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SUMMARY:From pattern formation of cell-division proteins in shaped bacteri
 a  towards bottom up assembly of a synthetic divisome - Prof Cees Dekker\,
  Kavli Institute of Nanoscience\, TU Delft\, The Netherlands  
DTSTART:20160208T160000Z
DTEND:20160208T170000Z
UID:TALK64052@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr. Ulrich Keyser
DESCRIPTION:In my group we use the tools of nanotechnology (nanofabricatio
 n\, tweezers\, fast AFM\, fluorescence...) to explore biology at the singl
 e-molecule and single-cell scale. Our research ranges from single-molecule
  biophysics studies of DNA-protein interactions to DNA translocation throu
 gh solid-state nanopores to exploring biophysics of bacteria with nanofabr
 icated shapes\, see http://ceesdekkerlab.tudelft.nl \n\nRecently we have b
 egun a project aimed at realizing synthetic cell division [1]. We work tow
 ards building liposomes (lipid vesicles enclosing an aqueous solution with
  purified proteins and DNA) that can spontaneously divide through a contra
 ctile protein ring at the vesicle’s perimeter. To realize this\, we empl
 oy an experimental biophysics approach that addresses both the actual divi
 sion and the prerequisite spatial control\, studying:\n(i)	Cells in nanofa
 bricated shapes. We study cell-division proteins and DNA in live E.coli ba
 cteria that are molded into user-defined arbitrary shapes and sizes. Clari
 fying the effects of cell shape will elucidate the guiding principles for 
 the spatiotemporal organization of the cell-division machinery. I will sho
 w our ability to shape live E. coli bacteria into novel shapes such as rec
 tangles\, squares\, triangles and circles. I will show spatiotemporal osci
 llations of Min proteins – associated with cell division – in such art
 ificial geometries of live E. coli cells [2]. \n(ii)	Proteins and DNA in n
 anofabricated chambers. We use a bottom up approach to study the basic div
 isome components in vitro exploiting the full control provided by nanocham
 bers. This will resolve the spatial organization of the fascinating patter
 ns of Min proteins and chromatin that dictate the localization of the divi
 sion ring.\n(iii)	Liposomes on chip. We have developed a new chip-based te
 chnology to generate liposomes for exploring synthetic cell division [3]. 
 We plan to use both microfluidic constrictions and a biomimetic approach (
 encapsulation of divisome proteins such as FtsZ) to induce liposome splitt
 ing\, thus enabling a simplified form of synthetic cell division.\n\nWe be
 lieve that our mix of nanophysics and synthetic will yield insight into th
 e biophysical underpinnings of cellular reproduction and ultimately will l
 ead to liposomes that will be able to divide autonomously. \n\n\nReference
 s:\n[1] Y. Caspi and C. Dekker\, Systems and Synthetic Biology 8\, 249-269
  (2014)\n\n[2] F. Wu\, B.G.C. van Schie\, J.E. Keymer\, C. Dekker\, Nature
  Nanotechnology 10\, 719–726 (2015)\n\n[3] S. Deshpande\, Y. Caspi\, A. 
 Meijering\, M. Jiménez\, G. Rivas\, C. Dekker\, Nature Comm.\, in print\n
LOCATION:Rayleigh Seminar Room\, Maxwell Centre\, JJ Thomson Ave
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