构建模仿生命结构的复杂行为和其所需的复杂化学和生物反应是当前生命科学领域研究的热点。最近，Nature Biotechnology期刊发表了哈佛大学研究人员设计的可利用光合作用进行指定反应类细胞结构（Photosynthetic artificial organelles sustain and control ATP-dependent reactions in a protocellular system）。研究人员选用了两种光电转换器蛋白，可在细胞膜上生成梯度引发反应。该研究为将功能蛋白和细胞器网络引入人工细胞为实现从头构建细胞目标奠定了坚实的基础（下图引自：https://wyss.harvard.edu/a-photosynthetic-engine-for-artificial-cells/）。

Abstract: Inside cells, complex metabolic reactions are distributed across the modular compartments of organelles. Reactions in organelles have been recapitulated in vitro by reconstituting functional protein machineries into membrane systems. However, maintaining and controlling these reactions is challenging. Here we designed, built, and tested a switchable, light-harvesting organelle that provides both a sustainable energy source and a means of directing intravesicular reactions. An ATP (ATP) synthase and two photoconverters (plant-derived photosystem II and bacteria-derived proteorhodopsin) enable ATP synthesis. Independent optical activation of the two photoconverters allows dynamic control of ATP synthesis: red light facilitates and green light impedes ATP synthesis. We encapsulated the photosynthetic organelles in a giant vesicle to form a protocellular system and demonstrated optical control of two ATP-dependent reactions, carbon fixation and actin polymerization, with the latter altering outer vesicle morphology. Switchable photosynthetic organelles may enable the development of biomimetic vesicle systems with regulatory networks that exhibit homeostasis and complex cellular behaviors.