Precise Regulation of Membrane Proteins: From Physical Technology to Biomolecular Strategy

As essential functional components of the cell membrane, membrane proteins serve as one of the key mechanisms for sensing external stimuli and play crucial roles in diverse biological processes, including cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. These processes are closely related to the maintenance of physiological homeostasis and the progression of various diseases. In recent years, with an in-depth understanding of membrane protein functions, developing membrane protein regulation strategies has emerged as a significant direction in both basic research and therapeutic applications. Precise modulation of membrane protein expression levels, conformational changes, and spatial distribution enables artificial regulation of cellular behavior, thereby opening promising avenues for treating diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and immune dysfunctions. This review comprehensively summarizes various physical technologies and biomolecule-driven approaches for membrane protein regulation, including applying light/temperature/magnetism/ultrasound-sensitive modules to achieve external physical control, as well as biomolecular tools, such as DNA, peptides, and proteins with specific receptor recognition properties that modulate membrane proteins via intermolecular interactions. Furthermore, the advantages and limitations of different membrane protein regulation techniques are discussed, aiming to provide new insights into cell function regulation and disease treatment.