Frontispiece: Gene Expression Inside Liposomes: From Early Studies to Current Protocols

Abstract

Protein synthesis inside artificial compartments is under strong expansion in the context of synthetic biology (in bottom-up approaches), and, in particular, it strongly contributes to the construction of artificial cell-like systems. These systems, often called “synthetic cells”, can be used to model cellular processes, including membrane-centered ones. They are very innovative models that complement traditional studies and promise future applications. This article is uniquely dedicated to the analysis of historical and technical developments of protein synthesis inside liposomes, highlighting a selected list of open questions. For more details see Review by P. Stano on page 7798 ff.