1
|
Chen H, Yan G, Wen MH, Brooks KN, Zhang Y, Huang PS, Chen TY. Advancements and Practical Considerations for Biophysical Research: Navigating the Challenges and Future of Super-resolution Microscopy. CHEMICAL & BIOMEDICAL IMAGING 2024; 2:331-344. [PMID: 38817319 PMCID: PMC11134610 DOI: 10.1021/cbmi.4c00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The introduction of super-resolution microscopy (SRM) has significantly advanced our understanding of cellular and molecular dynamics, offering a detailed view previously beyond our reach. Implementing SRM in biophysical research, however, presents numerous challenges. This review addresses the crucial aspects of utilizing SRM effectively, from selecting appropriate fluorophores and preparing samples to analyzing complex data sets. We explore recent technological advancements and methodological improvements that enhance the capabilities of SRM. Emphasizing the integration of SRM with other analytical methods, we aim to overcome inherent limitations and expand the scope of biological insights achievable. By providing a comprehensive guide for choosing the most suitable SRM methods based on specific research objectives, we aim to empower researchers to explore complex biological processes with enhanced precision and clarity, thereby advancing the frontiers of biophysical research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Guangjie Yan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Meng-Hsuan Wen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Kameron N. Brooks
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Yuteng Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Pei-San Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Tai-Yen Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wu MM, Liao B, Xia IF, Luk PK, Wong KH, Kwok KW. Food emulsifiers increase toxicity of food contaminants in three human GI tract cell lines. Food Chem Toxicol 2024; 185:114499. [PMID: 38309685 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2024.114499] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Food products simultaneously containing both food contaminants and emulsifiers are common in baked products, coffee and chocolate. Little is known regarding how food contaminants and emulsifiers interact and alter toxicity. Recent studies have shown that while emulsifiers themselves have little toxicity, they could cause changes in the gut microenvironment and lead to issues such as increased uptake of allergens. This study examined toxic effect of two common process contaminants acrylamide (AA) and benzo [a]pyrene (BAP) combined with food emulsifiers polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (TW) or glycerol monostearate (G). In liver cell line HepG2 and gastrointestinal cell lines HIEC6 and Caco-2, toxicities of AA and BAP were increased by TW but not by G as indicated by decrease in IC50 values. Addition of TW also exacerbated gene expression changes caused by AA or BAP. Cellular uptake and cell membrane permeability were enhanced by TW but not by G, but tight junction proteins of Caco-2 monolayer was impacted by both emulsifiers. These results suggested that TW could increase toxicity of AA and BAP through increasing cell permeability thus chemical uptake and potentially through other interactions. The study is to draw the attention of regulators on the potential synergistic interaction of co-occurring chemicals in food.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Mh Wu
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; Research Institute for Future Food, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Baoshan Liao
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ivan Fan Xia
- Section of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Peter Kh Luk
- Research Institute for Future Food, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ka-Hing Wong
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; Research Institute for Future Food, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kevin Wh Kwok
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; Research Institute for Future Food, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chen H, Chen TY. Probing Oxidant Effects on Superoxide Dismutase 1 Oligomeric States in Live Cells Using Single-Molecule Fluorescence Anisotropy. CHEMICAL & BIOMEDICAL IMAGING 2023; 1:49-57. [PMID: 37122833 PMCID: PMC10131266 DOI: 10.1021/cbmi.3c00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The protein Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is known to function as a dimer, but its concentration in cells (∼50 μM) and the dimerization constant (K d of 500 μM) results suggest that it exists in a monomer-dimer equilibrium. It is unclear how the oligomeric state of SOD1 changes when cells are initially exposed to high levels of extracellular oxidative stress. To address this problem, we introduced the single-molecule fluorescence anisotropy (smFA) assay to explore SOD1 oligomeric states in live COS7 cells. smFA specifically probes the fluorescence polarization changes caused by molecular rotations where the fast-rotating molecules (either due to smaller hydrodynamic volume or less viscous environments) deteriorate the emission polarization and thus lower the anisotropy. After validating that smFA is effective in distinguishing monomeric and dimeric fluorescence proteins, we overexpressed SOD1 in live COS7 cells and investigated how its oligomeric state changes under basal, 2 h, and 24 h 100 μM H2O2 treatments. We found that treating cells with H2O2 promotes SOD1 dimerization and decreases cellular viscosity in 2 h. Interestingly, prolonged H2O2 treatments show similar results as the basal conditions, indicating that cells return to a steady state similar to the basal state after 24 h, despite the presence of H2O2. Our results demonstrate that SOD1 changes its oligomeric state equilibrium in response to extracellular oxidative stresses. smFA will open new opportunities to explore the relationship between the SOD1 oligomer state and its H2O2-based signaling and transcription regulation roles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University
of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Tai-Yen Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University
of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Chen YH, Huang PS, Wen MH, Pan M, Lee DF, Chen TY. Generation of a homozygous knock-in human embryonic stem cell line expressing mEos4b-tagged CTR1. Stem Cell Res 2022; 63:102845. [PMID: 35728441 PMCID: PMC9360979 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2022.102845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Copper transporter 1 (CTR1) is the major membrane protein responsible for cellular copper (Cu) uptake and mediates cellular copper homeostasis. To elucidate CTR1's behavior using imaging approaches, we generated a homozygous knock-in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) clone expressing photoconvertible fluorescence protein mEos4b-tagged endogenous CTR1 using CRISPR-Cas9 mediated homologous recombination. The engineered cells express functional CTR1-mEos4b fusion and have normal stem cell morphology. They remain pluripotent and can be differentiated into all three germ layers in vitro. This resource allows the study of CTR1 at an endogenous level in different cellular contexts using microscopy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hung Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA; Development, Disease Models and Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Pei-San Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Meng-Hsuan Wen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Manhua Pan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Dung-Fang Lee
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Tai-Yen Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wen MH, Xie X, Huang PS, Yang K, Chen TY. Crossroads between membrane trafficking machinery and copper homeostasis in the nerve system. Open Biol 2021; 11:210128. [PMID: 34847776 PMCID: PMC8633785 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Imbalanced copper homeostasis and perturbation of membrane trafficking are two common symptoms that have been associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases. Accumulating evidence from biophysical, cellular and in vivo studies suggest that membrane trafficking orchestrates both copper homeostasis and neural functions-however, a systematic review of how copper homeostasis and membrane trafficking interplays in neurons remains lacking. Here, we summarize current knowledge of the general trafficking itineraries for copper transporters and highlight several critical membrane trafficking regulators in maintaining copper homeostasis. We discuss how membrane trafficking regulators may alter copper transporter distribution in different membrane compartments to regulate intracellular copper homeostasis. Using Parkinson's disease and MEDNIK as examples, we further elaborate how misregulated trafficking regulators may interplay parallelly or synergistically with copper dyshomeostasis in devastating pathogenesis in neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we explore multiple unsolved questions and highlight the existing challenges to understand how copper homeostasis is modulated through membrane trafficking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Hsuan Wen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Xihong Xie
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Pei-San Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Karen Yang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Tai-Yen Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| |
Collapse
|