-based structures that can be ultimately integrated with the cell's genome to make them constitutively active. The current state of the art and the scope and limitations of the field will be highlighted with selected examples from the three approaches.
KW - artificial organelles
KW - intracellular catalysis
KW - nanoreactors
KW - nanotechnology
KW - synthetic biology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85101934834&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/cbic.202000850
DO - 10.1002/cbic.202000850
M3 - Review article
C2 - 33450141
AN - SCOPUS:85101934834
SN - 1439-4227
VL - 22
SP - 2051
EP - 2078
JO - ChemBioChem
JF - ChemBioChem
IS - 12
ER -