Reconstructing Soma–Soma Synapse-like Vesicular Exocytosis with DNA Origami

Abstract

Cell–cell communications exhibit distinct physiological functions in immune responses and neurotransmitter signaling. Nevertheless, the ability to reconstruct a soma–soma synapse-like junction for probing intercellular communications remains difficult. In this work, we develop a DNA origami nanostructure-based method for establishing cell conjugation, which consequently facilitates the reconstruction of a soma–soma synapse-like junction. We demonstrate that intercellular communications including small molecule and membrane vesicle exchange between cells are maintained in the artificially designed synapse-like junction. By inserting the carbon fiber nanometric electrodes into the soma–soma synapse-like junction, we accomplish the real-time monitoring of individual vesicular exocytotic events and obtain the information on vesicular exocytosis kinetics via analyzing the parameters of current spikes. This strategy provides a versatile platform to study synaptic communications.

DNA-Based Molecular Machines

“…The advantages of the lipid bilayer are its ease of preparation, its ability to build massive molecular assemblies (up to the micrometer scale), and the embedded components’ mobility. Hybrid systems composed of DNA nanostructures and lipids have been designed to exploit the physicochemical properties of membrane assemblies. , Moreover, organizing DMMs within membranes reduces their dimensionality and enables them to interact more efficiently than when they are organized in three dimensions. − …”

DNA Walkers for Biosensing Development

“…In detail, when stimulated by molecular triggers (such as ions, nucleic acids, enzymes, and various chemical stimuli), dynamic DNA nanostructures exhibit directional movement or complicated behavior in specific ways. [13][14][15][16] DNA walkers, as one of the dynamic DNA nanodevices, have recently attracted intense interest in designing and fabricating DNA-based biosensors. [17][18][19][20] Typical DNA walkers are mainly composed of three major elements including the driving forces, the walking strands, and the walking tracks.…”

“…In detail, when stimulated by molecular triggers (such as ions, nucleic acids, enzymes, and various chemical stimuli), dynamic DNA nanostructures exhibit directional movement or complicated behavior in specific ways. [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]…”

Tetrahedral-Framework Nucleic Acids Carry Small Interfering RNA to Downregulate Toll-Like Receptor 2 Gene Expression for the Treatment of Sepsis

“…siRNA is the first choice for gene silencing. Because of its effectiveness and selectivity, RNAi has become the preferred method for silencing specific gene expression in viral infection, cancer, family genetic diseases, and autoimmune diseases. − However, because of the poor stability of siRNA in vivo and the immunogenicity of exposed siRNA, which cannot effectively cross the cell membrane, there is currently a lack of suitable delivery vectors, and accurate delivery of siRNA in vivo is still facing great challenges. − Self-assembled DNA tetrahedral nanostructures are a class of nanomaterials with a precise structure and diverse functions. − They have good biocompatibility and stability, high membrane permeability, targeted release ability, and so on and are ideal drug transport carriers and intelligent drug delivery materials. − …”