Transmembrane signaling by a synthetic receptor in artificial cells

Ane Bretschneider Søgaard, Andreas Bøtker Pedersen, Kaja Borup Løvschall, Pere Monge, Josefine Hammer Jakobsen, Leila Džabbarova, Line Friis Nielsen, Sandra Stevanovic, Raoul Walther and Alexander N. Zelikin ()
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Ane Bretschneider Søgaard: Aarhus University
Andreas Bøtker Pedersen: Aarhus University
Kaja Borup Løvschall: Aarhus University
Pere Monge: Aarhus University
Josefine Hammer Jakobsen: Aarhus University
Leila Džabbarova: Aarhus University
Line Friis Nielsen: Aarhus University
Sandra Stevanovic: Aarhus University
Raoul Walther: Aarhus University
Alexander N. Zelikin: Aarhus University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Signal transduction across biological membranes is among the most important evolutionary achievements. Herein, for the design of artificial cells, we engineer fully synthetic receptors with the capacity of transmembrane signaling, using tools of chemistry. Our receptors exhibit similarity with their natural counterparts in having an exofacial ligand for signal capture, being membrane anchored, and featuring a releasable messenger molecule that performs enzyme activation as a downstream signaling event. The main difference from natural receptors is the mechanism of signal transduction, which is achieved using a self-immolative linker. The receptor scaffold is modular and can readily be re-designed to respond to diverse activation signals including biological or chemical stimuli. We demonstrate an artificial signaling cascade that achieves transmembrane enzyme activation, a hallmark of natural signaling receptors. Results of this work are relevant for engineering responsive artificial cells and interfacing them and/or biological counterparts in co-cultures.

Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-37393-0

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37393-0

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