MSGID: 1:317/3 6423bef4   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    The powerhouse of the future: Artificial cells    
    Assessing how energy-generating synthetic organelles could sustain   
   artificial cells    
      
     Date:   
         March 28, 2023   
     Source:   
         American Institute of Physics   
     Summary:   
         Researchers identify the most promising advancements and greatest   
         challenges of artificial mitochondria and chloroplasts. The   
         team describes the components required to construct synthetic   
         mitochondria and chloroplasts and identifies proteins as the most   
         important aspects for molecular rotary machinery, proton transport,   
         and ATP production. The authors believe it is important to create   
         artificial cells with biologically realistic energy-generation   
         methods that mimic natural processes; replicating the entire cell   
         could lead to future biomaterials.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   Energy production in nature is the responsibility of chloroplasts and   
   mitochondria and is crucial for fabricating sustainable, synthetic cells   
   in the lab. Mitochondria are not only "the powerhouses of the cell," as   
   the middle school biology adage goes, but also one of the most complex   
   intracellular components to replicate artificially.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   InBiophysics Reviews, by AIP Publishing, researchers from Sogang   
   University in South Korea and the Harbin Institute of Technology in China   
   identified the most promising advancements and greatest challenges of   
   artificial mitochondria and chloroplasts.   
      
   "If scientists can create artificial mitochondria and chloroplasts,   
   we could potentially develop synthetic cells that can generate energy   
   and synthesize molecules autonomously. This would pave the way for the   
   creation of entirely new organisms or biomaterials," author Kwanwoo   
   Shin said.   
      
   In plants, chloroplasts use sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide   
   into glucose. Mitochondria, found in plants and animals alike, produce   
   energy by breaking down glucose.   
      
   Once a cell produces energy, it often uses a molecule called adenosine   
   triphosphate (ATP) to store and transfer that energy. When the cell   
   breaks down the ATP, it releases energy that powers the cell's functions.   
      
   "In other words, ATP acts as the main energy currency of the cell, and   
   it is vital for the cell to perform most of the cellular functions,"   
   said Shin.   
      
   The team describes the components required to construct synthetic   
   mitochondria and chloroplasts and identifies proteins as the most   
   important aspects for molecular rotary machinery, proton transport,   
   and ATP production.   
      
   Previous studies have replicated components that make up the   
   energy-producing organelles. Some of the most promising work investigates   
   the intermediate operations involved in the complex energy-generating   
   process. By connecting the sequence of proteins and enzymes, researchers   
   have improved energy efficiency.   
      
   One of the most significant challenges remaining in trying to reconstruct   
   the energy production organelles is enabling self-adaptation in changing   
   environments to maintain a stable supply of ATP. Future studies must   
   investigate how to improve upon this limiting feature before synthetic   
   cells are self-sustainable.   
      
   The authors believe it is important to create artificial cells with   
   biologically realistic energy-generation methods that mimic natural   
   processes.   
      
   Replicating the entire cell could lead to future biomaterials and lend   
   insight into the past.   
      
   "This could be an important milestone in understanding the origin of   
   life and the origin of cells," Shin said.   
      
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Plants_&_Animals   
                   # Cell_Biology # Molecular_Biology #   
                   Biotechnology_and_Bioengineering # Biology   
             o Matter_&_Energy   
                   # Energy_Technology # Energy_and_Resources #   
                   Nuclear_Energy # Solar_Energy   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Chloroplast o Mitochondrion o Bacteria o Renewable_energy   
             o Artificial_reef o DNA_repair o Biology o Cell_membrane   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by American_Institute_of_Physics. Note:   
   Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Hyun Park, Weichen Wang, Seo Hyeon Min, Yongshuo Ren, Kwanwoo Shin,   
         Xiaojun Han. Artificial organelles for sustainable chemical   
         energy conversion and production in artificial cells: Artificial   
         mitochondrion and chloroplasts. Biophysics Reviews, 2023; 4 (1):   
         011311 DOI: 10.1063/ 5.0131071   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230328145222.htm   
      
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