Scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , one of the oldest public universities in the United States, have made a significant breakthrough in creating artificial cells that mimic natural cells.
The key to this achievement is the manipulation of proteins, the building blocks of cells. These proteins not only perform essential functions but also form the cell’s internal structure, allowing for flexibility and adaptation. This research paves the way for the development of artificial cells with functions closer to natural cells.
Without using natural proteins, the scientists built cells with functional cytoskeletons that can change shape and react to their surroundings. To do this, they used a new programmable peptide-DNA technology that directs peptides, the building blocks of proteins, and repurposed genetic material to work together to form a cytoskeleton.