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Cell fate conversion by conditionally switching the signal-transducing domain of signalobodies

Yuichiro Tone1, Masahiro Kawahara, Jun Hayashi

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.

Biotechnology and Bioengineering
|June 25, 2013
PubMed

Insights

This study introduces a novel cell fate control system using signalobodies and Cre/loxP recombination. It enables precise control over cell growth and death, crucial for advanced cell therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Precise control of cell fates is essential for biomedical applications like cell therapies.
  • Existing methods for regulating cell signaling often suffer from leakiness and complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel, highly controllable cell fate conversion system.
  • To improve upon existing techniques for regulating cell signaling and fate.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized antibody/receptor chimeras called "signalobodies".
  • Developed a "switch vector" incorporating signalobody genes flanked by loxP sites.
  • Combined the switch vector with a Cre/loxP recombination system for conditional gene expression.

Main Results:

  • Cells transduced with the switch vector exhibited enhanced growth in the presence of a specific antigen.
  • Cre expression triggered the activation of a death signalobody, leading to conditional cell death.
  • Demonstrated a system with reduced leakiness and complexity compared to previous methods.

Conclusions:

  • The developed signalobody and Cre/loxP system offers precise, conditional control over cell fates.
  • This technology has potential applications in cell therapies, differentiation, and migration control.
  • The system's modular design allows for adaptation to various signal-transducing domains for diverse cell fate conversions.
Keywords:
Cre recombinaseantibodycell fatechimeric proteinreceptorsignal transduction

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