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Engineering H2S-Activatable Aptameric Binders for Tailored Cell Manipulation.
Jieyu Wang1, Jialong Peng1, Ming Cai1
1State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecular Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China.
ACS Chemical Biology
|July 8, 2025
Summary
Researchers engineered a novel gas-responsive aptamer that can be switched on by hydrogen sulfide (H2S). This breakthrough enables precise control over cell surface receptors for potential therapeutic applications.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Chemical Biology
Background:
- Cell surface receptors are vital for cellular communication and function.
- Receptor dysregulation is linked to various diseases, necessitating precise control mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel gas-responsive aptameric binder for precise and dynamic control of cell surface receptors.
- To enable stimulus-triggered reactivation and modulation of receptor activity.
Main Methods:
- Developed a chemically masked aptamer with azide modifications to block receptor-targeting activity.
- Utilized hydrogen sulfide (H2S) as a stimulus for selective reactivation of aptamer function.
- Investigated H2S-triggered receptor dimerization and downstream signaling activation.
Main Results:
- Successfully demonstrated H2S-triggered restoration of aptamer function and receptor modulation.
- Achieved controlled receptor dimerization, leading to regulated cellular migration and proliferation.
- Extended the approach for highly selective receptor degradation.
Conclusions:
- Harnessing gasotransmitter cues provides a novel molecular switching mechanism for receptor engineering.
- This system offers significant potential for targeted therapeutic interventions in regenerative medicine and oncology.
