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High-resolution Spatiotemporal Analysis of Receptor Dynamics by Single-molecule Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: July 25, 2014
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Membrane-Anchored Artificial Receptors for Spatiotemporally Selective Cellular Signaling Modulation
Jin Wang1, Zhao Zhang1, Jiayi Zeng1
1State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|January 13, 2026
Summary
Scientists developed a novel DNA artificial receptor to precisely control cell signaling pathways. This tool regulates receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) like fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), offering new ways to study cancer and related diseases.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Aberrant phosphorylation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) is linked to cancer development and spread.
- Existing methods for regulating RTK phosphorylation and signaling are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a programmable, modular DNA artificial receptor for spatioselective modulation of RTK signaling.
- To demonstrate the receptor's ability to regulate and monitor fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) dimerization and downstream effects.
Main Methods:
- Designed and anchored a membrane-bound DNA artificial receptor.
- Utilized single-particle tracking for real-time observation of receptor dynamics.
- Assessed inhibition of FGFR signaling and its impact on downstream pathways (Akt, ERK) and cellular processes.
Main Results:
- The artificial receptor stably anchored to the cell membrane and effectively regulated FGFR dimerization.
- Real-time tracking provided insights into the modulation mechanism at the single-receptor level.
- The system inhibited FGFR activation, reduced downstream phosphorylation, induced cytoskeletal changes, and increased apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- The DNA artificial receptor offers a novel chemical tool for precise, spatiotemporal control of RTK signaling.
- This system enables visualization and regulation of receptor-mediated cellular signaling pathways.
- Provides a platform for investigating RTK-associated signaling in diseases like cancer.
Keywords:
cellular signalingmembrane anchorednucleic acid nanoprobesingle-particle imagingspatiotemporal controlMore Related Videos
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