Calcium-triggered DNA-mediated membrane fusion in synthetic cells

In cells, membrane fusion is mediated by SNARE proteins, whose activities are calcium-dependent. While several non-native membrane fusion mechanisms have been demonstrated, few can respond to external stimuli. Here, we develop a calcium-triggered DNA-mediated membrane fusion strategy where fusion is regulated using surface-bound PEG chains that are cleavable by the calcium-activated protease calpain-1. We develop a novel calcium-triggered membrane fusion strategy for synthetic cells by regulating DNA-mediated membrane fusion with membrane-bound polyethylene glycol polymeric chains that are cleavable by the calcium-activated protease calpain-1.