In a recent study featured in Nature Chemistry, Ronit Freeman, a researcher at UNC-Chapel Hill, along with her team, detailed the procedures they employed to manipulate DNA and proteins to generate cells that exhibit characteristics similar to those found in the human body. This groundbreaking achievement, a pioneering endeavor in the field, carries significant implications for advancements in regenerative medicine, drug delivery systems, and diagnostic instruments.
Freeman envisions the potential of engineering fabrics or tissues that possess the ability to respond to alterations in their surroundings and exhibit dynamic behaviors, thanks to this breakthrough. Her laboratory, situated within the Applied Physical Sciences Department of the UNC College of Arts and Sciences, has successfully constructed cells with functional cytoskeletons that can adapt their shape and react to external stimuli, all without utilizing natural proteins. This was made possible through the utilization of an innovative programmable peptide-DNA technology, which orchestrates the collaboration between peptides, the fundamental components of proteins, and repurposed genetic material to assemble a cytoskeleton.