Abstract of Nicolas Martin's talk
Coacervats : dynamic droplets to assemble artificial cells
Cells are the fundamental building blocks of living organisms. These systems, of remarkable sophistication for physical chemists, function like miniature factories, capable of coordinating multiple reactions by orchestrating the flow of matter and energy in space and time. Reproducing such behaviors in artificial systems represents a major challenge, with promising biotechnological applications, but also essential for shedding light on the physicochemical principles of living organisms. Compartmentalization is a key element in this organization. Living cells are delimited by a lipid membrane that regulates exchanges with their environment. Another approach is to form membrane-free compartments, called coacervates, by liquid-liquid phase separation in aqueous polymer solutions. Known for a long time, coacervates have recently emerged as relevant models for the construction of artificial cells and for exploring hypotheses about the origin of the first cells.
We will discuss the mechanisms governing the formation of these droplets, in particular the assembly of stimulable coacervates based on dynamic phase transitions, enabling spatiotemporal control of bio-inspired reactions. We will show how these systems offer new avenues for assembling artificial cells and better understanding the transition between inert and living matter.
Nicolas Martin
Fascinated by complex systems at the interface between chemistry, biology and physics, Nicolas Martin is interested in how molecules and macromolecules self-assemble to give rise to dynamic and functional structures inspired by living matter. A chemist trained at ESPCI, he specialized in the physical chemistry of soft matter with a thesis at the École normale supérieure de Paris, under the supervision of Dr. Christophe Tribet, where he explored the role of charged polymers in protein folding. He then joined the University of Bristol in the UK for a post-doctorate in the group of Prof. Stephen Mann, a pioneer in synthetic biology. Now a CNRS research fellow at the Paul Pascal Research Center in Pessac, his work focuses on the design of minimal artificial cells based on coacervates. These assemblies of polymers, similar to certain compartments observed in cells, could offer clues to the origin of prebiotic compartments and the first manifestations of life.
