Oriented triplex DNA as a synthetic receptor for transmembrane signal transduction

Abstract Signal transduction across biological membranes enables cells to detect and respond to diverse chemical or physical signals, and replicating these complex biological processes through synthetic methods is of significant interest in synthetic biology. Here we present an artificial signal tra...

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Main Authors: Hui Chen, Shaohong Zhou, Kleins Ngocho, Jing Zheng, Xiaoxiao He, Jin Huang, Kemin Wang, Hui Shi, Jianbo Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53960-5
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author Hui Chen
Shaohong Zhou
Kleins Ngocho
Jing Zheng
Xiaoxiao He
Jin Huang
Kemin Wang
Hui Shi
Jianbo Liu
author_facet Hui Chen
Shaohong Zhou
Kleins Ngocho
Jing Zheng
Xiaoxiao He
Jin Huang
Kemin Wang
Hui Shi
Jianbo Liu
author_sort Hui Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Signal transduction across biological membranes enables cells to detect and respond to diverse chemical or physical signals, and replicating these complex biological processes through synthetic methods is of significant interest in synthetic biology. Here we present an artificial signal transduction system using oriented cholesterol-tagged triplex DNA (TD) as synthetic receptors to transmit and amplify signals across lipid bilayer membranes through H+-mediated TD conformational transitions from duplex to triplex. An auxiliary sequence, complementary to the third strand of the TD, ensures a controlled and preferred outward orientation of cholesterol-tagged TD on membranes. Upon external H+ stimuli, the conformational change triggers the translocation of the third strand from the outer to the inner membrane leaflet, resulting in effective transmembrane signal transduction. This mechanism enables fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), selective photocleavage, catalytic signal amplification, and logic gate modulation within vesicles. Our findings demonstrate that these TD-based receptors mimic the functional dynamics of natural G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), providing a foundation for advanced applications in biosensing, cell signaling modulation, and targeted drug delivery systems.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
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record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-05cd1166ccec47f08253f110ae40f6092024-11-17T12:37:02ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-11-0115111210.1038/s41467-024-53960-5Oriented triplex DNA as a synthetic receptor for transmembrane signal transductionHui Chen0Shaohong Zhou1Kleins Ngocho2Jing Zheng3Xiaoxiao He4Jin Huang5Kemin Wang6Hui Shi7Jianbo Liu8State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan UniversityState Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan UniversityState Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan UniversityState Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan UniversityState Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan UniversityState Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan UniversityState Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan UniversityState Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan UniversityState Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan UniversityAbstract Signal transduction across biological membranes enables cells to detect and respond to diverse chemical or physical signals, and replicating these complex biological processes through synthetic methods is of significant interest in synthetic biology. Here we present an artificial signal transduction system using oriented cholesterol-tagged triplex DNA (TD) as synthetic receptors to transmit and amplify signals across lipid bilayer membranes through H+-mediated TD conformational transitions from duplex to triplex. An auxiliary sequence, complementary to the third strand of the TD, ensures a controlled and preferred outward orientation of cholesterol-tagged TD on membranes. Upon external H+ stimuli, the conformational change triggers the translocation of the third strand from the outer to the inner membrane leaflet, resulting in effective transmembrane signal transduction. This mechanism enables fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), selective photocleavage, catalytic signal amplification, and logic gate modulation within vesicles. Our findings demonstrate that these TD-based receptors mimic the functional dynamics of natural G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), providing a foundation for advanced applications in biosensing, cell signaling modulation, and targeted drug delivery systems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53960-5
spellingShingle Hui Chen
Shaohong Zhou
Kleins Ngocho
Jing Zheng
Xiaoxiao He
Jin Huang
Kemin Wang
Hui Shi
Jianbo Liu
Oriented triplex DNA as a synthetic receptor for transmembrane signal transduction
Nature Communications
title Oriented triplex DNA as a synthetic receptor for transmembrane signal transduction
title_full Oriented triplex DNA as a synthetic receptor for transmembrane signal transduction
title_fullStr Oriented triplex DNA as a synthetic receptor for transmembrane signal transduction
title_full_unstemmed Oriented triplex DNA as a synthetic receptor for transmembrane signal transduction
title_short Oriented triplex DNA as a synthetic receptor for transmembrane signal transduction
title_sort oriented triplex dna as a synthetic receptor for transmembrane signal transduction
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53960-5
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AT jingzheng orientedtriplexdnaasasyntheticreceptorfortransmembranesignaltransduction
AT xiaoxiaohe orientedtriplexdnaasasyntheticreceptorfortransmembranesignaltransduction
AT jinhuang orientedtriplexdnaasasyntheticreceptorfortransmembranesignaltransduction
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