Artificial assembly of a minimal cell

Abstract

Synthetic Biology approaches can assemble and/or reconstruct cell parts in synthetic compartments. A minimal cell as a model for early living cells can be artificially constructed in the laboratory resuming the main properties of a basic cell living system: a synthetic cell compartment or liposome to host a minimal metabolism based on protein synthesis, and a shell and core reproduction mechanism, all in an artificial cell assembly and remaining in the realm of minimal living. It is becoming realistic to construct artificial cells, starting from a minimal cell assembly, and deliver cell-like bioreactors to synthesize pure proteins/enzymes or isolate single pathways. These artificial cell-like systems could perform different tasks in antimicrobial drug development, drug delivery and diagnostic applications.