Cell–cell
communication plays a vital role in biological
activities; in particular, membrane–protein interactions are
profoundly significant. In order to explore the underlying mechanism
of intercellular signaling pathways, a full range of artificial systems
have been explored. However, many of them are complicated and uncontrollable.
Herein we designed an artificial signal transduction system able to
control the influx of environmental ions by triggering the activation
of synthetic transmembrane channels immobilized on giant membrane
vesicles (GMVs). A membrane protein-like stimulator from one GMV community
(GMVB) stimulates a receptor on another GMV community (GMVA) to release ssDNA messengers, resulting in the activation
of synthetic transmembrane channels to enable the influx of ions.
This event, in turn, triggers signal responses encapsulated in the
GMVA protocell model. By mimicking natural signal transduction
pathways, this novel prototype provides a workable tool for investigating
cell–cell communication and expands biological signaling systems
in general as well as explores useful platforms for addressing scientific
problems which involve materials science, chemistry, and medicine.