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
Boutureira O
(2012)
Selenenylsulfide-linked homogeneous glycopeptides and glycoproteins: synthesis of human "hepatic Se metabolite A".
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Yamamoto K
(2012)
Creation of an a-mannosynthase from a broad glycosidase scaffold.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Seebach D
(2009)
Polymer backbone conformation--a challenging task for database information retrieval.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Lin Y
(2010)
The allylic chalcogen effect in olefin metathesis
in Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry
Schuster HJ
(2015)
Chain-growth polyglycosylation: synthesis of linker-equipped mannosyl oligomers.
in Carbohydrate research
Russell D
(2009)
Site-selective chemical protein glycosylation protects from autolysis and proteolytic degradation.
in Carbohydrate research
Monrad R
(2014)
Dissecting the reaction of Phase II metabolites of ibuprofen and other NSAIDS with human plasma protein
in Chem. Sci.
Allman SA
(2009)
Potent fluoro-oligosaccharide probes of adhesion in Toxoplasmosis.
in Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology
Bernardes GJ
(2011)
Site-selective traceless Staudinger ligation for glycoprotein synthesis reveals scope and limitations.
in Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology
Lin YA
(2009)
Olefin metathesis for site-selective protein modification.
in Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology
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/ |