1. From bacteria to artificial cells. The problem of self reproduction
Albert Libchaber
Rockefeller University
Institute for Advanced Study

2. Model organism Bacteria: Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Well studied bacteria at normal conditions.
Average size = 2mm
Division time = 30 min,
P=1atm, T=37oC
~1014 in 24 hours

3. Bacteria under pressure

4. Pressure dependence of doubling timeII I
Growth rate decreases upon increasing pressure with a sharp decrease at high pressure.

7. Recovery of MreB upon depressurization
t=0min
t=270min
t=390min
t=500min
t=590min
t=1000min
Kumar, Libchaber (preprint)

8. In his theory of automata John Von Neumann compared computing machines and living organisms.
The self reproduction of automata (1948), was discussed and linked to a Turing like principle.
Von Neumann logic implied that self
reproduction needed a memory and a code. This was proposed before Crick and Watson model of DNA.

9. J. Von Neumann Hixon Symposium 1951

10. This would follow Von Neumann logic for self- reproduction
Can we synthesize the most elementary cell size compartment that can self reproduce using genetic information only?
This would follow Von Neumann logic for self- reproduction .
J.Von Neumann Theory of self –reproducing automata (1966)

11. It is easy to encapsulate a cellular extract plus a DNA program into a phospholipid vesicle
Noireaux & Libchaber PNAS 101, (2004)
Noireaux University of Minnesota

12. Cell-free Transcription-Translation system
A cellular extract
• 1961: First cell-free protein synthesis study.
The genetic code (Matthaei and Nirenberg)
• 70s: Gene regulation unraveled with cell-free systems.
• 90s: Invention of the efficient hybrid cell-free system (Spirin).
- large scale protein synthesis.
- high throughput proteomics.
- protein evolution.
- industrial applications.

13. Phage T7 Vincent Noireaux lab ● lytic coliphage.
● 40 kbp, 60 genes (35 with known functions).
● almost host independent (2 host proteins required).
● has its own RNA polymerase.
● has its own DNA polymerase.

14. Phage T7 synthesis in a test tube
Vincent Noireaux lab
Phage T7 synthesis in a test tube
Transcription
Translation
genome
mRNA
phage
Replication ONLY
● TEM image
● 5-6 hours of incubation
● batch mode reaction
J.Shin & V.Noireaux ACS synthetic biology 1, 408 (2012)

18. geodesics A B C Y.T.Maeda, et al. ACS synthetic biology 1 (2011)
YFP-MreB
Rhodamine-BSA
Merged C
Y.T.Maeda, et al. ACS synthetic biology 1 (2011)

19. Importance of the environment Rockefeller University
Microbes in the soil ecosystem
Importance of the environment
Alex Petroff , A.L
Rockefeller University

22. Conclusion Physics to Biology :
Duality: Sequence space versus object space
Genetic code, Self Reference, Self Reproduction.
Dangerous dynamics leading to a world of exponentials.
Metabolism needs to follow. Darwinian evolution possible.
The environment is a fundamental aspect of cellular life.
It controls metabolism, development and organization.
Research on artificial life is very active in laboratories.