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Related Concept Videos

Overview of Cell Signaling01:23

Overview of Cell Signaling

Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate with the environment.
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Cell-surface Signaling01:21

Cell-surface Signaling

Hormones—or any molecule that binds to a receptor, known as a ligand—that are lipid-insoluble (water-soluble) are not able to diffuse across the cell membrane. In order to be able to affect a cell without entering it, these hormones bind to receptors on the cell membrane. When a first messenger, a hormone, binds to a receptor, a signal cascade is set off, causing second messengers, proteins inside the cell, to become activated, resulting in downstream effects.
Microbial Biosensors01:17

Microbial Biosensors

Microbial biosensors are analytical devices that utilize living microbes to detect specific substances through measurable signals. These devices consist of two main components: biosensing organisms and signal-transducing elements. Biosensing organisms, such as Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are typically housed in multiwell plates connected to transducers, enabling rapid, real-time detection of target analytes.Signal Generation MechanismWhen a target analyte—such as...
What is Cell Signaling?02:03

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Bacterial signaling can occur within bacteria (intracellular) or between bacteria (intercellular). At times, a group of bacteria behaves like a community. To achieve this, they engage in quorum sensing, the perception of higher cell density that causes changes in gene expression. Quorum sensing involves both extracellular and intracellular signaling. The signaling cascade starts with a molecule called an autoinducer (AI). Individual bacteria produce AIs that move out of the bacterial cell...
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Types of Signaling Molecules

In multicellular organisms, many molecules transmit signals between cells to pass information. These signals vary in complexity and include small peptides, nucleotides, steroids, fatty acid derivatives, and dissolved gases such as nitric oxide. Some signaling molecules diffuse through the plasma membrane to act locally between neighboring cells or travel long distances. Others remain attached to the cell surface, transmitting information to other cells only when they make contact. In some...

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Cell-surface sensors: lighting the cellular environment.

Md Monsur Ali1, Dong-Ku Kang, Kyle Tsang

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology
|July 5, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This review explores advanced cell-surface sensors for studying cell signaling and communication. Emerging DNA aptamer sensors offer new ways to investigate cellular environments in vivo for better therapeutics and diagnostics.

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Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cell-surface sensors are crucial for understanding cell functions like signaling, metabolism, and communication.
  • Genetically encoded fluorescent sensors are widely used, but new systems are expanding capabilities.
  • Interrogating in vivo cellular microenvironments with cell-surface sensors is a key emerging trend.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in cell-surface sensor technologies.
  • To highlight genetically encoded sensors for monitoring metabolites, proteins, and neurotransmitters.
  • To focus on emerging systems, particularly DNA aptamer sensors, for probing cell signaling and communication.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recently reported genetically encoded sensors.
  • Discussion of emerging cell-surface sensor systems (polymer-, nanoparticle-, aptamer-based).
  • Emphasis on DNA aptamer sensors for in vivo applications.

Main Results:

  • Genetically encoded sensors effectively monitor cellular metabolites, proteins, and neurotransmitters.
  • Emerging sensor systems, including DNA aptamers, offer expanded capabilities for complex environments.
  • Cell-surface sensors are advancing in vivo analysis and the development of therapeutics/diagnostics.

Conclusions:

  • Cell-surface sensors are vital tools for basic biology and applied therapeutics/diagnostics.
  • Emerging sensor technologies, especially DNA aptamers, provide powerful new methods for in vivo studies.
  • Future development focuses on routine in vivo application for cell biology and medical advancements.