Condensates at Membrane Scaffolds – Integrated Systems as Synthetic Cell Compartments

ongoing

ComeInCell will establish a novel integrated Synthetic Cell platform to provide cost- and resource-efficient, environmentally friendly, widely applicable and quantitative model systems to elucidate key cellular mechanisms of health and disease based on the integration of condensate and membrane models. Understanding membrane-condensate interactions is vital for deciphering their functional roles in cellular processes. Our consortium employs synthetic vesicles as model systems to explore these interactions. These tailor-made mimics of cellular compartments offer a platform for studying membrane dynamics and the impact of compartmentalization on the activity of reaction networks and the assembly of complex machinery. We will design synthetic cells as life-science prototyping tools to decipher the role of membrane-associated condensates in essential cellular processes linked to membrane transport, membrane transformation, metabolic networks, and repair. The network will confront global challenges, providing solutions in drug development, therapeutics, green-related issues, and synthetic biology. Our goal is to equip junior scientists with cross-disciplinary expertise for developing integrated synthetic cellular testbeds encompassing condensates and membranes, revolutionizing prototyping systems. We will train the next generation of biophysicists, biochemists and bioengineers in rigorous quantitative and mechanistic thinking, while establishing strong ties to young and emerging European SMEs in the health sector for efficient dissemination towards new therapies