The Minimal Cell

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

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2. The Physical Aspects

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Towards a Minimal Cytoplasm

      • Jacqueline D. Keighron, Christine D. Keating

      Pages 3-30

   3. Evolution of the Cell’s Mechanical Design

      • David Boal, Cameron Forde

      Pages 31-50

   4. On the Minimal Requirements for the Emergence of Cellular Crowding

      • Luis Acerenza, Martín Graña

      Pages 51-64

   5. How Small is Small?

      • Peter B. Moore

      Pages 65-71

   6. Biochemical Reactions in the Crowded and Confined Physiological Environment: Physical Chemistry Meets Synthetic Biology

      • Allen P. Minton, Germán Rivas

      Pages 73-89

3. Steps Towards Functionality

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 91-91

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4. Steps towards Functionality

   1. The Influence of Environment and Metabolic Capacity on the Size of a Microorganism

      • W. Andrew Lancaster, Michael W. W. Adams

      Pages 93-103

   2. The Minimal Cell and Life’s Origin: Role of Water and Aqueous Interfaces

      • Gerald H. Pollack, Xavier Figueroa, Qing Zhao

      Pages 105-121

   3. Membrane Self-Assembly Processes: Steps Toward the First Cellular Life

      • Pierre-Alain Monnard, David W. Deamer

      Pages 123-151

   4. Approaches to Building Chemical Cells/Chells: Examples of Relevant Mechanistic ‘Couples’

      • Paul M. Gardner, Benjamin G. Davis

      Pages 153-170

5. Steps Towards Minimal Life

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 171-171

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6. Steps towards Minimal Life

   1. Construction of an In Vitro Model of a Living Cellular System

      • K. Yoshikawa, S. M. Nomura, K. Tsumoto, K. Takiguchi

      Pages 173-193

   2. New and Unexpected Insights on the Formation of Protocells from a Synthetic Biology Approach: The Case of Entrapment of Biomacromolecules and Protein Synthesis Inside Vesicles

      • Pasquale Stano, Tereza Pereira de Souza, Matteo Allegretti, Yutetsu Kuruma, Pier Luigi Luisi

      Pages 195-216

   3. Liposomes Mediated Synthesis of Membrane Proteins

      • Yutetsu Kuruma

      Pages 217-229

   4. Giant Unilamellar Vesicles: From Minimal Membrane Systems to Minimal Cells?

      • Petra Schwille

      Pages 231-253

   5. Theoretical Approaches to Ribocell Modeling

      • Fabio Mavelli

      Pages 255-273

   6. Evolvability and Self-Replication of Genetic Information in Liposomes

      • Tomoaki Matsuura, Norikazu Ichihashi, Takeshi Sunami, Hiroshi Kita, Hiroaki Suzuki, Tetsuya Yomo

      Pages 275-287

7. Back Matter

   Pages 289-298

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In the last ten years there has been a considerable increase of interest on the notion of the minimal cell. With this term we usually mean a cell-like structure containing the minimal and sufficient number of components to be defined as alive, or at least capable of displaying some of the fundamental functions of a living cell. In fact, when we look at extant living cells we realize that thousands of molecules are organized spatially and functionally in order to realize what we call cellular life. This fact elicits the question whether such huge complexity is a necessary condition for life, or a simpler molecular system can also be defined as alive. Obviously, the concept of minimal cell encompasses entire families of cells, from totally synthetic cells, to semi-synthetic ones, to primitive cell models, to simple biomimetic cellular systems. Typically, in the experimental approach to the construction of minimal the main ingredient is the compartment. Lipid vesicles (liposomes) are used to host simple and complex molecular transformations, from single or multiple enzymic reactions, to polymerase chain reactions, to gene expression. Today this research is seen as part of the broader scenario of synthetic biology but it is rooted in origins of life studies, because the construction of a minimal cell might provide biophysical insights into the origins of primitive cells, and the emergence of life on earth. The volume provides an overview of physical, biochemical and functional studies on minimal cells, with emphasis to experimental approaches. 15 International experts report on their innovative contributions to the construction of minimal cells.

• liposeomes (lipid vesicles)
• micro-compartmentation
• origing of life
• self-organization
• synthetic biology
• gene expression

• Dipto. Biologia, Università Roma Tre, Roma, Italy

  Pier Luigi Luisi

• , Biology Department, University of Roma Tre, Rome, Italy

  Pasquale Stano

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