Installation of genomes or partial genomes into cells or cell-like systems

摘要

A method is provided for introducing a genome into a cell or cell-like system. The introduced genome may occur in nature, be manmade with or without automation, or may be a hybrid of naturally occurring and manmade materials. The genome is obtained outside of a cell with minimal damage. Materials such as a proteins, RNAs, polycations, nucleoid condensation proteins, or gene translation systems may accompany the genome. The genome is installed into a naturally occurring cell or into a manmade cell-like system. A cell-like system or synthetic cell resulting from the practice of the provided method may be designed and used to yield gene-expression products, such as desired proteins. By enabling the synthesis of cells or cell-like systems comprising a wide variety of genomes, accompanying materials and membrane types, the provided method makes possible a broader field of experimentation and bioengineering than has been available using prior art methods.

主权项

1. A method for making a bacterial synthetic cell, the method comprising:
preparing a Mycoplasma capricolum recipient cell for installation of a bacterial genome; isolating a genome from a Mycoplasma mycoides cell by suspending the isolated genome in an agarose suspension; and introducing the isolated genome into the Mycoplasma capricolum recipient cell by contacting the recipient cell with the genome. wherein the genome of the Mycoplasma capricolum recipient cell is removed or inactivated to produce the recipient cell prior to, or after, introduction of the isolated genome by means of a physical, genetic or selective method or a combination thereof; wherein the introduced genome is self-replicating; the introduced genome does not recombine with a genome of the recipient cell; and the recipient cell takes on the phenotype programmed by the introduced genome thereby producing a synthetic cell.