Core Viewpoint - Gene and cell therapy are at the forefront of innovative treatment methods for major diseases such as tumors, metabolic diseases, and genetic disorders, with the potential to significantly enhance clinical efficacy and improve patient quality of life. However, traditional therapies face challenges in clinical application, including complex administration methods, insufficient in vivo regulation precision, and low long-term patient adherence [3]. Group 1: Research and Development - The research team from Tongji Hospital and East China Normal University published a study on January 4, 2026, in the journal Advanced Science, focusing on a natural sweetener-inducible genetic switch for therapeutic protein expression in mammals [4]. - The study developed the PURE system, an artificial gene switch system triggered by the natural sweetener D-alloheptulose, enabling remote, reversible, and dose-dependent regulation of therapeutic protein expression in mammals [5]. Group 2: Mechanism and Application - The PURE system utilizes the transcription factor PsiR from Agrobacterium tumefaciens as the core regulatory element, optimized through rational design and AI-assisted directed evolution to achieve high sensitivity and specificity in recognizing the sweetener signal [7]. - The research introduced alloheptulose as a safe and palatable "therapeutic trigger," demonstrating the concept that drinking a specific cola can regulate cell therapy. In animal experiments, this method effectively induced insulin secretion in diabetic mice and triggered anti-obesity protein expression in high-fat diet-induced obesity models, leading to significant weight loss and improved metabolic indicators [9][10]. Group 3: Implications and Future Directions - The PURE system offers high specificity, reversibility, and good biosafety, significantly enhancing treatment controllability and lifestyle compatibility. This "food-grade trigger - cellular response" strategy may provide safer, more convenient, and personalized treatment pathways for chronic metabolic diseases like diabetes and obesity [11]. - The research showcases the potential of synthetic biology in bridging everyday life with cutting-edge medicine, with future applications expected to extend to gout, endocrine diseases, and other areas, laying the groundwork for clinical translation of live cell therapies [11].