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Ramos S, Lee JC. Raman spectroscopy in the study of amyloid formation and phase separation. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:1121-1130. [PMID: 38666616 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, share a common pathological feature of amyloid structure accumulation. However, the structure-function relationship between these well-ordered, β-sheet-rich, filamentous protein deposits and disease etiology remains to be defined. Recently, an emerging hypothesis has linked phase separation, a process involved in the formation of protein condensates, to amyloid formation, suggesting that liquid protein droplets serve as loci for amyloid initiation. To elucidate how these processes contribute to disease progression, tools that can directly report on protein secondary structural changes are needed. Here, we review recent studies that have demonstrated Raman spectroscopy as a powerful vibrational technique for interrogating amyloid structures; one that offers sensitivity from the global secondary structural level to specific residues. This probe-free technique is further enhanced via coupling to a microscope, which affords structural data with spatial resolution, known as Raman spectral imaging (RSI). In vitro and in cellulo applications of RSI are discussed, highlighting studies of protein droplet aging, cellular internalization of fibrils, and Raman imaging of intracellular water. Collectively, utilization of the myriad Raman spectroscopic methods will contribute to a deeper understanding of protein conformational dynamics in the complex cellular milieu and offer potential clinical diagnostic capabilities for protein misfolding and aggregation processes in disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sashary Ramos
- Laboratory of Protein Conformation and Dynamics, Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, U.S.A
| | - Jennifer C Lee
- Laboratory of Protein Conformation and Dynamics, Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, U.S.A
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Yi HB, Lee S, Seo K, Kim H, Kim M, Lee HS. Cellular and Biophysical Applications of Genetic Code Expansion. Chem Rev 2024; 124:7465-7530. [PMID: 38753805 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Despite their diverse functions, proteins are inherently constructed from a limited set of building blocks. These compositional constraints pose significant challenges to protein research and its practical applications. Strategically manipulating the cellular protein synthesis system to incorporate novel building blocks has emerged as a critical approach for overcoming these constraints in protein research and application. In the past two decades, the field of genetic code expansion (GCE) has achieved significant advancements, enabling the integration of numerous novel functionalities into proteins across a variety of organisms. This technological evolution has paved the way for the extensive application of genetic code expansion across multiple domains, including protein imaging, the introduction of probes for protein research, analysis of protein-protein interactions, spatiotemporal control of protein function, exploration of proteome changes induced by external stimuli, and the synthesis of proteins endowed with novel functions. In this comprehensive Review, we aim to provide an overview of cellular and biophysical applications that have employed GCE technology over the past two decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Bin Yi
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungeun Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungdeok Seo
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeongjo Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Minah Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Soo Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
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Bai Y, Zhang S, Dong H, Liu Y, Liu C, Zhang X. Advanced Techniques for Detecting Protein Misfolding and Aggregation in Cellular Environments. Chem Rev 2023; 123:12254-12311. [PMID: 37874548 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Protein misfolding and aggregation, a key contributor to the progression of numerous neurodegenerative diseases, results in functional deficiencies and the creation of harmful intermediates. Detailed visualization of this misfolding process is of paramount importance for improving our understanding of disease mechanisms and for the development of potential therapeutic strategies. While in vitro studies using purified proteins have been instrumental in delivering significant insights into protein misfolding, the behavior of these proteins in the complex milieu of living cells often diverges significantly from such simplified environments. Biomedical imaging performed in cell provides cellular-level information with high physiological and pathological relevance, often surpassing the depth of information attainable through in vitro methods. This review highlights a variety of methodologies used to scrutinize protein misfolding within biological systems. This includes optical-based methods, strategies leaning on mass spectrometry, in-cell nuclear magnetic resonance, and cryo-electron microscopy. Recent advancements in these techniques have notably deepened our understanding of protein misfolding processes and the features of the resulting misfolded species within living cells. The progression in these fields promises to catalyze further breakthroughs in our comprehension of neurodegenerative disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Bai
- Department of Chemistry, Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang Province, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Shengnan Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Hui Dong
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang Province, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
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Ramos S, Lee JC. Water bend-libration as a cellular Raman imaging probe of hydration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2313133120. [PMID: 37812697 PMCID: PMC10589711 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313133120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Water is a ubiquitous and vital component of living systems. Hydration, which is the interaction between water and intracellular biomolecules, plays an important role in cellular processes. However, it is technically challenging to study water structure within cells directly. Here, we demonstrate the utility and power of the water bend-libration combination band as a unique Raman spectral imaging probe of cellular hydration. Hydration maps reveal distinct water environments within subcellular compartments (e.g., nucleolus and lipid droplet) due to the spectral sensitivity of this coupled vibrational band. Spectroscopic studies using the water bend-libration are broadly applicable, offering the potential to capture the chemical complexity of hydration in numerous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sashary Ramos
- Laboratory of Protein Conformation and Dynamics, Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Jennifer C. Lee
- Laboratory of Protein Conformation and Dynamics, Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
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Abstract
Lipids are essential cellular components forming membranes, serving as energy reserves, and acting as chemical messengers. Dysfunction in lipid metabolism and signaling is associated with a wide range of diseases including cancer and autoimmunity. Heterogeneity in cell behavior including lipid signaling is increasingly recognized as a driver of disease and drug resistance. This diversity in cellular responses as well as the roles of lipids in health and disease drive the need to quantify lipids within single cells. Single-cell lipid assays are challenging due to the small size of cells (∼1 pL) and the large numbers of lipid species present at concentrations spanning orders of magnitude. A growing number of methodologies enable assay of large numbers of lipid analytes, perform high-resolution spatial measurements, or permit highly sensitive lipid assays in single cells. Covered in this review are mass spectrometry, Raman imaging, and fluorescence-based assays including microscopy and microseparations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yao
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA; , ,
| | | | - Nancy L Allbritton
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA; , ,
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Ranasinghe JC, Wang Z, Huang S. Raman Spectroscopy on Brain Disorders: Transition from Fundamental Research to Clinical Applications. BIOSENSORS 2022; 13:27. [PMID: 36671862 PMCID: PMC9855372 DOI: 10.3390/bios13010027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Brain disorders such as brain tumors and neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are accompanied by chemical alterations in the tissues. Early diagnosis of these diseases will provide key benefits for patients and opportunities for preventive treatments. To detect these sophisticated diseases, various imaging modalities have been developed such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET). However, they provide inadequate molecule-specific information. In comparison, Raman spectroscopy (RS) is an analytical tool that provides rich information about molecular fingerprints. It is also inexpensive and rapid compared to CT, MRI, and PET. While intrinsic RS suffers from low yield, in recent years, through the adoption of Raman enhancement technologies and advanced data analysis approaches, RS has undergone significant advancements in its ability to probe biological tissues, including the brain. This review discusses recent clinical and biomedical applications of RS and related techniques applicable to brain tumors and NDs.
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