Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2025
10:16
Optical Control of Living Cells Electrical Activity by Conjugated Polymers
Published on: January 28, 2016
7.6K
Photoreceptor-Like Signal Transduction Between Polymer-Based Protocells.
Lukas Heuberger1, Maria Korpidou1, Ainoa Guinart2
1Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel, 4002, Switzerland.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|November 4, 2024
Summary
Researchers created communicating polymer protocells that mimic biological signaling. These protocells use light-triggered artificial organelles for controlled intercellular communication, advancing synthetic biology.
Area of Science:
- Synthetic Biology
- Biophysics
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Understanding cellular communication is crucial for deciphering life's dynamics.
- Current protocell models often lack the organized compartments needed for complex signaling.
- Mimicking biological signaling pathways in synthetic systems remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct modular, communicating polymer-based protocells.
- To mimic information transduction observed in retinal photoreceptors.
- To develop protocells with hierarchical organization for spatiotemporally defined signaling.
Main Methods:
- Utilized microfluidics for generating polymer-based protocells.
- Incorporated specialized artificial organelles within protocells.
- Employed photoresponsive rotary molecular motors for light-triggered reactions.
- Investigated signal transduction modulated by environmental calcium and extracellular messengers.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated light-induced signaling cascade within protocells via artificial organelles.
- Achieved intercellular communication through signal transfer between protocells.
- Showcased modulation of signal conversion by environmental calcium.
- Established sequential reaction chains mediated by segregated artificial organelles.
Conclusions:
- Modular protocell construction enables controlled, hierarchical signaling pathways.
- This system offers a platform for understanding biological signaling and integrating proto- and living cells.
- The ability to control signaling steps with bio-relevant signals is a key advantage.
Related Concept Videos
01:11Protein Transport to the Outer Chloroplast Membrane
1.9K
Chloroplast outer membrane proteins encoded by the nucleus are synthesized in the cytosol. Soon after synthesis, they bind cytosolic factors such as 14-3-3 protein and the Hsp70 chaperones that keep these precursors in an unfolded state until their translocation.
Two models describe the mechanism of precursor recognition and entry across the outer membrane through the TOC complex. Model 1 suggests the newly synthesized precursor binds to the TOC receptor 159 and forms a complex.
Two models describe the mechanism of precursor recognition and entry across the outer membrane through the TOC complex. Model 1 suggests the newly synthesized precursor binds to the TOC receptor 159 and forms a complex.
1.9K
01:23Overview of Cell Signaling
20.1K
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...
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
20.1K
01:22Protein Transport to the Thylakoids
2.2K
Thylakoids are membrane-bound sac-like structures within the chloroplast that serve as sites for photosynthesis. Thylakoid lumen contains many electron transport proteins and is enclosed by a thylakoid membrane rich in the light-harvesting complex. Proteins targeted to the thylakoids are transported as precursors and are sorted by the general TOC/TIC import pathway. Once the precursor reaches the stroma, stromal processing peptidases remove their transit signal and expose thylakoid signal...
2.2K
01:11Channel Rhodopsins
2.5K
Most organisms use photoreceptors to sense and respond to light. Examples of photoreceptors include bacteriorhodopsins and bacteriophytochromes in some bacteria, phytochromes in plants, and rhodopsins in the photoreceptor cells of the vertebral retina. The light-sensitive property of these receptors is because of the bound chromophores, such as bilin in the phytochromes and retinal in the rhodopsins.
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...
2.5K
01:19Contact-dependent Signaling
44.4K
Contact-dependent signaling, as the name suggests, requires that communicating cells be in direct contact with each other. This is achieved either through receptor-ligand interactions or by specialized cytoplasmic channels that allow the flow of small molecules between cells. In animal cells, channels called gap junctions facilitate contact-dependent signaling in certain tissues, whereas, plasmodesmata perform a similar function in plants.
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
44.4K
02:03What is Cell Signaling?
115.4K
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 to respond to the environment.
115.4K