Harnessing synthetic biology, researchers unveil SNIPRs—receptors that revolutionize CAR T-cell therapies by enhancing tumor precision and safety. Study: Engineered receptors for soluble cellular communication and disease sensing . Image Credit: Corona Borealis Studio / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Nature , researchers from the United States of America developed the synthetic intramembrane proteolysis receptor (SNIPR) architecture to activate engineered therapeutic cells in response to soluble ligands.
This novel receptor system operates via ligand-induced dimerization followed by endocytic proteolysis, offering high sensitivity and specificity for detecting soluble factors. They found that SNIPRs allow CAR T-cells to precisely localize to tumors and support synthetic intercellular signaling while avoiding off-target effects. Background The foundation of biochemical signaling lies in the ability of cells to sense and react to soluble molecules, enabling complex functions like immune responses and tissue development.
Mimicking this in synthetic biology could potentially revolutionize therapeutic applications, such as creating engineered cells that respond to distant signals or communicate exclusively through artificial pathways. However, existing receptor systems for detecting soluble factors such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)- T cells face challenges like weak responses, limited ligand flexibility, and complex multi-component designs, which h.
