What question did this study set out to answer?

To explore the engineering of synthetic cells utilizing phase-segregated nucleic acids and their adaptive properties.

February 21, 2026Biophysical Journal0 citations

BPS2026 – Synthetic cells from phase-segregated nucleic acids

Key Points

To explore the engineering of synthetic cells utilizing phase-segregated nucleic acids and their adaptive properties.
Engineered synthetic cells using liquid-liquid phase separation of nucleic acids.
Exploited secondary structures of DNA for creating artificial cytoskeletons.
Developed RNA condensates through transcriptional activity with KL-motif RNAs.
Synthesized DNA-based systems that mimic cytoplasm with programmable behaviors.
Achieved non-Fickian transport within synthetic cells.
Established metabolic behaviors incorporating catalysts and DNAzymes.

Abstract

Liquid-liquid phase separation of nucleic acids has emerged as a powerful route to engineer synthetic cells. Condensates of single-stranded DNA provide programmable, viscoelastic environments that mimic aspects of the cytoplasm while offering precise sequence-level control. Within these DNA-based synthetic cells, we exploit secondary structures to assemble artificial cytoskeletons, uncover non-Fickian uptake and transport, and integrate catalysts and DNAzymes to establish metabolism-driven adaptive behaviors. In parallel, we have recently demonstrated that RNA condensates can be built de novo by transcriptional activity, using KL-motif RNAs to nucleate and sustain dynamic compartments. These RNA-based condensates offer a direct bridge between genetic information processing and compartmentalization, enabling the creation of synthetic organelles whose growth and properties are encoded by transcriptional programs.

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