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Amaral DT, Kaplan RA, Takishita TKE, de Souza DR, Oliveira AG, Rosa SP. Glowing wonders: exploring the diversity and ecological significance of bioluminescent organisms in Brazil. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2024; 23:1373-1392. [PMID: 38733516 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-024-00590-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Bioluminescence, the emission of light by living organisms, is a captivating and widespread phenomenon with diverse ecological functions. This comprehensive review explores the biodiversity, mechanisms, ecological roles, and conservation challenges of bioluminescent organisms in Brazil, a country known for its vast and diverse ecosystems. From the enchanting glow of fireflies and glow-in-the-dark mushrooms to the mesmerizing displays of marine dinoflagellates and cnidarians, Brazil showcases a remarkable array of bioluminescent species. Understanding the biochemical mechanisms and enzymes involved in bioluminescence enhances our knowledge of their evolutionary adaptations and ecological functions. However, habitat loss, climate change, and photopollution pose significant threats to these bioluminescent organisms. Conservation measures, interdisciplinary collaborations, and responsible lighting practices are crucial for their survival. Future research should focus on identifying endemic species, studying environmental factors influencing bioluminescence, and developing effective conservation strategies. Through interdisciplinary collaborations, advanced technologies, and increased funding, Brazil can unravel the mysteries of its bioluminescent biodiversity, drive scientific advancements, and ensure the long-term preservation of these captivating organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo T Amaral
- Centro de Ciências Naturais E Humanas, Universidade Federal Do ABC (UFABC), Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Programa de Pós Graduação Em Biotecnociência, Universidade Federal Do ABC (UFABC), Avenida Dos Estados, Bloco A, Room 504-3. ZIP 09210-580, Santo André, São Paulo, 5001, Brazil.
| | - Rachel A Kaplan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Yeshiva University, 245 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | | | - Daniel R de Souza
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados Em Jornalismo, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Anderson G Oliveira
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Yeshiva University, 245 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Simone Policena Rosa
- Instituto de Recursos Naturais (IRN), Universidade Federal de Itajubá (UNIFEI), Itajubá, MG, Brazil
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2
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Burakova LP, Eremeeva EV, Vysotski ES. The interaction of C-terminal Tyr208 and Tyr13 of the first α-helix ensures a closed conformation of ctenophore photoprotein berovin. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2020; 19:313-323. [PMID: 32057065 DOI: 10.1039/c9pp00436j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Light-sensitive Ca2+-regulated photoprotein berovin is responsible for the bioluminescence of the ctenophore Beroe abyssicola. It shares many properties of hydromedusan photoproteins although the degree of identity of its amino acid sequence with those of photoproteins is low. There is a hydrogen bond between C-terminal Pro and Arg situated in the N-terminal α-helix of hydromedusan photoproteins that supports a closed conformation of the internal cavity of the photoprotein molecule with bound 2-hydroperoxycoelenterazine. The C- and N-terminal hydrogen bond network is necessary to properly isolate the photoprotein active site from the solvent and consequently to provide a high quantum yield of the bioluminescence reaction. In order to find out which berovin residues perform the same function we modified the N- and C-termini of the protein by replacing or deleting various amino acid residues. The studies on berovin mutants showed that the interaction between C-terminal Tyr208 and Tyr13 localized in the first α-helix of the photoprotein is important for the stabilization and proper orientation of the oxygenated coelenterazine adduct within the internal cavity as well as for supporting the closed photoprotein conformation. We also suggest that the interplay between Tyr residues in ctenophore photoproteins occurs rather through the π-π interaction of their phenyl rings than through hydrogen bonds as in hydromedusan photoproteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludmila P Burakova
- Photobiology Laboratory, Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS", Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Elena V Eremeeva
- Photobiology Laboratory, Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS", Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Eugene S Vysotski
- Photobiology Laboratory, Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS", Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
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3
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Eremeeva EV, Vysotski ES. Exploring Bioluminescence Function of the Ca2+
-regulated Photoproteins with Site-directed Mutagenesis. Photochem Photobiol 2018; 95:8-23. [DOI: 10.1111/php.12945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elena V. Eremeeva
- Photobiology Laboratory; Institute of Biophysics SB RAS; Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS”; Krasnoyarsk Russia
| | - Eugene S. Vysotski
- Photobiology Laboratory; Institute of Biophysics SB RAS; Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS”; Krasnoyarsk Russia
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4
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Rathod M, Mal A, De A. Reporter-Based BRET Sensors for Measuring Biological Functions In Vivo. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1790:51-74. [PMID: 29858783 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7860-1_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Genetic reporter systems provide a good alternative to monitor cellular functions in vitro and in vivo and are contributing immensely in experimental research. Reporters like fluorescence and bioluminescence genes, which support optical measurements, provide exquisite sensitivity to the assay systems. In recent years several activatable strategies have been developed, which can relay specialized molecular functions from inside the cells. The application of bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) is one such strategy that has been proved to be extremely valuable as an in vitro or in vivo assay to measure dynamic events such as protein-protein interactions (PPIs).The BRET assay using RLuc-YFP was introduced in biological research in the late 1990s and demonstrated the interaction of two proteins involved in circadian rhythm. Since then, BRET has become a popular genetic reporter-based assay for PPI studies due to several inherent attributes that facilitate high-throughput assay development such as rapid and fairly sensitive ratio-metric measurement, the assessment of PPI irrespective of protein location in cellular compartment and cost effectiveness. In BRET-based screening, within a defined proximity range of 10-100 Å, the excited energy state of the luminescent molecule excites the acceptor fluorophore in the form of resonance energy transfer, causing it to emit at its characteristic emission wavelength. Based on this principle, several such donor-acceptor pairs, using Renilla luciferase or its mutants as donor and either GFP2, YFP, mOrange, TagRFP or TurboFP as acceptor, have been reported for use.In recent years, the applicability of BRET has been greatly enhanced by the adaptation of the assay to multiple detection devices such as a luminescence plate reader, a bioluminescence microscope and a small animal optical imaging platform. Apart from quantitative measurement studies of PPIs and protein dimerization, molecular spectral imaging has expanded the scope for fast screening of pharmacological compounds that modulate PPIs by unifying in vitro, live cell and in vivo animal/plant measurement, all using one assay. Using examples from the literature, we will describe methods to perform in vitro and in vivo BRET imaging experiments and some of its applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maitreyi Rathod
- KS325, Molecular Functional Imaging Lab, Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre(TMC), Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Arijit Mal
- KS325, Molecular Functional Imaging Lab, Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre(TMC), Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Abhijit De
- KS325, Molecular Functional Imaging Lab, Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre(TMC), Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
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5
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Sharifian S, Homaei A, Hemmati R, Khajeh K. Light emission miracle in the sea and preeminent applications of bioluminescence in recent new biotechnology. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2017; 172:115-128. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2017.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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6
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Alieva RR, Kudryasheva NS. Variability of fluorescence spectra of coelenteramide-containing proteins as a basis for toxicity monitoring. Talanta 2017; 170:425-431. [PMID: 28501192 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2017.04.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Nowadays, physicochemical approach to understanding toxic effects remains underdeveloped. A proper development of such mode would be concerned with simplest bioassay systems. Coelenteramide-Containing Fluorescent Proteins (CLM-CFPs) can serve as proper tools for study primary physicochemical processes in organisms under external exposures. CLM-CFPs are products of bioluminescent reactions of marine coelenterates. As opposed to Green Fluorescent Proteins, the CLM-CFPs are not widely applied in biomedical research, and their potential as colored biomarkers is undervalued now. Coelenteramide, fluorophore of CLM-CFPs, is a photochemically active molecule; it acts as a proton donor in its electron-excited states, generating several forms of different fluorescent state energy and, hence, different fluorescence color, from violet to green. Contributions of the forms to the visible fluorescence depend on the coelenteramide microenvironment in proteins. Hence, CLM-CFPs can serve as fluorescence biomarkers with color differentiation to monitor results of destructive biomolecule exposures. The paper reviews experimental and theoretical studies of spectral-luminescent and photochemical properties of CLM-CFPs, as well as their variation under different exposures - chemicals, temperature, and ionizing radiation. Application of CLM-CFPs as toxicity bioassays of a new type is justified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roza R Alieva
- Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS", Akademgorodok 50/50, Krasnoyarsk 660036, Russia; Siberian Federal University, Svobodny Prospect 79, Krasnoyarsk 660041, Russia
| | - Nadezhda S Kudryasheva
- Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS", Akademgorodok 50/50, Krasnoyarsk 660036, Russia; Siberian Federal University, Svobodny Prospect 79, Krasnoyarsk 660041, Russia
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7
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Bakayan A, Domingo B, Vaquero CF, Peyriéras N, Llopis J. Fluorescent Protein-photoprotein Fusions and Their Applications in Calcium Imaging. Photochem Photobiol 2017; 93:448-465. [PMID: 27925224 DOI: 10.1111/php.12682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Calcium-activated photoproteins, such as aequorin, have been used as luminescent Ca2+ indicators since 1967. After the cloning of aequorin in 1985, microinjection was substituted by its heterologous expression, which opened the way for a widespread use. Molecular fusion of green fluorescent protein (GFP) to aequorin recapitulated the nonradiative energy transfer process that occurs in the jellyfish Aequorea victoria, from which these two proteins were obtained, resulting in an increase of light emission and a shift to longer wavelength. The abundance and location of the chimera are seen by fluorescence, whereas its luminescence reports Ca2+ levels. GFP-aequorin is broadly used in an increasing number of studies, from organelles and cells to intact organisms. By fusing other fluorescent proteins to aequorin, the available luminescence color palette has been expanded for multiplexing assays and for in vivo measurements. In this report, we will attempt to review the various photoproteins available, their reported fusions with fluorescent proteins and their biological applications to image Ca2+ dynamics in organelles, cells, tissue explants and in live organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adil Bakayan
- BioEmergences Unit (CNRS, USR3695), Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Beatriz Domingo
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB) and Facultad de Medicina de Albacete, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Cecilia F Vaquero
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB) and Facultad de Medicina de Albacete, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Nadine Peyriéras
- BioEmergences Unit (CNRS, USR3695), Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Juan Llopis
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB) and Facultad de Medicina de Albacete, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
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8
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CdTe quantum dots with green fluorescence generated by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer from aequorin. Mikrochim Acta 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00604-016-2057-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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9
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Lee J. Perspectives on Bioluminescence Mechanisms. Photochem Photobiol 2016; 93:389-404. [PMID: 27748947 DOI: 10.1111/php.12650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms of the bioluminescence systems of the firefly, bacteria and those utilizing imidazopyrazinone luciferins such as coelenterazine are gradually being uncovered using modern biophysical methods such as dynamic (ns-ps) fluorescence spectroscopy, NMR, X-ray crystallography and computational chemistry. The chemical structures of all reactants are well defined, and the spatial structures of the luciferases are providing important insight into interactions within the active cavity. It is generally accepted that the firefly and coelenterazine systems, although proceeding by different chemistries, both generate a dioxetanone high-energy species that undergoes decarboxylation to form directly the product in its S1 state, the bioluminescence emitter. More work is still needed to establish the structure of the products completely. In spite of the bacterial system receiving the most research attention, the chemical pathway for excitation remains mysterious except that it is clearly not by a decarboxylation. Both the coelenterazine and bacterial systems have in common of being able to employ "antenna proteins," lumazine protein and the green-fluorescent protein, for tuning the color of the bioluminescence. Spatial structure information has been most valuable in informing the mechanism of the Ca2+ -regulated photoproteins and the antenna protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
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10
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Glukhova KF, Marchenkov VV, Melnik TN, Melnik BS. Isoforms of green fluorescent protein differ from each other in solvent molecules 'trapped' inside this protein. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2016; 35:1215-1225. [PMID: 27045905 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2016.1174737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Green fluorescent protein (GFP) has been studied quite thoroughly, however, up to now some experimental data have not been explained explicitly. For example, under native conditions this protein can have two isoforms differing in their mobility in gel. In this case, no differences between the isoforms are revealed under denaturing conditions. In order to understand the difference in the isoforms of this protein, we have investigated GFP-cycle3 using mass spectrometry, gel electrophoresis, size exclusion chromatography, microcalorimetry, and spectroscopy methods under varying conditions. We have also designed and studied three mutant forms of this protein with substitutions of amino acid residues inside the GFP barrel. The mutations have allowed us to influence the formation of different GFP isoforms. Each of the mutant proteins has predominantly only one isoform. As a result of the performed research, it can be concluded that most likely the GFP isoforms differ in the solvent molecules 'trapped' inside the GFP barrel. In their turn, these molecules have an effect on the protein charge and consequently on its mobility at electrophoresis under native conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kseniya F Glukhova
- a Institute of Protein Research , Russian Academy of Sciences , 142290 Pushchino , Moscow Region , Russia
| | - Victor V Marchenkov
- a Institute of Protein Research , Russian Academy of Sciences , 142290 Pushchino , Moscow Region , Russia
| | - Tatiana N Melnik
- a Institute of Protein Research , Russian Academy of Sciences , 142290 Pushchino , Moscow Region , Russia
| | - Bogdan S Melnik
- a Institute of Protein Research , Russian Academy of Sciences , 142290 Pushchino , Moscow Region , Russia
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Improving the luminescence properties of aequorin by conjugating to CdSe/ZnS quantum dot nanoparticles: Red shift and slowing decay rate. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2016; 162:153-161. [PMID: 27371914 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2016.06.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Changing the properties of photoprotein aequorin such as the wavelength emission and decay half-life by using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) phenomenon is the main aim in this paper. BRET system was set up with CdSe/ZnS quantum dot nanoparticles as an acceptor molecule and photoprotein as an energy donor molecule. Quantum dots are semiconductor nanoparticles with very interesting optical properties, including broad excitation spectra, narrow and the symmetric band width emission spectra, tunable by their sizes, compositions, negligible photo-bleaching and good chemical and photo-stability. In this QD-BRET system, aequorin is conjugated to the carboxyl groups on quantum dot surface by EDC/NHS chemistry as cross linker. Bioluminescence energy generates by aequorin upon adding Ca(2+) and transfers to the quantum dots in a radiationless manner and emits at a longer wavelength. The determined bioluminescent parameters for this method included aequorin activity, emission spectra and decay half-life time. In fact, this spectrum tuning strategy resulted in a change in bioluminescent properties of photoprotein, therefore, the maximum emission wavelength shifted from 455 to 540nm and the decay time increased from 3.76 to 12.11s. Nowadays, photoproteins with different characteristics are capable of being employed as a reporter in multi-analyte detections and in vivo imaging.
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12
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Murmu MS, Martin JR. Interaction between cAMP and intracellular Ca(2+)-signaling pathways during odor-perception and adaptation in Drosophila. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2016; 1863:2156-74. [PMID: 27212269 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2016.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2015] [Revised: 05/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Binding of an odorant to olfactory receptors triggers cascades of second messenger systems in olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). Biochemical studies indicate that the transduction mechanism at ORNs is mediated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and/or inositol,1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP3)-signaling pathways in an odorant-dependent manner. However, the interaction between these two second messenger systems during olfactory perception or adaptation processes is much less understood. Here, we used interfering-RNAi to disrupt the level of cAMP alone or in combination with the InsP3-signaling pathway cellular targets, InsP3 receptor (InsP3R) or ryanodine receptor (RyR) in ORNs, and quantify at ORN axon terminals in the antennal lobe, the odor-induced Ca(2+)-response. In-vivo functional bioluminescence Ca(2+)-imaging indicates that a single 5s application of an odor increased Ca(2+)-transients at ORN axon terminals. However, compared to wild-type controls, the magnitude and duration of ORN Ca(2+)-response was significantly diminished in cAMP-defective flies. In a behavioral assay, perception of odorants was defective in flies with a disrupted cAMP level suggesting that the ability of flies to correctly detect an odor depends on cAMP. Simultaneous disruption of cAMP level and InsP3R or RyR further diminished the magnitude and duration of ORN response to odorants and affected the flies' ability to detect an odor. In conclusion, this study provides functional evidence that cAMP and InsP3-signaling pathways act in synergy to mediate odor processing within the ORN axon terminals, which is encoded in the magnitude and duration of ORN response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meena Sriti Murmu
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay (Neuro-PSI), Team: Imagerie Cérébrale Fonctionnelle et Comportement, UMR-9197, CNRS/Université Paris Sud, 1, Avenue de la Terrasse, Bat. 32/33, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
| | - Jean-René Martin
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay (Neuro-PSI), Team: Imagerie Cérébrale Fonctionnelle et Comportement, UMR-9197, CNRS/Université Paris Sud, 1, Avenue de la Terrasse, Bat. 32/33, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
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Abstract
Since their discovery, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute one of the most studied proteins leading to important discoveries and perspectives in terms of their biology and implication in physiology and pathophysiology. This is mostly linked to the remarkable advances in the development and application of the biophysical resonance energy transfer (RET)-based approaches, including bioluminescence and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (BRET and FRET, respectively). Indeed, BRET and FRET have been extensively applied to study different aspects of GPCR functioning such as their activation and regulation either statically or dynamically, in real-time and intact cells. Consequently, our view on GPCRs has considerably changed opening new challenges for the study of GPCRs in their native tissues in the aim to get more knowledge on how these receptors control the biological responses. Moreover, the technological aspect of this field of research promises further developments for robust and reliable new RET-based assays that may be compatible with high-throughput screening as well as drug discovery programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Akli Ayoub
- Biologie et Bioinformatique des Systèmes de Signalisation, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR85, Unité Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements; CNRS, UMR7247, Nouzilly, France; LE STUDIUM(®) Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies, Orléans, France.
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14
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Ayoub MA, Landomiel F, Gallay N, Jégot G, Poupon A, Crépieux P, Reiter E. Assessing Gonadotropin Receptor Function by Resonance Energy Transfer-Based Assays. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2015; 6:130. [PMID: 26379624 PMCID: PMC4550792 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2015.00130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gonadotropin receptors belong to the super family of G protein-coupled receptors and mediate the physiological effects of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSHR) and luteinizing hormone (LHR). Their central role in the control of reproductive function has made them the focus of intensive studies. Upon binding to their cognate hormone, they trigger complex signaling and trafficking mechanisms that are tightly regulated in concentration, time, and space. Classical cellular assays often fail to capture all these dynamics. Here, we describe the use of various bioluminescence and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (BRET and FRET) assays to investigate the activation and regulation of FSHR and LHR in real-time, in living cells (i.e., transiently expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells). Indeed, the dynamics of hormone-mediated heterotrimeric G protein activation, cyclic adenosine-monophosphate (cAMP) production, calcium release, β-arrestin 2 recruitment, and receptor internalization/recycling was assessed. Kinetics and dose-response analyses confirmed the expected pharmacological and signaling properties of hFSHR and hLHR but revealed interesting characteristics when considering the two major pathways (cAMP and β-arrestin 2) of the two receptors assessed by BRET. Indeed, the EC50 values were in picomolar range for cAMP production while nanomolar range was observed for β-arrestin 2 recruitment as well as receptor internalization. Interestingly, the predicted receptor occupancy indicates that the maximal G protein activation and cAMP response occur at <10% of receptor occupancy whereas >90% of activated receptors is required to achieve full β-arrestin 2 recruitment and subsequent receptor internalization. The rapid receptor internalization was also followed by a recycling phase. Collectively, our data reveal that β-arrestin-mediated desensitization, internalization, and the subsequent fast recycling of receptors at the plasma membrane may provide a mechanistic ground to the "spare receptor" paradigm. More generally, the novel tools described here will undoubtedly provide the scientific community investigating gonadotropin receptors with powerful means to decipher their pharmacology and signaling with the prospect of pathophysiological and drug discovery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Akli Ayoub
- Biologie et Bioinformatique des Systèmes de Signalisation (BIOS) Group, INRA, UMR85, Unité Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France
- CNRS, UMR7247, Nouzilly, France
- Université François Rabelais, Tours, France
- L’Institut français du cheval et de l’équitation (IFCE), Nouzilly, France
- LE STUDIUM Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies, Orléans, France
- *Correspondence: Mohammed Akli Ayoub, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) UMR85, CNRS-Université François Rabelais UMR7247, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC) - Nouzilly 37380, France,
| | - Flavie Landomiel
- Biologie et Bioinformatique des Systèmes de Signalisation (BIOS) Group, INRA, UMR85, Unité Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France
- CNRS, UMR7247, Nouzilly, France
- Université François Rabelais, Tours, France
- L’Institut français du cheval et de l’équitation (IFCE), Nouzilly, France
| | - Nathalie Gallay
- Biologie et Bioinformatique des Systèmes de Signalisation (BIOS) Group, INRA, UMR85, Unité Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France
- CNRS, UMR7247, Nouzilly, France
- Université François Rabelais, Tours, France
- L’Institut français du cheval et de l’équitation (IFCE), Nouzilly, France
| | - Gwenhael Jégot
- Biologie et Bioinformatique des Systèmes de Signalisation (BIOS) Group, INRA, UMR85, Unité Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France
- CNRS, UMR7247, Nouzilly, France
- Université François Rabelais, Tours, France
- L’Institut français du cheval et de l’équitation (IFCE), Nouzilly, France
| | - Anne Poupon
- Biologie et Bioinformatique des Systèmes de Signalisation (BIOS) Group, INRA, UMR85, Unité Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France
- CNRS, UMR7247, Nouzilly, France
- Université François Rabelais, Tours, France
- L’Institut français du cheval et de l’équitation (IFCE), Nouzilly, France
| | - Pascale Crépieux
- Biologie et Bioinformatique des Systèmes de Signalisation (BIOS) Group, INRA, UMR85, Unité Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France
- CNRS, UMR7247, Nouzilly, France
- Université François Rabelais, Tours, France
- L’Institut français du cheval et de l’équitation (IFCE), Nouzilly, France
| | - Eric Reiter
- Biologie et Bioinformatique des Systèmes de Signalisation (BIOS) Group, INRA, UMR85, Unité Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France
- CNRS, UMR7247, Nouzilly, France
- Université François Rabelais, Tours, France
- L’Institut français du cheval et de l’équitation (IFCE), Nouzilly, France
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Bakayan A, Domingo B, Miyawaki A, Llopis J. Imaging Ca(2+) activity in mammalian cells and zebrafish with a novel red-emitting aequorin variant. Pflugers Arch 2014; 467:2031-42. [PMID: 25355614 PMCID: PMC4537489 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-014-1639-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2014] [Revised: 10/15/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Ca2+ monitoring with aequorin is an established bioluminescence technique, whereby the photoprotein emits blue light when it binds to Ca2+. However, aequorin’s blue emission and low quantum yield limit its application for in vivo imaging because blue-green light is greatly attenuated in animal tissues. In earlier work, aequorin was molecularly fused with green, yellow, and red fluorescent proteins, producing an emission shift through bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET). We have previously shown that the chimera tandem dimer Tomato-aequorin (tdTA) emits red light in mammalian cells and across the skin and other tissues of mice [1]. In this work, we varied the configuration of the linker in tdTA to maximize energy transfer. One variant, named Redquorin, improved BRET from aequorin to tdTomato to almost a maximum value, and the emission above 575 nm exceeded 73 % of total counts. By pairing Redquorin with appropriate synthetic coelenterazines, agonist-induced and spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations in single HEK-293 cells were imaged. In addition, we also imaged Ca2+ transients associated with twitching behavior in developing zebrafish embryos expressing Redquorin during the segmentation period. Furthermore, the emission profile of Redquorin resulted in significant luminescence crossing a blood sample, a highly absorbing tissue. This new tool will facilitate in vivo imaging of Ca2+ from deep tissues of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adil Bakayan
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB) and Facultad de Medicina de Albacete, Universidad Castilla-La Mancha, C/ Almansa 14, 02008, Albacete, Spain
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GAP, an aequorin-based fluorescent indicator for imaging Ca2+ in organelles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:2584-9. [PMID: 24501126 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1316539111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetically encoded calcium indicators allow monitoring subcellular Ca(2+) signals inside organelles. Most genetically encoded calcium indicators are fusions of endogenous calcium-binding proteins whose functionality in vivo may be perturbed by competition with cellular partners. We describe here a novel family of fluorescent Ca(2+) sensors based on the fusion of two Aequorea victoria proteins, GFP and apo-aequorin (GAP). GAP exhibited a unique combination of features: dual-excitation ratiometric imaging, high dynamic range, good signal-to-noise ratio, insensitivity to pH and Mg(2+), tunable Ca(2+) affinity, uncomplicated calibration, and targetability to five distinct organelles. Moreover, transgenic mice for endoplasmic reticulum-targeted GAP exhibited a robust long-term expression that correlated well with its reproducible performance in various neural tissues. This biosensor fills a gap in the actual repertoire of Ca(2+) indicators for organelles and becomes a valuable tool for in vivo Ca(2+) imaging applications.
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Eremeeva EV, Burakova LP, Krasitskaya VV, Kudryavtsev AN, Shimomura O, Frank LA. Hydrogen-bond networks between the C-terminus and Arg from the first α-helix stabilize photoprotein molecules. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2014; 13:541-7. [PMID: 24463740 DOI: 10.1039/c3pp50369k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have stated that aequorin loses most of its bioluminescence activity upon modification of the C-terminus, thus limiting the production of photoprotein fusion proteins at its N-terminus. In the present work, we investigate the importance of the C-terminal proline and the hydrogen bonds it forms for photoprotein active complex formation, stability and functional activity. According to the crystal structures of obelin and aequorin, two Ca(2+)-regulated photoproteins, the carboxyl group of the C-terminal Pro forms two hydrogen bonds with the side chain of Arg21 (Arg15 in aequorin case) situated in the first α-helix. Whereas, deletion or substitution of the C-terminal proline could noticeably change the bioluminescence activity, stability or the yield of an active photoprotein complex. Therefore, modifications of the first α-helix Arg has a clear destructive effect on the main photoprotein properties. A C-terminal hydrogen-bond network is proposed to be important for the stability of photoprotein molecules towards external disturbances, when taking part in the formation of locked protein conformations and isolation of coelenterazine-binding cavities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena V Eremeeva
- Photobiology Laboratory, Institute of Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russia.
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Webb SE, Karplus E, Miller AL. Retrospective on the development of aequorin and aequorin-based imaging to visualize changes in intracellular free [Ca2+]. Mol Reprod Dev 2014; 82:563-86. [DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 12/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Webb
- Division of Life Science and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience; The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Kowloon Hong Kong
| | | | - Andrew L. Miller
- Division of Life Science and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience; The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Kowloon Hong Kong
- Marine Biological Laboratory; Woods Hole Massachusetts
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Xiong TC, Ronzier E, Sanchez F, Corratgé-Faillie C, Mazars C, Thibaud JB. Imaging long distance propagating calcium signals in intact plant leaves with the BRET-based GFP-aequorin reporter. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2014; 5:43. [PMID: 24600459 PMCID: PMC3927637 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 01/29/2014] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Calcium (Ca(2+)) is a second messenger involved in many plant signaling processes. Biotic and abiotic stimuli induce Ca(2+) signals within plant cells, which, when decoded, enable these cells to adapt in response to environmental stresses. Multiple examples of Ca(2+) signals from plants containing the fluorescent yellow cameleon sensor (YC) have contributed to the definition of the Ca(2+) signature in some cell types such as root hairs, pollen tubes and guard cells. YC is, however, of limited use in highly autofluorescent plant tissues, in particular mesophyll cells. Alternatively, the bioluminescent reporter aequorin enables Ca(2+) imaging in the whole plant, including mesophyll cells, but this requires specific devices capable of detecting the low amounts of emitted light. Another type of Ca(2+) sensor, referred to as GFP-aequorin (G5A), has been engineered as a chimeric protein, which combines the two photoactive proteins from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria, the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the bioluminescent protein aequorin. The Ca(2+)-dependent light-emitting property of G5A is based on a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) between aequorin and GFP. G5A has been used for over 10 years for enhanced in vivo detection of Ca(2+) signals in animal tissues. Here, we apply G5A in Arabidopsis and show that G5A greatly improves the imaging of Ca(2+) dynamics in intact plants. We describe a simple method to image Ca(2+) signals in autofluorescent leaves of plants with a cooled charge-coupled device (cooled CCD) camera. We present data demonstrating how plants expressing the G5A probe can be powerful tools for imaging of Ca(2+) signals. It is shown that Ca(2+) signals propagating over long distances can be visualized in intact plant leaves and are visible mainly in the veins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tou Cheu Xiong
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR 386Montpellier, France
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 5004Montpellier, France
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des PlantesSupAgro, Montpellier, France
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, UM2Montpellier, France
- *Correspondence: Tou Cheu Xiong, Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR 386/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 5004/Montpellier SupAgro/Université Montpellier 2, Campus INRA-SupAgro, Place Pierre Viala, F34060 Montpellier Cedex 2, France e-mail:
| | - Elsa Ronzier
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR 386Montpellier, France
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 5004Montpellier, France
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des PlantesSupAgro, Montpellier, France
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, UM2Montpellier, France
| | - Frédéric Sanchez
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR 386Montpellier, France
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 5004Montpellier, France
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des PlantesSupAgro, Montpellier, France
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, UM2Montpellier, France
| | - Claire Corratgé-Faillie
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR 386Montpellier, France
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 5004Montpellier, France
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des PlantesSupAgro, Montpellier, France
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, UM2Montpellier, France
| | - Christian Mazars
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales, Université de Toulouse, UPS, UMR 5546Castanet-Tolosan, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 5546Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Thibaud
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR 386Montpellier, France
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 5004Montpellier, France
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des PlantesSupAgro, Montpellier, France
- Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, UM2Montpellier, France
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20
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Tricoire L, Lambolez B. Neuronal network imaging in acute slices using Ca2+ sensitive bioluminescent reporter. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1098:33-45. [PMID: 24166366 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-718-1_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Genetically encoded indicators are valuable tools to study intracellular signaling cascades in real time using fluorescent or bioluminescent imaging techniques. Imaging of Ca(2+) indicators is widely used to record transient intracellular Ca(2+) increases associated with bioelectrical activity. The natural bioluminescent Ca(2+) sensor aequorin has been historically the first Ca(2+) indicator used to address biological questions. Aequorin imaging offers several advantages over fluorescent reporters: it is virtually devoid of background signal; it does not require light excitation and interferes little with intracellular processes. Genetically encoded sensors such as aequorin are commonly used in dissociated cultured cells; however it becomes more challenging to express them in differentiated intact specimen such as brain tissue. Here we describe a method to express a GFP-aequorin (GA) fusion protein in pyramidal cells of neocortical acute slices using recombinant Sindbis virus. This technique allows expressing GA in several hundreds of neurons on the same slice and to perform the bioluminescence recording of Ca(2+) transients in single neurons or multiple neurons simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovic Tricoire
- Neurobiologie des processus adaptatifs, UMR7102, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
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21
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Cabrero P, Richmond L, Nitabach M, Davies SA, Dow JAT. A biogenic amine and a neuropeptide act identically: tyramine signals through calcium in Drosophila tubule stellate cells. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20122943. [PMID: 23446525 PMCID: PMC3619477 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2012.2943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Insect osmoregulation is subject to highly sophisticated endocrine control. In Drosophila, both Drosophila kinin and tyramine act on the Malpighian (renal) tubule stellate cell to activate chloride shunt conductance, and so increase the fluid production rate. Drosophila kinin is known to act through intracellular calcium, but the mode of action of tyramine is not known. Here, we used a transgenically encoded GFP::apoaequorin translational fusion, targeted to either principal or stellate cells under GAL4/UAS control, to demonstrate that tyramine indeed acts to raise calcium in stellate, but not principal cells. Furthermore, the EC(50) tyramine concentration for half-maximal activation of the intracellular calcium signal is the same as that calculated from previously published data on tyramine-induced increase in chloride flux. In addition, tyramine signalling to calcium is markedly reduced in mutants of NorpA (a phospholipase C) and itpr, the inositol trisphosphate receptor gene, which we have previously shown to be necessary for Drosophila kinin signalling. Therefore, tyramine and Drosophila kinin signals converge on phospholipase C, and thence on intracellular calcium; and both act to increase chloride shunt conductance by signalling through itpr. To test this model, we co-applied tyramine and Drosophila kinin, and showed that the calcium signals were neither additive nor synergistic. The two signalling pathways thus represent parallel, independent mechanisms for distinct tissues (nervous and epithelial) to control the same aspect of renal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Cabrero
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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22
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Genetically encoded Ca(2+) indicators: properties and evaluation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2013; 1833:1787-97. [PMID: 23352808 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2013.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2012] [Revised: 01/02/2013] [Accepted: 01/10/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Genetically encoded calcium ion (Ca(2+)) indicators have become very useful and widely used tools for Ca(2+) imaging, not only in cellular models, but also in living organisms. However, the in vivo and in situ characterization of these indicators is tedious and time consuming, and it does not provide information regarding the suitability of an indicator for particular experimental environments. Thus, initial in vitro evaluation of these tools is typically performed to determine their properties. In this review, we examined the properties of dynamic range, affinity, selectivity, and kinetics for Ca(2+) indicators. Commonly used strategies for evaluating these properties are presented. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 12th European Symposium on Calcium.
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23
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Ordenes VR, Moreno I, Maturana D, Norambuena L, Trewavas AJ, Orellana A. In vivo analysis of the calcium signature in the plant Golgi apparatus reveals unique dynamics. Cell Calcium 2012; 52:397-404. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2012.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2012] [Revised: 06/12/2012] [Accepted: 06/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Ma Y, Sugiura R, Koike A, Ebina H, Sio SO, Kuno T. Transient receptor potential (TRP) and Cch1-Yam8 channels play key roles in the regulation of cytoplasmic Ca2+ in fission yeast. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22421. [PMID: 21811607 PMCID: PMC3139647 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2011] [Accepted: 06/23/2011] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The regulation of cytoplasmic Ca2+ is crucial for various cellular processes. Here, we examined the cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels in living fission yeast cells by a highly sensitive bioluminescence resonance energy transfer-based assay using GFP-aequorin fusion protein linked by 19 amino acid. We monitored the cytoplasmic Ca2+ level and its change caused by extracellular stimulants such as CaCl2 or NaCl plus FK506 (calcineurin inhibitor). We found that the extracellularly added Ca2+ caused a dose-dependent increase in the cytoplasmic Ca2+ level and resulted in a burst-like peak. The overexpression of two transient receptor potential (TRP) channel homologues, Trp1322 or Pkd2, markedly enhanced this response. Interestingly, the burst-like peak upon TRP overexpression was completely abolished by gene deletion of calcineurin and was dramatically decreased by gene deletion of Prz1, a downstream transcription factor activated by calcineurin. Furthermore, 1 hour treatment with FK506 failed to suppress the burst-like peak. These results suggest that the burst-like Ca2+ peak is dependent on the transcriptional activity of Prz1, but not on the direct TRP dephosphorylation. We also found that extracellularly added NaCl plus FK506 caused a synergistic cytosolic Ca2+ increase that is dependent on the inhibition of calcineurin activity, but not on the inhibition of Prz1. The synergistic Ca2+ increase is abolished by the addition of the Ca2+ chelator BAPTA into the media, and is also abolished by deletion of the gene encoding a subunit of the Cch1-Yam8 Ca2+ channel complex, indicating that the synergistic increase is caused by the Ca2+ influx from the extracellular medium via the Cch1-Yam8 complex. Furthermore, deletion of Pmk1 MAPK abolished the Ca2+ influx, and overexpression of the constitutively active Pek1 MAPKK enhanced the influx. These results suggest that Pmk1 MAPK and calcineurin positively and negatively regulate the Cch1-Yam8 complex, respectively, via modulating the balance between phosphorylation and dyphosphorylation state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Ma
- Division of Molecular Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
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25
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Stallaert W, Christopoulos A, Bouvier M. Ligand functional selectivity and quantitative pharmacology at G protein-coupled receptors. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2011; 6:811-25. [DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2011.586691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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26
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Bakayan A, Vaquero CF, Picazo F, Llopis J. Red fluorescent protein-aequorin fusions as improved bioluminescent Ca2+ reporters in single cells and mice. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19520. [PMID: 21589654 PMCID: PMC3092744 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2010] [Accepted: 04/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioluminescence recording of Ca(2+) signals with the photoprotein aequorin does not require radiative energy input and can be measured with a low background and good temporal resolution. Shifting aequorin emission to longer wavelengths occurs naturally in the jellyfish Aequorea victoria by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) to the green fluorescent protein (GFP). This process has been reproduced in the molecular fusions GFP-aequorin and monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP)-aequorin, but the latter showed limited transfer efficiency. Fusions with strong red emission would facilitate the simultaneous imaging of Ca(2+) in various cell compartments. In addition, they would also serve to monitor Ca(2+) in living organisms since red light is able to cross animal tissues with less scattering. In this study, aequorin was fused to orange and various red fluorescent proteins to identify the best acceptor in red emission bands. Tandem-dimer Tomato-aequorin (tdTA) showed the highest BRET efficiency (largest energy transfer critical distance R(0)) and percentage of counts in the red band of all the fusions studied. In addition, red fluorophore maturation of tdTA within cells was faster than that of other fusions. Light output was sufficient to image ATP-induced Ca(2+) oscillations in single HeLa cells expressing tdTA. Ca(2+) rises caused by depolarization of mouse neuronal cells in primary culture were also recorded, and changes in fine neuronal projections were spatially resolved. Finally, it was also possible to visualize the Ca(2+) activity of HeLa cells injected subcutaneously into mice, and Ca(2+) signals after depositing recombinant tdTA in muscle or the peritoneal cavity. Here we report that tdTA is the brightest red bioluminescent Ca(2+) sensor reported to date and is, therefore, a promising probe to study Ca(2+) dynamics in whole organisms or tissues expressing the transgene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adil Bakayan
- Facultad de Medicina and Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB), University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Cecilia F. Vaquero
- Facultad de Medicina and Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB), University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Fernando Picazo
- Facultad de Medicina and Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB), University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Juan Llopis
- Facultad de Medicina and Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB), University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
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Jiang T, Xing B, Rao J. Recent developments of biological reporter technology for detecting gene expression. Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev 2011; 25:41-75. [PMID: 21412349 DOI: 10.5661/bger-25-41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Reporter gene assay is an invaluable tool for both biomedical and pharmaceutical researches to monitor cellular events associated with gene expression, regulation and signal transduction. On the basis of the alternations in reporter gene activities mediated by attaching response elements to these reporter genes, one sensitive, reliable and convenient assay can be provided to efficiently report the activation of particular messenger cascades and their effects on gene expression and regulations inside cells or living subjects. In this review, we introduce the current status of several commonly used reporter genes such as chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), β-galactosidase (β-gal), luciferases, green fluorescent protein (GFP), and β-lactamase. Their applications in monitoring gene expression and regulations in vitro and in vivo will be summarized. With the development of advanced technology in gene expression and optical imaging modalities, reporter genes will become increasingly important in real-time detection of the gene expression at the single-cell level. This synergy will make it possible to understand the molecular basis of diseases, track the effectiveness of pharmaceuticals, monitor the response to therapies and evaluate the development process of new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Jiang
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
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28
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Drobac E, Tricoire L, Chaffotte AF, Guiot E, Lambolez B. Calcium imaging in single neurons from brain slices using bioluminescent reporters. J Neurosci Res 2010; 88:695-711. [PMID: 19798746 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.22249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Responses of three bioluminescent Ca(2+) sensors were studied in vitro and in neurons from brain slices. These sensors consisted of tandem fusions of green fluorescent protein (GFP) with the photoproteins aequorin, obelin, or a mutant aequorin with high Ca(2+) sensitivity. Kinetics of GFP-obelin responses to a saturating Ca(2+) concentration were faster than those of GFP-aequorin at all Mg(2+) concentrations tested, whereas GFP-mutant aequorin responses were the slowest. GFP-photoproteins were efficiently expressed in pyramidal neurons following overnight incubation of acute neocortical slices with recombinant Sindbis viruses. Expression of GFP-photoproteins did not result in conspicuous modification of morphological or electrophysiological properties of layer V pyramidal cells. The three sensors allowed the detection of Ca(2+) transients associated with action potential discharge in single layer V pyramidal neurons. In these neurons, depolarizing steps of increasing amplitude elicited action potential discharge of increasing frequency. Bioluminescent responses of the three sensors were similar in several respects: detection thresholds, an exponential increase with stimulus intensity, photoprotein consumptions, and kinetic properties. These responses, which were markedly slower than kinetics measured in vitro, increased linearly during the action potential discharge and decayed exponentially at the end of the discharge. Onset slopes increased with stimulus intensity, whereas decay kinetics remained constant. Dendritic light emission contributed to whole-field responses, but the spatial resolution of bioluminescence imaging was limited to the soma and proximal apical dendrite. Nonetheless, the high signal-to-background ratio of GFP-photoproteins allowed the detection of Ca(2+) transients associated with 5 action potentials in single neurons upon whole-field bioluminescence recordings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Drobac
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, Neurobiologie des Processus Adaptatifs, CNRS UMR 7102, Paris, France
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29
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Webb SE, Rogers KL, Karplus E, Miller AL. The use of aequorins to record and visualize Ca(2+) dynamics: from subcellular microdomains to whole organisms. Methods Cell Biol 2010; 99:263-300. [PMID: 21035690 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-374841-6.00010-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
In this chapter, we describe the practical aspects of measuring [Ca(2+)] transients that are generated in a particular cytoplasmic domain, or within a specific organelle or its periorganellar environment, using bioluminescent, genetically encoded and targeted Ca(2+) reporters, especially those based on apoaequorin. We also list examples of the organisms, tissues, and cells that have been transfected with apoaequorin or an apoaequorin-BRET complex, as well as of the organelles and subcellular domains that have been specifically targeted with these bioluminescent Ca(2+) reporters. In addition, we summarize the various techniques used to load the apoaequorin cofactor, coelenterazine, and its analogs into cells, tissues, and intact organisms, and we describe recent advances in the detection and imaging technologies that are currently being used to measure and visualize the luminescence generated by the aequorin-Ca(2+) reaction within these various cytoplasmic domains and subcellular compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Webb
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Section and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Division of Life Science, HKUST, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, PR China
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30
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Martin JR. In VivoBrain Imaging: Fluorescence or Bioluminescence, Which to Choose? J Neurogenet 2009; 22:285-307. [DOI: 10.1080/01677060802298517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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31
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Roda A, Guardigli M, Michelini E, Mirasoli M. Nanobioanalytical luminescence: Förster-type energy transfer methods. Anal Bioanal Chem 2008; 393:109-23. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-008-2435-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2008] [Revised: 09/22/2008] [Accepted: 09/23/2008] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Rogers KL, Picaud S, Roncali E, Boisgard R, Colasante C, Stinnakre J, Tavitian B, Brûlet P. Non-invasive in vivo imaging of calcium signaling in mice. PLoS One 2007; 2:e974. [PMID: 17912353 PMCID: PMC1991622 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2007] [Accepted: 09/05/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid and transient elevations of Ca(2+) within cellular microdomains play a critical role in the regulation of many signal transduction pathways. Described here is a genetic approach for non-invasive detection of localized Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]) rises in live animals using bioluminescence imaging (BLI). Transgenic mice conditionally expressing the Ca(2+)-sensitive bioluminescent reporter GFP-aequorin targeted to the mitochondrial matrix were studied in several experimental paradigms. Rapid [Ca(2+)] rises inside the mitochondrial matrix could be readily detected during single-twitch muscle contractions. Whole body patterns of [Ca(2+)] were monitored in freely moving mice and during epileptic seizures. Furthermore, variations in mitochondrial [Ca(2+)] correlated to behavioral components of the sleep/wake cycle were observed during prolonged whole body recordings of newborn mice. This non-invasive imaging technique opens new avenues for the analysis of Ca(2+) signaling whenever whole body information in freely moving animals is desired, in particular during behavioral and developmental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L. Rogers
- Unité d'Embryologie Moléculaire, CNRS URA 2578, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- CEA, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot, Inserm, U 803, Imagerie de l'expression des gènes, Orsay, France
| | - Sandrine Picaud
- Unité d'Embryologie Moléculaire, CNRS URA 2578, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Emilie Roncali
- CEA, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot, Inserm, U 803, Imagerie de l'expression des gènes, Orsay, France
| | - Raphaël Boisgard
- CEA, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot, Inserm, U 803, Imagerie de l'expression des gènes, Orsay, France
| | - Cesare Colasante
- Unité d'Embryologie Moléculaire, CNRS URA 2578, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Jacques Stinnakre
- Unité d'Embryologie Moléculaire, CNRS URA 2578, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Bertrand Tavitian
- CEA, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot, Inserm, U 803, Imagerie de l'expression des gènes, Orsay, France
| | - Philippe Brûlet
- Unité d'Embryologie Moléculaire, CNRS URA 2578, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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Martin JR, Rogers KL, Chagneau C, Brûlet P. In vivo bioluminescence imaging of Ca signalling in the brain of Drosophila. PLoS One 2007; 2:e275. [PMID: 17342209 PMCID: PMC1803028 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2007] [Accepted: 02/14/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Many different cells' signalling pathways are universally regulated by Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+] rises that have highly variable amplitudes and kinetic properties. Optical imaging can provide the means to characterise both the temporal and spatial aspects of Ca2+ signals involved in neurophysiological functions. New methods for in vivo imaging of Ca2+ signalling in the brain of Drosophila are required for probing the different dynamic aspects of this system. In studies here, whole brain Ca2+ imaging was performed on transgenic flies with targeted expression of the bioluminescent Ca2+ reporter GFP-aequorin (GA) in different neural structures. A photon counting based technique was used to undertake continuous recordings of cytosolic [Ca2+] over hours. Time integrals for reconstructing images and analysis of the data were selected offline according to the signal intensity. This approach allowed a unique Ca2+ response associated with cholinergic transmission to be identified by whole brain imaging of specific neural structures. Notably, [Ca2+] transients in the Mushroom Bodies (MBs) following nicotine stimulation were accompanied by a delayed secondary [Ca2+] rise (up to 15 min. later) in the MB lobes. The delayed response was sensitive to thapsigargin, suggesting a role for intra-cellular Ca2+ stores. Moreover, it was reduced in dunce mutant flies, which are impaired in learning and memory. Bioluminescence imaging is therefore useful for studying Ca2+ signalling pathways and for functional mapping of neurophysiological processes in the fly brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-René Martin
- Equipe: Bases Neurales des Comportements chez la Drosophile, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire (NBCM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Unité UPR-9040, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: (J−RM); (PB)
| | - Kelly L. Rogers
- Unité d'Embryologie Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), URA 2578, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Carine Chagneau
- Neurobiologie de l'Apprentissage, de la Mémoire et de la Communication (NAMC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR-8620, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France
| | - Philippe Brûlet
- Unité d'Embryologie Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), URA 2578, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: (J−RM); (PB)
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Rudenko NV, Sinegina LL, Arzhanov MA, Ksenzenko VN, Ivashina TV, Morenkov OS, Shaloiko LA, Vinokurov LM. Barnase-barstar high affinity interaction phenomenon as the base for the heterogenous bioluminescence pseudorabies virus' immunoassay. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 70:605-11. [PMID: 17355894 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbbm.2007.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2006] [Accepted: 01/28/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The effective new variant of "sandwich" bioluminescent enzyme immunoassay (BEIA) for the sensitive detection of glycoprotein B (gB) of pseudorabies virus (PrV) was presently developed. The high affinity interaction of barnase-barstar protein pair and photoprotein obelin as bioluminescent marker were for the first time successfully applied to BEIA development. Preliminary the two monoclonal antibodies, 11/5 and 34/2, were raised against gB for ELISA PrV detection. Presently we used the same immuno-"sandwich" principle for BEIA. To do this the two different bioconjugates were elaborated. Recombinant barnase was chemically conjugated with monoclonal anti-PrV's gB IgG, and also barstar was fused in frame to obelin. The characteristics of BEIA method have been compared to ELISA PrV detection. We have shown the proposed here gB-BEIA was 40-fold more sensitive as opposed to gB-ELISA test. The construction might have a broad promise in multiple potential immunological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia V Rudenko
- Branch of Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, RAS, 142290, Pushchino, Russia
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Curie T, Rogers KL, Colasante C, BrûClet P. Red-Shifted Aequorin-Based Bioluminescent Reporters for in Vivo Imaging of Ca
2+
Signaling. Mol Imaging 2007. [DOI: 10.2310/7290.2006.00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Curie
- From the Unité d'Embryologie Moléculaire, CNRS URA 2578, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Kelly L. Rogers
- From the Unité d'Embryologie Moléculaire, CNRS URA 2578, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Cesare Colasante
- From the Unité d'Embryologie Moléculaire, CNRS URA 2578, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Philippe BrûClet
- From the Unité d'Embryologie Moléculaire, CNRS URA 2578, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
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Rizzuto R, Pozzan T. Microdomains of intracellular Ca2+: molecular determinants and functional consequences. Physiol Rev 2006; 86:369-408. [PMID: 16371601 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00004.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 882] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium ions are ubiquitous and versatile signaling molecules, capable of decoding a variety of extracellular stimuli (hormones, neurotransmitters, growth factors, etc.) into markedly different intracellular actions, ranging from contraction to secretion, from proliferation to cell death. The key to this pleiotropic role is the complex spatiotemporal organization of the [Ca(2+)] rise evoked by extracellular agonists, which allows selected effectors to be recruited and specific actions to be initiated. In this review, we discuss the structural and functional bases that generate the subcellular heterogeneity in cellular Ca(2+) levels at rest and under stimulation. This complex choreography requires the concerted action of many different players; the central role is, of course, that of the calcium ion, with the main supporting characters being all the entities responsible for moving Ca(2+) between different compartments, while the cellular architecture provides a determining framework within which all the players have their exits and their entrances. In particular, we concentrate on the molecular mechanisms that lead to the generation of cytoplasmic Ca(2+) microdomains, focusing on their different subcellular location, mechanism of generation, and functional role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Rizzuto
- Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, and Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Inflammation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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Chudakov DM, Lukyanov S, Lukyanov KA. Fluorescent proteins as a toolkit for in vivo imaging. Trends Biotechnol 2005; 23:605-13. [PMID: 16269193 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2005.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 345] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2005] [Revised: 07/21/2005] [Accepted: 10/12/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria, and its mutant variants, are the only fully genetically encoded fluorescent probes available and they have proved to be excellent tools for labeling living specimens. Since 1999, numerous GFP homologues have been discovered in Anthozoa, Hydrozoa and Copepoda species, demonstrating the broad evolutionary and spectral diversity of this protein family. Mutagenic studies gave rise to diversified and optimized variants of fluorescent proteins, which have never been encountered in nature. This article gives an overview of the GFP-like proteins developed to date and their most common applications to study living specimens using fluorescence microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitriy M Chudakov
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia
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38
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Abstract
Luciferase enzymes catalyze the emission of light from a substrate -- a phenomenon known as bioluminescence -- and have been employed as reporters of many biological functions. Luminescent reporters are much dimmer than fluorescent reporters, and therefore provide relatively modest spatial and temporal resolution. Yet, they are generally more sensitive and less toxic, making them particularly useful for long-term longitudinal studies of living cells, tissues and whole animals. Bioluminescence imaging has proven useful for detecting protein-protein interactions, for tracking cells in vivo, and for monitoring the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of specific genes. Recent applications have included longitudinal monitoring of tumor progression in vivo, and monitoring circadian rhythms with single-cell resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K Welsh
- Department of Cell Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Deo SK, Mirasoli M, Daunert S. Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer from aequorin to a fluorophore: an artificial jellyfish for applications in multianalyte detection. Anal Bioanal Chem 2005; 381:1387-94. [PMID: 15731912 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-005-3081-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2004] [Revised: 01/18/2005] [Accepted: 01/19/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
In nature, the green light emission observed in the jellyfish Aequorea victoria is a result of a non-radiative energy transfer from the excited-state aequorin to the green fluorescent protein. In this work, we have modified the photoprotein aequorin by attaching selected fluorophores at a unique site on the protein. This will allow for in vitro transfer of bioluminescent energy from aequorin to the fluorophore thus creating an "artificial jellyfish". The fluorophores are selected such that the excitation spectrum of the fluorophore overlaps with the emission spectrum of aequorin. By modifying aequorin with different fluorophores, bioluminescent labels with different emission maxima are produced, which will allow for the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes. By examining the X-ray crystal structure of the protein, four different sites for introduction of the unique cysteine residue were evaluated. Two fluorophores with differing emission maxima were attached individually to the mutants through the sulfhydryl group of the cysteine molecule. Two of the fluorophore-labeled mutants showed a peak corresponding to fluorophore emission thus indicating resonance energy transfer from aequorin to the fluorophore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sapna K Deo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0055, USA
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Rogers KL, Stinnakre J, Agulhon C, Jublot D, Shorte SL, Kremer EJ, Brûlet P. Visualization of local Ca2+ dynamics with genetically encoded bioluminescent reporters. Eur J Neurosci 2005; 21:597-610. [PMID: 15733079 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2005.03871.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Measurements of local Ca2+ signalling at different developmental stages and/or in specific cell types is important for understanding aspects of brain functioning. The use of light excitation in fluorescence imaging can cause phototoxicity, photobleaching and auto-fluorescence. In contrast, bioluminescence does not require the input of radiative energy and can therefore be measured over long periods, with very high temporal resolution. Aequorin is a genetically encoded Ca(2+)-sensitive bioluminescent protein, however, its low quantum yield prevents dynamic measurements of Ca2+ responses in single cells. To overcome this limitation, we recently reported the bi-functional Ca2+ reporter gene, GFP-aequorin (GA), which was developed specifically to improve the light output and stability of aequorin chimeras [V. Baubet, et al., (2000) PNAS, 97, 7260-7265]. In the current study, we have genetically targeted GA to different microdomains important in synaptic transmission, including to the mitochondrial matrix, endoplasmic reticulum, synaptic vesicles and to the postsynaptic density. We demonstrate that these reporters enable 'real-time' measurements of subcellular Ca2+ changes in single mammalian neurons using bioluminescence. The high signal-to-noise ratio of these reporters is also important in that it affords the visualization of Ca2+ dynamics in cell-cell communication in neuronal cultures and tissue slices. Further, we demonstrate the utility of this approach in ex-vivo preparations of mammalian retina, a paradigm in which external light input should be controlled. This represents a novel molecular imaging approach for non-invasive monitoring of local Ca2+ dynamics and cellular communication in tissue or whole animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L Rogers
- Unité d'Embryologie Moléculaire, CNRS URA 2578, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris CEDEX 15, France
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