Building a Cell from its Component Parts

The cell interior is another world that we are only beginning to explore. Although there are a number of approaches for examining the inner workings of the cell, the reductionist approach of building up complexity appeals to many with physical science and engineering backgrounds. This volume of Methods in Cell Biology spans a range of spatial scales from single protein molecules to vesicle and cell sized structures capable of complex behaviors. Contributions include; methods for combining different motors and cytoskeletal components in defined ways to produce more complex behaviors; methods to combine cytoskeletal assemblies with fabricated devices such as chambers or pillar arrays; reconstituting membrane fission and fusion; reconstituting important biological processes that normally take place on membrane surfaces; and methods for encapsulating protein machines within vesicles or droplets.