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Living cells exhibit dynamic adaptability through ATP-fueled processes that are crucial for tissue development and immune responses. Conventional methods for controlling cell assembly lack the nonequilibrium, reversible behavior of natural systems. Here, we present an ATP-dissipative DNA assembly system that leverages DNA's programmability to enable adaptive, hierarchical structures with spatiotemporal control. By utilizing various DNA monomers, including double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), tetrahedral DNA frameworks, and branched DNA frameworks, we achieve the precise regulation of cell assembly in response to ATP-driven enzymatic reactions. BDF-based condensates, formed through multivalent liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), dynamically modulate intercellular interactions, mimicking the extracellular matrix adaptability. This system was successfully applied to regulate cell assembly in Ramos, PC-12, and natural killer (NK) cells. By harnessing endogenous ATP secreted by cells, we enabled real-time reversible control over cell assembly. Furthermore, the ATP-dissipative assembly system enhanced the tumor-killing efficacy of NK cells by modulating their interactions with cancer cells. This work highlights the potential of DNA-based dissipative self-assembly for precise spatiotemporal regulation of cellular interactions, shedding light on advanced applications in intelligent materials and immunotherapy.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c08925 | DOI Listing |
Genome Biol
September 2025
Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China.
Background: Centromeres are crucial for precise chromosome segregation and maintaining genome stability during cell division. However, their evolutionary dynamics, particularly in polyploid organisms with complex genomic architectures, remain largely enigmatic. Allopolyploid wheat, with its well-defined hierarchical ploidy series and recent polyploidization history, serves as an excellent model to explore centromere evolution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Rev Mol Cell Biol
September 2025
Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
The defining property of eukaryotic cells is the storage of heritable genetic material in a nuclear compartment. For eukaryotic cells to carry out the myriad biochemical processes necessary for their function, macromolecules must be efficiently exchanged between the nucleus and cytoplasm. The nuclear pore complex (NPC) - which is a massive assembly of ~35 different proteins present in multiple copies totalling ~1,000 protein subunits and architecturally conserved across eukaryotes - establishes a size-selective channel for regulated bidirectional transport of folded macromolecules and macromolecular assemblies across the nuclear envelope.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEMBO Mol Med
September 2025
Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Medical Innovation Center and State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai East Hospital, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center & Ministry of Education Stem Cell Resource Center, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Li
Primary microcephaly, a rare congenital condition characterized by reduced brain size, occurs due to impaired neurogenesis during brain development. Through whole-exome sequencing, we identified compound heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in CENTRIN 3 (CETN3) in a 5-year-old patient with primary microcephaly. As CETN3 has not been previously linked to microcephaly, we investigated its potential function in neurodevelopment in human pluripotent stem cell-derived cerebral organoids.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiotechnol Lett
September 2025
Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sangsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 04066, Republic of Korea.
The cell surface display system employs carrier proteins to present target proteins on the outer membrane of cells. This system enables functional proteins to be exposed on the exterior of living cells without cell lysis, allowing direct interaction with the surrounding environment. A major limitation of conventional approaches is the difficulty in displaying large-sized enzymes or antibodies, despite their critical roles in applications requiring functional domains that must remain intact, such as catalytic or antigen-binding sites.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStem Cell Res
September 2025
Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address:
Cardiomyopathies, a leading cause of mortality, are associated with dysfunctional intercalated discs, which connect neighbouring cardiomyocytes and ensure proper contractility. In human cardiac diseases, loss-of-function mutations of the intercalated disc-associated protein Nebulin-Related Anchoring Protein (NRAP) have been reported. NRAP plays a crucial role in myofibril assembly and mechanotransduction, however, its regulatory functions remain unclear.
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