Signal-enhanced real-time magnetic resonance of enzymatic reactions at millitesla fields

Cross-Polarization of Insensitive Nuclei from Water Protons for Detection of Protein-Ligand Binding

Hyperpolarization derived from water protons enhances the NMR signal of 15N nuclei in a small molecule, enabling the sensitive detection of a protein-ligand interaction. The water hyperpolarized by dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (D-DNP) acts as a universal signal enhancement agent. The 15N signal of benzamidine was increased by 1480-fold through continuous polarization transfer by J-coupling-mediated cross-polarization (J-CP) via the exchangeable protons. The signal enhancement factor favorably compares to factors of 110- or 17-fold using non-CP-based polarization transfer mechanisms. The hyperpolarization enabled detection of the binding of benzamidine to the target protein trypsin with a single-scan measurement of 15N R2 relaxation. J-CP provides an efficient polarization mechanism for 15N or other low-frequency nuclei near an exchangeable proton. The hyperpolarization transfer sustained within the relaxation time limit of water protons additionally can be applied for the study of macromolecular structure and biological processes.

Enzymatic Reactions Observed with Zero- and Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

We demonstrate that enzyme-catalyzed reactions can be observed in zero- and low-field NMR experiments by combining recent advances in parahydrogen-based hyperpolarization methods with state-of-the-art magnetometry. Specifically, we investigated two model biological processes: the conversion of fumarate into malate, which is used in vivo as a marker of cell necrosis, and the conversion of pyruvate into lactate, which is the most widely studied metabolic process in hyperpolarization-enhanced imaging. In addition to this, we constructed a microfluidic zero-field NMR setup to perform experiments on microliter-scale samples of [1-13C]fumarate in a lab-on-a-chip device. Zero- to ultralow-field (ZULF) NMR has two key advantages over high-field NMR: the signals can pass through conductive materials (e.g., metals), and line broadening from sample heterogeneity is negligible. To date, the use of ZULF NMR for process monitoring has been limited to studying hydrogenation reactions. In this work, we demonstrate this emerging analytical technique for more general reaction monitoring and compare zero- vs low-field detection.

Molecular precursors to produce para-hydrogen enhanced metabolites at any field

Enhancing magnetic resonance signal via hyperpolarization techniques enables the real-time detection of metabolic transformations even in vivo. The use of para-hydrogen to enhance 13 C-enriched metabolites has opened a rapid pathway for the production of hyperpolarized metabolites, which usually requires specialized equipment. Metabolite precursors that can be hyperpolarized and converted into metabolites at any given field would open up opportunities for many labs to make use of this technology because already existing hardware could be used. We report here on the complete synthesis and hyperpolarization of suitable precursor molecules of the side-arm hydrogenation approach. The better accessibility to such side-arms promises that the para-hydrogen approach can be implemented in every lab with existing two channel NMR spectrometers for 1 H and 13 C independent of the magnetic field.

Real-time cell metabolism assessed repeatedly on the same cells via para-hydrogen induced polarization

Signal-enhanced or hyperpolarized nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy stands out as a unique tool to monitor real-time enzymatic reactions in living cells. The singlet state of para-hydrogen is thereby one source of spin order that can be converted into largely enhanced signals of e.g. metabolites. Here, we have investigated a parahydrogen-induced polarization (PHIP) approach as a biological assay for in vitro cellular metabolic characterization. Here, we demonstrate the possibility to perform consecutive measurements yielding metabolic information on the same sample. We observed a strongly reduced pyruvate-to-lactate conversion rate (flux) of a Hodgkin's lymphoma cancer cell line L1236 treated with FK866, an inhibitor of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) affecting the amount of NAD⁺ and thus NADH in cells. In the consecutive measurement the flux was recovered by NADH to the same amount as in the single-measurement-per-sample and provides a promising new analytical tool for continuous real-time studies combinable with bioreactors and lab-on-a-chip devices in the future.

Real-Time Pyruvate Chemical Conversion Monitoring Enabled by PHIP

In recent years, parahydrogen-induced polarization side arm hydrogenation (PHIP-SAH) has been applied to hyperpolarize [1-¹³C]pyruvate and map its metabolic conversion to [1-¹³C]lactate in cancer cells. Developing on our recent MINERVA pulse sequence protocol, in which we have achieved 27% [1-¹³C]pyruvate carbon polarization, we demonstrate the hyperpolarization of [1,2-¹³C]pyruvate (∼7% polarization on each ¹³C spin) via PHIP-SAH. By altering a single parameter in the pulse sequence, MINERVA enables the signal enhancement of C1 and/or C2 in [1,2-¹³C]pyruvate with the opposite phase, which allows for the simultaneous monitoring of different chemical reactions with enhanced spectral contrast or for the same reaction via different carbon sites. We first demonstrate the ability to monitor the same enzymatic pyruvate to lactate conversion at 7T in an aqueous solution, in vitro, and in-cell (HeLa cells) via different carbon sites. In a second set of experiments, we use the C1 and C2 carbon positions as spectral probes for simultaneous chemical reactions: the production of acetate, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and carbonate by reacting [1,2-¹³C]pyruvate with H₂O₂ at a high temperature (55 °C). Importantly, we detect and characterize the intermediate 2-hydroperoxy-2-hydroxypropanoate in real time and at high temperature.

Metabolic Tumor Imaging with Rapidly Signal-Enhanced 1-13 C-Pyruvate-d3

The metabolism of malignant cells differs significantly from that of healthy cells and thus, it is possible to perform metabolic imaging to reveal not only the exact location of a tumor, but also intratumoral areas of high metabolic activity. Herein, we demonstrate the feasibility of metabolic tumor imaging using signal-enhanced 1-¹³ C-pyruvate-d₃ , which is rapidly enhanced via para-hydrogen, and thus, the signal is amplified by several orders of magnitudes in less than a minute. Using as a model, human melanoma xenografts injected with signal-enhanced 1-¹³ C-pyruvate-d3, we show that the conversion of pyruvate into lactate can be monitored along with its kinetics, which could pave the way for rapidly detecting and monitoring changes in tumor metabolism.

A Field-Independent Method for the Rapid Generation of Hyperpolarized [1-13 C]Pyruvate in Clean Water Solutions for Biomedical Applications

Hyperpolarization methods in magnetic resonance enhance the signals by several orders of magnitude, opening new windows for real-time investigations of dynamic processes in vitro and in vivo. Here, we propose a field-independent para-hydrogen-based pulsed method to produce rapidly hyperpolarized 13 C-labeled substrates. We demonstrate the method by polarizing the carboxylic carbon of the pyruvate moiety in a purposely designed precursor to 24 % at ≈22 mT. Following a fast purification procedure, we measure 8 % polarization on free [1-13 C]pyruvate in clean water solutions at physiological conditions at 7 T. The enhanced signals allow real-time monitoring of the pyruvate-lactate conversion in cancer cells, demonstrating the potential of the method for biomedical applications in combination with existing or developing magnetic resonance technologies.

Characterization of Protocatechuate 4,5-Dioxygenase from Pseudarthrobacter phenanthrenivorans Sphe3 and In Situ Reaction Monitoring in the NMR Tube

The current study aims at the functional and kinetic characterization of protocatechuate (PCA) 4,5-dioxygenase (PcaA) from Pseudarthrobacter phenanthrenivorans Sphe3. This is the first single subunit Type II dioxygenase characterized in Actinobacteria. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that pcaA and the adjacent putative genes implicated in the PCA meta-cleavage pathway comprise a single transcriptional unit. The recombinant PcaA is highly specific for PCA and exhibits Michaelis-Menten kinetics with Km and Vmax values of 21 ± 1.6 μM and 44.8 ± 4.0 U × mg-1, respectively, in pH 9.5 and at 20 °C. PcaA also converted gallate from a broad range of substrates tested. The enzymatic reaction products were identified and characterized, for the first time, through in situ biotransformation monitoring inside an NMR tube. The PCA reaction product demonstrated a keto-enol tautomerization, whereas the gallate reaction product was present only in the keto form. Moreover, the transcriptional levels of pcaA and pcaR (gene encoding a LysR-type regulator of the pathway) were also determined, showing an induction when cells were grown on PCA and phenanthrene. Studying key enzymes in biodegradation pathways is significant for bioremediation and for efficient biocatalysts development.

Lanthanide DO3A-Complexes Bearing Peptide Substrates: The Effect of Peptidic Side Chains on Metal Coordination and Relaxivity

Two DO3A-type ligands conjugated to substrates of urokinase (L3) and caspase-3 (L4) via a propyl-amide linker were synthesized and their lanthanide(III) (Ln3+) complexes studied. A model compound without peptide substrate (L2) and an amine derivative ligand mimicking the state after enzymatic cleavage (L1) were also prepared. Proton Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation Dispersion (NMRD) profiles recorded on the gadolinium(III) (Gd3+) complexes, complemented with the assessment of hydration numbers via luminescence lifetime measurements on the Eu3+ analogues, allowed us to characterize the lanthanide coordination sphere in the chelates. These data suggest that the potential donor groups of the peptide side chains (carboxylate, amine) interfere in metal coordination, leading to non-hydrated LnL3 and LnL4 complexes. Nevertheless, GdL3 and GdL4 retain a relatively high relaxivity due to an important second-sphere contribution generated by the strongly hydrophilic peptide chain. Weak PARACEST effects are detected for the amine-derivative EuL1 and NdL1 chelates. Unfortunately, the GdL3 and GdL4 complexes are not significantly converted by the enzymes. The lack of enzymatic recognition of these complexes can likely be explained by the participation of donor groups from the peptide side chain in metal coordination.