Genetically encoded lockdown of SERCA in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane arrests Ca2+ signaling through proximity-covalent crosslinking

Reversible conformational dynamics of membrane proteins are essential for intracellular signaling, but no method enables their irreversible arrest in living cells. Here, we developed a genetically encoded proximity-based lockdown enzyme derived from an engineered transglutaminase catalytic core (TGC) that covalently crosslinks membrane proteins. By fusing TGC to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident microprotein ALN encoded by a short open reading frame (sORF), we created an organelle-specific module that selectively catalyzes covalent crosslinking within the SERCA Ca2+ pump, strongly suppressing its ATP-dependent pump activity and arresting ER Ca2+ signaling. This engineered lockdown enzyme remodels ER membrane protein architecture and restricts conformational dynamics, providing a versatile platform for long-term covalent control of intracellular signaling and a foundation for future therapeutic cellular applications.