University of Minnesota team builds first synthetic cell from non-living chemicals
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have assembled a synthetic cell from non-living chemicals that can feed, grow, replicate its genome and divide, the first time a complete cell cycle has been achieved from the bottom up.
A synthetic cell from scratch
SpudCell was assembled entirely from known chemical components (a lipid membrane, a 90,000-base-pair synthetic genome on seven plasmids, 36 purified enzymes and other molecular machinery) at the University of Minnesota. Unlike previous synthetic biology efforts that modified natural cells, this bottom-up approach means every molecule is understood and can be deliberately engineered.
We've replicated in chemistry what only used to be possible in biology: the complete set of behaviours of a cell. It proves that the most fundamental functions of life, like growth and replication, do not need a mysterious magical spark.
A full life cycle, with caveats
SpudCell feeds by fusing with nutrient-filled liposomes, grows, replicates its DNA and eventually splits to produce daughter cells. The division mechanism relies on crowding proteins on the membrane surface rather than a cytoskeleton. In experiments, cells with a genetic growth advantage spread through the population. However, the process is far from autonomous: researchers must force the cells through microscopic pores in a membrane to trigger division, and only about 30% of the resulting cells retain a full genome after five cycles. The synthetic cell also cannot build its own ribosomes, which must be supplied externally; these borrowed from E. coli degrade after five to ten generations.
Genome size comparison
SpudCell's genome is minimal compared to natural organisms.
- SpudCell
- 90000 base pairs
- E. coli
- 4600000 base pairs
- Human
- 3000000000 base pairs
A cautious step, not life
The team does not claim to have created life. "Life is not binary; so I hesitate to say this is alive," Adamala said. The synthetic cell performs many hallmarks of life but lacks full self-sufficiency, and there is no agreed definition of life to apply. Nonetheless, external experts acknowledge the advance.
It is not yet life, but a huge step in understanding how chemistry can become biology.
From prototype to pipeline
The researchers envision SpudCell as a programmable chassis for biotechnological applications, from drug manufacturing to carbon capture. They have established Biotic, an institution to share the technology and coordinate international engineering efforts. Safety and ethical governance are pressing concerns; Drew Endy of Stanford noted the need to "manage them well." The work remains under peer review after an initial journal rejection and is currently a preprint.
