*********************************
There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
*********************************
Single-span membrane proteins (ssMPs) are anchored by single hydrophobic helices to cell surfaces, where they mediate cell-cell communications. Unfortunately, hydrophobic helices also cause aggregation in solution, rendering ssMPs non-functional. We discovered that in vitro newly synthesized ssMPs insert hydrophobic helices into oil drops, thus preventing aggregation, and promoting assembly of functional structures on the drop’s surface. We use this approach to synthesize and display apoptosis-inducing ssMPs and show that these "death drops" are functional, and can kill cultured cancer cells. Our results illustrate a one-pot method for rapid synthesis and assembly of functional ssMPs, which is facilitated by the hydrophobic interaction, rather than limited by it. Such functionalized oil drops also represent a new platform to communicate with cells.
