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
Doores K. J.
(2009)
A 'non-self' mimic of the natural epitope of anti-HIV antibody 2G12 shows enhanced antigenicity
in RETROVIROLOGY
Davis B
(2009)
A silver-lined anniversary of Fleet iminosugars: 1984-2009, from DIM to DRAM to LABNAc
in Tetrahedron: Asymmetry
Simons J
(2009)
Conformational change and selectivity in explicitly hydrated carbohydrates
in Tetrahedron: Asymmetry
Nielsen MM
(2011)
Substrate and metal ion promiscuity in mannosylglycerate synthase.
in The Journal of biological chemistry
Backus KM
(2014)
The three Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 85 isoforms have unique substrates and activities determined by non-active site regions.
in The Journal of biological chemistry
Serres S
(2009)
Systemic inflammatory response reactivates immune-mediated lesions in rat brain.
in The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Pincu M
(2011)
Isotopic hydration of cellobiose: vibrational spectroscopy and dynamical simulations.
in The journal of physical chemistry. A
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 Ltd |
Description | drug delivery and glycoprotein specialist; biopharmaceuticals |
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. |
Website | http://isis-innovation.com/news/glycoform-ltd-improve-drug-delivery/ |