Erica D'Aguanno

The goal of synthetic biology is to construct cell-like systems with minimal complexity to understand the fundamental features and structures of biology, e.g. the origin of life, and for potential application in biotechnology. This study combines bottom-up approach, liposome technology and biomolecular systems to figure out how primitive cells originated from the matter. The results suggest that there is a spontaneous pathway for concentrating solute molecules in the vesicle water pool. The lipid membrane is not any longer only a physical protection, but it plays an active role recruiting molecules inside its lumen.