Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Mimicking the Function of Signaling Proteins: Toward Artificial Signal Transduction Therapy
Published on: September 29, 2016
Membrane-Associated Biomolecules for Synthetic Cell Signalling
Chelsea Dack1, Bingkun Li1, Charlie Newell1
1Department of Chemistry, University College London, London, UK.
None:
Membrane-associated biomolecules, primarily proteins, are key enablers of communication, responsiveness, and complexity in natural living cells. Aiming to mimic these capabilities, there is growing interest in equipping bottom-up synthetic cells with membrane-associated biomolecular components. In this review, we focus on how proteins and nucleic acids have been associated with synthetic cell membranes, particularly lipid vesicles, to enable the transmission of signals across the membrane. We discuss strategies for anchoring these biomolecules into lipid bilayers and review how they can enable essential signalling mechanisms in synthetic cells, including cell tethering, the generation and fusion of vesicles, and signal transmission and transduction. We highlight how proteins offer native biological functionality, while nucleic acids may bring more modularity and control. Advancing this area will be essential for realising synthetic systems capable of studying natural communication mechanisms and unlocking applications in biosensing, therapeutics, and synthetic tissue engineering.
Related Concept Videos
Types of Signaling Molecules
Types of Signaling Molecules
Overview of Cell Signaling
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Overview of Cell Signaling
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Cell-surface Signaling
What is Cell Signaling?
