Superstructural ordering in self-sorting coacervate-based protocell networks

• Published in: Nature chemistry Vol. 16; no. 2; pp. 158 - 167
• Main Authors: Mu, Wenjing, Jia, Liyan, Zhou, Musen, Wu, Jianzhong, Lin, Yiyang, Mann, Stephen, Qiao, Yan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.02.2024; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/638/298/54/989; 639/638/298/923/966; Analytical Chemistry; Artificial tissues; Biochemistry; Biomolecules; Catalysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Droplets; Enzymes; Inorganic Chemistry; Laboratories; Lipids; Macromolecules; Microscopy; Networks; Organic Chemistry; Physical Chemistry; Reconfiguration; Self-assembly; Signal transduction; Superstructures; Translocation
• ISSN: 1755-4330; 1755-4349
• DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01356-1

Bottom-up assembly of higher-order cytomimetic systems capable of coordinated physical behaviours, collective chemical signalling and spatially integrated processing is a key challenge in the study of artificial multicellularity. Here we develop an interactive binary population of coacervate microdroplets that spontaneously self-sort into chain-like protocell networks with an alternating sequence of structurally and compositionally dissimilar microdomains with hemispherical contact points. The protocell superstructures exhibit macromolecular self-sorting, spatially localized enzyme/ribozyme biocatalysis and interdroplet molecular translocation. They are capable of topographical reconfiguration using chemical or light-mediated stimuli and can be used as a micro-extraction system for macroscale biomolecular sorting. Our methodology opens a pathway towards the self-assembly of multicomponent protocell networks based on selective processes of coacervate droplet–droplet adhesion and fusion, and provides a step towards the spontaneous orchestration of protocell models into artificial tissues and colonies with ordered architectures and collective functions. Bottom-up assembly of protocells into networking superstructures represents a further key step towards rudimentary formation of life. Now it has been shown that a pool of biomolecules can self-organize into an interactive binary population of protocell coacervates with a self-sorting chain-like configuration, allowing for biomolecular extraction, translocation and macroscale separation.