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Masquelier E, Taxon E, Liang SP, Al Sabeh Y, Sepunaru L, Gordon MJ, Morse DE. A new electrochemical method that mimics phosphorylation of the core tau peptide K18 enables kinetic and structural analysis of intermediates and assembly. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:103011. [PMID: 36781124 PMCID: PMC10024187 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.103011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau protein's reversible assembly and binding of microtubules in brain neurons are regulated by charge-neutralizing phosphorylation, while its hyperphosphorylation drives the irreversible formation of cytotoxic filaments associated with neurodegenerative diseases. However, the structural changes that facilitate these diverse functions are unclear. Here, we analyzed K18, a core peptide of tau, using newly developed spectroelectrochemical instrumentation that enables electroreduction as a surrogate for charge neutralization by phosphorylation, with simultaneous, real-time quantitative analyses of the resulting conformational transitions and assembly. We observed a tipping point between behaviors that paralleled the transition between tau's physiologically required, reversible folding and assembly and the irreversibility of assemblies. The resulting rapidly electroassembled structures represent the first fibrillar tangles of K18 that have been formed in vitro at room temperature without using heparin or other charge-complementary anionic partners. These methods make it possible to (i) trigger and analyze in real time the early stages of conformational transitions and assembly without the need for preformed seeds, heterogenous coacervation, or crowding; (ii) kinetically resolve and potentially isolate never-before-seen early intermediates in these processes; and (iii) develop assays for additional factors and mechanisms that can direct the trajectory of assembly from physiologically benign and reversible to potentially pathological and irreversible structures. We anticipate wide applicability of these methods to other amyloidogenic systems and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise Masquelier
- Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA; Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Esther Taxon
- Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Sheng-Ping Liang
- Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Yahya Al Sabeh
- Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Lior Sepunaru
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Michael J Gordon
- Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Daniel E Morse
- Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.
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2
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Lai ZX, Wu CC, Huang NT. A Microfluidic Platform with an Embedded Miniaturized Electrochemical Sensor for On-Chip Plasma Extraction Followed by In Situ High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) Detection. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:1163. [PMID: 36551130 PMCID: PMC9775575 DOI: 10.3390/bios12121163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Blood testing is a clinical diagnostic tool to evaluate physiological conditions, the immune system response, or the presence of infection from whole blood samples. Although conventional blood testing can provide rich biological information, it usually requires complicated and tedious whole blood processing steps operated by benchtop instruments and well-experienced technicians, limiting its usage in point-of-care (POC) settings. To address the above problems, we propose a microfluidic platform for on-chip plasma extraction directly from whole blood and in situ biomarker detection. Herein, we chose C-reactive protein (CRP) as the target biomarker, which can be used to predict fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) events such as heart attacks and strokes. To achieve a rapid, undiluted, and high-purity on-chip plasma extraction, we combined two whole blood processing methods: (1) anti-D immunoglobulin-assisted sedimentation, and (2) membrane filtration. To perform in situ CRP detection, we fabricated a three-dimensional (3D) microchannel with an embedded electrochemical (EC) sensor, which has a modular design to attach the blood collector and buffer reservoir with standard Luer connectors. As a proof of concept, we first confirmed that the dual plasma extraction design achieved the same purity level as the standard centrifugation method with smaller sample (100 µL of plasma extracted from 400 µL of whole blood) and time (7 min) requirements. Next, we validated the functionalization protocol of the EC sensor, followed by evaluating the detection of CRP spiked in plasma and whole blood. Our microfluidic platform performed on-chip plasma extraction directly from whole blood and in situ CRP detection at a 0.1-10 μg/mL concentration range, covering the CVD risk evaluation level of the high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) test. Based on the above features, we believe that this platform constitutes a flexible way to integrate the processing of complex samples with accurate biomarker detection in a sample-to-answer POC platform, which can be applied in CVD risk monitoring under critical clinical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Xuan Lai
- Graduation Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Chien Wu
- Graduation Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Nien-Tsu Huang
- Graduation Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
- Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
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3
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Le HTN, Phan LMT, Cho S. Removal of Thiol-SAM on a Gold Surface for Re-Use of an Interdigitated Chain-Shaped Electrode. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15062218. [PMID: 35329670 PMCID: PMC8950519 DOI: 10.3390/ma15062218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The self-assembled monolayer (SAM) is the most common organic assembly utilized for the formation of the monolayers of alkane-thiolates on gold electrode, resulting in a wide range of applications for the modified SAM on gold in various research areas. This study examined the desorption of a SAM that was developed on the gold surface of an interdigitated chain-shaped electrode (the ICE, a unique electrode design, was fabricated by our group) with the goal of determining the most efficient strategy of SAM removal for the ICE to be re-used. A simple and proficient solution-based cleaning procedure was applied for the removal of a SAM on the gold surface of the ICE by using a sodium borohydride solution within short-term treatment, resulting in efficiency for the recovery of the originally electrochemical characteristic of ICE of 90.3%. The re-use of ICE after the removal process was confirmed by the successful re-deposition of a SAM onto the electrode surface, resulting in the high efficiency percentage of 90.1% for the reusability of ICE with the SAM modification. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used as tools to investigate the changes in the electrode interface at each stage of the SAM removal and the electrode recycling. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were employed, being powerful spectrum techniques, for the characterization of the bonding structure and chemical state of the bare ICE and the modified ICE at each treatment step. Based on the comprehensive discussion of analytical chemistry from the obtained EIS and CV data in this study, we confirmed and proved the effectiveness of this promising method for the removal of a SAM from the ICE and the re-use of ICE in the field of material deposition, with the aims of saving money, improving experimental handling, and protecting the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hien T. Ngoc Le
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam-si 13120, Korea;
| | - Le Minh Tu Phan
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, The University of Danang, Danang 550000, Vietnam;
| | - Sungbo Cho
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam-si 13120, Korea;
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, GAIHST, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-(31)-750-5321
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Le HTN, Kim D, Phan LMT, Cho S. Ultrasensitive capacitance sensor to detect amyloid-beta 1-40 in human serum using supramolecular recognition of β-CD/RGO/ITO micro-disk electrode. Talanta 2022; 237:122907. [PMID: 34736644 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we developed a new ultrasensitive capacitance sensor for detection of amyloid beta 1-40 (aβ40) protein (one of Alzheimer's disease core biomarkers) in human serum based on the high supramolecular recognition of the β-cyclodextrin/reduced graphene oxide (β-CD/RGO) nanohybrid toward the anti-aβ40 antibody molecule. The sensor was established by immobilizing specific anti-aβ40 antibody onto the β-CD/RGO nanohybrid functionalized on indium tin oxide micro-disk electrode (anti-aβ40/β-CD/RGO/ITO). Detection of aβ40 in the human serum (HS) using the sensor anti-aβ40/β-CD/RGO/ITO is carried out by capacitance measurement without a redox probe to prevent protein denaturation, serving as a convenient strategy for point-of-care diagnosis. In comparison with other studies, the sensor shows a very low limit of detection of 0.69 fg mL-1 in HS, demonstrating its ability for the ultrasensitive detection of aβ40. Using this sensor, the dissociation constant KD of the binding interaction between anti-aβ40 and aβ40 in HS is found to be 2.9 × 10-7 nM, indicating the high binding affinity of antibody-antigen and the suitability of the anti-aβ40/β-CD/RGO/ITO sensor for aβ40 protein detection. The good selectivity of the anti-aβ40/β-CD/RGO/ITO sensor in the presence of differential analytes was also performed in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hien T Ngoc Le
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13120, South Korea
| | - Daesoo Kim
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13120, South Korea
| | - Le Minh Tu Phan
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13120, South Korea; School of Medicine and Pharmacy, The University of Danang, Danang, 550000, Viet Nam.
| | - Sungbo Cho
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13120, South Korea; Department of Health Sciences and Technology, GAIHST, Gachon University, Incheon, 21999, South Korea.
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Sensitive Electrochemical Detection of Phosphorylated-Tau Threonine 231 in Human Serum Using Interdigitated Wave-Shaped Electrode. Biomedicines 2021; 10:biomedicines10010010. [PMID: 35052691 PMCID: PMC8773253 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of an electrochemical biosensor for the detection of phosphorylated-tau threonine 231 (p-tau231), a biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), has yet to be achieved. Therefore, in this study, we developed a simple, small size, cheap, and sensitive electrochemical biosensor based on an interdigitated wave-shaped electrode via an activated self-assembled monolayer to preserve a specific anti–p-tau231 antibody (IWE/SAM/EDC-NHS/anti–p-tau231). Detection of p-tau231 in human serum (HS) using the biosensor was undertaken using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The change in charge-transfer resistance (Rct) in the EIS analysis of the biosensor indicated the detection of p-tau231 in HS within a wide linear range of detection (10−4–101 ng mL−1), and a low limit of detection (140 pg mL−1). This lower limit is less than the detection level of p-tau231 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (700 pg mL−1) of AD patients and the level of CSF p-tau231 of patients with mild cognitive impairment (501 pg mL−1), demonstrating the possibility of using the biosensor in detection of p-tau231 at early stage AD. A high binding affinity and low dissociation constant (Kd) between anti–p-tau231 and p-tau231 in HS was demonstrated by using a biosensor and Kd was 7.6 pM, demonstrating the high specific detection of p-tau231 by the biosensor. The good selectivity of the biosensor for the detection of p-tau231 with differential analytes was also examined in this study.
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Sun RQ, Wang ZD, Zhao J, Wang S, Liu YZ, Liu SY, Li ZG, Wang X. Improvement of electroacupuncture on APP/PS1 transgenic mice in behavioral probably due to reducing deposition of Aβ in hippocampus. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 304:2521-2530. [PMID: 34469051 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease for which currently no cure is available. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been widely used in China as an alternative therapeutic approach for neurological diseases. The cognitive decline in patients with AD has been reported to be closely related to the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the hippocampus of the brain, and the Morris water maze (MWM) test is a widely used method for assessing the behavior of animal models. In this study, the MWM test was performed to evaluate the effects of EA treatment on cognitive function and memory, and the micro-positron emission tomography scan was used to assess the hippocampal Aβ deposition. The results showed that the cognitive function of APP/PS1 mice was significantly improved and the rate of [18F]AV-45 uptake was reduced in the EA group, compared with the AD group. Our study suggested that EA can exert a therapeutic effect in AD by improving spatial learning and memory and inhibiting the hippocampal Aβ deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Run-Quan Sun
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zi-Dong Wang
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Zhao
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Wang
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yi-Zhi Liu
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Si-Yuan Liu
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Li
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Phan LMT, Cho S. A Multi-Chamber Paper-Based Platform for the Detection of Amyloid β Oligomers 42 via Copper-Enhanced Gold Immunoblotting. Biomolecules 2021; 11:948. [PMID: 34206715 PMCID: PMC8301831 DOI: 10.3390/biom11070948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains a challenge for medical scientists worldwide, leading to a number of research efforts that focus on biosensor development for AD biomarkers. However, the application of these complicated biosensors is limited in medical diagnosis, due to the difficulties in robust sensing platform development, high costs, and the necessity for technical professionals. We successfully developed a robust straightforward manufacturing process for the fabrication of multi-chamber paper devices using the wax printing method and exploited it to detect amyloid beta 42 oligomers (AβO42, a significant biomarker of AD) using copper-enhanced gold nanoprobe colorimetric immunoblotting. Small hydrophilic reaction chambers could concentrate the target sample to the desired size to improve the sensing performance. The copper-enhanced gold nanoprobe immunoblot using the designed multi-chamber platform exhibited a highly sensitive performance with a limit of detection of 320 pg/mL by the naked eye and 23.7 pg/mL by a smartphone camera. This process from sensing manufacture to sensing conduction is simple to perform whenever medical technicians require time- and cost-savings, without complicated instruments or the need for technical professionals, making it feasible to serve as a diagnostic tool worldwide for the early monitoring of AD and scalable devices for the sensing application of various biomarkers in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le-Minh-Tu Phan
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, The University of Danang, Danang 550000, Vietnam
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Sungbo Cho
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, GAIHST, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Korea
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Pasieka A, Panek D, Szałaj N, Espargaró A, Więckowska A, Malawska B, Sabaté R, Bajda M. Dual Inhibitors of Amyloid-β and Tau Aggregation with Amyloid-β Disaggregating Properties: Extended In Cellulo, In Silico, and Kinetic Studies of Multifunctional Anti-Alzheimer's Agents. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:2057-2068. [PMID: 34019757 PMCID: PMC8291496 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
![]()
In Alzheimer’s
disease, neurons slowly degenerate due to
the accumulation of misfolded amyloid β and tau proteins. In
our research, we performed extended studies directed at amyloid β
and tau aggregation inhibition using in cellulo (Escherichia coli model of protein aggregation), in silico, and in vitro kinetic studies.
We tested our library of 1-benzylamino-2-hydroxyalkyl multifunctional
anti-Alzheimer’s agents and identified very potent dual aggregation
inhibitors. Among the tested derivatives, we selected compound 18, which exhibited a unique profile of biological activity.
This compound was the most potent and balanced dual aggregation inhibitor
(Aβ42 inhibition (inh.) 80.0%, tau inh. 68.3% in
10 μM), with previously reported in vitro inhibitory
activity against hBuChE, hBACE1,
and Aβ (hBuChE IC50 = 5.74 μM; hBACE1 IC50 = 41.6 μM; Aβ aggregation
(aggr.) inh. IC50 = 3.09 μM). In docking studies
for both proteins, we tried to explain the different structural requirements
for the inhibition of Aβ vs tau. Moreover, docking and kinetic
studies showed that compound 18 could inhibit the amyloid
aggregation process at several steps and also displayed disaggregating
properties. These results may help to design the next generations
of dual or selective aggregation inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pasieka
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Dawid Panek
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Natalia Szałaj
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Av Joan XXIII, S/N, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Więckowska
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Barbara Malawska
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Av Joan XXIII, S/N, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marek Bajda
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
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