posted on 2021-05-28, 14:37authored byChunyu Zhao, Junbo Li, Shengliang Wang, Zhijun Xu, Xiaoliang Wang, Xiaoman Liu, Lei Wang, Xin Huang
Coacervate-based
membraneless organelles with diverse functionality
as well as the capability of mimicking intracellular physiological
environments are attracting researchers’ great interest. However,
the further studies focusing on functionalized membranization of coacervate
as a step toward an advanced membrane-bound protocell are still rare.
In this study, we develop a way to compartmentalize coacervate based
on reconstitution with a natural cellular wall, which could then serve
as a promising chassis for the development of protocells with selective
sequestration of various biomacromolecules. Significantly, the compartmentalized
protocell could behave like a phagocyte and selectively capture, engulf,
and then kill Escherichia coli efficiently.
Taken together, our studies present a strategy for advancing coacervate-based
protocell design as well as the development of smart materials with
on-demand functionalization.