Self-immobilization of coacervate droplets by enzyme-mediated hydrogelation.
Yufeng ChenYanwen ZhangMei LiSongyang LiuXiaohai YangKemin WangStephen MannJianbo LiuPublished in: Chemical communications (Cambridge, England) (2021)
An artificial protocell model mimicking stimuli-triggered extracellular matrix formation is demonstrated based on the self-immobilization of coacervate microdroplets. Endogenous enzyme activity within the microdroplets results in the release of Ca2+ ions that trigger hydrogelation throughout the external environment, which in turn mechanically supports and chemically stabilizes the protocells.