1
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Broch F, El Hajji L, Pietrancosta N, Gautier A. Engineering of Tunable Allosteric-like Fluorogenic Protein Sensors. ACS Sens 2023; 8:3933-3942. [PMID: 37830919 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c01536] [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] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Optical protein sensors that enable detection of relevant biomolecules of interest play central roles in biological research. Coupling fluorescent reporters with protein sensing units has enabled the development of a wide range of biosensors that recognize analytes with high selectivity. In these sensors, analyte recognition induces a conformational change in the protein sensing unit that can modulate the optical signal of the fluorescent reporter. Here, we explore various designs for the creation of tunable allosteric-like fluorogenic protein sensors through incorporation of sensing protein units within the chemogenetic fluorescence-activating and absorption-shifting tag (FAST) that selectively binds and stabilizes the fluorescent state of 4-hydroxybenzylidene rhodanine (HBR) analogs. Conformational coupling allowed us to design analyte-responsive optical protein sensors through allosteric-like modulation of fluorogen binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Broch
- Sorbonne Université, École Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, CNRS, Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Lina El Hajji
- Sorbonne Université, École Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, CNRS, Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Pietrancosta
- Sorbonne Université, École Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, CNRS, Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, 75005 Paris, France
- Neuroscience Paris Seine-Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS-IBPS) INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Arnaud Gautier
- Sorbonne Université, École Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, CNRS, Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, 75005 Paris, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, 75231 Paris, France
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2
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Wu Y, Walker JR, Westberg M, Ning L, Monje M, Kirkland TA, Lin MZ, Su Y. Kinase-Modulated Bioluminescent Indicators Enable Noninvasive Imaging of Drug Activity in the Brain. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2023; 9:719-732. [PMID: 37122464 PMCID: PMC10141594 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant kinase activity contributes to the pathogenesis of brain cancers, neurodegeneration, and neuropsychiatric diseases, but identifying kinase inhibitors that function in the brain is challenging. Drug levels in blood do not predict efficacy in the brain because the blood-brain barrier prevents entry of most compounds. Rather, assessing kinase inhibition in the brain requires tissue dissection and biochemical analysis, a time-consuming and resource-intensive process. Here, we report kinase-modulated bioluminescent indicators (KiMBIs) for noninvasive longitudinal imaging of drug activity in the brain based on a recently optimized luciferase-luciferin system. We develop an ERK KiMBI to report inhibitors of the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway, for which no bioluminescent indicators previously existed. ERK KiMBI discriminates between brain-penetrant and nonpenetrant MEK inhibitors, reveals blood-tumor barrier leakiness in xenograft models, and reports MEK inhibitor pharmacodynamics in native brain tissues and intracranial xenografts. Finally, we use ERK KiMBI to screen ERK inhibitors for brain efficacy, identifying temuterkib as a promising brain-active ERK inhibitor, a result not predicted from chemical characteristics alone. Thus, KiMBIs enable the rapid identification and pharmacodynamic characterization of kinase inhibitors suitable for treating brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wu
- Department
of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Joel R. Walker
- Promega
Biosciences LLC, San Luis Obispo, California 93401, United States
| | - Michael Westberg
- Department
of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
| | - Lin Ning
- Department
of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Michelle Monje
- Department
of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Howard Hughes
Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Thomas A. Kirkland
- Promega
Biosciences LLC, San Luis Obispo, California 93401, United States
| | - Michael Z. Lin
- Department
of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Yichi Su
- Department
of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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3
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Wu CC, Huang SJ, Fu TY, Lin FL, Wang XY, Tan KT. Small-Molecule Modulated Affinity-Tunable Semisynthetic Protein Switches. ACS Sens 2022; 7:2691-2700. [PMID: 36084142 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c01211] [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] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Engineered protein switches have been widely applied in cell-based protein sensors and point-of-care diagnosis for the rapid and simple analysis of a wide variety of proteins, metabolites, nucleic acids, and enzymatic activities. Currently, these protein switches are based on two main types of switching mechanisms to transduce the target binding event to a quantitative signal, through a change in the optical properties of fluorescent molecules and the activation of enzymatic activities. In this paper, we introduce a new affinity-tunable protein switch strategy in which the binding of a small-molecule target with the protein activates the streptavidin-biotin interaction to generate a readout signal. In the absence of a target, the biotinylated protein switch forms a closed conformation where the biotin is positioned in close proximity to the protein, imposing a large steric hindrance to prevent the effective binding with streptavidin. In the presence of the target molecule, this steric hindrance is removed, thereby exposing the biotin for streptavidin binding to produce strong fluorescent signals. With this modular sensing concept, various sulfonamide, methotrexate, and trimethoprim drugs can be selectively detected on the cell surface of native and genetically engineered cells using different fluorescent dyes and detection techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Chi Wu
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Section 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shao-Jie Huang
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Section 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Tsung-Yu Fu
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Section 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Fang-Ling Lin
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Section 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Xin-You Wang
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Section 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Kui-Thong Tan
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Section 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Section 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Department of Medicinal and Applied Chemistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan, Republic of China
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4
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Lv M, Xu Q, Zhang B, Yang Z, Xie J, Guo J, He F, Wang W. Imperatorin induces autophagy and G0/G1 phase arrest via PTEN-PI3K-AKT-mTOR/p21 signaling pathway in human osteosarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:689. [PMID: 34923996 PMCID: PMC8684670 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02397-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteosarcoma is the third most common cancer in adolescence and the first common primary malignant tumor of bone. The long-term prognosis of osteosarcoma still remains unsatisfactory in the past decades. Therefore, development of novel therapeutic agents which are effective to osteosarcoma and are safe to normal tissue simultaneously is quite essential and urgent. METHODS Firstly, MTT assay, cell colony formation assay, cell migration and invasion assays were conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effects of imperatorin towards human osteosarcoma cells. RNA-sequence assay and bioinformatic analysis were then performed to filtrate and assume the potential imperatorin-induced cell death route and signaling pathway. Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR assay, western blot assay and rescue experiments were conducted to confirm the assumptions of bioinformatic analysis. Finally, a subcutaneous tumor-transplanted nude mouse model was established and applied to evaluate the internal effect of imperatorin on osteosarcoma by HE and immunohistochemistry staining. RESULTS Imperatorin triggered time-dependent and dose-dependent inhibition of tumor growth mainly by inducing autophagy promotion and G0/G1 phase arrest in vitro and in vivo. Besides, imperatorin treatment elevated the expression level of PTEN and p21, down-regulated the phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR. In contrast, the inhibition of PTEN using Bpv (HOpic), a potential and selective inhibitor of PTEN, concurrently rescued imperatorin-induced autophagy promotion, cell cycle arrest and inactivation of PTEN-PI3K-AKT-mTOR/p21 pathway. CONCLUSIONS This work firstly revealed that imperatorin induced autophagy and cell cycle arrest through PTEN-PI3K-AKT-mTOR/p21 signaling pathway by targeting and up-regulating PTEN in human osteosarcoma cells. Hence, imperatorin is a desirable candidate for clinical treatments of osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minchao Lv
- Department of Orthopedics, Quzhou People's Hospital, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No.100, Minjiang Avenue, Quzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qingxin Xu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College, Wenzhou Medical University, Chashan Educational District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bei Zhang
- First Clinical Medicine College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 548, Bingwen Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhiqiang Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169, Donghu Road, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jun Xie
- Department of Orthopedics, Quzhou People's Hospital, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No.100, Minjiang Avenue, Quzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinku Guo
- Department of Orthopedics, Quzhou People's Hospital, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No.100, Minjiang Avenue, Quzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Feixiong He
- Department of Orthopedics, Quzhou People's Hospital, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No.100, Minjiang Avenue, Quzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Quzhou People's Hospital, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No.100, Minjiang Avenue, Quzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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5
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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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6
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Xu T, Tian W, Zhang Q, Liu J, Liu Z, Jin J, Guo Y, Bai LP. Novel 1,3,4-thiadiazole/oxadiazole-linked honokiol derivatives suppress cancer via inducing PI3K/Akt/mTOR-dependent autophagy. Bioorg Chem 2021; 115:105257. [PMID: 34426156 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105257] [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] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Honokiol is a bioactive biphenolic component derived from Magnoliae officinalis Cortex (known as "Hou Po" in Chinese), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. A series of novel 1,3,4-thiadiazole/oxadiazole-linked honokiol derivatives were synthesized and tested for anticancer activity against seven human cancer cell lines in this study. Among all derivatives, 8a had the most potent cytotoxic effect on all tested cancer cells, with IC50 values ranging from 1.62 ± 0.19 to 4.61 ± 0.51 µM, which were 10.38-34.36 folds more potent than the parental honokiol (IC50 values of 30.96 ± 1.81-55.67 ± 0.31 µM). On A549, HCT116, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, 8a demonstrated 5.69-fold, 5.65-fold, and 4.83-fold greater cytotoxicity than cisplatin, respectively. Compound 8a also had higher selectivity (SI values of 8.41-49.38) towards seven cancer cell lines over the normal cell lines than cisplatin (SI values of 1.24-2.52). The analysis of structure-activity relationships (SARs) revealed that honokiol derivatives bearing 1,3,4-thiadiazoles (8a-j) possessed stronger anticancer activity than those containing 1,3,4-oxadiazoles. Further mechanistic investigation indicated that 8a induced cytotoxic autophagy in cancer cells in a time- and dose-independent manner via suppressing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Molecular docking suggested that 8a could bind to the PI3Kα active sites. Additionally, 8a inhibited the migration and invasion of A549 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Disease, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Wenyue Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Disease, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China
| | - Jiazheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Disease, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Zhiyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Disease, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China
| | - Jing Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Disease, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China.
| | - Li-Ping Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Disease, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, China.
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7
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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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8
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Massoud TF, Paulmurugan R. Molecular Imaging of Protein–Protein Interactions and Protein Folding. Mol Imaging 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-816386-3.00071-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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9
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Abstract
The spatiotemporal determination of molecular events and cells is important for understanding disease processes, especially in oncology, and thus for the development of novel treatments. Equally important is the knowledge of the biodistribution, localization, and targeted accumulation of novel therapies as well as monitoring of tumor growth and therapeutic response. Optical imaging provides an ideal versatile platform for imaging of all these problems and questions.
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10
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Di Yang M, Shen XB, Hu YS, Chen YY, Liu XH. Novel naphthalene-enoates: Design and anticancer activity through regulation cell autophagy. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 113:108747. [PMID: 30849638 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Eleven dihydroxy-2-(1-hydroxy-4-methylpent-3-enyl)naphthalene derivatives as anticancer agents through regulating cell autophagy were designed and synthesized. The anticancer activity results indicated that most compounds manifested obvious un-toxic effect on GES-1 and L-02 with IC50 from 0.58 to 1.41 mM. Among them, (S,Z)-1-(5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-dioxo-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl)-4-methylpent-3-enyl 4-(3,4- dihydroisoquinolin-2(1 H)-yl)-4-oxobut-2-enoate (compound 4i) could induce cancer cells apoptosis. Further experiments showed that autophagy played an important role in the pro-apoptotic effect of this compound. Preliminary mechanism indicated that this compound could inhibit phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B and the mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway by mediating apoptosis in an autophagy-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Di Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, PR China
| | - Xiao Bao Shen
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, PR China
| | - Yang Sheng Hu
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, PR China
| | - Yan Yan Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, PR China
| | - Xin Hua Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, PR China; School of Material Science Chemical Engineering, ChuZhou University, ChuZhou, 239000, PR China.
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11
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Dippel AB, Anderson WA, Evans RS, Deutsch S, Hammond MC. Chemiluminescent Biosensors for Detection of Second Messenger Cyclic di-GMP. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:1872-1879. [PMID: 29466657 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.7b01019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria colonize highly diverse and complex environments, from gastrointestinal tracts to soil and plant surfaces. This colonization process is controlled in part by the intracellular signal cyclic di-GMP, which regulates bacterial motility and biofilm formation. To interrogate cyclic di-GMP signaling networks, a variety of fluorescent biosensors for live cell imaging of cyclic di-GMP have been developed. However, the need for external illumination precludes the use of these tools for imaging bacteria in their natural environments, including in deep tissues of whole organisms and in samples that are highly autofluorescent or photosensitive. The need for genetic encoding also complicates the analysis of clinical isolates and environmental samples. Toward expanding the study of bacterial signaling to these systems, we have developed the first chemiluminescent biosensors for cyclic di-GMP. The biosensor design combines the complementation of split luciferase (CSL) and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) approaches. Furthermore, we developed a lysate-based assay for biosensor activity that enabled reliable high-throughput screening of a phylogenetic library of 92 biosensor variants. The screen identified biosensors with very large signal changes (∼40- and 90-fold) as well as biosensors with high affinities for cyclic di-GMP ( KD < 50 nM). These chemiluminescent biosensors then were applied to measure cyclic di-GMP levels in E. coli. The cellular experiments revealed an unexpected challenge for chemiluminescent imaging in Gram negative bacteria but showed promising application in lysates. Taken together, this work establishes the first chemiluminescent biosensors for studying cyclic di-GMP signaling and provides a foundation for using these biosensors in more complex systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew B. Dippel
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Wyatt A. Anderson
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Robert S. Evans
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, California 94598, United States
| | - Samuel Deutsch
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, California 94598, United States
| | - Ming C. Hammond
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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12
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Chyan W, Raines RT. Enzyme-Activated Fluorogenic Probes for Live-Cell and in Vivo Imaging. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:1810-1823. [PMID: 29924581 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Fluorogenic probes, small-molecule sensors that unmask brilliant fluorescence upon exposure to specific stimuli, are powerful tools for chemical biology. Those probes that respond to enzymatic catalysis illuminate the complex dynamics of biological processes at a level of spatiotemporal detail and sensitivity unmatched by other techniques. Here, we review recent advances in enzyme-activated fluorogenic probes for biological imaging. We organize our survey by enzyme classification, with emphasis on fluorophore masking strategies, modes of enzymatic activation, and the breadth of current and future applications. Key challenges such as probe selectivity and spectroscopic requirements are described alongside therapeutic, diagnostic, and theranostic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Chyan
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Ronald T. Raines
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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13
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Zheng Y, Wang K, Wu Y, Chen Y, Chen X, Hu CW, Hu F. Pinocembrin induces ER stress mediated apoptosis and suppresses autophagy in melanoma cells. Cancer Lett 2018; 431:31-42. [PMID: 29807112 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma, one of the toughest tumors to treat, features high metastasis and high lethality. Pinocembrin is a natural flavanone with versatile biological and pharmacological activities. Here, we evaluated the anti-tumor effects of pinocembrin against melanoma in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, pinocembrin inhibited the proliferation of melanoma cells (B16F10 and A375) in a dose-dependent manner. It induced endoplasmic reticulum stress via IRE1α/Xbp1 pathway and triggered caspase-12/-4 mediated apoptosis in both cell lines. Furthermore, we discovered that pinocembrin suppressed autophagy through the activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, which serves as a dual mechanism to enhance the pro-death effect of pinocembrin. In vivo, pinocembrin inhibited the growth of B16F10 by inducing apoptosis. Taken together, our results demonstrated that pinocembrin can induce ER stress mediated apoptosis and suppress autophagy in melanoma, indicating its application potential for melanoma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Zheng
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Yuqi Wu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yifan Chen
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xi Chen
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Chenyue W Hu
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, 77030, USA
| | - Fuliang Hu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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14
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Dissection of Protein Kinase Pathways in Live Cells Using Photoluminescent Probes: Surveillance or Interrogation? CHEMOSENSORS 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/chemosensors6020019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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15
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Nyati S, Young G, Ross BD, Rehemtulla A. Quantitative and Dynamic Imaging of ATM Kinase Activity by Bioluminescence Imaging. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1599:97-111. [PMID: 28477114 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6955-5_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is a serine/threonine kinase critical to the cellular DNA damage response, including DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). ATM activation results in the initiation of a complex cascade of events facilitating DNA damage repair, cell cycle checkpoint control, and survival. Traditionally, protein kinases have been analyzed in vitro using biochemical methods (kinase assays using purified proteins or immunological assays) requiring a large number of cells and cell lysis. Genetically encoded biosensors based on optical molecular imaging such as fluorescence or bioluminescence have been developed to enable interrogation of kinase activities in live cells with a high signal to background. We have genetically engineered a hybrid protein whose bioluminescent activity is dependent on the ATM-mediated phosphorylation of a substrate. The engineered protein consists of the split luciferase-based protein complementation pair with a CHK2 (a substrate for ATM kinase activity) target sequence and a phospho-serine/threonine-binding domain, FHA2, derived from yeast Rad53. Phosphorylation of the serine residue within the target sequence by ATM would lead to its interaction with the phospho-serine-binding domain, thereby preventing complementation of the split luciferase pair and loss of reporter activity. Bioluminescence imaging of reporter-expressing cells in cultured plates or as mouse xenografts provides a quantitative surrogate for ATM kinase activity and therefore the cellular DNA damage response in a noninvasive, dynamic fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Nyati
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. .,Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher place, AAT-BSRB, Level A, Room # 628, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109 2200, USA.
| | - Grant Young
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Brian Dale Ross
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Alnawaz Rehemtulla
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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16
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Huang K, Chen Y, Zhang R, Wu Y, Ma Y, Fang X, Shen S. Honokiol induces apoptosis and autophagy via the ROS/ERK1/2 signaling pathway in human osteosarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:157. [PMID: 29410403 PMCID: PMC5833587 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-017-0166-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumor of bone, the long-term survival of which has stagnated in the past several decades. In the present study, we investigated the anticancer effect of honokiol (HNK), an active component isolated and purified from the magnolia officinalis on human osteosarcoma cells. Our results showed that honokiol caused dose-dependent and time-dependent cell death in human osteosarcoma cells. The types of cell death induced by honokiol were primarily autophagy and apoptosis. Furthermore, honokiol induced G0/G1 phase arrest, elevated the levels of glucose-regulated protein (GRP)-78, an endoplasmic reticular stress (ERS)-associated protein, and increased the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). In contrast, reducing production of intracellular ROS using N-acetylcysteine, a scavenger of ROS, concurrently suppressed honokiol-induced cellular apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle arrest. Consequently, honokiol stimulated phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2. Furthermore, pretreatment of osteosarcoma cells with PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK1/2, inhibited honokiol-induced apoptosis and autophagy. Finally, honokiol suppressed tumor growth in the mouse xenograft model. Taken together, our results revealed that honokiol caused G0/G1 phase arrest, induced apoptosis, and autophagy via the ROS/ERK1/2 signaling pathway in human osteosarcoma cells. Honokiol is therefore a promising candidate for development of antitumor drugs targeting osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangmao Huang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, 3 East Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | - Yanyan Chen
- Department of Surgical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing City, China
| | - Yizheng Wu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, 3 East Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | - Yan Ma
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, 3 East Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | - Xiangqian Fang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, 3 East Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
| | - Shuying Shen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, 3 East Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
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17
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Cal S, Obaya AJ. Imaging Proteolytic Activities in Mouse Models of Cancer. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1731:247-260. [PMID: 29318559 PMCID: PMC6435259 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7595-2_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Proteases are "protein-cleaving" enzymes, which, in addition to their non-specific degrading function, also catalyze the highly specific and regulated process of proteolytic processing, thus regulating multiple biological functions. Alterations in proteolytic activity occur during pathological conditions such as cancer. One of the major deregulated classes of proteases in cancer is caspases, the proteolytic initiators and mediators of the apoptotic machinery. The ability to image apoptosis noninvasively in living cells and animal models of cancer can not only provide new insight into the biological basis of the disease but can also be used as a quantitative tool to screen and evaluate novel therapeutic strategies. Optical molecular imaging such as bioluminescence-based genetically engineered biosensors has been developed in our laboratory and exploited to study protease activity in animal models with a high signal to noise. Using the circularly permuted form of firefly luciferase, we have developed a reporter for Caspase 3/7, referred to as Caspase 3/7 GloSensor. Here, we discuss the use of the Caspase 3/7 GloSensor for imaging apoptotic activity in mouse xenografts and genetically engineered mouse models of cancer and present the potential of this powerful platform technology to image the proteolytic activity of numerous other proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Cal
- Instituto Universitario de Oncología (IUOPA), Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Asturias Spain
| | - Alvaro J. Obaya
- Instituto Universitario de Oncología (IUOPA), Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Asturias Spain
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18
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Gibbons AE, Luker KE, Luker GD. Dual Reporter Bioluminescence Imaging with NanoLuc and Firefly Luciferase. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1790:41-50. [PMID: 29858782 PMCID: PMC6083827 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7860-1_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Bioluminescence imaging is a powerful, broadly utilized method for noninvasive imaging studies in cell-based assays and small animal models of normal physiology and multiple diseases. In combination with molecular engineering of cells and entire organisms using luciferase enzymes, bioluminescence imaging has enabled novel applications including studies of protein-protein interactions, ligand-receptor interactions, cell trafficking, and drug targeting in mouse models. We describe use of a novel luciferase enzyme derived from Oplophorus gracilirostris, NanoLuc, in cell-based assays bioluminescence imaging of tumor-bearing mice. We also combine NanoLuc with another luciferase enzyme, firefly luciferase, to image multiple signal transduction events in one imaging session.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne E Gibbons
- Department of Radiology, Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kathryn E Luker
- Department of Radiology, Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gary D Luker
- Department of Radiology, Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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19
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Yan Y, Gu X, Xu HE, Melcher K. A Highly Sensitive Non-Radioactive Activity Assay for AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK). Methods Protoc 2017; 1. [PMID: 29451563 PMCID: PMC5809138 DOI: 10.3390/mps1010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
While many methods exist to quantitatively determine protein kinase activities, 32P-based radioactive assays remain the workhorse of many laboratories due to their high sensitivity, high signal to noise ratio, lack of interference by fluorescent and light-absorbing small molecules, and easy quantitation. Here, we demonstrate that the interaction between the yeast Rad53 Forkhead-associated (FHA) domain and a peptide optimized for phosphorylation by AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK), which has previously been exploited for the generation of intracellular phosphorylation sensors, can serve as a readout for a highly sensitive two-step AMPK AlphaScreen kinase assay with exceptional signal-to-noise ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yan
- Laboratory of Structural Sciences and Laboratory of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Center of Cancer and Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Avenue Northeast, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA;
- VARI-SIMM Center, Center for Structure and Function of Drug Targets, The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xin Gu
- Laboratory of Structural Sciences and Laboratory of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Center of Cancer and Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Avenue Northeast, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA;
| | - H Eric Xu
- Laboratory of Structural Sciences and Laboratory of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Center of Cancer and Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Avenue Northeast, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA;
- VARI-SIMM Center, Center for Structure and Function of Drug Targets, The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Karsten Melcher
- Laboratory of Structural Sciences and Laboratory of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Center of Cancer and Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Avenue Northeast, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA;
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20
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Chen L, Leng WB, Li DZ, Xia HW, Ren M, Tang QL, Gong QY, Gao FB, Bi F. Noninvasive Imaging of Ras Activity by Monomolecular Biosensor Based on Split-Luciferase Complementary Assay. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9945. [PMID: 28855513 PMCID: PMC5577193 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08358-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Deregulated activity of Ras GTPases has been observed in many types of human cancers, and contributes to the diverse aspects of carcinogenesis. Although the significance in tumorigenesis has been widely accepted and many therapeutic drugs are under development, little attention has been dedicated to the development of sensors for the Ras activity in vivo. Therefore, based on the split firefly luciferase complementation strategy, we developed a monomolecular bioluminescent biosensor to image endogenous Ras activity in living subject. In this biosensor, two inactive luciferase fragments are sandwiched by Raf-1, whose conformation changes upon GTP-Ras binding. Thus, the Ras activity can be surrogated by the intensity of the complementary luciferase. The bioluminescence analyses demonstrated that this novel biosensor behaved the robust and sensitive reporting efficiency in response to the dynamical changes of Ras activity, both in living colorectal cancer cells and in vivo. Compared to the traditional method, such as the pull-down assay, the bioluminescent sensor is simply, noninvasive, faster and more sensitive for the analysis of the endogenous Ras activity. This innovative work opens up the way for monitoring the preclinical curative effect and high-throughput screening of therapeutic drugs targeting Ras pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei Bing Leng
- Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Department of Medical Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - De Zhi Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Department of Medical Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hong Wei Xia
- Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Min Ren
- Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Department of Medical Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qiu Lin Tang
- Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qi Yong Gong
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fa Bao Gao
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Feng Bi
- Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. .,Department of Medical Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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21
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Conway JRW, Warren SC, Timpson P. Context-dependent intravital imaging of therapeutic response using intramolecular FRET biosensors. Methods 2017; 128:78-94. [PMID: 28435000 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2017.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Intravital microscopy represents a more physiologically relevant method for assessing therapeutic response. However, the movement into an in vivo setting brings with it several additional considerations, the primary being the context in which drug activity is assessed. Microenvironmental factors, such as hypoxia, pH, fibrosis, immune infiltration and stromal interactions have all been shown to have pronounced effects on drug activity in a more complex setting, which is often lost in simpler two- or three-dimensional assays. Here we present a practical guide for the application of intravital microscopy, looking at the available fluorescent reporters and their respective expression systems and analysis considerations. Moving in vivo, we also discuss the microscopy set up and methods available for overlaying microenvironmental context to the experimental readouts. This enables a smooth transition into applying higher fidelity intravital imaging to improve the drug discovery process.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R W Conway
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research and The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Cancer Division, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Sean C Warren
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research and The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Cancer Division, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Paul Timpson
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research and The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Cancer Division, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
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22
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Noninvasive Bioluminescence Imaging of AKT Kinase Activity in Subcutaneous and Orthotopic NSCLC Xenografts: Correlation of AKT Activity with Tumor Growth Kinetics. Neoplasia 2017; 19:310-320. [PMID: 28285180 PMCID: PMC5379573 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2017.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant signaling through the AKT kinase mediates oncogenic phenotypes including cell proliferation, survival, and therapeutic resistance. Here, we utilize a bioluminescence reporter for AKT kinase activity (BAR) to noninvasively assess the therapeutic efficacy of the EGFR inhibitor erlotinib in KRAS-mutated lung cancer therapy. A549 non–small cell lung cancer cell line, engineered to express BAR, enabled the evaluation of compounds targeting the EGFR/PI3K/AKT pathway in vitro as well as in mouse models. We found that erlotinib treatment of resistant A549 subcutaneous and orthotopic xenografts resulted in significant AKT inhibition as determined by an 8- to 13-fold (P < .0001) increase in reporter activity 3 hours after erlotinib (100 mg/kg) administration compared to the control. This was confirmed by a 25% (P < .0001) decrease in pAKT ex vivo and a decrease in tumor growth. Treatment of the orthotopic xenograft with varying doses of erlotinib (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) revealed a dose- and time-dependent increase in reporter activity (10-, 12-, and 23-fold). Correspondingly, a decrease in phospho-AKT levels (0%, 16%, and 28%, respectively) and a decrease in the AKT dependent proliferation marker PCNA (0%, 50%, and 50%) were observed. We applied μ-CT imaging for noninvasive longitudinal quantification of lung tumor load which revealed a corresponding decrease in tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate the utility of BAR to noninvasively monitor AKT activity in preclinical studies in response to AKT modulating agents. These results also demonstrate that BAR can be applied to study drug dosing, drug combinations, and treatment efficacy in orthotopic mouse lung tumor models.
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23
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Li L, Feng L, Shi M, Zeng J, Chen Z, Zhong L, Huang L, Guo W, Huang Y, Qi W, Lu C, Li E, Zhao K, Gu J. Split luciferase-based biosensors for characterizing EED binders. Anal Biochem 2017; 522:37-45. [PMID: 28111304 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2017.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The EED (embryonic ectoderm development) subunit of the Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) plays an important role in the feed forward regulation of the PRC2 enzymatic activity. We recently identified a new class of allosteric PRC2 inhibitors that bind to the H3K27me3 pocket of EED. Multiple assays were developed and used to identify and characterize this type of PRC2 inhibitors. One of them is a genetically encoded EED biosensor based on the EED[G255D] mutant and the split firefly luciferase. This EED biosensor can detect the compound binding in the transfected cells and in the in vitro biochemical assays. Compared to other commonly used cellular assays, the EED biosensor assay has the advantage of shorter compound incubation with cells. The in vitro EED biosensor is much more sensitive than other label-free biophysical assays (e.g. DSF, ITC). Based on the crystal structure, the DSF data as well as the biosensor assay data, it's most likely that compound-induced increase in the luciferase activity of the EED[G255D] biosensor results from the decreased non-productive interactions between the EED subdomain and other subdomains within the biosensor construct. This new insight of the mechanism might help to broaden the use of the split luciferase based biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Li
- China Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Lijian Feng
- China Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Minlong Shi
- China Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jue Zeng
- China Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zijun Chen
- China Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Li Zhong
- China Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Li Huang
- China Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Weihui Guo
- China Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ying Huang
- China Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wei Qi
- China Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Chris Lu
- China Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - En Li
- China Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Kehao Zhao
- China Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Justin Gu
- China Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 4218 Jinke Road, Shanghai 201203, China.
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24
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Abstract
Synthetic protein switches with tailored response functions are finding increasing applications as tools in basic research and biotechnology. With a number of successful design strategies emerging, the construction of synthetic protein switches still frequently necessitates an integrated approach that combines detailed biochemical and biophysical characterization in combination with high-throughput screening to construct tailored synthetic protein switches. This is increasingly complemented by computational strategies that aim to reduce the need for costly empirical optimization and thus facilitate the protein design process. Successful computational design approaches range from analyzing phylogenetic data to infer useful structural, biophysical, and biochemical information to modeling the structure and function of proteins ab initio. The following chapter provides an overview over the theoretical considerations and experimental approaches that have been successful applied in the construction of synthetic protein switches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Stein
- Fachbereich Biologie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany.
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25
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Abstract
Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is a serine/threonine kinase critical to the cellular DNA-damage response, including DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). ATM activation results in the initiation of a complex cascade of events facilitating DNA damage repair, cell cycle checkpoint control, and survival. Traditionally, protein kinases have been analyzed in vitro using biochemical methods (kinase assays using purified proteins or immunological assays) requiring a large number of cells and cell lysis. Genetically encoded biosensors based on optical molecular imaging such as fluorescence or bioluminescence have been developed to enable interrogation of kinase activities in live cells with a high signal to background. We have genetically engineered a hybrid protein whose bioluminescent activity is dependent on the ATM-mediated phosphorylation of a substrate. The engineered protein consists of the split luciferase-based protein complementation pair with a CHK2 (a substrate for ATM kinase activity) target sequence and a phospho-serine/threonine-binding domain, FHA2, derived from yeast Rad53. Phosphorylation of the serine residue within the target sequence by ATM would lead to its interaction with the phospho-serine-binding domain, thereby preventing complementation of the split luciferase pair and loss of reporter activity. Bioluminescence imaging of reporter expressing cells in cultured plates or as mouse xenografts provides a quantitative surrogate for ATM kinase activity and therefore the cellular DNA damage response in a noninvasive, dynamic fashion.
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26
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Abstract
Metastatic spread of cancer cells from the primary tumors to distant vital organs, such as lung, liver, brain, and bone, is responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths. Development of metastatic lesions is critically dependent on the interaction of tumor cells with the stromal microenvironment. As a multifunctional paracrine signaling factor that is abundantly produced by both tumor and stromal cells, TGFβ has been well established as an important mediator of tumor-stromal interaction during cancer metastasis. Imaging the in vivo dynamic of TGFβ signaling activity during cancer metastasis is critical for understanding the pathogenesis of the disease, and for the development of effective anti-metastasis treatments. In this chapter, I describe several xenograft methods to introduce human breast cancer cells into nude mice in order to generate spontaneous and experimental metastases, as well as the luciferase-based bioluminescence imaging method for quantitative imaging analysis of TGFβ signaling in tumor cells during metastasis.
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27
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Leng AW, Li D, Chen L, Xia H, Tang Q, Chen B, Gong Q, Gao F, Bi F. Novel Bioluminescent Activatable Reporter for Src Tyrosine Kinase Activity in Living Mice. Theranostics 2016; 6:594-609. [PMID: 26941850 PMCID: PMC4775867 DOI: 10.7150/thno.14306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant activation of the Src kinase is implicated in the development of a variety of human malignancies. However, it is almost impossible to monitor Src activity in an in vivo setting with current biochemical techniques. To facilitate the noninvasive investigation of the activity of Src kinase both in vitro and in vivo, we developed a genetically engineered, activatable bioluminescent reporter using split-luciferase complementation. The bioluminescence of this reporter can be used as a surrogate for Src activity in real time. This hybrid luciferase reporter was constructed by sandwiching a Src-dependent conformationally responsive unit (SH2 domain-Srcpep) between the split luciferase fragments. The complementation bioluminescence of this reporter was dependent on the Src activity status. In our study, Src kinase activity in cultured cells and tumor xenografts was monitored quantitatively and dynamically in response to clinical small-molecular kinase inhibitors, dasatinib and saracatinib. This system was also applied for high-throughput screening of Src inhibitors against a kinase inhibitor library in living cells. These results provide unique insights into drug development and pharmacokinetics/phoarmocodynamics of therapeutic drugs targeting Src signaling pathway enabling the optimization of drug administration schedules for maximum benefit. Using both Firefly and Renilla luciferase imaging, we have successfully monitored Src tyrosine kinase activity and Akt serine/threonine kinase activity concurrently in one tumor xenograft. This dual luciferase reporter imaging system will be helpful in exploring the complex signaling networks in vivo. The strategies reported here can also be extended to study and image other important kinases and the cross-talks among them.
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28
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Honokiol induces autophagy of neuroblastoma cells through activating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and endoplasmic reticular stress/ERK1/2 signaling pathways and suppressing cell migration. Cancer Lett 2015; 370:66-77. [PMID: 26454217 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2015.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Revised: 08/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In children, neuroblastomas are the most common and deadly solid tumor. Our previous study showed that honokiol, a small-molecule polyphenol, can traverse the blood-brain barrier and kill neuroblastoma cells. In this study, we further investigated the mechanisms of honokiol-induced insults to neuroblastoma cells. Treatment of neuroblastoma neuro-2a cells with honokiol elevated the levels of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-II and induced cell autophagy in time- and concentration-dependent manners. Interestingly, pretreatment with 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an inhibitor of autophagy, led to the simultaneous attenuation of honokiol-induced cell autophagy and apoptosis but did not influence cell necrosis. As to the mechanisms, exposure of neuro-2a cells to honokiol time-dependently decreased the amount of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Sequentially, honokiol downregulated phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in neuro-2a cells. Furthermore, honokiol elevated the levels of glucose-regulated protein (GpR)78, an endoplasmic reticular stress (ERS)-associated protein, and amounts of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). In contrast, reducing production of intracellular ROS using N-acetylcysteine, a scavenger of ROS, concurrently suppressed honokiol-induced cellular autophagy. Consequently, honokiol stimulated phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2. However, pretreatment of neuro-2a cells with PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK1/2, lowered honokiol-induced autophagy. The effects of honokiol on inducing autophagy and apoptosis of neuroblastoma cells were further confirmed using mouse neuroblastoma NB41A3 cells as our experimental model. Fascinatingly, treatment of neuroblastoma neuro-2a and NB41A3 cells with honokiol for 12 h did not affect cell autophagy or apoptosis but caused significant suppression of cell migration. Taken together, this study showed that honokiol can induce autophagy of neuroblastoma cells and consequent apoptosis through activating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and ERS/ROS/ERK1/2 signaling pathways and suppressing cell migration. Thus, honokiol has potential for treating neuroblastomas.
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Jia J, Wang Z, Cai J, Zhang Y. PMS2 expression in epithelial ovarian cancer is posttranslationally regulated by Akt and essential for platinum-induced apoptosis. Tumour Biol 2015; 37:3059-69. [PMID: 26423401 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-4143-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal of the gynecologic malignancies, mainly due to the advanced stage at diagnosis and development of cisplatin resistance. The sensitivity of tumor cells to cisplatin is frequently affected by defect in DNA mismatch repair (MMR), which repairs mispaired DNA sequences and regulates DNA-damage-induced apoptosis. However, the role of postmeiotic segregation increased 2 (PMS2), a member of MMR protein family, in cisplatin resistance remains elusive. In the present study, we demonstrated the frequent deficiency of PMS2 and phosphorylation of Akt in EOC cell lines and tissues. Results of complex immunoprecipitation (co-IP) and protein stability assay indicated that activated Akt could directly bind to PMS2 and cause degradation of PMS2 in EOC cells. In addition, functional experiments revealed that PMS2 was required for cisplatin-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase. These findings provide a novel insight into molecular mechanisms linking MMR with chemoresistance and suggest that stabilization of PMS2 expression may be useful in overcoming the cisplatin resistance in EOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghui Jia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Air Force General Hospital, PLA, Beijing, 100142, People's Republic of China.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People's Republic of China
| | - Zehua Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Cai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People's Republic of China.
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30
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Buckley SMK, Delhove JMKM, Perocheau DP, Karda R, Rahim AA, Howe SJ, Ward NJ, Birrell MA, Belvisi MG, Arbuthnot P, Johnson MR, Waddington SN, McKay TR. In vivo bioimaging with tissue-specific transcription factor activated luciferase reporters. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11842. [PMID: 26138224 PMCID: PMC4490336 DOI: 10.1038/srep11842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The application of transcription factor activated luciferase reporter cassettes in vitro is widespread but potential for in vivo application has not yet been realized. Bioluminescence imaging enables non-invasive tracking of gene expression in transfected tissues of living rodents. However the mature immune response limits luciferase expression when delivered in adulthood. We present a novel approach of tissue-targeted delivery of transcription factor activated luciferase reporter lentiviruses to neonatal rodents as an alternative to the existing technology of generating germline transgenic light producing rodents. At this age, neonates acquire immune tolerance to the conditionally responsive luciferase reporter. This simple and transferrable procedure permits surrogate quantitation of transcription factor activity over the lifetime of the animal. We show principal efficacy by temporally quantifying NFκB activity in the brain, liver and lungs of somatotransgenic reporter mice subjected to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation. This response is ablated in Tlr4(-/-) mice or when co-administered with the anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid analogue dexamethasone. Furthermore, we show the malleability of this technology by quantifying NFκB-mediated luciferase expression in outbred rats. Finally, we use somatotransgenic bioimaging to longitudinally quantify LPS- and ActivinA-induced upregulation of liver specific glucocorticoid receptor and Smad2/3 reporter constructs in somatotransgenic mice, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M. K. Buckley
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, 86–96 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
| | - Juliette M. K. M. Delhove
- Stem Cell Group, Cardiovascular & Cell Sciences Research Institute, St. George’s University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Dany P. Perocheau
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, 86–96 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
| | - Rajvinder Karda
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, 86–96 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Ahad A. Rahim
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29–39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Steven J. Howe
- Wolfson Institute for Gene Therapy, Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Natalie J. Ward
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, 86–96 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
| | - Mark A. Birrell
- Faculty of Medicine, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Maria G. Belvisi
- Faculty of Medicine, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Patrick Arbuthnot
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mark R. Johnson
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Simon N. Waddington
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, 86–96 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Tristan R. McKay
- Stem Cell Group, Cardiovascular & Cell Sciences Research Institute, St. George’s University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK
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31
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Gross SM, Rotwein P. Akt signaling dynamics in individual cells. J Cell Sci 2015; 128:2509-19. [PMID: 26040286 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.168773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2015] [Accepted: 05/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The protein kinase Akt (for which there are three isoforms) is a key intracellular mediator of many biological processes, yet knowledge of Akt signaling dynamics is limited. Here, we have constructed a fluorescent reporter molecule in a lentiviral delivery system to assess Akt kinase activity at the single cell level. The reporter, a fusion between a modified FoxO1 transcription factor and clover, a green fluorescent protein, rapidly translocates from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in response to Akt stimulation. Because of its long half-life and the intensity of clover fluorescence, the sensor provides a robust readout that can be tracked for days under a range of biological conditions. Using this reporter, we find that stimulation of Akt activity by IGF-I is encoded into stable and reproducible analog responses at the population level, but that single cell signaling outcomes are variable. This reporter, which provides a simple and dynamic measure of Akt activity, should be compatible with many cell types and experimental platforms, and thus opens the door to new insights into how Akt regulates its biological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Gross
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Peter Rotwein
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA Department of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech Health University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
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32
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Luwor RB, Stylli SS, Kaye AH. Using bioluminescence imaging in glioma research. J Clin Neurosci 2015; 22:779-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2014.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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33
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Stein V, Alexandrov K. Synthetic protein switches: design principles and applications. Trends Biotechnol 2015; 33:101-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2014.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Revised: 11/27/2014] [Accepted: 11/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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34
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Azad T, Tashakor A, Hosseinkhani S. Split-luciferase complementary assay: applications, recent developments, and future perspectives. Anal Bioanal Chem 2014; 406:5541-60. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-014-7980-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2014] [Revised: 05/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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35
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Lake MC, Aboagye EO. Luciferase fragment complementation imaging in preclinical cancer studies. Oncoscience 2014; 1:310-25. [PMID: 25594026 PMCID: PMC4278313 DOI: 10.18632/oncoscience.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 05/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The luciferase fragment complementation assay (LFCA) enables molecular events to be non-invasively imaged in live cells in vitro and in vivo in a comparatively cheap and safe manner. It is a development of previous enzyme complementation assays in which reporter genes are split into two, individually enzymatically inactive, fragments that are able to complement one another upon interaction. This complementation can be used to externally visualize cellular activities. In recent years, the number of studies which have used LFCAs to probe questions relevant to cancer have increased, and this review summarizes the most significant and interesting of these. In particular, it focuses on work conducted on the epidermal growth factor, nuclear and chemokine receptor families, and intracellular signaling pathways, including IP3, cAMP, Akt, cMyc, NRF2 and Rho GTPases. LFCAs which have been developed to image DNA methylation and detect RNA transcripts are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madryn C. Lake
- Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London
| | - Eric O. Aboagye
- Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London
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36
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Kaneto N, Yokoyama S, Hayakawa Y, Kato S, Sakurai H, Saiki I. RAC1 inhibition as a therapeutic target for gefitinib-resistant non-small-cell lung cancer. Cancer Sci 2014; 105:788-94. [PMID: 24750242 PMCID: PMC4317907 DOI: 10.1111/cas.12425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Revised: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI), including gefitinib, provide a significant clinical benefit in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, the acquisition of drug resistance has been known to limit the efficacy of EGFR-TKI therapy. In this study, we demonstrated the involvement of EGF-EGFR signaling in NSCLC cell migration and the requirement of RAC1 in EGFR-mediated progression of NSCLC. We showed the significant role of RAC1 pathway in the cell migration or lamellipodia formation by using gene silencing of RAC1 or induction of constitutive active RAC1 in EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells. Importantly, the RAC1 inhibition suppressed EGFR-mutant NSCLC cell migration and growth in vitro, and growth in vivo even in the gefitinib-resistant cells. In addition, these suppressions by RAC1 inhibition were mediated through MEK or PI3K independent mechanisms. Collectively, these results open up a new opportunity to control the cancer progression by targeting the RAC1 pathway to overcome the resistance to EGFR-TKI in NSCLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Kaneto
- Division of Pathogenic Biochemistry, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
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37
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Gonzalez-Garcia JR, Bradley J, Nomikos M, Paul L, Machaty Z, Lai FA, Swann K. The dynamics of MAPK inactivation at fertilization in mouse eggs. J Cell Sci 2014; 127:2749-60. [PMID: 24741069 PMCID: PMC4058113 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.145045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Egg activation at fertilization in mammals is initiated by prolonged Ca(2+) oscillations that trigger the completion of meiosis and formation of pronuclei. A fall in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity is essential for pronuclear formation, but the precise timing and mechanism of decline are unknown. Here, we have measured the dynamics of MAPK pathway inactivation during fertilization of mouse eggs using novel chemiluminescent MAPK activity reporters. This reveals that the MAPK activity decrease begins during the Ca(2+) oscillations, but MAPK does not completely inactivate until after pronuclear formation. The MAPKs present in eggs are Mos, MAP2K1 and MAP2K2 (MEK1 and MEK2, respectively) and MAPK3 and MAPK1 (ERK1 and ERK2, respectively). Notably, the MAPK activity decline at fertilization is not explained by upstream destruction of Mos, because a decrease in the signal from a Mos-luciferase reporter is not associated with egg activation. Furthermore, Mos overexpression does not affect the timing of MAPK inactivation or pronuclear formation. However, the late decrease in MAPK could be rapidly reversed by the protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid. These data suggest that the completion of meiosis in mouse zygotes is driven by an increased phosphatase activity and not by a decline in Mos levels or MEK activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Raul Gonzalez-Garcia
- Institute of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Josephine Bradley
- Institute of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Michail Nomikos
- Institute of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Laboni Paul
- Institute of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Zoltan Machaty
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - F Anthony Lai
- Institute of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Karl Swann
- Institute of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
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38
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Oldach L, Zhang J. Genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors for live-cell visualization of protein phosphorylation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 21:186-97. [PMID: 24485761 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2013.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2013] [Revised: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 12/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Fluorescence-based, genetically encodable biosensors are widely used tools for real-time analysis of biological processes. Over the last few decades, the number of available genetically encodable biosensors and the types of processes they can monitor have increased rapidly. Here, we aim to introduce the reader to general principles and practices in biosensor development and highlight ways in which biosensors can be used to illuminate outstanding questions of biological function. Specifically, we focus on sensors developed for monitoring kinase activity and use them to illustrate some common considerations for biosensor design. We describe several uses to which kinase and second-messenger biosensors have been put, and conclude with considerations for the use of biosensors once they are developed. Overall, as fluorescence-based biosensors continue to diversify and improve, we expect them to continue to be widely used as reliable and fruitful tools for gaining deeper insights into cellular and organismal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurel Oldach
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 307 Hunterian Building, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 307 Hunterian Building, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 307 Hunterian Building, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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39
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Stacer AC, Nyati S, Moudgil P, Iyengar R, Luker KE, Rehemtulla A, Luker GD. NanoLuc Reporter for Dual Luciferase Imaging in Living Animals. Mol Imaging 2013. [DOI: 10.2310/7290.2013.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda C. Stacer
- From the Center for Molecular Imaging and Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Shyam Nyati
- From the Center for Molecular Imaging and Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Pranav Moudgil
- From the Center for Molecular Imaging and Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Rahul Iyengar
- From the Center for Molecular Imaging and Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Kathryn E. Luker
- From the Center for Molecular Imaging and Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Alnawaz Rehemtulla
- From the Center for Molecular Imaging and Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Gary D. Luker
- From the Center for Molecular Imaging and Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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40
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Nicastro HL, Firestone GL, Bjeldanes LF. 3,3'-diindolylmethane rapidly and selectively inhibits hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met signaling in breast cancer cells. J Nutr Biochem 2013; 24:1882-8. [PMID: 23968581 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2013.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2012] [Revised: 01/31/2013] [Accepted: 05/04/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
3,3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM), an indole derivative from vegetables of the Brassica genus, has antiproliferative activity in breast cancer cells. Part of this activity is thought to be due to DIM inhibition of Akt signaling, but an upstream mechanism of DIM-induced Akt inhibition has not been described. The goals of this study were to investigate the kinetics of inhibition of Akt by physiologically relevant concentrations of DIM and to identify an upstream factor that mediates this effect. Here we report that DIM (5-25 μM) inhibited Akt activation from 30 min to 24h in tumorigenic MDA-MB-231 cells but did not inhibit Akt activation in non-tumorigenic preneoplastic MCF10AT cells. DIM inhibited hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced Akt activation by up to 46%, cell migration by 66% and cell proliferation by up to 54%, but did not inhibit induction of Akt by epidermal growth factor or insulin-like growth factor-1. DIM decreased phosphorylation of the HGF receptor, c-Met, at tyrosines 1234 and 1235, indicating decreased activation of the receptor. This decrease was reversed by pretreatment with inhibitors of p38 or calcineurin. Our results demonstrate the important role of HGF and c-Met in DIM's anti-proliferative effect on breast cancer cells and suggest that DIM could have preventive or clinical value as an inhibitor of c-Met signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly L Nicastro
- Department of Nutritional Science & Toxicology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3104.
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41
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Lyons SK, Patrick PS, Brindle KM. Imaging mouse cancer models in vivo using reporter transgenes. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2013; 2013:685-99. [PMID: 23906907 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top069864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Imaging mouse models of cancer with reporter transgenes has become a relatively common experimental approach in the laboratory, which allows noninvasive and longitudinal investigation of diverse aspects of tumor biology in vivo. Our goal here is to outline briefly the principles of the relevant imaging modalities, emphasizing particularly their strengths and weaknesses and what the researcher can expect in a practical sense from each of these techniques. Furthermore, we discuss how relatively subtle modifications in the way reporter transgene expression is regulated in the cell underpin the ability of reporter transgenes as a whole to provide readouts on such varied aspects of tumor biology in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott K Lyons
- Department of Molecular Imaging, CRUK Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
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42
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Antal CE, Newton AC. Spatiotemporal dynamics of phosphorylation in lipid second messenger signaling. Mol Cell Proteomics 2013; 12:3498-508. [PMID: 23788531 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.r113.029819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The plasma membrane serves as a dynamic interface that relays information received at the cell surface into the cell. Lipid second messengers coordinate signaling on this platform by recruiting and activating kinases and phosphatases. Specifically, diacylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate activate protein kinase C and Akt, respectively, which then phosphorylate target proteins to transduce downstream signaling. This review addresses how the spatiotemporal dynamics of protein kinase C and Akt signaling can be monitored using genetically encoded reporters and provides information on how the coordination of signaling at protein scaffolds or membrane microdomains affords fidelity and specificity in phosphorylation events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corina E Antal
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0721
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43
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Eckert MA, Zhao W. Opening windows on new biology and disease mechanisms: development of real-time
in vivo
sensors. Interface Focus 2013. [DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2013.0014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. Eckert
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, 845 Health Science Road, Suite 3027, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Weian Zhao
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, 845 Health Science Road, Suite 3027, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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44
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Molecular imaging of the ATM kinase activity. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2013; 86:969-77. [PMID: 23726004 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2013.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2013] [Revised: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is a serine/threonine kinase critical to the cellular DNA-damage response, including from DNA double-strand breaks. ATM activation results in the initiation of a complex cascade of events including DNA damage repair, cell cycle checkpoint control, and survival. We sought to create a bioluminescent reporter that dynamically and noninvasively measures ATM kinase activity in living cells and subjects. METHODS AND MATERIALS Using the split luciferase technology, we constructed a hybrid cDNA, ATM-reporter (ATMR), coding for a protein that quantitatively reports on changes in ATM kinase activity through changes in bioluminescence. RESULTS Treatment of ATMR-expressing cells with ATM inhibitors resulted in a dose-dependent increase in bioluminescence activity. In contrast, induction of ATM kinase activity upon irradiation resulted in a decrease in reporter activity that correlated with ATM and Chk2 activation by immunoblotting in a time-dependent fashion. Nuclear targeting improved ATMR sensitivity to both ATM inhibitors and radiation, whereas a mutant ATMR (lacking the target phosphorylation site) displayed a muted response. Treatment with ATM inhibitors and small interfering (si)RNA-targeted knockdown of ATM confirm the specificity of the reporter. Using reporter expressing xenografted tumors demonstrated the ability of ATMR to report in ATM activity in mouse models that correlated in a time-dependent fashion with changes in Chk2 activity. CONCLUSIONS We describe the development and validation of a novel, specific, noninvasive bioluminescent reporter that enables monitoring of ATM activity in real time, in vitro and in vivo. Potential applications of this reporter include the identification and development of novel ATM inhibitors or ATM-interacting partners through high-throughput screens and in vivo pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies of ATM inhibitors in preclinical models.
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45
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Sun B, Xu H, Zhang G, Zhu Y, Sun H, Hou G. Basic fibroblast growth factor upregulates survivin expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via a protein kinase B-dependent pathway. Oncol Rep 2013; 30:385-90. [PMID: 23677479 DOI: 10.3892/or.2013.2479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2013] [Accepted: 03/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) plays an important role in tumor angiogenesis. Several studies have reported that bFGF may influence cell apoptosis through different signaling pathways. The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of bFGF on the activities of protein kinase B (PKB)/survivin and cell apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Bel-7402). We treated Bel-7402 cells with bFGF and wortmannin [phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-specific inhibitor] separately to observe the expression of PKB and survivin detected with RT-PCR and western blotting. The cell cycle and apoptosis were assayed with flow cytometry. We found a significant increase in PKB expression in the group treated with 25 ng/ml bFGF for 10 min (P<0.05), and this effect was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with wortmannin (200 nM) for 1 h. After treatment with 10 ng/ml bFGF, the expression of survivin mRNA in Bel-7402 cells increased significantly, and reached the peak at 16 h (P<0.05); however, this effect could be significantly inhibited by pretreatment with wortmannin (200 mM) in a time-dependent manner. Following incubation with 25 ng/ml bFGF for 10 min, the apoptosis rate and M phase were significantly decreased and S phase cells increased compared with the wortmannin (200 nM)-treated group. When this group was pretreated with wortmannin (200 nM) for 1 h, the apoptosis rate and S phase were significantly increased, M phase cells decreased. The results revealed that wortmannin could induce high apoptosis rates in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and bFGF could inhibit the cell apoptosis induced by wortmannin. These findings indicate that bFGF could rapidly activate the PKB activities, enhance the expression of survivin and the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via the PI3K pathway, thus it may serve as a novel molecule for early targeting therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Sun
- Institute of Experimental Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
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Niu G, Zhu L, Ho DN, Zhang F, Gao H, Quan Q, Hida N, Ozawa T, Liu G, Chen X. Longitudinal bioluminescence imaging of the dynamics of Doxorubicin induced apoptosis. Am J Cancer Res 2013; 3:190-200. [PMID: 23471295 PMCID: PMC3590588 DOI: 10.7150/thno.5825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Most chemotherapy agents cause tumor cell death primarily by the induction of apoptosis. The ability to noninvasively image apoptosis in vivo could dramatically benefit pre-clinical and clinical evaluation of chemotherapeutics targeting the apoptotic pathway. This study aims to visualize the dynamics of apoptotic process with temporal bioluminescence imaging (BLI) using an apoptosis specific bioluminescence reporter gene. Methods: Both UM-SCC-22B human head and neck squamous carcinoma cells and 4T1 murine breast cancer cells were genetically modified with a caspase-3 specific cyclic firefly luciferase reporter gene (pcFluc-DEVD). Apoptosis induced by different concentrations of doxorubicin in the transfected cells was evaluated by both annexin V staining and BLI. Longitudinal BLI was performed in xenografted tumor models at different time points after doxorubicin or Doxil treatment, to evaluate apoptosis. After imaging, DNA fragmentation in apoptotic cells was assessed in frozen tumor sections using TUNEL staining. Results: Dose- and time-dependent apoptosis induced by doxorubicin in pcFluc-DEVD transfected UM-SCC-22B and 4T1 cells was visualized and quantified by BLI. Caspase-3 activation was confirmed by both caspase activity assay and GloTM luciferase assay. One dose of doxorubicin treatment induced a dramatic increase in BLI intensity as early as 24 h after treatment in 22B-pcFluc-DEVD xenografted tumors. Sustained signal increase was observed for the first 3 days and the fluorescent signal from ex vivo TUNEL staining was consistent with BLI imaging results. Long-term imaging revealed that BLI signal consistently increased and reached a maximum at around day 12 after the treatment with one dose of Doxil. Conclusions: BLI of apoptosis with pcFluc-DEVD as a reporter gene facilitates the determination of kinetics of the apoptotic process in a real-time manner, which provides a unique tool for drug development and therapy response monitoring.
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Mehta G, Hsiao AY, Ingram M, Luker GD, Takayama S. Opportunities and challenges for use of tumor spheroids as models to test drug delivery and efficacy. J Control Release 2012; 164:192-204. [PMID: 22613880 PMCID: PMC3436947 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2012.04.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 816] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2012] [Revised: 04/24/2012] [Accepted: 04/29/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Multicellular spheroids are three dimensional in vitro microscale tissue analogs. The current article examines the suitability of spheroids as an in vitro platform for testing drug delivery systems. Spheroids model critical physiologic parameters present in vivo, including complex multicellular architecture, barriers to mass transport, and extracellular matrix deposition. Relative to two-dimensional cultures, spheroids also provide better target cells for drug testing and are appropriate in vitro models for studies of drug penetration. Key challenges associated with creation of uniformly sized spheroids, spheroids with small number of cells and co-culture spheroids are emphasized in the article. Moreover, the assay techniques required for the characterization of drug delivery and efficacy in spheroids and the challenges associated with such studies are discussed. Examples for the use of spheroids in drug delivery and testing are also emphasized. By addressing these challenges with possible solutions, multicellular spheroids are becoming an increasingly useful in vitro tool for drug screening and delivery to pathological tissues and organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geeta Mehta
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099
- Department of Periodontics & Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099
| | - Amy Y. Hsiao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099
| | - Marylou Ingram
- Huntington Medical Research Institutes, 99 North El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91101-1830
| | - Gary D. Luker
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099
| | - Shuichi Takayama
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2099
- Division of Nano-Bio and Chemical Engineering, WCU Project, UNIST, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
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Multimodality imaging of tumor and bone response in a mouse model of bony metastasis. Transl Oncol 2012; 5:415-21. [PMID: 23323156 DOI: 10.1593/tlo.12298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2012] [Revised: 11/12/2012] [Accepted: 11/12/2012] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer drug development generally performs in vivo evaluation of treatment effects that have traditionally relied on detection of morphologic changes. The emergence of new targeted therapies, which may not result in gross morphologic changes, has spurred investigation into more specific imaging methods to quantify response, such as targeted fluorescent probes and bioluminescent cells. The present study investigated tissue response to docetaxel or zoledronic acid (ZA) in a mouse model of bony metastasis. Intratibial implantations of breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) were monitored throughout this study using several modalities: molecular resonance imaging (MRI) tumor volume and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), micro-computed tomography (µCT) bone volume, bioluminescence imaging (BLI) reporting cancer cell apoptosis, and fluorescence using Osteosense 800 and CatK 680-FAST. Docetaxel treatment resulted in tumor cell kill reflected by ADC and BLI increases and tumor volume reduction, with delayed bone recovery seen in µCT prefaced by increased osteoblastic activity (Osteosense 800). In contrast, the ZA treatment group produced similar values in MRI, BLI, and Osteosense 800 fluorescence imaging readouts when compared to controls. However, µCT bone volume increased significantly by the first week post-treatment and the CatK 680-FAST signal was slightly diminished by 4 weeks following ZA treatment. Multimodality imaging provides a more comprehensive tool for new drug evaluation and efficacy screening through identification of morphology as well as function and apoptotic signaling.
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Abstract
Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) takes advantage of the light-emitting properties of luciferase enzymes, which produce light upon oxidizing a substrate (i.e., D-luciferin) in the presence of molecular oxygen and energy. Photons emitted from living tissues can be detected and quantified by a highly sensitive charge-coupled device camera, enabling the investigator to noninvasively analyze the dynamics of biomolecular reactions in a variety of living model organisms such as transgenic mice. BLI has been used extensively in cancer research, cell transplantation, and for monitoring of infectious diseases, but only recently experimental models have been designed to study processes and pathways in neurological disorders such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In this review, we highlight recent applications of BLI in neuroscience, including transgene expression in the brain, longitudinal studies of neuroinflammatory responses to neurodegeneration and injury, and in vivo imaging studies of neurogenesis and mitochondrial toxicity. Finally, we highlight some new developments of BLI compounds and luciferase substrates with promising potential for in vivo studies of neurological dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Hochgräfe
- DZNE (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases), Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175 Bonn, Germany
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Wang H, Galbán S, Wu R, Bowman BM, Witte A, Vetter K, Galbán CJ, Ross BD, Cho KR, Rehemtulla A. Molecular imaging reveals a role for AKT in resistance to cisplatin for ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2012; 19:158-69. [PMID: 23095324 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-12-2380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among American women. Platinum-based chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, represents the standard-of-care for ovarian cancer. However, toxicity and acquired resistance to cisplatin have proven challenging in the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Using a genetically engineered mouse model of ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma (OEA) in combination with molecular-imaging technologies, we studied the activation of the AKT serine/threonine kinase in response to long-term cisplatin therapy. RESULTS Treatment of cells in culture and tumor-bearing animals with cisplatin resulted in activation of AKT, a key mediator of cell survival. On the basis of these results, we investigated the therapeutic use of AKT inhibition in combination with cisplatin, which resulted in enhanced and prolonged induction of apoptosis and in significantly improved tumor control as compared with either agent alone. CONCLUSION These results provide an impetus for clinical trials using combination therapy. To facilitate these trials, we also show the use of diffusion-weighted MRI as an imaging biomarker for evaluation of therapeutic efficacy in OEA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanxiao Wang
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Departments of Radiation Oncology, The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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