Fig. 3

mRNA transcription in synthetic protocells and expression in native cells. (a) Schematic illustration of mRNA transcription in synthetic protocells. (b) Confocal images of synthetic protocell post-transcription. M reflects the membrane, C1 and C2 reflect the core in the blue and green channels respectively. Scale bar, 100 μm. (c) Confocal images of synthetic protocell post-transcription, with no nucleotide addition during the transcription. Scale bar, 100 μm. d-f. Flow cytometry data for synthetic protocells post-transcription (d), no nucleotides addition group as control (e), histogram reflects the difference in mRNA transcription (f). g. Dynamic changes of 293T cells incubating with synthetic protocells in 4 h. Red reflects synthetic protocells, green reflects 293T cells, and 1, 2, 3, 4 are dynamic in order. Scale bar, 10 μm. h. Agarose gel electrophoresis of GFP fragment amplified from the plasmid. i. Agarose gel electrophoresis of GFP-mRNA transcribed in synthetic protocells, compared with GFP-mRNA transcribed by transcription kit. j. Confocal images of 293T cells incubated with GFP-mRNA loaded synthetic protocell for 24 h. Scale bar, 100 μm