{
  "id": 5006074,
  "title": "Programmable Antibody-DNA Conjugation via HUH-Tags Enables Quantitative Measurement of Receptor-Specific Adhesion Dynamics",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/programmable-antibody-dna-conjugation-via-huh-tags-enables",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-01T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.31.746762v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Recent research introduces two innovative methods for creating antibody-DNA conjugates with precise site specificity, utilizing covalent DNA-linking HUH endonucleases. Firstly, genetically fusing recombinant antibodies with HUH-tags allows for direct and targeted DNA conjugation. Secondly, using off-the-shelf antibodies in combination with a photocrosslinkable Protein G-HUH fusion enables indirect attachment of HUH-tags, resulting in homogeneous AOCs while maintaining antigen binding affinity. These conjugates were employed in a DNA-based mechanochemical assay called rupture-and-deliver tension gauge tethers (RAD-TGTs), which measures receptor-mediated adhesion forces and delivers a fluorescent oligonucleotide payload into cells. By adjusting duplex stability, researchers can define adhesion dynamics across various mechanical conditions. Using AOCs targeting HER2 and beta1-integrins, the study successfully identified receptor-specific adhesion patterns and discovered cooperative interactions between receptor systems in several cancer cell lines. The dual-color probes facilitate multiplexed single-cell mechanical phenotyping, and the technique's application to primary natural killer cells demonstrates dose-dependent responses to integrin modulators. This groundbreaking platform enables site-defined AOC generation and quantitative, high-throughput assessment of receptor-mediated adhesion dynamics.",
  "summary": "Antibody-DNA oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs) are widely used for molecular assembly and cellular analysis, yet current approaches for generating these conjugates often rely on nonspecific chemistries that produce heterogeneous products. Here, we present two complementary strategies for generating site-specific AOCs using covalent DNA-linking HUH endonucleases. In one approach, recombinant…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}