南开大学庞代文研究组实现活细胞核内的量子点原位合成。相关论文于2024年1月12日在线发表在《国家科学评论》杂志上。

研究人员通过调控谷胱甘肽（GSH）代谢途径，在细胞核中实现了CdS_xSe_1-x量子点（QD）的原位合成。在Bcl-2蛋白的帮助下，通过添加GSH可以实现细胞核中GSH的高度富集。然后，高价硒被谷胱甘肽还原酶（GR）催化的GSH还原成低价硒，并与通过镉和富硫醇蛋白形成的镉前体相互作用，最终在细胞核中生成QD。

这项工作有助于对细胞核内物质合成的新认识，并将为开发先进的“超级细胞”铺平道路。

研究人员表示，细胞核是储存和复制遗传物质的主要场所，细胞核内物质的合成具有节律性、规律性，并受到生理过程的严格调控。然而，外源物质（如纳米粒子）能否在活细胞核内原位合成尚未见报道。

附：英文原文

Title: In-situ synthesis of quantum dots in the nucleus of live cells

Author: Hu, Yusi, Wang, Zhi-Gang, Fu, Haohao, Zhou, Chuanzheng, Cai, Wensheng, Shao, Xueguang, Liu, Shu-Lin, Pang, Dai-Wen

Issue&Volume: 2024-01-12

Abstract: Cell nucleus is the main site for the storage and replication of genetic material, and the synthesis of substances in the nucleus is rhythmic, regular, and strictly regulated with physiological processes. However, whether exogenous substances, such as nanoparticles, can be synthesized in situ in the nucleus of live cells has not been reported. Here, we have achieved in-situ synthesis of CdSxSe1x quantum dots (QDs) in the nucleus by regulation of the glutathione (GSH) metabolic pathway. High enrichment of GSH in the nucleus can be accomplished by the addition of GSH with the help of the Bcl-2 protein. Then, high-valence Se is reduced to low-valence Se by glutathione reductase (GR)-catalyzed GSH, and interacts with Cd precursor formed through Cd and thiol-rich proteins, eventually generating QDs in the nucleus. Our work contributes to a new understanding of the syntheses of substances in cell nucleus and will pave the way to the development of advanced ‘supercells’.

DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwae021

Source: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwae021