1
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Xu S, Lee I, Kwon SJ, Kim E, Nevo L, Straight L, Murata H, Matyjaszewski K, Dordick JS. Split fluorescent protein-mediated multimerization of cell wall binding domain for highly sensitive and selective bacterial detection. N Biotechnol 2024; 82:54-64. [PMID: 38750815 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2024.05.004] [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: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Cell wall peptidoglycan binding domains (CBDs) of cell lytic enzymes, including bacteriocins, autolysins and bacteriophage endolysins, enable highly selective bacterial binding, and thus, have potential as biorecognition molecules for nondestructive bacterial detection. Here, a novel design for a self-complementing split fluorescent protein (FP) complex is proposed, where a multimeric FP chain fused with specific CBDs ((FP-CBD)n) is assembled inside the cell, to improve sensitivity by enhancing the signal generated upon Staphylococcus aureus or Bacillus anthracis binding. Flow cytometry shows enhanced fluorescence on the cell surface with increasing FP stoichiometry and surface plasmon resonance reveals nanomolar binding affinity to isolated peptidoglycan. The breadth of function of these complexes is demonstrated through the use of CBD modularity and the ability to attach enzymatic detection modalities. Horseradish peroxidase-coupled (FP-CBD)n complexes generate a catalytic amplification, with the degree of amplification increasing as a function of FP length, reaching a limit of detection (LOD) of 103 cells/droplet (approximately 0.1 ng S. aureus or B. anthracis) within 15 min on a polystyrene surface. These fusion proteins can be multiplexed for simultaneous detection. Multimeric split FP-CBD fusions enable use as a biorecognition molecule with enhanced signal for use in bacterial biosensing platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirley Xu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Inseon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Seok-Joon Kwon
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Eunsol Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Liv Nevo
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Lorelli Straight
- Department of Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Hironobu Murata
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Jonathan S Dordick
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, USA; Department of Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, USA.
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2
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Bharathan NK, Mattheyses AL, Kowalczyk AP. The desmosome comes into focus. J Cell Biol 2024; 223:e202404120. [PMID: 39120608 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202404120] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The desmosome is a cell-cell adhesive junction that provides integrity and mechanical resistance to tissues through its attachment to the intermediate filament cytoskeleton. Defects in desmosomes cause diseases impacting the heart, epidermis, and other epithelia. In this review, we provide a historical perspective on the discovery of the desmosome and how the evolution of cellular imaging technologies revealed insights into desmosome structure and function. We also discuss recent findings using contemporary imaging approaches that have informed the molecular order, three-dimensional architecture, and associations of desmosomes with organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum. Finally, we provide an updated model of desmosome molecular organization and speculate upon novel functions of this cell junction as a signaling center for sensing mechanical and other forms of cell stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navaneetha Krishnan Bharathan
- Departments of Dermatology and Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Alexa L Mattheyses
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Andrew P Kowalczyk
- Departments of Dermatology and Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
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3
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Watkins T, Moffitt K, Speight RE, Navone L. Chromogenic fusion proteins as alternative textiles dyes. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:2820-2832. [PMID: 38859566 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28772] [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: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
The widespread adoption of fast fashion has led to a significant waste problem associated with discarded textiles. Using proteins to color textiles can serve as a sustainable alternative to chemical dyes as well as reduce the demand for new raw materials. Here, we explore the use of chromogenic fusion proteins, consisting of a chromoprotein and a carbohydrate-binding module (CBM), as coloring agents for cellulose-based textiles such as cotton. We examined the color properties of chromoproteins AeBlue, SpisPink and Ultramarine alone and fused to CBM under various conditions. AeBlue, SpisPink and Ultramarine exhibited visible color between pH 4-9 and temperatures ranging from 4 to 45℃. Fusing CBM Clos from Clostridium thermocellum and CBM Ch2 from Trichoderma reesei to the chromoproteins had no effect on the chromoprotein color properties. Furthermore, binding assays showed that chromoprotein fusions did not affect binding of CBMs to cellulosic materials. Cotton samples bound with Ultramarine-Clos exhibited visible purple color that faded progressively over time as the samples dried. Applying 10% 8000 polyethylene glycol to cotton samples markedly preserved the color over extended periods. Overall, this work highlights the potential of chromoprotein-CBM fusions for textile dying which could be applied as a color maintenance technology or for reversible coloring of textiles for events or work wear, contributing to sustainable practices and introducing new creative opportunities for the industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyson Watkins
- School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kaylee Moffitt
- School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Robert E Speight
- School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform, CSIRO Environment, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Laura Navone
- School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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4
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Shih CP, Tang WC, Chen P, Chen BC. Applications of Lightsheet Fluorescence Microscopy by High Numerical Aperture Detection Lens. J Phys Chem B 2024. [PMID: 39177503 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c01721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
This Review explores the evolution, improvements, and recent applications of Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy (LSFM) in biological research using a high numerical aperture detection objective (lens) for imaging subcellular structures. The Review begins with an overview of the development of LSFM, tracing its evolution from its inception to its current state and emphasizing key milestones and technological advancements over the years. Subsequently, we will discuss various improvements of LSFM techniques, covering advancements in hardware such as illumination strategies, optical designs, and sample preparation methods that have enhanced imaging capabilities and resolution. The advancements in data acquisition and processing are also included, which provides a brief overview of the recent development of artificial intelligence. Fluorescence probes that were commonly used in LSFM will be highlighted, together with some insights regarding the selection of potential probe candidates for future LSFM development. Furthermore, we also discuss recent advances in the application of LSFM with a focus on high numerical aperture detection objectives for various biological studies. For sample preparation techniques, there are discussions regarding fluorescence probe selection, tissue clearing protocols, and some insights into expansion microscopy. Integrated setups such as adaptive optics, single objective modification, and microfluidics will also be some of the key discussion points in this Review. We hope that this comprehensive Review will provide a holistic perspective on the historical development, technical enhancements, and cutting-edge applications of LSFM, showcasing its pivotal role and future potential in advancing biological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Pei Shih
- Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106319, Taiwan
- Nano Science and Technology Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chun Tang
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Peilin Chen
- Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Bi-Chang Chen
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
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5
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Poding LH, Jägers P, Herlitze S, Huhn M. Diversity and function of fluorescent molecules in marine animals. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1391-1410. [PMID: 38468189 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13072] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Fluorescence in marine animals has mainly been studied in Cnidaria but is found in many different phyla such as Annelida, Crustacea, Mollusca, and Chordata. While many fluorescent proteins and molecules have been identified, very little information is available about the biological functions of fluorescence. In this review, we focus on describing the occurrence of fluorescence in marine animals and the behavioural and physiological functions of fluorescent molecules based on experimental approaches. These biological functions of fluorescence range from prey and symbiont attraction, photoprotection, photoenhancement, stress mitigation, mimicry, and aposematism to inter- and intraspecific communication. We provide a comprehensive list of marine taxa that utilise fluorescence, including demonstrated effects on behavioural or physiological responses. We describe the numerous known functions of fluorescence in anthozoans and their underlying molecular mechanisms. We also highlight that other marine taxa should be studied regarding the functions of fluorescence. We suggest that an increase in research effort in this field could contribute to understanding the capacity of marine animals to respond to negative effects of climate change, such as rising sea temperatures and increasing intensities of solar irradiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars H Poding
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, 44801, Germany
| | - Peter Jägers
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, 44801, Germany
| | - Stefan Herlitze
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, 44801, Germany
| | - Mareike Huhn
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, 44801, Germany
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6
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Munshi R. How Transcription Factor Clusters Shape the Transcriptional Landscape. Biomolecules 2024; 14:875. [PMID: 39062589 PMCID: PMC11274464 DOI: 10.3390/biom14070875] [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: 06/01/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, gene transcription typically occurs in discrete periods of promoter activity, interspersed with intervals of inactivity. This pattern deviates from simple stochastic events and warrants a closer examination of the molecular interactions that activate the promoter. Recent studies have identified transcription factor (TF) clusters as key precursors to transcriptional bursting. Often, these TF clusters form at chromatin segments that are physically distant from the promoter, making changes in chromatin conformation crucial for promoter-TF cluster interactions. In this review, I explore the formation and constituents of TF clusters, examining how the dynamic interplay between chromatin architecture and TF clustering influences transcriptional bursting. Additionally, I discuss techniques for visualizing TF clusters and provide an outlook on understanding the remaining gaps in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Munshi
- Joseph Henry Laboratories of Physics and Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
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7
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Son JB, Kim S, Yang S, Ahn Y, Lee NK. Analysis of Fluorescent Proteins for Observing Single Gene Locus in a Live and Fixed Escherichia coli Cell. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:6730-6741. [PMID: 38968413 PMCID: PMC11264270 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c01816] [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: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are essential tools for advanced microscopy techniques such as super-resolution imaging, single-particle tracking, and quantitative single-molecule counting. Various FPs fused to DNA-binding proteins have been used to observe the subcellular location and movement of specific gene loci in living and fixed bacterial cells. However, quantitative assessments of the properties of FPs for gene locus measurements are still lacking. Here, we assessed various FPs to observe specific gene loci in live and fixed Escherichia coli cells using a fluorescent repressor-operator binding system (FROS), tet operator-Tet repressor proteins (TetR). Tsr-fused FPs were used to assess the intensity and photostability of various FPs (five red FPs: mCherry2, FusionRed, mRFP, mCrimson3, and dKatushka; and seven yellow FPs: SYFP2, Venus, mCitrine, YPet, mClover3, mTopaz, and EYFP) at the single-molecule level in living cells. These FPs were then used for gene locus measurements using FROS. Our results indicate that TetR-mCrimson3 (red) and TetR-EYFP (yellow) had better properties for visualizing gene loci than the other TetR-FPs. Furthermore, fixation procedures affected the clustering of diffusing TetR-FPs and altered the locations of the TetR-FP foci. Fixation with formaldehyde consistently disrupted proper DNA locus observations using TetR-FPs. Notably, the foci measured using TetR-mCrimson3 remained close to their original positions in live cells after glyoxal fixation. This in vivo study provides a cell-imaging guide for the use of FPs for gene-locus observation in E. coli and a scheme for evaluating the use of FPs for other cell-imaging purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Youmin Ahn
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul
National University, 08826 Seoul, South
Korea
| | - Nam Ki Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul
National University, 08826 Seoul, South
Korea
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8
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Gong L, Chen L, Lin Q, Wang L, Zhang Z, Ye Y, Chen B. Nanoscale Metal-Organic Frameworks as a Photoluminescent Platform for Bioimaging and Biosensing Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2402641. [PMID: 39011737 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202402641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
The tracking of nanomedicines in their concentration and location inside living systems has a pivotal effect on the understanding of the biological processes, early-stage diagnosis, and therapeutic monitoring of diseases. Nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (nano MOFs) possess high surface areas, definite structure, regulated optical properties, rich functionalized sites, and good biocompatibility that allow them to excel in a wide range of biomedical applications. Controllable syntheses and functionalization endow nano MOFs with better properties as imaging agents and sensing units for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. This minireview summarizes the tunable synthesis strategies of nano MOFs with controllable size, shape, and regulated luminescent performance, and pinpoints their recent advanced applications as optical elements in bioimaging and biosensing. The current limitations and future development directions of nano MOF-contained materials in bioimaging and biosensing applications are also discussed, aiming to expand the biological applications of nano MOF-based nanomedicine and facilitate their production or clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingshan Gong
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350117, P. R. China
| | - Lixiang Chen
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350117, P. R. China
| | - Quanjie Lin
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362046, P. R. China
| | - Lihua Wang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350117, P. R. China
| | - Zhangjing Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350117, P. R. China
| | - Yingxiang Ye
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350117, P. R. China
| | - Banglin Chen
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350117, P. R. China
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9
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Gaytán P, Roldán-Salgado A. Photoactivatable Blue Fluorescent Protein. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:28577-28582. [PMID: 38973932 PMCID: PMC11223193 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c02603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Photoactivatable and photoswitchable fluorescent proteins (FPs) are sophisticated molecular tools that in combination with super-resolution microscopy are helping to elucidate many biological processes. Through the Y66H mutation in the chromophore of the violet fluorescent protein SumireF, we created the first photoactivatable blue fluorescent protein (PA-BFP). This protein is rapidly activated over ordinary UV transilluminators at 302 or 365 nm in irreversible mode and by direct exposition to sunlight. The maximum excitation and emission wavelengths of this protein, centered at 358 and 445 nm, respectively, resemble the values of DAPI-the blue stain widely used in fluorescence microscopy to visualize nucleic acids in cells. Therefore, the immediate use of PA-BFP in cellular biology is clear because the technology required to follow this new genetically encoded reporter at the microscopic level has already been established. PA-BFP can potentially be used together with other photoactivatable fluorescent proteins of different colors to label multiple proteins, which can be simultaneously tracked by advanced microscopic techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Gaytán
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico
| | - Abigail Roldán-Salgado
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico
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10
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Poding LH, Jägers P, Senen B, Limmon GV, Herlitze S, Huhn M. New observations of fluorescent organisms in the Banda Sea and in the Red Sea. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0292476. [PMID: 38865289 PMCID: PMC11168664 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292476] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence is a widespread phenomenon found in animals, bacteria, fungi, and plants. In marine environments fluorescence has been proposed to play a role in physiological and behavioral responses. Many fluorescent proteins and other molecules have been described in jellyfish, corals, and fish. Here we describe fluorescence in marine species, which we observed and photographed during night dives in the Banda Sea, Indonesia, and in the Red Sea, Egypt. Among various phyla we found fluorescence in sponges, molluscs, tunicates, and fish. Our study extends the knowledge on how many different organisms fluoresce in marine environments. We describe the occurrence of fluorescence in 27 species, in which fluorescence has not been described yet in peer-reviewed literature. It especially extends the knowledge beyond Scleractinia, the so far best described taxon regarding diversity in fluorescent proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Henrik Poding
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Peter Jägers
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Gino Valentino Limmon
- Fisheries and Marine Science Faculty, Pattimura University, Ambon, Indonesia
- Maritime and Marine Science Center of Excellence, Pattimura University, Ambon, Indonesia
- Center for Collaborative Research on Aquatic Ecosystem in Eastern Indonesia, Ambon, Indonesia
| | - Stefan Herlitze
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Mareike Huhn
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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11
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Minoshima M, Reja SI, Hashimoto R, Iijima K, Kikuchi K. Hybrid Small-Molecule/Protein Fluorescent Probes. Chem Rev 2024; 124:6198-6270. [PMID: 38717865 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Hybrid small-molecule/protein fluorescent probes are powerful tools for visualizing protein localization and function in living cells. These hybrid probes are constructed by diverse site-specific chemical protein labeling approaches through chemical reactions to exogenous peptide/small protein tags, enzymatic post-translational modifications, bioorthogonal reactions for genetically incorporated unnatural amino acids, and ligand-directed chemical reactions. The hybrid small-molecule/protein fluorescent probes are employed for imaging protein trafficking, conformational changes, and bioanalytes surrounding proteins. In addition, fluorescent hybrid probes facilitate visualization of protein dynamics at the single-molecule level and the defined structure with super-resolution imaging. In this review, we discuss development and the bioimaging applications of fluorescent probes based on small-molecule/protein hybrids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masafumi Minoshima
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - Shahi Imam Reja
- Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, 2-1, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - Ryu Hashimoto
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - Kohei Iijima
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - Kazuya Kikuchi
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
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12
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Zhou B, Zheng L, Wu B, Tan Y, Lv O, Yi K, Fan G, Hong L. Protein Engineering with Lightweight Graph Denoising Neural Networks. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:3650-3661. [PMID: 38630581 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Protein engineering faces challenges in finding optimal mutants from a massive pool of candidate mutants. In this study, we introduce a deep-learning-based data-efficient fitness prediction tool to steer protein engineering. Our methodology establishes a lightweight graph neural network scheme for protein structures, which efficiently analyzes the microenvironment of amino acids in wild-type proteins and reconstructs the distribution of the amino acid sequences that are more likely to pass natural selection. This distribution serves as a general guidance for scoring proteins toward arbitrary properties on any order of mutations. Our proposed solution undergoes extensive wet-lab experimental validation spanning diverse physicochemical properties of various proteins, including fluorescence intensity, antigen-antibody affinity, thermostability, and DNA cleavage activity. More than 40% of ProtLGN-designed single-site mutants outperform their wild-type counterparts across all studied proteins and targeted properties. More importantly, our model can bypass the negative epistatic effect to combine single mutation sites and form deep mutants with up to seven mutation sites in a single round, whose physicochemical properties are significantly improved. This observation provides compelling evidence of the structure-based model's potential to guide deep mutations in protein engineering. Overall, our approach emerges as a versatile tool for protein engineering, benefiting both the computational and bioengineering communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingxin Zhou
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Shanghai National Center for Applied Mathematics (SJTU Center), Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Lirong Zheng
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Banghao Wu
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yang Tan
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- School of Information Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Shanghai 200232, China
| | - Outongyi Lv
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Kai Yi
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Guisheng Fan
- School of Information Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Liang Hong
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Shanghai National Center for Applied Mathematics (SJTU Center), Shanghai 200240, China
- Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Shanghai 200232, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201203, China
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13
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Nedospasov SA, Kruglov AA, Tumanov AV, Drutskaya MS, Astrakhantseva IV, Kuprash DV. Reverse Genetics Applied to Immunobiology of Tumor Necrosis Factor, a Multifunctional Cytokine. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2024; 89:853-861. [PMID: 38880646 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297924050067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is one of many cytokines - protein molecules responsible for communication between the cells of immune system. TNF was discovered and given its grand name because of its striking antitumor effects in experimental systems, but its main physiological functions in the context of whole organism turned out to be completely unrelated to protection against tumors. This short review discusses "man-made" mouse models generated by early genome-editing technologies, which enabled us to establish true functions of TNF in health and certain diseases as well as to unravel potential strategies for improving therapy of TNF-dependent diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey A Nedospasov
- Division of Immunobiology and Biomedicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Federal Territory Sirius, 354340, Russia.
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Andrei A Kruglov
- Laboratory of Systems Rheumatology, German Rheumatism Research Center (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, Berlin, 10117, Germany
| | - Alexei V Tumanov
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 79229, USA
| | - Marina S Drutskaya
- Division of Immunobiology and Biomedicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Federal Territory Sirius, 354340, Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Irina V Astrakhantseva
- Division of Immunobiology and Biomedicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Federal Territory Sirius, 354340, Russia
| | - Dmitry V Kuprash
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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14
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Song W, Zhao L, Liu S, Jia Y, Ma L, Liao M, Dai M. Analysis of H5N8 influenza virus infection in chicken with mApple reporter genes in vivo and in vitro. Vet Microbiol 2024; 292:110052. [PMID: 38492531 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2024.110052] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) has caused huge losses to the global poultry industry and critically threatens public health. Chickens are the important host for the transmission. However, the distribution of H5N8 avian influenza virus (AIV) in chicken and the infected cell types are limitedly studied. Therefore, in this study, we detected viral replication and infection by generating recombinant H5N8 AIV expressing an easily tracked mApple fluorescent reporter. The results showed that recombinant viruses passaged four times in chicken embryos successfully expressed mApple proteins detected by fluorescence microscopy and WB, which verified that the constructed recombinant viruses were stable. Compared to parental virus, although recombinant virus attenuated for replication in MDCK cells, it can still replicate effectively, and form visible plaques. Importantly, the experiments on infection of chicken PBMCs in vitro showed a strong correlation between mApple positivity rate and NP positivity rate (r = 0.7594, P =0.0176), demonstrating that mApple reporter could be used as an indicator to accurately reflect AIV infection. Then we infected monocytes/macrophages in PBMCs in vitro and detected the mApple positive percentage was 55.1%-80.4%, which confirmed the chicken primary monocytic/macrophages are important target cells for avian influenza virus infection. In chicken, compared with parental virus, the recombinant virus-infected chickens had lower viral titers in oropharyngeal cloacal and organs, but it can cause significant pathogenicity in chicken and the mortality rate was approximately 66%. In addition, the results of bioluminescent imaging showed that the fluorescence in the lungs was strongest at 5 days post-infection (DPI). Finally, we discovered the mApple positive expression in chicken lung immune cells (CD45+ cells), especially some T cells (CD4 and CD8 T cells) also carrying mApple, which indicates that the H5N8 AIV showed a tropism for immune cells including chicken T cells causing potentially aggressive against cellular immunity. We have provided a simple visualization for further exploration of H5N8 AIV infected chicken immune cells, which contributes to further understanding pathogenic mechanism of H5N8 AIV infection in chicken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Song
- National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; UK-China Centre of Exellence for Research on Avain Diseases, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Li Zhao
- National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; UK-China Centre of Exellence for Research on Avain Diseases, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Sairu Liu
- National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; UK-China Centre of Exellence for Research on Avain Diseases, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yusheng Jia
- National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; UK-China Centre of Exellence for Research on Avain Diseases, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Lulu Ma
- National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; UK-China Centre of Exellence for Research on Avain Diseases, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Ming Liao
- National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; UK-China Centre of Exellence for Research on Avain Diseases, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Manman Dai
- National and Regional Joint Engineering Laboratory for Medicament of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; UK-China Centre of Exellence for Research on Avain Diseases, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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15
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Kostyuk AI, Rapota DD, Morozova KI, Fedotova AA, Jappy D, Semyanov AV, Belousov VV, Brazhe NA, Bilan DS. Modern optical approaches in redox biology: Genetically encoded sensors and Raman spectroscopy. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 217:68-115. [PMID: 38508405 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
The objective of the current review is to summarize the current state of optical methods in redox biology. It consists of two parts, the first is dedicated to genetically encoded fluorescent indicators and the second to Raman spectroscopy. In the first part, we provide a detailed classification of the currently available redox biosensors based on their target analytes. We thoroughly discuss the main architecture types of these proteins, the underlying engineering strategies for their development, the biochemical properties of existing tools and their advantages and disadvantages from a practical point of view. Particular attention is paid to fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy as a possible readout technique, since it is less prone to certain artifacts than traditional intensiometric measurements. In the second part, the characteristic Raman peaks of the most important redox intermediates are listed, and examples of how this knowledge can be implemented in biological studies are given. This part covers such fields as estimation of the redox states and concentrations of Fe-S clusters, cytochromes, other heme-containing proteins, oxidative derivatives of thiols, lipids, and nucleotides. Finally, we touch on the issue of multiparameter imaging, in which biosensors are combined with other visualization methods for simultaneous assessment of several cellular parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander I Kostyuk
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia; Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997, Moscow, Russia
| | - Diana D Rapota
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Kseniia I Morozova
- Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| | - Anna A Fedotova
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia; Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| | - David Jappy
- Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies, Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Alexey V Semyanov
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia; Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia; Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, 119435, Russia; College of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, 314001, China
| | - Vsevolod V Belousov
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia; Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997, Moscow, Russia; Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies, Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, 117997, Russia; Life Improvement by Future Technologies (LIFT) Center, Skolkovo, Moscow, 143025, Russia
| | - Nadezda A Brazhe
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia; Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia.
| | - Dmitry S Bilan
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia; Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997, Moscow, Russia.
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16
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Gill JK, Shaw GS. Using Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) to Understand the Ubiquitination Landscape. Chembiochem 2024:e202400193. [PMID: 38632088 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a fluorescence technique that allows quantitative measurement of protein interactions, kinetics and dynamics. This review covers the use of FRET to study the structures and mechanisms of ubiquitination and related proteins. We survey FRET assays that have been developed where donor and acceptor fluorophores are placed on E1, E2 or E3 enzymes and ubiquitin (Ub) to monitor steady-state and real-time transfer of Ub through the ubiquitination cascade. Specialized FRET probes placed on Ub and Ub-like proteins have been developed to monitor Ub removal by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) that result in a loss of a FRET signal upon cleavage of the FRET probes. FRET has also been used to understand conformational changes in large complexes such as multimeric E3 ligases and the proteasome, frequently using sophisticated single molecule methods. Overall, FRET is a powerful tool to help unravel the intricacies of the complex ubiquitination system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jashanjot Kaur Gill
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A5C1
| | - Gary S Shaw
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A5C1
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17
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Tomris I, van der Woude R, de Paiva Froes Rocha R, Torrents de la Peña A, Ward AB, de Vries RP. Viral envelope proteins fused to multiple distinct fluorescent reporters to probe receptor binding. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4974. [PMID: 38533540 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Enveloped viruses carry one or multiple proteins with receptor-binding functionalities. Functional receptors can be glycans, proteinaceous, or both; therefore, recombinant protein approaches are instrumental in attaining new insights regarding viral envelope protein receptor-binding properties. Visualizing and measuring receptor binding typically entails antibody detection or direct labeling, whereas direct fluorescent fusions are attractive tools in molecular biology. Here, we report a suite of distinct fluorescent fusions, both N- and C-terminal, for influenza A virus hemagglutinins and SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD. The proteins contained three or six fluorescent protein barrels and were applied directly to cells to assess receptor binding properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilhan Tomris
- Department of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Roosmarijn van der Woude
- Department of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Rebeca de Paiva Froes Rocha
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Alba Torrents de la Peña
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Andrew B Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Robert P de Vries
- Department of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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18
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Torres Chavez AG, McKenna MK, Balasubramanian K, Riffle L, Patel NL, Kalen JD, St. Croix B, Leen AM, Bajgain P. A dual-luciferase bioluminescence system for the assessment of cellular therapies. MOLECULAR THERAPY. ONCOLOGY 2024; 32:200763. [PMID: 38596291 PMCID: PMC10869576 DOI: 10.1016/j.omton.2024.200763] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Bioluminescence imaging is a well-established platform for evaluating engineered cell therapies in preclinical studies. However, despite the discovery of new luciferases and substrates, optimal combinations to simultaneously monitor two cell populations remain limited. This makes the functional assessment of cellular therapies cumbersome and expensive, especially in preclinical in vivo models. In this study, we explored the potential of using a green bioluminescence-emitting click beetle luciferase, CBG99, and a red bioluminescence-emitting firefly luciferase mutant, Akaluc, together to simultaneously monitor two cell populations. Using various chimeric antigen receptor T cells and tumor pairings, we demonstrate that these luciferases are suitable for real-time tracking of two cell types using 2D and 3D cultures in vitro and experimental models in vivo. Our data show the broad compatibility of this dual-luciferase (duo-luc) system with multiple bioluminescence detection equipment ranging from benchtop spectrophotometers to live animal imaging systems. Although this study focused on investigating complex CAR T cells and tumor cell interactions, this duo-luc system has potential utility for the simultaneous monitoring of any two cellular components-for example, to unravel the impact of a specific genetic variant on clonal dominance in a mixed population of tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mary K. McKenna
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Lisa Riffle
- Small Animal Imaging Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Nimit L. Patel
- Small Animal Imaging Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Joseph D. Kalen
- Small Animal Imaging Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Brad St. Croix
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Ann M. Leen
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Pradip Bajgain
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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19
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Baleeva NS, Bogdanova YA, Goncharuk MV, Sokolov AI, Myasnyanko IN, Kublitski VS, Smirnov AY, Gilvanov AR, Goncharuk SA, Mineev KS, Baranov MS. A Combination of Library Screening and Rational Mutagenesis Expands the Available Color Palette of the Smallest Fluorogen-Activating Protein Tag nanoFAST. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3054. [PMID: 38474299 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25053054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
NanoFAST is the smallest fluorogen-activating protein, consisting of only 98 amino acids, used as a genetically encoded fluorescent tag. Previously, only a single fluorogen with an orange color was revealed for this protein. In the present paper, using rational mutagenesis and in vitro screening of fluorogens libraries, we expanded the color palette of this tag. We discovered that E46Q is one of the key substitutions enabling the range of possible fluorogens to be expanded. The introduction of this and several other substitutions has made it possible to use not only orange but also red and green fluorogens with the modified protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadezhda S Baleeva
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Medicinal Substances Chemistry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovitianov 1, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Yulia A Bogdanova
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina V Goncharuk
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anatolii I Sokolov
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Medicinal Substances Chemistry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovitianov 1, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ivan N Myasnyanko
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Medicinal Substances Chemistry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovitianov 1, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vadim S Kublitski
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Yu Smirnov
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Medicinal Substances Chemistry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovitianov 1, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Aidar R Gilvanov
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey A Goncharuk
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Konstantin S Mineev
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail S Baranov
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Medicinal Substances Chemistry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovitianov 1, 117997 Moscow, Russia
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20
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Sakurai C, Yamashita N, Azuma K, Hatsuzawa K. VAMP5 promotes Fcγ receptor-mediated phagocytosis and regulates phagosome maturation in macrophages. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:ar44. [PMID: 38265888 PMCID: PMC10916865 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-04-0149] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Phagosome formation and maturation reportedly occur via sequential membrane fusion events mediated by synaptosomal-associated protein of 23 kDa (SNAP23), a plasma membrane-localized soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) family. Vesicle-associated membrane protein 5 (VAMP5), also a plasmalemma SNARE, interacts with SNAP23; however, its precise function in phagocytosis in macrophages remains elusive. To elucidate this aspect, we investigated the characteristics of macrophages in the presence of VAMP5 overexpression or knockdown and found that VAMP5 participates in Fcγ receptor-mediated phagosome formation, although not directly in phagosome maturation. Overexpressed VAMP5 was localized to the early phagosomal membrane but no longer localized to the lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1-positive maturing phagosomal membrane. Analyses using compound-based selective inhibitors demonstrated that VAMP5 dissociation from early phagosomes occurs in a clathrin- and dynamin-dependent manner and is indispensable for SNAP23 function in subsequent membrane fusion during phagosome maturation. Accordingly, to the best of our knowledge, we demonstrate, for the first time, that VAMP5 exerts an immunologically critical function during phagosome formation and maturation via SNARE-based membrane trafficking in macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiye Sakurai
- Division of Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori 683-8503, Japan
| | - Natsumi Yamashita
- Division of Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori 683-8503, Japan
| | - Kento Azuma
- Division of Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori 683-8503, Japan
| | - Kiyotaka Hatsuzawa
- Division of Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori 683-8503, Japan
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21
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Shakhova ES, Karataeva TA, Markina NM, Mitiouchkina T, Palkina KA, Perfilov MM, Wood MG, Hoang TT, Hall MP, Fakhranurova LI, Alekberova AE, Malyshevskaia AK, Gorbachev DA, Bugaeva EN, Pletneva LK, Babenko VV, Boldyreva DI, Gorokhovatsky AY, Balakireva AV, Gao F, Choob VV, Encell LP, Wood KV, Yampolsky IV, Sarkisyan KS, Mishin AS. An improved pathway for autonomous bioluminescence imaging in eukaryotes. Nat Methods 2024; 21:406-410. [PMID: 38253843 PMCID: PMC10927554 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-02152-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The discovery of the bioluminescence pathway in the fungus Neonothopanus nambi enabled engineering of eukaryotes with self-sustained luminescence. However, the brightness of luminescence in heterologous hosts was limited by performance of the native fungal enzymes. Here we report optimized versions of the pathway that enhance bioluminescence by one to two orders of magnitude in plant, fungal and mammalian hosts, and enable longitudinal video-rate imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina S Shakhova
- Planta LLC, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana A Karataeva
- Planta LLC, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nadezhda M Markina
- Planta LLC, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana Mitiouchkina
- Planta LLC, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Kseniia A Palkina
- Planta LLC, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maxim M Perfilov
- Planta LLC, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | | | | | - Anna E Alekberova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alena K Malyshevskaia
- Planta LLC, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry A Gorbachev
- Planta LLC, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | - Vladislav V Babenko
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Daria I Boldyreva
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey Y Gorokhovatsky
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasia V Balakireva
- Planta LLC, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Feng Gao
- Synthetic Biology Group, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Vladimir V Choob
- Planta LLC, Moscow, Russia
- Botanical Garden of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | - Ilia V Yampolsky
- Planta LLC, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Light Bio Inc, Ketchum, ID, USA
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Karen S Sarkisyan
- Planta LLC, Moscow, Russia.
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
- Synthetic Biology Group, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London, UK.
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- Light Bio Inc, Ketchum, ID, USA.
| | - Alexander S Mishin
- Planta LLC, Moscow, Russia.
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
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22
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Howells AR, Welch PJ, Kim J, Forest CR, Shi C, Lian XL. A drug-selectable acoustic reporter gene system for human cell ultrasound imaging. Bioeng Transl Med 2024; 9:e10584. [PMID: 38435822 PMCID: PMC10905554 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
A promising new field of genetically encoded ultrasound contrast agents in the form of gas vesicles has recently emerged, which could extend the specificity of medical ultrasound imaging. However, given the delicate genetic nature of how these genes are integrated and expressed, current methods of producing gas vesicle-expressing mammalian cell lines requires significant cell processing time to establish a clonal/polyclonal line that robustly expresses the gas vesicles sufficiently enough for ultrasound contrast. Here, we describe an inducible and drug-selectable acoustic reporter gene system that can enable gas vesicle expression in mammalian cell lines, which we demonstrate using HEK293T cells. Our drug-selectable construct design increases the stability and proportion of cells that successfully integrate all plasmids into their genome, thus reducing the amount of cell processing time required. Additionally, we demonstrate that our drug-selectable strategy forgoes the need for single-cell cloning and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and that a drug-selected mixed population is sufficient to generate robust ultrasound contrast. Successful gas vesicle expression was optically and ultrasonically verified, with cells expressing gas vesicles exhibiting an 80% greater signal-to-noise ratio compared to negative controls and a 500% greater signal-to-noise ratio compared to wild-type HEK293T cells. This technology presents a new reporter gene paradigm by which ultrasound can be harnessed to visualize specific cell types for applications including cellular reporting and cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Phoebe J. Welch
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - John Kim
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Craig R. Forest
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Chengzhi Shi
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Xiaojun Lance Lian
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringPennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvaniaUSA
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of BiologyPennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvaniaUSA
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23
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Liu J, Rayes D, Akbari OS. A Fluorescent Sex-Sorting Technique for Insects with the Demonstration in Drosophila melanogaster. GEN BIOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 3:35-44. [PMID: 38415050 PMCID: PMC10895710 DOI: 10.1089/genbio.2023.0041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Recent advances in insect genetic engineering offer alternative genetic biocontrol solutions to control populations of pests and disease vectors. While success has been achieved, sex-sorting remains problematic for scaling many genetic biocontrol interventions. Here, we describe the development of a genetically stable sex-sorting technique for female and male selection with a proof of concept in Drosophila melanogaster termed SEPARATOR (Sexing Element Produced by Alternative RNA-splicing of A Transgenic Observable Reporter). This elegant approach utilizes dominantly expressed fluorescent proteins and differentially spliced introns to ensure sex-specific expression. The system has the potential for adaptability to various insect species and application for high-throughput insect sex-sorting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junru Liu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Danny Rayes
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Omar S. Akbari
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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24
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Valbuena FM, Krahn AH, Tokamov SA, Greene AC, Fehon RG, Glick BS. Yellow and oxidation-resistant derivatives of a monomeric superfolder GFP. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.25.577236. [PMID: 38328041 PMCID: PMC10849726 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.25.577236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are essential tools in biology. The utility of FPs depends on their brightness, photostability, efficient folding, monomeric state, and compatibility with different cellular environments. Despite the proliferation of available FPs, derivatives of the originally identified Aequorea victoria GFP often show superior behavior as fusion tags. We recently generated msGFP2, an optimized monomeric superfolder variant of A. victoria GFP. Here, we describe two derivatives of msGFP2. The monomeric variant msYFP2 is a yellow superfolder FP with high photostability. The monomeric variant moxGFP2 lacks cysteines but retains significant folding stability, so it works well in the lumen of the secretory pathway. These new FPs are useful for common imaging applications.
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25
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Tutol J, Ong WSY, Phelps SM, Peng W, Goenawan H, Dodani SC. Engineering the ChlorON Series: Turn-On Fluorescent Protein Sensors for Imaging Labile Chloride in Living Cells. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2024; 10:77-86. [PMID: 38292617 PMCID: PMC10823515 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c01088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Beyond its role as the "queen of electrolytes", chloride can also serve as an allosteric regulator or even a signaling ion. To illuminate this essential anion across such a spectrum of biological processes, researchers have relied on fluorescence imaging with genetically encoded sensors. In large part, these have been derived from the green fluorescent protein found in the jellyfish Aequorea victoria. However, a standalone sensor with a turn-on intensiometric response at physiological pH has yet to be reported. Here, we address this technology gap by building on our discovery of the anion-sensitive fluorescent protein mNeonGreen (mNG). The targeted engineering of two non-coordinating residues, namely K143 and R195, in the chloride binding pocket of mNG coupled with an anion walking screening and selection strategy resulted in the ChlorON sensors: ChlorON-1 (K143W/R195L), ChlorON-2 (K143R/R195I), and ChlorON-3 (K143R/R195L). In vitro spectroscopy revealed that all three sensors display a robust turn-on fluorescence response to chloride (20- to 45-fold) across a wide range of affinities (Kd ≈ 30-285 mM). We further showcase how this unique sensing mechanism can be exploited to directly image labile chloride transport with spatial and temporal resolution in a cell model overexpressing the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. Building from this initial demonstration, we anticipate that the ChlorON technology will have broad utility, accelerating the path forward for fundamental and translational aspects of chloride biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine
N. Tutol
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Whitney S. Y. Ong
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Shelby M. Phelps
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Weicheng Peng
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Helen Goenawan
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Sheel C. Dodani
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
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26
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Lee CH, Park S, Kim S, Hyun JY, Lee HS, Shin I. Engineering of cell-surface receptors for analysis of receptor internalization and detection of receptor-specific glycosylation. Chem Sci 2024; 15:555-565. [PMID: 38179521 PMCID: PMC10762726 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05054h] [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: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a cell-surface glycoprotein that is involved mainly in cell proliferation. Overexpression of this receptor is intimately related to the development of a broad spectrum of tumors. In addition, glycans linked to the EGFR are known to affect its EGF-induced activation. Because of the pathophysiological significance of the EGFR, we prepared a fluorescently labeled EGFR (EGFR128-AZDye 488) on the cell surface by employing the genetic code expansion technique and bioorthogonal chemistry. EGFR128-AZDye 488 was initially utilized to investigate time-dependent endocytosis of the EGFR in live cells. The results showed that an EGFR inhibitor and antibody suppress endocytosis of the EGFR promoted by the EGF, and that lectins recognizing glycans of the EGFR do not enhance EGFR internalization into cells. Observations made in studies of the effects of appended glycans on the entry of the EGFR into cells indicate that a de-sialylated or de-fucosylated EGFR is internalized into cells more efficiently than a wild-type EGFR. Furthermore, by using the FRET-based imaging method of cells which contain an EGFR linked to AZDye 488 (a FRET donor) and cellular glycans labeled with rhodamine (a FRET acceptor), sialic acid residues attached to the EGFR were specifically detected on the live cell surface. Taken together, the results suggest that a fluorescently labeled EGFR will be a valuable tool in studies aimed at gaining an understanding of cellular functions of the EGFR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Hee Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University Seoul 03722 Republic of Korea
| | - Sookil Park
- Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University Seoul 03722 Republic of Korea
| | - Sanggil Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University Seoul 04107 Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Young Hyun
- Data Convergence Drug Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon 34114 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Soo Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University Seoul 04107 Republic of Korea
| | - Injae Shin
- Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University Seoul 03722 Republic of Korea
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27
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Ikejiri M, Yoshimizu A, Shiota F, Nagayama A, Fujisaka A, Kuboki Y, Miyashita K. Viscosity-Induced Emission of 5-(Diarylmethylene)imidazolone with Extended Conjugation via Attachment of N-Methylpyrrole at the 2-Position. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2024; 72:518-523. [PMID: 38825446 DOI: 10.1248/cpb.c24-00143] [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: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
We have developed a series of 2-monoaryl-5-diarylmethylene analogs of the green fluorescent protein chromophore to study their viscosity-induced emission (VIE) properties. The analogs were synthesized by a condensation with methyl imidate and N-(diarylmethylene)glycinate. Among the analogs, the N-methylpyrrol-2-yl-substituted analog 1h induced the most remarkable VIE behavior in triglyceride and lipid bilayers probably due to the high π-electron-rich property of the pyrrole ring. The pyrrole substituent in imidazolone analogs can be expected to become a common template for introducing VIE behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ai Nagayama
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Ohtani University
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28
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Han Q, Darmanin C, Rosado CJ, Veríssimo NV, Pereira JFB, Bryant G, Drummond CJ, Greaves TL. Structure, aggregation dynamics and crystallization of superfolder green fluorescent protein: Effect of long alkyl chain imidazolium ionic liquids. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127456. [PMID: 37844813 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127456] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its variants are widely used in medical and biological research, especially acting as indicators of protein structural integrity, protein-protein interactions and as biosensors. This study employs superfolder GFP (sfGFP) to investigate the impact of varying alkyl chain length of 1-Cn-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid (IL) series ([Cnmim]Cl, n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) on the protein fluorescence, structure, hydration, aggregation dynamics and crystallization behaviour. The results revealed a concentration-dependent decrease in the sfGFP chromophore fluorescence, particularly in long alkyl chain ILs ([C10mim]Cl and [C12mim]Cl). Tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence showed the quenching rate increased with longer alkyl chains indicating a nonpolar interaction between Trp57 and the alkyl chain. Secondary structural changes were observed at the high IL concentration of 1.5 M in [C10mim]Cl and [C12mim]Cl. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) indicated relatively stable protein sizes, but with IL aggregates present in [C10mim]Cl and [C12mim]Cl solutions. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) data showed increased protein size and aggregation with longer alkyl chain ILs. Notably, ILs and salts, excluding [C2mim]Cl, promoted sfGFP crystallization. This study emphasizes the influence of the cation alkyl chain length and concentration on protein stability and aggregation, providing insights into utilizing IL solvents for protein stabilization and crystallization purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Han
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
| | - Connie Darmanin
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, School of Computing Engineering and Mathematical Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Carlos J Rosado
- Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University, VIC 3004, Australia; Department of Biochemistry, Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Nathalia Vieira Veríssimo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo University (USP), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, no. 580, B16, 05508-000, Cidade de Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jorge F B Pereira
- University of Coimbra, CIEPQPF, Department of Chemical Engineering, Rua Sílvio Lima, Pólo II - Pinhal de Marrocos, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Gary Bryant
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Calum J Drummond
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Tamar L Greaves
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
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29
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Yun WS, Cho H, Jeon SI, Lim DK, Kim K. Fluorescence-Based Mono- and Multimodal Imaging for In Vivo Tracking of Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1787. [PMID: 38136656 PMCID: PMC10742164 DOI: 10.3390/biom13121787] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The advancement of stem cell therapy has offered transformative therapeutic outcomes for a wide array of diseases over the past decades. Consequently, stem cell tracking has become significant in revealing the mechanisms of action and ensuring safe and effective treatments. Fluorescence stands out as a promising choice for stem cell tracking due to its myriad advantages, including high resolution, real-time monitoring, and multi-fluorescence detection. Furthermore, combining fluorescence with other tracking modalities-such as bioluminescence imaging (BLI), positron emission tomography (PET), photoacoustic (PA), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance (MR)-can address the limitations of single fluorescence detection. This review initially introduces stem cell tracking using fluorescence imaging, detailing various labeling strategies such as green fluorescence protein (GFP) tagging, fluorescence dye labeling, and nanoparticle uptake. Subsequently, we present several combinations of strategies for efficient and precise detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan Su Yun
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; (W.S.Y.); (D.-K.L.)
| | - Hanhee Cho
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Woman’s University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea; (H.C.); (S.I.J.)
| | - Seong Ik Jeon
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Woman’s University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea; (H.C.); (S.I.J.)
| | - Dong-Kwon Lim
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; (W.S.Y.); (D.-K.L.)
| | - Kwangmeyung Kim
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Woman’s University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea; (H.C.); (S.I.J.)
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30
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Krueger TD, Henderson JN, Breen IL, Zhu L, Wachter RM, Mills JH, Fang C. Capturing excited-state structural snapshots of evolutionary green-to-red photochromic fluorescent proteins. Front Chem 2023; 11:1328081. [PMID: 38144887 PMCID: PMC10748491 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1328081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Photochromic fluorescent proteins (FPs) have proved to be indispensable luminous probes for sophisticated and advanced bioimaging techniques. Among them, an interplay between photoswitching and photoconversion has only been observed in a limited subset of Kaede-like FPs that show potential for discovering the key mechanistic steps during green-to-red photoconversion. Various spectroscopic techniques including femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS), X-ray crystallography, and femtosecond transient absorption were employed on a set of five related FPs with varying photoconversion and photoswitching efficiencies. A 3-methyl-histidine chromophore derivative, incorporated through amber suppression using orthogonal aminoacyl tRNA synthetase/tRNA pairs, displays more dynamic photoswitching but greatly reduced photoconversion versus the least-evolved ancestor (LEA). Excitation-dependent measurements of the green anionic chromophore reveal that the varying photoswitching efficiencies arise from both the initial transient dynamics of the bright cis state and the final trans-like photoswitched off state, with an exocyclic bridge H-rocking motion playing an active role during the excited-state energy dissipation. This investigation establishes a close-knit feedback loop between spectroscopic characterization and protein engineering, which may be especially beneficial to develop more versatile FPs with targeted mutations and enhanced functionalities, such as photoconvertible FPs that also feature photoswitching properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor D. Krueger
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - J. Nathan Henderson
- Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Isabella L. Breen
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Liangdong Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Rebekka M. Wachter
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Jeremy H. Mills
- Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Chong Fang
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
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31
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Rasmusssen AP, Pedersen HB, Andersen LH. Excited-state dynamics and fluorescence lifetime of cryogenically cooled green fluorescent protein chromophore anions. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023. [PMID: 38048068 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp04696f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Time-resolved action spectroscopy together with a fs-pump probe scheme is used in an electrostatic ion-storage ring to address lifetimes of specific vibrational levels in electronically excited states. Here we specifically consider the excited-state lifetime of cryogenically cooled green fluorescent protein (GFP) chromophore anions which is systematically measured across the S0-S1 spectral region (450-482 nm). A long lifetime of 5.2 ± 0.3 ns is measured at the S0-S1 band origin. When exciting higher vibrational levels in S1, the lifetime changes dramatically. It decreases by more than two orders of magnitude in a narrow energy region ∼250 cm-1 (31 meV) above the 0-0 transition. This is attributed to the opening of internal conversion over an excited-state energy barrier. The applied experimental technique provides a new way to uncover even small energy barriers, which are crucial for excited-state dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne P Rasmusssen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark.
| | - Henrik B Pedersen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark.
| | - Lars H Andersen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark.
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32
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Zheng YD, Huang BW, Zhang X, Liu CF, Xin LS, Wang CM, Bai CM. The Probiotic Bacillus hwajinpoensis Colonizes the Digestive System of Crassostrea gigas Larvae and Protects Them from Vibrio alginolyticus Infection. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2918. [PMID: 38138062 PMCID: PMC10745402 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas is one of the most important cultured marine species around the world. Production of Pacific oysters in China has depended primarily on hatchery produced seeds since 2016, with the successful introduction and development of triploid oysters. However, the seed supply of Pacific oysters is threatened by recurring mass mortality events in recent years. Vibriosis is the most commonly encountered disease associated with intensive oyster culture in hatcheries and nurseries. Vibrio alginolyticus and Bacillus hwajinpoensis were the two strains with pathogenic and probiotic effects, respectively, identified during the Pacific oyster larvae production. To monitor their colonization process in Pacific oyster larvae, green fluorescent protein (GFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) were labeled to the pathogenic V. alginolyticus and the probiotic B. hwajinpoensis stain, respectively. The pathogenic and probiotic effects of the two strains during the colonization process were then assessed. Stabile expression of GFP and RFP were observed in corresponding stains, and the capabilities of growth, biofilm formation and in vitro adhesion of GFP- and RFP- tagged stains were not significantly different from those of the wild-type strains. Usage of probiotics of 105 CFU/mL significantly inhibited the growth of pathogenic V. alginolyticus and reduced the mortality of D-sharped larvae. Both the pathogenic and probiotic strains employed a similar route to enter and colonize the oyster larvae, which indicates that competing with pathogens for binding and spreading sites were one of the mechanisms of B. hwajinpoensis to provide the probiotic effects to oyster larvae. In summary, employment of fluorescence-tagged pathogenic and probiotic strains simultaneously provides us with an excellent bioassay model to investigate the potential mechanisms of probiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Dong Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (Y.-D.Z.); (B.-W.H.); (X.Z.); (C.-F.L.); (L.-S.X.); (C.-M.W.)
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Bo-Wen Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (Y.-D.Z.); (B.-W.H.); (X.Z.); (C.-F.L.); (L.-S.X.); (C.-M.W.)
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
- Key Laboratory of Maricultural Organism Disease Control, Qingdao Key Laboratory of Mariculture Epidemiology and Biosecurity, Ministry of Agriculture, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Xiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (Y.-D.Z.); (B.-W.H.); (X.Z.); (C.-F.L.); (L.-S.X.); (C.-M.W.)
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Chen-Feng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (Y.-D.Z.); (B.-W.H.); (X.Z.); (C.-F.L.); (L.-S.X.); (C.-M.W.)
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Lu-Sheng Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (Y.-D.Z.); (B.-W.H.); (X.Z.); (C.-F.L.); (L.-S.X.); (C.-M.W.)
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
- Key Laboratory of Maricultural Organism Disease Control, Qingdao Key Laboratory of Mariculture Epidemiology and Biosecurity, Ministry of Agriculture, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Chong-Ming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (Y.-D.Z.); (B.-W.H.); (X.Z.); (C.-F.L.); (L.-S.X.); (C.-M.W.)
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
- Key Laboratory of Maricultural Organism Disease Control, Qingdao Key Laboratory of Mariculture Epidemiology and Biosecurity, Ministry of Agriculture, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Chang-Ming Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; (Y.-D.Z.); (B.-W.H.); (X.Z.); (C.-F.L.); (L.-S.X.); (C.-M.W.)
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
- Key Laboratory of Maricultural Organism Disease Control, Qingdao Key Laboratory of Mariculture Epidemiology and Biosecurity, Ministry of Agriculture, Qingdao 266071, China
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33
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Ossa-Hernández N, Marins LF, Almeida RV, Almeida DV. Red Fluorescent Protein Variant with a Dual-Peak Emission of Fluorescence. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 25:1099-1109. [PMID: 37864761 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-023-10262-z] [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: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
The marine environment is a rich reservoir of diverse biological entities, many of which possess unique properties that are of immense value to biotechnological applications. One such example is the red fluorescent protein derived from the coral Discosoma sp. This protein, encoded by the DsRed gene, has been the subject of extensive research due to its potential applications in various fields. In the study, a variant of the red fluorescent protein was generated through random mutagenesis using the DsRed2 gene as a template. The process employed error-prone PCR (epPCR) to introduce random mutations, leading to the isolation of twelve gene variants. Among these, one variant stood out due to its unique spectral properties, exhibiting dual fluorescence emission at both 480 nm (green) and 550 nm (red). This novel variant was expressed in both Escherichia coli and zebrafish (Danio rerio) muscle, confirming the dual fluorescence emission in both model systems. One of the immediate applications of this novel protein variant is in ornamental aquaculture. The dual fluorescence can serve as a unique marker or trait, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of aquatic species in ornamental settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luis Fernando Marins
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Volcan Almeida
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Daniela Volcan Almeida
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPEL), Campus Universitário Capão do Leão s/n, CEP, Pelotas, RS, 96160-000, Brazil.
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34
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Chaurasia R, Liang C, How K, Vieira DS, Vinetz JM. Production and Purification of Cysteine-Rich Leptospiral Virulence-Modifying Proteins with or Without mCherry Fusion. Protein J 2023; 42:792-801. [PMID: 37653175 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-023-10152-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant fluorescent fusion proteins are fundamental to advancing many aspects of protein science. Such proteins are typically used to enable the visualization of functional proteins in experimental systems, particularly cell biology. An important problem in biotechnology is the production of functional, soluble proteins. Here we report the use of mCherry-fusions of soluble, cysteine-rich, Leptospira-secreted exotoxins in the PF07598 gene family, the so-called virulence modifying (VM) proteins. The mCherry fusion proteins facilitated the visual detection of pink colonies of the VM proteins (LA3490 and LA1402) and following them through lysis and sequential chromatography steps. CD-spectroscopy analysis confirmed the stability and robustness of the mCherry-fusion protein, with a structure comparable to AlphaFold structural predictions. LA0591, a unique member of the PF07598 gene family that lacks N-terminal ricin B-like domains, was produced without mCherry tag that strengthens the recombinant protein production protocol without fusion protein as well. The current study provides the approaches for the synthesis of 50-125 kDa soluble, cysteine-rich, high-quality fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC)-purified protein, with and without a mCherry tag. The use of mCherry-fusion proteins enables a streamlined, efficient process of protein production and qualitative and quantitative downstream analytical and functional studies. Approaches for troubleshooting and optimization were evaluated to overcome difficulties in recombinant protein expression and purification, demonstrating biotechnology utility in accelerating recombinant protein production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reetika Chaurasia
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Cathleen Liang
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kenneth How
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Dielson S Vieira
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Joseph M Vinetz
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Semenov AY, Tikhonov AN. Electrometric and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Measurements of a Difference in the Transmembrane Electrochemical Potential: Photosynthetic Subcellular Structures and Isolated Pigment-Protein Complexes. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:866. [PMID: 37999352 PMCID: PMC10673362 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13110866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
A transmembrane difference in the electrochemical potentials of protons (ΔμH+) serves as a free energy intermediate in energy-transducing organelles of the living cell. The contributions of two components of the ΔμH+ (electrical, Δψ, and concentrational, ΔpH) to the overall ΔμH+ value depend on the nature and lipid composition of the energy-coupling membrane. In this review, we briefly consider several of the most common instrumental (electrometric and EPR) methods for numerical estimations of Δψ and ΔpH. In particular, the kinetics of the flash-induced electrometrical measurements of Δψ in bacterial chromatophores, isolated bacterial reaction centers, and Photosystems I and II of the oxygenic photosynthesis, as well as the use of pH-sensitive molecular indicators and kinetic data regarding pH-dependent electron transport in chloroplasts, have been reviewed. Further perspectives on the application of these methods to solve some fundamental and practical problems of membrane bioenergetics are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Yu. Semenov
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physical-Chemical Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
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36
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Krueger TD, Chen C, Fang C. Targeting Ultrafast Spectroscopic Insights into Red Fluorescent Proteins. Chem Asian J 2023; 18:e202300668. [PMID: 37682793 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202300668] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Red fluorescent proteins (RFPs) represent an increasingly popular class of genetically encodable bioprobes and biomarkers that can advance next-generation breakthroughs across the imaging and life sciences. Since the rational design of RFPs with improved functions or enhanced versatility requires a mechanistic understanding of their working mechanisms, while fluorescence is intrinsically an ultrafast event, a suitable toolset involving steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques has become powerful in delineating key structural features and dynamic steps which govern irreversible photoconverting or reversible photoswitching RFPs, and large Stokes shift (LSS)RFPs. The pertinent cis-trans isomerization and protonation state change of RFP chromophores in their local environments, involving key residues in protein matrices, lead to rich and complicated spectral features across multiple timescales. In particular, ultrafast excited-state proton transfer in various LSSRFPs showcases the resolving power of wavelength-tunable femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS) in mapping a photocycle with crucial knowledge about the red-emitting species. Moreover, recent progress in noncanonical RFPs with a site-specifically modified chromophore provides an appealing route for efficient engineering of redder and brighter RFPs, highly desirable for bioimaging. Such an effective feedback loop involving physical chemists, protein engineers, and biomedical microscopists will enable future successes to expand fundamental knowledge and improve human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor D Krueger
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, 153 Gilbert Hall, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331-4003, USA
| | - Cheng Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, 153 Gilbert Hall, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331-4003, USA
| | - Chong Fang
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, 153 Gilbert Hall, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331-4003, USA
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37
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Zheng Y, Fu H, Chen J, Li J, Bian Y, Hu P, Lei L, Liu Y, Yang J, Peng W. Development of a counterselectable system for rapid and efficient CRISPR-based genome engineering in Zymomonas mobilis. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:208. [PMID: 37833755 PMCID: PMC10571335 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02217-9] [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: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zymomonas mobilis is an important industrial bacterium ideal for biorefinery and synthetic biology studies. High-throughput CRISPR-based genome editing technologies have been developed to enable targeted engineering of genes and hence metabolic pathways in the model ZM4 strain, expediting the exploitation of this biofuel-producing strain as a cell factory for sustainable chemicals, proteins and biofuels production. As these technologies mainly take plasmid-based strategies, their applications would be impeded due to the fact that curing of the extremely stable plasmids is laborious and inefficient. Whilst counterselection markers have been proven to be efficient for plasmid curing, hitherto only very few counterselection markers have been available for Z. mobilis. RESULTS We constructed a conditional lethal mutant of the pheS gene of Z. mobilis ZM4, clmPheS, containing T263A and A318G substitutions and coding for a mutated alpha-subunit of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase to allow for the incorporation of a toxic analog of phenylalanine, p-chloro-phenylalanine (4-CP), into proteins, and hence leading to inhibition of cell growth. We demonstrated that expression of clmPheS driven by a strong Pgap promoter from a plasmid could render the Z. mobilis ZM4 cells sufficient sensitivity to 4-CP. The clmPheS-expressing cells were assayed to be extremely sensitive to 0.2 mM 4-CP. Subsequently, the clmPheS-assisted counterselection endowed fast curing of genome engineering plasmids immediately after obtaining the desired mutants, shortening the time of every two rounds of multiplex chromosome editing by at least 9 days, and enabled the development of a strategy for scarless modification of the native Z. mobilis ZM4 plasmids. CONCLUSIONS This study developed a strategy, coupling an endogenous CRISPR-based genome editing toolkit with a counterselection marker created here, for rapid and efficient multi-round multiplex editing of the chromosome, as well as scarless modification of the native plasmids, providing an improved genome engineering toolkit for Z. mobilis and an important reference to develope similar genetic manipulation systems in other non-model organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanli Zheng
- College of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, P. R. China
| | - Hongmei Fu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, P. R. China
| | - Jue Chen
- College of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, P. R. China
| | - Jie Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Bio-enzyme Catalysis, Environmental Microbial Technology Center of Hubei Province, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, P.R. China
| | - Yuejie Bian
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Bio-enzyme Catalysis, Environmental Microbial Technology Center of Hubei Province, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, P.R. China
| | - Ping Hu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, P. R. China
| | - Lei Lei
- College of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, P. R. China
| | - Yihan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, P. R. China.
| | - Jiangke Yang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, P. R. China.
| | - Wenfang Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Bio-enzyme Catalysis, Environmental Microbial Technology Center of Hubei Province, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, P.R. China.
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Capece M, Tessari A, Mills J, Vinciguerra GLR, Louke D, Lin C, McElwain BK, Miles WO, Coppola V, Davies AE, Palmieri D, Croce CM. A novel auxin-inducible degron system for rapid, cell cycle-specific targeted proteolysis. Cell Death Differ 2023; 30:2078-2091. [PMID: 37537305 PMCID: PMC10482871 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-023-01191-4] [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: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The discrimination of protein biological functions in different phases of the cell cycle is limited by the lack of experimental approaches that do not require pre-treatment with compounds affecting the cell cycle progression. Therefore, potential cycle-specific biological functions of a protein of interest could be biased by the effects of cell treatments. The OsTIR1/auxin-inducible degron (AID) system allows "on demand" selective and reversible protein degradation upon exposure to the phytohormone auxin. In the current format, this technology does not allow to study the effect of acute protein depletion selectively in one phase of the cell cycle, as auxin similarly affects all the treated cells irrespectively of their proliferation status. Therefore, the AID system requires coupling with cell synchronization techniques, which can alter the basal biological status of the studied cell population, as with previously available approaches. Here, we introduce a new AID system to Regulate OsTIR1 Levels based on the Cell Cycle Status (ROLECCS system), which induces proteolysis of both exogenously transfected and endogenous gene-edited targets in specific phases of the cell cycle. We validated the ROLECCS technology by down regulating the protein levels of TP53, one of the most studied tumor suppressor genes, with a widely known role in cell cycle progression. By using our novel tool, we observed that TP53 degradation is associated with increased number of micronuclei, and this phenotype is specifically achieved when TP53 is lost in S/G2/M phases of the cell cycle, but not in G1. Therefore, we propose the use of the ROLECCS system as a new improved way of studying the differential roles that target proteins may have in specific phases of the cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Capece
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Anna Tessari
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Joseph Mills
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Gian Luca Rampioni Vinciguerra
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Darian Louke
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Chenyu Lin
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Bryan K McElwain
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Wayne O Miles
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Vincenzo Coppola
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Alexander E Davies
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dario Palmieri
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA.
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Gene Editing Shared Resource, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Carlo M Croce
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA.
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Kolonko-Adamska M, Zawadzka-Kazimierczuk A, Bartosińska-Marzec P, Koźmiński W, Popowicz G, Krężel A, Ożyhar A, Greb-Markiewicz B. Interaction patterns of methoprene-tolerant and germ cell-expressed Drosophila JH receptors suggest significant differences in their functioning. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1215550. [PMID: 37654797 PMCID: PMC10465699 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1215550] [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: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Methoprene-tolerant (Met) and germ cell-expressed (Gce) proteins were shown to be juvenile hormone (JH) receptors of Drosophila melanogaster with partially redundant functions. We raised the question of where the functional differentiation of paralogs comes from. Therefore, we tested Met and Gce interaction patterns with selected partners. In this study, we showed the ability of Gce and its C-terminus (GceC) to interact with 14-3-3 in the absence of JH. In contrast, Met or Met C-terminus (MetC) interactions with 14-3-3 were not observed. We also performed a detailed structural analysis of Met/Gce interactions with the nuclear receptor fushi tarazu factor-1 (Ftz-F1) ligand-binding domain. We showed that GceC comprising an Ftz-F1-binding site and full-length protein interacts with Ftz-F1. In contrast to Gce, only MetC (not full-length Met) can interact with Ftz-F1 in the absence of JH. We propose that the described differences result from the distinct tertiary structure and accessibility of binding sites in the full-length Met/Gce. Moreover, we hypothesize that each interacting partner can force disordered MetC and GceC to change the structure in a partner-specific manner. The observed interactions seem to determine the subcellular localization of Met/Gce by forcing their translocation between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, which may affect the activity of the proteins. The presented differences between Met and Gce can be crucial for their functional differentiation during D. melanogaster development and indicate Gce as a more universal and more active paralog. It is consistent with the theory indicating gce as an ancestor gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Kolonko-Adamska
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - A. Zawadzka-Kazimierczuk
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - P. Bartosińska-Marzec
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - W. Koźmiński
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - G. Popowicz
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- Bavarian NMR Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - A. Krężel
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - A. Ożyhar
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - B. Greb-Markiewicz
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
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40
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Liu J, Rayes D, Akbari OS. A fluorescent sex-sorting technique for insects with the demonstration in Drosophila melanogaster. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.11.553026. [PMID: 37645836 PMCID: PMC10462037 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.11.553026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in insect genetic engineering offer alternative genetic biocontrol solutions to control populations of pests and disease vectors. While success has been achieved, sex-sorting remains problematic for scaling many genetic biocontrol interventions. Here we describe the development of a sex-sorting technique for female and male selection with a proof-of-concept in D. melanogaster termed SEPARATOR (Sexing Element Produced by Alternative RNA-splicing of A Transgenic Observable Reporter). This approach utilizes dominant fluorescent proteins and differentially spliced introns to ensure sex-specific expression. The system has the potential for adaptability to various insect species and application for high-throughput insect sex-sorting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junru Liu
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Danny Rayes
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Omar S. Akbari
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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41
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Chen C, Henderson JN, Ruchkin DA, Kirsh JM, Baranov MS, Bogdanov AM, Mills JH, Boxer SG, Fang C. Structural Characterization of Fluorescent Proteins Using Tunable Femtosecond Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11991. [PMID: 37569365 PMCID: PMC10418586 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241511991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The versatile functions of fluorescent proteins (FPs) as fluorescence biomarkers depend on their intrinsic chromophores interacting with the protein environment. Besides X-ray crystallography, vibrational spectroscopy represents a highly valuable tool for characterizing the chromophore structure and revealing the roles of chromophore-environment interactions. In this work, we aim to benchmark the ground-state vibrational signatures of a series of FPs with emission colors spanning from green, yellow, orange, to red, as well as the solvated model chromophores for some of these FPs, using wavelength-tunable femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS) in conjunction with quantum calculations. We systematically analyzed and discussed four factors underlying the vibrational properties of FP chromophores: sidechain structure, conjugation structure, chromophore conformation, and the protein environment. A prominent bond-stretching mode characteristic of the quinoidal resonance structure is found to be conserved in most FPs and model chromophores investigated, which can be used as a vibrational marker to interpret chromophore-environment interactions and structural effects on the electronic properties of the chromophore. The fundamental insights gained for these light-sensing units (e.g., protein active sites) substantiate the unique and powerful capability of wavelength-tunable FSRS in delineating FP chromophore properties with high sensitivity and resolution in solution and protein matrices. The comprehensive characterization for various FPs across a colorful palette could also serve as a solid foundation for future spectroscopic studies and the rational engineering of FPs with diverse and improved functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, 153 Gilbert Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - J. Nathan Henderson
- Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; (J.N.H.); (J.H.M.)
| | - Dmitry A. Ruchkin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.A.R.); (M.S.B.); (A.M.B.)
| | - Jacob M. Kirsh
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (J.M.K.); (S.G.B.)
| | - Mikhail S. Baranov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.A.R.); (M.S.B.); (A.M.B.)
- Laboratory of Medicinal Substances Chemistry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovitianov 1, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey M. Bogdanov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.A.R.); (M.S.B.); (A.M.B.)
| | - Jeremy H. Mills
- Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; (J.N.H.); (J.H.M.)
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Steven G. Boxer
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (J.M.K.); (S.G.B.)
| | - Chong Fang
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, 153 Gilbert Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
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Andersen LH, Rasmussen AP, Pedersen HB, Beletsan OB, Bochenkova AV. High-Resolution Spectroscopy and Selective Photoresponse of Cryogenically Cooled Green Fluorescent Protein Chromophore Anions. J Phys Chem Lett 2023:6395-6401. [PMID: 37428615 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c01452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
By time-resolved action spectroscopy of cryogenically cooled molecular ions, we have achieved a remarkable vibrational resolution in the photoresponse of the deprotonated green fluorescent protein (GFP) chromophore, a key molecular unit in the bioimaging of living cells. We define four characteristic spectral regions of the S0-S1 band with competing electronic and nuclear decay channels. We determine the energy barrier toward internal conversion to be ∼250 cm-1. This inhibits internal conversion and hence statistical fragmentation near the S0-S1 band origin, which is identified at 481.51 ± 0.15 nm (20768 ± 6 cm-1). The origin is red-shifted by only 221 cm-1 compared to that of wild-type GFP at 77 K. This, together with a striking agreement between the vibronic profiles of the protein and its chromophore, suggests their similar photophysics. In combination with theory, the data reveal the coexistence of mutually energy-borrowing mechanisms between nuclei and electrons mediated by specific vibrational modes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars H Andersen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Anne P Rasmussen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Henrik B Pedersen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Oleg B Beletsan
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
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Aslopovsky VR, Scherbinin AV, Kleshchina NN, Bochenkova AV. Impact of the Protein Environment on Two-Photon Absorption Cross-Sections of the GFP Chromophore Anion Resolved at the XMCQDPT2 Level of Theory. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11266. [PMID: 37511026 PMCID: PMC10379633 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The search for fluorescent proteins with large two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections and improved brightness is required for their efficient use in bioimaging. Here, we explored the impact of a single-point mutation close to the anionic form of the GFP chromophore on its TPA activity. We considered the lowest-energy transition of EGFP and its modification EGFP T203I. We focused on a methodology for obtaining reliable TPA cross-sections for mutated proteins, based on conformational sampling using molecular dynamics simulations and a high-level XMCQDPT2-based QM/MM approach. We also studied the numerical convergence of the sum-over-states formalism and provide direct evidence for the applicability of the two-level model for calculating TPA cross-sections in EGFP. The calculated values were found to be very sensitive to changes in the permanent dipole moments between the ground and excited states and highly tunable by internal electric field of the protein environment. In the case of the GFP chromophore anion, even a single hydrogen bond was shown to be capable of drastically increasing the TPA cross-section. Such high tunability of the nonlinear photophysical properties of the chromophore anions can be used for the rational design of brighter fluorescent proteins for bioimaging using two-photon laser scanning microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladislav R Aslopovsky
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrei V Scherbinin
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Nadezhda N Kleshchina
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasia V Bochenkova
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
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Evans DCS, Khamas AB, Marcussen L, Rasmussen KS, Klitgaard JK, Kallipolitis BH, Nielsen J, Otzen DE, Leake MC, Meyer RL. GFP fusions of Sec-routed extracellular proteins in Staphylococcus aureus reveal surface-associated coagulase in biofilms. MICROBIAL CELL (GRAZ, AUSTRIA) 2023; 10:145-156. [PMID: 37395997 PMCID: PMC10311078 DOI: 10.15698/mic2023.07.800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen that utilises many surface-associated and secreted proteins to form biofilms and cause disease. However, our understanding of these processes is limited by challenges of using fluorescent protein reporters in their native environment, because they must be exported and fold correctly to become fluorescent. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of using the monomeric superfolder GFP (msfGFP) exported from S. aureus. By fusing msfGFP to signal peptides for the Secretory (Sec) and Twin Arginine Translocation (Tat) pathways, the two major secretion pathways in S. aureus, we quantified msfGFP fluorescence in bacterial cultures and cell-free supernatant from the cultures. When fused to a Tat signal peptide, we detected msfGFP fluorescence inside but not outside bacterial cells, indicating a failure to export msfGFP. However, when fused to a Sec signal peptide, msfGFP fluorescence was present outside cells, indicating successful export of the msfGFP in the unfolded state, followed by extracellular folding and maturation to the photoactive state. We applied this strategy to study coagulase (Coa), a secreted protein and a major contributor to the formation of a fibrin network in S. aureus biofilms that protects bacteria from the host immune system and increases attachment to host surfaces. We confirmed that a genomically integrated C-terminal fusion of Coa to msfGFP does not impair the activity of Coa or its localisation within the biofilm matrix. Our findings demonstrate that msfGFP is a good candidate fluorescent reporter to consider when studying proteins secreted by the Sec pathway in S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique C. S. Evans
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Physics, University of York, York, UK
| | - Amanda B. Khamas
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lisbeth Marcussen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kristian S. Rasmussen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Janne K. Klitgaard
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Birgitte H. Kallipolitis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Janni Nielsen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Daniel E. Otzen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mark C. Leake
- Department of Physics, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Rikke L. Meyer
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Hargreaves R, Duwé S, Rozario AM, Funston AM, Tabor RF, Dedecker P, Whelan DR, Bell TDM. Live-Cell SOFI Correlation with SMLM and AFM Imaging. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2023; 3:261-269. [PMID: 37363082 PMCID: PMC10288496 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.2c00086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Standard optical imaging is diffraction-limited and lacks the resolving power to visualize many of the organelles and proteins found within the cell. The advent of super-resolution techniques overcame this barrier, enabling observation of subcellular structures down to tens of nanometers in size; however these techniques require or are typically applied to fixed samples. This raises the question of how well a fixed-cell image represents the system prior to fixation. Here we present the addition of live-cell Super-Resolution Optical Fluctuation Imaging (SOFI) to a previously reported correlative process using Single Molecule Localization Microscopy (SMLM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). SOFI was used with fluorescent proteins and low laser power to observe cellular ultrastructure in live COS-7 cells. SOFI-SMLM-AFM of microtubules showed minimal changes to the microtubule network in the 20 min between live-cell SOFI and fixation. Microtubule diameters were also analyzed through all microscopies; SOFI found diameters of 249 ± 68 nm and SMLM was 71 ± 33 nm. AFM height measurements found microtubules to protrude 26 ± 13 nm above the surrounding cellular material. The correlation of SMLM and AFM was extended to two-color SMLM to image both microtubules and actin. Two target SOFI was performed with various fluorescent protein combinations. rsGreen1-rsKAME, rsGreen1-Dronpa, and ffDronpaF-rsKAME fluorescent protein combinations were determined to be suitable for two target SOFI imaging. This correlative application of super-resolution live-cell and fixed-cell imaging revealed minimal artifacts created for the imaged target structures through the sample preparation procedure and emphasizes the power of correlative microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sam Duwé
- Advanced
Optical Microscopy Centre, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek 3590, Belgium
| | - Ashley M. Rozario
- Department
of Rural Clinical Sciences, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bendigo 3552, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alison M. Funston
- School
of Chemistry, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
- ARC
Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Rico F. Tabor
- School
of Chemistry, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Peter Dedecker
- Department
of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium
| | - Donna R. Whelan
- Department
of Rural Clinical Sciences, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bendigo 3552, Victoria, Australia
| | - Toby D. M. Bell
- School
of Chemistry, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
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46
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Kakasi B, Gácsi E, Jankovics H, Vonderviszt F. Extreme thermal stability of the antiGFP nanobody - GFP complex. BMC Res Notes 2023; 16:110. [PMID: 37340471 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-023-06382-3] [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: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its derivatives are widely used in biomedical research. The manipulation of GFP-tagged proteins by GFP-specific binders, e.g. single-domain antibodies (nanobodies), is of increasing significance. It is therefore important to better understand the properties of antiGFP-GFP interaction in order to establish methodological applications. In this work the interaction of superfolder GFP (sfGFP) and its enhancer nanobody (aGFPenh) was characterized further. RESULTS Previous calorimetric experiments demonstrated that the aGFPenh nanobody binds strongly to sfGFP with a nanomolar affinity. Here we show that this interaction results in a substantial structural stabilization of aGFPenh reflected in a significant increase of its melting temperature by almost 30 °C. The thermal stability of the sfGFP-aGFPenh complex is close to 85 °C in the pH range 7.0-8.5. For therapeutic applications thermoresistance is often an essential factor. Our results suggest that methodologies based on GFP-aGFP interaction can be applied under a wide range of physicochemical conditions. The aGFPenh nanobody seems to be suitable for manipulating sfGFP-labeled targets even in extreme thermophilic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Kakasi
- Bio-Nanosystems Laboratory, Research Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Eszter Gácsi
- Bio-Nanosystems Laboratory, Research Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Hajnalka Jankovics
- Bio-Nanosystems Laboratory, Research Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Vonderviszt
- Bio-Nanosystems Laboratory, Research Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary.
- Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science, Centre for Energy Research, Budapest, Hungary.
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47
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Perfilov MM, Zaitseva ER, Baleeva NS, Kublitski VS, Smirnov AY, Bogdanova YA, Krasnova SA, Myasnyanko IN, Mishin AS, Baranov MS. Meta-CF 3-Substituted Analogues of the GFP Chromophore with Remarkable Solvatochromism. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9923. [PMID: 37373071 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24129923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In this work, we have shown that the introduction of a trifluoromethyl group into the me-ta-position of arylidene imidazolones (GFP chromophore core) leads to a dramatic increase in their fluorescence in nonpolar and aprotic media. The presence of a pronounced solvent-dependent gradation of fluorescence intensity makes it possible to use these substances as fluorescent polarity sensors. In particular, we showed that one of the created compounds could be used for selective labeling of the endoplasmic reticulum of living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim M Perfilov
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Elvira R Zaitseva
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Nadezhda S Baleeva
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia
- Laboratory of Medicinal Substances Chemistry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovitianov 1, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Vadim S Kublitski
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Alexander Yu Smirnov
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia
- Laboratory of Medicinal Substances Chemistry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovitianov 1, Moscow 117997, Russia
- Center of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Bolshoi Blvd. 30, Bld. 1, Moscow 121205, Russia
| | - Yulia A Bogdanova
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Svetlana A Krasnova
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Ivan N Myasnyanko
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia
- Laboratory of Medicinal Substances Chemistry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovitianov 1, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Alexander S Mishin
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Mikhail S Baranov
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia
- Laboratory of Medicinal Substances Chemistry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovitianov 1, Moscow 117997, Russia
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48
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Liu D, Pan L, Zhai H, Qiu HJ, Sun Y. Virus tracking technologies and their applications in viral life cycle: research advances and future perspectives. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1204730. [PMID: 37334362 PMCID: PMC10272434 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1204730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses are simple yet highly pathogenic microorganisms that parasitize within cells and pose serious threats to the health, economic development, and social stability of both humans and animals. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the dynamic mechanism of virus infection in hosts. One effective way to achieve this is through virus tracking technology, which utilizes fluorescence imaging to track the life processes of virus particles in living cells in real-time, providing a comprehensively and detailed spatiotemporal dynamic process and mechanism of virus infection. This paper provides a broad overview of virus tracking technology, including the selection of fluorescent labels and virus labeling components, the development of imaging microscopes, and its applications in various virus studies. Additionally, we discuss the possibilities and challenges of its future development, offering theoretical guidance and technical support for effective prevention and control of the viral disease outbreaks and epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hua-Ji Qiu
- *Correspondence: Hua-Ji Qiu, ; Yuan Sun,
| | - Yuan Sun
- *Correspondence: Hua-Ji Qiu, ; Yuan Sun,
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49
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Vyunisheva SA, Myslivets SA, Davletshin NN, Eremeeva EV, Vysotski ES, Pavlov IN, Vyunishev AM. Intracavity enhancement of GFP fluorescence induced by femtosecond laser pulses. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2023; 300:122885. [PMID: 37247552 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2023.122885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The phenomenon of fluorescence is widely used in molecular biology for studying the interaction of light with biological objects. In this article, we present an experimental investigation of the enhancement of laser-induced fluorescence of Clytia gregaria green fluorescent protein. The laser-induced fluorescence method applied in our work combines the advantages of femtosecond laser pulses and a photonic crystal cavity, with the time dependence of the fluorescence signal studied. It is shown that a green fluorescent protein solution placed in a microcavity and excited by femtosecond laser pulses leads to an increase in fluorescence on the microcavity modes, which can be estimated by two orders of magnitude. The dependences of fluorescence signal saturation on the average integrated optical pump power are demonstrated and analyzed. The results obtained are of interest for the development of potential applications of biophotonics and extension of convenient methods of laser-induced fluorescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofiya A Vyunisheva
- Kirensky Institute of Physics, Federal Research Center KSC SB RAS, Akademgorodok 50, Bldg. 38, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russia; Sukachev Institute of Forest, Federal Research Center KSC SB RAS, Akademgorodok 50, Bldg. 28, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russia.
| | - Sergey A Myslivets
- Kirensky Institute of Physics, Federal Research Center KSC SB RAS, Akademgorodok 50, Bldg. 38, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russia; Institute of Engineering Physics and Radio Electronics, Siberian Federal University, Academician Kirensky Str. 26, Krasnoyarsk, 660074, Russia.
| | - Nikolay N Davletshin
- Kirensky Institute of Physics, Federal Research Center KSC SB RAS, Akademgorodok 50, Bldg. 38, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russia; Institute of Engineering Physics and Radio Electronics, Siberian Federal University, Academician Kirensky Str. 26, Krasnoyarsk, 660074, Russia.
| | - Elena V Eremeeva
- Institute of Biophysics, Federal Research Center KSC SB RAS, Akademgorodok 50, Bldg. 50, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russia.
| | - Eugene S Vysotski
- Institute of Biophysics, Federal Research Center KSC SB RAS, Akademgorodok 50, Bldg. 50, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russia.
| | - Igor N Pavlov
- Sukachev Institute of Forest, Federal Research Center KSC SB RAS, Akademgorodok 50, Bldg. 28, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russia; Department of Chemical Technology of Wood and Biotechnology, Reshetnev Siberian State University of Science and Technology, Mira Ave. 82, Krasnoyarsk, 660049, Russia.
| | - Andrey M Vyunishev
- Kirensky Institute of Physics, Federal Research Center KSC SB RAS, Akademgorodok 50, Bldg. 38, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russia; Institute of Engineering Physics and Radio Electronics, Siberian Federal University, Academician Kirensky Str. 26, Krasnoyarsk, 660074, Russia.
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50
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Barhoum A, Sadak O, Ramirez IA, Iverson N. Stimuli-bioresponsive hydrogels as new generation materials for implantable, wearable, and disposable biosensors for medical diagnostics: Principles, opportunities, and challenges. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 317:102920. [PMID: 37207377 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2023.102920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogels are excellent water-swollen polymeric materials for use in wearable, implantable, and disposable biosensors. Hydrogels have unique properties such as low cost, ease of preparation, transparency, rapid response to external conditions, biocompatibility and self-adhesion to the skin, flexibility, and strain sensitivity, making them ideal for use in biosensor platforms. This review provides a detailed overview of advanced applications of stimuli-responsive hydrogels in biosensor platforms, from hydrogel synthesis and functionalization for bioreceptor immobilization to several important diagnostic applications. Emphasis is placed on recent advances in the fabrication of ultrasensitive fluorescent and electrically conductive hydrogels and their applications in wearable, implantable, and disposable biosensors for quantitative measurements. Design, modification, and assembly techniques of fluorescent, ionically conductive, and electrically conductive hydrogels to improve performance will be addressed. The advantages and performance improvements of immobilizing bioreceptors (e.g., antibodies, enzymes, and aptamers), and incorporating fluorescent and electrically conductive nanomaterials are described, as are their limitations. Potential applications of hydrogels in implantable, wearable, disposable portable biosensors for quantitative detection of the various bioanalytes (ions, molecules, drugs, proteins, and biomarkers) are discussed. Finally, the global market for hydrogel-based biosensors and future challenges and prospects are discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Barhoum
- NanoStruc Research Group, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt; National Center for Sensor Research, School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin 9 D09 Y074, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Omer Sadak
- Biological Systems Engineering Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA; Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Ardahan University, Ardahan, Turkey
| | - Ivon Acosta Ramirez
- Biological Systems Engineering Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Nicole Iverson
- Biological Systems Engineering Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
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