1
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Luyben TT, Rai J, Zhou B, Li H, Okamoto K. Two-Photon FRET/FLIM Imaging of Cerebral Neurons. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2794:33-43. [PMID: 38630218 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3810-1_4] [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: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Two-photon FRET (Förster resonance energy transfer) and FLIM (fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy) enable the detection of FRET changes of fluorescence reporters in deep brain tissues, which provide a valuable approach for monitoring target molecular dynamics and functions. Here, we describe two-photon FRET and FLIM imaging techniques that allow us to visualize endogenous and optogenetically induced cAMP dynamics in living neurons with genetically engineered FRET-based cAMP reporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas T Luyben
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jayant Rai
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bingyue Zhou
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hang Li
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kenichi Okamoto
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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2
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Sheng J, Zhang S, Wu L, Kumar G, Liao Y, GK P, Fan H. Inhibition of phosphodiesterase: A novel therapeutic target for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1019187. [PMID: 36268188 PMCID: PMC9577554 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1019187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and is ranked as the 6th leading cause of death in the US. The prevalence of AD and dementia is steadily increasing and expected cases in USA is 14.8 million by 2050. Neuroinflammation and gradual neurodegeneration occurs in Alzheimer's disease. However, existing medications has limitation to completely abolish, delay, or prevent disease progression. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are large family of enzymes to hydrolyze the 3'-phosphodiester links in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in signal-transduction pathways for generation of 5'-cyclic nucleotides. It plays vital role to orchestrate several pharmacological activities for proper cell functioning and regulating the levels of cAMP and cGMP. Several evidence has suggested that abnormal cAMP signaling is linked to cognitive problems in neurodegenerative disorders like AD. Therefore, the PDE family has become a widely accepted and multipotential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases. Notably, modulation of cAMP/cGMP by phytonutrients has a huge potential for the management of AD. Natural compounds have been known to inhibit phosphodiesterase by targeting key enzymes of cGMP synthesis pathway, however, the mechanism of action and their therapeutic efficacy has not been explored extensively. Currently, few PDE inhibitors such as Vinpocetine and Nicergoline have been used for treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Considering the role of flavonoids to inhibit PDE, this review discussed the therapeutic potential of natural compounds with PDE inhibitory activity for the treatment of AD and related dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianwen Sheng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The People’s Hospital of Yichun City, Yichun, China
| | - Shanjin Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The People’s Hospital of Yichun City, Yichun, China
| | - Lule Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The People’s Hospital of Yichun City, Yichun, China
| | - Gajendra Kumar
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yuanhang Liao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The People’s Hospital of Yichun City, Yichun, China
| | - Pratap GK
- Department of Biochemistry, Davangere University, Davangere, India
| | - Huizhen Fan
- Department of Gastroenterology, The People’s Hospital of Yichun City, Yichun, China
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3
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Feil R, Lehners M, Stehle D, Feil S. Visualising and understanding cGMP signals in the cardiovascular system. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 179:2394-2412. [PMID: 33880767 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
cGMP is an important signalling molecule in humans. Fluorescent cGMP biosensors have emerged as powerful tools for the sensitive analysis of cGMP pathways at the single-cell level. Here, we briefly outline cGMP's multifaceted role in (patho)physiology and pharmacotherapy. Then we summarise what new insights cGMP imaging has provided into endogenous cGMP signalling and drug action, with a focus on the cardiovascular system. Indeed, the use of cGMP biosensors has led to several conceptual advances, such as the discovery of local, intercellular and mechanosensitive cGMP signals. Importantly, single-cell imaging can provide valuable information about the heterogeneity of cGMP signals within and between individual cells of an isolated cell population or tissue. We also discuss current challenges and future directions of cGMP imaging, such as the direct visualisation of cGMP microdomains, simultaneous monitoring of cGMP and other signalling molecules and, ultimately, cGMP imaging in tissues and animals under close-to-native conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Feil
- Interfakultäres Institut für Biochemie, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Moritz Lehners
- Interfakultäres Institut für Biochemie, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Daniel Stehle
- Interfakultäres Institut für Biochemie, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Feil
- Interfakultäres Institut für Biochemie, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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4
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Tian Y, Yang S, Gao S. Advances, Perspectives and Potential Engineering Strategies of Light-Gated Phosphodiesterases for Optogenetic Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7544. [PMID: 33066112 PMCID: PMC7590022 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The second messengers, cyclic adenosine 3'-5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine 3'-5'-monophosphate (cGMP), play important roles in many animal cells by regulating intracellular signaling pathways and modulating cell physiology. Environmental cues like temperature, light, and chemical compounds can stimulate cell surface receptors and trigger the generation of second messengers and the following regulations. The spread of cAMP and cGMP is further shaped by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) for orchestration of intracellular microdomain signaling. However, localized intracellular cAMP and cGMP signaling requires further investigation. Optogenetic manipulation of cAMP and cGMP offers new opportunities for spatio-temporally precise study of their signaling mechanism. Light-gated nucleotide cyclases are well developed and applied for cAMP/cGMP manipulation. Recently discovered rhodopsin phosphodiesterase genes from protists established a new and direct biological connection between light and PDEs. Light-regulated PDEs are under development, and of demand to complete the toolkit for cAMP/cGMP manipulation. In this review, we summarize the state of the art, pros and cons of artificial and natural light-regulated PDEs, and discuss potential new strategies of developing light-gated PDEs for optogenetic manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shiqiang Gao
- Department of Neurophysiology, Physiological Institute, University of Wuerzburg, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany; (Y.T.); (S.Y.)
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5
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Yilmaz LS, Li X, Nanda S, Fox B, Schroeder F, Walhout AJ. Modeling tissue-relevant Caenorhabditis elegans metabolism at network, pathway, reaction, and metabolite levels. Mol Syst Biol 2020; 16:e9649. [PMID: 33022146 PMCID: PMC7537831 DOI: 10.15252/msb.20209649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolism is a highly compartmentalized process that provides building blocks for biomass generation during development, homeostasis, and wound healing, and energy to support cellular and organismal processes. In metazoans, different cells and tissues specialize in different aspects of metabolism. However, studying the compartmentalization of metabolism in different cell types in a whole animal and for a particular stage of life is difficult. Here, we present MEtabolic models Reconciled with Gene Expression (MERGE), a computational pipeline that we used to predict tissue-relevant metabolic function at the network, pathway, reaction, and metabolite levels based on single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Our analysis recapitulated known tissue functions in C. elegans, captured metabolic properties that are shared with similar tissues in human, and provided predictions for novel metabolic functions. MERGE is versatile and applicable to other systems. We envision this work as a starting point for the development of metabolic network models for individual cells as scRNA-seq continues to provide higher-resolution gene expression data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lutfu Safak Yilmaz
- Program in Systems Biology, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Xuhang Li
- Program in Systems Biology, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Shivani Nanda
- Program in Systems Biology, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Bennett Fox
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Frank Schroeder
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Albertha Jm Walhout
- Program in Systems Biology, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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6
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Gorshkov K, Pradhan M, Xu M, Yang S, Lee EM, Chen CZ, Shen M, Zheng W. Cell-Based No-Wash Fluorescence Assays for Compound Screens Using a Fluorescence Cytometry Plate Reader. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2020; 374:500-511. [PMID: 32532853 PMCID: PMC7495342 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.120.265207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
High-throughput cell-based fluorescent imaging assays often require removal of background fluorescent signal to obtain robust measurements. Processing high-density microplates to remove background signal is challenging because of equipment requirements and increasing variation after multiple plate wash steps. Here, we present the development of a wash-free cell-based fluorescence assay method for high-throughput screening using a laser scanning fluorescence plate cytometer. The cytometry data consisted of cell count and fluorescent intensity measurements for phenotypic screening. We obtained robust screening results by applying this assay methodology to the lysosomal storage disease Niemann-Pick disease type A. We further demonstrated that this cytometry method can be applied to the detection of cholesterol in Niemann-Pick disease type C. Lastly, we used the Mirrorball method to obtain preliminary results for the detection of Zika and Dengue viral envelope protein. The advantages of this assay format include 1) no plate washing, 2) 4-fold faster plate scan and analysis time, 3) high throughput, and 4) >10-fold smaller direct data files. In contrast, traditional imaging assays require multiple plate washes to remove the background signal, long plate scan and data analysis times, and large data files. Therefore, this versatile and broadly applicable Mirrorball-based method greatly improves the throughput and data quality of image-based screening by increasing sensitivity and efficiency while reducing assay artifacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirill Gorshkov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Manisha Pradhan
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Miao Xu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Shu Yang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Emily M Lee
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Catherine Z Chen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Min Shen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Wei Zheng
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
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7
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Kelly MP, Heckman PRA, Havekes R. Genetic manipulation of cyclic nucleotide signaling during hippocampal neuroplasticity and memory formation. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 190:101799. [PMID: 32360536 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Decades of research have underscored the importance of cyclic nucleotide signaling in memory formation and synaptic plasticity. In recent years, several new genetic techniques have expanded the neuroscience toolbox, allowing researchers to measure and modulate cyclic nucleotide gradients with high spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we will provide an overview of studies using genetic approaches to interrogate the role cyclic nucleotide signaling plays in hippocampus-dependent memory processes and synaptic plasticity. Particular attention is given to genetic techniques that measure real-time changes in cyclic nucleotide levels as well as newly-developed genetic strategies to transiently manipulate cyclic nucleotide signaling in a subcellular compartment-specific manner with high temporal resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michy P Kelly
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, 6439 Garners Ferry Rd, VA Bldg1, 3(rd) Fl, D-12, Columbia, 29209, SC, USA.
| | - Pim R A Heckman
- Neurobiology Expertise Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Robbert Havekes
- Neurobiology Expertise Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
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8
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Calamera G, Li D, Ulsund AH, Kim JJ, Neely OC, Moltzau LR, Bjørnerem M, Paterson D, Kim C, Levy FO, Andressen KW. FRET-based cyclic GMP biosensors measure low cGMP concentrations in cardiomyocytes and neurons. Commun Biol 2019; 2:394. [PMID: 31701023 PMCID: PMC6820734 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0641-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Several FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer)-based biosensors for intracellular detection of cyclic nucleotides have been designed in the past decade. However, few such biosensors are available for cGMP, and even fewer that detect low nanomolar cGMP concentrations. Our aim was to develop a FRET-based cGMP biosensor with high affinity for cGMP as a tool for intracellular signaling studies. We used the carboxyl-terminal cyclic nucleotide binding domain of Plasmodium falciparum cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) flanked by different FRET pairs to generate two cGMP biosensors (Yellow PfPKG and Red PfPKG). Here, we report that these cGMP biosensors display high affinity for cGMP (EC50 of 23 ± 3 nM) and detect cGMP produced through soluble guanylyl cyclase and guanylyl cyclase A in stellate ganglion neurons and guanylyl cyclase B in cardiomyocytes. These biosensors are therefore optimal tools for real-time measurements of low concentrations of cGMP in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Calamera
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Center for Heart Failure Research, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrea Hembre Ulsund
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Center for Heart Failure Research, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jeong Joo Kim
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Oliver C. Neely
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Lise Román Moltzau
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Center for Heart Failure Research, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marianne Bjørnerem
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Center for Heart Failure Research, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - David Paterson
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Choel Kim
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Finn Olav Levy
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Center for Heart Failure Research, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kjetil Wessel Andressen
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Center for Heart Failure Research, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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9
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cAMP/PKA signaling compartmentalization in cardiomyocytes: Lessons from FRET-based biosensors. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2019; 131:112-121. [PMID: 31028775 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2019.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a ubiquitous second messenger produced in response to the stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). It regulates a plethora of pathophysiological processes in different organs, including the cardiovascular system. It is now clear that cAMP is not uniformly distributed within cardiac myocytes but confined in specific subcellular compartments where it modulates key players of the excitation-contraction coupling as well as other processes including gene transcription, mitochondrial homeostasis and cell death. This review will cover the major cAMP microdomains in cardiac myocytes. We will describe recent work using pioneering tools developed for investigating the organization and the function of the major cAMP microdomains in cardiomyocytes, including the plasma membrane, the sarcoplasmic reticulum, the myofilaments, the nucleus and the mitochondria.
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10
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Garthwaite J. NO as a multimodal transmitter in the brain: discovery and current status. Br J Pharmacol 2019; 176:197-211. [PMID: 30399649 PMCID: PMC6295412 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
NO operates throughout the brain as an intercellular messenger, initiating its varied physiological effects by activating specialized GC-coupled receptors, resulting in the formation of cGMP. In line with the widespread expression of this pathway, NO participates in numerous different brain functions. This review gives an account of the discovery of NO as a signalling molecule in the brain, experiments that originated in the search for a mysterious cGMP-stimulating factor released from central neurones when their NMDA receptors were stimulated, and summarizes the subsequent key steps that helped establish its status as a central transmitter. Currently, various modes of operation are viewed to underlie its diverse behaviour, ranging from very local signalling between synaptic partners (in the orthograde or retrograde directions) to a volume-type transmission whereby NO synthesized by multiple synchronous sources summate spatially and temporally to influence intermingled neuronal or non-neuronal cells, irrespective of anatomical connectivity. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed section on Nitric Oxide 20 Years from the 1998 Nobel Prize. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v176.2/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Garthwaite
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical ResearchUniversity College LondonLondonUK
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11
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Optogenetic Tools for Subcellular Applications in Neuroscience. Neuron 2017; 96:572-603. [PMID: 29096074 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.09.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 216] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Revised: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The ability to study cellular physiology using photosensitive, genetically encoded molecules has profoundly transformed neuroscience. The modern optogenetic toolbox includes fluorescent sensors to visualize signaling events in living cells and optogenetic actuators enabling manipulation of numerous cellular activities. Most optogenetic tools are not targeted to specific subcellular compartments but are localized with limited discrimination throughout the cell. Therefore, optogenetic activation often does not reflect context-dependent effects of highly localized intracellular signaling events. Subcellular targeting is required to achieve more specific optogenetic readouts and photomanipulation. Here we first provide a detailed overview of the available optogenetic tools with a focus on optogenetic actuators. Second, we review established strategies for targeting these tools to specific subcellular compartments. Finally, we discuss useful tools and targeting strategies that are currently missing from the optogenetics repertoire and provide suggestions for novel subcellular optogenetic applications.
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12
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Blackiston DJ, Vien K, Levin M. Serotonergic stimulation induces nerve growth and promotes visual learning via posterior eye grafts in a vertebrate model of induced sensory plasticity. NPJ Regen Med 2017; 2:8. [PMID: 29302344 PMCID: PMC5665622 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-017-0012-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Revised: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The major goal of regenerative medicine is to repair damaged tissues and organ systems, thereby restoring their native functions in the host. Control of innervation by re-grown or implanted structures, and integration of the nascent nerves into behavioral/cognitive programs of the host, remains a critical barrier. In the case of sensory organs, this is particularly true, as afferent neurons must form connections with the host to communicate auditory, visual, and tactile information. Xenopus embryos and tadpoles are powerful models for such studies, as grafting techniques allow for the creation of eyes and other sensory structures along the body axis, and the behavior of the resulting organism can be quantitatively analyzed. Previous work has demonstrated that ectopic eyes could be grafted in blinded tadpoles, allowing some of the animals to learn in a simple light-preference assay. Here, we show that it is possible to improve the efficiency of the process in the context of a novel image-forming vision assay, using a drug already approved for human use. Innervation of the host by ectopic eyes can be increased by targeting a serotonergic signaling mechanism: grafts treated with a 5-HT1B/D agonist strongly innervate the recipient compared with untreated grafts, without large-scale disruption of the host nervous system. Blind animals possessing eye grafts with the augmented innervation demonstrate increased performance over untreated siblings in wavelength-based learning assays. Furthermore, treated animals also exhibit enhanced visual pattern recognition, suggesting that the increased innervation in response to 5-HT1B/D activation leads to enhanced functional integration of the ectopic organ with the host central nervous system and behavioral programs. These data establish a model system and reveal a new roadmap using small molecule neurotransmitter drugs to augment innervation, integration, and function of transplanted heterologous organs in regenerative medicine. A migraine drug that modulates neurotransmitter signaling can boost the neural connections of eyes grafted onto tadpoles to enhance vision. Michael Levin and colleagues from Tufts University in Medford, MA, USA, built on previous work from their lab showing that eyes could be attached along the body axis of blind tadpoles, allowing the developing frogs to distinguish between light and dark. Following the surgery, the researchers have now added the drug zolmitriptan, an activator of serotonin receptors, and the tadpoles formed many more neural connections that sprouted from their ectopic eyes. These animals performed better in visual-learning and pattern-movement tests than control tadpoles that did not get the drug. The findings suggest that drugs used to treat neurological and psychiatric diseases could be repurposed to augment the innervation, integration, and function of organs transplanted in regenerative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas J Blackiston
- Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Suite 4600, Medford, MA 02155 USA
| | - Khanh Vien
- Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Suite 4600, Medford, MA 02155 USA
| | - Michael Levin
- Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Suite 4600, Medford, MA 02155 USA
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13
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Sharma S, Visweswariah SS. Illuminating Cyclic Nucleotides: Sensors for cAMP and cGMP and Their Application in Live Cell Imaging. J Indian Inst Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s41745-016-0014-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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14
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Gorshkov K, Mehta S, Ramamurthy S, Ronnett GV, Zhou FQ, Zhang J. AKAP-mediated feedback control of cAMP gradients in developing hippocampal neurons. Nat Chem Biol 2017; 13:425-431. [PMID: 28192412 PMCID: PMC5362298 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.2298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic AMP (cAMP) and protein kinase A (PKA), classical examples of spatially compartmentalized signaling molecules, are critical axon determinants that regulate neuronal polarity and axon formation, yet little is known about micro-compartmentalization of cAMP and PKA signaling and its role in developing neurons. Here, we revealed that cAMP forms a gradient in developing hippocampal neurons, with higher cAMP levels in more distal regions of the axon compared to other regions of the cell. Interestingly, this cAMP gradient changed according to the developmental stage and depended on proper anchoring of PKA by A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs). Disrupting PKA anchoring to AKAPs increased the cAMP gradient in early-stage neurons and led to enhanced axon elongation. Our results provide new evidence for a local negative feedback loop, assembled by AKAPs, for the precise control of a growth-stage-dependent cAMP gradient to ensure proper axon growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirill Gorshkov
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Sohum Mehta
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Santosh Ramamurthy
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Gabriele V Ronnett
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Departments of Neurology and Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Feng-Quan Zhou
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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Miazzi F, Hansson BS, Wicher D. Odor-induced cAMP production in Drosophila melanogaster olfactory sensory neurons. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 219:1798-803. [PMID: 27045092 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.137901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Insect odorant receptors are seven transmembrane domain proteins that form cation channels, whose functional properties such as receptor sensitivity are subject to regulation by intracellular signaling cascades. Here, we used the cAMP fluorescent indicator Epac1-camps to investigate the occurrence of odor-induced cAMP production in olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) of Drosophila melanogaster We show that stimulation of the receptor complex with an odor mixture or with the synthetic agonist VUAA1 induces a cAMP response. Moreover, we show that while the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration influences cAMP production, the OSN-specific receptor OrX is necessary to elicit cAMP responses in Ca(2+)-free conditions. These results provide direct evidence of a relationship between odorant receptor stimulation and cAMP production in olfactory sensory neurons in the fruit fly antenna and show that this method can be used to further investigate the role that this second messenger plays in insect olfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Miazzi
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Hans-Knöll-Str. 8, Jena D-07745, Germany
| | - Bill S Hansson
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Hans-Knöll-Str. 8, Jena D-07745, Germany
| | - Dieter Wicher
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Hans-Knöll-Str. 8, Jena D-07745, Germany
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16
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Garthwaite J. From synaptically localized to volume transmission by nitric oxide. J Physiol 2015; 594:9-18. [PMID: 26486504 DOI: 10.1113/jp270297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) functions widely as a transmitter/diffusible second messenger in the central nervous system, exerting physiological effects in target cells by binding to specialized guanylyl cyclase-coupled receptors, resulting in cGMP generation. Despite having many context-dependent physiological roles and being implicated in numerous disease states, there has been a lack of clarity about the ways that NO operates at the cellular and subcellular levels. Recently, several approaches have been used to try to gain a more concrete, quantitative understanding of this unique signalling pathway. These approaches have included analysing the kinetics of NO receptor function, real-time imaging of cellular NO signal transduction in target cells, and the use of ultrasensitive detector cells to record NO as it is being generated from native sources in brain tissue. The current picture is that, when formed in a synapse, NO is likely to act only very locally, probably mostly within the confines of that synapse, and to exist only in picomolar concentrations. Nevertheless, closely neighbouring synapses may also be within reach, raising the possibility of synaptic crosstalk. By engaging its enzyme-coupled receptors, the low NO concentrations are able to stimulate physiological (submicromolar) increases in cGMP concentration in an activity-dependent manner. When many NO-emitting neurones or synapses are active simultaneously in a tissue region, NO can act more like a volume transmitter to influence, and perhaps coordinate, the behaviour of cells within that region, irrespective of their identity and anatomical connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Garthwaite
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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17
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Paramonov VM, Mamaeva V, Sahlgren C, Rivero-Müller A. Genetically-encoded tools for cAMP probing and modulation in living systems. Front Pharmacol 2015; 6:196. [PMID: 26441653 PMCID: PMC4569861 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular 3′-5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is one of the principal second messengers downstream of a manifold of signal transduction pathways, including the ones triggered by G protein-coupled receptors. Not surprisingly, biochemical assays for cAMP have been instrumental for basic research and drug discovery for decades, providing insights into cellular physiology and guiding pharmaceutical industry. However, despite impressive track record, the majority of conventional biochemical tools for cAMP probing share the same fundamental shortcoming—all the measurements require sample disruption for cAMP liberation. This common bottleneck, together with inherently low spatial resolution of measurements (as cAMP is typically analyzed in lysates of thousands of cells), underpin the ensuing limitations of the conventional cAMP assays: (1) genuine kinetic measurements of cAMP levels over time in a single given sample are unfeasible; (2) inability to obtain precise information on cAMP spatial distribution and transfer at subcellular levels, let alone the attempts to pinpoint dynamic interactions of cAMP and its effectors. At the same time, tremendous progress in synthetic biology over the recent years culminated in drastic refinement of our toolbox, allowing us not only to bypass the limitations of conventional assays, but to put intracellular cAMP life-span under tight control—something, that seemed scarcely attainable before. In this review article we discuss the main classes of modern genetically-encoded tools tailored for cAMP probing and modulation in living systems. We examine the capabilities and weaknesses of these different tools in the context of their operational characteristics and applicability to various experimental set-ups involving living cells, providing the guidance for rational selection of the best tools for particular needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeriy M Paramonov
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku , Turku, Finland ; Turku Center for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University , Turku, Finland
| | - Veronika Mamaeva
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen , Bergen, Norway
| | - Cecilia Sahlgren
- Turku Center for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University , Turku, Finland ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology , Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Adolfo Rivero-Müller
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku , Turku, Finland ; Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Åbo Akademi University , Turku, Finland ; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin , Lublin, Poland
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18
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Vincent P, Spitzer NC. Editorial: Dynamics of cyclic nucleotide signaling in neurons. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:296. [PMID: 26283926 PMCID: PMC4522550 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Vincent
- Biological Adaptation and Ageing, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8256 Paris, France ; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UMR 8256 Paris, France
| | - Nicholas C Spitzer
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences & Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, University of California San Diego La Jolla, CA, USA
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