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Tveriakhina L, Scanavachi G, Egan ED, Da Cunha Correia RB, Martin AP, Rogers JM, Yodh JS, Aster JC, Kirchhausen T, Blacklow SC. Temporal dynamics and stoichiometry in human Notch signaling from Notch synaptic complex formation to nuclear entry of the Notch intracellular domain. Dev Cell 2024; 59:1425-1438.e8. [PMID: 38574735 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.03.021] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian Notch signaling occurs when the binding of Delta or Jagged to Notch stimulates the proteolytic release of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD), which enters the nucleus to control target gene expression. To determine the temporal dynamics of events associated with Notch signaling under native conditions, we fluorescently tagged Notch and Delta at their endogenous genomic loci and visualized them upon pairing of receiver (Notch) and sender (Delta) cells as a function of time after cell contact. At contact sites, Notch and Delta immediately accumulated at 1:1 stoichiometry in synapses, which resolved by 15-20 min after contact. Synapse formation preceded the entrance of the Notch extracellular domain into the sender cell and accumulation of NICD in the nucleus of the receiver cell, which approached a maximum after ∼45 min and was prevented by chemical and genetic inhibitors of signaling. These findings directly link Notch-Delta synapse dynamics to NICD production with spatiotemporal precision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Tveriakhina
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Gustavo Scanavachi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Emily D Egan
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ricardo Bango Da Cunha Correia
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alexandre P Martin
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Julia M Rogers
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jeremy S Yodh
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Jon C Aster
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tom Kirchhausen
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Stephen C Blacklow
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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2
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Kim HM, Bathe M. Force-free activation of Notch with DNA origami. Trends Genet 2024; 40:293-295. [PMID: 38493041 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.03.001] [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: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway is a highly conserved, fundamental process to embryogenesis and neurogenesis. While force-induced conformational change is known to activate Notch receptors, Smyrlaki et al. recently used DNA origami to reveal an additional, force-independent mode of Notch activation via soluble presentation of spatially controlled ligand nanopatterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Min Kim
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mark Bathe
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, BIDMC Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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3
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Recktenwald M, Hutt E, Davis L, MacAulay J, Daringer NM, Galie PA, Staehle MM, Vega SL. Engineering transcriptional regulation for cell-based therapies. SLAS Technol 2024; 29:100121. [PMID: 38340892 DOI: 10.1016/j.slast.2024.100121] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
A major aim in the field of synthetic biology is developing tools capable of responding to user-defined inputs by activating therapeutically relevant cellular functions. Gene transcription and regulation in response to external stimuli are some of the most powerful and versatile of these cellular functions being explored. Motivated by the success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, transmembrane receptor-based platforms have been embraced for their ability to sense extracellular ligands and to subsequently activate intracellular signal transduction. The integration of transmembrane receptors with transcriptional activation platforms has not yet achieved its full potential. Transient expression of plasmid DNA is often used to explore gene regulation platforms in vitro. However, applications capable of targeting therapeutically relevant endogenous or stably integrated genes are more clinically relevant. Gene regulation may allow for engineered cells to traffic into tissues of interest and secrete functional proteins into the extracellular space or to differentiate into functional cells. Transmembrane receptors that regulate transcription have the potential to revolutionize cell therapies in a myriad of applications, including cancer treatment and regenerative medicine. In this review, we will examine current engineering approaches to control transcription in mammalian cells with an emphasis on systems that can be selectively activated in response to extracellular signals. We will also speculate on the potential therapeutic applications of these technologies and examine promising approaches to expand their capabilities and tighten the control of gene regulation in cellular therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Recktenwald
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Evan Hutt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Leah Davis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - James MacAulay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Nichole M Daringer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Peter A Galie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Mary M Staehle
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Sebastián L Vega
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA.
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Russell GC, Hamzaoui Y, Rho D, Sutrave G, Choi JS, Missan DS, Reckard GA, Gustafson MP, Kim GB. Synthetic biology approaches for enhancing safety and specificity of CAR-T cell therapies for solid cancers. Cytotherapy 2024:S1465-3249(24)00576-0. [PMID: 38639669 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.03.484] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
CAR-T cell therapies have been successful in treating numerous hematologic malignancies as the T cell can be engineered to target a specific antigen associated with the disease. However, translating CAR-T cell therapies for solid cancers is proving more challenging due to the lack of truly tumor-associated antigens and the high risk of off-target toxicities. To combat this, numerous synthetic biology mechanisms are being incorporated to create safer and more specific CAR-T cells that can be spatiotemporally controlled with increased precision. Here, we seek to summarize and analyze the advancements for CAR-T cell therapies with respect to clinical implementation, from the perspective of synthetic biology and immunology. This review should serve as a resource for further investigation and growth within the field of personalized cellular therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace C Russell
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| | - Yassin Hamzaoui
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| | - Daniel Rho
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| | - Gaurav Sutrave
- The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Haematology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Immuno & Gene Therapy Committee, International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Joseph S Choi
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| | - Dara S Missan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Gabrielle A Reckard
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Michael P Gustafson
- Immuno & Gene Therapy Committee, International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| | - Gloria B Kim
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
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Smyrlaki I, Fördős F, Rocamonde-Lago I, Wang Y, Shen B, Lentini A, Luca VC, Reinius B, Teixeira AI, Högberg B. Soluble and multivalent Jag1 DNA origami nanopatterns activate Notch without pulling force. Nat Commun 2024; 15:465. [PMID: 38238313 PMCID: PMC10796381 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44059-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway has fundamental roles in embryonic development and in the nervous system. The current model of receptor activation involves initiation via a force-induced conformational change. Here, we define conditions that reveal pulling force-independent Notch activation using soluble multivalent constructs. We treat neuroepithelial stem-like cells with molecularly precise ligand nanopatterns displayed from solution using DNA origami. Notch signaling follows with clusters of Jag1, and with chimeric structures where most Jag1 proteins are replaced by other binders not targeting Notch. Our data rule out several confounding factors and suggest a model where Jag1 activates Notch upon prolonged binding without appearing to need a pulling force. These findings reveal a distinct mode of activation of Notch and lay the foundation for the development of soluble agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Smyrlaki
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ferenc Fördős
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Iris Rocamonde-Lago
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Boxuan Shen
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Alto, Finland
| | - Antonio Lentini
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vincent C Luca
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Björn Reinius
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ana I Teixeira
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Björn Högberg
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Kalodimou K, Stapountzi M, Vüllings N, Seib E, Klein T, Delidakis C. Separable Roles for Neur and Ubiquitin in Delta Signalling in the Drosophila CNS Lineages. Cells 2023; 12:2833. [PMID: 38132160 PMCID: PMC10741450 DOI: 10.3390/cells12242833] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The execution of a Notch signal at the plasma membrane relies on the mechanical force exerted onto Notch by its ligand. It has been appreciated that the DSL ligands need to collaborate with a ubiquitin (Ub) ligase, either Neuralized or Mindbomb1, in order to exert this pulling force, but the role of ubiquitylation per se is uncertain. Regarding the Delta-Neur pair, it is documented that neither the Neur catalytic domain nor the Delta intracellular lysines (putative Ub acceptors) are needed for activity. Here, we present a dissection of the Delta activity using the Delta-Notch-dependent expression of Hey in newborn Drosophila neurons as a sensitive in vivo assay. We show that the Delta-Neur interaction per se, rather than ubiquitylation, is needed for activity, pointing to the existence of a Delta-Neur signaling complex. The Neur catalytic domain, although not strictly needed, greatly improves Delta-Neur complex functionality when the Delta lysines are mutated, suggesting that the ubiquitylation of some component of the complex, other than Delta, can enhance signaling. Since Hey expression is sensitive to the perturbation of endocytosis, we propose that the Delta-Neur complex triggers a force-generating endocytosis event that activates Notch in the adjacent cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina Kalodimou
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, 700 13 Heraklion, Greece;
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 700 13 Heraklion, Greece;
| | - Margarita Stapountzi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 700 13 Heraklion, Greece;
| | - Nicole Vüllings
- Institute of Genetics, Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Ekaterina Seib
- Institute of Genetics, Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Thomas Klein
- Institute of Genetics, Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Christos Delidakis
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, 700 13 Heraklion, Greece;
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 700 13 Heraklion, Greece;
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Tveriakhina L, Scanavachi G, Egan ED, Correia RBDC, Martin AP, Rogers JM, Yodh JS, Aster JC, Kirchhausen T, Blacklow SC. Temporal Dynamics and Stoichiometry in Notch Signaling - from Notch Synaptic Complex Formation to NICD Nuclear Entry. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.27.559780. [PMID: 37808809 PMCID: PMC10557745 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.27.559780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian Notch signaling occurs when binding of Delta or Jagged to Notch stimulates proteolytic release of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD), which enters the nucleus to regulate target gene expression. To determine the temporal dynamics of events associated with Notch signaling under native conditions, we fluorescently tagged Notch and Delta at their endogenous genomic loci and visualized them upon pairing of receiver (Notch) and sender (Delta) cells as a function of time after cell contact. At contact sites, Notch and Delta immediately accumulated at 1:1 stoichiometry in synapses, which resolved by 15-20 min after contact. Synapse formation preceded entrance of the Notch extracellular domain into the sender cell and accumulation of NICD in the nucleus of the receiver cell, which approached a maximum after ∼45 min and was prevented by chemical and genetic inhibitors of signaling. These findings directly link Notch-Delta synapse dynamics to NICD production with unprecedented spatiotemporal precision.
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8
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Garibyan M, Hoffman T, Makaske T, Do S, March AR, Cho N, Pedroncelli N, Lima RE, Soto J, Jackson B, Khademhosseini A, Li S, McCain M, Morsut L. Engineering Programmable Material-To-Cell Pathways Via Synthetic Notch Receptors To Spatially Control Cellular Phenotypes In Multi-Cellular Constructs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.19.541497. [PMID: 37293089 PMCID: PMC10245658 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.19.541497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic Notch (synNotch) receptors are modular synthetic components that are genetically engineered into mammalian cells to detect signals presented by neighboring cells and respond by activating prescribed transcriptional programs. To date, synNotch has been used to program therapeutic cells and pattern morphogenesis in multicellular systems. However, cell-presented ligands have limited versatility for applications that require spatial precision, such as tissue engineering. To address this, we developed a suite of materials to activate synNotch receptors and serve as generalizable platforms for generating user-defined material-to-cell signaling pathways. First, we demonstrate that synNotch ligands, such as GFP, can be conjugated to cell- generated ECM proteins via genetic engineering of fibronectin produced by fibroblasts. We then used enzymatic or click chemistry to covalently link synNotch ligands to gelatin polymers to activate synNotch receptors in cells grown on or within a hydrogel. To achieve microscale control over synNotch activation in cell monolayers, we microcontact printed synNotch ligands onto a surface. We also patterned tissues comprising cells with up to three distinct phenotypes by engineering cells with two distinct synthetic pathways and culturing them on surfaces microfluidically patterned with two synNotch ligands. We showcase this technology by co-transdifferentiating fibroblasts into skeletal muscle or endothelial cell precursors in user-defined spatial patterns towards the engineering of muscle tissue with prescribed vascular networks. Collectively, this suite of approaches extends the synNotch toolkit and provides novel avenues for spatially controlling cellular phenotypes in mammalian multicellular systems, with many broad applications in developmental biology, synthetic morphogenesis, human tissue modeling, and regenerative medicine.
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