In a significant advancement in synthetic biology, researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a synthetic cell known as SpudCell, which is constructed from non-living chemical components. This innovative creation can perform several key functions associated with living organisms, such as feeding, growing, replicating its DNA, and dividing. The announcement was made on Wednesday, showcasing the potential of synthetic cells in understanding biological processes. Although SpudCell is not classified as a living organism, it demonstrates behaviors that were previously thought to be exclusive to natural cells.
Kate Adamala, a synthetic biologist and professor at the University of Minnesota, described SpudCell as an “incredibly wimpy organism” that primarily engages in basic activities like eating and occasionally producing a daughter cell. Despite its limitations, Adamala emphasized that this development serves as proof of principle, indicating that molecules can replicate behaviors typically associated with living cells. The synthetic cell is still weaker and slower than natural cells, but it opens new avenues for scientific exploration in biology.
The construction of SpudCell involved the integration of 36 purified enzymes, a 90,000-base-pair genome distributed across multiple DNA molecules, and a lipid membrane. These cells operate within a nutrient-rich chemical environment, growing by merging with tiny feeder liposomes that provide essential nutrients, enzymes, and ribosomes necessary for protein synthesis. The genome of SpudCell contains instructions that facilitate DNA replication and cell division, showcasing a remarkable step toward synthetic life.
However, the system has notable limitations. SpudCells rely on external supplies for their functioning, lack the ability to produce their own ribosomes, do not regulate their metabolism, and often misallocate DNA during division. Additionally, they tend to cease functioning after several generations. The pursuit of synthetic life has been ongoing for decades, with previous milestones including the work of US geneticist Craig Venter, who in 2010 created a cell controlled by a laboratory-made genome. Russian researchers have also made strides in this field through genome transplantation and reduction efforts in Mycoplasma bacteria, aiming to identify the minimal gene set required for a self-sustaining cell.
