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
Yamamoto K
(2012)
Creation of an a-mannosynthase from a broad glycosidase scaffold.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Xue Xuan
(2011)
Synthetic polymers for interference with bacterial communication
in ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
Xue X
(2011)
Synthetic polymers for simultaneous bacterial sequestration and quorum sense interference.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Wyszynski FJ
(2010)
Inverted regioselectivity of C-H amination: Unexpected oxidation at beta- rather than gamma-C-H.
in Organic & biomolecular chemistry
Wyszynski FJ
(2012)
Biosynthesis of the tunicamycin antibiotics proceeds via unique exo-glycal intermediates.
in Nature chemistry
Wyszynski F
(2010)
Dissecting tunicamycin biosynthesis by genome mining: cloning and heterologous expression of a minimal gene cluster
in Chemical Science
Wang LX
(2013)
Realizing the Promise of Chemical Glycobiology.
in Chemical science
Van Kasteren SI
(2009)
Glyconanoparticles allow pre-symptomatic in vivo imaging of brain disease.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Vallée MR
(2016)
Ready display of antigenic peptides in a protein 'mimogen'.
in Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
| 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/ |