Abstract

Techniques for producing artificial cells (DNA crown cells) in which the outside of the membrane is covered with DNA were established in 2012. Such cells can be readily synthesized using sphingosine (Sph)-DNA-adenosine mixtures (designated synthetic DNA crown cells) and can proliferate within egg whites.

However, how synthetic DNA crown cells proliferate within egg white has yet not been clarified in detail. It was previously demonstrated that synthetic DNA (E. coli) crown cells formed assemblies with salts, which implies that synthetic DNA crown cells were reconstructed. Many such synthetic DNA crown cells were observed within these assemblies where they were retained. In this study, I first attempted to clarify whether assembly formation could be produced using specific inorganic salts (NaCl, KCl, MgCl2, and FeCl3 solution) . Then, the process of modified DNA (E. coli) crown cells within the assembly being released after the addition of monolaurin was investigated.

The findings showed that assemblies of synthetic DNA (E. coli) crown cells were formed using these inorganic salts, and a population of modified synthetic DNA crown cells were observed within such assemblies. However, the modified synthetic DNA crown cells within such assemblies were not released in the presence of monolaurin. Indeed, assemblies which contained cells were transformed to crystallike substances after the addition of monolaurin and the cells disappeared. These findings indicated that assembly of synthetic DNA crown cells were formed with inorganic salts and also spontaneously, and that they were produced following the formation of the assembly. In addition, the assemblies were reconstructed with monolaurin whereafter they changed to crystal-like substances.

Keywords: Keywords: Synthetic DNA crown cells; Assembly; Sphingosine-DNA; Adenosine-monolaurin