Herein we report a new type of artificial cells capable of long-term protein expression and regulation. We constructed the artificial cells by grafting anti-His-tag aptamer into the polymer backbone of the hydrogel particles, and then immobilizing the His-tagged proteinaceous factors of the transcription and translation system into the hydrogel particles. Long-term protein expression for at least 16 days was achieved by continuously flowing feeding buffer through the artificial cells. The effect of various metal ions on the protein expression in the artificial cells was investigated. Utilizing the lac operator-repressor system, we could regulate the expression level of eGFP in the artificial cells by controlling the β-D-1-thiogalatopyranoside (IPTG) concentration in the feeding buffer. The artificial cells based on the aptamer grafted hydrogel provide a useful platform for gene circuit engineering, metabolic engineering, drug delivery, and biosensors.

中文翻译：

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通过使用适体接枝的聚合物水凝胶能够合成长寿命蛋白质的人工细胞。

在本文中，我们报告了一种新型的能够长期表达和调控蛋白质的人造细胞。我们通过将抗His-tag适体接枝到水凝胶颗粒的聚合物主链中，然后将转录和翻译系统的His标记蛋白质因子固定到水凝胶颗粒中，构建了人工细胞。通过使补给缓冲液连续流过人造细胞，可以实现至少16天的长期蛋白表达。研究了各种金属离子对人工细胞蛋白质表达的影响。利用lac操纵子-阻遏物系统，我们可以通过控制进料缓冲液中的β-D-1-硫代半乳糖吡喃糖苷（IPTG）浓度来调节人工细胞中eGFP的表达水平。