Tension-tuned receptors for synthetic mechanotransduction and intercellular force detection.

ABSTRACT: Cells interpret mechanical stimuli from their environments and neighbors, but the ability to engineer customized mechanosensing capabilities has remained a synthetic and mechanobiology challenge. Here we introduce tension-tuned synthetic Notch (SynNotch) receptors to convert extracellular and intercellular forces into specifiable gene expression changes. By elevating the tension requirements of SynNotch activation, in combination with structure-guided mutagenesis, we designed a set of receptors with mechanical sensitivities spanning the physiologically relevant picoNewton range. Cells expressing these receptors can distinguish between varying tensile forces and respond by enacting customizable transcriptional programs. We applied these tools to design a decision-making circuit, through whi

SUBMITTER: Sloas DC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10499187 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature