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Designer peptide–DNA cytoskeletons regulate the function of synthetic cells

Scientists have successfully engineered functional artificial cells in the lab that behave like living cells.


Advances in the development of cytoskeletal-like materials with modular structures and mechanics are pivotal for the engineering of synthetic cells. Now actin-mimetic supramolecular peptide networks have been designed using programmable peptide–DNA crosslinkers, giving rise to tunable tactoid-shaped bundles and mechanical properties that control spatial localization, the diffusion of payloads and shape changes within artificial cells.