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Sultana A, Geethakumari AM, Islam Z, Kolatkar PR, Biswas KH. BRET-based biosensors for SARS-CoV-2 oligonucleotide detection. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1353479. [PMID: 38887615 PMCID: PMC11181354 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1353479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The need for the early detection of emerging pathogenic viruses and their newer variants has driven the urgent demand for developing point-of-care diagnostic tools. Although nucleic acid-based methods such as reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) have been developed, a more facile and robust platform is still required. To address this need, as a proof-of-principle study, we engineered a prototype-the versatile, sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based biosensor for oligonucleotide detection (BioOD). Specifically, we designed BioODs against the SARS-CoV-2 parental (Wuhan strain) and B.1.617.2 Delta variant through the conjugation of specific, fluorescently modified molecular beacons (sensor module) through a complementary oligonucleotide handle DNA functionalized with the NanoLuc (NLuc) luciferase protein such that the dissolution of the molecular beacon loop upon the binding of the viral oligonucleotide will result in a decrease in BRET efficiency and, thus, a change in the bioluminescence spectra. Following the assembly of the BioODs, we determined their kinetics response, affinity for variant-specific oligonucleotides, and specificity, and found them to be rapid and highly specific. Furthermore, the decrease in BRET efficiency of the BioODs in the presence of viral oligonucleotides can be detected as a change in color in cell phone camera images. We envisage that the BioODs developed here will find application in detecting viral infections with variant specificity in a point-of-care-testing format, thus aiding in large-scale viral infection surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asfia Sultana
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Anupriya M. Geethakumari
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Zeyaul Islam
- Diabetes Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Prasanna R. Kolatkar
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
- Diabetes Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Kabir H. Biswas
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
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Wang Y, Jiao Q, Wang J, Cai X, Zhao W, Cui X. Prediction of protein-ligand binding affinity with deep learning. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:5796-5806. [PMID: 38213884 PMCID: PMC10782002 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.11.009] [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] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The prediction of binding affinities between target proteins and small molecule drugs is essential for speeding up the drug research and design process. To attain precise and effective affinity prediction, computer-aided methods are employed in the drug discovery pipeline. In the last decade, a variety of computational methods has been developed, with deep learning being the most commonly used approach. We have gathered several deep learning methods and classified them into convolutional neural networks (CNNs), graph neural networks (GNNs), and Transformers for analysis and discussion. Initially, we conducted an analysis of the different deep learning methods, focusing on their feature construction and model architecture. We discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each model. Subsequently, we conducted experiments using four deep learning methods on the PDBbind v.2016 core set. We evaluated their prediction capabilities in various affinity intervals and statistically and visually analyzed the samples of correct and incorrect predictions for each model. Through visual analysis, we attempted to combine the strengths of the four models to improve the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of predicted affinities by 1.6% (reducing the absolute value to 1.101) and the Pearson Correlation Coefficient (R) by 2.9% (increasing the absolute value to 0.894) compared to the current state-of-the-art method. Lastly, we discussed the challenges faced by current deep learning methods in affinity prediction and proposed potential solutions to address these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiao Wang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, Shandong, China
| | - Qihong Jiao
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, Shandong, China
| | - Jingxuan Wang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaojun Cai
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, Shandong, China
| | - Xuefeng Cui
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, Shandong, China
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dos Santos Rodrigues FH, Delgado GG, Santana da Costa T, Tasic L. Applications of fluorescence spectroscopy in protein conformational changes and intermolecular contacts. BBA ADVANCES 2023; 3:100091. [PMID: 37207090 PMCID: PMC10189374 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadva.2023.100091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Emission fluorescence is one of the most versatile and powerful biophysical techniques used in several scientific subjects. It is extensively applied in the studies of proteins, their conformations, and intermolecular contacts, such as in protein-ligand and protein-protein interactions, allowing qualitative, quantitative, and structural data elucidation. This review, aimed to outline some of the most widely used fluorescence techniques in this area, illustrate their applications and display a few examples. At first, the data on the intrinsic fluorescence of proteins is disclosed, mainly on the tryptophan side chain. Predominantly, research to study protein conformational changes, protein interactions, and changes in intensities and shifts of the fluorescence emission maximums were discussed. Fluorescence anisotropy or fluorescence polarization is a measurement of the changing orientation of a molecule in space, concerning the time between the absorption and emission events. Absorption and emission indicate the spatial alignment of the molecule's dipoles relative to the electric vector of the electromagnetic wave of excitation and emitted light, respectively. In other words, if the fluorophore population is excited with vertically polarized light, the emitted light will retain some polarization based on how fast it rotates in solution. Therefore, fluorescence anisotropy can be successfully used in protein-protein interaction investigations. Then, green fluorescent proteins (GFPs), photo-transformable fluorescent proteins (FPs) such as photoswitchable and photoconvertible FPs, and those with Large Stokes Shift (LSS) are disclosed in more detail. FPs are potent tools for the study of biological systems. Their versatility and wide range of colours and properties allow many applications. Finally, the application of fluorescence in life sciences is exposed, especially the application of FPs in fluorescence microscopy techniques with super-resolution that enables precise in vivo photolabeling to monitor the movement and interactions of target proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gonzalo Garcia Delgado
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Department, University of Campinas, P. O. Box 6154, Campinas 13083-970, SP, Brazil
| | - Thyerre Santana da Costa
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Department, University of Campinas, P. O. Box 6154, Campinas 13083-970, SP, Brazil
| | - Ljubica Tasic
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Department, University of Campinas, P. O. Box 6154, Campinas 13083-970, SP, Brazil
- Corresponding author: Ljubica Tasic: IQ, UNICAMP, Rua Josué de Castro sn, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil
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Boitet M, Eun H, Achek A, Carla de Almeida Falcão V, Delorme V, Grailhe R. Biolum' RGB: A Low-Cost, Versatile, and Sensitive Bioluminescence Imaging Instrument for a Broad Range of Users. ACS Sens 2022; 7:2556-2566. [PMID: 36001874 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c00457] [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
Luminometer and imaging systems are used to detect and quantify low light produced by a broad range of bioluminescent proteins. Despite their everyday use in research, such instruments are costly and lack the flexibility to accommodate the variety of bioluminescence experiment formats that may require top or bottom signal acquisition, high or medium sensitivity, or multiple wavelength detection. To address the growing need for versatile technologies, we developed a highly customizable bioluminescence imager called Biolum' RGB that uses a consumer color digital camera with a high-aperture lens mounted at the bottom or top of a 3D-printed dark chamber and can quantify bioluminescence emission from cells grown in 384-well microplates and Petri dishes. Taking advantage of RGB detectors, Biolum' RGB can distinguish spectral signatures from various bioluminescence probes and quantify bioluminescence resonant energy transfer occurring during protein-protein interaction events. Although Biolum' RGB can be used with any smartphone, in particular for low bioluminescence signals, we recommend the use of recent digital cameras which offer better sensitivity and high signal/noise ratio. Altogether, Biolum' RGB combines the benefits of a plate reader and imager while providing better image resolution and faster acquisition speed, and as such, it offers an exciting alternative for any laboratory looking for a versatile, low-cost bioluminescence imaging instrument.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maylis Boitet
- Technology Development Platform, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam13488, Republic of Korea.,Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, Korea University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeju Eun
- Technology Development Platform, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Asma Achek
- Technology Development Platform, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam13488, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Vincent Delorme
- Tuberculosis Research Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Regis Grailhe
- Technology Development Platform, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam13488, Republic of Korea.,Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, Korea University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon34113, Republic of Korea.,Smart-MD, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam13488, Republic of Korea
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