Cell-sized asymmetric phospholipid-amphiphilic protein vesicles with growth, fission, and molecule transportation

Lipid vesicles, which mimic cell membranes in structure and components, have been used to study the origin of life and artificial cell construction. A different approach to developing cell-mimicking systems focuses on the formation of pro- tein-or polypeptide-based vesicles. However, micro-sized protein vesicles that are similar in membrane dynamics to the cell and that reconstitute membrane pro-teins are difficult to form. In this study, we generated cell-sized asymmetric phospholipid-amphiphilic protein (oleosin) vesicles that allow the reconstitution of membrane proteins and the growth and fission of vesicles. These vesicles are composed of a lipid membrane on the outer leaflet and an oleosin membrane on the inner leaflet. Further, we elucidated a mechanism for the growth and fission of cell-sized asymmetric phospholipid-oleosin vesicles by feeding phos-pholipid micelles. Our asymmetric phospholipid-oleosin vesicles with the advan-tages of the lipid leaflet and the protein leaflet will potentially promote under-standing of biochemistry and synthetic biology.

Automated summary

Lipid vesicles are used to study life's origin and artificial cell construction, but micro-sized protein vesicles are difficult to form. This study successfully generated cell-sized asymmetric phospholipid-amphiphilic protein (oleosin) vesicles that can reconstitute membrane proteins and undergo growth and fission. The vesicles consist of a lipid membrane on the outer leaflet and an oleosin membrane on the inner leaflet, and their growth and fission mechanisms were elucidated by feeding phospholipid micelles. These vesicles have the advantages of both lipid and protein layers, potentially advancing our understanding of biochemistry and synthetic biology.