MibiNet - In vitro evolution of a synthetic organelle inside a picolitre habitat (A07)

The endosymbiotic theory states, that about one billion years ago a heterotrophic host organism incorporated a cyanobacterium, which subsequently evolved into the chloroplast we find in algae and plants today. Until today, few hypotheses concerning the molecular mechanisms underpinning endosymbiosis have been subject to direct experimental testing. In this project, we will cooperate with the Institute for Plant Biochemistry at the University of Düsseldorf and the Institute for Computational Biology at the University of Bielefeld. We will use microfluidic cultivation technology developed at the Microscale Bioengineering group to capture and observe single cells. By encapsulating genetically engineered cyanobacteria within picoliters of medium and applying precise environmental control, we want to emulate the inclusion vacuole during early stages of endosymbiosis. Therefore, a dynamic illumination system and carbon dioxide control are being developed for the application during microfluidic cultivations. A central aim is testing the hypothesis that the objective of the endosymbiont is maximizing metabolic cooperativity under spatial constraints. This project is part of the SFB1535 MibiNet "Microbial networking – from organelles to cross-kingdom communities" located at the University of Düsseldorf.

DOI https://doi.org/10.1039/D4LC00567H

Find more information at: https://www.sfb1535.hhu.de/