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Use of Label-free Optical Biosensors to Detect Modulation of Potassium Channels by G-protein Coupled Receptors

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Published on: February 10, 2014

Engineered molecular sensors for quantifying cell surface crowding.

Sho C Takatori^1,2, Sungmin Son^1,3, Daniel S W Lee¹

¹Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|May 15, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cell surface crowding, the dense arrangement of molecules on cell membranes, significantly reduces the binding of macromolecules like antibodies. This study introduces a novel sensor to quantify crowding, revealing its impact on cell interactions and potential as a biomarker.

Keywords:

biophysics cancer cell biology cell surface crowding glycocalyx plasma membrane

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Last Updated: Jul 30, 2025

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Area of Science:

Biophysics
Cell Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Cells interact with their environment via membrane-bound molecules.
Quantifying cell surface crowding and its impact on molecular interactions is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a method for quantifying cell surface crowding.
To investigate how surface crowding affects macromolecular binding.
To explore the role of surface crowding in cell type and state.

Main Methods:

Combined experimental approaches with simulations.
Designed and utilized a novel crowding sensor.
Measured macromolecular binding (IgG antibodies) on reconstituted and live cell membranes.
Analyzed the contribution of specific molecules (sialic acid) to crowding.

Main Results:

Cell surface crowding attenuates macromolecular binding affinity in a dose-dependent manner.
Crowding decreased IgG antibody binding by 2- to 20-fold on live cells compared to bare membranes.
Sialic acid significantly contributes to red blood cell surface crowding.
Observed cell-type-specific differences in surface crowding.
Found that oncogene expression can alter surface crowding.

Conclusions:

Developed a quantitative sensor for cell surface crowding.
Demonstrated that surface crowding modulates biophysical interactions.
Surface crowding is a quantifiable characteristic that varies by cell type and state, potentially serving as a biomarker.