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Cheung HW, Schouw AD, Altunay ZM, Maddox JW, Kresic LC, McAllister BC, Caro K, Alam S, Huang A, Pijewski RS, Lee A, Martinelli DC. Creation of a novel CRISPR-generated allele to express HA epitope-tagged C1QL1 and improved methods for its detection at synapses. FEBS Lett 2024. [PMID: 38858133 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
C1QL1 is expressed in a subset of cells in the brain and likely has pleiotropic functions, including the regulation of neuron-to-neuron synapses. Research progress on C1QL proteins has been slowed by a dearth of available antibodies. Therefore, we created a novel knock-in mouse line in which an HA-tag is inserted into the endogenous C1ql1 locus. We examined the entire brain, identifying previously unappreciated nuclei expressing C1QL1, presumably in neurons. By total numbers, however, the large majority of C1QL1-expressing cells are of the oligodendrocyte lineage. Subcellular immunolocalization of synaptic cleft proteins is challenging, so we developed a new protocol to improve signal at synapses. Lastly, we compared various anti-HA antibodies to assist future investigations using this and likely other HA epitope-tagged alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiu W Cheung
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Alexander D Schouw
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Zeynep M Altunay
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - J Wesley Maddox
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas-Austin, TX, USA
| | - Lyndsay C Kresic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Brenna C McAllister
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Keaven Caro
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Shahnawaz Alam
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Angie Huang
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas-Austin, TX, USA
| | - Robert S Pijewski
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, USA
- Department of Biology, Anna Maria College, Paxton, MA, USA
| | - Amy Lee
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas-Austin, TX, USA
| | - David C Martinelli
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, USA
- The Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (IBACS), Storrs, CT, USA
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2
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Slika E, Fuchs PA. Genetic tools for studying cochlear inhibition. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1372948. [PMID: 38560293 PMCID: PMC10978695 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1372948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Efferent feedback to the mammalian cochlea includes cholinergic medial olivocochlear neurons (MOCs) that release ACh to hyperpolarize and shunt the voltage change that drives electromotility of outer hair cells (OHCs). Via brainstem connectivity, MOCs are activated by sound in a frequency- and intensity-dependent manner, thereby reducing the amplification of cochlear vibration provided by OHC electromotility. Among other roles, this efferent feedback protects the cochlea from acoustic trauma. Lesion studies, as well as a variety of genetic mouse models, support the hypothesis of efferent protection from acoustic trauma. Genetic knockout and gain-of-function knockin of the unique α9α10-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in hair cells show that acoustic protection correlates with the efficacy of cholinergic inhibition of OHCs. This protective effect was replicated by viral transduction of the gain-of-function α9L9'T nAChR into α9-knockout mice. Continued progress with "efferent gene therapy" will require a reliable method for visualizing nAChR expression in cochlear hair cells. To that end, mice expressing HA-tagged α9 or α10 nAChRs were generated using CRISPR technology. This progress will facilitate continued study of the hair cell nAChR as a therapeutic target to prevent hearing loss and potentially to ameliorate associated pathologies such as hyperacusis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul Albert Fuchs
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins, University School of Medicine Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Zhang Y, Hiel H, Vincent PF, Wood MB, Elgoyhen AB, Chien W, Lauer A, Fuchs PA. Engineering olivocochlear inhibition to reduce acoustic trauma. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 29:17-31. [PMID: 36941920 PMCID: PMC10023855 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Efferent brain-stem neurons release acetylcholine to desensitize cochlear hair cells and can protect the inner ear from acoustic trauma. That protection is absent from knockout mice lacking efferent inhibition and is stronger in mice with a gain-of-function point mutation of the hair cell-specific nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The present work uses viral transduction of gain-of-function receptors to restore acoustic prophylaxis to the knockout mice. Widespread postsynaptic expression of the transgene was visualized in excised tissue with a fluorophore-conjugated peptide toxin that binds selectively to hair cell acetylcholine receptors. Viral transduction into efferent knockout mice reduced the temporary hearing loss measured 1 day post acoustic trauma. The acoustic evoked-response waveform (auditory brain-stem response) recovered more rapidly in treated mice than in control mice. Thus, both cochlear amplification by outer hair cells (threshold shift) and afferent signaling (evoked-response amplitude) in knockout mice were protected by viral transduction of hair cell acetylcholine receptors. Gene therapy to strengthen efferent cochlear feedback could be complementary to existing and future therapies to prevent hearing loss, including ear coverings, hearing aids, single-gene repair, or small-molecule therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Zhang
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Hakim Hiel
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Philippe F.Y. Vincent
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Megan B. Wood
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ana B. Elgoyhen
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular Dr. Héctor N. Torres (INGEBI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), C1428ADN CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Wade Chien
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Inner Ear Gene Therapy Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Amanda Lauer
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Paul A. Fuchs
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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4
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Du M, Hou Z, Liu L, Xuan Y, Chen X, Fan L, Li Z, Xu B. 1Progress, applications, challenges and prospects of protein purification technology. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1028691. [PMID: 36561042 PMCID: PMC9763899 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1028691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein is one of the most important biological macromolecules in life, which plays a vital role in cell growth, development, movement, heredity, reproduction and other life activities. High quality isolation and purification is an essential step in the study of the structure and function of target proteins. Therefore, the development of protein purification technologies has great theoretical and practical significance in exploring the laws of life activities and guiding production practice. Up to now, there is no forthcoming method to extract any proteins from a complex system, and the field of protein purification still faces significant opportunities and challenges. Conventional protein purification generally includes three steps: pretreatment, rough fractionation, and fine fractionation. Each of the steps will significantly affect the purity, yield and the activity of target proteins. The present review focuses on the principle and process of protein purification, recent advances, and the applications of these technologies in the life and health industry as well as their far-reaching impact, so as to promote the research of protein structure and function, drug development and precision medicine, and bring new insights to researchers in related fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Du
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, China
| | - Zhuru Hou
- Science and Technology Centre, Fenyang College of Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, China,Key Laboratory of Lvliang for Clinical Molecular Diagnostics, Fenyang, China,*Correspondence: Ling Liu, ; Benjin Xu,
| | - Yan Xuan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, China
| | - Xiaocong Chen
- Department of Basic Medicine, Fenyang College of Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, China
| | - Lei Fan
- Department of Basic Medicine, Fenyang College of Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, China
| | - Zhuoxi Li
- Department of Basic Medicine, Fenyang College of Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, China
| | - Benjin Xu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Fenyang College, Shanxi Medical University, Fenyang, China,Key Laboratory of Lvliang for Clinical Molecular Diagnostics, Fenyang, China,*Correspondence: Ling Liu, ; Benjin Xu,
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Fisher F, Zhang Y, Vincent PFY, Gajewiak J, Gordon TJ, Glowatzki E, Fuchs PA, McIntosh JM. Cy3-RgIA-5727 Labels and Inhibits α9-Containing nAChRs of Cochlear Hair Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:697560. [PMID: 34385908 PMCID: PMC8354143 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.697560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Efferent cholinergic neurons inhibit sensory hair cells of the vertebrate inner ear through the combined action of calcium-permeable α9α10-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and associated calcium-dependent potassium channels. The venom of cone snails is a rich repository of bioactive peptides, many with channel blocking activities. The conopeptide analog, RgIA-5474, is a specific and potent antagonist of α9α10-containing nAChRs. We added an alkyl functional group to the N-terminus of the RgIA-5474, to enable click chemistry addition of the fluorescent cyanine dye, Cy3. The resulting peptide, Cy3-RgIA-5727, potently blocked mouse α9α10 nAChRs expressed in Xenopus oocytes (IC50 23 pM), with 290-fold less activity on α7 nAChRs and 40,000-fold less activity on all other tested nAChR subtypes. The tight binding of Cy3-RgIA-5727 provided robust visualization of hair cell nAChRs juxtaposed to cholinergic efferent terminals in excised, unfixed cochlear tissue from mice. Presumptive postsynaptic sites on outer hair cells (OHCs) were labeled, but absent from inner hair cells (IHCs) and from OHCs in cochlear tissue from α9-null mice and in cochlear tissue pre-incubated with non-Cy3-conjugated RgIA-5474. In cochlear tissue from younger (postnatal day 10) mice, Cy3-RgIA-5727 also labeled IHCs, corresponding to transient efferent innervation at that age. Cy3 puncta in Kölliker’s organ remained in the α9-null tissue. Pre-exposure with non-Cy3-conjugated RgIA-5474 or bovine serum albumin reduced this non-specific labeling to variable extents in different preparations. Cy3-RgIA-5727 and RgIA-5474 blocked the native hair cell nAChRs, within the constraints of application to the excised cochlear tissue. Cy3-RgIA-5727 or RgIA-5474 block of efferent synaptic currents in young IHCs was not relieved after 50 min washing, so effectively irreversible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Fisher
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Philippe F Y Vincent
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Joanna Gajewiak
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Thomas J Gordon
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Elisabeth Glowatzki
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Paul Albert Fuchs
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - J Michael McIntosh
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.,George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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