Signal transduction occurs in complex and redundant protein interaction networks, and multi-protein complexes are characterized by dynamic changes in their component interactions. Therefore, these processes are best understood by simultaneously monitoring the localizations and activities of multiple proteins under near-physiological conditions. Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy with fluorescent protein (FP)-based biosensors can dynamically image changes in protein interactions or conformation. However, FRET biosensor imaging is hampered by the broad absorption and emission spectra of FPs and high levels of autofluorescence background that lower signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), lower detection limits (requiring high levels of protein expression), necessitat multiple control images that limit temporal resolution (3-5 s image acquisition), and severely hinder the ability to perform multiplexed imaging of 2 or more FRET pairs. The goal of this project is to deliver 10-fold improvements in the temporal resolution and sensitivity of live-cell, multiplexed biosensor imaging via the use of lanthanide probes and time-gated microscopy. The objectives are to i) synthesize dendritic lanthanide (Tb, Eu) protein labels with 10-fold greater brightness than existing probes; ii) directly compare lanthanide-based and conventional FRET imaging using model dual- and single- chain biosensors; iii) image multiple dynamic interactions between the epithelial tight junction protein ZO-1 and claudin2, occludin and F-actin that are linked to disease-related changes in epithelial barrier function. Our central hypothesis is that biosensors containing multiple lanthanide complex donors will increase FRET signals proportionally with the lanthanide donor/acceptor ratio. This hypothesis rests on data from the previous cycle showing that i) conjugation to cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) mediates consistent cytoplasmic delivery of protein-targeted, ligand-Tb complex heterodimers and specific, stable labeling of receptor fusion proteins; and ii) both intermolecular and intramolecular Tb-to-GFP FRET can be detected in single-channel, time-gated images at cellular protein levels (1-10 uM), image acquisition times (1-3 s) and image S/N (>5) that are comparable to those seen with current, intensity-based FP-FRET imaging methods. The rationale for this project is that the development and quantitative evaluation of next-generation, lanthanide FRET biosensors will have a significant positive impact on human health by enabling 10X more potential protein interactions or activities that can be successfully imaged with minimal cell perturbation and commensurately greater capability of integrating dynamic data into static models of protein networks.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed research is relevant to public health because discovery of the mechanisms that regulate cellular function will require technologies that can simultaneously image the spatiotemporal dynamics of multiple protein activities or interactions in living cells. This work will therefore directly support the overall NIH mission of developing fundamental knowledge that will help reduce the burden of human disease and promote the NIGMS mission of supporting research that increases the understanding of life processes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM081030-07
Application #
9135504
Study Section
Enabling Bioanalytical and Imaging Technologies Study Section (EBIT)
Program Officer
Deatherage, James F
Project Start
2008-09-01
Project End
2018-08-31
Budget Start
2016-09-01
Budget End
2017-08-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Illinois at Chicago
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
098987217
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60612
Yao, Yao; Delgado-Rivera, Loruhama; Samareh Afsari, Hamid et al. (2018) Time-Gated Luminescence Detection of Enzymatically Produced Hydrogen Sulfide: Design, Synthesis, and Application of a Lanthanide-Based Probe. Inorg Chem 57:681-688
Yao, Yao; Kong, Chen; Yin, Liang et al. (2017) Time-Gated Detection of Cystathionine ?-Lyase Activity and Inhibition with a Selective, Luminogenic Hydrogen Sulfide Sensor. Chemistry 23:752-756
Chen, Ting; Hong, Rui; Magda, Darren et al. (2017) Time Gated Luminescence Imaging of Immunolabeled Human Tissues. Anal Chem 89:12713-12719
Mohamadi, Ali; Miller, Lawrence W (2017) Efficient route to pre-organized and linear polyaminopolycarboxylates: Cy-TTHA, Cy-DTPA and mono/di- reactive, tert-butyl protected TTHA/Cy-TTHA. Tetrahedron Lett 58:1441-1444
Shamirian, Armen; Samareh Afsari, Hamid; Wu, Donghui et al. (2016) Ratiometric QD-FRET Sensing of Aqueous H2S in Vitro. Anal Chem 88:6050-6
Mohamadi, Ali; Miller, Lawrence W (2016) Brightly Luminescent and Kinetically Inert Lanthanide Bioprobes Based on Linear and Preorganized Chelators. Bioconjug Chem :
Shamirian, Armen; Afsari, Hamid Samareh; Hassan, Asra et al. (2016) In vitro Detection of Hypoxia using a Ratiometric Quantum Dot-based Oxygen Sensor. ACS Sens 1:1244-1250
Afsari, Hamid Samareh; Cardoso Dos Santos, Marcelina; Lindén, Stina et al. (2016) Time-gated FRET nanoassemblies for rapid and sensitive intra- and extracellular fluorescence imaging. Sci Adv 2:e1600265
Rajendran, Megha; Miller, Lawrence W (2015) Evaluating the performance of time-gated live-cell microscopy with lanthanide probes. Biophys J 109:240-8
Zou, Xiaoyan; Rajendran, Megha; Magda, Darren et al. (2015) Cytoplasmic delivery and selective, multicomponent labeling with oligoarginine-linked protein tags. Bioconjug Chem 26:460-5

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