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Photomechanical molecular machines enable control of cell signalling

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Intercellular calcium waves (ICW) are mechanosensitive signalling phenomena that coordinate cellular responses in key physiological processes. The force applied by light-activated molecular machines is shown to remotely stimulate ICW. The ICW induced by these molecular machines can be exploited to regulate downstream functions, such as muscle contraction, in vitro and in vivo.

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Fig. 1: Molecular machines stimulate ICW in vitro and in vivo.

References

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This is a summary of: Beckham, J. L. et al. Molecular machines stimulate intercellular calcium waves and cause muscle contraction. Nat. Nanotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01436-w (2023).

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Photomechanical molecular machines enable control of cell signalling. Nat. Nanotechnol. 18, 979–980 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01437-9

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