Synthetic Mitochondria: Fueling Synthetic Cells and Life-Like Materials with Molecular Energy?

We need energy for every step we go, every breath we take and every thought we think. But where does this energy come from? The mitochondria, tiny powerhouses in our cells, convert the food we eat, like sugars and fats, into a usable form of energy for our body, which is adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

What if we could build such tiny molecular powerhouses ourselves, but making them much simpler than the mitochondria in our cells? Could simplified synthetic mitochondria fuel synthetic cells and our next generation of out-of-equilibrium material systems?

Our independent research group leader Laura Heinen engineered together with Bert Poolman, Marco van den Noort, Martin King and Edmund Kunji tiny vesicle structures that can continuously produce ATP. The vesicles are only composed of lipids and a handful of proteins. The ATP is excreted from the vesicles and can be used to fuel energy-demanding reactions and processes.

In their Nature Nanotechnology article they show cross-feeding between the synthetic mitochondria and vesicle nanoreactors, that use ATP to transport and accumulate vital molecules across their membrane. The released ADP feeds back and is regenerated by the synthetic mitochondria. This example of continuous synthetic syntrophy paves the way for fueling future synthetic cells, studying cellular processes under defined conditions and building sustainable and eco-friendly life-like machines and materials.

The future of synthetic mitochondria is just starting…

Laura’s research group at DWI is developing metabolically active synthetic cells and energy-autonomous out-of-equilibrium material systems with life-like properties. We are looking forward to her research and developments!