RESUMO
Tri-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)-based fluorescent probes were developed and used to image His-tagged-labelled outer membrane protein C (His-OmpC) in live Escherichia coli. One of these probes was designed to light up upon binding, which provided the means to assess changes in the His-OmpC expression levels by taking a simple fluorescence spectrum.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Corantes Fluorescentes/química , Regulação Bacteriana da Expressão Gênica/fisiologia , Expressão Gênica , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Sondas Moleculares/química , Sítios de Ligação , Escherichia coli/genética , Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/genética , Proteínas de Membrana/química , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Estrutura Molecular , Ligação ProteicaRESUMO
The responses of cells to their surroundings are mediated by the binding of cell surface proteins (CSPs) to extracellular signals. Such processes are regulated via dynamic changes in the structure, composition, and expression levels of CSPs. In this study, we demonstrate the possibility of decorating bacteria with artificial, self-assembled receptors that imitate the dynamic features of CSPs. We show that the local concentration of these receptors on the bacterial membrane and their structure can be reversibly controlled using suitable chemical signals, in a way that resembles changes that occur with CSP expression levels or posttranslational modifications (PTMs), respectively. We also show that these modifications can endow the bacteria with programmable properties, akin to the way CSP responses can induce cellular functions. By programming the bacteria to glow, adhere to surfaces, or interact with proteins or mammalian cells, we demonstrate the potential to tailor such biomimetic systems for specific applications.
