Synthetic syntrophy for adenine nucleotide cross-feeding between metabolically active nanoreactors.

ABSTRACT: Living systems depend on continuous energy input for growth, replication and information processing. Cells use membrane proteins as nanomachines to convert light or chemical energy of nutrients into other forms of energy, such as ion gradients or adenosine triphosphate (ATP). However, engineering sustained fuel supply and metabolic energy conversion in synthetic systems is challenging. Here, inspired by endosymbionts that rely on the host cell for their nutrients, we introduce the concept of cross-feeding to exchange ATP and ADP between lipid-based compartments hundreds of nanometres in size. One population of vesicles enzymatically produces ATP in the mM concentration range and exports it. A second population of vesicles takes up this ATP to fuel internal reactions. The produced ADP feeds

SUBMITTER: Heinen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11750714 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature