Liquid chromatography method for simultaneous quantification of ATP and its degradation products compatible with both UV-Vis and mass spectrometry

Fluorescence detection of adenosine triphosphate based on dimeric G-quadruplex

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a major chemical energy carrier in organisms and is involved in numerous biological processes. ATP levels are associated with many diseases, cell viability, and food freshness. Thus, it has become an important biomarker. Many strategies have been used to detect ATP. However, the problems of difficult-to-prepare materials, too much dependence on instruments, and complicated processes restrict the application of these methods. In this study, we proposed a novel ATP detection sensor. The method is based on the fluorescence enhancement effect of dimeric G-quadruplex (Di-G4) on thioflavin T (ThT). First, the cleavage of Di-G4 by S1 nuclease decreases system fluorescence. However, it can be recovered by increases in ATP concentrations, which act as an inhibitor of S1 nuclease. Under the optimized conditions, a good linear relationship was observed between fluorescence intensity and ATP concentrations within the range of 0.5-120 µM. The detection limit was 245 nM. The method was utilized to measure the ATP content in apples and compared with ATP assay kits, resulting in satisfactory results.

Higher AMPK activation in mouse oxidative compared with glycolytic muscle does not correlate with LKB1 or CaMKKβ expression

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an energy-sensing serine/threonine kinase involved in metabolic regulation. It is phosphorylated by the upstream liver kinase B1 (LKB1) or calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase kinase 2 (CaMKKβ). In cultured cells, AMPK activation correlates with LKB1 activity. The phosphorylation activates AMPK, shifting metabolism toward catabolism and promoting mitogenesis. In muscles, inactivity reduces AMPK activation, shifting the phenotype of oxidative muscles toward a more glycolytic profile. Here, we compared the basal level of AMPK activation in glycolytic and oxidative muscles and analyzed whether this relates to LKB1 or CaMKKβ. Using Western blotting, we assessed AMPK expression and phosphorylation in soleus, gastrocnemius (GAST), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and heart from C57BL6J mice. We also assessed LKB1 and CaMKKβ expression, and CaMKKβ activity in tissue homogenates. AMPK activation was higher in oxidative (soleus and heart) than in glycolytic muscles (gastrocnemius and EDL). This correlated with AMPK α1-isoform expression, but not LKB1 and CaMKKβ. LKB1 expression was sex dependent and lower in male than female muscles. CaMKKβ expression was very low in skeletal muscles and did not phosphorylate AMPK in muscle lysates. The higher AMPK activation in oxidative muscles is in line with the fact that activated AMPK maintains an oxidative phenotype. However, this could not be explained by LKB1 and CaMKKβ. These results suggest that the regulation of AMPK activation is more complex in muscle than in cultured cells. As AMPK has been proposed as a therapeutic target for several diseases, future research should consider AMPK isoform expression and localization, and energetic compartmentalization.NEW & NOTEWORTHY It is important to understand how AMP-activated kinase, AMPK, is regulated, as it is a potential therapeutic target for several diseases. AMPK is activated by liver kinase B1, LKB1, and calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase kinase 2, CaMKKβ. In cultured cells, AMPK activation correlates with LKB1 expression. In contrast, we show that AMPK-activation was higher in oxidative than glycolytic muscle, without correlating with LKB1 or CaMKKβ expression. Thus, AMPK regulation is more complex in highly compartmentalized muscle cells.

Metal-organic framework-based SERS chips enable in situ and sensitive detection of dissolved hydrogen sulfide in natural water: Towards a bring-back-chip mode for field analysis

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in natural water plays an important role in carbon and sulfur cycles in biosphere. Current detection protocol is complicated, which need to "bring back water" to lab followed by gas chromatograph analysis. In situ, field detection is still challenging. Herein, a portable, sensitive surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) chip was proposed for in situ H2S sampling and SERS signal stabilizing, enabling a "bring back chip" manner for lab analysis. The SERS chip was composed of single core-shell gold nanorod-ZIF-8 framework (Au NR@ZIF-8) nanoparticle. Relying on headspace adsorption, evaporated H2S was enriched in the ZIF-8 shell and then reacted with Au NR, resulting in the weakening of the Au-Br bond Raman peak (175 cm-1) and the appearance of the Au-S bond Raman peak (273 cm-1). The SERS signal reached equilibrium in 10 min. The detection range of H2S was 0.1-2000 μg/L and limit of detection was 0.098 μg/L. SERS signal was not interfered by normal volatile gases. Moreover, SERS signal of a reacted chip was stable at an ambient condition, allowing for in situ sampling and bring-back detection. The applicability of the chip was verified by dynamic H2S monitoring during artificial black-odor water evolution, and in-field quantitative analysis of H2S content in river water and sediment. Finally, the chip was sealed in a waterproof breathable membrane device, which realized the detection of vertical profiles of H2S in the river. This work provided a promising tool for field analysis of H2S in natural environments.

Sucla2 Knock-Out in Skeletal Muscle Yields Mouse Model of Mitochondrial Myopathy With Muscle Type-Specific Phenotypes

BACKGROUND

Pathogenic variants in subunits of succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS) are associated with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy in humans. SCS catalyses the conversion of succinyl-CoA to succinate coupled with substrate-level phosphorylation of either ADP or GDP in the TCA cycle. This report presents a muscle-specific conditional knock-out (KO) mouse model of Sucla2, the ADP-specific beta subunit of SCS, generating a novel in vivo model of mitochondrial myopathy.

METHODS

The mouse model was generated using the Cre-Lox system, with the human skeletal actin (HSA) promoter driving Cre-recombination of a CRISPR-Cas9-generated Sucla2 floxed allele within skeletal muscle. Inactivation of Sucla2 was validated using RT-qPCR and western blot, and both enzyme activity and serum metabolites were quantified by mass spectrometry. To characterize the model in vivo, whole-body phenotyping was conducted, with mice undergoing a panel of strength and locomotor behavioural assays. Additionally, ex vivo contractility experiments were performed on the soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles. SOL and EDL cryosections were also subject to imaging analyses to assess muscle fibre-specific phenotypes.

RESULTS

Molecular validation confirmed 68% reduction of Sucla2 transcript within the mutant skeletal muscle (p < 0.001) and 95% functionally reduced SUCLA2 protein (p < 0.0001). By 3 weeks of age, Sucla2 KO mice were 44% the size of controls by body weight (p < 0.0001). Mutant mice also exhibited 34%-40% reduced grip strength (p < 0.01) and reduced spontaneous exercise, spending about 88% less cumulative time on a running wheel (p < 0.0001). Contractile function was also perturbed in a muscle-specific manner; although no genotype-specific deficiencies were seen in EDL function, SUCLA2-deficient SOL muscles generated 40% less specific tetanic force (p < 0.0001), alongside slower contraction and relaxation rates (p < 0.001). Similarly, a SOL-specific threefold increase in mitochondria (p < 0.0001) was observed, with qualitatively increased staining for both COX and SDH, and the proportion of Type 1 myosin heavy chain expressing fibres within the SOL was nearly doubled (95% increase, p < 0.0001) in the Sucla2 KO mice compared with that in controls.

CONCLUSIONS

SUCLA2 loss within murine skeletal muscle yields a model of SCS-deficient mitochondrial myopathy with reduced body weight, muscle weakness and exercise intolerance. Physiological and morphological analyses of hindlimb muscles showed remarkable differences in ex vivo function and cellular consequences between the EDL and SOL muscles, with SOL muscles significantly more impacted by Sucla2 inactivation. This novel model will provide an invaluable tool for investigations of muscle-specific and fibre type-specific pathogenic mechanisms to better understand SCS-deficient myopathy.

Current insights in ultra-rare adenylosuccinate synthetase 1 myopathy - meeting report on the First Clinical and Scientific Conference. 3 June 2024, National Centre for Advancing Translational Science, Rockville, Maryland, the United States of America

The inaugural Clinical and Scientific Conference on Adenylosuccinate Synthetase 1 (ADSS1) myopathy was held on June 3, 2024, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) in Rockville, Maryland, USA.

ADSS1 myopathy is an ultra-rare, inherited neuromuscular disease.

Features of geographical patient clusters in South Korea, Japan, India and the United States of America were characterised and discussed.

Pre-clinical animal and cell-based models were discussed, providing unique insight into disease pathogenesis.

The biochemical pathogenesis was discussed, and potential therapeutic targets identified.

Potential clinical and pre-clinical biomarkers were discussed.

An ADSS1 myopathy consortium was established and a roadmap for therapeutic development created.

The Loss of Tafazzin Transacetylase Activity Is Sufficient to Drive Testicular Infertility

Barth syndrome (BTHS) is a rare, infantile-onset, X-linked mitochondriopathy exhibiting a variable presentation of failure to thrive, growth insufficiency, skeletal myopathy, neutropenia, and heart anomalies due to mitochondrial dysfunction secondary to inherited TAFAZZIN transacetylase mutations. Although not reported in BTHS patients, male infertility is observed in several Tafazzin (Taz) mouse alleles and in a Drosophila mutant. Herein, we examined the male infertility phenotype in a BTHS-patient-derived D75H point-mutant knockin mouse (TazPM) allele that expresses a mutant protein lacking transacetylase activity. Neonatal and adult TazPM testes were hypoplastic, and their epididymis lacked sperm. Histology and biomarker analysis revealed TazPM spermatogenesis is arrested prior to sexual maturation due to an inability to undergo meiosis and the generation of haploid spermatids. Moreover, TazPM testicular mitochondria were found to be structurally abnormal, and there was an elevation of p53-dependent apoptosis within TazPM seminiferous tubules. Immunoblot analysis revealed that TazPM gamete genome integrity was compromised, and both histone γ-H2Ax and Nucleoside diphosphate kinase-5 protein expression were absent in juvenile TazPM testes when compared to controls. We demonstrate that Taz-mediated transacetylase activity is required within mitochondria for normal spermatogenesis, and its absence results in meiotic arrest. We hypothesize that elevated TazPM spermatogonial apoptosis causes azoospermia and complete infertility.

Coordination between the eIF2 kinase GCN2 and p53 signaling supports purine metabolism and the progression of prostate cancer

Cancers invoke various pathways to mitigate external and internal stresses to continue their growth and progression. We previously reported that the eIF2 kinase GCN2 and the integrated stress response are constitutively active in prostate cancer (PCa) and are required to maintain amino acid homeostasis needed to fuel tumor growth. However, although loss of GCN2 function reduces intracellular amino acid availability and PCa growth, there is no appreciable cell death. Here, we discovered that the loss of GCN2 in PCa induces prosenescent p53 signaling. This p53 activation occurred through GCN2 inhibition-dependent reductions in purine nucleotides that impaired ribosome biogenesis and, consequently, induced the impaired ribosome biogenesis checkpoint. p53 signaling induced cell cycle arrest and senescence that promoted the survival of GCN2-deficient PCa cells. Depletion of GCN2 combined with loss of p53 or pharmacological inhibition of de novo purine biosynthesis reduced proliferation and enhanced cell death in PCa cell lines, organoids, and xenograft models. Our findings highlight the coordinated interplay between GCN2 and p53 regulation during nutrient stress and provide insight into how they could be targeted in developing new therapeutic strategies for PCa.

Small Molecule Detection with Ligation-Dependent Light-Up Aptamer Transcriptional Amplification

ATP and NAD+ are small biomolecules that participate in a variety of physiological functions and are considered as potential biomarkers for disease diagnosis. In this study, we developed a ligation-dependent light-up aptamer transcriptional amplification assay for the sensitive and selective detection of ATP and NAD+. This assay relies on a specific DNA ligase that catalyzes the ligation of a nicked DNA template in the presence of a specific small molecule. We prepared a nicked template consisting of a duplex fragment with an overhang for the T7 promoter region and a single-stranded DNA with a complementary overhang sequence for the Broccoli aptamer. The nicked template was connected using a DNA ligase in the presence of a specific small molecule. The ligation product was subjected to in vitro transcription to amplify the light-up aptamer-mediated fluorescence signals. By integrating the target-dependent ligation and transcription amplification, significant signal amplification was achieved with 5.9 and 142 pM detection limits for ATP and NAD+, respectively. Moreover, good selectivity to discriminate between the target and its analogues was also realized. The application of this method to biological samples was evaluated using human serum and exhibited excellent recovery values.

A Barth Syndrome Patient-Derived D75H Point Mutation in TAFAZZIN Drives Progressive Cardiomyopathy in Mice

Cardiomyopathy is the predominant defect in Barth syndrome (BTHS) and is caused by a mutation of the X-linked Tafazzin (TAZ) gene, which encodes an enzyme responsible for remodeling mitochondrial cardiolipin. Despite the known importance of mitochondrial dysfunction in BTHS, how specific TAZ mutations cause diverse BTHS heart phenotypes remains poorly understood. We generated a patient-tailored CRISPR/Cas9 knock-in mouse allele (TazPM) that phenocopies BTHS clinical traits. As TazPM males express a stable mutant protein, we assessed cardiac metabolic dysfunction and mitochondrial changes and identified temporally altered cardioprotective signaling effectors. Specifically, juvenile TazPM males exhibit mild left ventricular dilation in systole but have unaltered fatty acid/amino acid metabolism and normal adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This occurs in concert with a hyperactive p53 pathway, elevation of cardioprotective antioxidant pathways, and induced autophagy-mediated early senescence in juvenile TazPM hearts. However, adult TazPM males exhibit chronic heart failure with reduced growth and ejection fraction, cardiac fibrosis, reduced ATP, and suppressed fatty acid/amino acid metabolism. This biphasic changeover from a mild-to-severe heart phenotype coincides with p53 suppression, downregulation of cardioprotective antioxidant pathways, and the onset of terminal senescence in adult TazPM hearts. Herein, we report a BTHS genotype/phenotype correlation and reveal that absent Taz acyltransferase function is sufficient to drive progressive cardiomyopathy.

PEGylated AIEgens for dual sensing of ATP and H2S and cancer cells photodynamic therapy

Fluorescent sensors have been widely applied for biosensing, but probes for both multiple analytes sensing and photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect are less reported. In this article, we reported three AIE-based probes anchored with different mass-weight polyethylene glycol (PEG) tails, i.e., TPE-PEG160, TPE-PEG350, and TPE-PEG750, for both adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) detection and also cancer cells photodynamic therapy. TPE-PEGns (n = 160, 350 and 750) contain the tetraphenylethylene-based fluorophore core, the pyridinium and amide anion binding sites, the H2S cleavable disulfide bond, and the hydrophilic PEG chain. They exhibit a good amphiphilic property and can self-assemble nona-aggregation with a moderated red emission in an aqueous solution. Importantly, the size of aggregation, photophysical property, sensing ability and photosensitivity of these amphiphilic probes can be controlled by tuning the PEG chain length. Moreover, the selected probe TPE-PEG160 has been successfully used to detect environmental H2S and image ATP levels in living cells, and TPE-PEG750 has been used for photodynamic therapy of tumor cells under light irradiation.

Evaluation of purine-nucleoside degrading ability and in vivo uric acid lowering of Streptococcus thermophilus IDCC 2201, a novel antiuricemia strain

This study evaluated 15 lactic acid bacteria with a focus on their ability to degrade inosine and hypo-xanthine-which are the intermediates in purine metabolism-for the management of hyperuricemia and gout. After a preliminary screening based on HPLC, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CR1 and Lactiplantibacillus pentosus GZ1 were found to have the highest nucleoside degrading rates, and they were therefore selected for further characterization. S. thermophilus IDCC 2201, which possessed the hpt gene encoding hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) and exhibited purine degradation, was also selected for further characterization. These three selected strains were examined in terms of their probiotic effect on lowering serum uric acid in a Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model of potassium oxonate (PO)-induced hyperuricemia. Among these three strains, the level of serum uric acid was most reduced by S. thermophilus IDCC 2201 (p < 0.05). Further, analysis of the microbiome showed that administration of S. thermophlilus IDCC 2201 led to a significant difference in gut microbiota composition compared to that in the group administered with PO-induced hyperuricemia. Moreover, intestinal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were found to be significantly increased. Altogether, the results of this work indicate that S. thermophilus IDCC 2201 lowers uric acid levels by degrading purine-nucleosides and also restores intestinal flora and SCFAs, ultimately suggesting that S. thermophilus IDCC 2201 is a promising candidate for use as an adjuvant treatment in patients with hyperuricemia.

Uric acid formation is driven by crosstalk between skeletal muscle and other cell types

Hyperuricemia is implicated in numerous pathologies, but the mechanisms underlying uric acid production are poorly understood. Using a combination of mouse studies, cell culture studies, and human serum samples, we sought to determine the cellular source of uric acid. In mice, fasting and glucocorticoid treatment increased serum uric acid and uric acid release from ex vivo-incubated skeletal muscle. In vitro, glucocorticoids and the transcription factor FoxO3 increased purine nucleotide degradation and purine release from differentiated muscle cells, which coincided with the transcriptional upregulation of AMP deaminase 3, a rate-limiting enzyme in adenine nucleotide degradation. Heavy isotope tracing during coculture experiments revealed that oxidation of muscle purines to uric acid required their transfer from muscle cells to a cell type that expresses xanthine oxidoreductase, such as endothelial cells. Last, in healthy women, matched for age and body composition, serum uric acid was greater in individuals scoring below average on standard physical function assessments. Together, these studies reveal skeletal muscle purine degradation is an underlying driver of uric acid production, with the final step of uric acid production occurring primarily in a nonmuscle cell type. This suggests that skeletal muscle fiber purine degradation may represent a therapeutic target to reduce serum uric acid and treat numerous pathologies.

Mitochondrial-Targeted AIE-Active Fluorescent Probe Based on Tetraphenylethylene Fluorophore with Dual Positive Charge Recognition Sites for Monitoring ATP in Cells

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), as an important intracellular energy currency produced in mitochondria, is closely related to various diseases in living organisms. Currently, the biological application of AIE fluorophore as a fluorescent probe for ATP detection in mitochondria is rarely reported. Herein, D-π-A and D-A structure-based tetraphenylethylene (TPE) fluorophores were employed to synthesize six different ATP probes (P1-P6), and the phenylboronic acid groups and dual positive charge sites of probes could interact with the vicinal diol of ribose and negatively charged triphosphate structure of ATP, respectively. However, P1 and P4 with a boronic acid group and a positive charge site had poor selectivity for ATP detection. In contrast, P2, P3, P5, and P6 with dual positive charge sites exhibited better selectivity than P1 and P4. In particular, P2 had more advantages of high sensitivity, selectivity, and good time stability for ATP detection than P3, P5, and P6, which was ascribed to its D-π-A structure, linker 1 (1,4-bis(bromomethyl)benzene), and dual positive charge recognition sites. Then, P2 was employed to detect ATP, and it exhibited a low detection limit of 3.62 μM. Moreover, P2 showed utility in the monitoring of mitochondrial ATP level fluctuations.

Skeletal muscle contraction kinetics and AMPK responses are modulated by the adenine nucleotide degrading enzyme AMPD1

AMP deaminase 1 (AMPD1; AMP → IMP + NH3) deficiency in skeletal muscle results in an inordinate accumulation of AMP during strenuous exercise, with some but not all studies reporting premature fatigue and reduced work capacity. To further explore these inconsistencies, we investigated the extent to which AMPD1 deficiency impacts skeletal muscle contractile function of different muscles and the [AMP]/AMPK responses to different intensities of fatiguing contractions. To reduce AMPD1 protein, we electroporated either an inhibitory AMPD1-specific miRNA encoding plasmid or a control plasmid, into contralateral EDL and SOL muscles of C57BL/6J mice (n = 48 males, 24 females). After 10 days, isolated muscles were assessed for isometric twitch, tetanic, and repeated fatiguing contraction characteristics using one of four (None, LOW, MOD, and HIGH) duty cycles. AMPD1 knockdown (∼35%) had no effect on twitch force or twitch contraction/relaxation kinetics. However, during maximal tetanic contractions, AMPD1 knockdown impaired both time-to-peak tension (TPT) and half-relaxation time (½ RT) in EDL, but not SOL muscle. In addition, AMPD1 knockdown in EDL exaggerated the AMP response to contractions at LOW (+100%) and MOD (+54%) duty cycles, but not at HIGH duty cycle. This accumulation of AMP was accompanied by increased AMPK phosphorylation (Thr-172; LOW +25%, MOD +34%) and downstream substrate phosphorylation (LOW +15%, MOD +17%). These responses to AMPD1 knockdown were not different between males and females. Our findings demonstrate that AMPD1 plays a role in maintaining skeletal muscle contractile function and regulating the energetic responses associated with repeated contractions in a muscle- but not sex-specific manner.NEW & NOTEWORTHY AMP deaminase 1 (AMPD1) deficiency has been associated with premature muscle fatigue and reduced work capacity, but this finding has been inconsistent. Herein, we report that although AMPD1 knockdown in mouse skeletal muscle does not change maximal isometric force, it negatively impacts muscle function by slowing contraction and relaxation kinetics in EDL muscle but not SOL muscle. Furthermore, AMPD1 knockdown differentially affects the [AMP]/AMPK responses to fatiguing contractions in an intensity-dependent manner in EDL muscle.

Intrinsic adaptations in OXPHOS power output and reduced tumorigenicity characterize doxorubicin resistant ovarian cancer cells

Although the development of chemoresistance is multifactorial, active chemotherapeutic efflux driven by upregulations in ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters are commonplace. Chemotherapeutic efflux pumps, like ABCB1, couple drug efflux to ATP hydrolysis and thus potentially elevate cellular demand for ATP resynthesis. Elevations in both mitochondrial content and cellular respiration are common phenotypes accompanying many models of cancer cell chemoresistance, including those dependent on ABCB1. The present study set out to characterize potential mitochondrial remodeling commensurate with ABCB1-dependent chemoresistance, as well as investigate the impact of ABCB1 activity on mitochondrial respiratory kinetics. To do this, comprehensive bioenergetic phenotyping was performed across ABCB1-dependent chemoresistant cell models and compared to chemosensitive controls. In doxorubicin (DOX) resistant ovarian cancer cells, the combination of both increased mitochondrial content and enhanced respiratory complex I (CI) boosted intrinsic oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) power output. With respect to ABCB1, acute ABCB1 inhibition partially normalized intact basal mitochondrial respiration between chemosensitive and chemoresistant cells, suggesting that active ABCB1 contributes to mitochondrial remodeling in favor of enhanced OXPHOS. Interestingly, while enhanced OXPHOS power output supported ABCB1 drug efflux when DOX was present, in the absence of chemotherapeutic stress, enhanced OXPHOS power output was associated with reduced tumorigenicity.