title: Defining Single Molecular Forces Required for Notch Activation Using Nano Yoyo.
abstract: Notch signaling, involved in development and tissue homeostasis, is activated at the cell-cell interface through ligand-receptor interactions. Previous studies have implicated mechanical forces in the activation of Notch receptor upon binding to its ligand. Here we aimed to determine the single molecular force required for Notch activation by developing a novel low tension gauge tether (LTGT). LTGT utilizes the low unbinding force between single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and Escherichia coli ssDNA binding protein (SSB) (∼4 pN dissociation force at 500 nm/s pulling rate). The ssDNA wraps around SSB and, upon application of force, unspools from SSB, much like the unspooling of a yoyo. One end of this nano yoyo is attached to the surface though SSB, while the other end presents a ligand. A Notch receptor, upon binding to its ligand, is believed to undergo force-induced conformational changes required for activating downstream signaling. If the required force for such activation is larger than 4 pN, ssDNA will unspool from SSB, and downstream signaling will not be activated. Using these LTGTs, in combination with the previously reported TGTs that rupture double-stranded DNA at defined forces, we demonstrate that Notch activation requires forces between 4 and 12 pN, assuming an in vivo loading rate of 60 pN/s. Taken together, our study provides a direct link between single-molecular forces and Notch activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processes, Southern Illinois University Carbondale , Carbondale, Illinois 62901, United States.|Department of Physics and Center for Physics of Living Cells, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.|Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.
authors.forename: Farhan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Center for Physics of Living Cells, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.|Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia Okanagan , Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada.
authors.forename: Isaac T S
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Center for Physics of Living Cells, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.
authors.forename: Thuy T M
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States.
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States.|Departments of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States.
authors.forename: Byoung Choul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States.
authors.forename: Joshua E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sokoloski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weiland
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Center for Physics of Living Cells, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.|Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University , Ames, Iowa 50011, United States.
authors.forename: Xuefeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Center for Physics of Living Cells, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.
authors.forename: Yann R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Chemla
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States.
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lohman
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Center for Physics of Living Cells, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.|Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States.|Departments of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States.
authors.forename: Taekjip
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016466:CHO Cells; D003412:Cricetulus; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D061848:Optical Imaging; D052898:Optical Tweezers; D051881:Receptor, Notch1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072760:Single Molecule Imaging
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C497761:NOTCH1 protein, human; D051881:Receptor, Notch1
keywords: Notch signaling; low tension gauge tether (LTGT); nano yoyo; single-molecular forces