Protocol for building synthetic protocell membranes that sense redox using synthetic phospholipids and natural lipids

Summary: Sensing is a critical function of artificial cells; however, this is challenging to realize using bottom-up approaches. Here, we present a protocol for building protocell membranes that sense cues important for redox biochemistry and signaling by combining synthetic phospholipids and natural lipids. We detail procedures for building giant unilamellar vesicles as protocell models that fluoresce in response to the biologically significant redox agents peroxynitrite, hydrogen peroxide, and hydrogen sulfide.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to (i) Gutierrez and Aggarwal et al.1 as well as (ii) Erguven and Wang et al.2 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.