Wisdom of Crowds
Linking Collective Protein Interactions to Cellular Function
Biological cells are packed with an incredible density of proteins, whose interactions drive most cellular processes. While the function of stable protein complexes are accessible to structural biology, the influence of either transient or mechanical interactions remains elusive and forms a focus of the laboratory. We employ DNA nanotechnology to understand chemomechanical communication in the molecular motor myosin. We use a novel genetically encoded ER/K linker to modulate transient protein interactions in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and kinase signaling. Our findings illustrate novel mechanisms for emergence in collective protein interactions that have eluded both biochemical and cell biological approaches. Technologies in the lab have enabled novel drug discovery platforms.