This application involves a collaboration between two PIs in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, Professors Dmochowski and Christianson. We are combining our complementary expertise in organic synthesis, xenon-based and fluorescence-based molecular imaging, carbonic anhydrase inhibitor design, and protein X-ray crystallography to develop a new class of xenon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents for early lung cancer detection. Unlike most atomic nuclei, xenon-129 can be hyperpolarized, which produces a ~100,000-fold signal enhancement in a MRI scanner. Furthermore, xenon is very polarizable, which allows it to bind water-soluble organic cages called cryptophanes with micromolar dissociation constants, and the 129Xe magnetic resonance chemical shift is very sensitive to the molecular environment of the cryptophane. These properties motivate the development of xenon biosensors for the detection of cancer biomarkers. Our collaborative studies indicate that hyperpolarized 129Xe nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) biosensors show tremendous promise for the detection of specific isozymes of the zinc metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA), as Xe biosensors targeting CA I and II gave distinct resonances with very large chemical shifts and narrow linewidths. We also determined the first crystal structure of a CAII-Xe-biosensor complex, and this structure clearly shows the cryptophane encapsulating a single xenon atom and the benzenesulfonamide moiety coordinating to the active site zinc ion, as designed. We now propose an efficient synthesis for single-enantiomer Xe biosensors, which will greatly facilitate the interpretation of 129Xe NMR spectra, as well as the cocrystallization of these compounds with the CA isozymes. Carbonic anhydase is a validated drug target and cancer biomarker. For example, several CA isozymes, including CA IX and XII, are highly overexpressed in malignant tumors. We have chosen to focus on the development of xenon biosensors for small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for four reasons: (1) lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, (2) early detection of NSCLC allows treatment with surgical procedures and dramatically improves patient prognosis;(3) CA IX and XII are highly overexpressed in most forms of NSCLC, and (4) hyperpolarized 129Xe is readily delivered to the lungs, where it provides useful spectroscopic signatures. In these studies, we propose to elucidate the full range of CA-cryptophane interactions that produce large 129Xe NMR chemical shifts by determining the structures of multiple CA-Xe biosensor complexes and measuring the hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR spectra for these complexes in solution. Together with Penn Chemistry colleague Jeffery Saven, we will analyze these biophysical data and elaborate computationally designed mutations in CA II that will alter the dipole moment while maintaining protein stability. Computational methods for predicting 129Xe NMR chemical shifts for protein-bound xenon biosensors will also be developed, using CA II as a model system. Using these models, we will then focus on the development of 129Xe NMR biosensors for the early detection of NSCLC, targeting CA IX and XII. Xe biosensors will be developed that give very distinct resonances for CA I, II, IX, and XII, and these will be tested in NSCLC cells via fluorescence microscopy and hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR spectroscopy and imaging. Multiplexing experiments will be performed in lung cancer cells and tissues, using xenon biosensors to identify multiple CA isozymes.

Public Health Relevance

This application involves a collaboration between two PIs in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, and we are combining our complementary expertise in organic synthesis, molecular imaging, and X-ray protein crystallography in the development of a new class of imaging agents for early cancer detection. Our recent studies indicate that xenon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents show tremendous promise for the detection of specific isozymes of the zinc metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA): CA is a validated drug target and cancer biomarker, and Xe biosensors are designed to coordinate to the active site zinc ion. For example, several CA isozymes, including CA IX and XII, are highly overexpressed in malignant tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We now propose an efficient synthesis for single-enantiomer Xe biosensors, which will promote the cocrystallization of these compounds with the CA isozymes to enable the optimization of biosensor designs and also facilitate the interpretation of isozyme- dependent differences in 129Xe chemical shifts. Using computational approaches together with Penn colleague Jeffery Saven, and mutational analysis of CA II as a model system, we propose to elucidate CA- cryptophane interactions that produce large changes in 129Xe NMR chemical shift, and in the process, develop a new class of xenon-based MRI contrast agents for the early detection of NSCLC.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM097478-02
Application #
8332753
Study Section
Macromolecular Structure and Function A Study Section (MSFA)
Program Officer
Wehrle, Janna P
Project Start
2011-09-15
Project End
2015-05-31
Budget Start
2012-06-01
Budget End
2013-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$414,699
Indirect Cost
$143,439
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Zemerov, Serge D; Roose, Benjamin W; Greenberg, Mara L et al. (2018) Cryptophane Nanoscale Assemblies Expand 129Xe NMR Biosensing. Anal Chem 90:7730-7738
Roose, B W; Zemerov, S D; Dmochowski, I J (2017) Nanomolar small-molecule detection using a genetically encoded 129Xe NMR contrast agent. Chem Sci 8:7631-7636
Riggle, Brittany A; Greenberg, Mara L; Wang, Yanfei et al. (2017) A cryptophane-based ""turn-on"" 129Xe NMR biosensor for monitoring calmodulin. Org Biomol Chem 15:8883-8887
Wang, Yanfei; Roose, Benjamin W; Palovcak, Eugene J et al. (2016) A Genetically Encoded ?-Lactamase Reporter for Ultrasensitive (129) Xe NMR in Mammalian Cells. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 55:8984-7
Wang, Yanfei; Dmochowski, Ivan J (2016) An Expanded Palette of Xenon-129 NMR Biosensors. Acc Chem Res 49:2179-2187
Wang, Yanfei; Roose, Benjamin W; Philbin, John P et al. (2016) Programming A Molecular Relay for Ultrasensitive Biodetection through (129)Xe?NMR. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 55:1733-6
Rapp, Teresa L; Phillips, Susan R; Dmochowski, Ivan J (2016) Kinetics and Photochemistry of Ruthenium Bisbipyridine Diacetonitrile Complexes: An Interdisciplinary Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Laboratory Exercise. J Chem Educ 93:2101-2105
Khan, Najat S; Riggle, Brittany A; Seward, Garry K et al. (2015) Cryptophane-folate biosensor for (129)xe NMR. Bioconjug Chem 26:101-9
Wang, Yanfei; Dmochowski, Ivan J (2015) Cucurbit[6]uril is an ultrasensitive (129)Xe NMR contrast agent. Chem Commun (Camb) 51:8982-5
Taratula, Olena; Bai, Yubin; D'Antonio, Edward L et al. (2015) Enantiopure Cryptophane-(129)Xe Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Biosensors Targeting Carbonic Anhydrase. Supramol Chem 27:65-71

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