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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Transmembrane Domain Oligomerization Propensity determined by ToxR Assay
Published on: May 26, 2011
Creation of intercellular bonds by anchoring protein ligands to membranes using the diphtheria toxin T domain
Aurélie Perier1, Christine Gourier, Sylvain Pichard
1Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, DSV, iBiTecS, SIMOPRO, CEA-Saclay, F-91191 Gif sur Yvette, France. aurelieperier@hotmail.com
Abstract:
We describe the creation of cell adhesion mediated by cell surface engineering. The Flt3-ligand was fused to a membrane anchor made of the diphtheria toxin translocation domain. The fusion protein was attached to the surface of a cell by an acid pulse. Contact with another cell expressing the receptor Flt3 lead to its activation. This activity involved direct cell-cell contact. A mean force of 20 nN was needed to separate functionalized cells after 5 min of contact. Overall, we showed that it is possible to promote specific cell-cell adhesion by attaching protein ligands at the surface of cells.
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