1
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Karimi S, Gat A, Agazzi C, Oren-Suissa M, Krieg M. Automated dual olfactory device for studying head/tail chemosensation in Caenorhabditis elegans. APL Bioeng 2024; 8:026104. [PMID: 38655543 PMCID: PMC11036369 DOI: 10.1063/5.0187441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The correct interpretation of threat and reward is important for animal survival. Often, the decisions underlying these behavioral programs are mediated by volatile compounds in the animal's environment, which they detect and discriminate with specialized olfactory neurons along their body. Caenorhabditis (C.) elegans senses chemical stimuli with neurons located in the head and the tail of the animal, which mediate either attractive or aversive behaviors. How conflicting stimuli are processed in animals navigating different chemical gradients is poorly understood. Here, we conceived, created, and capitalized on a novel microfluidic device to enable automated and precise stimulation of head and tail neurons, either simultaneously or sequentially, while reading out neuronal activity in sensory and interneurons using genetically encoded calcium indicators. We achieve robust and programmable chemical pulses through the modulation of inlet pressures. To evaluate the device performance, we synchronized the flow control with microscopy data acquisition and characterized the flow properties in the fabricated devices. Together, our design has the potential to provide insight into the neural circuits and behavior of C. elegans simulating the experience of natural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Asaf Gat
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Costanza Agazzi
- ICFO—Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Castelldefels, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Meital Oren-Suissa
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Michael Krieg
- ICFO—Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Castelldefels, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
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2
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Chen D, Han Z, Zhang J, Xue L, Liu S. Additive Manufacturing Provides Infinite Possibilities for Self-Sensing Technology. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2400816. [PMID: 38767180 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202400816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Integrating sensors and other functional parts in one device can enable a new generation of integrated intelligent devices that can perform self-sensing and monitoring autonomously. Applications include buildings that detect and repair damage, robots that monitor conditions and perform real-time correction and reconstruction, aircraft capable of real-time perception of the internal and external environment, and medical devices and prosthetics with a realistic sense of touch. Although integrating sensors and other functional parts into self-sensing intelligent devices has become increasingly common, additive manufacturing has only been marginally explored. This review focuses on additive manufacturing integrated design, printing equipment, and printable materials and stuctures. The importance of the material, structure, and function of integrated manufacturing are highlighted. The study summarizes current challenges to be addressed and provides suggestions for future development directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daobing Chen
- The Institute of Technological Science, Wuhan University, South Donghu Road 8, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Zhiwu Han
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, China
| | - Junqiu Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, China
| | - Longjian Xue
- School of Power and Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, South Donghu Road 8, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Sheng Liu
- The Institute of Technological Science, Wuhan University, South Donghu Road 8, Wuhan, 430072, China
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3
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Martin CG, Bent JS, Hill T, Topalidou I, Singhvi A. Epithelial UNC-23 limits mechanical stress to maintain glia-neuron architecture in C. elegans. Dev Cell 2024:S1534-5807(24)00230-2. [PMID: 38670103 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
For an organ to maintain correct architecture and function, its diverse cellular components must coordinate their size and shape. Although cell-intrinsic mechanisms driving homotypic cell-cell coordination are known, it is unclear how cell shape is regulated across heterotypic cells. We find that epithelial cells maintain the shape of neighboring sense-organ glia-neuron units in adult Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Hsp co-chaperone UNC-23/BAG2 prevents epithelial cell shape from deforming, and its loss causes head epithelia to stretch aberrantly during animal movement. In the sense-organ glia, amphid sheath (AMsh), this causes progressive fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-dependent disruption of the glial apical cytoskeleton. Resultant glial cell shape alteration causes concomitant shape change in glia-associated neuron endings. Epithelial UNC-23 maintenance of glia-neuron shape is specific both spatially, within a defined anatomical zone, and temporally, in a developmentally critical period. As all molecular components uncovered are broadly conserved across central and peripheral nervous systems, we posit that epithelia may similarly regulate glia-neuron architecture cross-species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia G Martin
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - James S Bent
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Tyler Hill
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Irini Topalidou
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Aakanksha Singhvi
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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4
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Fenelon KD, Krause J, Koromila T. Opticool: Cutting-edge transgenic optical tools. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011208. [PMID: 38517915 PMCID: PMC10959397 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011208] [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] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Only a few short decades have passed since the sequencing of GFP, yet the modern repertoire of transgenically encoded optical tools implies an exponential proliferation of ever improving constructions to interrogate the subcellular environment. A myriad of tags for labeling proteins, RNA, or DNA have arisen in the last few decades, facilitating unprecedented visualization of subcellular components and processes. Development of a broad array of modern genetically encoded sensors allows real-time, in vivo detection of molecule levels, pH, forces, enzyme activity, and other subcellular and extracellular phenomena in ever expanding contexts. Optogenetic, genetically encoded optically controlled manipulation systems have gained traction in the biological research community and facilitate single-cell, real-time modulation of protein function in vivo in ever broadening, novel applications. While this field continues to explosively expand, references are needed to assist scientists seeking to use and improve these transgenic devices in new and exciting ways to interrogate development and disease. In this review, we endeavor to highlight the state and trajectory of the field of in vivo transgenic optical tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelli D. Fenelon
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States of America
| | - Julia Krause
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States of America
| | - Theodora Koromila
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States of America
- School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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5
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Dong K, Liu WC, Su Y, Lyu Y, Huang H, Zheng N, Rogers JA, Nan K. Scalable Electrophysiology of Millimeter-Scale Animals with Electrode Devices. BME FRONTIERS 2023; 4:0034. [PMID: 38435343 PMCID: PMC10907027 DOI: 10.34133/bmef.0034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Millimeter-scale animals such as Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila larvae, zebrafish, and bees serve as powerful model organisms in the fields of neurobiology and neuroethology. Various methods exist for recording large-scale electrophysiological signals from these animals. Existing approaches often lack, however, real-time, uninterrupted investigations due to their rigid constructs, geometric constraints, and mechanical mismatch in integration with soft organisms. The recent research establishes the foundations for 3-dimensional flexible bioelectronic interfaces that incorporate microfabricated components and nanoelectronic function with adjustable mechanical properties and multidimensional variability, offering unique capabilities for chronic, stable interrogation and stimulation of millimeter-scale animals and miniature tissue constructs. This review summarizes the most advanced technologies for electrophysiological studies, based on methods of 3-dimensional flexible bioelectronics. A concluding section addresses the challenges of these devices in achieving freestanding, robust, and multifunctional biointerfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kairu Dong
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Wen-Che Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yuyan Su
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital,
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yidan Lyu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hao Huang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Nenggan Zheng
- Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
- College of Computer Science and Technology,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
- State Key Lab of Brain-Machine Intelligence,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- CCAI by MOE and Zhejiang Provincial Government (ZJU), Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - John A. Rogers
- Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics,
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Kewang Nan
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Jinhua 321299, China
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6
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Sanfeliu-Cerdán N, Català-Castro F, Mateos B, Garcia-Cabau C, Ribera M, Ruider I, Porta-de-la-Riva M, Canals-Calderón A, Wieser S, Salvatella X, Krieg M. A MEC-2/stomatin condensate liquid-to-solid phase transition controls neuronal mechanotransduction during touch sensing. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:1590-1599. [PMID: 37857834 PMCID: PMC10635833 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01247-0] [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: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of work suggests that the material properties of biomolecular condensates ensuing from liquid-liquid phase separation change with time. How this aging process is controlled and whether the condensates with distinct material properties can have different biological functions is currently unknown. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model, we show that MEC-2/stomatin undergoes a rigidity phase transition from fluid-like to solid-like condensates that facilitate transport and mechanotransduction, respectively. This switch is triggered by the interaction between the SH3 domain of UNC-89 (titin/obscurin) and MEC-2. We suggest that this rigidity phase transition has a physiological role in frequency-dependent force transmission in mechanosensitive neurons during body wall touch. Our data demonstrate a function for the liquid and solid phases of MEC-2/stomatin condensates in facilitating transport or mechanotransduction, and a previously unidentified role for titin homologues in neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neus Sanfeliu-Cerdán
- ICFO - Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Frederic Català-Castro
- ICFO - Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Borja Mateos
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carla Garcia-Cabau
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Ribera
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iris Ruider
- ICFO - Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Montserrat Porta-de-la-Riva
- ICFO - Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Adrià Canals-Calderón
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stefan Wieser
- ICFO - Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Xavier Salvatella
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Michael Krieg
- ICFO - Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain.
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7
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Ghose A, Pullarkat P. The role of mechanics in axonal stability and development. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 140:22-34. [PMID: 35786351 PMCID: PMC7615100 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Much of the focus of neuronal cell biology has been devoted to growth cone guidance, synaptogenesis, synaptic activity, plasticity, etc. The axonal shaft too has received much attention, mainly for its astounding ability to transmit action potentials and the transport of material over long distances. For these functions, the axonal cytoskeleton and membrane have been often assumed to play static structural roles. Recent experiments have changed this view by revealing an ultrastructure much richer in features than previously perceived and one that seems to be maintained at a dynamic steady state. The role of mechanics in this is only beginning to be broadly appreciated and appears to involve passive and active modes of coupling different biopolymer filaments, filament turnover dynamics and membrane biophysics. Axons, being unique cellular processes in terms of high aspect ratios and often extreme lengths, also exhibit unique passive mechanical properties that might have evolved to stabilize them under mechanical stress. In this review, we summarize the experiments that have exposed some of these features. It is our view that axonal mechanics deserves much more attention not only due to its significance in the development and maintenance of the nervous system but also due to the susceptibility of axons to injury and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurnab Ghose
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune 411 008, India.
| | - Pramod Pullarkat
- Raman Research Institute, C. V. Raman Avenue, Bengaluru 560 080, India.
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8
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Malaiwong N, Porta-de-la-Riva M, Krieg M. FLInt: single shot safe harbor transgene integration via Fluorescent Landmark Interference. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad041. [PMID: 36805659 PMCID: PMC10151404 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
The stable incorporation of transgenes and recombinant DNA material into the host genome is a bottleneck in many bioengineering applications. Due to the low efficiency, identifying the transgenic animals is often a needle in the haystack. Thus, optimal conditions require efficient screening procedures, but also known and safe landing sites that do not interfere with host expression, low input material and strong expression from the new locus. Here, we leverage an existing library of ≈300 different loci coding for fluorescent markers that are distributed over all 6 chromosomes in Caenorhabditis elegans as safe harbors for versatile transgene integration sites using CRISPR/Cas9. We demonstrated that a single crRNA was sufficient for cleavage of the target region and integration of the transgene of interest, which can be easily followed by loss of the fluorescent marker. The same loci can also be used for extrachromosomal landing sites and as co-CRISPR markers without affecting body morphology or animal behavior. Thus, our method overcomes the uncertainty of transgene location during random mutagenesis, facilitates easy screening through fluorescence interference and can be used as co-CRISPR markers without further influence in phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michael Krieg
- Corresponding author: Institut de Ciències Fotòniques (ICFO), 08860 Castelldefels, Spain.
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9
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Porta-de-la-Riva M, Gonzalez AC, Sanfeliu-Cerdán N, Karimi S, Malaiwong N, Pidde A, Morales-Curiel LF, Fernandez P, González-Bolívar S, Hurth C, Krieg M. Neural engineering with photons as synaptic transmitters. Nat Methods 2023; 20:761-769. [PMID: 37024651 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-01836-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal computation is achieved through connections of individual neurons into a larger network. To expand the repertoire of endogenous cellular communication, we developed a synthetic, photon-assisted synaptic transmission (PhAST) system. PhAST is based on luciferases and channelrhodopsins that enable the transmission of a neuronal state across space, using photons as neurotransmitters. PhAST overcomes synaptic barriers and rescues the behavioral deficit of a glutamate mutant with conditional, calcium-triggered photon emission between two neurons of the Caenorhabditis elegans nociceptive avoidance circuit. To demonstrate versatility and flexibility, we generated de novo synaptic transmission between two unconnected cells in a sexually dimorphic neuronal circuit, suppressed endogenous nocifensive response through activation of an anion channelrhodopsin and switched attractive to aversive behavior in an olfactory circuit. Finally, we applied PhAST to dissect the calcium dynamics of the temporal pattern generator in a motor circuit for ovipositioning. In summary, we established photon-based synaptic transmission that facilitates the modification of animal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Shadi Karimi
- Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Castelldefels, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Cedric Hurth
- Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Castelldefels, Spain
| | - Michael Krieg
- Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Castelldefels, Spain.
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10
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Goodman MB, Haswell ES, Vásquez V. Mechanosensitive membrane proteins: Usual and unusual suspects in mediating mechanotransduction. J Gen Physiol 2023; 155:e202213248. [PMID: 36696153 PMCID: PMC9930137 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202213248] [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] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This Viewpoint, which accompanies a Special Issue focusing on membrane mechanosensors, discusses unifying and unique features of both established and emerging mechanosensitive (MS) membrane proteins, their distribution across protein families and phyla, and current and future challenges in the study of these important proteins and their partners. MS membrane proteins are essential for tissue development, cellular motion, osmotic homeostasis, and sensing external and self-generated mechanical cues like those responsible for touch and proprioception. Though researchers' attention and this Viewpoint focus on a few famous ion channels that are considered the usual suspects as MS mechanosensors, we also discuss some of the more unusual suspects, such as G-protein coupled receptors. As the field continues to grow, so too will the list of proteins suspected to function as mechanosensors and the diversity of known MS membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam B. Goodman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth S. Haswell
- Department of Biology, Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Valeria Vásquez
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
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11
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Sanfeliu-Cerdán N, Lin LC, Dunn AR, Goodman MB, Krieg M. Visualizing Neurons Under Tension In Vivo with Optogenetic Molecular Force Sensors. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2600:239-266. [PMID: 36587102 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2851-5_16] [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] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The visualization of mechanical stress distribution in specific molecular networks within a living and physiologically active cell or animal remains a formidable challenge in mechanobiology. The advent of fluorescence-resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based molecular tension sensors overcame a significant hurdle that now enables us to address previously technically limited questions. Here, we describe a method that uses genetically encoded FRET tension sensors to visualize the mechanics of cytoskeletal networks in neurons of living animals with sensitized emission FRET and confocal scanning light microscopy. This method uses noninvasive immobilization of living animals to image neuronal β-spectrin cytoskeleton at the diffraction limit, and leverages multiple imaging controls to verify and underline the quality of the measurements. In combination with a semiautomated machine-vision algorithm to identify and trace individual neurites, our analysis performs simultaneous calculation of FRET efficiencies and visualizes statistical uncertainty on a pixel by pixel basis. Our approach is not limited to genetically encoded spectrin tension sensors, but can also be used for any kind of ratiometric imaging in neuronal cells both in vivo and in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neus Sanfeliu-Cerdán
- Neurophotonics and Mechanical Systems Biology, ICFO, Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, ICFO, Castelldefels, Spain
| | - Li-Chun Lin
- Neurophotonics and Mechanical Systems Biology, ICFO, Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, ICFO, Castelldefels, Spain
| | - Alexander R Dunn
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Miriam B Goodman
- Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael Krieg
- Neurophotonics and Mechanical Systems Biology, ICFO, Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, ICFO, Castelldefels, Spain.
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12
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Halma MTJ, Tuszynski JA, Wuite GJL. Optical tweezers for drug discovery. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103443. [PMID: 36396117 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.103443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The time taken and the cost of producing novel therapeutic drugs presents a significant burden - a typical target-based drug discovery process involves computational screening of drug libraries, compound assays and expensive clinical trials. This review summarises the value of dynamic conformational information obtained by optical tweezers and how this information can target 'undruggable' proteins. Optical tweezers provide insights into the link between biological mechanisms and structural conformations, which can be used in drug discovery. Developing workflows including software and sample preparation will improve throughput, enabling adoption of optical tweezers in biopharma. As a complementary tool, optical tweezers increase the number of drug candidates, improve the understanding of a target's complex structural dynamics and elucidate interactions between compounds and their targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew T J Halma
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; LUMICKS B.V, Paalbergweg 3, 1105 AG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jack A Tuszynski
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, 116 St 85 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Gijs J L Wuite
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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13
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Falconieri A, De Vincentiis S, Cappello V, Convertino D, Das R, Ghignoli S, Figoli S, Luin S, Català-Castro F, Marchetti L, Borello U, Krieg M, Raffa V. Axonal plasticity in response to active forces generated through magnetic nano-pulling. Cell Rep 2022; 42:111912. [PMID: 36640304 PMCID: PMC9902337 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanical force is crucial in guiding axon outgrowth before and after synapse formation. This process is referred to as "stretch growth." However, how neurons transduce mechanical input into signaling pathways remains poorly understood. Another open question is how stretch growth is coupled in time with the intercalated addition of new mass along the entire axon. Here, we demonstrate that active mechanical force generated by magnetic nano-pulling induces remodeling of the axonal cytoskeleton. Specifically, the increase in the axonal density of microtubules induced by nano-pulling leads to an accumulation of organelles and signaling vesicles, which, in turn, promotes local translation by increasing the probability of assembly of the "translation factories." Modulation of axonal transport and local translation sustains enhanced axon outgrowth and synapse maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara De Vincentiis
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy,The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, ICFO, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain
| | - Valentina Cappello
- Center for Materials Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 56025 Pontedera, Italy
| | - Domenica Convertino
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ravi Das
- The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, ICFO, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain
| | | | - Sofia Figoli
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Luin
- National Enterprise for NanoScience and NanoTechnology (NEST) Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Frederic Català-Castro
- The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, ICFO, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain
| | - Laura Marchetti
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 56127 Pisa, Italy,Department of Pharmacy, Università di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ugo Borello
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Michael Krieg
- The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, ICFO, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain
| | - Vittoria Raffa
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
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Biomotors, viral assembly, and RNA nanobiotechnology: Current achievements and future directions. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:6120-6137. [PMID: 36420155 PMCID: PMC9672130 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The International Society of RNA Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine (ISRNN) serves to further the development of a wide variety of functional nucleic acids and other related nanotechnology platforms. To aid in the dissemination of the most recent advancements, a biennial discussion focused on biomotors, viral assembly, and RNA nanobiotechnology has been established where international experts in interdisciplinary fields such as structural biology, biophysical chemistry, nanotechnology, cell and cancer biology, and pharmacology share their latest accomplishments and future perspectives. The results summarized here highlight advancements in our understanding of viral biology and the structure-function relationship of frame-shifting elements in genomic viral RNA, improvements in the predictions of SHAPE analysis of 3D RNA structures, and the understanding of dynamic RNA structures through a variety of experimental and computational means. Additionally, recent advances in the drug delivery, vaccine design, nanopore technologies, biomotor and biomachine development, DNA packaging, RNA nanotechnology, and drug delivery are included in this critical review. We emphasize some of the novel accomplishments, major discussion topics, and present current challenges and perspectives of these emerging fields.
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Mechanosensitive body–brain interactions in Caenorhabditis elegans. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2022; 75:102574. [DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Català-Castro F, Schäffer E, Krieg M. Exploring cell and tissue mechanics with optical tweezers. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:jcs259355. [PMID: 35942913 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259355] [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: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular and tissue biosystems emerge from the assembly of their constituent molecules and obtain a set of specific material properties. To measure these properties and understand how they influence cellular function is a central goal of mechanobiology. From a bottoms-up, physics or engineering point-of-view, such systems are a composition of basic mechanical elements. However, the sheer number and dynamic complexity of them, including active molecular machines and their emergent properties, makes it currently intractable to calculate how biosystems respond to forces. Because many diseases result from an aberrant mechanotransduction, it is thus essential to measure this response. Recent advances in the technology of optical tweezers have broadened their scope from single-molecule applications to measurements inside complex cellular environments, even within tissues and animals. Here, we summarize the basic optical trapping principles, implementations and calibration procedures that enable force measurements using optical tweezers directly inside cells of living animals, in combination with complementary techniques. We review their versatility to manipulate subcellular organelles and measure cellular frequency-dependent mechanics in the piconewton force range from microseconds to hours. As an outlook, we address future challenges to fully unlock the potential of optical tweezers for mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Català-Castro
- Neurophotonics and Mechanical Systems Biology, ICFO, Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain
| | - Erik Schäffer
- Cellular Nanoscience, ZMBP, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael Krieg
- Neurophotonics and Mechanical Systems Biology, ICFO, Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain
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