Cell-like compartments produce proteins and communicate with
one another, similar to natural biological systems
Imitation, they say, is the sincerest form of flattery, but
mimicking the intricate networks and dynamic interactions that are inherent to
living cells is difficult to achieve outside the cell. Now, as published in
Science, Weizmann Institute scientists have created an artificial, network-like
cell system that is capable of reproducing the dynamic behavior of protein
synthesis. This achievement is not only likely to help gain a deeper
understanding of basic biological processes, but it may, in the future, pave
the way toward controlling the synthesis of both naturally-occurring and
synthetic proteins for a host of uses.