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Kumar V, Chunchagatta Lakshman PK, Prasad TK, Manjunath K, Bairy S, Vasu AS, Ganavi B, Jasti S, Kamariah N. Target-based drug discovery: Applications of fluorescence techniques in high throughput and fragment-based screening. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23864. [PMID: 38226204 PMCID: PMC10788520 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23864] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Target-based discovery of first-in-class therapeutics demands an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying human diseases. Precise measurements of cellular and biochemical activities are critical to gain mechanistic knowledge of biomolecules and their altered function in disease conditions. Such measurements enable the development of intervention strategies for preventing or treating diseases by modulation of desired molecular processes. Fluorescence-based techniques are routinely employed for accurate and robust measurements of in-vitro activity of molecular targets and for discovering novel chemical molecules that modulate the activity of molecular targets. In the current review, the authors focus on the applications of fluorescence-based high throughput screening (HTS) and fragment-based ligand discovery (FBLD) techniques such as fluorescence polarization (FP), Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), fluorescence thermal shift assay (FTSA) and microscale thermophoresis (MST) for the discovery of chemical probe to exploring target's role in disease biology and ultimately, serve as a foundation for drug discovery. Some recent advancements in these techniques for compound library screening against important classes of drug targets, such as G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and GTPases, as well as phosphorylation- and acetylation-mediated protein-protein interactions, are discussed. Overall, this review presents a landscape of how these techniques paved the way for the discovery of small-molecule modulators and biologics against these targets for therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thazhe Kootteri Prasad
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Kavyashree Manjunath
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Sneha Bairy
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Akshaya S. Vasu
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - B. Ganavi
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Subbarao Jasti
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Neelagandan Kamariah
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
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2
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Zhang H, Xu M, Li H, Mai X, Sun J, Mi L, Ma J, Zhu X, Fei Y. Detection speed optimization of the OI-RD microscope for ultra-high throughput screening. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 14:2386-2399. [PMID: 37206144 PMCID: PMC10191655 DOI: 10.1364/boe.487563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The oblique-incidence reflectivity difference (OI-RD) microscope is a label-free detection system for microarrays that has many successful applications in high throughput drug screening. The increase and optimization of the detection speed of the OI-RD microscope will enable it to be a potential ultra-high throughput screening tool. This work presents a series of optimization methods that can significantly reduce the time to scan an OI-RD image. The wait time for the lock-in amplifier was decreased by the proper selection of the time constant and development of a new electronic amplifier. In addition, the time for the software to acquire data and for translation stage movement was also minimized. As a result, the detection speed of the OI-RD microscope is 10 times faster than before, making the OI-RD microscope suitable for ultra-high throughput screening applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Zhang
- Department of Optical Science and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Ultra-Precision Optical Manufacturing, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (Ministry of Education), School of Information Science and Technology,
Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Mengjing Xu
- Department of Optical Science and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Ultra-Precision Optical Manufacturing, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (Ministry of Education), School of Information Science and Technology,
Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Haofeng Li
- Department of Optical Science and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Ultra-Precision Optical Manufacturing, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (Ministry of Education), School of Information Science and Technology,
Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xiaohan Mai
- Department of Optical Science and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Ultra-Precision Optical Manufacturing, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (Ministry of Education), School of Information Science and Technology,
Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jiawei Sun
- Department of Science and Technology, Shanghai Deyu Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 201413, China
| | - Lan Mi
- Department of Optical Science and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Ultra-Precision Optical Manufacturing, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (Ministry of Education), School of Information Science and Technology,
Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jiong Ma
- Department of Optical Science and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Ultra-Precision Optical Manufacturing, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (Ministry of Education), School of Information Science and Technology,
Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xiangdong Zhu
- Department of Physics, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Yiyan Fei
- Department of Optical Science and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Ultra-Precision Optical Manufacturing, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (Ministry of Education), School of Information Science and Technology,
Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
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3
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Babu Manoharan G, Guzmán C, Najumudeen AK, Abankwa D. Detection of Ras nanoclustering-dependent homo-FRET using fluorescence anisotropy measurements. Eur J Cell Biol 2023; 102:151314. [PMID: 37058825 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The small GTPase Ras is frequently mutated in cancer and a driver of tumorigenesis. The recent years have shown great progress in drug-targeting Ras and understanding how it operates on the plasma membrane. We now know that Ras is non-randomly organized into proteo-lipid complexes on the membrane, called nanoclusters. Nanoclusters contain only a few Ras proteins and are necessary for the recruitment of downstream effectors, such as Raf. If tagged with fluorescent proteins, the dense packing of Ras in nanoclusters can be analyzed by Förster/ fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Loss of FRET can therefore report on decreased nanoclustering and any process upstream of it, such as Ras lipid modifications and correct trafficking. Thus, cellular FRET screens employing Ras-derived fluorescence biosensors are potentially powerful tools to discover chemical or genetic modulators of functional Ras membrane organization. Here we implement fluorescence anisotropy-based homo-FRET measurements of Ras-derived constructs labelled with only one fluorescent protein on a confocal microscope and a fluorescence plate reader. We show that homo-FRET of both H-Ras- and K-Ras-derived constructs can sensitively report on Ras-lipidation and -trafficking inhibitors, as well as on genetic perturbations of proteins regulating membrane anchorage. By exploiting the switch I/II-binding Ras-dimerizing compound BI-2852, this assay is also suitable to report on the engagement of the K-Ras switch II pocket by small molecules such as AMG 510. Given that homo-FRET only requires one fluorescent protein tagged Ras construct, this approach has significant advantages to create Ras-nanoclustering FRET-biosensor reporter cell lines, as compared to the more common hetero-FRET approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganesh Babu Manoharan
- Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Camilo Guzmán
- Euro-BioImaging ERIC, Statutory Seat, Turku, Finland
| | - Arafath Kaja Najumudeen
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Daniel Abankwa
- Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
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4
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He S, Lim GE. The Application of High-Throughput Approaches in Identifying Novel Therapeutic Targets and Agents to Treat Diabetes. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2200151. [PMID: 36398493 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
During the past decades, unprecedented progress in technologies has revolutionized traditional research methodologies. Among these, advances in high-throughput drug screening approaches have permitted the rapid identification of potential therapeutic agents from drug libraries that contain thousands or millions of molecules. Moreover, high-throughput-based therapeutic target discovery strategies can comprehensively interrogate relationships between biomolecules (e.g., gene, RNA, and protein) and diseases and significantly increase the authors' knowledge of disease mechanisms. Diabetes is a chronic disease primarily characterized by the incapacity of the body to maintain normoglycemia. The prevalence of diabetes in modern society has become a severe public health issue that threatens the well-being of millions of patients. Although a number of pharmacological treatments are available, there is no permanent cure for diabetes, and discovering novel therapeutic targets and agents continues to be an urgent need. The present review discusses the technical details of high-throughput screening approaches in drug discovery, followed by introducing the applications of such approaches to diabetes research. This review aims to provide an example of the applicability of high-throughput technologies in facilitating different aspects of disease research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyi He
- Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Roger-Gaudry, 2900 Edouard Montpetit Blvd, Montreal, Québec, H3T 1J4, Canada.,Cardiometabolic Axis, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), 900 rue St Denis, Montreal, Québec, H2X 0A9, Canada
| | - Gareth E Lim
- Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Roger-Gaudry, 2900 Edouard Montpetit Blvd, Montreal, Québec, H3T 1J4, Canada.,Cardiometabolic Axis, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), 900 rue St Denis, Montreal, Québec, H2X 0A9, Canada
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5
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Liu M, Martyn AP, Quinn RJ. Natural product-based PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs). Nat Prod Rep 2022; 39:2292-2307. [PMID: 36196977 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00038e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Covering: upto 2022Natural products have an embedded recognition of protein surfaces. They possess this property as they are produced by biosynthetic enzymes and are substrates for one or more enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway. The inherent advantages, compared to synthetic compound libraries, is this ligand-protein binding which is, in many cases, a function of the 3-dimensional properties. Protein degradation is a recent novel therapeutic approach with several compounds now in the clinic. This review highlights the potential of PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) in the area of natural products. The approach will complement existing approaches such as the direct use of a bioactive natural product or its analogues, pharmacophore development and drug-antibody conjugates. The chemical synthesis and challenges of using natural product-based PROTACs are summarised. The review also highlights methods to detect the ternary complexes necessary for PROTAC mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaomiao Liu
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Alexander P Martyn
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program (CARP), Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health (CGPH), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ronald J Quinn
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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6
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Hernández S, Feracci M, De Jesus CT, El Kazzi P, Kaci R, Garlatti L, Mondielli C, Bailly F, Cotelle P, Touret F, de Lamballerie X, Coutard B, Decroly E, Canard B, Ferron F, Alvarez K. Identification of potent inhibitors of arenavirus and SARS-CoV-2 exoribonucleases by fluorescence polarization assay. Antiviral Res 2022; 204:105364. [PMID: 35716929 PMCID: PMC9212739 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Viral exoribonucleases are uncommon in the world of RNA viruses. To date, they have only been identified in the Arenaviridae and the Coronaviridae families. The exoribonucleases of these viruses play a crucial role in the pathogenicity and interplay with host innate immune response. Moreover, coronaviruses exoribonuclease is also involved in a proofreading mechanism ensuring the genetic stability of the viral genome. Because of their key roles in virus life cycle, they constitute attractive target for drug design. Here we developed a sensitive, robust and reliable fluorescence polarization assay to measure the exoribonuclease activity and its inhibition in vitro. The effectiveness of the method was validated on three different viral exoribonucleases, including SARS-CoV-2, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis and Machupo viruses. We performed a screening of a focused library consisting of 113 metal chelators. Hit compounds were recovered with an IC50 at micromolar level. We confirmed 3 hits in SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero-E6 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Hernández
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - Mikael Feracci
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - Carolina Trajano De Jesus
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - Priscila El Kazzi
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - Rafik Kaci
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - Laura Garlatti
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - Clemence Mondielli
- Evotec (France) SAS, Campus Curie, 195 route d’Espagne, 31036, Toulouse CEDEX, France
| | - Fabrice Bailly
- Univ Lille, INSERM, CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition Research Center, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Philippe Cotelle
- Univ Lille, INSERM, CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition Research Center, F-59000, Lille, France,ENSCL-Centrale Lille, CS 90108, F-59652, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
| | - Franck Touret
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille University -IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
| | - Xavier de Lamballerie
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille University -IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
| | - Bruno Coutard
- Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille University -IRD 190-Inserm 1207-IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France
| | - Etienne Decroly
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - Bruno Canard
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France
| | - François Ferron
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France,Corresponding author. AFMB, Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille Cedex 9, France
| | - Karine Alvarez
- Université Aix-Marseille, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB) – UMR7257 CNRS – Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, Marseille CEDEX 09, 13288, France,Corresponding author. AFMB, Case 932, 163 avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille Cedex 9, France
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7
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Katsuki R, Numayama T, Tabuchi Y, Sharma J, Satake N, Sandhu A, Taki M. Solvatochromic peptidic binder obtained via extended phage display acts as a fluororeporter for fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD). Anal Bioanal Chem 2022; 414:4803-4807. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-04128-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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8
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Tahk MJ, Torp J, Ali MAS, Fishman D, Parts L, Grätz L, Müller C, Keller M, Veiksina S, Laasfeld T, Rinken A. Live-cell microscopy or fluorescence anisotropy with budded baculoviruses-which way to go with measuring ligand binding to M 4 muscarinic receptors? Open Biol 2022; 12:220019. [PMID: 35674179 PMCID: PMC9175271 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that has been associated with alcohol and cocaine abuse, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia which makes it an interesting drug target. For many GPCRs, the high-affinity fluorescence ligands have expanded the options for high-throughput screening of drug candidates and serve as useful tools in fundamental receptor research. Here, we explored two TAMRA-labelled fluorescence ligands, UR-MK342 and UR-CG072, for development of assays for studying ligand-binding properties to M4 receptor. Using budded baculovirus particles as M4 receptor preparation and fluorescence anisotropy method, we measured the affinities and binding kinetics of both fluorescence ligands. Using the fluorescence ligands as reporter probes, the binding affinities of unlabelled ligands could be determined. Based on these results, we took a step towards a more natural system and developed a method using live CHO-K1-hM4R cells and automated fluorescence microscopy suitable for the routine determination of unlabelled ligand affinities. For quantitative image analysis, we developed random forest and deep learning-based pipelines for cell segmentation. The pipelines were integrated into the user-friendly open-source Aparecium software. Both image analysis methods were suitable for measuring fluorescence ligand saturation binding and kinetics as well as for screening binding affinities of unlabelled ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maris-Johanna Tahk
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jane Torp
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mohammed A. S. Ali
- Department of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Narva Street 20, 51009 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Dmytro Fishman
- Department of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Narva Street 20, 51009 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Leopold Parts
- Department of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Narva Street 20, 51009 Tartu, Estonia
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Lukas Grätz
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Müller
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Max Keller
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Santa Veiksina
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Tõnis Laasfeld
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Narva Street 20, 51009 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ago Rinken
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
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9
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Yin X, Chen L, Yuan S, Liu L, Gao Z. A robust high-throughput fluorescent polarization assay for the evaluation and screening of SARS-CoV-2 fusion inhibitors. Bioorg Chem 2021; 116:105362. [PMID: 34598089 PMCID: PMC8457910 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a serious threat to global health. One attractive antiviral target is the membrane fusion mechanism employed by the virus to gain access to the host cell. Here we report a robust protein-based fluorescent polarization assay, that mimicking the formation of the six-helix bundle (6-HB) process during the membrane fusion, for the evaluation and screening of SARS-CoV-2 fusion Inhibitors. The IC50 of known inhibitors, HR2P, EK1, and Salvianolic acid C (Sal-C) were measured to be 6.1 nM, 2.5 nM, and 8.9 µM respectively. In addition, we found Sal-A has a slightly lower IC50 (3.9 µM) than Sal-C. Interestingly, simple caffeic acid can also disrupt the formation of 6-HB with a sub-mM concentration. Pilot high throughput screening (HTS) of a small marine natural product library validates the assay with a Z’ factor close to 0.8. We envision the current assay provides a convenient way to screen SARS-CoV-2 fusion inhibitors and assess their binding affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjian Yin
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519080, China
| | - Litong Chen
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519080, China
| | - Siwen Yuan
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519080, China
| | - Lan Liu
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519080, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519080, China
| | - Zhizeng Gao
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519080, China; State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519080, China.
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10
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Kang C, Kim S, Lee E, Ryu J, Lee M, Kwon Y. Genetically Encoded Sensor Cells for the Screening of Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) Effectors in Herbal Extracts. BIOSENSORS-BASEL 2021; 11:bios11090341. [PMID: 34562931 PMCID: PMC8465347 DOI: 10.3390/bios11090341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Although in vitro sensors provide facile low-cost ways to screen for biologically active targets, their results may not accurately represent the molecular interactions in biological systems. Cell-based sensors have emerged as promising platforms to screen targets in biologically relevant environments. However, there are few examples where cell-based sensors have been practically applied for drug screening. Here, we used engineered cortisol-detecting sensor cells to screen for natural mimetics of cortisol. The sensor cells were designed to report the presence of a target through signal peptide activation and subsequent fluorescence signal translocation. The developed sensor cells were able to detect known biological targets from human-derived analytes as well as natural product extracts, such as deer antlers and ginseng. The multi-use capability and versatility to screen in different cellular environments were also demonstrated. The sensor cells were used to identify novel GR effectors from medicinal plant extracts. Our results suggest that decursin from dongquai had the GR effector function as a selective GR agonist (SEGRA), making it a potent drug candidate with anti-inflammatory activity. We demonstrated the superiority of cell-based sensing technology over in vitro screening, proving its potential for practical drug screening applications that leads to the function-based discovery of target molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chungwon Kang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Korea; (C.K.); (S.K.); (E.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.)
| | - Soyoun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Korea; (C.K.); (S.K.); (E.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.)
| | - Euiyeon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Korea; (C.K.); (S.K.); (E.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.)
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Jeahee Ryu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Korea; (C.K.); (S.K.); (E.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.)
| | - Minhyeong Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Korea; (C.K.); (S.K.); (E.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.)
| | - Youngeun Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Korea; (C.K.); (S.K.); (E.L.); (J.R.); (M.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-31-961-5151
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11
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Weaver SD, Whelan RJ. Characterization of DNA aptamer-protein binding using fluorescence anisotropy assays in low-volume, high-efficiency plates. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2021; 13:1302-1307. [PMID: 33533761 DOI: 10.1039/d0ay02256j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Aptamers have many useful attributes including specific binding to molecular targets. After aptamers are identified, their target binding must be characterized. Fluorescence anisotropy (FA) is one technique that can be used to characterize affinity and to optimize aptamer-target interactions. Efforts to make FA assays more efficient by reducing assay volume and time from mixing to measurement may save time and resources by minimizing consumption of costly reagents. Here, we use thrombin and two thrombin-binding aptamers as a model system to show that plate-based FA experiments can be performed in volumes as low as 2 μL per well with 20 minute incubations with minimal loss in assay precision. We demonstrate that the aptamer-thrombin interaction is best modelled with the Hill equation, indicating cooperative binding. The miniaturization of this assay has implications in drug development, as well as in the efficiency of aptamer selection workflows by allowing for higher throughput aptamer analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Weaver
- Integrated Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Rebecca J Whelan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
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Strom A, Shah R, Wagner CR. "Switching On" Enzyme Substrate Specificity Analysis with a Fluorescent Competitive Inhibitor. Biochemistry 2021; 60:440-450. [PMID: 33513008 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Enzymatically driven change to the spectroscopic properties of a chemical substrate or product has been a linchpin in the development of continuous enzyme kinetics assays. These assays inherently necessitate substrates or products that naturally comply with the constraints of the spectroscopic technique being used, or they require structural changes to the molecules involved to make them observable. Here we demonstrate a new analytical kinetics approach with enzyme histidine triad nucleotide binding protein 1 (HINT1) that allows us to extract both useful kcat values and a rank-ordered list of substrate specificities without the need to track substrates or products directly. Instead, this is accomplished indirectly using a "switch on" competitive inhibitor that fluoresces maximally only when bound to the HINT1 enzyme active site. Kinetic information is extracted from the duration of the diminished fluorescence when the monitorable inhibitor-bound enzyme is challenged with saturating concentrations of a nonfluorescent substrate. We refer to the loss of fluorescence, while the substrate competes for the fluorescent probe in the active site, as the substrate's residence transit time (RTT). The ability to assess kcat values and substrate specificity by monitoring the RTTs for a set of substrates with a competitive "switch on" inhibitor should be broadly applicable to other enzymatic reactions in which the "switch on" inhibitor has sufficient binding affinity over the enzymatic product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Strom
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Rachit Shah
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Carston R Wagner
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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Yin X, Li J, Chen S, Wu Y, She Z, Liu L, Wang Y, Gao Z. An Economical High-Throughput "FP-Tag" Assay for Screening Glycosyltransferase Inhibitors*. Chembiochem 2021; 22:1391-1395. [PMID: 33259119 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) is involved in many cellular processes, and selective OGT inhibitors are valuable tools to investigate O-GlcNAcylation functions, and could potentially lead to therapeutics. However, high-throughput OGT assays that are suitable for large-scale HTS and can identify inhibitors targeting both acceptor, donor sites, and allosteric binding-sites are still lacking. Here, we report the development of a high-throughput "FP-Tag" OGT assay with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a low-cost and superior "FP-Tag". With this assay, 2-methyleurotinone was identified as a low-micromolar OGT inhibitor. This type of assay with BSA as "FP-Tag" would find more applications with other glycosyltransferases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjian Yin
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, 519080, Zhuhai, P. R. China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, 519080, Zhuhai, P. R. China
| | - Senhua Chen
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, 519080, Zhuhai, P. R. China
| | - Yuping Wu
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, 519080, Zhuhai, P. R. China
| | - Zhigang She
- School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, 519275, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Lan Liu
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, 519080, Zhuhai, P. R. China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), 519080, Zhuhai, P. R. China
| | - Yue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Xue Yuan Rd No. 38, 100191, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhizeng Gao
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, 519080, Zhuhai, P. R. China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), 519080, Zhuhai, P. R. China
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