Abstract: Provided are molecular feedback circuits employing caged-degrons. Aspects of such circuits include the use of a caged-degron to modulate the output of a signaling pathway in a feedback-controlled manner. Also provided are nucleic acids encoding molecular circuits and cells containing such nucleic acids. Methods of using caged-degron-based molecular feedback circuits are also provided, including e.g., methods of modulating a signaling pathway of a cell that include genetically modifying the cell with a caged-degron-based molecular feedback circuit.

Abstract: The preset disclosure provides chimeric polypeptides comprising a cage polypeptide comprising a degron, wherein the degron is sequestered or caged. Upon activation by a key polypeptide, the degron becomes active. The degron can recruit an ubiquitin ligase and a lysine in the degron or surrounding sequence be ubiquitinated. The ubiquitinated chimeric polypeptide is marked for degradation, together with any biologically active molecule attached to the chimeric polypeptide. The chimeric polypeptides of the present disclosure can be incorporated, for example, to chimeric antigen receptors (CAR). Accordingly, in response to the administration of a key polypeptide or endogenous expression of a key polypeptide mediated, for example, by an inducible promoter, the amount of CAR expressed on the surface of an immune cell can be modulated.

Abstract: Provided are molecular feedback circuits employing caged-degrons. Aspects of such circuits include the use of a caged-degron to modulate the output of a signaling pathway in a feedback-controlled manner. Also provided are nucleic acids encoding molecular circuits and cells containing such nucleic acids. Methods of using caged-degron-based molecular feedback circuits are also provided, including e.g., methods of modulating a signaling pathway of a cell that include genetically modifying the cell with a caged-degron-based molecular feedback circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are non-naturally occurring cage polypeptides, kits and degron LOCKRs including the cage polypep-tides, and uses thereof, wherein the cage polypeptides include (a) a helical bundle, comprising between 2 and 7 alpha-helices, wherein the helical bundle includes: (i) a structural region; and (ii) a latch region, wherein the latch region composes a degron located within the latch region, wherein the structural region interacts with the latch region to prevent activity of the degron; and (b) amino acid linkers connecting each alpha helix

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying and screening hydrogen bond networks are provided. A computing device can determine a search space for hydrogen bond networks related to one or more molecules, where the search space can include a plurality of energy terms related to a plurality of residues related to the hydrogen bond networks. The computing device can search the search space to identify one or more hydrogen bond networks based on the plurality of energy terms. The computing device can screen the identified hydrogen bond networks to identity one or more screened hydrogen bond networks based on scores for the identified hydrogen bond networks. An output can be generated that is related to the one or more screened hydrogen bond networks. Also provided are polypeptides that can form homo-oligomers with modular hydrogen bond network-mediated specificity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying and screening hydrogen bond networks are provided. A computing device can determine a search space for hydrogen bond networks related to one or more molecules, where the search space can include a plurality of energy terms related to a plurality of residues related to the hydrogen bond networks. The computing device can search the search space to identify one or more hydrogen bond networks based on the plurality of energy terms. The computing device can screen the identified hydrogen bond networks to identity one or more screened hydrogen bond networks based on scores for the identified hydrogen bond networks. An output can be generated that is related to the one or more screened hydrogen bond networks. Also provided are polypeptides that can form homo-oligomers with modular hydrogen bond network-mediated specificity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying and screening hydrogen bond networks are provided. A computing device can determine a search space for hydrogen bond networks related to one or more molecules, where the search space can include a plurality of energy terms related to a plurality of residues related to the hydrogen bond networks. The computing device can search the search space to identify one or more hydrogen bond networks based on the plurality of energy terms. The computing device can screen the identified hydrogen bond networks to identity one or more screened hydrogen bond networks based on scores for the identified hydrogen bond networks. An output can be generated that is related to the one or more screened hydrogen bond networks. Also provided are polypeptides that can form homo-oligomers with modular hydrogen bond network-mediated specificity.