1
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Søgaard AB, Pedersen AB, Løvschall KB, Monge P, Jakobsen JH, Džabbarova L, Nielsen LF, Stevanovic S, Walther R, Zelikin AN. Transmembrane signaling by a synthetic receptor in artificial cells. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1646. [PMID: 36964156 PMCID: PMC10039019 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37393-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Signal transduction across biological membranes is among the most important evolutionary achievements. Herein, for the design of artificial cells, we engineer fully synthetic receptors with the capacity of transmembrane signaling, using tools of chemistry. Our receptors exhibit similarity with their natural counterparts in having an exofacial ligand for signal capture, being membrane anchored, and featuring a releasable messenger molecule that performs enzyme activation as a downstream signaling event. The main difference from natural receptors is the mechanism of signal transduction, which is achieved using a self-immolative linker. The receptor scaffold is modular and can readily be re-designed to respond to diverse activation signals including biological or chemical stimuli. We demonstrate an artificial signaling cascade that achieves transmembrane enzyme activation, a hallmark of natural signaling receptors. Results of this work are relevant for engineering responsive artificial cells and interfacing them and/or biological counterparts in co-cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ane Bretschneider Søgaard
- Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
- iNano Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | | | | | - Pere Monge
- Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | | | | | | | | | - Raoul Walther
- Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Alexander N Zelikin
- Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
- iNano Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
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2
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Xu R, Duan C, Meng Z, Zhao J, He Q, Zhang Q, Gong C, Huang J, Xie Q, Yang Q, Bai Y. Lipid Microcapsules Promoted Neural Stem Cell Survival in the Infarcted Area of Mice with Ischemic Stroke by Inducing Autophagy. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:4462-4473. [PMID: 36069708 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Intracerebral transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) for ischemic stroke treatment has been demonstrated to be inefficient, with only <5% of delivered cells being retained. Microcapsules may be a good carrier for NSC delivery; however, the current microcapsules do not fully meet the demands for cell survival after transplantation. In the present study, we designed a strategy for the encapsulation of NSCs in a novel lipid-alginate (L-A) microcapsule based on a two-step method. The protective effect of a L-A microcapsule on oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) was investigated by using the CCK8 test, the LDH release test, and flow cytometry. Mechanisms underlying the prosurvival effect were investigated by detecting autophagy markers like P62, LC3-I, and LC3-II, and autophagy flux analysis was also performed. Lastly, the ability of the L-A microcapsule to support NSCs delivery for ischemic stroke was investigated in the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. We found that L-A microcapsules exerted a good protective effect against OGD compared with control and alginate microcapsules. The L-A microcapsules were found to promote cell survival by not only providing a "physical" barrier but also altering autophagy markers like P62 and LC3-II, which enhanced autophagy flux. This novel microcapsule was confirmed to be suitable for NSC delivery in vivo, which alleviated transplanted NSC apoptosis, reduced the infarct volume, decreased brain edema, improved neurological deficit scores, and lastly, improved survival rate. The findings of this study may provide a new method for stem cell delivery, raising the prospect that intracerebral cell transplantation may be used to treat, for instance, ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, and so on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Xu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Xinqiao Zheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Chunmei Duan
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Xinqiao Zheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Zhaoyou Meng
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Xinqiao Zheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xichangan Street, Changan District, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Qian He
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Xinqiao Zheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Xinqiao Zheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Changxiong Gong
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Xinqiao Zheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Jiacheng Huang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Xinqiao Zheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Qi Xie
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Xinqiao Zheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Qingwu Yang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Xinqiao Zheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400037, China
| | - Yang Bai
- Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Gaotanyan Zheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, China
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3
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Kocsis I, Ding Y, Williams NH, Hunter CA. Transmembrane signal transduction by cofactor transport. Chem Sci 2021; 12:12377-12382. [PMID: 34603667 PMCID: PMC8480319 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc03910e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Information processing and cell signalling in biological systems relies on passing chemical signals across lipid bilayer membranes, but examples of synthetic systems that can achieve this process are rare. A synthetic transducer has been developed that triggers catalytic hydrolysis of an ester substrate inside lipid vesicles in response to addition of metal ions to the external vesicle solution. The output signal generated in the internal compartment of the vesicles is produced by binding of a metal ion cofactor to a head group on the transducer to form a catalytically competent complex. The mechanism of signal transduction is based on transport of the metal ion cofactor across the bilayer by the transducer, and the system can be reversibly switched between on and off states by adding cadmium(ii) and ethylene diamine tetracarboxylic acid input signals respectively. The transducer is also equipped with a hydrazide moiety, which allows modulation of activity through covalent conjugation with aldehydes. Conjugation with a sugar derivative abolished activity, because the resulting hydrazone is too polar to cross the bilayer, whereas conjugation with a pyridine derivative increased activity. Coupling transport with catalysis provides a straightforward mechanism for generating complex systems using simple components. Synthetic transducers transport externally added metal ion cofactors across the lipid bilayer membrane of vesicles to trigger catalysis of ester hydrolysis in the inner compartment. Signal transduction activity is modulated by hydrazone formation.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Istvan Kocsis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Yudi Ding
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | | | - Christopher A Hunter
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
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4
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Bickerton LE, Johnson TG, Kerckhoffs A, Langton MJ. Supramolecular chemistry in lipid bilayer membranes. Chem Sci 2021; 12:11252-11274. [PMID: 34567493 PMCID: PMC8409493 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc03545b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipid bilayer membranes form compartments requisite for life. Interfacing supramolecular systems, including receptors, catalysts, signal transducers and ion transporters, enables the function of the membrane to be controlled in artificial and living cellular compartments. In this perspective, we take stock of the current state of the art of this rapidly expanding field, and discuss prospects for the future in both fundamental science and applications in biology and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Bickerton
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford Chemistry Research Laboratory 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Toby G Johnson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford Chemistry Research Laboratory 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Aidan Kerckhoffs
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford Chemistry Research Laboratory 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Matthew J Langton
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford Chemistry Research Laboratory 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
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5
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Monge P, Løvschall KB, Søgaard AB, Walther R, Golbek TW, Schmüser L, Weidner T, Zelikin AN. Synthetic Artificial Apoptosis-Inducing Receptor for On-Demand Deactivation of Engineered Cells. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:2004432. [PMID: 36246165 PMCID: PMC9539725 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202004432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The design of a fully synthetic, chemical "apoptosis-inducing receptor" (AIR) molecule is reported that is anchored into the lipid bilayer of cells, is activated by the incoming biological input, and responds with the release of a secondary messenger-a highly potent toxin for cell killing. The AIR molecule has four elements, namely, an exofacial trigger group, a bilayer anchor, a toxin as a secondary messenger, and a self-immolative scaffold as a mechanism for signal transduction. Receptor installation into cells is established via a robust protocol with minimal cell handling. The synthetic receptor remains dormant in the engineered cells, but is effectively triggered externally by the addition of an activating biomolecule (enzyme) or in a mixed cell population through interaction with the surrounding cells. In 3D cell culture (spheroids), receptor activation is accessible for at least 5 days, which compares favorably with other state of the art receptor designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pere Monge
- Department of Chemistry and iNano Interdisciplinary Nanoscience CentreAarhus UniversityAarhus8000Denmark
| | - Kaja Borup Løvschall
- Department of Chemistry and iNano Interdisciplinary Nanoscience CentreAarhus UniversityAarhus8000Denmark
| | - Ane Bretschneider Søgaard
- Department of Chemistry and iNano Interdisciplinary Nanoscience CentreAarhus UniversityAarhus8000Denmark
| | - Raoul Walther
- Department of Chemistry and iNano Interdisciplinary Nanoscience CentreAarhus UniversityAarhus8000Denmark
| | - Thaddeus W. Golbek
- Department of Chemistry and iNano Interdisciplinary Nanoscience CentreAarhus UniversityAarhus8000Denmark
| | - Lars Schmüser
- Department of Chemistry and iNano Interdisciplinary Nanoscience CentreAarhus UniversityAarhus8000Denmark
| | - Tobias Weidner
- Department of Chemistry and iNano Interdisciplinary Nanoscience CentreAarhus UniversityAarhus8000Denmark
| | - Alexander N. Zelikin
- Department of Chemistry and iNano Interdisciplinary Nanoscience CentreAarhus UniversityAarhus8000Denmark
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6
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Chen H, Zhou L, Li C, He X, Huang J, Yang X, Shi H, Wang K, Liu J. Controlled dimerization of artificial membrane receptors for transmembrane signal transduction. Chem Sci 2021; 12:8224-8230. [PMID: 34194713 PMCID: PMC8208304 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc00718a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In biology, membrane-spanning proteins are responsible for the transmission of chemical signals across membranes, including the signal recognition-mediated conformational change of transmembrane receptors at the cell surface, and a trigger of an intracellular phosphorylation cascade. The ability to reproduce such biological processes in artificial systems has potential applications in smart sensing, drug delivery, and synthetic biology. Here, an artificial transmembrane receptors signaling system was designed and constructed based on modular DNA scaffolds. The artificial transmembrane receptors in this system are composed of three functional modules: signal recognition, lipophilic transmembrane linker, and signal output modules. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) served as an external signal input to trigger the dimerization of two artificial receptors on membranes through a proximity effect. This effect induced the formation of a G-quadruplex, which served as a peroxidase-like enzyme to facilitate a signal output measured by either fluorescence or absorbance in the lipid bilayer vesicles. The broader utility of this modular method was further demonstrated using a lysozyme-binding aptamer instead of an ATP-binding aptamer. Therefore, this work provides a modular and generalizable method for the design of artificial transmembrane receptors. The flexibility of this synthetic methodology will allow researchers to incorporate different functional modules while retaining the same molecular framework for signal transduction. An artificial transmbrane signal transducer was developed through the chemical input-mediated dimerization of artificial DNA transmembrane receptors and the subsequent activation of a cascade of events inside the vesicles.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Li Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Chunying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Xiaoxiao He
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Jin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Xiaohai Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Hui Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Kemin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
| | - Jianbo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
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7
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Engineering of stimuli-responsive lipid-bilayer membranes using supramolecular systems. Nat Rev Chem 2020; 5:46-61. [PMID: 37118103 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-020-00233-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The membrane proteins found in nature control many important cellular functions, including signal transduction and transmembrane ion transport, and these, in turn, are regulated by external stimuli, such as small molecules, membrane potential and light. Membrane proteins also find technological applications in fields ranging from optogenetics to synthetic biology. Synthetic supramolecular analogues have emerged as a complementary method to engineer functional membranes. This Review describes stimuli-responsive supramolecular systems developed for the control of ion transport, signal transduction and catalysis in lipid-bilayer-membrane systems. Recent advances towards achieving spatio-temporal control over activity in artificial and living cells are highlighted. Current challenges, the scope, limitations and future potential to exploit supramolecular systems for engineering stimuli-responsive lipid-bilayer membranes are discussed.
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8
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Monge P, Tvilum A, Søgaard AB, Løvschall KB, Jarlstad Olesen MT, Zelikin AN. Chemical Artificial Internalizing Receptors for Primary T Cells. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2020; 7:2001395. [PMID: 32999846 PMCID: PMC7509642 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202001395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The newest generation of cell-based technologies relies heavily on methods to communicate to the engineered cells using artificial receptors, specifically to deactivate the cells administered to a patient in the event of adverse effects. Herein, artificial synthetic internalizing receptors are engineered that function in mammalian cells in 2D and in 3D and afford targeted, specific intracellular drug delivery with nanomolar potency in the most challenging cell type, namely primary, donor-derived T cells. Receptor design comprises a lipid bilayer anchor for receptor integration into cell membrane and a small xenobiotic molecule as a recognition ligand. Artificial receptors are successfully targeted by the corresponding antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and exhibit efficient cargo cell entry with ensuing intracellular effects. Receptor integration into cells is fast and robust and affords targeted cell entry in under 2 h. Through a combination of the receptor design and the use of ADC, combined benefits previously made available by chimeric artificial receptors (performance in T cells) and the chemical counterpart (robustness and simplicity) in a single functional platform is achieved. Artificial synthetic receptors are poised to facilitate the maturation of engineered cells as tools of biotechnology and biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pere Monge
- Department of ChemistryAarhus UniversityLangelandsgade 140AarhusC 8000Denmark
| | - Anne Tvilum
- Department of ChemistryAarhus UniversityLangelandsgade 140AarhusC 8000Denmark
| | | | | | - Morten T. Jarlstad Olesen
- Department of ChemistryAarhus UniversityLangelandsgade 140AarhusC 8000Denmark
- iNano Interdisciplinary Nanoscience CentreAarhus UniversityLangelandsgade 140AarhusC 8000Denmark
| | - Alexander N. Zelikin
- Department of ChemistryAarhus UniversityLangelandsgade 140AarhusC 8000Denmark
- iNano Interdisciplinary Nanoscience CentreAarhus UniversityLangelandsgade 140AarhusC 8000Denmark
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9
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Abstract
Communication between and inside cells as well as their response to external stimuli relies on elaborated systems of signal transduction. They all require a directional transmission across membranes, often realized by primary messenger docking onto external receptor units and subsequent internalization of the signal in form of a released second messenger. This in turn starts a cascade of events which ultimately control all functions of the living cell. Although signal transduction is a fundamental biological process realized by supramolecular recognition and multiplication events with small molecules, chemists have just begun to invent artificial models which allow to study the underlying rules, and one day perhaps to rescue damaged transduction systems in nature. This review summarizes the exciting pioneering efforts of chemists to create simple models for the basic principles of signal transduction across a membrane. It starts with first attempts to establish molecular recognition events on liposomes with embedded receptor amphiphiles and moves on to simple transmembrane signaling across lipid bilayers. More elaborated systems step by step incorporate more elements of cell signaling, such as primary and secondary messenger or a useful cellular response such as cargo release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Bekus
- University of Duisburg-Essen Faculty of Chemistry Universitätsstr. 7 45117 Essen Germany
| | - Thomas Schrader
- University of Duisburg-Essen Faculty of Chemistry Universitätsstr. 7 45117 Essen Germany
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10
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Abstract
The combination of supramolecular functional systems with biomolecular chemistry has been a fruitful exercise for decades, leading to a greater understanding of biomolecules and to a great variety of applications, for example, in drug delivery and sensing. Within these developments, the phospholipid bilayer membrane, surrounding live cells, with all its functions has also intrigued supramolecular chemists. Herein, recent efforts from the supramolecular chemistry community to mimic natural functions of lipid membranes, such as sensing, molecular recognition, membrane fusion, signal transduction, and gated transport, are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Barba‐Bon
- Department of Life Sciences and ChemistryJacobs University BremenCampus Ring 128759BremenGermany
| | - Mohamed Nilam
- Department of Life Sciences and ChemistryJacobs University BremenCampus Ring 128759BremenGermany
| | - Andreas Hennig
- Department of Life Sciences and ChemistryJacobs University BremenCampus Ring 128759BremenGermany
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11
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Ding Y, Williams NH, Hunter CA. A Synthetic Vesicle-to-Vesicle Communication System. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:17847-17853. [PMID: 31642667 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b09102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A molecular signal displayed on the external surface of one population of vesicles was used to trigger a catalytic process on the inside of a second population of vesicles. The key recognition event is the transfer of a protein (NeutrAvidin) bound to vesicles displaying desthiobiotin to vesicles displaying biotin. The desthiobiotin-protein complex was used to anchor a synthetic transducer in the outer leaflet of the vesicles, and when the protein was displaced, the transducer translocated across the bilayer to expose a catalytic headgroup to the internal vesicle solution. As a result, an ester substrate encapsulated on the inside of this second population of vesicles was hydrolyzed to give a fluorescence output signal. The protein has four binding sites, which leads to multivalent interactions with membrane-anchored ligands and very high binding affinities. Thus, biotin, which has a dissociation constant 3 orders of magnitude higher than desthiobiotin, did not displace the protein from the membrane-anchored transducer, and membrane-anchored biotin displayed on the surface of a second population of vesicles was required to generate an effective input signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yudi Ding
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge CB2 1EW , United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas H Williams
- Department of Chemistry , University of Sheffield , Sheffield S3 7HF , United Kingdom
| | - Christopher A Hunter
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge CB2 1EW , United Kingdom
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12
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Vanuytsel S, Carniello J, Wallace MI. Artificial Signal Transduction across Membranes. Chembiochem 2019; 20:2569-2580. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven Vanuytsel
- Department of ChemistryKing's College London Britannia House 7 Trinity Street London SE1 1DB UK
- London Centre for Nanotechnology Strand London WC2R 2LS UK
| | - Joanne Carniello
- Department of ChemistryKing's College London Britannia House 7 Trinity Street London SE1 1DB UK
- London Centre for Nanotechnology Strand London WC2R 2LS UK
| | - Mark Ian Wallace
- Department of ChemistryKing's College London Britannia House 7 Trinity Street London SE1 1DB UK
- London Centre for Nanotechnology Strand London WC2R 2LS UK
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13
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Langton MJ, Scriven LM, Williams NH, Hunter CA. Triggered Release from Lipid Bilayer Vesicles by an Artificial Transmembrane Signal Transduction System. J Am Chem Soc 2017; 139:15768-15773. [PMID: 28876061 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b07747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The on-demand delivery of drug molecules from nanoscale carriers with spatiotemporal control is a key challenge in modern medicine. Here we show that lipid bilayer vesicles (liposomes) can be triggered to release an encapsulated molecular cargo in response to an external control signal by employing an artificial transmembrane signal transduction mechanism. A synthetic signal transducer embedded in the lipid bilayer membrane acts as a switchable catalyst, catalyzing the formation of surfactant molecules inside the vesicle in response to a change in external pH. The surfactant permeabilizes the lipid bilayer membrane to facilitate release of an encapsulated hydrophilic cargo. In the absence of the pH control signal, the catalyst is inactive, and the cargo remains encapsulated within the vesicle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Langton
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Lorel M Scriven
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas H Williams
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield , Sheffield S3 7HF, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher A Hunter
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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14
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Langton MJ, Williams NH, Hunter CA. Recognition-Controlled Membrane Translocation for Signal Transduction across Lipid Bilayers. J Am Chem Soc 2017; 139:6461-6466. [PMID: 28462993 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b02345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Membrane signaling proteins transduce information across lipid bilayer membranes in response to extra-cellular binding of chemical messengers. The design of chemical systems that initiate transmembrane signal transduction through molecular binding events is a critical step toward preparing responsive synthetic vesicles. Here we report a vesicle-based signaling system controlled by a metal cation binding event. Competition between binding of copper ions to a membrane-embedded synthetic transducer and to an extra-vesicle messenger (EDTA) is used to control translocation of the transducer across the lipid bilayer. The translocation process is coupled to activation of a catalyst that turns over encapsulated substrates on the inside of the vesicle to generate an amplified fluorescence output signal. External EDTA and copper ions can be used to reversibly switch catalysis inside the vesicles on and off in a controlled manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Langton
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas H Williams
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield , Sheffield S3 7HF, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher A Hunter
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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15
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Fernandez-Trillo F, Grover LM, Stephenson-Brown A, Harrison P, Mendes PM. Vesicles in Nature and the Laboratory: Elucidation of Their Biological Properties and Synthesis of Increasingly Complex Synthetic Vesicles. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:3142-3160. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201607825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Liam M. Grover
- School of Chemical Engineering; University of Birmingham; Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK
| | - Alex Stephenson-Brown
- School of Chemical Engineering; University of Birmingham; Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK
| | - Paul Harrison
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing (IIA); University of Birmingham; Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK
| | - Paula M. Mendes
- School of Chemical Engineering; University of Birmingham; Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK
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16
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Fernandez-Trillo F, Grover LM, Stephenson-Brown A, Harrison P, Mendes PM. Vesikel in der Natur und im Labor: die Aufklärung der biologischen Eigenschaften und die Synthese zunehmend komplexer synthetischer Vesikel. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201607825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Liam M. Grover
- School of Chemical Engineering; University of Birmingham; Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT Großbritannien
| | - Alex Stephenson-Brown
- School of Chemical Engineering; University of Birmingham; Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT Großbritannien
| | - Paul Harrison
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing (IIA); University of Birmingham; Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT Großbritannien
| | - Paula M. Mendes
- School of Chemical Engineering; University of Birmingham; Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT Großbritannien
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Controlled membrane translocation provides a mechanism for signal transduction and amplification. Nat Chem 2016; 9:426-430. [PMID: 28430205 DOI: 10.1038/nchem.2678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Transmission and amplification of chemical signals across lipid bilayer membranes is of profound significance in many biological processes, from the development of multicellular organisms to information processing in the nervous system. In biology, membrane-spanning proteins are responsible for the transmission of chemical signals across membranes, and signal transduction is often associated with an amplified signalling cascade. The ability to reproduce such processes in artificial systems has potential applications in sensing, controlled drug delivery and communication between compartments in tissue-like constructs of synthetic vesicles. Here we describe a mechanism for transmitting a chemical signal across a membrane based on the controlled translocation of a synthetic molecular transducer from one side of a lipid bilayer membrane to the other. The controlled molecular motion has been coupled to the activation of a catalyst on the inside of a vesicle, which leads to a signal-amplification process analogous to the biological counterpart.
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Molenbroek E, Straathof N, Dück S, Rashid Z, van Lenthe JH, Lutz M, Gandubert A, Klein Gebbink RJM, De Cola L, Bonnet S. Zinc coordination to the bapbpy ligand in homogeneous solutions and at liposomes: zinc detection via fluorescence enhancement. Dalton Trans 2013; 42:2973-84. [PMID: 23258585 DOI: 10.1039/c2dt32488a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In this work, the complexation of the bapbpy ligand to zinc dichloride is described (bapbpy = 6,6′-bis(2-aminopyridyl)-2,2′-bipyridine). The water-soluble, colorless complex [Zn(bapbpy)Cl]Cl·2H2O (compound 2·H2O) was synthesized; its X-ray crystal structure shows a mononuclear, pentacoordinated geometry with one chloride ligand in apical position. Upon excitation of its lowest-energy absorption band (375 nm) compound 2 shows intense emission (Φ = 0.50) at 418 nm in aqueous solution, and an excited state lifetime of 5 ns at room temperature. Photophysical measurements, DFT, and TD-DFT calculations prove that emission arises from vibronically coupled Ligand-to-Ligand Charge Transfer singlet excited states, characterized by electron density flowing from the lone pairs of the non-coordinated NH bridges to the π* orbitals of the pyridine rings. Monofunctionalization of the ligand with one long alkyl chain was realized to afford ligand 3, which can be inserted into dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) or dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) unilamellar vesicles. For negatively charged DMPG membranes the addition of a zinc salt to the vesicles leads to an enhancement of the fluorescence due to zinc coordination to the membrane-embedded tetrapyridyl ligand. No changes were observed for the zwitterionic DMPC lipids, where binding of the Zn ions does not take place. A modest binding constant was found (5 × 10(6) M(−1)) for the coordination of zinc cations to bapbpy-functionalized DMPG membranes, which allows for the detection of micromolar zinc concentrations in aqueous solution. The influence of chloride concentration and other transition metal ions on the zinc binding was evaluated, and the potential of liposome-supported metal chelators such as ligand 3 for zinc detection in biological media is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elwin Molenbroek
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, Leiden, 2300 RA, The Netherlands
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Bernitzki K, Maue M, Schrader T. Artificial signal transduction with primary and secondary messengers. Chemistry 2012; 18:13412-7. [PMID: 22961842 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201200623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The complete, entirely artificial, signal-transduction process was realized with a pair of tailored transmembrane units that were equipped with receptor- and reactive sites at both amphiphilic ends. Thus, docking of the primary messenger, transmission of the signal, and release of the secondary messenger could all be imitated in a single experimental setup. The system imitates the signaling principle of receptor tyrosine kinases and employs bisphosphonate head-groups for oligoamine-recognition and a pair of thiol nucleophiles and pyridine disulfide tail-groups for intravesicle S(N)2 displacement. This system operates in a unidirectional fashion, does not suffer from intervesicle competition, and is highly sensitive towards the lipid composition of the membrane and the nature of the primary messenger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Bernitzki
- Department of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstrasse 7, 45117 Essen, Germany
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Bonnet S, Limburg B, Meeldijk JD, Klein Gebbink RJM, Killian JA. Ruthenium-Decorated Lipid Vesicles: Light-Induced Release of [Ru(terpy)(bpy)(OH2)]2+ and Thermal Back Coordination. J Am Chem Soc 2010; 133:252-61. [DOI: 10.1021/ja105025m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sylvestre Bonnet
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands, and Electron Microscopy Utrecht, Department of Biology,Organic Chemistry & Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterial Science, and Biochemistry of Membranes, Bijvoet Center, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bart Limburg
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands, and Electron Microscopy Utrecht, Department of Biology,Organic Chemistry & Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterial Science, and Biochemistry of Membranes, Bijvoet Center, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes D. Meeldijk
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands, and Electron Microscopy Utrecht, Department of Biology,Organic Chemistry & Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterial Science, and Biochemistry of Membranes, Bijvoet Center, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Robertus J. M. Klein Gebbink
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands, and Electron Microscopy Utrecht, Department of Biology,Organic Chemistry & Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterial Science, and Biochemistry of Membranes, Bijvoet Center, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - J. Antoinette Killian
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands, and Electron Microscopy Utrecht, Department of Biology,Organic Chemistry & Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterial Science, and Biochemistry of Membranes, Bijvoet Center, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Mutual modulation between membrane-embedded receptor clustering and ligand binding in lipid membranes. Nat Chem 2010; 2:1077-83. [PMID: 21107373 DOI: 10.1038/nchem.892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2010] [Accepted: 08/20/2010] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Thanks largely to a cooperative chelate effect, clustered membrane-embedded proteins favourably bind to multivalent ligands in solution and, conversely, a multivalent receptor can induce the clustering of membrane-embedded proteins. Here, we use a chemical model to show that the binding of a monovalent ligand and the clustering of a membrane-embedded receptor are closely related processes that modulate each other without the contribution of any apparent multivalence effect. Clearly, the confinement of the receptor within the surface reveals cooperative effects between clustering and binding that are too weak to detect in bulk-solution systems. This work shows that for membrane-embedded receptors that undergo some degree of spontaneous clustering, analyses based on multivalence-mediated cooperativity are insufficient to describe fully the molecular recognition events induced by ligands in solution. Instead, a binding-clustering thermodynamic cycle is proposed for the analysis of the interaction of any kind of ligand with membrane-embedded receptors.
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Bernitzki K, Schrader T. Entirely artificial signal transduction with a primary messenger. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2010; 48:8001-5. [PMID: 19768824 DOI: 10.1002/anie.200902973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Bernitzki
- Fakultät für Chemie, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstrasse 5, 45117 Essen, Germany
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Bernitzki K, Schrader T. Entirely Artificial Signal Transduction with a Primary Messenger. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2009. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.200902973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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