101
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Tannous BA, Kim DE, Fernandez JL, Weissleder R, Breakefield XO. Codon-Optimized Gaussia Luciferase cDNA for Mammalian Gene Expression in Culture and in Vivo. Mol Ther 2005; 11:435-43. [PMID: 15727940 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2004.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 521] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2004] [Accepted: 10/27/2004] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Photoproteins have played a major role in advancing our understanding of biological processes. A broader array of biocompatible, nontoxic, and novel reporters can serve to expand this potential. Here we describe the properties of a luciferase from the copepod marine organism Gaussia princeps. It is a monomeric protein composed of 185 aa (19.9 kDa) with a short coding sequence (555 bp) making it suitable for viral vectors. The humanized form of Gaussia luciferase (hGLuc) was efficiently expressed in mammalian cells following delivery by HSV-1 amplicon vectors. It was found to be nontoxic and naturally secreted, with flash bioluminescence characteristics similar to those of other coelenterazine luciferases. hGLuc generated over 1000-fold higher bioluminescent signal intensity from live cells together with their immediate environment and over 100-fold higher intensity from viable cells alone (not including secreted luciferase) or cell lysates, compared to humanized forms of firefly (hFLuc) and Renilla (hRLuc) luciferases expressed under similar conditions. Furthermore, hGLuc showed 200-fold higher signal intensity than hRLuc and intensity comparable to that of hFLuc in vivo under standard imaging conditions. Gaussia luciferase provides a sensitive means of imaging gene delivery and other events in living cells in culture and in vivo, with a unique combination of features including high signal intensity, secretion, and ATP independence, thus being able to report from the cells and their environment in real time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bakhos A Tannous
- Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
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102
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MacKay GE, Keighren MA, Wilson L, Pratt T, Flockhart JH, Mason JO, Price DJ, West JD. Evaluation of the mouse TgTP6.3 tauGFP transgene as a lineage marker in chimeras. J Anat 2005; 206:79-92. [PMID: 15679873 PMCID: PMC1571452 DOI: 10.1111/j.0021-8782.2005.00370.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/25/2004] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The mouse TgTP6.3 transgene, encoding a tauGFP fusion protein, is becoming widely used but has yet to be fully characterized and evaluated as suitable lineage marker. The aim of the present study was to investigate the phenotype of TgTP6.3(+/+) homozygotes and TgTP6.3(+/-) hemizygotes, characterize the expression of the TgTP6.3 transgene in different tissues and critically evaluate its use as a lineage marker. TgTP6.3(+/+) homozygotes died between embryonic day 14.5 and weaning, whereas TgTP6.3(+/-) hemizygotes were mostly viable and fertile but smaller than non-transgenic siblings. TgTP6.3 expression began in the late two-cell stage, persisted in most fetal and adult tissues and was uniformly expressed in many (but not all) tissues. TgTP6.3(+/-) cells were readily identified in many chimeric tissues and their contribution appeared to be quantitatively and spatially normal. Overall, tauGFP expression in hemizygous TgTP6.3(+/-) cells fulfils the main criteria of a good lineage marker for many tissues. It provides a useful lineage marker, which should be particularly suitable for axons, blood vessels and pre-implantation embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian E MacKay
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
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103
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Abstract
Genetically encoded imaging reporters introduced into cells and transgenic animals enable noninvasive, longitudinal studies of dynamic biological processes in vivo. The most common reporters include firefly luciferase (bioluminescence imaging), green fluorescence protein (fluorescence imaging), herpes simplex virus-1 thymidine kinase (positron emission tomography), and variants with enhanced spectral and kinetic properties. When cloned into promoter/enhancer sequences or engineered into fusion proteins, imaging reporters allow transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, protein-protein interactions, oncogenic transformation, cell trafficking, and targeted drug action to be spatiotemporally resolved in vivo. Spying on cancer with genetically encoded imaging reporters provides insight into cancer-specific molecular machinery within the context of the whole animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shimon Gross
- Molecular Imaging Center, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
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104
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Rhee JM, Oda-Ishii I, Passamaneck YJ, Hadjantonakis AK, Di Gregorio A. Live imaging and morphometric analysis of embryonic development in the ascidianCiona intestinalis. Genesis 2005; 43:136-47. [PMID: 16267822 DOI: 10.1002/gene.20164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The ascidian Ciona intestinalis is one of the model organisms of choice for comparative investigations of chordate development and for unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying morphogenesis and cell fate specification. Taking advantage of the availability of various genetically encoded fluorescent proteins and of defined cis-regulatory elements, we combined transient transgenesis with laser scanning confocal imaging to acquire and quantitate 3D time-lapse data from living Ciona embryos. We used Ciona tissue-specific enhancers to drive expression of spectrally distinct fluorescent protein reporters to label and simultaneously visualize axially and paraxially positioned mesodermal derivatives, as well as neural precursors in individual embryos. We observed morphogenetic movements, without perturbing development, from the early gastrula throughout the larval stage, including gastrulation, neurulation, convergent extension of the presumptive notochord, and tail elongation. These multidimensional data allowed us to establish a reference system of metrics to quantify key developmental events including blastopore closure and muscle extension. The approach we describe can be used to document morphogenetic cell and tissue rearrangements in living embryos and paves the way for a live digitized anatomical atlas of Ciona.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry M Rhee
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York, New York 10021, USA
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105
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Hadjantonakis AK, Papaioannou VE. Dynamic in vivo imaging and cell tracking using a histone fluorescent protein fusion in mice. BMC Biotechnol 2004; 4:33. [PMID: 15619330 PMCID: PMC544401 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6750-4-33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2004] [Accepted: 12/24/2004] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Advances in optical imaging modalities and the continued evolution of genetically-encoded fluorescent proteins are coming together to facilitate the study of cell behavior at high resolution in living organisms. As a result, imaging using autofluorescent protein reporters is gaining popularity in mouse transgenic and targeted mutagenesis applications. Results We have used embryonic stem cell-mediated transgenesis to label cells at sub-cellular resolution in vivo, and to evaluate fusion of a human histone protein to green fluorescent protein for ubiquitous fluorescent labeling of nucleosomes in mice. To this end we have generated embryonic stem cells and a corresponding strain of mice that is viable and fertile and exhibits widespread chromatin-localized reporter expression. High levels of transgene expression are maintained in a constitutive manner. Viability and fertility of homozygous transgenic animals demonstrates that this reporter is developmentally neutral and does not interfere with mitosis or meiosis. Conclusions Using various optical imaging modalities including wide-field, spinning disc confocal, and laser scanning confocal and multiphoton excitation microscopy, we can identify cells in various stages of the cell cycle. We can identify cells in interphase, cells undergoing mitosis or cell death. We demonstrate that this histone fusion reporter allows the direct visualization of active chromatin in situ. Since this reporter segments three-dimensional space, it permits the visualization of individual cells within a population, and so facilitates tracking cell position over time. It is therefore attractive for use in multidimensional studies of in vivo cell behavior and cell fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
- Department of Genetics and Development, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, 701 West 168St., New York, NY 10032, USA
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York, NY10021, USA
| | - Virginia E Papaioannou
- Department of Genetics and Development, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, 701 West 168St., New York, NY 10032, USA
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106
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Stockholm D, Bartoli M, Sillon G, Bourg N, Davoust J, Richard I. Imaging calpain protease activity by multiphoton FRET in living mice. J Mol Biol 2004; 346:215-22. [PMID: 15663939 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2004.11.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2004] [Revised: 11/14/2004] [Accepted: 11/16/2004] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Constant efforts are ongoing for the development of new imaging methods that allow the investigation of molecular processes in vivo. Protein-protein interactions, enzymatic activities and intracellular Ca2+ fluxes, have been resolved in cultured cells using a variety of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) detection methods. However, FRET has not been used so far in conjunction with 3D intravital imaging. We evaluated here a combination of multiphoton microscopy (MPM), method of choice for non-destructive living tissue investigation, and FRET imaging to monitor calpain proteolytic activity in living mice muscle. We show that kinetics of ubiquitous calpains activation can be efficiently and quantitatively monitored in living mouse tissues at cellular level with a FRET-based indicator upon calcium influx. The ability to visualize calpain activity in living tissue offers a unique opportunity to challenge remaining questions on the biological functions of calpains and to evaluate the therapeutic potential of calpain inhibitors in many degenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Stockholm
- Généthon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 8115, 1 bis rue de l'Internationale, 91000 Evry, France
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107
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Shaner NC, Campbell RE, Steinbach PA, Giepmans BNG, Palmer AE, Tsien RY. Improved monomeric red, orange and yellow fluorescent proteins derived from Discosoma sp. red fluorescent protein. Nat Biotechnol 2004; 22:1567-72. [PMID: 15558047 DOI: 10.1038/nbt1037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3399] [Impact Index Per Article: 170.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2004] [Accepted: 10/05/2004] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Fluorescent proteins are genetically encoded, easily imaged reporters crucial in biology and biotechnology. When a protein is tagged by fusion to a fluorescent protein, interactions between fluorescent proteins can undesirably disturb targeting or function. Unfortunately, all wild-type yellow-to-red fluorescent proteins reported so far are obligately tetrameric and often toxic or disruptive. The first true monomer was mRFP1, derived from the Discosoma sp. fluorescent protein "DsRed" by directed evolution first to increase the speed of maturation, then to break each subunit interface while restoring fluorescence, which cumulatively required 33 substitutions. Although mRFP1 has already proven widely useful, several properties could bear improvement and more colors would be welcome. We report the next generation of monomers. The latest red version matures more completely, is more tolerant of N-terminal fusions and is over tenfold more photostable than mRFP1. Three monomers with distinguishable hues from yellow-orange to red-orange have higher quantum efficiencies.
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108
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Robinson LC, Marchant JS. Improved "optical highlighter" probes derived from discosoma red fluorescent protein. Biophys J 2004; 88:1444-57. [PMID: 15556986 PMCID: PMC1305146 DOI: 10.1529/biophysj.104.045617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The tetrameric red fluorescent protein, DsRed, undergoes a rapid red to green color change evoked by short wavelength (lambda < 760 nm) femtosecond irradiation--a phenomenon that underpins the application of DsRed as an "optical highlighter" probe for tracking live cells, organelles, and fusion proteins. This color change results from selective bleaching of the "mature" red-emitting species of DsRed and an enhancement of emission from the "immature" green species, likely caused by dequenching of fluorescence resonance energy transfer occurring within the protein tetramer. Here, we have examined the role of residues known to influence the rate and completeness of chromophore maturation on the cellular and biophysical properties of DsRed mutants. Surprisingly, a single amino acid mutation (N42Q) with increased basal green emission yet rapid chromophore maturation displayed a multiphoton-evoked color change that was brighter, more consistent, more vivid, and easier to evoke than DsRed, despite the larger proportion of green chromophores. Rapidly maturing mutants with more complete chromophore maturation, exhibited little color change and increased resistance to multiphoton bleaching. We describe improved optical and cell biological properties for two DsRed-derived variants which we showcase in photolabeling studies, and discuss these data in terms of implications for fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisbeth C Robinson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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109
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Abstract
Optical projection tomography is a new approach for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging of small biological specimens. It fills an imaging gap between MRI and confocal microscopy, being most suited to specimens that are from 1 to 10 mm across. The tomographic principles of optical projection tomography (OPT) are explained, its most important applications in biomedical research explored, and comparisons drawn of its pros and cons compared to a number of alternative imaging technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Sharpe
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road South, EH4 2XU, United Kingdom.
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110
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Watanabe T, Costantini F. Real-time analysis of ureteric bud branching morphogenesis in vitro. Dev Biol 2004; 271:98-108. [PMID: 15196953 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2004.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2004] [Revised: 03/30/2004] [Accepted: 03/30/2004] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
While it is clear that the normal branching morphogenesis of the ureteric bud (UB) is critical for development of the metanephric kidney, the specific patterns of branching and growth have heretofore only been inferred from static images. Here, we present a systematic time-lapse analysis of UB branching morphogenesis during the early development of the mouse kidney in organ culture. Metanephric primordia from Hoxb7/GFP transgenic embryos were cultured for 3-4 days, and GFP images of the UB taken every 30 min were assembled into movies. Analysis of these movies (available as )revealed that the UB is a highly plastic structure, which can branch in a variety of complex patterns, including terminal bifid, terminal trifid, and lateral branching. To examine kinetic parameters of branching and elongation, skeletal representations of the UB were used to measure the number of segments and branch points and the length of each segment as a function of time and of branch generation. These measurements provide a baseline for future studies on mutant kidneys with defects in renal development. To illustrate how these quantitative methods can be applied to the analysis of abnormal kidney development, we examined the effects of the MEK1 inhibitor PD98059 on renal organ cultures and confirmed a previous report that the drug has a specific inhibitory effect on UB branching as opposed to elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Watanabe
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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111
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Martin GM. New opportunities for genetic approaches to aging research using Roy Walford's favorite animal. Exp Gerontol 2004; 39:913-6. [PMID: 15217690 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2004.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- George M Martin
- Department of Pathology, Health Sciences Building, University of Washington, 1959 N.E. Pacific Street, Box 357470, Seattle, WA 98195-7470, USA.
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112
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Maggi A, Ottobrini L, Biserni A, Lucignani G, Ciana P. Techniques: Reporter mice – a new way to look at drug action. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2004; 25:337-42. [PMID: 15165750 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2004.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
During the past decade remarkable progress in molecular genetics and the possibility of manipulating cells so that the expression of genes can directly 'report' on drug activity has produced major changes in drug development strategies. The recent description and pharmacological validation of reporter mice for in vivo analysis of hormone receptor activity opens new horizons for drug discovery. These novel animal models, in association with in vivo imaging technologies, provide a global view of the target tissues of drug action following acute and repeated drug treatment, thus enabling the prediction of potential side-effects in the early phase of preclinical studies. It is anticipated that further improvements of transgene architecture will lead to models that combine pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and toxicological studies in a single step, which should provide a tremendous saving in time and, paradoxically, the number of animals to be sacrificed in the development of novel pharmacologically active molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Maggi
- Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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113
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Chung JK, Kang JH. General Perspectives on Molecular Imaging. JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION 2004. [DOI: 10.5124/jkma.2004.47.2.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- June-Key Chung
- Department of Nuclear Medicine · Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine & Hospital, Korea. ,
| | - Joo Hyun Kang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine · Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine & Hospital, Korea. ,
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114
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Cole MJ, Pirity M, Hadjantonakis AK. Shedding light on bioscience. Symposium on Optical Imaging: Applications to Biology and Medicine. EMBO Rep 2003; 4:838-43. [PMID: 12947418 PMCID: PMC1326361 DOI: 10.1038/sj.embor.embor924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2003] [Accepted: 07/22/2003] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
This dynamic symposium, held on 11-16 February 2003 in Taos, New Mexico, was the first Keystone meeting to focus on optical techniques and their use in biology and medicine. It was organized by D. Becker, D. Farkas and S. Fraser and attracted almost 100 participants from both academia and industry. Fluorescence imaging and its applications, ranging from nano-bioscience to small-animal imaging and imaging of disease progression in humans, were the main topics, with opportunities for further discussion in the cantinas of the town and on the ski slopes of Taos mountain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary J. Cole
- Department of Physiology, Genentech Inc.,
1 DNA Way, San Francisco, California
94080, USA
| | - Melinda Pirity
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Albert Einstein
College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue,
Bronx, New York 10461, USA
- Institute of Genetics, Biological Research Center
of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, PO Box 521, Szeged
6701, Hungary
| | - Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
- Department of Genetics and Development, College
of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, 701 West 168th
Street, New York, New York 10032,
USA
- Tel: +1 212 305 4791; Fax: +1 212 923 2090;
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