FIS3 “BIOACT”

Living cells rely on precise mechanisms to process external chemical inputs into functional outputs, with signal transduction pathways often confined to specific compartments at the nanoscale. Similarly, synthetic biomimetic compartments aim to mimic these processes, enabling the spatiotemporal control of molecular machinery and the regulation of biochemical reactions. However, current synthetic bio-compartments lack the functional complexity and adaptability of their natural counterparts.

Inspired by nature, this ambitious 5-year multidisciplinary project aims to develop responsive biomimetic compartments capable of novel modes of sensing and molecular information processing. To do so, I will design different bio-compartments that dynamically respond to external molecular and chemical inputs using programmable DNAbased molecular devices. These strategies will be applied to both membraneless (DNA condensates) and membrane-based (lipid vesicles) compartments to demonstrate their versatility. Additionally, I will design strategies to control compartmentalized chemical reaction networks in response to specific physico-chemical inputs and biomarkers. Finally, by integrating biological reactions—including CRISPR-Cas systems and cell-free genetically encoded processes—with compartmentalized localization, the project will pioneer transformative mechanisms and biosensing tools.