Correcting for incomplete saturation and off-resonance effects in multiple-site saturation-transfer kinetic measurements

Effect of Ligands and Transducers on the Neurotensin Receptor 1 Conformational Ensemble

Using a discrete, intracellular ¹⁹F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probe on transmembrane helix 6 of the neurotensin receptor 1 (NTS1), we aim to understand how ligands and transducers modulate the receptor's structural ensemble in a solution. For apo NTS1, ¹⁹F NMR spectra reveal an ensemble of at least three conformational substates (one inactive and two active-like) in equilibrium that exchange on the millisecond to second timescale. Dynamic NMR experiments reveal that these substates follow a linear three-site exchange process that is both thermodynamically and kinetically remodeled by orthosteric ligands. As previously observed in other G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the full agonist is insufficient to completely stabilize the active-like state. The inactive substate is abolished upon coupling to β-arrestin-1 (βArr1) or the C-terminal helix of Gα_q, which comprises ≳60% of the GPCR/G protein interface surface area. Whereas βArr1 exclusively selects for pre-existing active-like substates, the Gα_q peptide induces a new substate. Both transducer molecules promote substantial line broadening of active-like states, suggesting contributions from additional microsecond to millisecond exchange processes. Together, our study suggests that (i) the NTS1 allosteric activation mechanism may be alternatively dominated by induced fit or conformational selection depending on the coupled transducer, and (ii) the available static structures do not represent the entire conformational ensemble observed in a solution.

In-vivo31P-MRS of skeletal muscle and liver: A way for non-invasive assessment of their metabolism

In addition to direct assessment of high energy phosphorus containing metabolite content within tissues, phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (³¹P-MRS) provides options to measure phospholipid metabolites and cellular pH, as well as the kinetics of chemical reactions of energy metabolism in vivo. Even though the great potential of ³¹P-MR was recognized over 30 years ago, modern MR systems, as well as new, dedicated hardware and measurement techniques provide further opportunities for research of human biochemistry. This paper presents a methodological overview of the ³¹P-MR techniques that can be used for basic, physiological, or clinical research of human skeletal muscle and liver in vivo. Practical issues of ³¹P-MRS experiments and examples of potential applications are also provided. As signal localization is essential for liver ³¹P-MRS and is important for dynamic muscle examinations as well, typical localization strategies for ³¹P-MR are also described.

³¹P-magnetization transfer magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements of in vivo metabolism

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy offers a broad range of noninvasive analytical methods for investigating metabolism in vivo. Of these, the magnetization-transfer (MT) techniques permit the estimation of the unidirectional fluxes associated with metabolic exchange reactions. Phosphorus (³¹P) MT measurements can be used to examine the bioenergetic reactions of the creatine-kinase system and the ATP synthesis/hydrolysis cycle. Observations from our group and others suggest that the inorganic phosphate (P(i)) → ATP flux in skeletal muscle may be modulated by certain conditions, including aging, insulin resistance, and diabetes, and may reflect inherent alterations in mitochondrial metabolism. However, such effects on the P(i) → ATP flux are not universally observed under conditions in which mitochondrial function, assessed by other techniques, is impaired, and recent articles have raised concerns about the absolute magnitude of the measured reaction rates. As the application of ³¹P-MT techniques becomes more widespread, this article reviews the methodology and outlines our experience with its implementation in a variety of models in vivo. Also discussed are potential limitations of the technique, complementary methods for assessing oxidative metabolism, and whether the P(i) → ATP flux is a viable biomarker of metabolic function in vivo.

Is xenon a future neuroprotectant?

Acute neuronal injury has devastating consequences with increased risks of morbidity and mortality. Among its survivors, neurological deficit is associated with loss of function, independence and quality of life. Currently, there is a distinctive lack of effective clinical strategies to obviate this problem. Xenon, a noble gas with anesthetic properties, exhibits neuroprotective effects. It is efficacious and nontoxic and has been used safely in clinical settings involving both anesthetic and imaging applications in patients of all ages. Xenon blocks the NMDA subtype of the glutamate receptor, a pivotal step in the pathway towards neuronal death. The preclinical data obtained from animal models of stroke, neonatal asphyxia and global ischemia induced by cardiac arrest, as well as recent data of traumatic brain injury, revealed that xenon is a potentially ideal candidate as a neuroprotectant. In addition, recent studies demonstrated that xenon can uniquely prevent anesthetic-induced neurodegeneration in the developing brain. Thus, clinical studies are urgently required to investigate the neuroprotective effects of xenon in the clinical setting of brain damage.

Correcting reaction rates measured by saturation-transfer magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Off-resonance or spillover irradiation and incomplete saturation can introduce significant errors in the estimates of chemical rate constants measured by saturation-transfer magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Existing methods of correction are effective only over a limited parameter range. Here, a general approach of numerically solving the Bloch-McConnell equations to calculate exchange rates, relaxation times and concentrations for the saturation-transfer experiment is investigated, but found to require more measurements and higher signal-to-noise ratios than in vivo studies can practically afford. As an alternative, correction formulae for the reaction rate are provided which account for the expected parameter ranges and limited measurements available in vivo. The correction term is a quadratic function of experimental measurements. In computer simulations, the new formulae showed negligible bias and reduced the maximum error in the rate constants by about 3-fold compared to traditional formulae, and the error scatter by about 4-fold, over a wide range of parameters for conventional saturation transfer employing progressive saturation, and for the four-angle saturation-transfer method applied to the creatine kinase (CK) reaction in the human heart at 1.5 T. In normal in vivo spectra affected by spillover, the correction increases the mean calculated forward CK reaction rate by 6-16% over traditional and prior correction formulae.

Inverse polarization transfer for detecting in vivo 13C magnetization transfer effect of specific enzyme reactions in 1H spectra

The wide chemical shift dispersion and long T(1) of (13)C have allowed determination of in vivo magnetization transfer effects caused by aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase reactions using (13)C magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In this report, we demonstrate that these effects can be observed in the proton spectra by transferring the equilibrium magnetization of (13)C via the one-bond scalar coupling between (13)C and (1)H using an inverse insensitive nuclei enhanced by polarization transfer-based heteronuclear polarization transfer method. This inverse method allows a combination of the advantages of the long (13)C T(1) for maximum magnetization transfer and the high sensitivity of proton detection. The feasibility of this in vivo inverse polarization transfer approach was evaluated for detecting the (13)C magnetization transfer effect of aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase reactions from a 72.5-microl voxel in the rat brain at 11.7 T.

Measurement of spin-lattice relaxation times and chemical exchange rates in multiple-site systems using progressive saturation

A new method for measuring spin-lattice relaxation times and chemical exchange (CE) rate constants in multiple-site exchanging systems is described. The method, chemical exchange and T(1) measurement using progressive saturation (CUPS), was applied to determine T(1)s and analyze phosphorus exchange among phosphocreatine (PCr), ATP, and inorganic phosphate (Pi), mediated by creatine kinase (CK) and ATP synthase, using (31)P-MRS. Two-site exchange was analyzed in vitro and in the rat leg, and three-site exchange was analyzed in the rat heart. Data were fitted to a model of progressive saturation incorporating T(1) relaxation and CE. For the in vitro system at 8.45 T, we found T(1)(PCr)=2.86 s and T(1)(gamma-ATP)=1.72 s. For the rat gastrocnemius at 1.9T, we found T(1)(PCr) = 6.60 s and T(1)(gamma-ATP) = 2.06 s. For the rat heart at 9.4 T, we found T(1)(PCr)=3.35 s, T(1)(gamma-ATP)=0.69 s, and T(1)(Pi=1.83 s. All of these values were within 20% of literature values. Similarly, the determined exchange rates were in the same range as published values. Using simulations, we compared CUPS with transient saturation transfer as a method for measuring T(1)s and rates. The two methods showed similar sensitivity to noise. We conclude that CUPS is a viable alternative for measuring T(1)s and CE rates in exchanging systems.

T1 measurements incorporating flip angle calibration and correction in vivo

In this work, we propose a variable FA method that combines in vivo flip angle (FA) calibration and correction with a short TR variable FA approach for a fast and accurate T(1) mapping. The precision T(1)s measured across a uniform milk phantom is estimated to be 2.65% using the conventional (slow) inversion recovery (IR) method and 28.5% for the variable FA method without FA correction, and 2.2% when FA correction is included. These results demonstrate that the sensitivity of the variable FA method to RF nonuniformities can be dramatically reduced when these nonuniformities are directly measured and corrected. The acquisition time for this approach decreases to 10 min from 85 min for the conventional IR method. In addition, we report that the averaged T(1)s measured from five normal subjects are 900 +/- 3 ms, 1337 +/- 8 ms and 2180 +/- 25 ms in white matter (WM), gray matter (GM) and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) using the variable flip angle method with FA correction at 3 T, respectively. These results are consistent with previously reported values obtained with much longer acquisition times. The method reduces the total scan time for whole brain T(1) mapping, including FA measurement and calibration, to approximately 6 min. The novelty of this method lies in the in vivo calibration and the correction of the FAs, thereby allowing a rapid and accurate T(1) mapping at high field for many applications.

Theoretical analysis of carbon-13 magnetization transfer for in vivo exchange between alpha-ketoglutarate and glutamate

Many enzymes catalyze fast exchange between a small pool and a large pool in vivo. For example, aspartate aminotransferase catalyzes fast exchanges between alpha-ketoglutarate and glutamate and between oxaloacetate and aspartate, which can be detected using in vivo(13)C MRS while saturating alpha-carbons of the keto acids. Unlike in the traditional saturation transfer experiments studied using (31)P MRS, the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates alpha-ketoglutarate and oxaloacetate are below the detection limit of in vivo NMR. In this work, a theoretical analysis of the saturation transfer between alpha-ketoglutarate and glutamate catalyzed by aspartate aminotransferase was presented to examine the requirements for complete saturation of the rapidly turning over alpha-ketoglutarate pool without affecting the longitudinal magnetization of glutamate. The fast turnover of the small alpha-ketoglutarate pool also allows a quasi-steady-state approximation of its dynamic longitudinal relaxation. The theoretical analysis provides a useful guide for designing experimental methods to characterize saturation transfer processes associated with fast turning over small pools in vivo.

Four-angle saturation transfer (FAST) method for measuring creatine kinase reaction rates in vivo

A new fast method of measuring kinetic reaction rates for two-site chemical exchange is described. The method employs saturation transfer magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and acquisition of only four spectra under partially saturated, high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions. In two acquisitions one of the exchanging species is saturated; the other two employ a control saturation. Each pair of acquisitions is applied with two different flip angles, and the equilibrium magnetization, relaxation times, and reaction rates are calculated therefrom. This four-angle saturation transfer (FAST) method is validated theoretically using the Bloch equations modified for two-state chemical exchange. Potential errors in the rate measurements due to the effects of exchange are evaluated for creatine kinase (CK) metabolism modeled for skeletal and heart muscle, and are found to be < 5% for forward CK flux rates of 0.05 < or = k(f) < or = 1.0 s(-1), and up to a 90% depletion of phosphocreatine (PCr). The effect of too much or too little saturating irradiation on FAST appears to be comparable to that of the conventional saturation transfer method, although the relative performance deteriorates when spillover irradiation cuts the PCr signal by 50% or more. "FASTer" and " FASTest" protocols are introduced for dynamic CK studies wherein [PCr] and/or k(f) changes. These protocols permit the omission of one or two of the four acquisitions in repeat experiments, and the missing information is recreated from initial data via a new iterative algorithm. The FAST method is validated empirically in phosphorus ((31)P) MRS studies of human calf muscle at 1.5 T. FAST measurements of 10 normal volunteers yielded the same CK reaction rates measured by the conventional method (0.29 +/- 0.06 s(-1)) in the same subjects, but an average of seven times faster. Application of the FASTer algorithm to these data correctly restored missing information within seven iterations. Finally, the FAST method was combined with 1D spatially localized (31)P MRS in a study of six volunteers, yielding the same k(f) values independent of depth, in total acquisition times of 17-39 min. These timesaving FAST methods are enabling because they permit localized measurements of metabolic flux, which were previously impractical due to intolerably long scan times.