Affiliation:
1. State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Biology College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province Hunan University Changsha 410082 P. R. China
2. Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 P. R. China
Abstract
AbstractThe ability to reproduce signal transduction and cellular communication in artificial cell systems is significant in synthetic protobiology. Here, we describe an artificial transmembrane signal transduction through low pH‐mediated formation of the i‐motif and dimerization of DNA‐based artificial membrane receptors, which is coupled to the occurrence of fluorescence resonance energy transfer and the activation of G‐quadruplex/hemin‐mediated fluorescence amplification inside giant unilamellar vesicles. Moreover, an intercellular signal communication model is established when the extravesicular H+ input is replaced by coacervate microdroplets, which activate the dimerization of the artificial receptors, and subsequent fluorescence production or polymerization in giant unilamellar vesicles. This study represents a crucial step towards designing artificial signalling systems with environmental response, and provides an opportunity to establish signalling networks in protocell colonies.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province