Membrane protein insertion in liposomes: implications for the synthetic cell

The formation of a synthetic cell is a major challenge within the field of synthetic biology. Here the goal is to create a living cell bottom-up from individual components that is capable of growth and division. One of the requirements for this will be the synthesis of membrane proteins and their correct insertion into the synthetic cell membrane. For most membrane proteins, this insertion does not occur spontaneously but is facilitated by the translocon, a protein complex ubiquitously present in all forms of life. This thesis focuses on the functioning and optimization of the translocon from Escherichia coli with regard to the synthetic cell. Furthermore, it introduces an optimized method to form giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) containing the translocon.