1
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Zheng R, Wu R, Liu Y, Sun Z, Xue Z, Bagheri Y, Khajouei S, Mi L, Tian Q, Pho R, Liu Q, Siddiqui S, Ren K, You M. Multiplexed sequential imaging in living cells with orthogonal fluorogenic RNA aptamer/dye pairs. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:e67. [PMID: 38922685 PMCID: PMC11347136 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae551] [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: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Detecting multiple targets in living cells is important in cell biology. However, multiplexed fluorescence imaging beyond two-to-three targets remains a technical challenge. Herein, we introduce a multiplexed imaging strategy, 'sequential Fluorogenic RNA Imaging-Enabled Sensor' (seqFRIES), which enables live-cell target detection via sequential rounds of imaging-and-stripping. In seqFRIES, multiple orthogonal fluorogenic RNA aptamers are genetically encoded inside cells, and then the corresponding cell membrane permeable dye molecules are added, imaged, and rapidly removed in consecutive detection cycles. As a proof-of-concept, we have identified in this study four fluorogenic RNA aptamer/dye pairs that can be used for highly orthogonal and multiplexed imaging in living bacterial and mammalian cells. After further optimizing the cellular fluorescence activation and deactivation kinetics of these RNA/dye pairs, the whole four-color semi-quantitative seqFRIES process can be completed in ∼20 min. Meanwhile, seqFRIES-mediated simultaneous detection of critical signalling molecules and mRNA targets was also achieved within individual living cells. We expect our validation of this new seqFRIES concept here will facilitate the further development and potential broad usage of these orthogonal fluorogenic RNA/dye pairs for multiplexed and dynamic live-cell imaging and cell biology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Rigumula Wu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Yuanchang Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Zhining Sun
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Zhaolin Xue
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Yousef Bagheri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Sima Khajouei
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Lan Mi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Qian Tian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Raymond Pho
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Qinge Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Mount Holyoke College, Holyoke, MA 01075, USA
| | - Sidrat Siddiqui
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Kewei Ren
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
| | - Mingxu You
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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2
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Chen Z, Chen W, Reheman Z, Jiang H, Wu J, Li X. Genetically encoded RNA-based sensors with Pepper fluorogenic aptamer. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:8322-8336. [PMID: 37486780 PMCID: PMC10484673 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensors to measure the abundance and signaling of intracellular molecules are crucial for understanding their physiological functions. Although conventional fluorescent protein-based sensors have been designed, RNA-based sensors are promising imaging tools. Numerous RNA-based sensors have been developed. These sensors typically contain RNA G-quadruplex (RG4) motifs and thus may be suboptimal in living cells. Here we describe RNA-based sensors based on Pepper, a fluorogenic RNA without an RG4 motif. With Pepper, we engineered various sensors for metabolites, synthetic compounds, proteins and metal ions in vitro and in living cells. In addition, these sensors show high activation and selectivity, demonstrating their universality and robustness. In the case of sensors responding to S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), a metabolite produced by methionine adenosyltransferase (MATase), we showed that our sensors exhibited positively correlated fluorescence responding to different SAM levels. Importantly, we revealed the SAM biosynthesis pathway and monitored MATase activity and gene expression spatiotemporally in living individual human cells. Additionally, we constructed a ratiometric SAM sensor to determine the inhibition efficacy of a MATase inhibitor in living cells. Together, these sensors comprising Pepper provide a useful platform for imaging diverse cellular targets and their signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyin Chen
- Beijing Institute of Life Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Inflammation and Clinical Allergology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Beijing Institute of Life Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, the Hengyang Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Zhayila Reheman
- Beijing Institute of Life Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- School of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071000, China
| | - Haodong Jiang
- Beijing Institute of Life Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiahui Wu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003, USA
| | - Xing Li
- Beijing Institute of Life Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Inflammation and Clinical Allergology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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3
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Zheng R, Wu R, Liu Y, Sun Z, Bagheri Y, Xue Z, Mi L, Tian Q, Pho R, Siddiqui S, Ren K, You M. Multiplexed Sequential Imaging in Living Cells with Orthogonal Fluorogenic RNA Aptamer/Dye Pairs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.20.537750. [PMID: 37131625 PMCID: PMC10153257 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.20.537750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell detection of multiple target analytes is an important goal in cell biology. However, due to the spectral overlap of common fluorophores, multiplexed fluorescence imaging beyond two-to-three targets inside living cells remains a technical challenge. Herein, we introduce a multiplexed imaging strategy that enables live-cell target detection via sequential rounds of imaging-and-stripping process, which is named as "sequential Fluorogenic RNA Imaging-Enabled Sensor" (seqFRIES). In seqFRIES, multiple orthogonal fluorogenic RNA aptamers are genetically encoded inside cells, and then the corresponding cell membrane permeable dye molecules are added, imaged, and rapidly removed in consecutive detection cycles. As a proof-of-concept, we have identified in this study five in vitro orthogonal fluorogenic RNA aptamer/dye pairs (>10-fold higher fluorescence signals), four of which can be used for highly orthogonal and multiplexed imaging in living bacterial and mammalian cells. After further optimizing the cellular fluorescence activation and deactivation kinetics of these RNA/dye pairs, the whole four-color semi-quantitative seqFRIES process can now be completed in ~20 min. Meanwhile, seqFRIES-mediated simultaneous detection of two critical signaling molecules, guanosine tetraphosphate and cyclic diguanylate, was also achieved within individual living cells. We expect our validation of this new seqFRIES concept here will facilitate the further development and potential broad usage of these orthogonal fluorogenic RNA/dye pairs for highly multiplexed and dynamic cellular imaging and cell biology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Rigumula Wu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Yuanchang Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Zhining Sun
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Yousef Bagheri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Zhaolin Xue
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Lan Mi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Qian Tian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Raymond Pho
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Sidrat Siddiqui
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Kewei Ren
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210094, China
| | - Mingxu You
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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4
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Li X, Chen G, Gao QQ, Xiang CF, Yuan CX, Li XN, Shu YY, Zhang GH, Liang YL, Yang SC, Zhai CX, Zhao Y. Site-directed mutagenesis identified the key active site residues of 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase HcOSC6 responsible for cucurbitacins biosynthesis in Hemsleya chinensis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1138893. [PMID: 37056503 PMCID: PMC10086137 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1138893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Hemsleya chinensis is a Chinese traditional medicinal plant, containing cucurbitacin IIa (CuIIa) and cucurbitacin IIb (CuIIb), both of which have a wide range of pharmacological effects, including antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. However, few studies have been explored on the key enzymes that are involved in cucurbitacins biosynthesis in H. chinensis. Oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) is a vital enzyme for cyclizing 2,3-oxidosqualene and its analogues. Here, a gene encoding the oxidosqualene cyclase of H. chinensis (HcOSC6), catalyzing to produce cucurbitadienol, was used as a template of mutagenesis. With the assistance of AlphaFold2 and molecular docking, we have proposed for the first time to our knowledge the 3D structure of HcOSC6 and its binding features to 2,3-oxidosqualene. Mutagenesis experiments on HcOSC6 generated seventeen different single-point mutants, showing that single-residue changes could affect its activity. Three key amino acid residues of HcOSC6, E246, M261 and D490, were identified as a prominent role in controlling cyclization ability. Our findings not only comprehensively characterize three key residues that are potentially useful for producing cucurbitacins, but also provide insights into the significant role they could play in metabolic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Li
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Geng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Qing-Qing Gao
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Chun-Fan Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Cheng-Xiao Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Xiao-Ning Li
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Yan-Yu Shu
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Guang-Hui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Yan-Li Liang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Sheng-Chao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Chen-Xi Zhai
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Yan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
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5
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Mi L, Yu Q, Mudiyanselage APK, Wu R, Sun Z, Zheng R, Ren K, You M. Genetically Encoded RNA-Based Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET) Sensors. ACS Sens 2023; 8:308-316. [PMID: 36608281 PMCID: PMC10630924 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c02213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
RNA-based nanostructures and molecular devices have become popular for developing biosensors and genetic regulators. These programmable RNA nanodevices can be genetically encoded and modularly engineered to detect various cellular targets and then induce output signals, most often a fluorescence readout. Although powerful, the high reliance of fluorescence on the external excitation light raises concerns about its high background, photobleaching, and phototoxicity. Bioluminescence signals can be an ideal complementary readout for these genetically encoded RNA nanodevices. However, RNA-based real-time bioluminescent reporters have been rarely developed. In this study, we reported the first type of genetically encoded RNA-based bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) sensors that can be used for real-time target detection in living cells. By coupling a luciferase bioluminescence donor with a fluorogenic RNA-based acceptor, our BRET system can be modularly designed to image and detect various cellular analytes. We expect that this novel RNA-based bioluminescent system can be potentially used broadly in bioanalysis and nanomedicine for engineering biosensors, characterizing cellular RNA-protein interactions, and high-throughput screening or in vivo imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Mi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Qikun Yu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | | | - Rigumula Wu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Zhining Sun
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Ru Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Kewei Ren
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210094, China
| | - Mingxu You
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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6
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Geraci I, Autour A, Pietruschka G, Shiian A, Borisova M, Mayer C, Ryckelynck M, Mayer G. Fluorogenic RNA-Based Biosensor to Sense the Glycolytic Flux in Mammalian Cells. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:1164-1173. [PMID: 35427113 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The visualization of metabolic flux in real time requires sensor molecules that transduce variations of metabolite concentrations into an appropriate output signal. In this regard, fluorogenic RNA-based biosensors are promising molecular tools as they fluoresce only upon binding to another molecule. However, to date no such sensor is available that enables the direct observation of key metabolites in mammalian cells. Toward this direction, we selected and characterized an RNA light-up sensor designed to respond to fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and applied it to probe glycolytic flux variation in mammal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignazio Geraci
- Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Str.1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexis Autour
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Georg Pietruschka
- Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Str.1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Aleksandra Shiian
- Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Str.1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Marina Borisova
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, Organismic Interactions/Glycobiology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Mayer
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, Organismic Interactions/Glycobiology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael Ryckelynck
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Günter Mayer
- Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Str.1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
- Center of Aptamer Research & Development, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Str. 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
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7
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Dey SK, Filonov GS, Olarerin-George AO, Jackson BT, Finley LWS, Jaffrey SR. Repurposing an adenine riboswitch into a fluorogenic imaging and sensing tag. Nat Chem Biol 2022; 18:180-190. [PMID: 34937909 PMCID: PMC8967656 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-021-00925-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Fluorogenic RNA aptamers are used to genetically encode fluorescent RNA and to construct RNA-based metabolite sensors. Unlike naturally occurring aptamers that efficiently fold and undergo metabolite-induced conformational changes, fluorogenic aptamers can exhibit poor folding, which limits their cellular fluorescence. To overcome this, we evolved a naturally occurring well-folded adenine riboswitch into a fluorogenic aptamer. We generated a library of roughly 1015 adenine aptamer-like RNAs in which the adenine-binding pocket was randomized for both size and sequence, and selected Squash, which binds and activates the fluorescence of green fluorescent protein-like fluorophores. Squash exhibits markedly improved in-cell folding and highly efficient metabolite-dependent folding when fused to a S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-binding aptamer. A Squash-based ratiometric sensor achieved quantitative SAM measurements, revealed cell-to-cell heterogeneity in SAM levels and revealed metabolic origins of SAM. These studies show that the efficient folding of naturally occurring aptamers can be exploited to engineer well-folded cell-compatible fluorogenic aptamers and devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Kumar Dey
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Grigory S Filonov
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
- Sartorius, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Benjamin T Jackson
- Cell Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lydia W S Finley
- Cell Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samie R Jaffrey
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
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8
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Krissanaprasit A, Key CM, Pontula S, LaBean TH. Self-Assembling Nucleic Acid Nanostructures Functionalized with Aptamers. Chem Rev 2021; 121:13797-13868. [PMID: 34157230 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Researchers have worked for many decades to master the rules of biomolecular design that would allow artificial biopolymer complexes to self-assemble and function similarly to the diverse biochemical constructs displayed in natural biological systems. The rules of nucleic acid assembly (dominated by Watson-Crick base-pairing) have been less difficult to understand and manipulate than the more complicated rules of protein folding. Therefore, nucleic acid nanotechnology has advanced more quickly than de novo protein design, and recent years have seen amazing progress in DNA and RNA design. By combining structural motifs with aptamers that act as affinity handles and add powerful molecular recognition capabilities, nucleic acid-based self-assemblies represent a diverse toolbox for use by bioengineers to create molecules with potentially revolutionary biological activities. In this review, we focus on the development of self-assembling nucleic acid nanostructures that are functionalized with nucleic acid aptamers and their great potential in wide ranging application areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhichart Krissanaprasit
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Carson M Key
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Sahil Pontula
- Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.,Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Thomas H LaBean
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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9
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Moon JD, Wu J, Dey SK, Litke JL, Li X, Kim H, Jaffrey SR. Naturally occurring three-way junctions can be repurposed as genetically encoded RNA-based sensors. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:1569-1580.e4. [PMID: 34010626 PMCID: PMC8573057 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Small molecules can be imaged in living cells using biosensors composed of RNA. However, RNA-based devices are difficult to design. Here, we describe a versatile platform for designing RNA-based fluorescent small-molecule sensors using naturally occurring highly stable three-way junction RNAs. We show that ligand-binding aptamers and fluorogenic aptamers can be inserted into three-way junctions and connected in a way that enables the three-way junction to function as a small-molecule-regulated fluorescent sensor in vitro and in cells. The sensors are designed so that the interhelical stabilizing interactions in the three-way junction are only induced upon ligand binding. We use these RNA-based devices to measure the dynamics of S-adenosylmethionine levels in mammalian cells in real time. We show that this strategy is compatible with diverse metabolite-binding RNA aptamers, fluorogenic aptamers, and three-way junctions. Overall, these data demonstrate a versatile method for readily generating RNA devices that function in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared D Moon
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA; Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jiahui Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sourav K Dey
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jacob L Litke
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Xing Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Hyaeyeong Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Samie R Jaffrey
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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10
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Rational Design of Allosteric Fluorogenic RNA Sensors for Cellular Imaging. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 34086279 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1499-0_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Fluorescence-based tools are invaluable in studying cellular functions. Traditional small molecule or protein-based fluorescent sensors have been widely used for the cellular imaging, but the choice of targets is still limited. Recently, fluorogenic RNA-based sensors gained lots of attention. This novel sensor system can function as a general platform for various cellular targets. Here, we describe the steps to rationally design, optimize, and apply fluorogenic RNA-based sensors, using the intracellular imaging of tetracycline in living E. coli cells as an example.
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11
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Yu Q, Ren K, You M. Genetically encoded RNA nanodevices for cellular imaging and regulation. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:7988-8003. [PMID: 33885099 PMCID: PMC8122502 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr08301a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based nanodevices have been widely used in the fields of biosensing and nanomedicine. Traditionally, the majority of these nanodevices were first constructed in vitro using synthetic DNA or RNA oligonucleotides and then delivered into cells. Nowadays, the emergence of genetically encoded RNA nanodevices has provided a promising alternative approach for intracellular analysis and regulation. These genetically encoded RNA-based nanodevices can be directly transcribed and continuously produced inside living cells. A variety of highly precise and programmable nanodevices have been constructed in this way during the last decade. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances in the design and function of these artificial genetically encoded RNA nanodevices. In particular, we will focus on their applications in regulating cellular gene expression, imaging, logic operation, structural biology, and optogenetics. We believe these versatile RNA-based nanodevices will be broadly used in the near future to probe and program cells and other biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qikun Yu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.
| | - Kewei Ren
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.
| | - Mingxu You
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.
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12
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Abstract
Technologies for RNA imaging in live cells play an important role in understanding the function and regulatory process of RNAs. One approach for genetically encoded fluorescent RNA imaging involves fluorescent light-up aptamers (FLAPs), which are short RNA sequences that can bind cognate fluorogens and activate their fluorescence greatly. Over the past few years, FLAPs have emerged as genetically encoded RNA-based fluorescent biosensors for the cellular imaging and detection of various targets of interest. In this review, we first give a brief overview of the development of the current FLAPs based on various fluorogens. Then we further discuss on the photocycles of the reversibly photoswitching properties in FLAPs and their photostability. Finally, we focus on the applications of FLAPs as genetically encoded RNA-based fluorescent biosensors in biosensing and bioimaging, including RNA, non-nucleic acid molecules, metal ions imaging and quantitative imaging. Their design strategies and recent cellular applications are emphasized and summarized in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huangmei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sanjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.,NYU-ECNU Institute of Physics at NYU Shanghai, Shanghai, China
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13
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Ryckelynck M. Development and Applications of Fluorogen/Light-Up RNA Aptamer Pairs for RNA Detection and More. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2166:73-102. [PMID: 32710404 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0712-1_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The central role of RNA in living systems made it highly desirable to have noninvasive and sensitive technologies allowing for imaging the synthesis and the location of these molecules in living cells. This need motivated the development of small pro-fluorescent molecules called "fluorogens" that become fluorescent upon binding to genetically encodable RNAs called "light-up aptamers." Yet, the development of these fluorogen/light-up RNA pairs is a long and thorough process starting with the careful design of the fluorogen and pursued by the selection of a specific and efficient synthetic aptamer. This chapter summarizes the main design and the selection strategies used up to now prior to introducing the main pairs. Then, the vast application potential of these molecules for live-cell RNA imaging and other applications is presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Ryckelynck
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, Strasbourg, France.
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14
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Manna S, Truong J, Hammond MC. Guanidine Biosensors Enable Comparison of Cellular Turn-on Kinetics of Riboswitch-Based Biosensor and Reporter. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:566-578. [PMID: 33646758 PMCID: PMC7985839 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cell-based sensors are useful for many synthetic biology applications, including regulatory circuits, metabolic engineering, and diagnostics. While considerable research efforts have been made toward recognizing new target ligands and increasing sensitivity, the analysis and optimization of turn-on kinetics is often neglected. For example, to our knowledge there has been no systematic study that compared the performance of a riboswitch-based biosensor versus reporter for the same ligand. In this study, we show the development of RNA-based fluorescent (RBF) biosensors for guanidine, a common chaotropic agent that is a precursor to both fertilizer and explosive compounds. Guanidine is cell permeable and nontoxic to E. coli at millimolar concentrations, which in contrast to prior studies enabled direct activation of the riboswitch-based biosensor and corresponding reporter with ligand addition to cells. Our results reveal that the biosensors activate fluorescence in the cell within 4 min of guanidine treatment, which is at least 15 times faster than a reporter derived from the same riboswitch, and this rapid sensing activity is maintained for up to 1.6 weeks. Together, this study describes the design of two new biosensor topologies and showcases the advantages of RBF biosensors for monitoring dynamic processes in cell biology, biotechnology, and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudeshna Manna
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
- Henry
Eyring Center for Cell & Genome Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Johnny Truong
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
- Henry
Eyring Center for Cell & Genome Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84112, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Ming C. Hammond
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
- Henry
Eyring Center for Cell & Genome Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84112, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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15
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Swetha P, Fan Z, Wang F, Jiang JH. Genetically encoded light-up RNA aptamers and their applications for imaging and biosensing. J Mater Chem B 2021; 8:3382-3392. [PMID: 31984401 DOI: 10.1039/c9tb02668a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular small ligands and biomacromolecules are playing crucial roles not only as executors but also as regulators. It is essential to develop tools to investigate their dynamics to interrogate their functions and reflect the cellular status. Light-up RNA aptamers are RNA sequences that can bind with their cognate nonfluorescent fluorogens and greatly activate their fluorescence. The emergence of genetically encoded light-up RNA aptamers has provided fascinating tools for studying intracellular small ligands and biomacromolecules owing to their high fluorescence activation degree and facile programmability. Here we review the burgeoning field of light-up RNA aptamers. We first briefly introduce light-up RNA aptamers with a focus on the photophysical properties of the fluorogens. Then design strategies of genetically encoded light-up RNA aptamer based sensors including turn-on, signal amplification and ratiometric rationales are emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puchakayala Swetha
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hu-nan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China.
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16
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Kolpashchikov DM, Spelkov AA. Binary (Split) Light‐up Aptameric Sensors. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201914919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry M. Kolpashchikov
- Chemistry Department University of Central Florida Orlando FL 32816-2366 USA
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences University of Central Florida Orlando FL 32816 USA
| | - Alexander A. Spelkov
- Laboratory of Solution Chemistry of Advanced Materials and Technologies ITMO University 9 Lomonosova Str. St. Petersburg 191002 Russian Federation
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17
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Abdelsattar AS, Mansour Y, Aboul-Ela F. The Perturbed Free-Energy Landscape: Linking Ligand Binding to Biomolecular Folding. Chembiochem 2021; 22:1499-1516. [PMID: 33351206 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The effects of ligand binding on biomolecular conformation are crucial in drug design, enzyme mechanisms, the regulation of gene expression, and other biological processes. Descriptive models such as "lock and key", "induced fit", and "conformation selection" are common ways to interpret such interactions. Another historical model, linked equilibria, proposes that the free-energy landscape (FEL) is perturbed by the addition of ligand binding energy for the bound population of biomolecules. This principle leads to a unified, quantitative theory of ligand-induced conformation change, building upon the FEL concept. We call the map of binding free energy over biomolecular conformational space the "binding affinity landscape" (BAL). The perturbed FEL predicts/explains ligand-induced conformational changes conforming to all common descriptive models. We review recent experimental and computational studies that exemplify the perturbed FEL, with emphasis on RNA. This way of understanding ligand-induced conformation dynamics motivates new experimental and theoretical approaches to ligand design, structural biology and systems biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah S Abdelsattar
- Center for X-Ray Determination of the Structure of Matter, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Ahmed Zewail Road, October Gardens, 12578, Giza, Egypt
| | - Youssef Mansour
- Center for X-Ray Determination of the Structure of Matter, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Ahmed Zewail Road, October Gardens, 12578, Giza, Egypt
| | - Fareed Aboul-Ela
- Center for X-Ray Determination of the Structure of Matter, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Ahmed Zewail Road, October Gardens, 12578, Giza, Egypt
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18
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Ren K, Keshri P, Wu R, Sun Z, Yu Q, Tian Q, Zhao B, Bagheri Y, Xie Y, You M. A Genetically Encoded RNA Photosensitizer for Targeted Cell Regulation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202010106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kewei Ren
- Department of Chemistry University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
| | - Puspam Keshri
- Department of Chemistry University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
| | - Rigumula Wu
- Department of Chemistry University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
| | - Zhining Sun
- Department of Chemistry University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
| | - Qikun Yu
- Department of Chemistry University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
| | - Qian Tian
- Department of Chemistry University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
| | - Bin Zhao
- Department of Chemistry University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
| | - Yousef Bagheri
- Department of Chemistry University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
| | - Yiwen Xie
- Department of Chemistry University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
| | - Mingxu You
- Department of Chemistry University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
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19
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Ren K, Keshri P, Wu R, Sun Z, Yu Q, Tian Q, Zhao B, Bagheri Y, Xie Y, You M. A Genetically Encoded RNA Photosensitizer for Targeted Cell Regulation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:21986-21990. [PMID: 32797667 PMCID: PMC7747015 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202010106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Genetically encoded RNA devices have emerged for various cellular applications in imaging and biosensing, but their functions as precise regulators in living systems are still limited. Inspired by protein photosensitizers, we propose here a genetically encoded RNA aptamer based photosensitizer (GRAP). Upon illumination, the RNA photosensitizer can controllably generate reactive oxygen species for targeted cell regulation. The GRAP system can be selectively activated by endogenous stimuli and light of different wavelengths. Compared with their protein analogues, GRAP is highly programmable and exhibits reduced off-target effects. These results indicate that GRAP enables efficient noninvasive target cell ablation with high temporal and spatial precision. This new RNA regulator system will be widely used for optogenetics, targeted cell ablation, subcellular manipulation, and imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kewei Ren
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Puspam Keshri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Rigumula Wu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Zhining Sun
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Qikun Yu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Qian Tian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Bin Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Yousef Bagheri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Yiwen Xie
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Mingxu You
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
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20
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Abstract
RNA enzymes or ribozymes catalyze some of the most important reactions in biology and are thought to have played a central role in the origin and evolution of life on earth. Catalytic function in RNA has evolved in crowded cellular environments that are different from dilute solutions in which most in vitro assays are performed. The presence of molecules such as amino acids, polypeptides, alcohols, and sugars in the cell introduces forces that modify the kinetics and thermodynamics of ribozyme-catalyzed reactions. Synthetic molecules are routinely used in in vitro studies to better approximate the properties of biomolecules under in vivo conditions. This review discusses the various forces that operate within simulated crowded solutions in the context of RNA structure, folding, and catalysis. It also explores ideas about how crowding could have been beneficial to the evolution of functional RNAs and the development of primitive cellular systems in a prebiotic milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurja DasGupta
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
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21
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Kolpashchikov DM, Spelkov AA. Binary (Split) Light-up Aptameric Sensors. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 60:4988-4999. [PMID: 32208549 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201914919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This Minireview discusses the design and applications of binary (also known as split) light-up aptameric sensors (BLAS). BLAS consist of two RNA or DNA strands and a fluorogenic organic dye added as a buffer component. When associated, the two strands form a dye-binding site, followed by an increase in fluorescence of the aptamer-bound dye. The design is cost-efficient because it uses short oligonucleotides and does not require conjugation of organic dyes with nucleic acids. In some applications, BLAS design is preferable over monolithic sensors because of simpler assay optimization and improved selectivity. RNA-based BLAS can be expressed in cells and used for the intracellular monitoring of biological molecules. BLAS have been used as reporters of nucleic acid association events in RNA nanotechnology and nucleic-acid-based molecular computation. Other applications of BLAS include the detection of nucleic acids, proteins, and cancer cells, and potentially they can be tailored to report a broad range of biological analytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry M Kolpashchikov
- Chemistry Department, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32816-2366, USA.,Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA
| | - Alexander A Spelkov
- Laboratory of Solution Chemistry of Advanced Materials and Technologies, ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova Str., St. Petersburg, 191002, Russian Federation
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22
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Li X, Mo L, Litke JL, Dey SK, Suter SR, Jaffrey SR. Imaging Intracellular S-Adenosyl Methionine Dynamics in Live Mammalian Cells with a Genetically Encoded Red Fluorescent RNA-Based Sensor. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:14117-14124. [PMID: 32698574 PMCID: PMC8158784 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c02931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
To understand the role of intracellular metabolites in cellular processes, it is important to measure the dynamics and fluxes of small molecules in living cells. Although conventional metabolite sensors composed of fluorescent proteins have been made to detect some metabolites, an emerging approach is to use genetically encoded sensors composed of RNA. Because of the ability to rapidly generate metabolite-binding RNA aptamers, RNA-based sensors have the potential to be designed more readily than protein-based sensors. Numerous strategies have been developed to convert the green-fluorescent Spinach or Broccoli fluorogenic RNA aptamers into metabolite-regulated sensors. Nevertheless, red fluorescence is particularly desirable because of the low level of red background fluorescence in cells. However, the red fluorescent variant of the Broccoli aptamer, Red Broccoli, does not exhibit red fluorescence in cells when imaged with its cognate fluorophore. It is not known why Red Broccoli is fluorescent in vitro but not in live mammalian cells. Here, we develop a new fluorophore, OBI (3,5-difluoro-4-hydroxybenzylidene-imidazolinone-2-oxime-1-benzoimidazole), which binds Red Broccoli with high affinity and makes Red Broccoli resistant to thermal unfolding. We show that OBI enables Red Broccoli to be readily detected in live mammalian cells. Furthermore, we show that Red Broccoli can be fused to a S-adenosyl methionine (SAM)-binding aptamer to generate a red fluorescent RNA-based sensor that enables imaging of SAM in live mammalian cells. These results reveal a red fluorescent fluorogenic aptamer that functions in mammalian cells and that can be readily developed into red fluorescent RNA-based sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Liuting Mo
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Jacob L Litke
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Sourav Kumar Dey
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Scott R Suter
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Samie R Jaffrey
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065, United States
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23
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Badu S, Melnik R, Singh S. Mathematical and computational models of RNA nanoclusters and their applications in data-driven environments. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2020.1804564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Badu
- MS2Discovery Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Roderick Melnik
- MS2Discovery Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- BCAM-Basque Center for Applied Mathematics, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Sundeep Singh
- MS2Discovery Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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24
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25
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Markey FB, Parashar V, Batish M. Methods for spatial and temporal imaging of the different steps involved in RNA processing at single-molecule resolution. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2020; 12:e1608. [PMID: 32543077 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
RNA plays a quintessential role as a messenger of information from genotype (DNA) to phenotype (proteins), as well as acts as a regulatory molecule (noncoding RNAs). All steps in the journey of RNA from synthesis (transcription), splicing, transport, localization, translation, to its eventual degradation, comprise important steps in gene expression, thereby controlling the fate of the cell. This lifecycle refers to the majority of RNAs (primarily mRNAs), but not other RNAs such as tRNAs. Imaging these processes in fixed cells and in live cells has been an important tool in developing an understanding of the regulatory steps in RNAs journey. Single-cell and single-molecule imaging techniques enable a much deeper understanding of cellular biology, which is not possible with bulk studies involving RNA isolated from a large pool of cells. Classic techniques, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), as well as more recent aptamer-based approaches, have provided detailed insights into RNA localization, and have helped to predict the functions carried out by many RNA species. However, there are still certain processing steps that await high-resolution imaging, which is an exciting and upcoming area of research. In this review, we will discuss the methods that have revolutionized single-molecule resolution imaging in general, the steps of RNA processing in which these methods have been used, and new emerging technologies. This article is categorized under: RNA Export and Localization > RNA Localization RNA Methods > RNA Analyses in Cells RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Small Molecule-RNA Interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatu Badiane Markey
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Vijay Parashar
- Department of Medical and Molecular Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Mona Batish
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA.,Department of Medical and Molecular Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
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26
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Wu R, Karunanayake Mudiyanselage AP, Ren K, Sun Z, Tian Q, Zhao B, Bagheri Y, Lutati D, Keshri P, You M. Ratiometric Fluorogenic RNA-Based Sensors for Imaging Live-Cell Dynamics of Small Molecules. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2020; 3:2633-2642. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.9b01237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rigumula Wu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | | | - Kewei Ren
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Zhining Sun
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Qian Tian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Bin Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Yousef Bagheri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - David Lutati
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Puspam Keshri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Mingxu You
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
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27
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Ren K, Wu R, Karunanayake Mudiyanselage APKK, Yu Q, Zhao B, Xie Y, Bagheri Y, Tian Q, You M. In Situ Genetically Cascaded Amplification for Imaging RNA Subcellular Locations. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:2968-2974. [PMID: 31968164 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b11748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In situ amplification methods, such as hybridization chain reaction, are valuable tools for mapping the spatial distribution and subcellular location of target analytes. However, the live-cell applications of these methods are still limited due to challenges in the probe delivery, degradation, and cytotoxicity. Herein, we report a novel genetically encoded in situ amplification method to noninvasively image the subcellular location of RNA targets in living cells. In our system, a fluorogenic RNA reporter, Broccoli, was split into two nonfluorescent fragments and conjugated to the end of two RNA hairpin strands. The binding of one target RNA can then trigger a cascaded hybridization between these hairpin pairs and thus activate multiple Broccoli fluorescence signals. We have shown that such an in situ amplified strategy can be used for the sensitive detection and location imaging of various RNA targets in living bacterial and mammalian cells. This new design principle provides an effective and versatile platform for tracking various intracellular analytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kewei Ren
- Department of Chemistry , University of Massachusetts , Amherst , Massachusetts 01003 , United States
| | - Rigumula Wu
- Department of Chemistry , University of Massachusetts , Amherst , Massachusetts 01003 , United States
| | | | - Qikun Yu
- Department of Chemistry , University of Massachusetts , Amherst , Massachusetts 01003 , United States
| | - Bin Zhao
- Department of Chemistry , University of Massachusetts , Amherst , Massachusetts 01003 , United States
| | - Yiwen Xie
- Department of Chemistry , University of Massachusetts , Amherst , Massachusetts 01003 , United States
| | - Yousef Bagheri
- Department of Chemistry , University of Massachusetts , Amherst , Massachusetts 01003 , United States
| | - Qian Tian
- Department of Chemistry , University of Massachusetts , Amherst , Massachusetts 01003 , United States
| | - Mingxu You
- Department of Chemistry , University of Massachusetts , Amherst , Massachusetts 01003 , United States
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28
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Wu R, Karunanayake Mudiyanselage APKK, Shafiei F, Zhao B, Bagheri Y, Yu Q, McAuliffe K, Ren K, You M. Genetically Encoded Ratiometric RNA‐Based Sensors for Quantitative Imaging of Small Molecules in Living Cells. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201911799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rigumula Wu
- University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
| | | | | | - Bin Zhao
- University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
| | | | - Qikun Yu
- University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
| | | | - Kewei Ren
- University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
| | - Mingxu You
- University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 USA
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29
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Wu R, Karunanayake Mudiyanselage APKK, Shafiei F, Zhao B, Bagheri Y, Yu Q, McAuliffe K, Ren K, You M. Genetically Encoded Ratiometric RNA-Based Sensors for Quantitative Imaging of Small Molecules in Living Cells. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:18271-18275. [PMID: 31591798 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201911799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Precisely determining the intracellular concentrations of metabolites and signaling molecules is critical in studying cell biology. Fluorogenic RNA-based sensors have emerged to detect various targets in living cells. However, it is still challenging to apply these genetically encoded sensors to quantify the cellular concentrations and distributions of targets. Herein, using a pair of orthogonal fluorogenic RNA aptamers, DNB and Broccoli, we engineered a modular sensor system to apply the DNB-to-Broccoli fluorescence ratio to quantify the cell-to-cell variations of target concentrations. These ratiometric sensors can be broadly applied for live-cell imaging and quantification of metabolites, signaling molecules, and other synthetic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rigumula Wu
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | | | | | - Bin Zhao
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | | | - Qikun Yu
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | | | - Kewei Ren
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Mingxu You
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
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30
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Celikbas E, Balaban S, Evran S, Coskunol H, Timur S. A Bottom-Up Approach for Developing Aptasensors for Abused Drugs: Biosensors in Forensics. BIOSENSORS 2019; 9:E118. [PMID: 31581533 PMCID: PMC6955935 DOI: 10.3390/bios9040118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Aptamer-based point-of-care (POC) diagnostics platforms may be of substantial benefit in forensic analysis as they provide rapid, sensitive, user-friendly, and selective analysis tools for detection. Aptasensors have not yet been adapted commercially. However, the significance of the applications of aptasensors in the literature exceeded their potential. Herein, in this review, a bottom-up approach is followed to describe the aptasensor development and application procedure, starting from the synthesis of the corresponding aptamer sequence for the selected analyte to creating a smart surface for the sensitive detection of the molecule of interest. Optical and electrochemical biosensing platforms, which are designed with aptamers as recognition molecules, detecting abused drugs are critically reviewed, and existing and possible applications of different designs are discussed. Several potential disciplines in which aptamer-based biosensing technology can be of greatest value, including forensic drug analysis and biological evidence, are then highlighted to encourage researchers to focus on developing aptasensors in these specific areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eda Celikbas
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Ege University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey;
| | - Simge Balaban
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Ege University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey;
| | - Serap Evran
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Ege University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey;
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ege University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Hakan Coskunol
- Department of Mental Health and Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey;
| | - Suna Timur
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Ege University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey;
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ege University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey
- Central Research Testing and Analysis Laboratory Research and Application Center, Ege University, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey
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Halman JR, Afonin KA. Editorial for the Special Issue on "Nucleic Acid Architectures for Therapeutics, Diagnostics, Devices and Materials". NANOMATERIALS 2019; 9:nano9070951. [PMID: 31261977 PMCID: PMC6669640 DOI: 10.3390/nano9070951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Justin R Halman
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
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