An artificial cell capable of signal transduction mediated by ADRB2 for the regulation of glycogenolysis

  • Nat Commun. 2026 Jan 16;17(1):1795. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-68503-3.
Yanhao Liu  1  2  3 ,  Wan Zhao  1  2  3 ,  Yingming Zhao  1  2  3 ,  Xiangxiang Zhang  1  2  3 ,  Jingjing Zhao  1  2  3 ,  Shubin Li  4  5  6 ,  Yongshuo Ren  1  2  3 ,  Xiaojun Han  7  8  9
Affiliations
  • 1. State Key Laboratory of Urban-rural Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China.
  • 2. MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China.
  • 3. Heilongjiang Provincial Joint Laboratory of Molecular Science (International Cooperation), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China.
  • 4. State Key Laboratory of Urban-rural Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China. [email protected].
  • 5. MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China. [email protected].
  • 6. Heilongjiang Provincial Joint Laboratory of Molecular Science (International Cooperation), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China. [email protected].
  • 7. State Key Laboratory of Urban-rural Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China. [email protected].
  • 8. MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China. [email protected].
  • 9. Heilongjiang Provincial Joint Laboratory of Molecular Science (International Cooperation), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China. [email protected].
PMID: 41545427 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-68503-3
Abstract

Bottom-up construction of artificial cells helps elucidate the working mechanism of cells. Signal transduction from extracellular to intracellular artificial cells is essential for autonomous artificial cells. It remains highly challenging to reconstitute G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathways to regulate downstream metabolism in artificial cells. Here, we reconstitute β2-adrenergic receptor, Gs subunit α and Adenylate Cyclase V into artificial cell membranes to enable signal transduction from extracellular isoproterenol (ISO) to intracellular cAMP (visualization via Epac1-cAMP probes). cAMP production is ISO dose-dependent, with a maximum amplification fold of 22.45 ± 2.14. By encapsulating the glycogenolytic pathway, cAMP activates protein kinase A, triggering phosphorylation of Phosphorylase kinase and glycogen Phosphorylase to convert glycogen to glucose-1-phosphate (G-1-P). G-1-P is further converted to 6-phosphogluconolactone accompanying with NADPH. ISO stimulation induces G-1-P and NADPH generation, achieving progressive signal amplification. The successful reconstitution of GPCR-mediated signaling pathway in artificial cells paves the way for developing autonomous artificial cells.

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