1
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Labouesse MA, Wilhelm M, Kagiampaki Z, Yee AG, Denis R, Harada M, Gresch A, Marinescu AM, Otomo K, Curreli S, Serratosa Capdevila L, Zhou X, Cola RB, Ravotto L, Glück C, Cherepanov S, Weber B, Zhou X, Katner J, Svensson KA, Fellin T, Trudeau LE, Ford CP, Sych Y, Patriarchi T. A chemogenetic approach for dopamine imaging with tunable sensitivity. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5551. [PMID: 38956067 PMCID: PMC11219860 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49442-3] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetically-encoded dopamine (DA) sensors enable high-resolution imaging of DA release, but their ability to detect a wide range of extracellular DA levels, especially tonic versus phasic DA release, is limited by their intrinsic affinity. Here we show that a human-selective dopamine receptor positive allosteric modulator (PAM) can be used to boost sensor affinity on-demand. The PAM enhances DA detection sensitivity across experimental preparations (in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo) via one-photon or two-photon imaging. In vivo photometry-based detection of optogenetically-evoked DA release revealed that DETQ administration produces a stable 31 minutes window of potentiation without effects on animal behavior. The use of the PAM revealed region-specific and metabolic state-dependent differences in tonic DA levels and enhanced single-trial detection of behavior-evoked phasic DA release in cortex and striatum. Our chemogenetic strategy can potently and flexibly tune DA imaging sensitivity and reveal multi-modal (tonic/phasic) DA signaling across preparations and imaging approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie A Labouesse
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Maria Wilhelm
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute for Neuroscience, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Andrew G Yee
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Raphaelle Denis
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, SNC and CIRCA Research groups, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, SNC and CIRCA Research groups, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Masaya Harada
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Gresch
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Kanako Otomo
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sebastiano Curreli
- Optical Approaches to Brain Function Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Xuehan Zhou
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Reto B Cola
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Luca Ravotto
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Chaim Glück
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Stanislav Cherepanov
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Bruno Weber
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Xin Zhou
- Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | | | - Tommaso Fellin
- Optical Approaches to Brain Function Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Louis-Eric Trudeau
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, SNC and CIRCA Research groups, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, SNC and CIRCA Research groups, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Christopher P Ford
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Yaroslav Sych
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Tommaso Patriarchi
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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2
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Wang Q, Wang Y, Liao FF, Zhou FM. Dopaminergic inhibition of the inwardly rectifying potassium current in direct pathway medium spiny neurons in normal and parkinsonian striatum. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.29.590632. [PMID: 38746264 PMCID: PMC11092482 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.29.590632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Despite the profound behavioral effects of the striatal dopamine (DA) activity and the inwardly rectifying potassium channel ( Kir ) being a key determinant of striatal medium spiny neuron (MSN) activity that also profoundly affects behavior, previously reported DA regulations of Kir are conflicting and incompatible with MSN function in behavior. Here we show that in normal mice with an intact striatal DA system, the predominant effect of DA activation of D1Rs in D1-MSNs is to cause a modest depolarization and increase in input resistance by inhibiting Kir, thus moderately increasing the spike outputs from behavior-promoting D1-MSNs. In parkinsonian (DA-depleted) striatum, DA increases D1-MSN intrinsic excitability more strongly than in normal striatum, consequently strongly increasing D1-MSN spike firing that is behavior-promoting; this DA excitation of D1-MSNs is stronger when the DA depletion is more severe. The DA inhibition of Kir is occluded by the Kir blocker barium chloride (BaCl 2 ). In behaving parkinsonian mice, BaCl 2 microinjection into the dorsal striatum stimulates movement but occludes the motor stimulation of D1R agonism. Taken together, our results resolve the long-standing question about what D1R agonism does to D1-MSN excitability in normal and parkinsonian striatum and strongly indicate that D1R inhibition of Kir is a key ion channel mechanism that mediates D1R agonistic behavioral stimulation in normal and parkinsonian animals.
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3
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Yokoyama T, Manita S, Uwamori H, Tajiri M, Imayoshi I, Yagishita S, Murayama M, Kitamura K, Sakamoto M. A multicolor suite for deciphering population coding of calcium and cAMP in vivo. Nat Methods 2024; 21:897-907. [PMID: 38514778 PMCID: PMC11093745 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-024-02222-9] [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: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
cAMP is a universal second messenger regulated by various upstream pathways including Ca2+ and G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). To decipher in vivo cAMP dynamics, we rationally designed cAMPinG1, a sensitive genetically encoded green cAMP indicator that outperformed its predecessors in both dynamic range and cAMP affinity. Two-photon cAMPinG1 imaging detected cAMP transients in the somata and dendritic spines of neurons in the mouse visual cortex on the order of tens of seconds. In addition, multicolor imaging with a sensitive red Ca2+ indicator RCaMP3 allowed simultaneous measurement of population patterns in Ca2+ and cAMP in hundreds of neurons. We found Ca2+-related cAMP responses that represented specific information, such as direction selectivity in vision and locomotion, as well as GPCR-related cAMP responses. Overall, our multicolor suite will facilitate analysis of the interaction between the Ca2+, GPCR and cAMP signaling at single-cell resolution both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsushi Yokoyama
- Department of Optical Neural and Molecular Physiology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
- Center for Living Systems Information Science, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
- Department of Brain Development and Regeneration, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
- Laboratory of Deconstruction of Stem Cells, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Satoshi Manita
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Uwamori
- Laboratory for Haptic Perception and Cognitive Physiology, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Mio Tajiri
- Department of Structural Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Itaru Imayoshi
- Center for Living Systems Information Science, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Brain Development and Regeneration, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Deconstruction of Stem Cells, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Sho Yagishita
- Department of Structural Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masanori Murayama
- Laboratory for Haptic Perception and Cognitive Physiology, Center for Brain Science, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kitamura
- Department of Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Masayuki Sakamoto
- Department of Optical Neural and Molecular Physiology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
- Center for Living Systems Information Science, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
- Department of Brain Development and Regeneration, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
- Laboratory of Deconstruction of Stem Cells, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
- Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kyoto, Japan.
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4
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Koveal D. Functional principles of genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors for metabolism and their quantitative use. J Neurochem 2024; 168:496-505. [PMID: 37314388 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15878] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors provide an attractive means of measuring chemical changes in single cells on fast timescales (milliseconds to seconds). While their most prominent application has been in tracking neural activity and neurotransmitter release, there has been growing interest in developing and deploying new versions of these tools to study brain metabolism. However, the careful use of these tools and the interpretation of the data they provide remain challenging. Many biosensors are subject to interferences that can alter sensor responses within a single cell or between cells, producing ambiguous results. This presents a challenge for quantitation and for our ability to accurately interpret sensor responses. This review describes current methods of sensor quantitation, with a focus on cellular interferences that commonly affect sensor performance, ways to avoid false inferences, and recent advances in sensor optimization to make them more robust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy Koveal
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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5
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Ma P, Chen P, Tilden EI, Aggarwal S, Oldenborg A, Chen Y. Fast and slow: Recording neuromodulator dynamics across both transient and chronic time scales. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadi0643. [PMID: 38381826 PMCID: PMC10881037 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi0643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Neuromodulators transform animal behaviors. Recent research has demonstrated the importance of both sustained and transient change in neuromodulators, likely due to tonic and phasic neuromodulator release. However, no method could simultaneously record both types of dynamics. Fluorescence lifetime of optical reporters could offer a solution because it allows high temporal resolution and is impervious to sensor expression differences across chronic periods. Nevertheless, no fluorescence lifetime change across the entire classes of neuromodulator sensors was previously known. Unexpectedly, we find that several intensity-based neuromodulator sensors also exhibit fluorescence lifetime responses. Furthermore, we show that lifetime measures in vivo neuromodulator dynamics both with high temporal resolution and with consistency across animals and time. Thus, we report a method that can simultaneously measure neuromodulator change over transient and chronic time scales, promising to reveal the roles of multi-time scale neuromodulator dynamics in diseases, in response to therapies, and across development and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingchuan Ma
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Peter Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Master’s Program in Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Elizabeth I. Tilden
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Samarth Aggarwal
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Anna Oldenborg
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Yao Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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6
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Tilden EI, Maduskar A, Oldenborg A, Sabatini BL, Chen Y. A Cre-dependent reporter mouse for quantitative real-time imaging of protein kinase A activity dynamics. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3054. [PMID: 38321128 PMCID: PMC10847463 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53313-8] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Intracellular signaling dynamics play a crucial role in cell function. Protein kinase A (PKA) is a key signaling molecule that has diverse functions, from regulating metabolism and brain activity to guiding development and cancer progression. We previously developed an optical reporter, FLIM-AKAR, that allows for quantitative imaging of PKA activity via fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and photometry. However, using viral infection or electroporation for the delivery of FLIM-AKAR is invasive and results in variable expression. Here, we developed a reporter mouse, FL-AK, which expresses FLIM-AKAR in a Cre-dependent manner from the ROSA26 locus. FL-AK provides robust and consistent expression of FLIM-AKAR over time. Functionally, the mouse line reports an increase in PKA activity in response to activation of both Gαs and Gαq-coupled receptors in brain slices. In vivo, FL-AK reports PKA phosphorylation in response to neuromodulator receptor activation. Thus, FL-AK provides a quantitative, robust, and flexible method to reveal the dynamics of PKA activity in diverse cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth I Tilden
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Aditi Maduskar
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Anna Oldenborg
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bernardo L Sabatini
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yao Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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7
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Tilden EI, Maduskar A, Oldenborg A, Sabatini BL, Chen Y. A Cre-dependent reporter mouse for quantitative real-time imaging of Protein Kinase A activity dynamics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.31.565028. [PMID: 37961214 PMCID: PMC10635033 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.31.565028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular signaling dynamics play a crucial role in cell function. Protein kinase A (PKA) is a key signaling molecule that has diverse functions, from regulating metabolism and brain activity to guiding development and cancer progression. We previously developed an optical reporter, FLIM-AKAR, that allows for quantitative imaging of PKA activity via fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and photometry. However, using viral infection or electroporation for the delivery of FLIM-AKAR is invasive, cannot easily target sparse or hard-to-transfect/infect cell types, and results in variable expression. Here, we developed a reporter mouse, FL-AK, which expresses FLIM-AKAR in a Cre-dependent manner from the ROSA26 locus. FL-AK provides robust and consistent expression of FLIM-AKAR over time. Functionally, the mouse line reports an increase in PKA activity in response to activation of both Gαs and Gαq-coupled receptors in brain slices. In vivo, FL-AK reports PKA phosphorylation in response to neuromodulator receptor activation. Thus, FL-AK provides a quantitative, robust, and flexible method to reveal the dynamics of PKA activity in diverse cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth I. Tilden
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Ph. D. Program in Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Aditi Maduskar
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Anna Oldenborg
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Bernardo L. Sabatini
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Yao Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
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8
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Vu CQ, Arai S. Quantitative Imaging of Genetically Encoded Fluorescence Lifetime Biosensors. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:939. [PMID: 37887132 PMCID: PMC10605767 DOI: 10.3390/bios13100939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Genetically encoded fluorescence lifetime biosensors have emerged as powerful tools for quantitative imaging, enabling precise measurement of cellular metabolites, molecular interactions, and dynamic cellular processes. This review provides an overview of the principles, applications, and advancements in quantitative imaging with genetically encoded fluorescence lifetime biosensors using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (go-FLIM). We highlighted the distinct advantages of fluorescence lifetime-based measurements, including independence from expression levels, excitation power, and focus drift, resulting in robust and reliable measurements compared to intensity-based approaches. Specifically, we focus on two types of go-FLIM, namely Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-FLIM and single-fluorescent protein (FP)-based FLIM biosensors, and discuss their unique characteristics and benefits. This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers interested in leveraging fluorescence lifetime imaging to study molecular interactions and cellular metabolism with high precision and accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Quang Vu
- WPI Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Satoshi Arai
- WPI Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
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9
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Chakraborty P, Po SS, Yabluchanskiy A, Dasari TW. Protein kinase A: A potential marker of sympathovagal imbalance in heart failure. Life Sci 2023; 331:122069. [PMID: 37666387 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122069] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Mitigation of cardiac autonomic dysregulation by neuromodulation technologies is emerging as a new therapeutic modality of heart failure (HF). This recent progress has necessitated the identification of a biomarker for the quantification of sympathovagal balance, the potential target of 'neuromodulation' strategies. The currently available autonomic nervous system assessment parameters do not truly reflect the sympathovagal balance of the ventricle. Protein kinase A (PKA) is an intracellular enzyme that plays a major role in the pathophysiology of functional and structural ventricular remodeling in HF. Interestingly, sympathetic and parasympathetic activations exert reciprocal influence on the activity of PKA. The current review attempts to evaluate the potential concept and feasibility of using in vitro assessment of PKA activity as a marker of sympathovagal balance in HF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praloy Chakraborty
- Cardiovascular Section, Department of Internal Medicine, Heart Rhythm Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Sunny S Po
- Cardiovascular Section, Department of Internal Medicine, Heart Rhythm Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Andriy Yabluchanskiy
- Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Neurodegeneration and Healthy Brain Aging Program, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Tarun W Dasari
- Cardiovascular Section, Department of Internal Medicine, Heart Rhythm Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
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10
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Day-Cooney J, Dalangin R, Zhong H, Mao T. Genetically encoded fluorescent sensors for imaging neuronal dynamics in vivo. J Neurochem 2023; 164:284-308. [PMID: 35285522 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The brain relies on many forms of dynamic activities in individual neurons, from synaptic transmission to electrical activity and intracellular signaling events. Monitoring these neuronal activities with high spatiotemporal resolution in the context of animal behavior is a necessary step to achieve a mechanistic understanding of brain function. With the rapid development and dissemination of highly optimized genetically encoded fluorescent sensors, a growing number of brain activities can now be visualized in vivo. To date, cellular calcium imaging, which has been largely used as a proxy for electrical activity, has become a mainstay in systems neuroscience. While challenges remain, voltage imaging of neural populations is now possible. In addition, it is becoming increasingly practical to image over half a dozen neurotransmitters, as well as certain intracellular signaling and metabolic activities. These new capabilities enable neuroscientists to test previously unattainable hypotheses and questions. This review summarizes recent progress in the development and delivery of genetically encoded fluorescent sensors, and highlights example applications in the context of in vivo imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Day-Cooney
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Rochelin Dalangin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Haining Zhong
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Tianyi Mao
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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11
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Ma L, Day-Cooney J, Benavides OJ, Muniak MA, Qin M, Ding JB, Mao T, Zhong H. Locomotion activates PKA through dopamine and adenosine in striatal neurons. Nature 2022; 611:762-768. [PMID: 36352228 PMCID: PMC10752255 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05407-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The canonical model of striatal function predicts that animal locomotion is associated with the opposing regulation of protein kinase A (PKA) in direct and indirect pathway striatal spiny projection neurons (SPNs) by dopamine1-7. However, the precise dynamics of PKA in dorsolateral SPNs during locomotion remain to be determined. It is also unclear whether other neuromodulators are involved. Here we show that PKA activity in both types of SPNs is essential for normal locomotion. Using two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging8-10 of a PKA sensor10 through gradient index lenses, we measured PKA activity within individual SPNs of the mouse dorsolateral striatum during locomotion. Consistent with the canonical view, dopamine activated PKA activity in direct pathway SPNs during locomotion through the dopamine D1 receptor. However, indirect pathway SPNs exhibited a greater increase in PKA activity, which was largely abolished through the blockade of adenosine A2A receptors. In agreement with these results, fibre photometry measurements of an adenosine sensor11 revealed an acute increase in extracellular adenosine during locomotion. Functionally, antagonism of dopamine or adenosine receptors resulted in distinct changes in SPN PKA activity, neuronal activity and locomotion. Together, our results suggest that acute adenosine accumulation interplays with dopamine release to orchestrate PKA activity in SPNs and proper striatal function during animal locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Ma
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Julian Day-Cooney
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Omar Jáidar Benavides
- Department of Neurosurgery and Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Michael A Muniak
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Maozhen Qin
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Jun B Ding
- Department of Neurosurgery and Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Tianyi Mao
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Haining Zhong
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
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12
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Sensitive genetically encoded sensors for population and subcellular imaging of cAMP in vivo. Nat Methods 2022; 19:1461-1471. [PMID: 36303019 PMCID: PMC10171401 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01646-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling integrates information from diverse G-protein-coupled receptors, such as neuromodulator receptors, to regulate pivotal biological processes in a cellular-specific and subcellular-specific manner. However, in vivo cellular-resolution imaging of cAMP dynamics remains challenging. Here, we screen existing genetically encoded cAMP sensors and further develop the best performer to derive three improved variants, called cAMPFIREs. Compared with their parental sensor, these sensors exhibit up to 10-fold increased sensitivity to cAMP and a cytosolic distribution. cAMPFIREs are compatible with both ratiometric and fluorescence lifetime imaging and can detect cAMP dynamics elicited by norepinephrine at physiologically relevant, nanomolar concentrations. Imaging of cAMPFIREs in awake mice reveals tonic levels of cAMP in cortical neurons that are associated with wakefulness, modulated by opioids, and differentially regulated across subcellular compartments. Furthermore, enforced locomotion elicits neuron-specific, bidirectional cAMP dynamics. cAMPFIREs also function in Drosophila. Overall, cAMPFIREs may have broad applicability for studying intracellular signaling in vivo.
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13
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Wang L, Wu C, Peng W, Zhou Z, Zeng J, Li X, Yang Y, Yu S, Zou Y, Huang M, Liu C, Chen Y, Li Y, Ti P, Liu W, Gao Y, Zheng W, Zhong H, Gao S, Lu Z, Ren PG, Ng HL, He J, Chen S, Xu M, Li Y, Chu J. A high-performance genetically encoded fluorescent indicator for in vivo cAMP imaging. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5363. [PMID: 36097007 PMCID: PMC9468011 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32994-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
cAMP is a key second messenger that regulates diverse cellular functions including neural plasticity. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of intracellular cAMP in intact organisms are largely unknown due to low sensitivity and/or brightness of current genetically encoded fluorescent cAMP indicators. Here, we report the development of the new circularly permuted GFP (cpGFP)-based cAMP indicator G-Flamp1, which exhibits a large fluorescence increase (a maximum ΔF/F0 of 1100% in HEK293T cells), decent brightness, appropriate affinity (a Kd of 2.17 μM) and fast response kinetics (an association and dissociation half-time of 0.20 and 0.087 s, respectively). Furthermore, the crystal structure of the cAMP-bound G-Flamp1 reveals one linker connecting the cAMP-binding domain to cpGFP adopts a distorted β-strand conformation that may serve as a fluorescence modulation switch. We demonstrate that G-Flamp1 enables sensitive monitoring of endogenous cAMP signals in brain regions that are implicated in learning and motor control in living organisms such as fruit flies and mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Wang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Research Center for Biomedical Optics and Molecular Imaging, Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Molecular Imaging, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Optical Imaging Technology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055 China
| | - Chunling Wu
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319PKU-IDG–McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 100871 China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Wanling Peng
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031 China
| | - Ziliang Zhou
- grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XMolecular Imaging Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000 China ,grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072Department of Oral Emergency and General Dentistry, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction, Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510182 Guangdong China
| | - Jianzhi Zeng
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319PKU-IDG–McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 100871 China
| | - Xuelin Li
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319PKU-IDG–McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 100871 China
| | - Yini Yang
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319PKU-IDG–McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 100871 China
| | - Shuguang Yu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031 China
| | - Ye Zou
- grid.36567.310000 0001 0737 1259Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, 66506 KS USA
| | - Mian Huang
- grid.36567.310000 0001 0737 1259Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, 66506 KS USA
| | - Chang Liu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055 China
| | - Yefei Chen
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055 China
| | - Yi Li
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074 China
| | - Panpan Ti
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074 China
| | - Wenfeng Liu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Research Center for Biomedical Optics and Molecular Imaging, Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Molecular Imaging, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Optical Imaging Technology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055 China
| | - Yufeng Gao
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Research Center for Biomedical Optics and Molecular Imaging, Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Molecular Imaging, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Optical Imaging Technology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055 China
| | - Wei Zheng
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Research Center for Biomedical Optics and Molecular Imaging, Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Molecular Imaging, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Optical Imaging Technology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055 China
| | - Haining Zhong
- grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, 97239 OR USA
| | - Shangbang Gao
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074 China
| | - Zhonghua Lu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055 China
| | - Pei-Gen Ren
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055 China
| | - Ho Leung Ng
- grid.36567.310000 0001 0737 1259Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, 66506 KS USA
| | - Jie He
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031 China
| | - Shoudeng Chen
- grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XMolecular Imaging Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000 China ,grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XDepartment of Experimental Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000 China
| | - Min Xu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031 China
| | - Yulong Li
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319PKU-IDG–McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 100871 China
| | - Jun Chu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Research Center for Biomedical Optics and Molecular Imaging, Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Molecular Imaging, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Optical Imaging Technology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055 China ,grid.458489.c0000 0001 0483 7922Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, and Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen, 518055 China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309CAS Key Laboratory of Health Informatics, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055 China
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14
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Hu J, Li G. Recent Progress in Fluorescent Chemosensors for Protein Kinases. Chem Asian J 2022; 17:e202200182. [PMID: 35486328 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202200182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Protein kinases are involved in almost all biological activities. The activities of different kinases reflect the normal or abnormal status of the human body. Therefore, detecting the activities of different kinases is important for disease diagnosis and drug discovery. Fluorescent probes offer opportunities for studying kinase behaviors at different times and spatial locations. In this review, we summarize different kinds of fluorescent chemosensors that have been used to detect the activities of many different kinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Hu
- Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, College of Life Sciences, No.15 Shangxiadian Road, Cangshan District, 350002, Fuzhou, CHINA
| | - Gao Li
- Minjiang University, College of Material and Chemical Engineering, CHINA
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15
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Lovinger DM, Mateo Y, Johnson KA, Engi SA, Antonazzo M, Cheer JF. Local modulation by presynaptic receptors controls neuronal communication and behaviour. Nat Rev Neurosci 2022; 23:191-203. [PMID: 35228740 PMCID: PMC10709822 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00561-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Central nervous system neurons communicate via fast synaptic transmission mediated by ligand-gated ion channel (LGIC) receptors and slower neuromodulation mediated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). These receptors influence many neuronal functions, including presynaptic neurotransmitter release. Presynaptic LGIC and GPCR activation by locally released neurotransmitters influences neuronal communication in ways that modify effects of somatic action potentials. Although much is known about presynaptic receptors and their mechanisms of action, less is known about when and where these receptor actions alter release, especially in vivo. This Review focuses on emerging evidence for important local presynaptic receptor actions and ideas for future studies in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Lovinger
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Yolanda Mateo
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kari A Johnson
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sheila A Engi
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mario Antonazzo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joseph F Cheer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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16
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Aceto G, Nardella L, Nanni S, Pecci V, Bertozzi A, Colussi C, D'Ascenzo M, Grassi C. Activation of histamine type 2 receptors enhances intrinsic excitability of medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens. J Physiol 2022; 600:2225-2243. [PMID: 35343587 PMCID: PMC9325548 DOI: 10.1113/jp282962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract Histaminergic neurons are exclusively located in the hypothalamic tuberomammillary nucleus, from where they project to many brain areas including the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a brain area that integrates diverse monoaminergic inputs to coordinate motivated behaviours. While the NAc expresses various histamine receptor subtypes, the mechanisms by which histamine modulates NAc activity are still poorly understood. Using whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings, we found that pharmacological activation of histamine 2 (H2) receptors elevates the excitability of NAc medium spiny neurons (MSNs), while activation of H1 receptors failed to significantly affect MSN excitability. The evoked firing of MSNs increased after seconds of local H2 agonist administration and remained elevated for minutes. H2 receptor (H2R) activation accelerated subthreshold depolarization in response to current injection, reduced the latency to fire, diminished action potential afterhyperpolarization and increased the action potential half‐width. The increased excitability was protein kinase A‐dependent and associated with decreased A‐type K+ currents. In addition, selective pharmacological inhibition of the Kv4.2 channel, the main molecular determinant of A‐type K+ currents in MSNs, mimicked and occluded the increased excitability induced by H2R activation. Our results indicate that histaminergic transmission in the NAc increases MSN intrinsic excitability through H2R‐dependent modulation of Kv4.2 channels. Activation of H2R will significantly alter spike firing in MSNs in vivo, and this effect could be an important mechanism by which these receptors mediate certain aspects of goal‐induced behaviours. Key points Histamine is synthesized and released by hypothalamic neurons of the tuberomammillary nucleus and serves as a general modulator for whole‐brain activity including the nucleus accumbens. Histamine receptors type 2 (HR2), which are expressed in the nucleus accumbens, couple to Gαs/off proteins which elevate cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels and activate protein kinase A. Whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings revealed that H2R activation increased the evoked firing in medium spiny neurons of the nucleus accumbens via protein kinase A‐dependent mechanisms. HR2 activation accelerated subthreshold depolarization in response to current injection, reduced the latency to fire, diminished action potential medium after‐hyperpolarization and increased the action potential half‐width. HR2 activation also reduced A‐type potassium current. Selective pharmacological inhibition of the Kv4.2 channel mimicked and occluded the increased excitability induced by H2R activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Aceto
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Roma, Italia.,Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Nardella
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Nanni
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Roma, Italia.,Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecci
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Bertozzi
- Istituto di Analisi dei Sistemi ed Informatica "Antonio Ruberti", National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Colussi
- Istituto di Analisi dei Sistemi ed Informatica "Antonio Ruberti", National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello D'Ascenzo
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Roma, Italia.,Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Grassi
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Roma, Italia.,Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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17
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Abstract
Fluorescent protein (FP)-based kinase activity biosensors are powerful tools for probing the spatiotemporal dynamics of signaling pathways in living cells. Yet, the limited sensitivity of most kinase biosensors restricts their reliable application in high-throughput detection modalities. Here, we report a protocol for using an ultrasensitive excitation-ratiometric PKA activity reporter, ExRai-AKAR2, to detect live-cell PKA activity via fluorescence microplate reading and epifluorescence microscopy. The high sensitivity of ExRai-AKAR2 is well suited to these high-throughput applications. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Mehta et al. (2018) andZhang et al., 2021a) .
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-fan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA,Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA,Corresponding author
| | - Sohum Mehta
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA,Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA,Corresponding author
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18
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Curtis AJ, Dowsell RS, Gold MG. Assaying Protein Kinase A Activity Using a FRET-Based Sensor Purified from Mammalian Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2483:15-31. [PMID: 35286667 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2245-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Protein Kinase A (PKA) is the major intracellular receptor for cAMP. Research into this prototype kinase is supported by kinase assays that are typically performed in vitro using radio-labeled ATP. For in vivo studies, genetically encoded FRET-based sensors have become popular for monitoring PKA activity. Here, we show that it is also possible to apply such reporters in vitro. We describe how to express and purify milligram quantities of a FRET-based PKA activity reporter using cultured human embryonic kidney cells. We demonstrate how to utilize the purified reporter in a plate reader to determine the IC50 for the widely utilized PKA inhibitor H89 in the presence of a physiologically relevant concentration of ATP. The protocol takes advantage of the economical transfection reagent polyethylenimine and can be performed in a standard cell culture facility. Whereas assays based on radiolabelling are more sensitive, the approach presented here has several advantages: It enables continuous measurement of changes in substrate phosphorylation; a single preparation produces enough reporter for thousands of recordings; the reporter has a long shelf life; and it avoids the safety considerations that arise when working with radioactive material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashton J Curtis
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ryan S Dowsell
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Matthew G Gold
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK.
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19
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Emerging strategies for the genetic dissection of gene functions, cell types, and neural circuits in the mammalian brain. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:422-435. [PMID: 34561609 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01292-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian brain is composed of a large number of highly diverse cell types with different molecular, anatomical, and functional features. Distinct cellular identities are generated during development under the regulation of intricate genetic programs and manifested through unique combinations of gene expression. Recent advancements in our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the assembly, function, and pathology of the brain circuitry depend on the invention and application of genetic strategies that engage intrinsic gene regulatory mechanisms. Here we review the strategies for gene regulation on DNA, RNA, and protein levels and their applications in cell type targeting and neural circuit dissection. We highlight newly emerged strategies and emphasize the importance of combinatorial approaches. We also discuss the potential caveats and pitfalls in current methods and suggest future prospects to improve their comprehensiveness and versatility.
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20
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Melander JB, Nayebi A, Jongbloets BC, Fortin DA, Qin M, Ganguli S, Mao T, Zhong H. Distinct in vivo dynamics of excitatory synapses onto cortical pyramidal neurons and parvalbumin-positive interneurons. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109972. [PMID: 34758304 PMCID: PMC8631347 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortical function relies on the balanced activation of excitatory and inhibitory neurons. However, little is known about the organization and dynamics of shaft excitatory synapses onto cortical inhibitory interneurons. Here, we use the excitatory postsynaptic marker PSD-95, fluorescently labeled at endogenous levels, as a proxy for excitatory synapses onto layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons and parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons in the barrel cortex of adult mice. Longitudinal in vivo imaging under baseline conditions reveals that, although synaptic weights in both neuronal types are log-normally distributed, synapses onto PV+ neurons are less heterogeneous and more stable. Markov model analyses suggest that the synaptic weight distribution is set intrinsically by ongoing cell-type-specific dynamics, and substantial changes are due to accumulated gradual changes. Synaptic weight dynamics are multiplicative, i.e., changes scale with weights, although PV+ synapses also exhibit an additive component. These results reveal that cell-type-specific processes govern cortical synaptic strengths and dynamics. Melander et al. use a genetic strategy to visualize excitatory neuronal connections that cannot be inferred from morphology, and they monitor how the connections change over weeks in mice. They find distinct characteristics between synapses onto cells that “suppress” brain activity and those onto cells that “excite” brain activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua B Melander
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Neurosciences PhD Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Aran Nayebi
- Neurosciences PhD Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Bart C Jongbloets
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Dale A Fortin
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Maozhen Qin
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Surya Ganguli
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Tianyi Mao
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
| | - Haining Zhong
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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21
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Jullié D, Valbret Z, Stoeber M. Optical tools to study the subcellular organization of GPCR neuromodulation. J Neurosci Methods 2021; 366:109408. [PMID: 34763022 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Modulation of neuronal circuit activity is key to information processing in the brain. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the targets of most neuromodulatory ligands, show extremely diverse expression patterns in neurons and receptors can be localized in various sub-neuronal membrane compartments. Upon activation, GPCRs promote signaling cascades that alter the level of second messengers, drive phosphorylation changes, modulate ion channel function, and influence gene expression, all of which critically impact neuron physiology. Because of its high degree of complexity, this form of interneuronal communication has remained challenging to integrate into our conceptual understanding of brain function. Recent technological advances in fluorescence microscopy and the development of optical biosensors now allow investigating neuromodulation with unprecedented resolution on the level of individual cells. In this review, we will highlight recent imaging techniques that enable determining the precise localization of GPCRs in neurons, with specific focus on the subcellular and nanoscale level. Downstream of receptors, we describe novel conformation-specific biosensors that allow for real-time monitoring of GPCR activation and of distinct signal transduction events in neurons. Applying these new tools has the potential to provide critical insights into the function and organization of GPCRs in neuronal cells and may help decipher the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Jullié
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA.
| | - Zoé Valbret
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Stoeber
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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22
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Lodder B, Lee SJ, Sabatini BL. Real-Time, In Vivo Measurement of Protein Kinase A Activity in Deep Brain Structures Using Fluorescence Lifetime Photometry (FLiP). Curr Protoc 2021; 1:e265. [PMID: 34661994 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The biochemical state of neurons, and of cells in general, is regulated by extracellular factors, including neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and growth hormones. Interactions of an animal with its environment trigger neuromodulator release and engage biochemical transduction cascades to modulate synapse and cell function. Although these processes are thought to enact behavioral adaption to changing environments, when and where in the brain they are induced has been mysterious because of the challenge of monitoring biochemical state in real time in defined neurons in behaving animals. Here, we describe a method allowing measurement of activity of protein kinase A (PKA), an important intracellular effector for neuromodulators, in freely moving mice. To monitor PKA activity in vivo, we use a genetically targeted sensor (FLIM-AKAR) and fluorescence lifetime photometry (FLiP). This article describes how to set up a FLiP system and obtain robust recordings of net PKA phosphorylation state in vivo. The methods should be generally useful to monitor other pathways for which fluorescence lifetime reporters exist. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Building a FLiP system Basic Protocol 2: FLIM-AKAR viral injection and fiber implantation for FLiP measurement Basic Protocol 3: Performing measurements using FLiP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Lodder
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Suk Joon Lee
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Bernardo L Sabatini
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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23
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Imaging intracellular protein interactions/activity in neurons using 2-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. Neurosci Res 2021; 179:31-38. [PMID: 34666101 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2021.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Through the decades, 2-photon fluorescence microscopy has allowed visualization of microstructures, such as synapses, with high spatial resolution in deep brain tissue. However, signal transduction, such as protein activity and protein-protein interaction in neurons in tissues and in vivo, has remained elusive because of the technical difficulty of observing biochemical reactions at the level of subcellular resolution in light-scattering tissues. Recently, 2-photon fluorescence microscopy combined with fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (2pFLIM) has enabled visualization of various protein activities and protein-protein interactions at submicrometer resolution in tissue with a reasonable temporal resolution. Thus far, 2pFLIM has been extensively applied for imaging kinase and small GTPase activation in dendritic spines of hippocampal neurons in slice cultures. However, it has been recently applied to various subcellular structures, such as axon terminals and nuclei, and has increased our understanding of spatially organized molecular dynamics. One of the future directions of 2pFLIM utilization is to combine various optogenetic tools for manipulating protein activity. This combination allows the activation of specific proteins with light and visualization of its readout as the activation of downstream molecules. Here, we have introduced the recent application of 2pFLIM for neurons and present the utilization of a new optogenetic tool in combination with 2pFLIM.
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24
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Massengill CI, Day-Cooney J, Mao T, Zhong H. Genetically encoded sensors towards imaging cAMP and PKA activity in vivo. J Neurosci Methods 2021; 362:109298. [PMID: 34339753 PMCID: PMC8659126 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a universal second messenger that plays a crucial role in diverse biological functions, ranging from transcription to neuronal plasticity, and from development to learning and memory. In the nervous system, cAMP integrates inputs from many neuromodulators across a wide range of timescales - from seconds to hours - to modulate neuronal excitability and plasticity in brain circuits during different animal behavioral states. cAMP signaling events are both cell-specific and subcellularly compartmentalized. The same stimulus may result in different, sometimes opposite, cAMP dynamics in different cells or subcellular compartments. Additionally, the activity of protein kinase A (PKA), a major cAMP effector, is also spatiotemporally regulated. For these reasons, many laboratories have made great strides toward visualizing the intracellular dynamics of cAMP and PKA. To date, more than 80 genetically encoded sensors, including original and improved variants, have been published. It is starting to become possible to visualize cAMP and PKA signaling events in vivo, which is required to study behaviorally relevant cAMP/PKA signaling mechanisms. Despite significant progress, further developments are needed to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio and practical utility of these sensors. This review summarizes the recent advances and challenges in genetically encoded cAMP and PKA sensors with an emphasis on in vivo imaging in the brain during behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julian Day-Cooney
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Tianyi Mao
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
| | - Haining Zhong
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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25
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Zheng F, Meng T, Jiang D, Sun J, Yao H, Zhu J, Min Q. Nanomediator–Effector Cascade Systems for Amplified Protein Kinase Activity Imaging and Phosphorylation‐Induced Drug Release In Vivo. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202109108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fenfen Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for life Science Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 China
- School of Environmental & Chemical Engineering Jiangsu University of Science and Technology Zhenjiang Jiangsu 212003 China
| | - Tiantian Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for life Science Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 China
| | - Difei Jiang
- School of Environmental & Chemical Engineering Jiangsu University of Science and Technology Zhenjiang Jiangsu 212003 China
| | - Jiamin Sun
- School of Environmental & Chemical Engineering Jiangsu University of Science and Technology Zhenjiang Jiangsu 212003 China
| | - Haiyang Yao
- School of Environmental & Chemical Engineering Jiangsu University of Science and Technology Zhenjiang Jiangsu 212003 China
| | - Jun‐Jie Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for life Science Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 China
| | - Qianhao Min
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for life Science Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 China
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26
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Zhang JF, Mehta S, Zhang J. Signaling Microdomains in the Spotlight: Visualizing Compartmentalized Signaling Using Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Biosensors. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2021; 61:587-608. [PMID: 33411579 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010617-053137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
How cells muster a network of interlinking signaling pathways to faithfully convert diverse external cues to specific functional outcomes remains a central question in biology. Through their ability to convert dynamic biochemical activities to rapid and precise optical readouts, genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors have become instrumental in unraveling the molecular logic controlling the specificity of intracellular signaling. In this review, we discuss how the use of genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors to visualize dynamic signaling events within their native cellular context is elucidating the different strategies employed by cells to organize signaling activities into discrete compartments, or signaling microdomains, to ensure functional specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Fan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA; .,Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Sohum Mehta
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA;
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA; .,Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
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27
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Laviv T, Yasuda R. Imaging neuronal protein signaling dynamics in vivo. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 69:68-75. [PMID: 33684848 PMCID: PMC8387335 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The activity patterns of Individual neurons are highly coordinated and synchronized within neuronal circuits in the brain, much like individual orchestra tools playing together to achieve harmony. Inside neurons, complex protein signaling cascades provide the molecular notes and instructions to each neuron. However, until recently, the dynamic nature of intracellular protein signaling in the intact brain has been eluded. In this review, we focus on recent advancements and the development of approaches to study neuronal signaling dynamics in vivo. We will discuss approaches for the implementation of biosensors for monitoring of protein signaling activities at the levels of individual synapses, dendritic branches, cell-wide neuromodulation, and transcription in the nucleus. Future improvement in these methods and their utilization will undoubtedly yield new insights regarding the intricate link between functional and molecular neuronal dynamics and how they underlie animal's behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Laviv
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Ryohei Yasuda
- Department of Neuronal Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA.
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28
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Cellular context shapes cyclic nucleotide signaling in neurons through multiple levels of integration. J Neurosci Methods 2021; 362:109305. [PMID: 34343574 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular signaling with cyclic nucleotides are ubiquitous signaling pathways, yet the dynamics of these signals profoundly differ in different cell types. Biosensor imaging experiments, by providing direct measurements in intact cellular environment, reveal which receptors are activated by neuromodulators and how the coincidence of different neuromodulators is integrated at various levels in the signaling cascade. Phosphodiesterases appear as one important determinant of cross-talk between different signaling pathways. Finally, analysis of signal dynamics reveal that striatal medium-sized spiny neuron obey a different logic than other brain regions such as cortex, probably in relation with the function of this brain region which efficiently detects transient dopamine.
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29
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Zheng F, Meng T, Jiang D, Sun J, Yao H, Zhu JJ, Min Q. Nanomediator-Effector Cascade Systems for Amplified Protein Kinase Activity Imaging and Phosphorylation-Induced Drug Release In Vivo. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:21565-21574. [PMID: 34322988 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202109108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Protein kinases constitute a rich pool of biomarkers and therapeutic targets of tremendous diseases including cancer. However, sensing kinase activity in vivo while implementing treatments according to kinase hyperactivation remains challenging. Herein, we present a nanomediator-effector cascade system that can in situ magnify the subtle events of kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation via DNA amplification machinery to achieve kinase activity imaging and kinase-responsive drug release in vivo. In this cascade, the phosphorylation-mediated disassembly of DNA/peptide complex on the nanomediators initiated the detachment of fluorescent hairpin DNAs from the nanoeffectors via hybridization chain reaction (HCR), leading to fluorescence recovery and therapeutic cargo release. We demonstrated that this nanosystem simultaneously enabled trace protein kinase A (PKA) activity imaging and on-demand drug delivery for inhibition of tumor cell growth both in vitro and in vivo, affording a kinase-specific sense-and-treat paradigm for cancer theranostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenfen Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for life Science, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.,School of Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212003, China
| | - Tiantian Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for life Science, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Difei Jiang
- School of Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212003, China
| | - Jiamin Sun
- School of Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212003, China
| | - Haiyang Yao
- School of Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212003, China
| | - Jun-Jie Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for life Science, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Qianhao Min
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for life Science, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
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30
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Arefev RA, Kiroy VN, Bulat NV, Petrushan MV, Burbelov MO, Sazhin SL, Vladimirskiy BM, Matukhno AE, Chechevatova VV, Semynina VG, Lysenko LV. Methods for calculating the stereotaxic coordinates of rat brain structures by pixel coordinates of the image obtained by confocal and two-photon laser scanning microscopy. J Neurosci Methods 2021; 361:109273. [PMID: 34224788 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a challenge to determine stereotaxic coordinates of a target structure with the accuracy, comparable to their size, when imaging the rat brain through cranial windows using confocal (multiphoton) microscopy in vivo. Some methods based on the estimation of the linear displacement from the intersections of the cerebral vessels are most often used for these purposes, but their accuracy can be improved. NEW METHOD A new method for converting pixel coordinates of points of interest on an image obtained in two-photon microscopy into stereotaxic ones using quadratic approximation with L2 regularization has been developed. A comparative analysis of several methods for converting pixel coordinates into stereotaxic ones was carried out. The current study is aimed to select a method which minimizes the error of coordinate conversion within the a priori specified threshold value. RESULTS A method for determining the stereotaxic coordinates of each pixel in an image obtained by laser scanning in two-photon and / or confocal modes with an accuracy of several tens of microns is proposed. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) It is shown that the error probability of the most common method based on calculating the points of interest coordinates as displacements relative to the selected vessels intersections can be reduced by using the quadratic approximation with L2 regularization. Our proposed method allows us to improve the accuracy of determining the coordinates of points of interest on 10-30 µm. CONCLUSIONS The proposed approach will be useful in research where precise positioning of microelectrodes, sensors, etc. for implantation in specified brain structures or groups of neurons determined by functional mapping is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Arefev
- Southern Federal University, Scientific Research Center for Neurotechnology Russian Federation, 194 Stachki ave, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation.
| | - V N Kiroy
- Southern Federal University, Scientific Research Center for Neurotechnology Russian Federation, 194 Stachki ave, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
| | - N V Bulat
- Southern Federal University, Scientific Research Center for Neurotechnology Russian Federation, 194 Stachki ave, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
| | - M V Petrushan
- Southern Federal University, Scientific Research Center for Neurotechnology Russian Federation, 194 Stachki ave, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
| | - M O Burbelov
- Southern Federal University, Scientific Research Center for Neurotechnology Russian Federation, 194 Stachki ave, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
| | - S L Sazhin
- Southern Federal University, Scientific Research Center for Neurotechnology Russian Federation, 194 Stachki ave, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
| | - B M Vladimirskiy
- Southern Federal University, Scientific Research Center for Neurotechnology Russian Federation, 194 Stachki ave, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
| | - A E Matukhno
- Southern Federal University, Scientific Research Center for Neurotechnology Russian Federation, 194 Stachki ave, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
| | - V V Chechevatova
- Southern Federal University, Scientific Research Center for Neurotechnology Russian Federation, 194 Stachki ave, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
| | - V G Semynina
- Southern Federal University, Scientific Research Center for Neurotechnology Russian Federation, 194 Stachki ave, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
| | - L V Lysenko
- Southern Federal University, Scientific Research Center for Neurotechnology Russian Federation, 194 Stachki ave, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
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31
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Zhong H, Ceballos CC, Massengill CI, Muniak MA, Ma L, Qin M, Petrie SK, Mao T. High-fidelity, efficient, and reversible labeling of endogenous proteins using CRISPR-based designer exon insertion. eLife 2021; 10:64911. [PMID: 34100715 PMCID: PMC8211447 DOI: 10.7554/elife.64911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Precise and efficient insertion of large DNA fragments into somatic cells using gene editing technologies to label or modify endogenous proteins remains challenging. Non-specific insertions/deletions (INDELs) resulting from the non-homologous end joining pathway make the process error-prone. Further, the insert is not readily removable. Here, we describe a method called CRISPR-mediated insertion of exon (CRISPIE) that can precisely and reversibly label endogenous proteins using CRISPR/Cas9-based editing. CRISPIE inserts a designer donor module, which consists of an exon encoding the protein sequence flanked by intron sequences, into an intronic location in the target gene. INDELs at the insertion junction will be spliced out, leaving mRNAs nearly error-free. We used CRISPIE to fluorescently label endogenous proteins in mammalian neurons in vivo with previously unachieved efficiency. We demonstrate that this method is broadly applicable, and that the insert can be readily removed later. CRISPIE permits protein sequence insertion with high fidelity, efficiency, and flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haining Zhong
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, United States
| | - Cesar C Ceballos
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, United States
| | | | - Michael A Muniak
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, United States
| | - Lei Ma
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, United States
| | - Maozhen Qin
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, United States
| | - Stefanie Kaech Petrie
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, United States
| | - Tianyi Mao
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, United States
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32
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Jones-Tabah J, Mohammad H, Clarke PBS, Hébert TE. In vivo detection of GPCR-dependent signaling using fiber photometry and FRET-based biosensors. Methods 2021; 203:422-430. [PMID: 34022351 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2021.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors allow intracellular signaling dynamics to be tracked in live cells and tissues using optical detection. Many such biosensors are based on the principle of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), and we have recently developed a simple approach for in vivo detection of FRET-based biosensor signals using fiber photometry. By combining fiber photometry with FRET-based biosensors, we were able to track GPCR-dependent signaling pathways over time, and in response to drug treatments in freely-moving adult rats. Recording from specific neuronal populations, we can quantify intracellular signaling while simultaneously measuring behavioral responses. Our approach, described in detail here, uses adeno-associated viruses infused intracerebrally in order to express genetically-encoded FRET-based biosensors. After several weeks to allow biosensor expression, fiber photometry is used in order to record drug responses in real time from freely-moving adult rats. This methodology would be compatible with other mammalian species and with many biosensors. Hence, it has wide applicability across a spectrum of neuroscience research, ranging from the study of neural circuits and behavior, to preclinical drug development and screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jace Jones-Tabah
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Hanan Mohammad
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Paul B S Clarke
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada.
| | - Terence E Hébert
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada.
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33
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Myristoylation alone is sufficient for PKA catalytic subunits to associate with the plasma membrane to regulate neuronal functions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2021658118. [PMID: 33876760 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2021658118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Myristoylation is a posttranslational modification that plays diverse functional roles in many protein species. The myristate moiety is considered insufficient for protein-membrane associations unless additional membrane-affinity motifs, such as a stretch of positively charged residues, are present. Here, we report that the electrically neutral N-terminal fragment of the protein kinase A catalytic subunit (PKA-C), in which myristoylation is the only functional motif, is sufficient for membrane association. This myristoylation can associate a fraction of PKA-C molecules or fluorescent proteins (FPs) to the plasma membrane in neuronal dendrites. The net neutral charge of the PKA-C N terminus is evolutionally conserved, even though its membrane affinity can be readily tuned by changing charges near the myristoylation site. The observed membrane association, while moderate, is sufficient to concentrate PKA activity at the membrane by nearly 20-fold and is required for PKA regulation of AMPA receptors at neuronal synapses. Our results indicate that myristoylation may be sufficient to drive functionally significant membrane association in the absence of canonical assisting motifs. This provides a revised conceptual base for the understanding of how myristoylation regulates protein functions.
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34
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Ehinger Y, Morisot N, Phamluong K, Sakhai SA, Soneja D, Adrover MF, Alvarez VA, Ron D. cAMP-Fyn signaling in the dorsomedial striatum direct pathway drives excessive alcohol use. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:334-342. [PMID: 32417851 PMCID: PMC7852539 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-0712-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Fyn kinase in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) of rodents plays a central role in mechanisms underlying excessive alcohol intake. The DMS is comprised of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) that project directly (dMSNs) or indirectly (iMSNs) to the substantia nigra. Here, we examined the cell-type specificity of Fyn's actions in alcohol use. First, we knocked down Fyn selectively in DMS dMSNs or iMSNs of mice and measured the level of alcohol consumption. We found that downregulation of Fyn in dMSNs, but not in iMSNs, reduces excessive alcohol but not saccharin intake. D1Rs are coupled to Gαs/olf, which activate cAMP signaling. To examine whether Fyn's actions are mediated through cAMP signaling, DMS dMSNs were infected with GαsDREADD, and the activation of Fyn signaling was measured following CNO treatment. We found that remote stimulation of cAMP signaling in DMS dMSNs activates Fyn and promotes the phosphorylation of the Fyn substrate, GluN2B. In contract, remote activation of GαsDREADD in DLS dMSNs did not alter Fyn signaling. We then tested whether activation of GαsDREADD in DMS dMSNs or iMSNs alters alcohol intake and observed that CNO-dependent activation of GαsDREADD in DMS dMSNs but not iMSNs increases alcohol but not saccharin intake. Finally, we examined the contribution of Fyn to GαsDREADD-dependent increase in alcohol intake, and found that systemic administration of the Fyn inhibitor, AZD0503 blocks GαsDREADD-dependent increase in alcohol consumption. Our results suggest that the cAMP-Fyn axis in the DMS dMSNs is a molecular transducer of mechanisms underlying the development of excessive alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann Ehinger
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Nadege Morisot
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143 USA ,Present Address: Nkarta Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Khanhky Phamluong
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Samuel A. Sakhai
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143 USA ,grid.476678.c0000 0004 5913 664XPresent Address: Sage Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Drishti Soneja
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Martin F. Adrover
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165National Institutes of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA ,grid.423606.50000 0001 1945 2152Present Address: INGEBI, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Veronica A. Alvarez
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165National Institutes of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA ,grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Center on Compulsive Behaviors, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Dorit Ron
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
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35
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Roth RH, Ding JB. From Neurons to Cognition: Technologies for Precise Recording of Neural Activity Underlying Behavior. BME FRONTIERS 2020; 2020:7190517. [PMID: 37849967 PMCID: PMC10521756 DOI: 10.34133/2020/7190517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding how brain activity encodes information and controls behavior is a long-standing question in neuroscience. This complex problem requires converging efforts from neuroscience and engineering, including technological solutions to perform high-precision and large-scale recordings of neuronal activity in vivo as well as unbiased methods to reliably measure and quantify behavior. Thanks to advances in genetics, molecular biology, engineering, and neuroscience, in recent decades, a variety of optical imaging and electrophysiological approaches for recording neuronal activity in awake animals have been developed and widely applied in the field. Moreover, sophisticated computer vision and machine learning algorithms have been developed to analyze animal behavior. In this review, we provide an overview of the current state of technology for neuronal recordings with a focus on optical and electrophysiological methods in rodents. In addition, we discuss areas that future technological development will need to cover in order to further our understanding of the neural activity underlying behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard H Roth
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jun B Ding
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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36
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Lee SJ, Lodder B, Chen Y, Patriarchi T, Tian L, Sabatini BL. Cell-type-specific asynchronous modulation of PKA by dopamine in learning. Nature 2020; 590:451-456. [PMID: 33361810 PMCID: PMC7889726 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-03050-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Reinforcement learning models postulate that dopamine (DA) releasing neurons (DANs) encode information about action and action outcome and provide a teaching signal to striatal spiny projection neurons (SPNs) in the form of DA release1. DA is thought to guide learning via dynamic and differential modulation of protein kinase A (PKA) in each class of SPN2. However, the real-time relationship between DA and SPN PKA remains untested in behaving animals. Here, we monitor the activity of DANs, extracellular DA levels, and net PKA activity in SPNs in the nucleus accumbens in mice during learning. We find positive and negative modulation of DA that evolves across training and is both necessary and sufficient to explain concurrent fluctuations in SPN PKA activity. The modulations of PKA in SPNs that express type-1 and type-2 DA receptors are dichotomous such that they are selectively sensitive to increases and decreases in DA, respectively, which occur at different phases of learning. Thus, PKA-dependent pathways in each class of SPNs are asynchronously engaged by positive or negative DA signals during learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suk Joon Lee
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bart Lodder
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yao Chen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tommaso Patriarchi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lin Tian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bernardo L Sabatini
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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37
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Abstract
The field of cAMP signaling is witnessing exciting developments with the recognition that cAMP is compartmentalized and that spatial regulation of cAMP is critical for faithful signal coding. This realization has changed our understanding of cAMP signaling from a model in which cAMP connects a receptor at the plasma membrane to an intracellular effector in a linear pathway to a model in which cAMP signals propagate within a complex network of alternative branches and the specific functional outcome strictly depends on local regulation of cAMP levels and on selective activation of a limited number of branches within the network. In this review, we cover some of the early studies and summarize more recent evidence supporting the model of compartmentalized cAMP signaling, and we discuss how this knowledge is starting to provide original mechanistic insight into cell physiology and a novel framework for the identification of disease mechanisms that potentially opens new avenues for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Zaccolo
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Zerio
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Miguel J Lobo
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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38
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Liput DJ, Nguyen TA, Augustin SM, Lee JO, Vogel SS. A Guide to Fluorescence Lifetime Microscopy and Förster's Resonance Energy Transfer in Neuroscience. CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN NEUROSCIENCE 2020; 94:e108. [PMID: 33232577 PMCID: PMC8274369 DOI: 10.1002/cpns.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Fluorescence lifetime microscopy (FLIM) and Förster's resonance energy transfer (FRET) are advanced optical tools that neuroscientists can employ to interrogate the structure and function of complex biological systems in vitro and in vivo using light. In neurobiology they are primarily used to study protein-protein interactions, to study conformational changes in protein complexes, and to monitor genetically encoded FRET-based biosensors. These methods are ideally suited to optically monitor changes in neurons that are triggered optogenetically. Utilization of this technique by neuroscientists has been limited, since a broad understanding of FLIM and FRET requires familiarity with the interactions of light and matter on a quantum mechanical level, and because the ultra-fast instrumentation used to measure fluorescent lifetimes and resonance energy transfer are more at home in a physics lab than in a biology lab. In this overview, we aim to help neuroscientists overcome these obstacles and thus feel more comfortable with the FLIM-FRET method. Our goal is to aid researchers in the neuroscience community to achieve a better understanding of the fundamentals of FLIM-FRET and encourage them to fully leverage its powerful ability as a research tool. Published 2020. U.S. Government.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. Liput
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
- Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Tuan A. Nguyen
- Laboratory of Biophotonics and Quantum Biology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Shana M. Augustin
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Jeong Oen Lee
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Steven S. Vogel
- Laboratory of Biophotonics and Quantum Biology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
- Corresponding author:
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39
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Nomura S, Tricoire L, Cohen I, Kuhn B, Lambolez B, Hepp R. Combined Optogenetic Approaches Reveal Quantitative Dynamics of Endogenous Noradrenergic Transmission in the Brain. iScience 2020; 23:101710. [PMID: 33196030 PMCID: PMC7645030 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the real-time cellular dynamics triggered by endogenous catecholamine release despite their importance in brain functions. To address this issue, we expressed channelrhodopsin in locus coeruleus neurons and protein kinase-A activity biosensors in cortical pyramidal neurons and combined two-photon imaging of biosensors with photostimulation of locus coeruleus cortical axons, in acute slices and in vivo. Burst photostimulation of axons for 5-10 s elicited robust, minutes-lasting kinase-A activation in individual neurons, indicating that a single burst firing episode of synchronized locus coeruleus neurons has rapid and lasting effects on cortical network. Responses were mediated by β1 adrenoceptors, dampened by co-activation of α2 adrenoceptors, and dramatically increased upon inhibition of noradrenaline reuptake transporter. Dopamine receptors were not involved, showing that kinase-A activation was due to noradrenaline release. Our study shows that noradrenergic transmission can be characterized with high spatiotemporal resolution in brain slices and in vivo using optogenetic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinobu Nomura
- Neuroscience Paris Seine-Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS-IBPS), CNRS UMR8246, INSERM U1130, Sorbonne Université UM119, 9 quai St Bernard case 16, 75005 Paris, France.,Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Ludovic Tricoire
- Neuroscience Paris Seine-Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS-IBPS), CNRS UMR8246, INSERM U1130, Sorbonne Université UM119, 9 quai St Bernard case 16, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Ivan Cohen
- Neuroscience Paris Seine-Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS-IBPS), CNRS UMR8246, INSERM U1130, Sorbonne Université UM119, 9 quai St Bernard case 16, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Bernd Kuhn
- Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Bertrand Lambolez
- Neuroscience Paris Seine-Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS-IBPS), CNRS UMR8246, INSERM U1130, Sorbonne Université UM119, 9 quai St Bernard case 16, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Régine Hepp
- Neuroscience Paris Seine-Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS-IBPS), CNRS UMR8246, INSERM U1130, Sorbonne Université UM119, 9 quai St Bernard case 16, 75005 Paris, France
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40
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Tian Y, Yang S, Gao S. Advances, Perspectives and Potential Engineering Strategies of Light-Gated Phosphodiesterases for Optogenetic Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7544. [PMID: 33066112 PMCID: PMC7590022 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The second messengers, cyclic adenosine 3'-5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine 3'-5'-monophosphate (cGMP), play important roles in many animal cells by regulating intracellular signaling pathways and modulating cell physiology. Environmental cues like temperature, light, and chemical compounds can stimulate cell surface receptors and trigger the generation of second messengers and the following regulations. The spread of cAMP and cGMP is further shaped by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) for orchestration of intracellular microdomain signaling. However, localized intracellular cAMP and cGMP signaling requires further investigation. Optogenetic manipulation of cAMP and cGMP offers new opportunities for spatio-temporally precise study of their signaling mechanism. Light-gated nucleotide cyclases are well developed and applied for cAMP/cGMP manipulation. Recently discovered rhodopsin phosphodiesterase genes from protists established a new and direct biological connection between light and PDEs. Light-regulated PDEs are under development, and of demand to complete the toolkit for cAMP/cGMP manipulation. In this review, we summarize the state of the art, pros and cons of artificial and natural light-regulated PDEs, and discuss potential new strategies of developing light-gated PDEs for optogenetic manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shiqiang Gao
- Department of Neurophysiology, Physiological Institute, University of Wuerzburg, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany; (Y.T.); (S.Y.)
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41
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An ultrasensitive biosensor for high-resolution kinase activity imaging in awake mice. Nat Chem Biol 2020; 17:39-46. [PMID: 32989297 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-020-00660-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Protein kinases control nearly every facet of cellular function. These key signaling nodes integrate diverse pathway inputs to regulate complex physiological processes, and aberrant kinase signaling is linked to numerous pathologies. While fluorescent protein-based biosensors have revolutionized the study of kinase signaling by allowing direct, spatiotemporally precise kinase activity measurements in living cells, powerful new molecular tools capable of robustly tracking kinase activity dynamics across diverse experimental contexts are needed to fully dissect the role of kinase signaling in physiology and disease. Here, we report the development of an ultrasensitive, second-generation excitation-ratiometric protein kinase A (PKA) activity reporter (ExRai-AKAR2), obtained via high-throughput linker library screening, that enables sensitive and rapid monitoring of live-cell PKA activity across multiple fluorescence detection modalities, including plate reading, cell sorting and one- or two-photon imaging. Notably, in vivo visual cortex imaging in awake mice reveals highly dynamic neuronal PKA activity rapidly recruited by forced locomotion.
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42
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Jones-Tabah J, Mohammad H, Hadj-Youssef S, Kim LEH, Martin RD, Benaliouad F, Tanny JC, Clarke PBS, Hébert TE. Dopamine D1 receptor signalling in dyskinetic Parkinsonian rats revealed by fiber photometry using FRET-based biosensors. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14426. [PMID: 32879346 PMCID: PMC7468292 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71121-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
As with many G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the signalling pathways regulated by the dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) are dynamic, cell type-specific, and can change in the face of disease or drug exposures. In striatal neurons, the D1R activates cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signalling. However, in Parkinson's disease (PD), alterations in this pathway lead to functional upregulation of extracellular regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), contributing to L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID). In order to detect D1R activation in vivo and to study the progressive dysregulation of D1R signalling in PD and LID, we developed ratiometric fiber-photometry with Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensors and optically detected PKA and ERK1/2 signalling in freely moving rats. We show that in Parkinsonian animals, D1R signalling through PKA and ERK1/2 is sensitized, but that following chronic treatment with L-DOPA, these pathways become partially desensitized while concurrently D1R activation leads to greater induction of dyskinesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jace Jones-Tabah
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Room 1325, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Hanan Mohammad
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Room 1325, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Shadi Hadj-Youssef
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Room 1325, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Lucy E H Kim
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Room 1325, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Ryan D Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Room 1325, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Faïza Benaliouad
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Room 1325, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Jason C Tanny
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Room 1325, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Paul B S Clarke
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Room 1325, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada.
| | - Terence E Hébert
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Room 1325, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada.
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43
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Boender AJ, Young LJ. Oxytocin, vasopressin and social behavior in the age of genome editing: A comparative perspective. Horm Behav 2020; 124:104780. [PMID: 32544402 PMCID: PMC7486992 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral neuroendocrinology has a rich history of using diverse model organisms to elucidate general principles and evolution of hormone-brain-behavior relationships. The oxytocin and vasopressin systems have been studied in many species, revealing their role in regulating social behaviors. Oxytocin and vasopressin receptors show remarkable species and individual differences in distribution in the brain that have been linked to diversity in social behaviors. New technologies allow for unprecedented interrogation of the genes and neural circuitry regulating behaviors, but these approaches often require transgenic models and are most often used in mice. Here we discuss seminal findings relating the oxytocin and vasopressin systems to social behavior with a focus on non-traditional animal models. We then evaluate the potential of using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to examine the roles of genes and enable circuit dissection, manipulation and activity monitoring of the oxytocin and vasopressin systems. We believe that it is essential to incorporate these genetic and circuit level techniques in comparative behavioral neuroendocrinology research to ensure that our field remains innovative and attractive for the next generation of investigators and funding agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjen J Boender
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Larry J Young
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
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44
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Koveal D, Díaz-García CM, Yellen G. Fluorescent Biosensors for Neuronal Metabolism and the Challenges of Quantitation. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2020; 63:111-121. [PMID: 32559637 PMCID: PMC7646541 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors that report metabolic changes have become valuable tools for understanding brain metabolism. These sensors have been targeted to specific brain regions and cell types in different organisms to track multiple metabolic processes at single cell (and subcellular) resolution. Here, we review genetically encoded biosensors used to study metabolism in the brain. We particularly focus on the principles needed to use these sensors quantitatively while avoiding false inferences from variations in sensor fluorescence that arise from differences in expression level or environmental influences such as pH or temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy Koveal
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Gary Yellen
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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45
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Lahiri AK, Bevan MD. Dopaminergic Transmission Rapidly and Persistently Enhances Excitability of D1 Receptor-Expressing Striatal Projection Neurons. Neuron 2020; 106:277-290.e6. [PMID: 32075716 PMCID: PMC7182485 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Substantia nigra dopamine neurons have been implicated in the initiation and invigoration of movement, presumably through their modulation of striatal projection neuron (SPN) activity. However, the impact of native dopaminergic transmission on SPN excitability has not been directly demonstrated. Using perforated patch-clamp recording, we found that optogenetic stimulation of nigrostriatal dopamine axons rapidly and persistently elevated the excitability of D1 receptor-expressing SPNs (D1-SPNs). The evoked firing of D1-SPNs increased within hundreds of milliseconds of stimulation and remained elevated for ≥ 10 min. Consistent with the negative modulation of depolarization- and Ca2+-activated K+ currents, dopaminergic transmission accelerated subthreshold depolarization in response to current injection, reduced the latency to fire, and transiently diminished action potential afterhyperpolarization. Persistent modulation was protein kinase A dependent and associated with a reduction in action potential threshold. Together, these data demonstrate that dopaminergic transmission potently increases D1-SPN excitability with a time course that could support subsecond and sustained behavioral control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asha K Lahiri
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Mark D Bevan
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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46
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O'Banion CP, Yasuda R. Fluorescent sensors for neuronal signaling. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2020; 63:31-41. [PMID: 32203701 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Dissecting neuronal structure and function in relation to behavior is an immense undertaking. Researchers require imaging tools to study neuronal activity and biochemical signaling in situ in order to study the roles of neuronal and biochemical activity in information processing. A large number of genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors have been reported in the literature over the past few years as there is a push to develop new technology in neuroscience. Here, we review the classes and characteristics of fluorescent biosensors and highlight some considerations that investigators should keep in mind when choosing their tool. In addition, we discuss recent advances in biosensor development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ryohei Yasuda
- Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, United States.
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47
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Argyrousi EK, Heckman PRA, Prickaerts J. Role of cyclic nucleotides and their downstream signaling cascades in memory function: Being at the right time at the right spot. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 113:12-38. [PMID: 32044374 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
A plethora of studies indicate the important role of cAMP and cGMP cascades in neuronal plasticity and memory function. As a result, altered cyclic nucleotide signaling has been implicated in the pathophysiology of mnemonic dysfunction encountered in several diseases. In the present review we provide a wide overview of studies regarding the involvement of cyclic nucleotides, as well as their upstream and downstream molecules, in physiological and pathological mnemonic processes. Next, we discuss the regulation of the intracellular concentration of cyclic nucleotides via phosphodiesterases, the enzymes that degrade cAMP and/or cGMP, and via A-kinase-anchoring proteins that refine signal compartmentalization of cAMP signaling. We also provide an overview of the available data pointing to the existence of specific time windows in cyclic nucleotide signaling during neuroplasticity and memory formation and the significance to target these specific time phases for improving memory formation. Finally, we highlight the importance of emerging imaging tools like Förster resonance energy transfer imaging and optogenetics in detecting, measuring and manipulating the action of cyclic nucleotide signaling cascades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elentina K Argyrousi
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6200 MD, the Netherlands
| | - Pim R A Heckman
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6200 MD, the Netherlands
| | - Jos Prickaerts
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6200 MD, the Netherlands.
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48
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Schmitt DL, Mehta S, Zhang J. Illuminating the kinome: Visualizing real-time kinase activity in biological systems using genetically encoded fluorescent protein-based biosensors. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2020; 54:63-69. [PMID: 31911398 PMCID: PMC7131877 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Genetically encoded fluorescent protein-based kinase biosensors are a central tool for illumination of the kinome. The adaptability and versatility of biosensors have allowed for spatiotemporal observation of real-time kinase activity in living cells and organisms. In this review, we highlight various types of kinase biosensors, along with their burgeoning applications in complex biological systems. Specifically, we focus on kinase activity reporters used in neuronal systems and whole animal settings. Genetically encoded kinase biosensors are key for elucidation of the spatiotemporal regulation of protein kinases, with broader applications beyond the Petri dish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle L Schmitt
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Sohum Mehta
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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49
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In Vivo Imaging of the Coupling between Neuronal and CREB Activity in the Mouse Brain. Neuron 2019; 105:799-812.e5. [PMID: 31883788 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Sensory experiences cause long-term modifications of neuronal circuits by modulating activity-dependent transcription programs that are vital for regulation of long-term synaptic plasticity and memory. However, it has not been possible to precisely determine the interaction between neuronal activity patterns and transcription factor activity. Here we present a technique using two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging (2pFLIM) with new FRET biosensors to chronically image in vivo signaling of CREB, an activity-dependent transcription factor important for synaptic plasticity, at single-cell resolution. Simultaneous imaging of the red-shifted CREB sensor and GCaMP permitted exploration of how experience shapes the interplay between CREB and neuronal activity in the neocortex of awake mice. Dark rearing increased the sensitivity of CREB activity to Ca2+ elevations and prolonged the duration of CREB activation to more than 24 h in the visual cortex. This technique will allow researchers to unravel the transcriptional dynamics underlying experience-dependent plasticity in the brain.
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50
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Smith SJ, Sümbül U, Graybuck LT, Collman F, Seshamani S, Gala R, Gliko O, Elabbady L, Miller JA, Bakken TE, Rossier J, Yao Z, Lein E, Zeng H, Tasic B, Hawrylycz M. Single-cell transcriptomic evidence for dense intracortical neuropeptide networks. eLife 2019; 8:47889. [PMID: 31710287 PMCID: PMC6881117 DOI: 10.7554/elife.47889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Seeking new insights into the homeostasis, modulation and plasticity of cortical synaptic networks, we have analyzed results from a single-cell RNA-seq study of 22,439 mouse neocortical neurons. Our analysis exposes transcriptomic evidence for dozens of molecularly distinct neuropeptidergic modulatory networks that directly interconnect all cortical neurons. This evidence begins with a discovery that transcripts of one or more neuropeptide precursor (NPP) and one or more neuropeptide-selective G-protein-coupled receptor (NP-GPCR) genes are highly abundant in all, or very nearly all, cortical neurons. Individual neurons express diverse subsets of NP signaling genes from palettes encoding 18 NPPs and 29 NP-GPCRs. These 47 genes comprise 37 cognate NPP/NP-GPCR pairs, implying the likelihood of local neuropeptide signaling. Here, we use neuron-type-specific patterns of NP gene expression to offer specific, testable predictions regarding 37 peptidergic neuromodulatory networks that may play prominent roles in cortical homeostasis and plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Uygar Sümbül
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
| | | | | | | | - Rohan Gala
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
| | - Olga Gliko
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
| | - Leila Elabbady
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
| | | | | | - Jean Rossier
- Neuroscience Paris Seine, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Zizhen Yao
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
| | - Ed Lein
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
| | - Hongkui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
| | - Bosiljka Tasic
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
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