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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
Studying the Stoichiometry of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Intact Cells using Correlative Microscopy
Published on: September 11, 2015
Surface-Patterned DNA Origami Rulers Reveal Nanoscale Distance Dependency of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
Ivy Mayer1, Tina Karimian2, Klavdiya Gordiyenko1
1Institute for Biological Interfaces (IBG-1), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
Abstract:
The nanoscale arrangement of ligands can have a major effect on the activation of membrane receptor proteins and thus cellular communication mechanisms. Here we report on the technological development and use of tailored DNA origami-based molecular rulers to fabricate "Multiscale Origami Structures As Interface for Cells" (MOSAIC), to enable the systematic investigation of the effect of the nanoscale spacing of epidermal growth factor (EGF) ligands on the activation of the EGF receptor (EGFR). MOSAIC-based analyses revealed that EGF distances of about 30-40 nm led to the highest response in EGFR activation of adherent MCF7 and Hela cells. Our study emphasizes the significance of DNA-based platforms for the detailed investigation of the molecular mechanisms of cellular signaling cascades.
