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
Mayorkas N
(2011)
Heavy water hydration of mannose: the anomeric effect in solvation, laid bare
in Chemical Science
Patel SM
(2011)
High throughput discovery of heteroaromatic-modifying enzymes allows enhancement of novobiocin selectivity.
in Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
French AC
(2009)
High-purity discrete PEG-oligomer crystals allow structural insight.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Cocinero EJ
(2009)
Hydration of sugars in the gas phase: regioselectivity and conformational choice in N-acetyl glucosamine and glucose.
in Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Nunes C
(2013)
Inhibition of SnRK1 by metabolites: tissue-dependent effects and cooperative inhibition by glucose 1-phosphate in combination with trehalose 6-phosphate.
in Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
Wyszynski FJ
(2010)
Inverted regioselectivity of C-H amination: Unexpected oxidation at beta- rather than gamma-C-H.
in Organic & biomolecular chemistry
Pincu M
(2011)
Isotopic hydration of cellobiose: vibrational spectroscopy and dynamical simulations.
in The journal of physical chemistry. A
Garnier P
(2010)
Lectin-directed enzyme activated prodrug therapy (LEAPT): Synthesis and evaluation of rhamnose-capped prodrugs.
in Journal of drug targeting
Lee SS
(2011)
Mechanistic evidence for a front-side, SNi-type reaction in a retaining glycosyltransferase.
in Nature chemical biology
Errey JC
(2010)
Mechanistic insight into enzymatic glycosyl transfer with retention of configuration through analysis of glycomimetic inhibitors.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
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/ |