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Mitin D, Bullinger F, Dobrynin S, Engelmann J, Scheffler K, Kolokolov M, Krumkacheva O, Buckenmaier K, Kirilyuk I, Chubarov A. Contrast Agents Based on Human Serum Albumin and Nitroxides for 1H-MRI and Overhauser-Enhanced MRI. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4041. [PMID: 38612851 PMCID: PMC11012161 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25074041] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
In cancer diagnostics, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses contrast agents to enhance the distinction between the target tissue and background. Several promising approaches have been developed to increase MRI sensitivity, one of which is Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization (ODNP)-enhanced MRI (OMRI). In this study, a macromolecular construct based on human serum albumin and nitroxyl radicals (HSA-NIT) was developed using a new synthesis method that significantly increased the modification to 21 nitroxide residues per protein. This was confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI ToF) mass spectrometry. Gel electrophoresis and circular dichroism showed no significant changes in the structure of HSA-NITs, and no oligomers were formed during modification. The cytotoxicity of HSA-NITs was comparable to that of native albumin. HSA-NITs were evaluated as potential "metal-free" organic radical relaxation-based contrast agents for 1H-MRI and as hyperpolarizing contrast agents for OMRI. Relaxivities (longitudinal and transversal relaxation rates r1 and r2) for HSA-NITs were measured at different magnetic field strengths (1.88, 3, 7, and 14 T). Phantoms were used to demonstrate the potential use of HSA-NIT as a T1- and T2-weighted relaxation-based contrast agent at 3 T and 14 T. The efficacy of 1H Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization (ODNP) in liquids at an ultralow magnetic field (ULF, B0 = 92 ± 0.8 μT) was investigated for HSA-NIT conjugates. The HSA-NITs themselves did not show ODNP enhancement; however, under the proteolysis conditions simulating cancer tissue, HSA-NIT conjugates were cleaved into lower-molecular-weight (MW) protein fragments that activate ODNP capabilities, resulting in a maximum achievable enhancement |Emax| of 40-50 and a radiofrequency power required to achieve half of Emax, P1/2, of 21-27 W. The HSA-NIT with a higher degree of modification released increased the number of spin probes upon biodegradation, which significantly enhanced the Overhauser effect. Thus, HSA-NITs may represent a new class of MRI relaxation-based contrast agents as well as novel cleavable conjugates for use as hyperpolarizing contrast agents (HCAs) in OMRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Mitin
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;
| | - Friedemann Bullinger
- High-Field Magnetic Resonance Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (F.B.); (J.E.); (K.S.); (K.B.)
| | - Sergey Dobrynin
- N.N. Vorozhtsov Institute of Organic Chemistry SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;
| | - Jörn Engelmann
- High-Field Magnetic Resonance Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (F.B.); (J.E.); (K.S.); (K.B.)
| | - Klaus Scheffler
- High-Field Magnetic Resonance Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (F.B.); (J.E.); (K.S.); (K.B.)
- Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Eberhard-Karls University, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Mikhail Kolokolov
- International Tomography Center SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (M.K.); (O.K.)
| | - Olesya Krumkacheva
- International Tomography Center SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (M.K.); (O.K.)
| | - Kai Buckenmaier
- High-Field Magnetic Resonance Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; (F.B.); (J.E.); (K.S.); (K.B.)
| | - Igor Kirilyuk
- N.N. Vorozhtsov Institute of Organic Chemistry SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;
| | - Alexey Chubarov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;
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2
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Ackermann K, Heubach CA, Schiemann O, Bode BE. Pulse Dipolar Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Distance Measurements at Low Nanomolar Concentrations: The Cu II-Trityl Case. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:1455-1461. [PMID: 38294197 PMCID: PMC10860127 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c03311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Recent sensitivity enhancements in pulse dipolar electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (PDS) have afforded distance measurements at submicromolar spin concentrations. This development opens the path for new science as more biomolecular systems can be investigated at their respective physiological concentrations. Here, we demonstrate that the combination of orthogonal spin-labeling using CuII ions and trityl yields a >3-fold increase in sensitivity compared to that of the established CuII-nitroxide labeling strategy. Application of the recently developed variable-time relaxation-induced dipolar modulation enhancement (RIDME) method yields a further ∼2.5-fold increase compared to the commonly used constant-time RIDME. This overall increase in sensitivity of almost an order of magnitude makes distance measurements in the range of 3 nm with protein concentrations as low as 10 nM feasible, >2 times lower than the previously reported concentration. We expect that experiments at single-digit nanomolar concentrations are imminent, which have the potential to transform biological PDS applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Ackermann
- EaStCHEM
School of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, Centre
of Magnetic Resonance, University of St
Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews KY16 9ST, U.K.
| | - Caspar A. Heubach
- Clausius-Institute
of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University
of Bonn, Wegelerstrasse 12, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Olav Schiemann
- Clausius-Institute
of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University
of Bonn, Wegelerstrasse 12, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Bela E. Bode
- EaStCHEM
School of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, Centre
of Magnetic Resonance, University of St
Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews KY16 9ST, U.K.
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Vitali V, Ackermann K, Hagelueken G, Bode BE. Spectroscopically Orthogonal Labelling to Disentangle Site-Specific Nitroxide Label Distributions. APPLIED MAGNETIC RESONANCE 2023; 55:187-205. [PMID: 38357007 PMCID: PMC10861635 DOI: 10.1007/s00723-023-01611-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular applications of pulse dipolar electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (PDS) are becoming increasingly valuable in structural biology. Site-directed spin labelling of proteins is routinely performed using nitroxides, with paramagnetic metal ions and other organic radicals gaining popularity as alternative spin centres. Spectroscopically orthogonal spin labelling using different types of labels potentially increases the information content available from a single sample. When analysing experimental distance distributions between two nitroxide spin labels, the site-specific rotamer information has been projected into the distance and is not readily available, and the contributions of individual labelling sites to the width of the distance distribution are not obvious from the PDS data. Here, we exploit the exquisite precision of labelling double-histidine (dHis) motifs with CuII chelate complexes. The contribution of this label to the distance distribution widths in model protein GB1 has been shown to be negligible. By combining a dHis CuII labelling site with cysteine-specific nitroxide labelling, we gather insights on the label rotamers at two distinct sites, comparing their contributions to distance distributions based on different in silico modelling approaches and structural models. From this study, it seems advisable to consider discrepancies between different in silico modelling approaches when selecting labelling sites for PDS studies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00723-023-01611-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Vitali
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, and Centre of Magnetic Resonance, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9ST Scotland
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Katrin Ackermann
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, and Centre of Magnetic Resonance, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9ST Scotland
| | - Gregor Hagelueken
- Institute of Structural Biology, Biomedical Center, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Bela E. Bode
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, and Centre of Magnetic Resonance, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9ST Scotland
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4
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Wort JL, Ackermann K, Giannoulis A, Bode BE. Enhanced sensitivity for pulse dipolar EPR spectroscopy using variable-time RIDME. JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE (SAN DIEGO, CALIF. : 1997) 2023; 352:107460. [PMID: 37167826 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2023.107460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Pulse dipolar EPR spectroscopy (PDS) measurements are an important complementary tool in structural biology and are increasingly applied to macromolecular assemblies implicated in human health and disease at physiological concentrations. This requires ever higher sensitivity, and recent advances have driven PDS measurements into the mid-nanomolar concentration regime, though optimization and acquisition of such measurements remains experimentally demanding and time expensive. One important consideration is that constant-time acquisition represents a hard limit for measurement sensitivity, depending on the maximum measured distance. Determining this distance a priori has been facilitated by machine-learning structure prediction (AlphaFold2 and RoseTTAFold) but is often confounded by non-representative behaviour in frozen solution that may mandate multiple rounds of optimization and acquisition. Herein, we endeavour to simultaneously enhance sensitivity and streamline PDS measurement optimization to one-step by benchmarking a variable-time acquisition RIDME experiment applied to CuII-nitroxide and CuII-CuII model systems. Results demonstrate marked sensitivity improvements of both 5- and 6-pulse variable-time RIDME of between 2- and 5-fold over the constant-time analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua L Wort
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex and Centre of Magnetic Resonance, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Scotland
| | - Katrin Ackermann
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex and Centre of Magnetic Resonance, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Scotland
| | - Angeliki Giannoulis
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex and Centre of Magnetic Resonance, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Scotland
| | - Bela E Bode
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex and Centre of Magnetic Resonance, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Scotland.
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Tessmer MH, Stoll S. chiLife: An open-source Python package for in silico spin labeling and integrative protein modeling. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1010834. [PMID: 37000838 PMCID: PMC10096462 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Here we introduce chiLife, a Python package for site-directed spin label (SDSL) modeling for electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, in particular double electron-electron resonance (DEER). It is based on in silico attachment of rotamer ensemble representations of spin labels to protein structures. chiLife enables the development of custom protein analysis and modeling pipelines using SDSL EPR experimental data. It allows the user to add custom spin labels, scoring functions and spin label modeling methods. chiLife is designed with integration into third-party software in mind, to take advantage of the diverse and rapidly expanding set of molecular modeling tools available with a Python interface. This article describes the main design principles of chiLife and presents a series of examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxx H. Tessmer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington United States of America
| | - Stefan Stoll
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington United States of America
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Li H, Pan Y, Lan Y, Yang Z, Rao J, Chen B. Molecular interaction mechanism and structure–activity relationships of protein–polyphenol complexes revealed by side-directed spin labeling-electron paramagnetic resonance (SDSL-EPR) spectroscopy. Food Chem 2023; 402:134354. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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7
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Tessmer MH, Canarie ER, Stoll S. Comparative evaluation of spin-label modeling methods for protein structural studies. Biophys J 2022; 121:3508-3519. [PMID: 35957530 PMCID: PMC9515001 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Site-directed spin-labeling electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy is a powerful technique for the investigation of protein structure and dynamics. Accurate spin-label modeling methods are essential to make full quantitative use of site-directed spin-labeling electron paramagnetic resonance data for protein modeling and model validation. Using a set of double electron-electron resonance data from seven different site pairs on maltodextrin/maltose-binding protein under two different conditions using five different spin labels, we compare the ability of two widely used spin-label modeling methods, based on accessible volume sampling and rotamer libraries, to predict experimental distance distributions. We present a spin-label modeling approach inspired by canonical side-chain modeling methods and compare modeling accuracy with the established methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxx H Tessmer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Stefan Stoll
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
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Ackermann K, Wort JL, Bode BE. Pulse dipolar EPR for determining nanomolar binding affinities. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:8790-8793. [PMID: 35837993 PMCID: PMC9350988 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc02360a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Protein interaction studies often require very low concentrations and highly sensitive biophysical methods. Here, we demonstrate that pulse dipolar electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy allows measuring dissociation constants in the nanomolar range. This approach is appealing for concentration-limited biomolecular systems and medium-to-high-affinity binding studies, demonstrated here at 50 nanomolar protein concentration. CuII-nitroxide RIDME measurements at 100 nM protein concentration allow reliable extraction of dissociation constants and distances, while measurements at 50 nM protein concentration allow reliable extraction of dissociation constants only.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Ackermann
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex and Centre of Magnetic resonance, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9ST, Scotland, UK.
| | - Joshua L Wort
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex and Centre of Magnetic resonance, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9ST, Scotland, UK.
| | - Bela E Bode
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex and Centre of Magnetic resonance, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9ST, Scotland, UK.
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9
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A Low-Spin CoII/Nitroxide Complex for Distance Measurements at Q-Band Frequencies. MAGNETOCHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/magnetochemistry8040043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pulse dipolar electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (PDS) is continuously furthering the understanding of chemical and biological assemblies through distance measurements in the nanometer range. New paramagnets and pulse sequences can provide structural insights not accessible through other techniques. In the pursuit of alternative spin centers for PDS, we synthesized a low-spin CoII complex bearing a nitroxide (NO) moiety, where both the CoII and NO have an electron spin S of 1/2. We measured CoII-NO distances with the well-established double electron–electron resonance (DEER aka PELDOR) experiment, as well as with the five- and six-pulse relaxation-induced dipolar modulation enhancement (RIDME) spectroscopies at Q-band frequencies (34 GHz). We first identified challenges related to the stability of the complex in solution via DEER and X-ray crystallography and showed that even in cases where complex disproportionation is unavoidable, CoII-NO PDS measurements are feasible and give good signal-to-noise (SNR) ratios. Specifically, DEER and five-pulse RIDME exhibited an SNR of ~100, and while the six-pulse RIDME exhibited compromised SNR, it helped us minimize unwanted signals from the RIDME traces. Last, we demonstrated RIDME at a 10 μM sample concentration. Our results demonstrate paramagnetic CoII to be a feasible spin center in medium magnetic fields with opportunities for PDS studies involving CoII ions.
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