Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42087555›Full record

ArticleNucleic acids research2026

Ligify 2.0: a web server for predicted small molecule biosensors.

Simon d'Oelsnitz, Nicole N Zhao, Pranay Talla, Jio Jeong, Joshua D Love, Michael Springer, Pamela A Silver

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nucleic acids research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Simon d'OelsnitzSynthetic Biology HIVE, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-7512-9157
Nicole N ZhaoSynthetic Biology HIVE, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States.ORCID 0009-0009-9144-3598
Pranay TallaSynthetic Biology HIVE, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-9826-4546
Jio JeongDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, United States.ORCID 0009-0002-2661-5102
Joshua D LoveIndependent Software Engineer, Rochester, MN 55906, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-8485-6740
Michael SpringerSynthetic Biology HIVE, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-3970-6380
Pamela A SilverSynthetic Biology HIVE, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-7856-4071

Funding

Harvard Medical SchoolWyss Institute
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Prokaryotic transcription factors (TFs) serve as small molecule biosensors with broad applications in biotechnology, yet only a fraction have been characterized. To address this gap, we recently described the bioinformatic method Ligify, which leverages information from genome context and enzyme reaction databases to predict a TF's cognate effector molecule. Here, we report Ligify 2.0, a modern web server for Ligify predictions. We systematically evaluate 10 965 small molecules within the Rhea enzyme reaction database for associations to TFs, ultimately generating 13 435 hypothetical interactions between 1 362 small molecules and 3 164 TFs. We then develop an interactive web server (https://ligify.groov.bio) to search and visualize prediction data. Each TF sensor page includes visualizations for chemical ligand structures, interactive TF protein structures, and genome context. Pages also include metadata links, predicted promoter sequences, prediction confidence metrics, and references to relevant literature. A plasmid builder tool enables users to generate custom biosensor circuit designs. Finally, we provide case studies using Ligify 2.0 to identify two TFs from the pathogens Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Mycobacterium abscessus responsive to 4-hydroxybenzoate and Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal, respectively. The Ligify web server aims to facilitate the systematic characterization of biosensors for chemical-control of biological systems.

Indexed as

Biosensing TechniquesSoftwareTranscription FactorsComputational BiologyEscherichia coli O157InternetLigandsParabensLigandsParabensTranscription Factors

Identifiers

PMID42087555
PMCPMC13355054

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.