Remote control of transmembrane signal transduction in synthetic cells

This project focuses on building a modular, artificial cell signaling system from the ground up. We are engineering a synthetic receptor that can be embedded in the membrane of a cell-sized vesicle. This system is designed to mimic transmembrane signalling in nature by sensing a specific molecular cue in its environment and, in response, initiating a pre-programmed task inside the vesicle. For development and validation, this internal task is the reconstitution of a fluorescent protein, providing a clear light-based readout to confirm successful activation. This work establishes a versatile platform where the initial fluorescent reporter can be exchanged for functional actuators, opening up future possibilities in biosensing, catalysis, and therapeutic delivery.