BPS2026 – Synthetic cells from phase-segregated nucleic acids

Liquid-liquid phase separation of nucleic acids has emerged as a powerful route to engineer synthetic cells. Condensates of single-stranded DNA provide programmable, viscoelastic environments that mimic aspects of the cytoplasm while offering precise sequence-level control. Within these DNA-based synthetic cells, we exploit secondary structures to assemble artificial cytoskeletons, uncover non-Fickian uptake and transport, and integrate catalysts and DNAzymes to establish metabolism-driven adaptive behaviors. In parallel, we have recently demonstrated that RNA condensates can be built de novo by transcriptional activity, using KL-motif RNAs to nucleate and sustain dynamic compartments. These RNA-based condensates offer a direct bridge between genetic information processing and compartmentalization, enabling the creation of synthetic organelles whose growth and properties are encoded by transcriptional programs.