Engineering synthetic signaling proteins with ultrasensitive input/output control

John E Dueber; Ethan A Mirsky; Wendell A Lim

doi:10.1038/nbt1308

Engineering synthetic signaling proteins with ultrasensitive input/output control

Nat Biotechnol. 2007 Jun;25(6):660-2. doi: 10.1038/nbt1308. Epub 2007 May 21.

Authors

John E Dueber¹, Ethan A Mirsky, Wendell A Lim

Affiliation

¹ Program in Biological Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158-2517, USA.

PMID: 17515908
DOI: 10.1038/nbt1308

Abstract

Many signaling proteins are built from simple, modular components, yet display highly complex signal-processing behavior. Here we explore how modular domains can be used to build an ultrasensitive switch--a nonlinear input/output function that is central to many complex biological behaviors. By systematically altering the number and affinity of modular autoinhibitory interactions, we show that we can predictably convert a simple linear signaling protein into an ultrasensitive switch.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Algorithms*
Computer Simulation
Feedback / physiology
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / chemistry*
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
Models, Biological*
Protein Engineering / methods*
Signal Transduction / physiology*

Substances

Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins