Cell-free gene expression (CFE) is a highly versatile experimental environment ideal to construct biochemical systems in vitro by executing either natural or synthetic gene circuits. CFE enables interrogating biochemical systems quantitatively and in isolation far from the complexity of real living cells. I will present several experiments that my lab has done recently using an E. coli CFE...
Primitive protocells at the origin of life are commonly viewed as spherical lipidic surfactant shells, freely suspended in aqueous media. This well-established model explains initial, but not subsequent events in the development process towards structured protocells, and eventually, life-enabling functional compartments. Taking into consideration the possible involvement of naturally occurring...
