Biology under construction: in vitro reconstitution of cellular function

Abstract

The reconstitution of biological processes from purified components is a powerful approach to understanding the principles that govern cellular organization. The recent development of new experimental techniques is enabling the reconstitution of increasingly complex cellular systems. We are much better at taking cells apart than putting them together. Reconstitution of biological processes from component molecules has been a powerful but difficult approach to studying functional organization in biology. Recently, the convergence of biochemical and cell biological advances with new experimental and computational tools is providing the opportunity to reconstitute increasingly complex processes. We predict that this bottom-up strategy will uncover basic processes that guide cellular assembly, advancing both basic and applied sciences.