The CHELL : A Bottom-Up approach to in vitro and in silico Minimal Life-like Constructs
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Chemistry
Abstract
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Organisations
Publications
Wyszynski F
(2010)
Dissecting tunicamycin biosynthesis by genome mining: cloning and heterologous expression of a minimal gene cluster
in Chemical Science
Davis BG
(2010)
Enzyme catalysis: sweet flexibility.
in Nature chemistry
Fernández-González M
(2010)
Site-selective chemoenzymatic construction of synthetic glycoproteins using endoglycosidases
in Chemical Science
Boutureira O
(2010)
Fluoroglycoproteins: ready chemical site-selective incorporation of fluorosugars into proteins.
in Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
Hong S
(2010)
Synthesis and characterization of WS2 inorganic nanotubes with encapsulated/intercalated CsI
in Nano Research
Pasparakis G
(2010)
Controlled polymer synthesis--from biomimicry towards synthetic biology.
in Chemical Society reviews
Garnier P
(2010)
Lectin-directed enzyme activated prodrug therapy (LEAPT): Synthesis and evaluation of rhamnose-capped prodrugs.
in Journal of drug targeting
Patel MK
(2010)
Analysis of the dispersity in carbohydrate loading of synthetic glycoproteins using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.
in Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
Lin YA
(2010)
The allylic chalcogen effect in olefin metathesis.
in Beilstein journal of organic chemistry
Doores KJ
(2010)
A nonself sugar mimic of the HIV glycan shield shows enhanced antigenicity.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
| Description | We found that we were not only able to make an artificial chemical cell (something we called the 'chell') but that we could also create sufficient information from its metabolism for it to communicate with living (bacterial cells). This 'conversation' between artificial cells and living cells highlights that our notions of cellularity (and life) can be examined through fundamental experiments. |
| Exploitation Route | These ideas have provoked various communities that examine cells right down to those who are interested in the emergence of complexity and even studying the origins of life. It provoked an analysis of the use of 'chemical cells' as potential 'living drugs', for example - see https://vimeo.com/10274649. |
| Sectors | Education Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| URL | http://users.ox.ac.uk/~dplb0149/index.html |
| Description | BGD and group members have appeared on the radio, television, (BBD, Channel 5), newspapers (Times, New Scientist) science festivals around the world (Cheltenham, Kent, Edinburgh, Times Lit., Sydney) describing this work. We have given talks in schools to inspire the next generation. This work has been widely featured as one of the very first SynBio grants and that led to an expansion of the UK's SynBio community. It has also provoked a community of those more broadly interested in these concepts, including designers and artists - see https://vimeo.com/10274649 or http://www.daisyginsberg.com/work/synthesis-exchange-laboratory |
| First Year Of Impact | 2009 |
| Sector | Chemicals,Creative Economy,Education,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Other |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |
| Company Name | GlycoForm |
| Description | |
| Year Established | 2002 |
| Impact | Employed >20 people over 10 years and provided a model for how synthetic protein drugs might be constructed and used. The technology for this company has now been used by major US companies. |