1
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Niraula G, Pyne A, Wang X. Develop Tandem Tension Sensor to Gauge Integrin-Transmitted Molecular Forces. ACS Sens 2024; 9:3660-3670. [PMID: 38968930 PMCID: PMC11287754 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.4c00756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
DNA-based tension sensors have innovated the imaging and calibration of mechanosensitive receptor-transmitted molecular forces, such as integrin tensions. However, these sensors mainly serve as binary reporters, only indicating if molecular forces exceed one predefined threshold. Here, we have developed tandem tension sensor (TTS), which comprises two consecutive force-sensing units, each with unique force detection thresholds and distinct fluorescence spectra, thereby enabling the quantification of molecular forces with dual reference levels. With TTS, we revealed that vinculin is not required for transmitting integrin tensions at approximately 10 pN (piconewtons) but is essential for elevating integrin tensions beyond 20 pN in focal adhesions (FAs). Such high tensions have emerged during the early stage of FA formation. TTS also successfully detected changes in integrin tensions in response to disrupted actin formation, inhibited myosin activity, and tuned substrate elasticity. We also applied TTS to examine integrin tensions in platelets and revealed two force regimes, with integrin tensions surpassing 20 pN at cell central regions and 13-20 pN integrin tensions at the cell edge. Overall, TTS, especially the construct consisting of a hairpin DNA (13 pN opening force) and a shearing DNA (20 pN opening force), stands as a valuable tool for the quantification of receptor-transmitted molecular forces within living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopal Niraula
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Arghajit Pyne
- Research
Division in Hoxworth Center, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219, United States
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- Research
Division in Hoxworth Center, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219, United States
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2
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Zhang Y, Du J, Liu X, Shang F, Deng Y, Ye J, Wang Y, Yan J, Chen H, Yu M, Le S. Multi-domain interaction mediated strength-building in human α-actinin dimers unveiled by direct single-molecule quantification. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6151. [PMID: 39034324 PMCID: PMC11271494 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50430-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
α-Actinins play crucial roles in cytoskeletal mechanobiology by acting as force-bearing structural modules that orchestrate and sustain the cytoskeletal framework, serving as pivotal hubs for diverse mechanosensing proteins. The mechanical stability of α-actinin dimer, a determinant of its functional state, remains largely unexplored. Here, we directly quantify the force-dependent lifetimes of homo- and hetero-dimers of human α-actinins, revealing an ultra-high mechanical stability of the dimers associated with > 100 seconds lifetime within 40 pN forces under shear-stretching geometry. Intriguingly, we uncover that the strong dimer stability is arisen from much weaker sub-domain pair interactions, suggesting the existence of distinct dimerized functional states of the dimer, spanning a spectrum of mechanical stability, with the spectrin repeats (SRs) in folded or unfolded conformation. In essence, our study supports a potent mechanism for building strength in biomolecular dimers through weak, multiple sub-domain interactions, and illuminates multifaceted roles of α-actinin dimers in cytoskeletal mechanics and mechanotransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Zhang
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Lab for Soft Functional Materials Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Jingyi Du
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xian Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Fei Shang
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Lab for Soft Functional Materials Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Yunxin Deng
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117411, Singapore
| | - Jiaqing Ye
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Lab for Soft Functional Materials Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Yukai Wang
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Lab for Soft Functional Materials Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Jie Yan
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117411, Singapore
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117542, Singapore
- Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Fuzhou, 350207, China
| | - Hu Chen
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Lab for Soft Functional Materials Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China.
| | - Miao Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Shimin Le
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Lab for Soft Functional Materials Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China.
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3
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Morales-Camilo N, Liu J, Ramírez MJ, Canales-Salgado P, Alegría JJ, Liu X, Ong HT, Barrera NP, Fierro A, Toyama Y, Goult BT, Wang Y, Meng Y, Nishimura R, Fong-Ngern K, Low CSL, Kanchanawong P, Yan J, Ravasio A, Bertocchi C. Alternative molecular mechanisms for force transmission at adherens junctions via β-catenin-vinculin interaction. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5608. [PMID: 38969637 PMCID: PMC11226457 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49850-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Force transmission through adherens junctions (AJs) is crucial for multicellular organization, wound healing and tissue regeneration. Recent studies shed light on the molecular mechanisms of mechanotransduction at the AJs. However, the canonical model fails to explain force transmission when essential proteins of the mechanotransduction module are mutated or missing. Here, we demonstrate that, in absence of α-catenin, β-catenin can directly and functionally interact with vinculin in its open conformation, bearing physiological forces. Furthermore, we found that β-catenin can prevent vinculin autoinhibition in the presence of α-catenin by occupying vinculin´s head-tail interaction site, thus preserving force transmission capability. Taken together, our findings suggest a multi-step force transmission process at AJs, where α-catenin and β-catenin can alternatively and cooperatively interact with vinculin. This can explain the graded responses needed to maintain tissue mechanical homeostasis and, importantly, unveils a force-bearing mechanism involving β-catenin and extended vinculin that can potentially explain the underlying process enabling collective invasion of metastatic cells lacking α-catenin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Morales-Camilo
- Laboratory for Molecular Mechanics of Cell Adhesion, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica De Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jingzhun Liu
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 117542, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Manuel J Ramírez
- Laboratory for Molecular Mechanics of Cell Adhesion, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica De Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricio Canales-Salgado
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan José Alegría
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Foundational Research on Data (IMFD), Santiago, Chile
| | - Xuyao Liu
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 117542, Singapore, Singapore
- Mechanobiology Institute, Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117411, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hui Ting Ong
- Mechanobiology Institute, Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117411, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nelson P Barrera
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Angélica Fierro
- Department of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yusuke Toyama
- Mechanobiology Institute, Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117411, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Benjamin T Goult
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NJ, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell & Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Yilin Wang
- Mechanobiology Institute, Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117411, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yue Meng
- Mechanobiology Institute, Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117411, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ryosuke Nishimura
- Mechanobiology Institute, Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117411, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kedsarin Fong-Ngern
- Mechanobiology Institute, Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117411, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Christine Siok Lan Low
- Mechanobiology Institute, Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117411, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pakorn Kanchanawong
- Mechanobiology Institute, Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117411, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jie Yan
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 117542, Singapore, Singapore
- Mechanobiology Institute, Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117411, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrea Ravasio
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Cristina Bertocchi
- Laboratory for Molecular Mechanics of Cell Adhesion, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica De Chile, Santiago, Chile.
- Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
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4
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Guo Y, Yan J, Goult BT. Mechanotransduction through protein stretching. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 87:102327. [PMID: 38301379 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2024.102327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Cells sense and respond to subtle changes in their physicality, and via a myriad of different mechanosensitive processes, convert these physical cues into chemical and biochemical signals. This process, called mechanotransduction, is possible due to a highly sophisticated machinery within cells. One mechanism by which this can occur is via the stretching of mechanosensitive proteins. Stretching proteins that contain force-dependent regions results in altered geometry and dimensions of the connections, as well as differential spatial organization of signals bound to the stretched protein. The purpose of this mini-review is to discuss some of the intense recent activity in this area of mechanobiology that strives to understand how protein stretching can influence signaling outputs and cellular responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyu Guo
- Department of Physics, Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore 117542, Singapore
| | - Jie Yan
- Department of Physics, Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore 117542, Singapore.
| | - Benjamin T Goult
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NJ, UK; Department of Biochemistry, Cell & Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK.
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5
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Mishra J, Chakraborty S, Niharika, Roy A, Manna S, Baral T, Nandi P, Patra SK. Mechanotransduction and epigenetic modulations of chromatin: Role of mechanical signals in gene regulation. J Cell Biochem 2024; 125:e30531. [PMID: 38345428 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Mechanical forces may be generated within a cell due to tissue stiffness, cytoskeletal reorganization, and the changes (even subtle) in the cell's physical surroundings. These changes of forces impose a mechanical tension within the intracellular protein network (both cytosolic and nuclear). Mechanical tension could be released by a series of protein-protein interactions often facilitated by membrane lipids, lectins and sugar molecules and thus generate a type of signal to drive cellular processes, including cell differentiation, polarity, growth, adhesion, movement, and survival. Recent experimental data have accentuated the molecular mechanism of this mechanical signal transduction pathway, dubbed mechanotransduction. Mechanosensitive proteins in the cell's plasma membrane discern the physical forces and channel the information to the cell interior. Cells respond to the message by altering their cytoskeletal arrangement and directly transmitting the signal to the nucleus through the connection of the cytoskeleton and nucleoskeleton before the information despatched to the nucleus by biochemical signaling pathways. Nuclear transmission of the force leads to the activation of chromatin modifiers and modulation of the epigenetic landscape, inducing chromatin reorganization and gene expression regulation; by the time chemical messengers (transcription factors) arrive into the nucleus. While significant research has been done on the role of mechanotransduction in tumor development and cancer progression/metastasis, the mechanistic basis of force-activated carcinogenesis is still enigmatic. Here, in this review, we have discussed the various cues and molecular connections to better comprehend the cellular mechanotransduction pathway, and we also explored the detailed role of some of the multiple players (proteins and macromolecular complexes) involved in mechanotransduction. Thus, we have described an avenue: how mechanical stress directs the epigenetic modifiers to modulate the epigenome of the cells and how aberrant stress leads to the cancer phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagdish Mishra
- Epigenetics and Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Life Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Group, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India
| | - Subhajit Chakraborty
- Epigenetics and Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Life Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Group, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India
| | - Niharika
- Epigenetics and Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Life Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Group, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India
| | - Ankan Roy
- Epigenetics and Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Life Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Group, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India
| | - Soumen Manna
- Epigenetics and Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Life Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Group, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India
| | - Tirthankar Baral
- Epigenetics and Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Life Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Group, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India
| | - Piyasa Nandi
- Epigenetics and Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Life Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Group, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India
| | - Samir K Patra
- Epigenetics and Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Life Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Group, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India
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6
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Bauer MS, Gruber S, Hausch A, Melo MCR, Gomes PSFC, Nicolaus T, Milles LF, Gaub HE, Bernardi RC, Lipfert J. Single-molecule force stability of the SARS-CoV-2-ACE2 interface in variants-of-concern. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 19:399-405. [PMID: 38012274 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01536-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 have shown effective evasion of population immunity and increased affinity to the cellular receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). However, in the dynamic environment of the respiratory tract, forces act on the binding partners, which raises the question of whether not only affinity but also force stability of the SARS-CoV-2-ACE2 interaction might be a selection factor for mutations. Using magnetic tweezers, we investigate the impact of amino acid substitutions in variants of concern (Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta) and on force-stability and bond kinetic of the receptor-binding domain-ACE2 interface at a single-molecule resolution. We find a higher affinity for all of the variants of concern (>fivefold) compared with the wild type. In contrast, Alpha is the only variant of concern that shows higher force stability (by 17%) compared with the wild type. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we rationalize the mechanistic molecular origins of this increase in force stability. Our study emphasizes the diversity of contributions to the transmissibility of variants and establishes force stability as one of the several factors for fitness. Understanding fitness advantages opens the possibility for the prediction of probable mutations, allowing a rapid adjustment of therapeutics, vaccines and intervention measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus S Bauer
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sophia Gruber
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Adina Hausch
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Center for Protein Assemblies, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Thomas Nicolaus
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lukas F Milles
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hermann E Gaub
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Jan Lipfert
- Department of Physics and Center for NanoScience (CeNS), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Physics and Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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7
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Tapia-Rojo R. Construction and operation of high-resolution magnetic tape head tweezers for measuring single-protein dynamics under force. Methods Enzymol 2024; 694:83-107. [PMID: 38492959 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2023.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Mechanical forces are critical to protein function across many biological contexts-from bacterial adhesion to muscle mechanics and mechanotransduction processes. Hence, understanding how mechanical forces govern protein activity has developed into a central scientific question. In this context, single-molecule magnetic tweezers has recently emerged as a valuable experimental tool, offering the capability to measure single proteins over physiologically relevant forces and timescales. In this chapter, we present a detailed protocol for the assembly and operation of our magnetic tape head tweezers instrument, specifically tailored to investigate protein dynamics. Our instrument boasts a simplified microscope design and incorporates a magnetic tape head as the force-generating apparatus, facilitating precise force control and enhancing its temporal stability, enabling the study of single protein mechanics over extended timescales spanning several hours or even days. Moreover, its straightforward and cost-effective design ensures its accessibility to the wider scientific community. We anticipate that this technique will attract widespread interest within the growing field of mechanobiology and expect that this chapter will provide facilitated accessibility to this technology.
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8
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Sun H, Le S, Guo Z, Chen H. Exploring the free energy landscape of proteins using magnetic tweezers. Methods Enzymol 2024; 694:237-261. [PMID: 38492953 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2023.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Proteins fold to their native states by searching through the free energy landscapes. As single-domain proteins are the basic building block of multiple-domain proteins or protein complexes composed of subunits, the free energy landscapes of single-domain proteins are of critical importance to understand the folding and unfolding processes of proteins. To explore the free energy landscapes of proteins over large conformational space, the stability of native structure is perturbed by biochemical or mechanical means, and the conformational transition process is measured. In single molecular manipulation experiments, stretching force is applied to proteins, and the folding and unfolding transitions are recorded by the extension time course. Due to the broad force range and long-time stability of magnetic tweezers, the free energy landscape over large conformational space can be obtained. In this article, we describe the magnetic tweezers instrument design, protein construct design and preparation, fluid chamber preparation, common-used measuring protocols including force-ramp and force-jump measurements, and data analysis methods to construct the free energy landscape. Single-domain cold shock protein is introduced as an example to build its free energy landscape by magnetic tweezers measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Sun
- Center of Biomedical Physics, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, P.R. China
| | - Shimin Le
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Lab for Soft Functional Materials Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P.R. China
| | - Zilong Guo
- Center of Biomedical Physics, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, P.R. China.
| | - Hu Chen
- Center of Biomedical Physics, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, P.R. China; Department of Physics, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Lab for Soft Functional Materials Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen, P.R. China.
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9
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Mierke CT. Extracellular Matrix Cues Regulate Mechanosensing and Mechanotransduction of Cancer Cells. Cells 2024; 13:96. [PMID: 38201302 PMCID: PMC10777970 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular biophysical properties have particular implications for a wide spectrum of cellular behaviors and functions, including growth, motility, differentiation, apoptosis, gene expression, cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion, and signal transduction including mechanotransduction. Cells not only react to unambiguously mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix (ECM), but can occasionally manipulate the mechanical features of the matrix in parallel with biological characteristics, thus interfering with downstream matrix-based cues in both physiological and pathological processes. Bidirectional interactions between cells and (bio)materials in vitro can alter cell phenotype and mechanotransduction, as well as ECM structure, intentionally or unintentionally. Interactions between cell and matrix mechanics in vivo are of particular importance in a variety of diseases, including primarily cancer. Stiffness values between normal and cancerous tissue can range between 500 Pa (soft) and 48 kPa (stiff), respectively. Even the shear flow can increase from 0.1-1 dyn/cm2 (normal tissue) to 1-10 dyn/cm2 (cancerous tissue). There are currently many new areas of activity in tumor research on various biological length scales, which are highlighted in this review. Moreover, the complexity of interactions between ECM and cancer cells is reduced to common features of different tumors and the characteristics are highlighted to identify the main pathways of interaction. This all contributes to the standardization of mechanotransduction models and approaches, which, ultimately, increases the understanding of the complex interaction. Finally, both the in vitro and in vivo effects of this mechanics-biology pairing have key insights and implications for clinical practice in tumor treatment and, consequently, clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tanja Mierke
- Biological Physics Division, Peter Debye Institute of Soft Matter Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Science, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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10
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Shoyer TC, Gates EM, Cabe JI, Urs AN, Conway DE, Hoffman BD. Coupling during collective cell migration is controlled by a vinculin mechanochemical switch. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2316456120. [PMID: 38055737 PMCID: PMC10722971 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316456120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of cells to move in a mechanically coupled, coordinated manner, referred to as collective cell migration, is central to many developmental, physiological, and pathophysiological processes. Limited understanding of how mechanical forces and biochemical regulation interact to affect coupling has been a major obstacle to unravelling the underlying mechanisms. Focusing on the linker protein vinculin, we use a suite of Förster resonance energy transfer-based biosensors to probe its mechanical functions and biochemical regulation, revealing a switch that toggles vinculin between loadable and unloadable states. Perturbation of the switch causes covarying changes in cell speed and coordination, suggesting alteration of the friction within the system. Molecular scale modelling reveals that increasing levels of loadable vinculin increases friction, due to engagement of self-stabilizing catch bonds. Together, this work reveals a regulatory switch for controlling cell coupling and describes a paradigm for relating biochemical regulation, altered mechanical properties, and changes in cell behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. Curtis Shoyer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
| | - Evan M. Gates
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
| | - Jolene I. Cabe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA23284
| | - Aarti N. Urs
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC27710
| | - Daniel E. Conway
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH43210
| | - Brenton D. Hoffman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC27710
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11
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Sarkar A, Niraula G, LeVine D, Zhao Y, Tu Y, Mollaeian K, Ren J, Que L, Wang X. Development of a Ratiometric Tension Sensor Exclusively Responding to Integrin Tension Magnitude in Live Cells. ACS Sens 2023; 8:3701-3712. [PMID: 37738233 PMCID: PMC10788086 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c00606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Integrin tensions are critical for cell mechanotransduction. By converting force to fluorescence, molecular tension sensors image integrin tensions in live cells with a high resolution. However, the fluorescence signal intensity results collectively from integrin tension magnitude, tension dwell time, integrin density, sensor accessibility, and so forth, making it highly challenging to specifically monitor the molecular force level of integrin tensions. Here, a ratiometric tension sensor (RTS) was developed to exclusively monitor the integrin tension magnitude. The RTS consists of two tension-sensing units that are coupled in series and always subject to the same integrin tension. These two units are activated by tension to fluoresce in separate spectra and with different activation rates. The ratio of their activation probabilities, reported by fluorescence ratiometric measurement, is solely determined by the local integrin tension magnitude. RTS responded sensitively to the variation of integrin tension magnitude in platelets and focal adhesions due to different cell plating times, actomyosin inhibition, or vinculin knockout. At last, RTS confirmed that integrin tension magnitude in platelets and focal adhesions decreases monotonically with the substrate rigidity, verifying the rigidity dependence of integrin tensions in live cells and suggesting that integrin tension magnitude could be a key biomechanical factor in cell rigidity sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwesha Sarkar
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Gopal Niraula
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Dana LeVine
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Yuanchang Zhao
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Ying Tu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Keyvan Mollaeian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Juan Ren
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Long Que
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Hoxworth Blood Center, College of Medicine, The University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219, United States
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12
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Alonso-Matilla R, Provenzano PP, Odde DJ. Optimal cell traction forces in a generalized motor-clutch model. Biophys J 2023; 122:3369-3385. [PMID: 37475213 PMCID: PMC10465728 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells exert forces on mechanically compliant environments to sense stiffness, migrate, and remodel tissue. Cells can sense environmental stiffness via myosin-generated pulling forces acting on F-actin, which is in turn mechanically coupled to the environment via adhesive proteins, akin to a clutch in a drivetrain. In this "motor-clutch" framework, the force transmitted depends on the complex interplay of motor, clutch, and environmental properties. Previous mean-field analysis of the motor-clutch model identified the conditions for optimal stiffness for maximal force transmission via a dimensionless number that combines motor-clutch parameters. However, in this and other previous mean-field analyses, the motor-clutch system is assumed to have balanced motors and clutches and did not consider force-dependent clutch reinforcement and catch bond behavior. Here, we generalize the motor-clutch analytical framework to include imbalanced motor-clutch regimes, with clutch reinforcement and catch bonding, and investigate optimality with respect to all parameters. We found that traction force is strongly influenced by clutch stiffness, and we discovered an optimal clutch stiffness that maximizes traction force, suggesting that cells could tune their clutch mechanical properties to perform a specific function. The results provide guidance for maximizing the accuracy of cell-generated force measurements via molecular tension sensors by designing their mechanosensitive linker peptide to be as stiff as possible. In addition, we found that, on rigid substrates, the mean-field analysis identifies optimal motor properties, suggesting that cells could regulate their myosin repertoire and activity to maximize force transmission. Finally, we found that clutch reinforcement shifts the optimum substrate stiffness to larger values, whereas the optimum substrate stiffness is insensitive to clutch catch bond properties. Overall, our work reveals novel features of the motor-clutch model that can affect the design of molecular tension sensors and provide a generalized analytical framework for predicting and controlling cell adhesion and migration in immunotherapy and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Alonso-Matilla
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Immune Microenvironments, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Paolo P Provenzano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Immune Microenvironments, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - David J Odde
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Physical Sciences in Oncology Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; University of Minnesota Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Immune Microenvironments, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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13
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Zheng B, Xiao Y, Tong B, Mao Y, Ge R, Tian F, Dong X, Zheng P. S373P Mutation Stabilizes the Receptor-Binding Domain of the Spike Protein in Omicron and Promotes Binding. JACS AU 2023; 3:1902-1910. [PMID: 37502147 PMCID: PMC10369413 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
A cluster of several newly occurring mutations on Omicron is found at the β-core region of the spike protein's receptor-binding domain (RBD), where mutation rarely happened before. Notably, the binding of SARS-CoV-2 to human receptor ACE2 via RBD happens in a dynamic airway environment, where mechanical force caused by coughing or sneezing occurs. Thus, we used atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (AFM-SMFS) to measure the stability of RBDs and found that the mechanical stability of Omicron RBD increased by ∼20% compared with the wild type. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed that Omicron RBD showed more hydrogen bonds in the β-core region due to the closing of the α-helical motif caused primarily by the S373P mutation. In addition to a higher unfolding force, we showed a higher dissociation force between Omicron RBD and ACE2. This work reveals the mechanically stabilizing effect of the conserved mutation S373P for Omicron and the possible evolution trend of the β-core region of RBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zheng
- State
Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine
Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yuelong Xiao
- State
Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine
Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Bei Tong
- Institute
of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China
| | - Yutong Mao
- State
Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine
Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Rui Ge
- State
Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine
Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Fang Tian
- State
Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine
Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Xianchi Dong
- State
Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- Engineering
Research Center of Protein and Peptide Medicine, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Peng Zheng
- State
Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine
Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
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14
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Deng Y, Yan J. Force-Dependent Structural Changes of Filamin C Rod Domains Regulated by Filamin C Dimer. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:14670-14678. [PMID: 37369984 PMCID: PMC10348313 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c02303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Filamin C (FLNC), a large dimeric actin-binding protein in muscle cells, plays a critical role in transmitting force in the cytoskeleton and that between membrane receptors and the cytoskeleton. It performs crucial mechanosensing and downstream mechanotransduction functions via force-dependent interactions with signaling proteins. Mutations in FLNC have been linked to muscle and heart diseases. The mechanical responses of the force-bearing elements in FLNC have not been determined. This study investigated the mechanical responses of FLNC domains and their dimerization interface using magnetic tweezers. Results showed high stability of the N-terminal domains in the rod-1 segment but significant changes in the rod-2 domains in response to forces of a few piconewtons (pN). The dimerization interface, formed by the R24 domain, has a lifetime of seconds to tens of seconds at pN forces, and it dissociates within 1 s at forces greater than 14 pN. The findings suggest the FLNC dimerization interface provides sufficient mechanical stability that enables force-dependent structural changes in rod-2 domains for signaling protein binding and maintains structural integrity of the rod-1 domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxin Deng
- Mechanobiology
Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Jie Yan
- Mechanobiology
Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
- Department
of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore
- Joint
School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou 350207, China
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15
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Shi B, Matsui T, Qian S, Weiss TM, Nicholl ID, Callaway DJE, Bu Z. An ensemble of cadherin-catenin-vinculin complex employs vinculin as the major F-actin binding mode. Biophys J 2023; 122:2456-2474. [PMID: 37147801 PMCID: PMC10323030 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The cell-cell adhesion cadherin-catenin complexes recruit vinculin to the adherens junction (AJ) to modulate the mechanical couplings between neighboring cells. However, it is unclear how vinculin influences the AJ structure and function. Here, we identified two patches of salt bridges that lock vinculin in the head-tail autoinhibited conformation and reconstituted the full-length vinculin activation mimetics bound to the cadherin-catenin complex. The cadherin-catenin-vinculin complex contains multiple disordered linkers and is highly dynamic, which poses a challenge for structural studies. We determined the ensemble conformation of this complex using small-angle x-ray and selective deuteration/contrast variation small-angle neutron scattering. In the complex, both α-catenin and vinculin adopt an ensemble of flexible conformations, but vinculin has fully open conformations with the vinculin head and actin-binding tail domains well separated from each other. F-actin binding experiments show that the cadherin-catenin-vinculin complex binds and bundles F-actin. However, when the vinculin actin-binding domain is removed from the complex, only a minor fraction of the complex binds to F-actin. The results show that the dynamic cadherin-catenin-vinculin complex employs vinculin as the primary F-actin binding mode to strengthen AJ-cytoskeleton interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bright Shi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New York, City University of New York (CUNY), New York; PhD Programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry, CUNY Graduate Center, New York
| | - Tsutomu Matsui
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source, Menlo Park, California
| | - Shuo Qian
- Second Target Station Project, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
| | - Thomas M Weiss
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source, Menlo Park, California
| | - Iain D Nicholl
- Department of Biomedical Science and Physiology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
| | - David J E Callaway
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New York, City University of New York (CUNY), New York.
| | - Zimei Bu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New York, City University of New York (CUNY), New York; PhD Programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry, CUNY Graduate Center, New York.
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16
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Cao N, Cai W, Qian L, Nie Z, Mao C, Cui S. Emulating Titin by a Multidomain DNA Structure. ACS Macro Lett 2023; 12:59-64. [PMID: 36573670 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.2c00585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Titin, a giant protein containing multiple tandem domains, is essential in maintaining the superior mechanical performance of muscle. The consecutive and reversible unfolding and refolding of the domains are crucial for titin to serve as a modular spring. Since the discovery of the mechanical features of a single titin molecule, the exploration of biomimetic materials with titin-emulating modular structures has been an active field. However, it remains a challenge to prepare these modular polymers on a large scale due to the complex synthesis process. In this study, we propose modular DNA with multiple hairpins (MH-DNA) as the fundamental block for the bottom-up design of advanced materials. By analyzing the unfolding and refolding dynamics of modular hairpins by atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS), we find that MH-DNA shows comparable stability to those of polyproteins like titin. The unique low hysteresis of modular hairpin makes it an ideal molecular spring with remarkable mechanical efficiency. On the basis of the well-established DNA synthesis techniques, we anticipate that MH-DNA can be used as a promising building block for advanced materials with a combination of superior structural stability, considerable extensibility, and high mechanical efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanpu Cao
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials (Ministry of Education), Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Wanhao Cai
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials (Ministry of Education), Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Lu Qian
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials (Ministry of Education), Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Zhou Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Chengde Mao
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Shuxun Cui
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials (Ministry of Education), Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
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17
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Zhong BL, Lee CE, Vachharajani VT, Südhof TC, Dunn AR. Piconewton forces mediate GAIN domain dissociation of the latrophilin-3 adhesion GPCR. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.12.523854. [PMID: 36711622 PMCID: PMC9882233 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.12.523854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Latrophilins are adhesion G-protein coupled receptors (aGPCRs) that control excitatory synapse formation. aGPCRs, including latrophilins, are autoproteolytically cleaved at their GPCR-Autoproteolysis Inducing (GAIN) domain, but the two resulting fragments remain associated on the cell surface. It is thought that force-mediated dissociation of the fragments exposes a peptide that activates G-protein signaling of aGPCRs, but whether GAIN domain dissociation can occur on biologically relevant timescales and at physiological forces is unknown. Here, we show using magnetic tweezers that physiological forces dramatically accelerate the dissociation of the latrophilin-3 GAIN domain. Forces in the 1-10 pN range were sufficient to dissociate the GAIN domain on a seconds-to-minutes timescale, and the GAIN domain fragments reversibly reassociated after dissociation. Thus, mechanical force may be a key driver of latrophilin signaling during synapse formation, suggesting a physiological mechanism by which aGPCRs may mediate mechanically-induced signal transduction.
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18
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Austin J, Tu Y, Pal K, Wang X. Vinculin transmits high-level integrin tensions that are dispensable for focal adhesion formation. Biophys J 2023; 122:156-167. [PMID: 36352785 PMCID: PMC9822790 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Focal adhesions (FAs) transmit force and mediate mechanotransduction between cells and the matrix. Previous studies revealed that integrin-transmitted force is critical to regulate FA formation. As vinculin is a prominent FA protein implicated in integrin tension transmission, this work studies the relation among integrin tensions (force), vinculin (protein), and FA formation (structure) by integrin tension manipulation, force visualization and vinculin knockout (KO). Two DNA-based integrin tension tools are adopted: tension gauge tether (TGT) and integrative tension sensor (ITS), with TGT restricting integrin tensions under a designed Ttol (tension tolerance) value and ITS visualizing integrin tensions above the Ttol value by fluorescence. Results show that large FAs (area >1 μm2) were formed on the TGT surface with Ttol of 54 pN but not on those with lower Ttol values. Time-series analysis of FA formation shows that focal complexes (area <0.5 μm2) appeared on all TGT surfaces 20 min after cell plating, but only matured to large FAs on TGT with Ttol of 54 pN. Next, we tested FA formation in vinculin KO cells on TGT surfaces. Surprisingly, the Ttol value of TGT required for large FA formation is drastically decreased to 23 pN. To explore the cause, we visualized integrin tensions in both wild-type and vinculin KO cells using ITS. The results showed that integrin tensions in FAs of wild-type cells frequently activate ITS with Ttol of 54 pN. With vinculin KO, however, integrin tensions in FAs became lower and unable to activate 54 pN ITS. Force signal intensities of integrin tensions reported by 33 and 43 pN ITS were also significantly reduced with vinculin KO, suggesting that vinculin is essential to transmit high-level integrin tensions and involved in transmitting intermediate-level integrin tensions in FAs. However, the high-level integrin tensions transmitted by vinculin are not required by FA formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Austin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
| | - Ying Tu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
| | - Kaushik Pal
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Ames, Iowa.
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19
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Beedle AEM, Garcia-Manyes S. The role of single protein elasticity in mechanobiology. NATURE REVIEWS. MATERIALS 2023; 8:10-24. [PMID: 37469679 PMCID: PMC7614781 DOI: 10.1038/s41578-022-00488-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
In addition to biochemical signals and genetic considerations, mechanical forces are rapidly emerging as a master regulator of human physiology. Yet the molecular mechanisms that regulate force-induced functionalities across a wide range of scales, encompassing the cell, tissue or organ levels, are comparatively not so well understood. With the advent, development and refining of single molecule nanomechanical techniques, enabling to exquisitely probe the conformational dynamics of individual proteins under the effect of a calibrated force, we have begun to acquire a comprehensive knowledge on the rich plethora of physicochemical principles that regulate the elasticity of single proteins. Here we review the major advances underpinning our current understanding of how the elasticity of single proteins regulates mechanosensing and mechanotransduction. We discuss the present limitations and future challenges of such a prolific and burgeoning field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy EM Beedle
- Department of Physics, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Centre for the Physical Science of Life and London Centre for Nanotechnology, King’s College London, Strand, WC2R 2LS London, United Kingdom
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), the Barcelona Institute of Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Garcia-Manyes
- Department of Physics, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Centre for the Physical Science of Life and London Centre for Nanotechnology, King’s College London, Strand, WC2R 2LS London, United Kingdom
- Single Molecule Mechanobiology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, London, UK
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20
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Interdomain Linker Effect on the Mechanical Stability of Ig Domains in Titin. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179836. [PMID: 36077234 PMCID: PMC9456048 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179836] [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: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Titin is the largest protein in humans, composed of more than one hundred immunoglobulin (Ig) domains, and plays a critical role in muscle’s passive elasticity. Thus, the molecular design of this giant polyprotein is responsible for its mechanical function. Interestingly, most of these Ig domains are connected directly with very few interdomain residues/linker, which suggests such a design is necessary for its mechanical stability. To understand this design, we chose six representative Ig domains in titin and added nine glycine residues (9G) as an artificial interdomain linker between these Ig domains. We measured their mechanical stabilities using atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (AFM-SMFS) and compared them to the natural sequence. The AFM results showed that the linker affected the mechanical stability of Ig domains. The linker mostly reduces its mechanical stability to a moderate extent, but the opposite situation can happen. Thus, this effect is very complex and may depend on each particular domain’s property.
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21
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Lei Y, Fei P, Song B, Shi W, Luo C, Luo D, Li D, Chen W, Zheng J. A loosened gating mechanism of RIG-I leads to autoimmune disorders. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:5850-5863. [PMID: 35580046 PMCID: PMC9177982 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac361] [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: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
DDX58 encodes RIG-I, a cytosolic RNA sensor that ensures immune surveillance of nonself RNAs. Individuals with RIG-IE510V and RIG-IQ517H mutations have increased susceptibility to Singleton-Merten syndrome (SMS) defects, resulting in tissue-specific (mild) and classic (severe) phenotypes. The coupling between RNA recognition and conformational changes is central to RIG-I RNA proofreading, but the molecular determinants leading to dissociated disease phenotypes remain unknown. Herein, we employed hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) and single molecule magnetic tweezers (MT) to precisely examine how subtle conformational changes in the helicase insertion domain (HEL2i) promote impaired ATPase and erroneous RNA proofreading activities. We showed that the mutations cause a loosened latch-gate engagement in apo RIG-I, which in turn gradually dampens its self RNA (Cap2 moiety:m7G cap and N1-2-2′-O-methylation RNA) proofreading ability, leading to increased immunopathy. These results reveal HEL2i as a unique checkpoint directing two specialized functions, i.e. stabilizing the CARD2-HEL2i interface and gating the helicase from incoming self RNAs; thus, these findings add new insights into the role of HEL2i in the control of antiviral innate immunity and autoimmunity diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Lei
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China.,The Drug Research Center of Immunological Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Panyu Fei
- Department of Cell Biology and Department of Cardiology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.,School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bin Song
- The Drug Research Center of Immunological Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wenjia Shi
- The Drug Research Center of Immunological Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.,School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cheng Luo
- Department of Cell Biology and Department of Cardiology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.,The Chemical Biology Center, Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dahai Luo
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, NTU Institute of Structural Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 636921, Singapore
| | - Dan Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Cell Biology and Department of Cardiology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, 1369 West Wenyi Road, Hangzhou 311121, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory for Modern Optical Instrumentation Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of the Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- The Drug Research Center of Immunological Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.,School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang, China
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22
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Abstract
In the dynamic environment of the airways, where SARS-CoV-2 infections are initiated by binding to human host receptor ACE2, mechanical stability of the viral attachment is a crucial fitness advantage. Using single-molecule force spectroscopy techniques, we mimic the effect of coughing and sneezing, thereby testing the force stability of SARS-CoV-2 RBD:ACE2 interaction under physiological conditions. Our results reveal a higher force stability of SARS-CoV-2 binding to ACE2 compared to SARS-CoV-1, causing a possible fitness advantage. Our assay is sensitive to blocking agents preventing RBD:ACE2 bond formation. It will thus provide a powerful approach to investigate the modes of action of neutralizing antibodies and other agents designed to block RBD binding to ACE2 that are currently developed as potential COVID-19 therapeutics. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections are initiated by attachment of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) on the viral Spike protein to angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) on human host cells. This critical first step occurs in dynamic environments, where external forces act on the binding partners and avidity effects play an important role, creating an urgent need for assays that can quantitate SARS-CoV-2 interactions with ACE2 under mechanical load. Here, we introduce a tethered ligand assay that comprises the RBD and the ACE2 ectodomain joined by a flexible peptide linker. Using magnetic tweezers and atomic force spectroscopy as highly complementary single-molecule force spectroscopy techniques, we investigate the RBD:ACE2 interaction over the whole physiologically relevant force range. We combine the experimental results with steered molecular dynamics simulations and observe and assign fully consistent unbinding and unfolding events across the three techniques, enabling us to establish ACE2 unfolding as a molecular fingerprint. Measuring at forces of 2 to 5 pN, we quantify the force dependence and kinetics of the RBD:ACE2 bond in equilibrium. We show that the SARS-CoV-2 RBD:ACE2 interaction has higher mechanical stability, larger binding free energy, and a lower dissociation rate compared to SARS-CoV-1, which helps to rationalize the different infection patterns of the two viruses. By studying how free ACE2 outcompetes tethered ACE2, we show that our assay is sensitive to prevention of bond formation by external binders. We expect our results to provide a way to investigate the roles of viral mutations and blocking agents for targeted pharmaceutical intervention.
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23
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Sun W, Gao X, Lei H, Wang W, Cao Y. Biophysical Approaches for Applying and Measuring Biological Forces. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2105254. [PMID: 34923777 PMCID: PMC8844594 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202105254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, increasing evidence has indicated that mechanical loads can regulate the morphogenesis, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of living cells. Investigations of how cells sense mechanical stimuli or the mechanotransduction mechanism is an active field of biomaterials and biophysics. Gaining a further understanding of mechanical regulation and depicting the mechanotransduction network inside cells require advanced experimental techniques and new theories. In this review, the fundamental principles of various experimental approaches that have been developed to characterize various types and magnitudes of forces experienced at the cellular and subcellular levels are summarized. The broad applications of these techniques are introduced with an emphasis on the difficulties in implementing these techniques in special biological systems. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique are discussed, which can guide readers to choose the most suitable technique for their questions. A perspective on future directions in this field is also provided. It is anticipated that technical advancement can be a driving force for the development of mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxu Sun
- School of SciencesNantong UniversityNantong226019P. R. China
| | - Xiang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Hai Lei
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation CenterNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Wei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Yi Cao
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials and TechnologyDepartment of Polymer Science & EngineeringCollege of Chemistry & Chemical EngineeringNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation CenterNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
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24
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Nie J, Deng Y, Tian F, Shi S, Zheng P. Detection of weak non-covalent cation-π interactions in NGAL by single-molecule force spectroscopy. NANO RESEARCH 2022; 15:4251-4257. [PMID: 35574260 PMCID: PMC9077643 DOI: 10.1007/s12274-021-4065-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Cation-π interaction is an electrostatic interaction between a cation and an electron-rich arene. It plays an essential role in many biological systems as a vital driving force for protein folding, stability, and receptor-ligand interaction/recognition. To date, the discovery of most cation-π interactions in proteins relies on the statistical analyses of available three-dimensional (3D) protein structures and corresponding computational calculations. However, their experimental verification and quantification remain sparse at the molecular level, mainly due to the limited methods to dynamically measure such a weak non-covalent interaction in proteins. Here, we use atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (AFM-SMFS) to measure the stability of protein neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (also known as NGAL, siderocalin, lipocalin 2) that can bind iron through the cation-π interactions between its three cationic residues and the iron-binding tri-catechols. Based on a site-specific cysteine engineering and anchoring method, we first characterized the stability and unfolding pathways of apo-NGAL. Then, the same NGAL but bound with the iron-catechol complexes through the cation-π interactions as a holo-form was characterized. AFM measurements demonstrated stronger stabilities and kinetics of the holo-NGAL from two pulling sites, F122 and F133. Here, NGAL is stretched from the designed cysteine close to the cationic residues for a maximum unfolding effect. Thus, our work demonstrates high-precision detection of the weak cation-π interaction in NGAL. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL Supplementary material (additional SDS-PAGE, UV-vis, protein sequences, and more experimental methods) is available in the online version of this article at 10.1007/s12274-021-4065-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyuan Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023 China
| | - Yibing Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023 China
| | - Fang Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023 China
| | - Shengchao Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023 China
| | - Peng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023 China
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25
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Facile Synthesis of Peptide-Conjugated Gold Nanoclusters with Different Lengths. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11112932. [PMID: 34835696 PMCID: PMC8623805 DOI: 10.3390/nano11112932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The synthesis of ultra-small gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) with sizes down to 2 nm has received increasing interest due to their unique optical and electronic properties. Like many peptide-coated gold nanospheres synthesized before, modified gold nanoclusters with peptide conjugation are potentially significant in biomedical and catalytic fields. Here, we explore whether such small-sized gold nanoclusters can be conjugated with peptides also and characterize them using atomic force microscopy. Using a long and flexible elastin-like polypeptide (ELP)20 as the conjugated peptide, (ELP)20-Au NCs was successfully synthesized via a one-pot synthesis method. The unique optical and electronic properties of gold nanoclusters are still preserved, while a much larger size was obtained as expected due to the peptide conjugation. In addition, a short and rigid peptide (EAAAK)3 was conjugated to the gold nanoclusters. Their Yong’s modulus was characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Moreover, the coated peptide on the nanoclusters was pulled using AFM-based single molecule-force spectroscopy (SMFS), showing expected properties as one of the first force spectroscopy experiments on peptide-coated nanoclusters. Our results pave the way for further modification of nanoclusters based on the conjugated peptides and show a new method to characterize these materials using AFM-SMFS.
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26
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Wang Z, Nie J, Shi S, Li G, Zheng P. Transforming de novo protein α 3D into a mechanically stable protein by zinc binding. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:11489-11492. [PMID: 34651619 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc04908a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
α3D is a de novo designed three-helix bundle protein. Like most naturally occurring helical proteins, it is mechanically labile with an unfolding force of <15 pN, revealed by atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (AFM-SMFS). This protein has been further designed with a tri-cysteine metal-binding site, named α3DIV, which can bind heavy transition metals. Here, we demonstrate that incorporating such a metal-binding site can transform this mechanically labile protein into a stable one. We show that zinc binds to the tri-cysteine site and increases the unfolding force to ∼160 pN. This force is one order of magnitude higher than that of the apo-protein (<15 pN). Moreover, the unfolding mechanism of Zn-α3DIV indicates the correct zinc binding with the tri-cysteine site, forming three mechanostable Zn-thiolate bonds. Thus, α3DIV could be a potential α-helical structure-based building block for synthesizing biomaterials with tunable mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Centre (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Jingyuan Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Centre (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Shengcao Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Centre (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Guoqiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Centre (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Peng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Centre (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
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27
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Yu M, Lu JH, Le S, Yan J. Unexpected Low Mechanical Stability of Titin I27 Domain at Physiologically Relevant Temperature. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:7914-7920. [PMID: 34384021 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c01309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The extensively studied immunoglobulin (Ig) domain I27 of the giant force-bearing protein titin has provided a basis for our current understanding of the structural stability, dynamics, and function of the numerous mechanically stretched Ig domains in the force-bearing I-band of titin. The current consensus is that titin I27 has a high mechanical stability characterized by very low unfolding rate (<10-3 s-1) in physiological force range and high unfolding forces (>100 pN) at typical physiological force loading rates from experiments at typical laboratory temperatures. Here, we report that when the temperature is increased from 23 to 37 °C, the unfolding rate of I27 drastically increases by ∼100-fold at the physiological level of forces, indicating a low mechanical stability of I27 at physiological conditions. The result provides new insights into the structural states and the associated functions of I27 and other similar titin I-band Ig domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Yu
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Jung-Hsuan Lu
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore
| | - Shimin Le
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore
| | - Jie Yan
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore
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28
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Guo Z, Hong H, Sun H, Zhang X, Wu CX, Li B, Cao Y, Chen H. SpyTag/SpyCatcher tether as a fingerprint and force marker in single-molecule force spectroscopy experiments. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:11262-11269. [PMID: 34155491 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr01907d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Single molecule force spectroscopy has emerged as a powerful tool to study protein folding dynamics, ligand-receptor interactions, and various mechanobiological processes. High force precision does not necessarily lead to high force accuracy, as the uncertainties in calibration can bring serious systematic errors. In the case of magnetic tweezers, accurate determination of the applied forces for short biomolecular tethers, by measuring thermal fluctuations of inhomogeneous magnetic beads, remains difficult. Here we address this challenge by showing that the SpyTag/SpyCatcher complex is not only a convenient and genetically encodable covalent linker but also an ideal molecular fingerprint and force marker in single molecule force spectroscopy experiments. By stretching the N-termini of both SpyCatcher and SpyTag, the complex unfolds locally up to the isopeptide bond position in an unzipping geometry, resulting in equilibrium transitions at ∼30 pN with step sizes of ∼3.4 nm. This mechanical feature can be used as the fingerprint to identify single-molecular events. Moreover, the transitions occur with a fast exchange rate and in a narrow force range. Therefore, the real applied forces can be determined accurately based on the force-dependent transitions. The equilibrium forces are insensitive to buffer conditions and temperature, making the calibration applicable to many complicated experimental systems. We provide an example to calibrate protein unfolding forces using this force marker and expect that this method can greatly simplify force calibration in single-molecule force spectroscopy experiments and improve the force accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zilong Guo
- Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Lab for Soft Functional Materials Research, Department of Physics, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
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29
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Decoding mechanical cues by molecular mechanotransduction. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2021; 72:72-80. [PMID: 34218181 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2021.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cells are exposed to a variety of mechanical cues, including forces from their local environment and physical properties of the tissue. These mechanical cues regulate a vast number of cellular processes, relying on a repertoire of mechanosensors that transduce forces into biochemical pathways through mechanotransduction. Forces can act on different parts of the cell, carry information regarding magnitude and direction, and have distinct temporal profiles. Thus, the specific cellular response to mechanical forces is dependent on the ability of cells to sense and transduce these physical parameters. In this review, we will highlight recent findings that provide insights into the mechanisms by which different mechanosensors decode mechanical cues and how their coordinated response determines the cellular outcomes.
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30
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ASAP1 regulates the uptake of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra in THP1-derived macrophages by remodeling actin cytoskeleton. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2021; 129:102090. [PMID: 34058694 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2021.102090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis is initiated by the entry of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) into macrophages in the lungs. A study of the cellular factors responsible for the entry of Mtb into host cells will potentially benefit the development of therapeutic treatments or preventive agents against Mtb infection. Using human THP1-derived macrophages as a model, we found that infection of Mtb H37Ra transiently reduced the level of ASAP1, an ADP ribosylation factor (Arf)-GTPase activating protein. Furthermore, knockdown of ASAP1 increased the efficiency of H37Ra entry into the cell and altered the status of actin remodeling as indicated by the enhanced aggregation of F-actin and the increased numbers of vinculin- and paxillin-rich puncta. Collectively, the results in this report identified ASAP1 as a regulator controlling the entry of Mtb H37Ra into macrophage by remodeling actin cytoskeleton.
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31
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Maciuba K, Zhang F, Kaiser CM. Facile tethering of stable and unstable proteins for optical tweezers experiments. Biophys J 2021; 120:2691-2700. [PMID: 33989618 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-molecule force spectroscopy with optical tweezers has emerged as a powerful tool for dissecting protein folding. The requirement to stably attach "molecular handles" to specific points in the protein of interest by preparative biochemical techniques is a limiting factor in applying this methodology, especially for large or unstable proteins that are difficult to produce and isolate. Here, we present a streamlined approach for creating stable and specific attachments using autocatalytic covalent tethering. The high specificity of coupling allowed us to tether ribosome-nascent chain complexes, demonstrating its suitability for investigating complex macromolecular assemblies. We combined this approach with cell-free protein synthesis, providing a facile means of preparing samples for single-molecule force spectroscopy. The workflow eliminates the need for biochemical protein purification during sample preparation for single-molecule measurements, making structurally unstable proteins amenable to investigation by this powerful single-molecule technique. We demonstrate the capabilities of this approach by carrying out pulling experiments with an unstructured domain of elongation factor G that had previously been refractory to analysis. Our approach expands the pool of proteins amenable to folding studies, which should help to reduce existing biases in the currently available set of protein folding models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Maciuba
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Christian M Kaiser
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
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32
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Biswas R, Banerjee A, Lembo S, Zhao Z, Lakshmanan V, Lim R, Le S, Nakasaki M, Kutyavin V, Wright G, Palakodeti D, Ross RS, Jamora C, Vasioukhin V, Jie Y, Raghavan S. Mechanical instability of adherens junctions overrides intrinsic quiescence of hair follicle stem cells. Dev Cell 2021; 56:761-780.e7. [PMID: 33725480 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Vinculin, a mechanotransducer associated with both adherens junctions (AJs) and focal adhesions (FAs), plays a central role in force transmission through cell-cell and cell-substratum contacts. We generated the conditional knockout (cKO) of vinculin in murine skin that results in the loss of bulge stem cell (BuSC) quiescence and promotes continual cycling of the hair follicles. Surprisingly, we find that the AJs in vinculin cKO cells are mechanically weak and impaired in force generation despite increased junctional expression of E-cadherin and α-catenin. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that vinculin functions by keeping α-catenin in a stretched/open conformation, which in turn regulates the retention of YAP1, another potent mechanotransducer and regulator of cell proliferation, at the AJs. Altogether, our data provide mechanistic insights into the hitherto-unexplored regulatory link between the mechanical stability of cell junctions and contact-inhibition-mediated maintenance of BuSC quiescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritusree Biswas
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), GKVK Campus, Bangalore 560065, India; SASTRA University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 613401, India
| | - Avinanda Banerjee
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), GKVK Campus, Bangalore 560065, India; Skin Research Institute of Singapore (A∗STAR), Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Sergio Lembo
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), GKVK Campus, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Zhihai Zhao
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore
| | - Vairavan Lakshmanan
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), GKVK Campus, Bangalore 560065, India; SASTRA University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 613401, India
| | - Ryan Lim
- Skin Research Institute of Singapore (A∗STAR), Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Shimin Le
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore
| | | | | | - Graham Wright
- A∗STAR Microscopy Platform, Skin Research Institute of Singapore (A∗STAR), Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Dasaradhi Palakodeti
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), GKVK Campus, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Robert S Ross
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Colin Jamora
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), GKVK Campus, Bangalore 560065, India
| | | | - Yan Jie
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542, Singapore; Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Srikala Raghavan
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), GKVK Campus, Bangalore 560065, India; Skin Research Institute of Singapore (A∗STAR), Singapore 138648, Singapore.
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33
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Kanoldt V, Kluger C, Barz C, Schweizer AL, Ramanujam D, Windgasse L, Engelhardt S, Chrostek-Grashoff A, Grashoff C. Metavinculin modulates force transduction in cell adhesion sites. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6403. [PMID: 33335089 PMCID: PMC7747745 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20125-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Vinculin is a ubiquitously expressed protein, crucial for the regulation of force transduction in cells. Muscle cells express a vinculin splice-isoform called metavinculin, which has been associated with cardiomyopathies. However, the molecular function of metavinculin has remained unclear and its role for heart muscle disorders undefined. Here, we have employed a set of piconewton-sensitive tension sensors to probe metavinculin mechanics in cells. Our experiments reveal that metavinculin bears higher molecular forces but is less frequently engaged as compared to vinculin, leading to altered force propagation in cell adhesions. In addition, we have generated knockout mice to investigate the consequences of metavinculin loss in vivo. Unexpectedly, these animals display an unaltered tissue response in a cardiac hypertrophy model. Together, the data reveal that the transduction of cell adhesion forces is modulated by expression of metavinculin, yet its role for heart muscle function seems more subtle than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Kanoldt
- Department of Quantitative Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Group of Molecular Mechanotransduction, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Carleen Kluger
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Group of Molecular Mechanotransduction, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Christiane Barz
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Group of Molecular Mechanotransduction, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Schweizer
- Department of Quantitative Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Group of Molecular Mechanotransduction, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Deepak Ramanujam
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Technical University of Munich, 80802, Munich, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, 80802, Munich, Germany
| | - Lukas Windgasse
- Department of Quantitative Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Stefan Engelhardt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Technical University of Munich, 80802, Munich, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, 80802, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Chrostek-Grashoff
- Department of Quantitative Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Group of Molecular Mechanotransduction, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Carsten Grashoff
- Department of Quantitative Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Group of Molecular Mechanotransduction, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.
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34
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Tang VW. Collagen, stiffness, and adhesion: the evolutionary basis of vertebrate mechanobiology. Mol Biol Cell 2020; 31:1823-1834. [PMID: 32730166 PMCID: PMC7525820 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e19-12-0709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of collagen I in vertebrates resulted in a dramatic increase in the stiffness of the extracellular environment, supporting long-range force propagation and the development of low-compliant tissues necessary for the development of vertebrate traits including pressurized circulation and renal filtration. Vertebrates have also evolved integrins that can bind to collagens, resulting in the generation of higher tension and more efficient force transmission in the extracellular matrix. The stiffer environment provides an opportunity for the vertebrates to create new structures such as the stress fibers, new cell types such as endothelial cells, new developmental processes such as neural crest delamination, and new tissue organizations such as the blood-brain barrier. Molecular players found only in vertebrates allow the modification of conserved mechanisms as well as the design of novel strategies that can better serve the physiological needs of the vertebrates. These innovations collectively contribute to novel morphogenetic behaviors and unprecedented increases in the complexities of tissue mechanics and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian W. Tang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
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35
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Elias-Mordechai M, Chetrit E, Berkovich R. Interplay between Viscoelasticity and Force Rate Affects Sequential Unfolding in Polyproteins Pulled at Constant Velocity. Macromolecules 2020; 53:3021-3029. [PMID: 32905266 PMCID: PMC7467765 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c00278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Polyproteins are
unique constructs, comprised of folded protein
domains in tandem and polymeric linkers. These macromolecules perform
under biological stresses by modulating their response through partial
unfolding and extending. Although these unfolding events are considered
independent, a history dependence of forced unfolding within polyproteins
was reported. Here we measure the unfolding of single poly(I91) octamers,
complemented with Brownian dynamics simulations, displaying increasing
hierarchy in unfolding-foces, accompanied by a decrease in the effective
stiffness. This counters the existing understanding that relates stiffness
with variations in domain size and probe stiffness, which is expected
to reduce the unfolding forces with every consecutive unfolding event.
We utilize a simple mechanistic viscoelastic model to show that two
effects are combined within a sequential forced unfolding process:
the viscoelastic properties of the growing linker chain lead to a
hierarchy of the unfolding events, and force-rate application governs
the unfolding kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moran Elias-Mordechai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Einat Chetrit
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Ronen Berkovich
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel.,The Ilze Katz Institute for Nanoscience and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
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