I encapsulated the bacterial Min protein system inside GUVs to study how reaction–diffusion dynamics behave in closed, deformable compartments. The proteins spontaneously formed oscillatory patterns that not only redistributed inside the vesicle but also drove dramatic membrane-shape changes, including periodic fission–fusion events and budding cycles. This work linked biochemical patterning directly to membrane mechanics and inspired several theoretical collaborations.
Litschel T, Ramm B, Maas R, Heymann M, Schwille P
“Beating vesicles: Encapsulated protein oscillations cause dynamic membrane deformations” (Research Paper)
Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2018, 57:16286–16290 [Link]
Jia H, Litschel T, Heymann M, Eto H, Franquelim H, Schwille P
“Shaping giant membrane vesicles in 3D-printed protein hydrogel cages” (Research Paper)
Small, 2020, 16:1906259 [Link]
Ganzinger KA, Merino-Salomón A, García-Soriano DA, Butterfield AN, Litschel T, Siedler F, Schwille P
“FtsZ reorganization facilitates deformation of giant vesicles in microfluidic traps” (Research Paper)
Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2020, 59:21372–21376 [Link]
Christ S, Litschel T, Schwille P, Lipowsky R
“Active shape oscillations of giant vesicles with cyclic closure and opening of membrane necks” (Research Paper)
Soft Matter, 2021, 17:319-330 [Link]
Thomas Litschel 