Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41274894›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Light-controlled synthetic communication networks via paired connexon nanopores.

Ahmed Z Sihorwala, Alexander J Lin, Isabela Ramirez-Velez, Siqi Yang, Gayeon Kim, Shwetadwip Chowdhury, Jeanne C Stachowiak, Brian Belardi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Membrane-Associated Biomolecules for Synthetic Cell Signalling.Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology · 2026
    Review
  3. Let There be Light! Light as an Engine and Regulator in Synthetic Cells.Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English) · 2026
    Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ahmed Z SihorwalaMcKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Alexander J LinDepartment of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Isabela Ramirez-VelezMcKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Siqi YangChandra Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Gayeon KimMcKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Shwetadwip ChowdhuryChandra Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6142-0231
Jeanne C StachowiakMcKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2501-142X
Brian BelardiMcKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. bdb@che.utexas.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3608-0164

Funding

Protein Networks as Synergistic Drivers of Membrane RemodelingR35GM139531 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · PI Jeanne Casstevens Stachowiak · 2021 to 2026
$4.0M
A Molecular Toolkit for Controlling and Probing Cell Junction-Actin InteractionsR35GM142941 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · PI BELARDI, BRIAN · 2021 to 2025
$1.9M
David and Lucile Packard Foundation (David & Lucile Packard Foundation) 2023-76153National Science Foundation (NSF) 2308817National Science Foundation (NSF) 2530428NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM139531NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM142941Welch Foundation F-2055-20240404
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Living cells employ dynamic networks for intercellular communication and cooperation, leading to tissue-wide activity. One emerging challenge in the field of bottom-up synthetic biology is emulating such sophisticated behaviors in liposome-based synthetic cells (SCs). Fabricating communication networks in lipid bilayer-based SCs remains a challenge, as signaling molecules must transit through two consecutive membranes to transfer information between different SCs. Here, we address this obstacle by engineering connexin channels that directly connect the lumens of adhering SC membranes. We focus on orthogonal channel-forming connexins, namely connexin 43 and connexin 32, and redesign their channel activity to be UV- and near IR-responsive, respectively. By combining engineered connexins into a single SC assembly, we demonstrate orthogonal transfer of reactive signaling molecules between SCs, giving rise to unique reaction products and network states in a wavelength-dependent manner - an important step toward synthetic communication networks.

Indexed as

Artificial CellsCell CommunicationConnexin 43ConnexinsNanoporesSynthetic BiologyGap JunctionsLightLipid BilayersLiposomesUltraviolet RaysConnexin 43ConnexinsLipid BilayersLiposomes

Identifiers

PMID41274894
PMCPMC12749588

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.