Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Visualizing the Conformational Dynamics of Membrane Receptors Using Single-Molecule FRET
Published on: August 17, 2022
Sense-and-Release Logic-Gated Molecular Network Responding to Dimeric Cell Surface Proteins
Simona Angerani1, Nicolas Winssinger1
1Department of Organic Chemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, 30 quai Ernest Ansermet, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Dimeric proteins are prominent in biology, and receptor dimerization (homo- or heterodimerization) is central to signal transduction. Herein, we report a network that responds to a membrane-associated dimeric protein with the uncaging of a powerful cytotoxic. The network is based on two ligands functionalized with peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) (templating strand and catalyst-functionalized strand, respectively) and a substrate with the caged cytotoxic (monomethyl auristatin E: MMAE; a high-affinity tubulin ligand). In the presence of the dimeric protein, the network yields a cooperative supramolecular assembly with a hybridization architecture that enhances the templated reaction and enables the uncaging of a substrate. The network was tested on cells that express a cancer biomarker, carbonic anhydrase IX, in response to hypoxia. The output of the network correlates with the expression of carbonic anhydrase IX, and this biomarker was harnessed to uncage a potent cytotoxic agent.
Related Concept Videos
Assembly of Signaling Complexes
Interaction domains in cell signaling
Interaction domains recognize exposed features of their binding partners containing post-translationally modified sequences,...
Overview of Cell Signaling
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Types of Signaling Molecules
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade
Yeast Signaling
What is Cell Signaling?

