Integrin α_IIbβ₃ Activation and Clustering in Minimal Synthetic Cells

Abstract

The ORCID identification number(s) for the author(s) of this article can be found under https://doi.org/10.1002/anbr.202100094.

Recent Advances in Microfluidic Technologies for the Construction of Artificial Cells

“…in relation to the number of integrin-talin head domain (THD) complexes. [69] They demonstrated a mimicry of the inside-out activation of integrin via THD in a cell-sized liposome. It was an essential step for the formation of this molecular link in synthetic cell design to recapitulate integrin-mediated bidirectional signaling across the membrane.…”

“…Spatz's group had recently applied droplet‐based microfluidics to the generation of cell‐sized GUVs with a defined molecular composition to quantify the adhesion of integrin α IIb β 3 ‐containing protocells in relation to the number of integrin‐talin head domain (THD) complexes. [ 69 ] They demonstrated a mimicry of the inside‐out activation of integrin via THD in a cell‐sized liposome. It was an essential step for the formation of this molecular link in synthetic cell design to recapitulate integrin‐mediated bidirectional signaling across the membrane.…”

Engineering Tissue-Scale Properties with Synthetic Cells: Forging One from Many

“…Synthetic cells 20–40 μm in diameter exhibited adhesion to an ECM-like fibrinogen surface (Figure B, top) but no adhesion to a control casein surface, as shown via reflection interference contrast microscopy. An alternate method based on sequential picoinjection of synthetic cells also incorporated integrins into the membrane and had similar selectivity for fibrinogen against a BSA surface (Figure B, bottom). , Here, water-in-oil droplets stabilized by polyethylene glycol and perfluorinated polyether polymers initiate the formation of droplet-stabilized giant unilamellar vesicles (dsGUVs). Passing through a microfluidic channel, the dsGUVs are exposed to an electric field that destabilizes the membrane and allows injection of proteoliposomes containing integrins into the GUV.…”

“…However, no reports to date have described such strategies with synthetic cells. Additionally, programming bacterial cells to secrete ECM-like materials in and around synthetic cells could produce living cell control over tissue-like structures to support 3D morphologies. , As above, incorporating native ECM receptors such as integrins into synthetic cells and subsequently incorporating lumenal signaling pathways will be an important next step for imparting environmental sensing, biomimetic tissue mechanics, and migratory potential into synthetic tissue.…”