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Theillet FX, Luchinat E. In-cell NMR: Why and how? PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY 2022; 132-133:1-112. [PMID: 36496255 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnmrs.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
NMR spectroscopy has been applied to cells and tissues analysis since its beginnings, as early as 1950. We have attempted to gather here in a didactic fashion the broad diversity of data and ideas that emerged from NMR investigations on living cells. Covering a large proportion of the periodic table, NMR spectroscopy permits scrutiny of a great variety of atomic nuclei in all living organisms non-invasively. It has thus provided quantitative information on cellular atoms and their chemical environment, dynamics, or interactions. We will show that NMR studies have generated valuable knowledge on a vast array of cellular molecules and events, from water, salts, metabolites, cell walls, proteins, nucleic acids, drugs and drug targets, to pH, redox equilibria and chemical reactions. The characterization of such a multitude of objects at the atomic scale has thus shaped our mental representation of cellular life at multiple levels, together with major techniques like mass-spectrometry or microscopies. NMR studies on cells has accompanied the developments of MRI and metabolomics, and various subfields have flourished, coined with appealing names: fluxomics, foodomics, MRI and MRS (i.e. imaging and localized spectroscopy of living tissues, respectively), whole-cell NMR, on-cell ligand-based NMR, systems NMR, cellular structural biology, in-cell NMR… All these have not grown separately, but rather by reinforcing each other like a braided trunk. Hence, we try here to provide an analytical account of a large ensemble of intricately linked approaches, whose integration has been and will be key to their success. We present extensive overviews, firstly on the various types of information provided by NMR in a cellular environment (the "why", oriented towards a broad readership), and secondly on the employed NMR techniques and setups (the "how", where we discuss the past, current and future methods). Each subsection is constructed as a historical anthology, showing how the intrinsic properties of NMR spectroscopy and its developments structured the accessible knowledge on cellular phenomena. Using this systematic approach, we sought i) to make this review accessible to the broadest audience and ii) to highlight some early techniques that may find renewed interest. Finally, we present a brief discussion on what may be potential and desirable developments in the context of integrative studies in biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francois-Xavier Theillet
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Enrico Luchinat
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Piazza Goidanich 60, 47521 Cesena, Italy; CERM - Magnetic Resonance Center, and Neurofarba Department, Università degli Studi di Firenze, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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Specific phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein 2c by extracellular signal-regulated kinase reduces interactions at its Pro-rich regions. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102384. [PMID: 35987383 PMCID: PMC9520037 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) is an important neuronal target of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) involved in Raf signaling pathways, but mechanistic details of MAP2 phosphorylation are unclear. Here, we used NMR spectroscopy to quantitatively describe the kinetics of phosphorylation of individual serines and threonines in the embryonic MAP2 variant MAP2c. We carried out real-time monitoring of phosphorylation to discover major phosphorylation sites that were not identified in previous studies relying on specific antibodies. Our comparison with phosphorylation of MAP2c by a model cyclin-dependent kinase CDK2 and with phosphorylation of the MAP2c homolog Tau revealed differences in phosphorylation profiles that explain specificity of regulation of biological functions of MAP2c and Tau. To probe the molecular basis of the regulatory effect of ERK2, we investigated the interactions of phosphorylated and unphosphorylated MAP2c by NMR with single-residue resolution. As ERK2 phosphorylates mostly outside the regions binding microtubules, we studied the binding of proteins other than tubulin, namely regulatory subunit RIIα of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), adaptor protein Grb2, Src homology domain 3 of tyrosine kinases Fyn and Abl, and ERK2 itself. We found ERK2 phosphorylation interfered mostly with binding to proline-rich regions of MAP2c. Furthermore, our NMR experiments in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell lysates showed that the kinetics of dephosphorylation are compatible with in-cell NMR studies and that residues targeted by ERK2 and PKA are efficiently phosphorylated in the cell lysates. Taken together, our results provide a deeper characterization of MAP2c phosphorylation and its effects on interactions with other proteins.
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Abstract
In-cell structural biology aims at extracting structural information about proteins or nucleic acids in their native, cellular environment. This emerging field holds great promise and is already providing new facts and outlooks of interest at both fundamental and applied levels. NMR spectroscopy has important contributions on this stage: It brings information on a broad variety of nuclei at the atomic scale, which ensures its great versatility and uniqueness. Here, we detail the methods, the fundamental knowledge, and the applications in biomedical engineering related to in-cell structural biology by NMR. We finally propose a brief overview of the main other techniques in the field (EPR, smFRET, cryo-ET, etc.) to draw some advisable developments for in-cell NMR. In the era of large-scale screenings and deep learning, both accurate and qualitative experimental evidence are as essential as ever to understand the interior life of cells. In-cell structural biology by NMR spectroscopy can generate such a knowledge, and it does so at the atomic scale. This review is meant to deliver comprehensive but accessible information, with advanced technical details and reflections on the methods, the nature of the results, and the future of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francois-Xavier Theillet
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Vundavilli H, Datta A, Sima C, Hua J, Lopes R, Bittner M. Targeting oncogenic mutations in colorectal cancer using cryptotanshinone. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247190. [PMID: 33596259 PMCID: PMC7888617 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in the world and ranks second in cancer deaths in the US. Despite the recent improvements in screening and treatment, the number of deaths associated with CRC is still very significant. The complexities involved in CRC therapy stem from multiple oncogenic mutations and crosstalk between abnormal pathways. This calls for using advanced molecular genetics to understand the underlying pathway interactions responsible for this cancer. In this paper, we construct the CRC pathway from the literature and using an existing public dataset on healthy vs tumor colon cells, we identify the genes and pathways that are mutated and are possibly responsible for the disease progression. We then introduce drugs in the CRC pathway, and using a boolean modeling technique, we deduce the drug combinations that produce maximum cell death. Our theoretical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of Cryptotanshinone, a traditional Chinese herb derivative, achieved by targeting critical oncogenic mutations and enhancing cell death. Finally, we validate our theoretical results using wet lab experiments on HT29 and HCT116 human colorectal carcinoma cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haswanth Vundavilli
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- TEES-AgriLife Center for Bioinformatics and Genomic Systems Engineering (CBGSE), College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Aniruddha Datta
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- TEES-AgriLife Center for Bioinformatics and Genomic Systems Engineering (CBGSE), College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Chao Sima
- TEES-AgriLife Center for Bioinformatics and Genomic Systems Engineering (CBGSE), College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jianping Hua
- TEES-AgriLife Center for Bioinformatics and Genomic Systems Engineering (CBGSE), College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rosana Lopes
- TEES-AgriLife Center for Bioinformatics and Genomic Systems Engineering (CBGSE), College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Michael Bittner
- TEES-AgriLife Center for Bioinformatics and Genomic Systems Engineering (CBGSE), College Station, Texas, United States of America
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Kobayashi K, Tsugami Y, Suzuki N, Suzuki T, Nishimura T. Suppressive effects of curcumin on milk production without inflammatory responses in lactating mammary epithelial cells. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 80:153360. [PMID: 33038867 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2020.153360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Curcumin is a naturally occurring polyphenol found in Curcuma longa with multiple therapeutic properties, such as anti-inflammatory, wound healing and anti-cancer effects. Curcuma longa is also used as a galactagogue to improve milk production during lactation. PURPOSE To assess curcumin could have therapeutic potential for breastfeeding mothers, we investigated whether and how curcumin influences milk production in lactating mammary epithelial cells (MECs) at the cellular and molecular levels. METHODS We prepared a lactating MEC culture model that produced milk components and formed less-permeable tight junctions (TJs) to investigate the molecular mechanism of curcumin on milk production, TJs, and inflammation in vitro. RESULTS Curcumin downregulated milk production in lactation MECs concurrently with inactivation of lactogenesis-relating signaling (STAT5 and glucocorticoid receptor). The maintenance of a less-permeable TJ barrier was also confirmed, although the TJ protein claudin-4 increased. Curcumin inactivated NFκB and STAT3 signaling, which are closely involved in inflammatory responses in weaning and mastitis mammary glands. The expression levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were also decreased by curcumin treatment. Furthermore, curcumin blocked activation of inflammatory signaling by lipopolysaccharide treatment in MECs, similar to those in MECs that were treated with diclofenac sodium. The drastic phosphorylation of ERK was induced by curcumin treatment in the absence of EGF. U0126, an inhibitor of ERK phosphorylation, attenuated the adverse effects of curcumin on lactating MECs. CONCLUSION The results of the present study suggests that curcumin downregulates milk production via inactivation of STAT5 and GR signaling with concurrent suppression of inflammatory responses via STAT3 and NFκB signaling in MECs. These findings provide new insights into the role of curcumin as a mild suppressor of milk production without inflammatory damages in breastfeeding mothers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Kobayashi
- Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, North 9, West 9, 060-8589, Sapporo, Japan.
| | - Yusaku Tsugami
- Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, North 9, West 9, 060-8589, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Norihiro Suzuki
- Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, North 9, West 9, 060-8589, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Suzuki
- Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, North 9, West 9, 060-8589, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takanori Nishimura
- Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, North 9, West 9, 060-8589, Sapporo, Japan
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Selenko P. Quo Vadis Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy? Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061278. [PMID: 30875725 PMCID: PMC6472163 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In-cell nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy offers the possibility to study proteins and other biomolecules at atomic resolution directly in cells. As such, it provides compelling means to complement existing tools in cellular structural biology. Given the dominance of electron microscopy (EM)-based methods in current structure determination routines, I share my personal view about the role of biomolecular NMR spectroscopy in the aftermath of the revolution in resolution. Specifically, I focus on spin-off applications that in-cell NMR has helped to develop and how they may provide broader and more generally applicable routes for future NMR investigations. I discuss the use of ‘static’ and time-resolved solution NMR spectroscopy to detect post-translational protein modifications (PTMs) and to investigate structural consequences that occur in their response. I argue that available examples vindicate the need for collective and systematic efforts to determine post-translationally modified protein structures in the future. Furthermore, I explain my reasoning behind a Quinary Structure Assessment (QSA) initiative to interrogate cellular effects on protein dynamics and transient interactions present in physiological environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Selenko
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Department of Biological Regulation, 234 Herzl Street, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
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Shin M, Franks CE, Hsu KL. Isoform-selective activity-based profiling of ERK signaling. Chem Sci 2018; 9:2419-2431. [PMID: 29732117 PMCID: PMC5909473 DOI: 10.1039/c8sc00043c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) mediate downstream signaling of RAS-RAF-MEK as key regulators of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Activation of ERK signaling is a hallmark of cancer and upstream MAPK proteins have been extensively pursued as drug targets for cancer therapies. However, the rapid rise of resistance to clinical RAF and MEK inhibitors has prompted interest in targeting ERK (ERK1 and ERK2 isoforms) directly for cancer therapy. Current methods for evaluating activity of inhibitors against ERK isoforms are based primarily on analysis of recombinant proteins. Strategies to directly and independently profile native ERK1 and ERK2 activity would greatly complement current cell biological tools used to probe and target ERK function. Here, we present a quantitative chemoproteomic strategy that utilizes active-site directed probes to directly quantify native ERK activity in an isoform-specific fashion. We exploit a single isoleucine/leucine difference in ERK substrate binding sites to enable activity-based profiling of ERK1 versus ERK2 across a variety of cell types, tissues, and species. We used our chemoproteomic strategy to determine potency and selectivity of academic (VX-11e) and clinical (Ulixertinib) ERK inhibitors. Correlation of potency estimates by chemoproteomics with anti-proliferative activity of VX-11e and Ulixertinib revealed that >90% inactivation of both native ERK1 and ERK2 is needed to mediate cellular activity of inhibitors. Our findings introduce one of the first assays capable of independent evaluation of native ERK1 and ERK2 activity to advance drug discovery of oncogenic MAPK pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myungsun Shin
- Department of Chemistry , University of Virginia , McCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319 , Charlottesville , Virginia 22904 , USA . ; Tel: +1-434-297-4864
| | - Caroline E Franks
- Department of Chemistry , University of Virginia , McCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319 , Charlottesville , Virginia 22904 , USA . ; Tel: +1-434-297-4864
| | - Ku-Lung Hsu
- Department of Chemistry , University of Virginia , McCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319 , Charlottesville , Virginia 22904 , USA . ; Tel: +1-434-297-4864
- Department of Pharmacology , University of Virginia , McCormick Road, P.O. Box 400319 , Charlottesville , Virginia 22908 , USA
- University of Virginia Cancer Center , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , VA 22903 , USA
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Lippens G, Cahoreau E, Millard P, Charlier C, Lopez J, Hanoulle X, Portais JC. In-cell NMR: from metabolites to macromolecules. Analyst 2018; 143:620-629. [PMID: 29333554 DOI: 10.1039/c7an01635b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In-cell NMR of macromolecules has gained momentum over the last ten years as an approach that might bridge the branches of cell biology and structural biology. In this review, we put it in the context of earlier efforts that aimed to characterize by NMR the cellular environment of live cells and their intracellular metabolites. Although technical aspects distinguish these earlier in vivo NMR studies and the more recent in cell NMR efforts to characterize macromolecules in a cellular environment, we believe that both share major concerns ranging from sensitivity and line broadening to cell viability. Approaches to overcome the limitations in one subfield thereby can serve the other one and vice versa. The relevance in biomedical sciences might stretch from the direct following of drug metabolism in the cell to the observation of target binding, and thereby encompasses in-cell NMR both of metabolites and macromolecules. We underline the efforts of the field to move to novel biological insights by some selected examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Lippens
- LISBP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRA, INSA, Toulouse, France.
| | - E Cahoreau
- LISBP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRA, INSA, Toulouse, France.
| | - P Millard
- LISBP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRA, INSA, Toulouse, France.
| | - C Charlier
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0520, USA
| | - J Lopez
- CERMN, Seccion Quimica, Departemento de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, Lima 32, Peru
| | - X Hanoulle
- Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle (UGSF), University of Lille, CNRS UMR8576, Lille, France
| | - J C Portais
- LISBP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRA, INSA, Toulouse, France.
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9
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Ye H, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Xia J, Mao X, Yu X. The restraining effect of baicalein and U0126 on human cervical cancer cell line HeLa. Mol Med Rep 2017; 16:957-963. [DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.6648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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Thongwichian R, Kosten J, Benary U, Rose HM, Stuiver M, Theillet FX, Dose A, Koch B, Yokoyama H, Schwarzer D, Wolf J, Selenko P. A Multiplexed NMR-Reporter Approach to Measure Cellular Kinase and Phosphatase Activities in Real-Time. J Am Chem Soc 2015; 137:6468-71. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b02987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Uwe Benary
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC Berlin), Robert Rössle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Birgit Koch
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69123 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hideki Yokoyama
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69123 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Jana Wolf
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC Berlin), Robert Rössle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
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Smith MJ, Marshall CB, Theillet FX, Binolfi A, Selenko P, Ikura M. Real-time NMR monitoring of biological activities in complex physiological environments. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2015; 32:39-47. [PMID: 25727665 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2015.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2014] [Revised: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Biological reactions occur in a highly organized spatiotemporal context and with kinetics that are modulated by multiple environmental factors. To integrate these variables in our experimental investigations of 'native' biological activities, we require quantitative tools for time-resolved in situ analyses in physiologically relevant settings. Here, we outline the use of high-resolution NMR spectroscopy to directly observe biological reactions in complex environments and in real-time. Specifically, we discuss how real-time NMR (RT-NMR) methods have delineated insights into metabolic processes, post-translational protein modifications, activities of cellular GTPases and their regulators, as well as of protein folding events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Smith
- Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher B Marshall
- Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Francois-Xavier Theillet
- In-Cell NMR Laboratory, Department of NMR-supported Structural Biology, Leibniz Institute of Molecular Pharmacology (FMP Berlin), Berlin, Germany
| | - Andres Binolfi
- In-Cell NMR Laboratory, Department of NMR-supported Structural Biology, Leibniz Institute of Molecular Pharmacology (FMP Berlin), Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Selenko
- In-Cell NMR Laboratory, Department of NMR-supported Structural Biology, Leibniz Institute of Molecular Pharmacology (FMP Berlin), Berlin, Germany.
| | - Mitsuhiko Ikura
- Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Hänsel R, Luh LM, Corbeski I, Trantirek L, Dötsch V. Intrazelluläre NMR- und EPR-Spektroskopie von biologischen Makromolekülen. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201311320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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13
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Hänsel R, Luh LM, Corbeski I, Trantirek L, Dötsch V. In-cell NMR and EPR spectroscopy of biomacromolecules. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014; 53:10300-14. [PMID: 25070284 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201311320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The dream of cell biologists is to be able to watch biological macromolecules perform their duties in the intracellular environment of live cells. Ideally, the observation of both the location and the conformation of these macromolecules with biophysical techniques is desired. The development of many fluorescence techniques, including superresolution fluorescence microscopy, has significantly enhanced our ability to spot proteins and other molecules in the crowded cellular environment. However, the observation of their structure and conformational changes while they attend their business is still very challenging. In principle, NMR and EPR spectroscopy can be used to investigate the conformation and dynamics of biological macromolecules in living cells. The development of in-cell magnetic resonance techniques has demonstrated the feasibility of this approach. Herein we review the different techniques with a focus on liquid-state in-cell NMR spectroscopy, provide an overview of applications, and discuss the challenges that lie ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Hänsel
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 9, 60438 Frankfurt (Germany)
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