ACS Synthetic Biology

We created novel artificial cells by encapsulating a riboswitch-gene fusion with wheat germ extract in liposomes. These non-living cells promoted the expression of a glowing protein encoded in the gene in response to an external target at room temperature. They (precisely, a riboswitch in them) can be rationally designed for a user-defined target, allowing a cocktail of artificial cells (each group has a specific riboswitch-gene fusion) to simultaneously detect multiple targets with different glowing proteins.

Researchers from Osaka University have demonstrated a proof-of-concept for a novel use of artificial intelligence for enzyme engineering that does not require an enzyme’s crystal structure. By analyzing the amino acid sequences of malic enzymes from various living organisms, the researchers identified the amino acids that are pertinent to using different redox cofactors. The results of this work will facilitate retooling enzymes in research laboratories and the biotech industry.