Living Cell Sensors Illuminate Real-Time Protein Activity in Disease Research

Breakthrough in Cellular Observation

Researchers at Rice University have developed a revolutionary method for tracking protein changes within living cells in real time, according to reports published in Nature Communications. The team engineered cells to autonomously produce and utilize a 21st amino acid that illuminates when specific protein modifications occur, providing unprecedented visibility into cellular processes.

This technology represents a significant advancement over traditional methods that require breaking open cells or introducing synthetic labels, sources indicate. The approach works across bacteria, human cells, and live tumor models, potentially transforming how scientists study complex diseases like cancer while reducing ethical concerns associated with more invasive techniques.

Visualizing the Invisible

The system addresses a long-standing challenge in biology: observing post-translational modifications (PTMs), which act as molecular switches controlling growth, aging, and disease processes. Analysts suggest that by engineering cells to produce a glowing version of lysine, researchers can now watch these switches activate without disrupting natural cellular functions.

“This system lets us see the invisible choreography of proteins inside living cells,” said Han Xiao, the study‘s corresponding author and professor at Rice University, according to the report. “By equipping cells with the tools to produce and sense a new amino acid, we unlock a direct window into how PTMs drive biological processes in living animals.”

Engineering Living Sensors

The research initiative began with the hypothesis that enabling cells to autonomously produce and use a 21st amino acid would outperform traditional labeling methods. The team identified and harnessed enzymes to produce acetyllysine within cells, then genetically engineered both bacteria and human cells to incorporate this amino acid into proteins at specific locations.

When PTMs are added or removed, reporter proteins such as fluorescent proteins or enzymes emit light, validating the system’s effectiveness for real-time tracking. “This innovative method goes beyond previous approaches by eliminating the need for external chemicals and allowing us to watch protein changes happen naturally inside living cells,” Xiao stated in the report.

Cancer Research Applications

As a demonstration of its capability, the researchers used the sensors to study SIRT1, a posttranslational regulator involved in modulating inflammation that has been debated in cancer biology. The report states that inhibiting SIRT1 blocked its enzymatic activity but, contrary to some expectations, did not impede tumor growth in certain cell lines.

“Seeing a glow in response to acetylation events inside living tissue was thrilling,” Xiao commented. “It makes the invisible world of protein regulation vividly observable and opens new possibilities for studying disease mechanisms and drug actions.”

Future Implications and Applications

According to the findings, the engineered cells could reshape how scientists study PTMs in areas like aging and neurological diseases. Because they function within living organisms, these sensors can track disease progression or treatment responses in real time, and their light-based signals appear well-suited for large-scale drug screening targeting PTM-regulating enzymes.

Future enhancements may extend this approach to other types of PTMs or human-derived organoid systems, potentially increasing the platform’s relevance for personalized medicine. Yu Hu, the study’s first author and postdoctoral researcher at Rice, stated that “with this living sensor technology, our research offers an innovative tool that illuminates the dynamic world of PTMs, promising to reshape our understanding and treatment of diseases rooted in protein regulation.”

The research team included multiple co-authors from Rice University, indicating a collaborative effort behind this significant advancement in cellular imaging technology.

References

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-translational_modification
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amino_acid
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensor
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer

This article aggregates information from publicly available sources. All trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective owners.

Note: Featured image is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent any specific product, service, or entity mentioned in this article.