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Slaviero A, Gorantla N, Simkins J, Crespo EL, Ikefuama EC, Tree MO, Prakash M, Björefeldt A, Barnett LM, Lambert GG, Lipscombe D, Moore CI, Shaner NC, Hochgeschwender U. Engineering luminopsins with improved coupling efficiencies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.22.568342. [PMID: 38045286 PMCID: PMC10690276 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.22.568342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Significance Luminopsins (LMOs) are bioluminescent-optogenetic tools with a luciferase fused to an opsin that allow bimodal control of neurons by providing both optogenetic and chemogenetic access. Determining which design features contribute to the efficacy of LMOs will be beneficial for further improving LMOs for use in research. Aim We investigated the relative impact of luciferase brightness, opsin sensitivity, pairing of emission and absorption wavelength, and arrangement of moieties on the function of LMOs. Approach We quantified efficacy of LMOs through whole cell patch clamp recordings in HEK293 cells by determining coupling efficiency, the percentage of maximum LED induced photocurrent achieved with bioluminescent activation of an opsin. We confirmed key results by multielectrode array (MEAs) recordings in primary neurons. Results Luciferase brightness and opsin sensitivity had the most impact on the efficacy of LMOs, and N-terminal fusions of luciferases to opsins performed better than C-terminal and multi-terminal fusions. Precise paring of luciferase emission and opsin absorption spectra appeared to be less critical. Conclusions Whole cell patch clamp recordings allowed us to quantify the impact of different characteristics of LMOs on their function. Our results suggest that coupling brighter bioluminescent sources to more sensitive opsins will improve LMO function. As bioluminescent activation of opsins is most likely based on Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), the most effective strategy for improving LMOs further will be molecular evolution of luciferase-fluorescent protein-opsin fusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Slaviero
- Central Michigan University, College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States
- Central Michigan University, Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States
| | - Nipun Gorantla
- Central Michigan University, College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States
| | - Jacob Simkins
- Central Michigan University, College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States
| | - Emmanuel L Crespo
- Central Michigan University, College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States
- Central Michigan University, Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States
| | - Ebenezer C Ikefuama
- Central Michigan University, College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States
- Central Michigan University, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States
| | - Maya O Tree
- Central Michigan University, College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States
| | - Mansi Prakash
- Central Michigan University, College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States
| | - Andreas Björefeldt
- Central Michigan University, College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States
| | - Lauren M Barnett
- University of California San Diego, Department of Neurosciences, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Gerard G Lambert
- University of California San Diego, Department of Neurosciences, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Diane Lipscombe
- Brown University, Carney Institute for Brain Science, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
| | - Christopher I Moore
- Brown University, Carney Institute for Brain Science, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
| | - Nathan C Shaner
- University of California San Diego, Department of Neurosciences, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Ute Hochgeschwender
- Central Michigan University, College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States
- Central Michigan University, Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States
- Central Michigan University, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States
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