1
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Faust Akl C, Linnerbauer M, Li Z, Lee HG, Clark IC, Wheeler MA, Quintana FJ. Droplet-based functional CRISPR screening of cell-cell interactions by SPEAC-seq. Nat Protoc 2024:10.1038/s41596-024-01056-1. [PMID: 39327538 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-01056-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
Cell-cell interactions are essential for the function and contextual regulation of biological tissues. We present a platform for high-throughput microfluidics-supported genetic screening of functional regulators of cell-cell interactions. Systematic perturbation of encapsulated associated cells followed by sequencing (SPEAC-seq) combines genome-wide CRISPR libraries, cell coculture in droplets and microfluidic droplet sorting based on functional read-outs determined by fluorescent reporter circuits to enable the unbiased discovery of interaction regulators. This technique overcomes limitations of traditional methods for characterization of cell-cell communication, which require a priori knowledge of cellular interactions, are highly engineered and lack functional read-outs. As an example of this technique, we describe the investigation of neuroinflammatory intercellular communication between microglia and astrocytes, using genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 inactivation libraries and fluorescent reporters of NF-κB activation. This approach enabled the discovery of thousands of microglial regulators of astrocyte NF-κB activation important for the control of central nervous system inflammation. Importantly, SPEAC-seq can be adapted to different cell types, screening modalities, cell functions and physiological contexts, only limited by the ability to fluorescently report cell functions and by droplet cultivation conditions. Performing genome-wide screening takes less than 2 weeks and requires microfluidics capabilities. Thus, SPEAC-seq enables the large-scale investigation of cell-cell interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Faust Akl
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mathias Linnerbauer
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhaorong Li
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hong-Gyun Lee
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Iain C Clark
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, QB3, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michael A Wheeler
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Francisco J Quintana
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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2
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Zhou X, Martell JD. DNA-Directed Activation of Photocatalytic Labeling at Cell-Cell Contact Sites. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:1935-1941. [PMID: 39226459 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.4c00515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Cell-cell interactions govern diverse biological activities, necessitating molecular tools for understanding and regulating these interactions. Photoredox chemistry can detect cell-cell interactions by anchoring photocatalysts on cellular membranes to generate reactive species that tag closely contacting cells. However, the activation of photocatalysts lacks precise spatial resolution for selectively labeling intercellular interfaces. Herein, we report a DNA-based approach to selectively activate photocatalytic reactions at cell-cell contacts. Two cell populations are coated with distinct DNA strands, which interact at intercellular contacts, mediating the site-specific turn-on of a Ru(bpy)3-type photocatalyst. We demonstrate high spatial specificity for intercellular chemical labeling in cultured mammalian cells. Furthermore, as a proof of concept, we activate the dynamic DNA catalyst at cell-cell contacts in response to customized DNA triggers. This study lays the foundation for designing versatile chemical tools with high spatial precision and programmable responsiveness, along with the temporal resolution afforded by photoirradiation, to investigate and manipulate cell-cell interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin─Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Jeffrey D Martell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin─Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
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3
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Lin W, Phatarphekar A, Zhong Y, Liu L, Kwon HB, Gerwick WH, Wang Y, Mehta S, Zhang J. Light-gated integrator for highlighting kinase activity in living cells. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7804. [PMID: 39242543 PMCID: PMC11379911 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51270-4] [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: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein kinases are key signaling nodes that regulate fundamental biological and disease processes. Illuminating kinase signaling from multiple angles can provide deeper insights into disease mechanisms and improve therapeutic targeting. While fluorescent biosensors are powerful tools for visualizing live-cell kinase activity dynamics in real time, new molecular tools are needed that enable recording of transient signaling activities for post hoc analysis and targeted manipulation. Here, we develop a light-gated kinase activity coupled transcriptional integrator (KINACT) that converts dynamic kinase signals into "permanent" fluorescent marks. KINACT enables robust monitoring of kinase activity across scales, accurately recording subcellular PKA activity, highlighting PKA activity distribution in 3D cultures, and identifying PKA activators and inhibitors in high-throughput screens. We further leverage the ability of KINACT to drive signaling effector expression to allow feedback manipulation of the balance of GαsR201C-induced PKA and ERK activation and dissect the mechanisms of oncogenic G protein signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Lin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | | | - Yanghao Zhong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Longwei Liu
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hyung-Bae Kwon
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - William H Gerwick
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yingxiao Wang
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sohum Mehta
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Shu Chien - Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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4
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Lebek T, Malaguti M, Boezio GL, Zoupi L, Briscoe J, Elfick A, Lowell S. PUFFFIN: an ultra-bright, customisable, single-plasmid system for labelling cell neighbourhoods. EMBO J 2024; 43:4110-4135. [PMID: 38997504 PMCID: PMC11405414 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00154-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell communication coordinates developmental processes, maintains homeostasis, and contributes to disease. Therefore, understanding the relationship between cells in a shared environment is crucial. Here we introduce Positive Ultra-bright Fluorescent Fusion For Identifying Neighbours (PUFFFIN), a cell neighbour-labelling system based upon secretion and uptake of positively supercharged fluorescent protein s36GFP. We fused s36GFP to mNeonGreen or to a HaloTag, facilitating ultra-bright, sensitive, colour-of-choice labelling. Secretor cells transfer PUFFFIN to neighbours while retaining nuclear mCherry, making identification, isolation, and investigation of live neighbours straightforward. PUFFFIN can be delivered to cells, tissues, or embryos on a customisable single-plasmid construct composed of interchangeable components with the option to incorporate any transgene. This versatility enables the manipulation of cell properties, while simultaneously labelling surrounding cells, in cell culture or in vivo. We use PUFFFIN to ask whether pluripotent cells adjust the pace of differentiation to synchronise with their neighbours during exit from naïve pluripotency. PUFFFIN offers a simple, sensitive, customisable approach to profile non-cell-autonomous responses to natural or induced changes in cell identity or behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamina Lebek
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Mattias Malaguti
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
- Centre for Engineering Biology, Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, UK
| | | | - Lida Zoupi
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | | | - Alistair Elfick
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 3DW, UK
- UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Sally Lowell
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.
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5
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Zhang X, Mille-Fragoso LS, Kaseniit KE, Call CC, Zhang M, Hu Y, Xie Y, Gao XJ. Post-Transcriptional Modular Synthetic Receptors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.03.592453. [PMID: 38746461 PMCID: PMC11092781 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.03.592453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Inspired by the power of transcriptional synthetic receptors and hoping to complement them to expand the toolbox for cell engineering, we establish LIDAR (Ligand-Induced Dimerization Activating RNA editing), a modular post-transcriptional synthetic receptor platform that harnesses RNA editing by ADAR. LIDAR is compatible with various receptor architectures in different cellular contexts, and enables the sensing of diverse ligands and the production of functional outputs. Furthermore, LIDAR can sense orthogonal signals in the same cell and produce synthetic spatial patterns, potentially enabling the programming of complex multicellular behaviors. Finally, LIDAR is compatible with compact encoding and can be delivered by synthetic mRNA. Thus, LIDAR expands the family of synthetic receptors, holding the promise to empower basic research and therapeutic applications.
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6
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Lin W, Phatarphekar A, Zhong Y, Liu L, Kwon HB, Gerwick WH, Wang Y, Mehta S, Zhang J. Light-gated Integrator for Highlighting Kinase Activity in Living Cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.18.585554. [PMID: 38562887 PMCID: PMC10983958 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.18.585554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Protein kinases are key signaling nodes that regulate fundamental biological and disease processes. Illuminating kinase signaling from multiple angles can provide deeper insights into disease mechanisms and improve therapeutic targeting. While fluorescent biosensors are powerful tools for visualizing live-cell kinase activity dynamics in real time, new molecular tools are needed that enable recording of transient signaling activities for post hoc analysis and targeted manipulation. Here, we develop a light-gated kinase activity coupled transcriptional integrator (KINACT) that converts dynamic kinase signals into "permanent" fluorescent marks. KINACT enables robust monitoring of kinase activity across scales, accurately recording subcellular PKA activity, highlighting PKA signaling heterogeneity in 3D cultures, and identifying PKA activators and inhibitors in high-throughput screens. We further leverage the ability of KINACT to drive signaling effector expression to allow feedback manipulation of the balance of GαsR201C-induced PKA and ERK activation and dissect the mechanisms of oncogenic G protein signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Lin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Yanghao Zhong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Longwei Liu
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hyung-Bae Kwon
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - William H. Gerwick
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yingxiao Wang
- Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sohum Mehta
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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7
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Malaguti M, Lebek T, Blin G, Lowell S. Enabling neighbour labelling: using synthetic biology to explore how cells influence their neighbours. Development 2024; 151:dev201955. [PMID: 38165174 PMCID: PMC10820747 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Cell-cell interactions are central to development, but exploring how a change in any given cell relates to changes in the neighbour of that cell can be technically challenging. Here, we review recent developments in synthetic biology and image analysis that are helping overcome this problem. We highlight the opportunities presented by these advances and discuss opportunities and limitations in applying them to developmental model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattias Malaguti
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Tamina Lebek
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Guillaume Blin
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Sally Lowell
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
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8
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Maffuid K, Cao Y. Decoding the Complexity of Immune-Cancer Cell Interactions: Empowering the Future of Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4188. [PMID: 37627216 PMCID: PMC10453128 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15164188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor and tumor microenvironment (TME) consist of a complex network of cells, including malignant, immune, fibroblast, and vascular cells, which communicate with each other. Disruptions in cell-cell communication within the TME, caused by a multitude of extrinsic and intrinsic factors, can contribute to tumorigenesis, hinder the host immune system, and enable tumor evasion. Understanding and addressing intercellular miscommunications in the TME are vital for combating these processes. The effectiveness of immunotherapy and the heterogeneous response observed among patients can be attributed to the intricate cellular communication between immune cells and cancer cells. To unravel these interactions, various experimental, statistical, and computational techniques have been developed. These include ligand-receptor analysis, intercellular proximity labeling approaches, and imaging-based methods, which provide insights into the distorted cell-cell interactions within the TME. By characterizing these interactions, we can enhance the design of cancer immunotherapy strategies. In this review, we present recent advancements in the field of mapping intercellular communication, with a particular focus on immune-tumor cellular interactions. By modeling these interactions, we can identify critical factors and develop strategies to improve immunotherapy response and overcome treatment resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn Maffuid
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
| | - Yanguang Cao
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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