Reversible permeabilization of plasma membranes with an engineered switchable pore

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Cell Biology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Controlling the passage of molecules across the cell membrane is crucial for biological and medical research.
• Existing methods for membrane permeabilization often compromise cell viability or lack precise control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, controllable method for reversible plasma membrane permeabilization.
• To enable the precise regulation of intracellular environments while preserving cell health.

Main Methods:

• Engineered a self-assembling, proteinaceous 2-nm pore with a metal-actuated switch.
• Utilized zinc ions (Zn2+) to reversibly control pore opening and closing.
• Demonstrated dose-dependent permeabilization and recovery in fibroblast cells.

Main Results:

• Successfully achieved reversible plasma membrane permeabilization to small molecules (~1000 Da).
• Showcased dose-dependent pore activity controlled by microM concentrations of Zn2+.
• Confirmed that cells maintain viability and ultrastructural integrity after controlled molecular flux.

Conclusions:

• The developed metal-actuated protein pore offers a precise and reversible method for modulating cell membrane permeability.
• This technology has significant potential to address various challenges in cell biology and medicine by controlling intracellular environments.
• The ability to manage transmembrane influx and efflux while maintaining cell viability opens new avenues for therapeutic and research applications.