1
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Smith AW. Recent applications of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy in live cells. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2024; 81:102480. [PMID: 38905722 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.102480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
As a time-domain analogue of fluorescence imaging, FCS offers valuable insights into molecular dynamics, interactions, and concentrations within living cells. The primary insight generated by FCS is molecular mobility and concentration, which makes it useful for investigating molecular-scale details without the need for enrichment or separation. A specific strength of FCS is the ability to probe protein-protein interactions in live cells and several recent applications in this area are summarized. FCS is also used to investigate plasma membrane protein organization, with many applications to cell surface receptors and the mechanisms of drug binding. Finally, FCS is undergoing continual methodological innovations, such as imaging FCS, SPIM-FCS PIE-FCCS, STED-FCS, three-color FCS, and massively parallel FCS, which extend the capabilities to investigate molecular dynamics at different spatial and temporal scales. These innovations enable detailed examinations of cellular processes, including cellular transport and the spatial organization of membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam W Smith
- Texas Tech University, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Lubbock, TX, USA.
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2
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Nikolić S, Oasa S, Krmpot AJ, Terenius L, Belić MR, Rigler R, Vukojević V. Mapping the Direction of Nucleocytoplasmic Transport of Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) in Live Cells Using Two-Foci Cross-Correlation in Massively Parallel Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (mpFCS). Anal Chem 2023; 95:15171-15179. [PMID: 37782779 PMCID: PMC10585663 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Nucleocytoplasmic transport of transcription factors is vital for normal cellular function, and its breakdown is a major contributing factor in many diseases. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is an evolutionarily conserved, ligand-dependent transcription factor that regulates homeostasis and response to stress and is an important target for therapeutics in inflammation and cancer. In unstimulated cells, the GR resides in the cytoplasm bound to other molecules in a large multiprotein complex. Upon stimulation with endogenous or synthetic ligands, GR translocation to the cell nucleus occurs, where the GR regulates the transcription of numerous genes by direct binding to glucocorticoid response elements or by physically associating with other transcription factors. While much is known about molecular mechanisms underlying GR function, the spatial organization of directionality of GR nucleocytoplasmic transport remains less well characterized, and it is not well understood how the bidirectional nucleocytoplasmic flow of GR is coordinated in stimulated cells. Here, we use two-foci cross-correlation in a massively parallel fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (mpFCS) system to map in live cells the directionality of GR translocation at different positions along the nuclear envelope. We show theoretically and experimentally that cross-correlation of signals from two nearby observation volume elements (OVEs) in an mpFCS setup presents a sharp peak when the OVEs are positioned along the trajectory of molecular motion and that the time position of the peak corresponds to the average time of flight of the molecule between the two OVEs. Hence, the direction and velocity of nucleocytoplasmic transport can be determined simultaneously at several locations along the nuclear envelope. We reveal that under ligand-induced GR translocation, nucleocytoplasmic import/export of GR proceeds simultaneously but at different locations in the cell nucleus. Our data show that mpFCS can characterize in detail the heterogeneity of directional nucleocytoplasmic transport in a live cell and may be invaluable for studies aiming to understand how the bidirectional flow of macromolecules through the nuclear pore complex (NPC) is coordinated to avoid intranuclear transcription factor accretion/abatement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanko
N. Nikolić
- Department
of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institute, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
- Institute
of Physics Belgrade, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
- Division
of Arts and Sciences, Texas A&M University
at Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sho Oasa
- Department
of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institute, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Aleksandar J. Krmpot
- Department
of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institute, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
- Institute
of Physics Belgrade, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
- Division
of Arts and Sciences, Texas A&M University
at Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Lars Terenius
- Department
of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institute, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Milivoj R. Belić
- Division
of Arts and Sciences, Texas A&M University
at Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Rudolf Rigler
- Department
of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institute, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vladana Vukojević
- Department
of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institute, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
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3
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Ledesma-Durán A, Juárez-Valencia LH. Diffusion coefficients and MSD measurements on curved membranes and porous media. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2023; 46:70. [PMID: 37578670 DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-023-00329-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
We study some geometric aspects that influence the transport properties of particles that diffuse on curved surfaces. We compare different approaches to surface diffusion based on the Laplace-Beltrami operator adapted to predict concentration along entire membranes, confined subdomains along surfaces, or within porous media. Our goal is to summarize, firstly, how diffusion in these systems results in different types of diffusion coefficients and mean square displacement measurements, and secondly, how these two factors are affected by the concavity of the surface, the shape of the possible barriers or obstacles that form the available domains, the sinuosity, tortuosity, and constrictions of the trajectories and even how the observation plane affects the measurements of the diffusion. In addition to presenting a critical and organized comparison between different notions of MSD, in this review, we test the correspondence between theoretical predictions and numerical simulations by performing finite element simulations and illustrate some situations where diffusion theory can be applied. We briefly reviewed computational schemes for understanding surface diffusion and finally, discussed how this work contributes to understanding the role of surface diffusion transport properties in porous media and their relationship to other transport processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Ledesma-Durán
- Departmento de Matemáticas, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, CDMX, Mexico
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4
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Sankaran J, Wohland T. Current capabilities and future perspectives of FCS: super-resolution microscopy, machine learning, and in vivo applications. Commun Biol 2023; 6:699. [PMID: 37419967 PMCID: PMC10328937 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05069-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is a single molecule sensitive tool for the quantitative measurement of biomolecular dynamics and interactions. Improvements in biology, computation, and detection technology enable real-time FCS experiments with multiplexed detection even in vivo. These new imaging modalities of FCS generate data at the rate of hundreds of MB/s requiring efficient data processing tools to extract information. Here, we briefly review FCS's capabilities and limitations before discussing recent directions that address these limitations with a focus on imaging modalities of FCS, their combinations with super-resolution microscopy, new evaluation strategies, especially machine learning, and applications in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagadish Sankaran
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, 138632, Singapore.
| | - Thorsten Wohland
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117558, Singapore.
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5
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Cardellini A, Crippa M, Lionello C, Afrose SP, Das D, Pavan GM. Unsupervised Data-Driven Reconstruction of Molecular Motifs in Simple to Complex Dynamic Micelles. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:2595-2608. [PMID: 36891625 PMCID: PMC10041528 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c08726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
The reshuffling mobility of molecular building blocks in self-assembled micelles is a key determinant of many their interesting properties, from emerging morphologies and surface compartmentalization, to dynamic reconfigurability and stimuli-responsiveness. However, the microscopic details of such complex structural dynamics are typically nontrivial to elucidate, especially in multicomponent assemblies. Here we show a machine-learning approach that allows us to reconstruct the structural and dynamic complexity of mono- and bicomponent surfactant micelles from high-dimensional data extracted from equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. Unsupervised clustering of smooth overlap of atomic position (SOAP) data enables us to identify, in a set of multicomponent surfactant micelles, the dominant local molecular environments that emerge within them and to retrace their dynamics, in terms of exchange probabilities and transition pathways of the constituent building blocks. Tested on a variety of micelles differing in size and in the chemical nature of the constitutive self-assembling units, this approach effectively recognizes the molecular motifs populating them in an exquisitely agnostic and unsupervised way, and allows correlating them to their composition in terms of constitutive surfactant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Cardellini
- Department of Innovative Technologies, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Polo Universitario Lugano, Campus Est, Via la Santa 1, 6962 Lugano-Viganello, Switzerland
| | - Martina Crippa
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
| | - Chiara Lionello
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
| | - Syed Pavel Afrose
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
| | - Dibyendu Das
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, India
| | - Giovanni M Pavan
- Department of Innovative Technologies, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Polo Universitario Lugano, Campus Est, Via la Santa 1, 6962 Lugano-Viganello, Switzerland
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
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6
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Jazani S, Xu 徐伟青 LWQ, Sgouralis I, Shepherd DP, Pressé S. Computational Proposal for Tracking Multiple Molecules in a Multifocus Confocal Setup. ACS PHOTONICS 2022; 9:2489-2498. [PMID: 36051355 PMCID: PMC9431897 DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.2c00614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Tracking single molecules continues to provide new insights into the fundamental rules governing biological function. Despite continued technical advances in fluorescent and non-fluorescent labeling as well as data analysis, direct observations of trajectories and interactions of multiple molecules in dense environments remain aspirational goals. While confocal methods provide a means to deduce dynamical parameters with high temporal resolution, such as diffusion coefficients, they do so at the expense of spatial resolution. Indeed, on account of a confocal volume's symmetry, typically only distances from the center of the confocal spot can be deduced. Motivated by the need for true three dimensional high speed tracking in densely labeled environments, we propose a computational tool for tracking many fluorescent molecules traversing multiple, closely spaced, confocal measurement volumes providing independent observations. Various realizations of this multiple confocal volumes strategy have previously been used for long term, large area, tracking of one fluorescent molecule in three dimensions. What is more, we achieve tracking by directly using single photon arrival times to inform our likelihood and exploit Hamiltonian Monte Carlo to efficiently sample trajectories from our posterior within a Bayesian nonparametric paradigm. A nonparametric paradigm here is warranted as the number of molecules present are, themselves, a priori unknown. Taken together, we provide a computational framework to infer trajectories of multiple molecules at once, below the diffraction limit (the width of a confocal spot), in three dimensions at sub-millisecond or faster time scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Jazani
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore
- Center for Biological Physics, Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe
| | - Lance W Q Xu 徐伟青
- Center for Biological Physics, Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe
| | - Ioannis Sgouralis
- Department of Mathematics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Center for Biological Physics, Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe
| | - Douglas P Shepherd
- Center for Biological Physics, Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe
| | - Steve Pressé
- Center for Biological Physics, Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe
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7
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Jaramillo-Martinez V, Ganapathy V, Urbatsch IL. Peptide Tags and Domains for Expression and Detection of Mammalian Membrane Proteins at the Cell Surface. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2507:337-358. [PMID: 35773591 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2368-8_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Normal functions of cell-surface proteins are dependent on their proper trafficking from the site of synthesis to the cell surface. Transport proteins mediating solute transfer across the plasma membrane constitute an important group of cell-surface proteins. There are several diseases resulting from mutations in these proteins that interfere with their transport function or trafficking, depending on the impact of the mutations on protein folding and structure. Recent advances in successful treatment of some of these diseases with small molecules which correct the mutations-induced folding and structural changes underline the need for detailed structural and biophysical characterization of membrane proteins. This requires methods to express and purify these proteins using heterologous expression systems. Here, using the solute carrier (SLC) transporter NaCT (Na+-coupled citrate transporter) as an example, we describe experimental strategies for this approach. We chose this example because several mutations in NaCT, distributed throughout the protein, cause a severe neurologic disease known as early infantile epileptic encephalopathy-25 (EIEE-25). NaCT was modified with various peptide tags, including a RGS-His10, a Twin-Strep, the SUMOstar domain, and an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), each alone or in various combinations. When transiently expressed in HEK293 cells, recombinant NaCT proteins underwent complex glycosylation, compartmentalized with the plasma membrane, and exhibited citrate transport activity similar to the nontagged protein. Surface NaCT expression was enhanced by the presence of SUMOstar on the N-terminus. The dual-purpose peptide epitopes RGS-His10 and Twin-Strep facilitated detection of NaCT by immunohistochemistry and western blot and may serve useful tags for affinity purification. This approach sets the stage for future analyses of mutant NaCT proteins that may alter protein folding and trafficking. It also demonstrates the capability of a transient mammalian cell expression system to produce human NaCT of sufficient quality and quantity to augment future biophysical and structural studies and drug discovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Jaramillo-Martinez
- Departments of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Vadivel Ganapathy
- Cell Biology and Biochemistry, and the Center for Membrane Protein Research, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Ina L Urbatsch
- Cell Biology and Biochemistry, and the Center for Membrane Protein Research, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
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8
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Li T, Oasa S, Ciruela F, Terenius L, Vukojević V, Svenningsson P. Cytosolic GPR37, but not GPR37L1, multimerization and its reversal by Parkin: A live cell imaging study. FASEB J 2021; 35:e22055. [PMID: 34822195 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101213r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Biochemical data have shown aggregated G protein-coupled receptor 37 (GPR37) in the cytoplasm and Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease (PD). Properly folded GPR37 at the plasma membrane appears to be neuroprotective. GPR37, and its homologue GPR37L1, are orphan G protein-coupled receptors and their homo- and hetero-dimers have not been established. We therefore examined GPR37 and GPR37L1 dimerization and extended studies of multimerization of GPR37 to live cells. In this study, we investigated GPR37 and GPR37L1 dimerization and multimerization in live cells using three quantitative imaging methods: Fluorescence Cross-Correlation Spectroscopy, Förster Resonance Energy Transfer, and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy. Our data show that GPR37 and GPR37L1 form homo- and heterodimers in live N2a cells. Importantly, aggregation of GPR37, but not GPR37L1, was identified in the cytoplasm, which could be counteracted by Parkin overexpression. These data provide further evidence that GPR37 participate in cytosolic aggregation processes implicated in PD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Li
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sho Oasa
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Francisco Ciruela
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Lars Terenius
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vladana Vukojević
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Svenningsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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9
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Winkler PM, García-Parajo MF. Correlative nanophotonic approaches to enlighten the nanoscale dynamics of living cell membranes. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:2357-2369. [PMID: 34495333 PMCID: PMC8589428 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic compartmentalization is a prevailing principle regulating the spatiotemporal organization of the living cell membrane from the nano- up to the mesoscale. This non-arbitrary organization is intricately linked to cell function. On living cell membranes, dynamic domains or 'membrane rafts' enriched with cholesterol, sphingolipids and other certain proteins exist at the nanoscale serving as signaling and sorting platforms. Moreover, it has been postulated that other local organizers of the cell membrane such as intrinsic protein interactions, the extracellular matrix and/or the actin cytoskeleton synergize with rafts to provide spatiotemporal hierarchy to the membrane. Elucidating the intricate coupling of multiple spatial and temporal scales requires the application of correlative techniques, with a particular need for simultaneous nanometer spatial precision and microsecond temporal resolution. Here, we review novel fluorescence-based techniques that readily allow to decode nanoscale membrane dynamics with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution and single-molecule sensitivity. We particularly focus on correlative approaches from the field of nanophotonics. Notably, we introduce a versatile planar nanoantenna platform combined with fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to study spatiotemporal heterogeneities on living cell membranes at the nano- up to the mesoscale. Finally, we outline remaining future technological challenges and comment on potential directions to advance our understanding of cell membrane dynamics under the influence of the actin cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix in uttermost detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamina M. Winkler
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860 Barcelona, Spain
| | - María F. García-Parajo
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860 Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Pg. Lluis Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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10
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Oasa S, Krmpot AJ, Nikolić SN, Clayton AHA, Tsigelny IF, Changeux JP, Terenius L, Rigler R, Vukojević V. Dynamic Cellular Cartography: Mapping the Local Determinants of Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2 (OLIG2) Function in Live Cells Using Massively Parallel Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy Integrated with Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (mpFCS/FLIM). Anal Chem 2021; 93:12011-12021. [PMID: 34428029 PMCID: PMC8427561 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c02144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Compartmentalization
and integration of molecular
processes through diffusion are basic mechanisms through which cells
perform biological functions. To characterize these mechanisms in
live cells, quantitative and ultrasensitive analytical methods with
high spatial and temporal resolution are needed. Here, we present
quantitative scanning-free confocal microscopy with single-molecule
sensitivity, high temporal resolution (∼10 μs/frame),
and fluorescence lifetime imaging capacity, developed by integrating
massively parallel fluorescence correlation spectroscopy with fluorescence
lifetime imaging microscopy (mpFCS/FLIM); we validate the method,
use it to map in live cell location-specific variations in the concentration,
diffusion, homodimerization, DNA binding, and local environment of
the oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 fused with the enhanced
Green Fluorescent Protein (OLIG2-eGFP), and characterize the effects
of an allosteric inhibitor of OLIG2 dimerization on these determinants
of OLIG2 function. In particular, we show that cytoplasmic OLIG2-eGFP
is largely monomeric and freely diffusing, with the fraction of freely
diffusing OLIG2-eGFP molecules being fD,freecyt = (0.75
± 0.10) and the diffusion time τD,freecyt = (0.5 ± 0.3) ms. In contrast,
OLIG2-eGFP homodimers are abundant in the cell nucleus, constituting
∼25% of the nuclear pool, some fD,boundnuc = (0.65
± 0.10) of nuclear OLIG2-eGFP is bound to chromatin DNA, whereas
freely moving OLIG2-eGFP molecules diffuse at the same rate as those
in the cytoplasm, as evident from the lateral diffusion times τD,freenuc = τD,freecyt = (0.5
± 0.3) ms. OLIG2-eGFP interactions with chromatin DNA, revealed
through their influence on the apparent diffusion behavior of OLIG2-eGFP,
τD,boundnuc (850 ± 500) ms, are characterized by an apparent dissociation
constant Kd,appOLIG2-DNA = (45 ± 30) nM. The apparent
dissociation constant of OLIG2-eGFP homodimers was estimated to be Kd,app(OLIG2-eGFP)2 ≈ 560 nM. The allosteric inhibitor of OLIG2 dimerization,
compound NSC 50467, neither affects OLIG2-eGFP properties in the cytoplasm
nor does it alter the overall cytoplasmic environment. In contrast,
it significantly impedes OLIG2-eGFP homodimerization in the cell nucleus,
increasing five-fold the apparent dissociation constant, Kd,app,NSC50467(OLIG2-eGFP)2 ≈ 3 μM, thus reducing homodimer levels to below 7%
and effectively abolishing OLIG2-eGFP specific binding to chromatin
DNA. The mpFCS/FLIM methodology has a myriad of applications in biomedical
research and pharmaceutical industry. For example, it is indispensable
for understanding how biological functions emerge through the dynamic
integration of location-specific molecular processes and invaluable
for drug development, as it allows us to quantitatively characterize
the interactions of drugs with drug targets in live cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Oasa
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Aleksandar J Krmpot
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.,Institute of Physics Belgrade, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Stanko N Nikolić
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.,Institute of Physics Belgrade, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Andrew H A Clayton
- Optical Sciences Centre, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria 3122, Australia
| | - Igor F Tsigelny
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0819, United States
| | - Jean-Pierre Changeux
- Department of Neuroscience, Unité Neurobiologie Intégrative des Systèmes Cholinergiques, Institut Pasteur, F-75724 Paris 15, France
| | - Lars Terenius
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rudolf Rigler
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (MBB), Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vladana Vukojević
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
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11
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Cho Y, Christoff-Tempesta T, Kaser SJ, Ortony JH. Dynamics in supramolecular nanomaterials. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:5850-5863. [PMID: 34114584 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00047k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembly of amphiphilic small molecules in water leads to nanostructures with customizable structure-property relationships arising from their tunable chemistries. Characterization of these assemblies is generally limited to their static structures -e.g. their geometries and dimensions - but the implementation of tools that provide a deeper understanding of molecular motions has recently emerged. Here, we summarize recent reports showcasing dynamics characterization tools and their application to small molecule assemblies, and we go on to highlight supramolecular systems whose properties are substantially affected by their conformational, exchange, and water dynamics. This review illustrates the importance of considering dynamics in rational amphiphile design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukio Cho
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Ty Christoff-Tempesta
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Samuel J Kaser
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Julia H Ortony
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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12
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Liput M, Magliaro C, Kuczynska Z, Zayat V, Ahluwalia A, Buzanska L. Tools and approaches for analyzing the role of mitochondria in health, development and disease using human cerebral organoids. Dev Neurobiol 2021; 81:591-607. [PMID: 33725382 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22818] [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] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondria are cellular organelles involved in generating energy to power various processes in the cell. Although the pivotal role of mitochondria in neurogenesis was demonstrated (first in animal models), very little is known about their role in human embryonic neurodevelopment and its pathology. In this respect human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC)-derived cerebral organoids provide a tractable, alternative model system of the early neural development and disease that is responsive to pharmacological and genetic manipulations, not possible to apply in humans. Although the involvement of mitochondria in the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative diseases and brain dysfunction has been demonstrated, the precise role they play in cell life and death remains unknown, compromising the development of new mitochondria-targeted approaches to treat human diseases. The cerebral organoid model of neurogenesis and disease in vitro provides an unprecedented opportunity to answer some of the most fundamental questions about mitochondrial function in early human neurodevelopment and neural pathology. Largely an unexplored territory due to the lack of tools and approaches, this review focuses on recent technological advancements in fluorescent and molecular tools, imaging systems, and computational approaches for quantitative and qualitative analyses of mitochondrial structure and function in three-dimensional cellular assemblies-cerebral organoids. Future developments in this direction will further facilitate our understanding of the important role or mitochondrial dynamics and energy requirements during early embryonic development. This in turn will provide a further understanding of how dysfunctional mitochondria contribute to disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Liput
- Department of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Chiara Magliaro
- Research Centre "E. Piaggio", and Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Zuzanna Kuczynska
- Department of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Valery Zayat
- Department of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Arti Ahluwalia
- Research Centre "E. Piaggio", and Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Leonora Buzanska
- Department of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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13
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Slenders E, Castello M, Buttafava M, Villa F, Tosi A, Lanzanò L, Koho SV, Vicidomini G. Confocal-based fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy with a SPAD array detector. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2021; 10:31. [PMID: 33542179 PMCID: PMC7862647 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-021-00475-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The combination of confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM) and fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy (FFS) is a powerful tool in studying fast, sub-resolution biomolecular processes in living cells. A detector array can further enhance CLSM-based FFS techniques, as it allows the simultaneous acquisition of several samples-essentially images-of the CLSM detection volume. However, the detector arrays that have previously been proposed for this purpose require tedious data corrections and preclude the combination of FFS with single-photon techniques, such as fluorescence lifetime imaging. Here, we solve these limitations by integrating a novel single-photon-avalanche-diode (SPAD) array detector in a CLSM system. We validate this new implementation on a series of FFS analyses: spot-variation fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, pair-correlation function analysis, and image-derived mean squared displacement analysis. We predict that the unique combination of spatial and temporal information provided by our detector will make the proposed architecture the method of choice for CLSM-based FFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli Slenders
- Molecular Microscopy and Spectroscopy, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Castello
- Molecular Microscopy and Spectroscopy, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mauro Buttafava
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Tosi
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Lanzanò
- Nanoscopy and NIC@IIT, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Sami Valtteri Koho
- Molecular Microscopy and Spectroscopy, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Vicidomini
- Molecular Microscopy and Spectroscopy, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy.
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14
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Daria VR, Castañares ML, Bachor HA. Spatio-temporal parameters for optical probing of neuronal activity. Biophys Rev 2021; 13:13-33. [PMID: 33747244 PMCID: PMC7930150 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-021-00780-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The challenge to understand the complex neuronal circuit functions in the mammalian brain has brought about a revolution in light-based neurotechnologies and optogenetic tools. However, while recent seminal works have shown excellent insights on the processing of basic functions such as sensory perception, memory, and navigation, understanding more complex brain functions is still unattainable with current technologies. We are just scratching the surface, both literally and figuratively. Yet, the path towards fully understanding the brain is not totally uncertain. Recent rapid technological advancements have allowed us to analyze the processing of signals within dendritic arborizations of single neurons and within neuronal circuits. Understanding the circuit dynamics in the brain requires a good appreciation of the spatial and temporal properties of neuronal activity. Here, we assess the spatio-temporal parameters of neuronal responses and match them with suitable light-based neurotechnologies as well as photochemical and optogenetic tools. We focus on the spatial range that includes dendrites and certain brain regions (e.g., cortex and hippocampus) that constitute neuronal circuits. We also review some temporal characteristics of some proteins and ion channels responsible for certain neuronal functions. With the aid of the photochemical and optogenetic markers, we can use light to visualize the circuit dynamics of a functioning brain. The challenge to understand how the brain works continue to excite scientists as research questions begin to link macroscopic and microscopic units of brain circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent R. Daria
- Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | | | - Hans-A. Bachor
- Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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15
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Auer JMT, Stoddart JJ, Christodoulou I, Lima A, Skouloudaki K, Hall HN, Vukojević V, Papadopoulos DK. Of numbers and movement - understanding transcription factor pathogenesis by advanced microscopy. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13:dmm046516. [PMID: 33433399 PMCID: PMC7790199 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.046516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) are life-sustaining and, therefore, the subject of intensive research. By regulating gene expression, TFs control a plethora of developmental and physiological processes, and their abnormal function commonly leads to various developmental defects and diseases in humans. Normal TF function often depends on gene dosage, which can be altered by copy-number variation or loss-of-function mutations. This explains why TF haploinsufficiency (HI) can lead to disease. Since aberrant TF numbers frequently result in pathogenic abnormalities of gene expression, quantitative analyses of TFs are a priority in the field. In vitro single-molecule methodologies have significantly aided the identification of links between TF gene dosage and transcriptional outcomes. Additionally, advances in quantitative microscopy have contributed mechanistic insights into normal and aberrant TF function. However, to understand TF biology, TF-chromatin interactions must be characterised in vivo, in a tissue-specific manner and in the context of both normal and altered TF numbers. Here, we summarise the advanced microscopy methodologies most frequently used to link TF abundance to function and dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying TF HIs. Increased application of advanced single-molecule and super-resolution microscopy modalities will improve our understanding of how TF HIs drive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M T Auer
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 1XU, UK
| | - Jack J Stoddart
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 1XU, UK
| | | | - Ana Lima
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 1XU, UK
| | | | - Hildegard N Hall
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 1XU, UK
| | - Vladana Vukojević
- Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
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16
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Sankaran J, Wohland T. Fluorescence strategies for mapping cell membrane dynamics and structures. APL Bioeng 2020; 4:020901. [PMID: 32478279 PMCID: PMC7228782 DOI: 10.1063/1.5143945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence spectroscopy has been a cornerstone of research in membrane dynamics and organization. Technological advances in fluorescence spectroscopy went hand in hand with discovery of various physicochemical properties of membranes at nanometric spatial and microsecond timescales. In this perspective, we discuss the various challenges associated with quantification of physicochemical properties of membranes and how various modes of fluorescence spectroscopy have overcome these challenges to shed light on the structure and organization of membranes. Finally, we discuss newer measurement strategies and data analysis tools to investigate the structure, dynamics, and organization of membranes.
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17
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Teng X, Li F, Lu C. Visualization of materials using the confocal laser scanning microscopy technique. Chem Soc Rev 2020; 49:2408-2425. [PMID: 32134417 DOI: 10.1039/c8cs00061a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The development of materials science always benefits from advanced characterizations. Currently, imaging techniques are of great technological importance in both fundamental and applied research on materials. In comparison to conventional visualization methods, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is non-invasive, with macroscale and high-contrast scanning, a simple and fast sample preparation procedure as well as easy operation. In addition, CLSM allows rapid acquisition of longitudinal and cross-sectional images at any position in a material. Therefore, the CLSM-based visualization technique could provide direct and model-independent insight into material characterizations. This review summarizes the recent applications of CLSM in materials science. The current CLSM approaches for the visualization of surface structures, internal structures, spatial structures and reaction processes are discussed in detail. Finally, we provide our thoughts and predictions on the future development of CLSM in materials science. The purpose of this review is to guide researchers to build a suitable CLSM approach for material characterizations, and to open viable opportunities and inspirations for the development of new strategies aiming at the preparation of advanced materials. We hope that this review will be useful for a wide range of research communities of materials science, chemistry, and engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Teng
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering (BAICAS), State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China.
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18
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Bag N, Holowka DA, Baird BA. Imaging FCS delineates subtle heterogeneity in plasma membranes of resting mast cells. Mol Biol Cell 2020; 31:709-723. [PMID: 31895009 PMCID: PMC7202073 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e19-10-0559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A myriad of transient, nanoscopic lipid- and protein-based interactions confer a steady-state organization of the plasma membrane in resting cells that is poised to orchestrate assembly of key signaling components upon reception of an extracellular stimulus. Although difficult to observe directly in live cells, these subtle interactions can be discerned by their impact on the diffusion of membrane constituents. Here, we quantified the diffusion properties of a panel of structurally distinct lipid, lipid-anchored, and transmembrane (TM) probes in RBL mast cells by imaging fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (ImFCS). We developed a statistical analysis of data combined from many pixels over multiple cells to characterize differences in diffusion coefficients as small as 10%, which reflect differences in underlying interactions. We found that the distinctive diffusion properties of lipid probes can be explained by their dynamic partitioning into Lo-like proteolipid nanodomains, which encompass a major fraction of the membrane and whose physical properties are influenced by actin polymerization. Effects on diffusion of functional protein modules in both lipid-anchored and TM probes reflect additional complexity in steady state membrane organization. The contrast we observe between different probes diffusing through the same membrane milieu represents the dynamic resting steady state, which serves as a baseline for monitoring plasma membrane remodeling that occurs upon stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirmalya Bag
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - David A Holowka
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Barbara A Baird
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
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