Biophysical Society Thematic Meeting - June 28-July 1, 2015

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New Biological Frontiers Illuminated by Molecular Sensors and Actuators Poster Abstracts
19-POS Board 19
Synthetically Rerouting Phagocytosis by Rapidly Turning Inert Cells into “Eat You” Mode
Toru Komatsu 1,4, Hiroki Onuma1, Tetsuo Nagano2, Yasuteru Urano1,3.Takanari Inoue5.
1The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 3The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 4JST
PRESTO, Tokyo, Japan, 5Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. 2The University of
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Cells communicate with outside environment through surface molecules. In order to engineer the
surface property of intact living cells on a rapid timescale, we developed a technique with which
a protein of interest can be displayed at the cell surface within 15 minutes by adding a chemical
dimerizer. In particular, we rapidly displayed a C2 domain of MFG-E8 protein, endowing cells
with an ability to selectively bind to apoptotic cells through externalized phosphatidylserine.
While this was not sufficient for engulfment of apoptotic cells, additional presence of active Rac
in the surface engineered cells triggered engulfment. The surface engineering technique provides
a powerful way to immediately alter cellular property, facilitate understanding of cellular
communication skills, and may also be employed for cell-based therapy to eliminate targeted
cells in living animals. <BR><B>Reference: <I>Sci. Signaling, <B>7, <I>334, rs4 (2014)