Synthetic aptamer mechanoreceptors enable cell-specific force sensing and temporal control via DNA circuits

Area of Science:

• Synthetic Biology
• Mechanobiology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Cells sense mechanical cues for adaptive behaviors.
• Engineering programmable, cell-specific synthetic mechanosensing is difficult.
• Classical mechanoreceptors are common targets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a versatile, all-DNA mechanosensing platform.
• To enable cell-type selective force transduction.
• To achieve programmable and reversible mechanoresponses.

Main Methods:

• Utilized aptamers for force transmission via noncanonical receptors.
• Designed aptamer-receptor recognition as a molecular gate for force transduction.
• Integrated aptamer mechanoprobes with DNA reaction networks.

Main Results:

• Developed mechanoprobes with cell-type selectivity.
• Demonstrated interpretation of mechanical inputs like actomyosin contractility and macropinocytosis.
• Achieved reversible and temporally programmable mechanoresponses.

Conclusions:

• The all-DNA system provides a general framework for tunable mechanotransduction circuits.
• Expands design possibilities in synthetic mechanobiology.
• Enables autonomous, multi-layered mechanical-biochemical regulation for applications in tissue engineering and cell programming.