scholarly journals Ratiometric BRET Measurements of ATP with a Genetically-Encoded Luminescent Sensor

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (16) ◽  
pp. 3502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Se-Hong Min ◽  
Alexander R. French ◽  
Keelan J. Trull ◽  
Kiet Tat ◽  
S. Ashley Varney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Luminescence Intensity ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Expression Level ◽  
Mouse Tissue ◽  
Photon Flux ◽  
Color Palette ◽  
Animal Imaging

Luciferase-based reporters provide a key measurement approach in a broad range of applications, from in vitro high-throughput screening to whole animal imaging. For example, luminescence intensity is widely used to measure promoter activity, protein expression levels, and cell growth. However, luminescence intensity measurements are subject to quantitative irregularities caused by luminescence decay and variation in reporter expression level. In contrast, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) sensors provide the advantages of luciferase-based reporters but overcome the aforementioned irregularities because of the inherently ratiometric readout. Here, we generated a new ratiometric BRET sensor of ATP (ARSeNL—ATP detection with a Ratiometric mScarlet-NanoLuc sensor), and we demonstrated that it provides a stable and robust readout across protein, cell, and whole animal tissue contexts. The ARSeNL sensor was engineered by screening a color palette of sensors utilizing variants of the high photon flux NanoLuc luciferase as donors and a panel of red fluorescent proteins as acceptors. We found that the novel combination of NanoLuc and mScarlet exhibited the largest dynamic range, with a 5-fold change in the BRET ratio upon saturation with ATP. Importantly, the NanoLuc-mScarlet BRET pair provided a large spectral separation between luminescence emission channels that is compatible with green and red filter sets extensively used in typical biological microscopes and animal imaging systems. Using this new sensor, we showed that the BRET ratio was independent of luminescence intensity decay and sensor expression level, and the BRET ratio faithfully reported differences in live-cell energy metabolism whether in culture or within mouse tissue. In particular, BRET analyte sensors have not been used broadly in tissue contexts, and thus, in principle, our sensor could provide a new tool for in vivo imaging of metabolic status.

scholarly journals High-throughput screening and rational design of biofunctionalized surfaces with optimized biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhou Fang ◽  
Junjian Chen ◽  
Ye Zhu ◽  
Guansong Hu ◽  
Haoqian Xin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Click Reaction ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Biomaterial Surfaces

AbstractPeptides are widely used for surface modification to develop improved implants, such as cell adhesion RGD peptide and antimicrobial peptide (AMP). However, it is a daunting challenge to identify an optimized condition with the two peptides showing their intended activities and the parameters for reaching such a condition. Herein, we develop a high-throughput strategy, preparing titanium (Ti) surfaces with a gradient in peptide density by click reaction as a platform, to screen the positions with desired functions. Such positions are corresponding to optimized molecular parameters (peptide densities/ratios) and associated preparation parameters (reaction times/reactant concentrations). These parameters are then extracted to prepare nongradient mono- and dual-peptide functionalized Ti surfaces with desired biocompatibility or/and antimicrobial activity in vitro and in vivo. We also demonstrate this strategy could be extended to other materials. Here, we show that the high-throughput versatile strategy holds great promise for rational design and preparation of functional biomaterial surfaces.

scholarly journals Using the Microwell-mesh to culture microtissues in vitro and as a carrier to implant microtissues in vivo into mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa E. Monterosso ◽  
Kathryn Futrega ◽  
William B. Lott ◽  
Ian Vela ◽  
Elizabeth D. Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hair Follicles ◽  
Live Animal ◽  
Nsg Mice ◽  
Animal Imaging ◽  
Organ Specific ◽  
Bioluminescence Signal ◽  
Serial Transplantation ◽  
Live Animal Imaging

AbstractProstate cancer (PCa) patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) are commonly propagated by serial transplantation of “pieces” of tumour in mice, but the cellular composition of pieces is not standardised. Herein, we optimised a microwell platform, the Microwell-mesh, to aggregate precise numbers of cells into arrays of microtissues, and then implanted the Microwell-mesh into NOD-scid IL2γ−/− (NSG) mice to study microtissue growth. First, mesh pore size was optimised using microtissues assembled from bone marrow-derived stromal cells, with mesh opening dimensions of 100×100 μm achieving superior microtissue vascularisation relative to mesh with 36×36 μm mesh openings. The optimised Microwell-mesh was used to assemble and implant PCa cell microtissue arrays (hereafter microtissues formed from cancer cells are referred to as microtumours) into mice. PCa cells were enriched from three different PDX lines, LuCaP35, LuCaP141, and BM18. 3D microtumours showed greater in vitro viability than 2D cultures, but neither proliferated. Microtumours were successfully established in mice 81% (57 of 70), 67% (4 of 6), 76% (19 of 25) for LuCaP35, LuCaP141, and BM18 PCa cells, respectively. Microtumour growth was tracked using live animal imaging for size or bioluminescence signal. If augmented with further imaging advances and cell bar coding, this microtumour model could enable greater resolution of PCa PDX drug response, and lead to the more efficient use of animals. The concept of microtissue assembly in the Microwell-mesh, and implantation in vivo may also have utility in implantation of islets, hair follicles or other organ-specific cells that self-assemble into 3D structures, providing an important bridge between in vitro assembly of mini-organs and in vivo implantation.

scholarly journals The inhibitory effect of silencing CDCA3 on migration and proliferation in bladder urothelial carcinoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dexin Shen ◽  
Yayun Fang ◽  
Fenfang Zhou ◽  
Zhao Deng ◽  
Kaiyu Qian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Urothelial Carcinoma ◽  
Carcinoma Cells ◽  
Expression Level ◽  
Tumor Cell Growth ◽  
Migration Ability ◽  
Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma ◽  
Related Proteins

Abstract Background CDCA3 is an important component of the E3 ligase complex with SKP1 and CUL1, which could regulate the progress of cell mitosis. CDCA3 has been widely identified as a proto-oncogene in multiple human cancers, however, its role in promoting human bladder urothelial carcinoma has not been fully elucidated. Methods Bioinformatic methods were used to analyze the expression level of CDCA3 in human bladder urothelial carcinoma tissues and the relationship between its expression level and key clinical characteristics. In vitro studies were performed to validate the specific functions of CDCA3 in regulating cell proliferation, cell migration and cell cycle process. Alterations of related proteins was investigated by western blot assays. In vivo studies were constructed to validate whether silencing CDCA3 could inhibit the proliferation rate in mice model. Results Bioinformatic analysis revealed that CDCA3 was significantly up-regulated in bladder urothelial carcinoma samples and was related to key clinical characteristics, such as tumor grade and metastasis. Moreover, patients who had higher expression level of CDCA3 tend to show a shorter life span. In vitro studies revealed that silencing CDCA3 could impair the migration ability of tumor cells via down-regulating EMT-related proteins such as MMP9 and Vimentin and inhibit tumor cell growth via arresting cells in the G1 cell cycle phase through regulating cell cycle related proteins like p21. In vivo study confirmed that silencing CDCA3 could inhibit the proliferation of bladder urothelial carcinoma cells. Conclusions CDCA3 is an important oncogene that could strengthen the migration ability of bladder urothelial carcinoma cells and accelerate tumor cell growth via regulating cell cycle progress and is a potential biomarker of bladder urothelial carcinoma.

scholarly journals An expanded LUXendin color palette for GLP1R detection and visualization in vitro and in vivo

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Ast ◽  
Alissa N. Novak ◽  
Tom Podewin ◽  
Nicholas H. F. Fine ◽  
Ben Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Color Palette

scholarly journals TArget-Responsive Subcellular Catabolism Analysis for Early-stage Antibody-Drug Conjugates Screening and Assessment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua Sang ◽  
Jiali Liu ◽  
Fang Zhou ◽  
Xiaofang Zhang ◽  
Jingwei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assessment ◽  
Therapeutic Efficacy ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Drug Conjugates ◽  
Therapeutic Outcomes ◽  
Lysosomal Proteolysis

<p></p><p>Key events including antibody-antigen affinity, ADC internalization, trafficking and lysosomal proteolysis-mediated payload release combinatorially determine the therapeutic efficacy and safety for ADCs. Nevertheless, a universal technology that efficiently and conveniently evaluates the involvement of these above elements to ADC payload release and hence the final therapeutic outcomes for mechanistic studies and quality assessment is lacking. Considering the plethora of ADC candidates under development owing to the ever-evolving linker and drug chemistry, we developed a TArget-Responsive Subcellular Catabolism (TARSC) approach that measures catabolites kinetics for given ADCs and elaborates how each individual step ranging from antigen binding to lysosomal proteolysis affects ADC catabolism by targeted interferences. Using a commercial and a biosimilar ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) as model ADCs, we recorded unequivocal catabolites kinetics for the two T-DM1s in the presence and absence of the targeted interferences. Their negligible differences in TARSC profiles fitting with their undifferentiated therapeutic outcomes suggested by <i>in vitro</i> viability assays and <i>in vivo</i> tumor growth assays, highlighting TARSC analysis as a good indicator of ADC efficacy and bioequivalency. Lastly, we demonstrated the use of TARSC in assessing payload release efficiency for a new Trastuzumab-toxin conjugate. Collectively, we demonstrated the use of TARSC in characterizing ADC catabolism at (sub)cellular level, and in systematically depicting whether given target proteins affect ADC payload release and hence therapeutic efficacy. We anticipate its future use in high-throughput screening, quality assessment and mechanistic understanding of ADCs for drug R&D before proceeding to costly <i>in vivo</i> experiments.</p><br><p></p>

scholarly journals ELISA detection of MPO-DNA complexes in human plasma is error-prone and yields limited information on neutrophil extracellular traps formed in vivo

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0250265
Author(s):  
Hubert Hayden ◽  
Nahla Ibrahim ◽  
Johannes Klopf ◽  
Branislav Zagrapan ◽  
Lisa-Marie Mauracher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Plasma ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps ◽  
Plasma Samples ◽  
Dna Complexes ◽  
High Background ◽  
Isotype Control ◽  
Extracellular Traps

Over the past years, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were shown to contribute to states of acute and chronic inflammatory disease. They are composed of expelled chromatin and decorated by neutrophil-derived proteins. Therefore, the analysis of DNA complexes with myeloperoxidase (MPO) by ELISA has become an attractive tool to measure NET formation in in vitro and in vivo samples. When we used a published MPO-DNA ELISA protocol and included an isotype control for the anti-MPO coating antibody, we observed high assay specificity for in vitro prepared NET samples, whereas the specificity for in vivo plasma samples was low. In addition, the assay failed to detect in vitro generated MPO-DNA complexes when spiked into plasma. Therefore, we set out to improve the specificity of the MPO-DNA ELISA for plasma samples. We found that the use of Fab fragments or immunoglobulins from different species or reversal of the antibody pair led to either a high background or a low dynamic range of detection that did not improve the specificity for plasma samples. Also, the use of higher plasma dilutions or pre-clearing of plasma immunoglobulins were ineffective. Finally, we found that a commercial reagent designed to block human anti-mouse antibodies and multivalent substances increased the detection window between the MPO antibody and isotype control for highly diluted plasma. We applied this modified ELISA protocol to analyze MPO-DNA complexes in human blood samples of acute and chronic inflammatory conditions. While markers of neutrophil activation and NET formation such as MPO, elastase and citrullinated histone H3 correlated significantly, we observed no correlation with the levels of MPO-DNA complexes. Therefore, we conclude that ELISA measurements of MPO-DNA complexes in human plasma are highly questionable regarding specificity of NET detection. In general, plasma analyses by ELISA should more frequently include isotype controls for antibodies to demonstrate target specificity.

scholarly journals A Phenylfurocoumarin Derivative Reverses ABCG2-Mediated Multidrug Resistance In Vitro and In Vivo

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (22) ◽  
pp. 12502
Author(s):  
Shoji Kokubo ◽  
Shinobu Ohnuma ◽  
Megumi Murakami ◽  
Haruhisa Kikuchi ◽  
Shota Funayama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Atp Hydrolysis ◽  
Pheophorbide A ◽  
Chemical Library ◽  
Hct 116 ◽  
Potential Inhibitors

The ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) transporter is involved in the development of multidrug resistance in cancer patients. Many inhibitors of ABCG2 have been reported to enhance the chemosensitivity of cancer cells. However, none of these inhibitors are being used clinically. The aim of this study was to identify novel ABCG2 inhibitors by high-throughput screening of a chemical library. Among the 5812 compounds in the library, 23 compounds were selected in the first screening, using a fluorescent plate reader-based pheophorbide a (PhA) efflux assay. Thereafter, to validate these compounds, a flow cytometry-based PhA efflux assay was performed and 16 compounds were identified as potential inhibitors. A cytotoxic assay was then performed to assess the effect these 16 compounds had on ABCG2-mediated chemosensitivity. We found that the phenylfurocoumarin derivative (R)-9-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-((3,3-dimethyloxiran-2-yl)methoxy)-7H-furo [3,2-g]chromen-7-one (PFC) significantly decreased the IC50 of SN-38 in HCT-116/BCRP colon cancer cells. In addition, PFC stimulated ABCG2-mediated ATP hydrolysis, suggesting that this compound interacts with the substrate-binding site of ABCG2. Furthermore, PFC reversed the resistance to irinotecan without causing toxicity in the ABCG2-overexpressing HCT-116/BCRP cell xenograft mouse model. In conclusion, PFC is a novel inhibitor of ABCG2 and has promise as a therapeutic to overcome ABCG2-mediated MDR, to improve the efficiency of cancer chemotherapy.

scholarly journals A Novel Assay for Profiling GBM Cancer Model Heterogeneity and Drug Screening

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian T. Stackhouse ◽  
James R. Rowland ◽  
Rachael S. Shevin ◽  
Raj Singh ◽  
G. Yancey Gillespie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Therapeutic Response ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Cancer Model ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Cancer Models ◽  
Model Independent ◽  
Orthotopic Xenografts

Accurate patient-derived models of cancer are needed for profiling the disease and for testing therapeutics. These models must not only be accurate, but also suitable for high-throughput screening and analysis. Here we compare two derivative cancer models, microtumors and spheroids, to the gold standard model of patient-derived orthotopic xenografts (PDX) in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). To compare these models, we constructed a custom NanoString panel of 350 genes relevant to GBM biology. This custom assay includes 16 GBM-specific gene signatures including a novel GBM subtyping signature. We profiled 11 GBM-PDX with matched orthotopic cells, derived microtumors, and derived spheroids using the custom NanoString assay. In parallel, these derivative models underwent drug sensitivity screening. We found that expression of certain genes were dependent on the cancer model while others were model-independent. These model-independent genes can be used in profiling tumor-specific biology and in gauging therapeutic response. It remains to be seen whether or not cancer model-specific genes may be directly or indirectly, through changes to tumor microenvironment, manipulated to improve the concordance of in vitro derivative models with in vivo models yielding better prediction of therapeutic response.

scholarly journals Matrix Drug Screen Identifies Synergistic Drug Combinations to Augment SMAC Mimetic Activity in Ovarian Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3784
Author(s):  
Anne M. Noonan ◽  
Amanda Cousins ◽  
David Anderson ◽  
Kristen P. Zeligs ◽  
Kristen Bunch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Single Agent ◽  
Recurrent Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Drug Combinations ◽  
Smac Mimetic ◽  
Synergistic Drug Combinations

Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins are frequently upregulated in ovarian cancer, resulting in the evasion of apoptosis and enhanced cellular survival. Birinapant, a synthetic second mitochondrial activator of caspases (SMAC) mimetic, suppresses the functions of IAP proteins in order to enhance apoptotic pathways and facilitate tumor death. Despite on-target activity, however, pre-clinical trials of single-agent birinapant have exhibited minimal activity in the recurrent ovarian cancer setting. To augment the therapeutic potential of birinapant, we utilized a high-throughput screening matrix to identify synergistic drug combinations. Of those combinations identified, birinapant plus docetaxel was selected for further evaluation, given its remarkable synergy both in vitro and in vivo. We showed that this synergy results from multiple convergent pathways to include increased caspase activation, docetaxel-mediated TNF-α upregulation, alternative NF-kB signaling, and birinapant-induced microtubule stabilization. These findings provide a rationale for the integration of birinapant and docetaxel in a phase 2 clinical trial for recurrent ovarian cancer where treatment options are often limited and minimally effective.

scholarly journals In vivo and in vitro folding of a recombinant metalloenzyme, phosphomannose isomerase

1996 ◽  
Vol 318 (2) ◽  
pp. 437-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda E. I. PROUDFOOT ◽  
Laurence GOFFIN ◽  
Mark A PAYTON ◽  
Timothy N. C. WELLS ◽  
Alain R BERNARD
Keyword(s):  
Inclusion Bodies ◽  
Guanidine Hydrochloride ◽  
Expression Level ◽  
Phosphomannose Isomerase ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Body Protein ◽  
Fourfold Increase ◽  
E Coli

Phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) catalyses the interconversion of mannose 6-phosphate and fructose 6-phosphate in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The enzyme is a metalloenzyme which contains 1 mol of zinc per mol of enzyme. Heterologous expression of the cDNA coding for the Candida albicans enzyme in the prokaryotic host Escherichia coli results in an expression level of up to 30% of total E. coli protein. Ten percent of recombinant PMI is expressed in the soluble fraction and 90% in inclusion bodies. Inclusion of a high level of zinc in the fermentation medium resulted in a fourfold increase in soluble protein. Co-expression of the bacterial chaperones, GroES and GroEL, resulted in a proportional twofold increase in soluble PMI while causing an overall decrease in the PMI expression level. Folding denatured PMI in vitro required reductant and zinc ions. The yield of renatured protein was increased by folding in the presence of GroEL and DnaK in an ATP-independent manner. The refolding yield of denatured soluble enzyme from a guanidine solution was threefold higher than that of folding monomerized inclusion body protein solubilized in guanidine hydrochloride. This suggests that a proportion of recombinant protein expressed in E. coli inclusion bodies may be irreversibly denatured.

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