Abstract
The ability of cells or cell components to move in response to chemical signals is critical for the survival of living systems. This motion arises from harnessing free energy from enzymatic catalysis. Artificial model protocells derived from phospholipids and other amphiphiles have been made and their enzymatic-driven motion has been observed. However, control of directionality based on chemical cues (chemotaxis) has been difficult to achieve. Here we show both positive or negative chemotaxis of liposomal protocells. The protocells move autonomously by interacting with concentration gradients of either substrates or products in enzyme catalysis, or Hofmeister salts. We hypothesize that the propulsion mechanism is based on the interplay between enzyme-catalysis-induced positive chemotaxis and solute–phospholipid-based negative chemotaxis. Controlling the extent and direction of chemotaxis holds considerable potential for designing cell mimics and delivery vehicles that can reconfigure their motion in response to environmental conditions.
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Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from A.Sen upon reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
The work was supported by the Center for Chemical Innovation funded by the National Science Foundation (grant no. CHE-1740630). P.S.C. and D.V. acknowledge the National Science foundation for funding their work (grant nos. CHE-1709735 and CBET-1603716, respectively)
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The work was conceived by P.S.C., D.V. and A.Sen. A.Somasundar, S.G., F.M., L.N.M. and T.Y. performed the experiments. F.M. carried out the modelling. All the authors contributed to the discussion of results and the writing of the manuscript.
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Somasundar, A., Ghosh, S., Mohajerani, F. et al. Positive and negative chemotaxis of enzyme-coated liposome motors. Nat. Nanotechnol. 14, 1129–1134 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-019-0578-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-019-0578-8
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