2-Pentanone Receptor for Precise Cell Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optogenetics and chemogenetics face challenges such as lack of suitability for long-term use, complexity in operations, inconvenience, and lack of accuracy in controlling cell activities, which complicates their clinical application.
Innovation Solution
The use of a 2-pentanone receptor expressed in cells or animals, which binds specifically with 2-pentanone to open ligand-gated cation channels, increasing intracellular calcium concentrations and facilitating rapid activation or deactivation of cellular activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optogenetics is used to control cell activities, then precision and efficiency are improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical system (optical fibers, lasers) with a chemical system (odorant molecules binding to olfactory receptors). The mechanical delivery apparatus is substituted by simple inhalation or administration of volatile odorants, achieving cell control without complex instrumentation while maintaining temporal precision through rapid ligand binding and unbinding kinetics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces olfactory receptor proteins as intermediary elements that translate chemical odorant signals into cellular responses. These receptors serve as mediators between the administered odorant molecules and the target cell functions, enabling control through a biochemical interface rather than direct optical or mechanical intervention.
2Ease of operation
If chemogenetics is used to control cell activities, then operational simplicity is improved, but response speed and time control worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the activating agent by using volatile odorant molecules with rapid diffusion and binding characteristics. The small molecular weight and volatility of odorants enable fast delivery to target tissues and rapid equilibrium binding to olfactory receptors, achieving response times on the order of seconds rather than hours, while maintaining simple administration procedures.
3Productivity
If laser beams are used in optogenetics, then treatment efficiency is improved, but harmful thermal effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the laser beam (electromagnetic radiation causing thermal effects) with odorant molecules that activate receptors through specific binding interactions. This replacement eliminates photothermal damage while maintaining the ability to precisely control cell activity states, as the chemical binding process occurs without significant heat generation.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If optical fibers are embedded for long-term treatment, then treatment duration is improved, but operational complexity and animal discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the embedded optical fiber component from the system, replacing it with systemically administrable odorants that can be delivered through inhalation or other non-invasive routes. This eliminates the need for chronic surgical implantation while enabling long-term repeated treatments, as the odorants can be administered on demand without permanent hardware in place.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for rapid, long-term, and reversible control of cellular activities with minimal instrumentation, making it suitable for clinical applications and enabling quick recovery of cells after treatment.
Implementation Method 1
binds specifically with 2-pentanone to open ligand-gated cation channels, increasing intracellular calcium concentrations
Data Source
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AI summary
Use of 2-pentanone and specific receptor thereof in a manufacture of a product regulating a cell function, a regulation of cell function, a manufacture of a product promoting an increase in an intracellular calcium ion concentration, or a manufacture of a product promoting an increase in a neuronal firing rate is provided. In the present disclosure, the specific receptor of 2-pentanone is expressed in cultured cells or animals, and its specific binding to 2-pentanone opens ligand-gated cation channels, resulting in an increase of intracellular calcium ion concentration, depolarization of cell membranes, and generation of electrical activity or endocrine activity, thereby finally achieving precise regulation of tissue cells and organ functions. After being treated, cells can be activated rapidly, producing effects with a rapid onset; once the treatment is stopped, the experimental effect can be quickly terminated to allow the cells to return to their original state quickly.