Biotechnical and Systematic Preparation of Artificial Cells (DNA Crown Cells)
The first cell biology studies were conducted half a century ago and it has long been known that cells consist of a membrane made of lipid-polymer complexes comprising proteins and carbohydrates complexed with lipids. Many cell biology studies have been based on this understanding of the structure of the cell membrane, yet there have been no reports of a cell membrane associated with DNA. I have demonstrated that cyto-cells and cytoparticles covered with DNA are formed when cultured cells are mixed with sphingosine-DNA (Sph-DNA). Recently, I have been studying the preparation of artificial cells and have demonstrated the formation of cells (named DNA crown cells) which are surrounded by a membrane comprising lipid-DNA. Moreover, I have synthesized DNA crown cells using a known lipid (monolaurin). Herein I report three methods for preparing DNA crown cells. DNA crown cells be prepared by manipulating sphingosine-DNA fibers formed by mixing sphingosine and DNA. This paper describes these three methods: two successful biotechnical procedures and one systematic procedure.
