scholarly journals Rational engineering of ratiometric calcium sensors with bright green and red fluorescent proteins

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diming Zhang ◽  
Emily Redington ◽  
Yiyang Gong
Keyword(s):  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Photophysical Properties ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Neural Structure ◽  
Rational Engineering ◽  
Calcium Sensors ◽  
Red Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Deep Layers ◽  
And Function

AbstractRatiometric genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) record neural activity with high brightness while mitigating motion-induced artifacts. Recently developed ratiometric GECIs primarily employ cyan and yellow-fluorescent fluorescence resonance energy transfer pairs, and thus fall short in some applications that require deep tissue penetration and resistance to photobleaching. We engineered a set of green-red ratiometric calcium sensors that fused two fluorescent proteins and calcium sensing domain within an alternate configuration. The best performing elements of this palette of sensors, Twitch-GR and Twitch-NR, inherited the superior photophysical properties of their constituent fluorescent proteins. These properties enabled our sensors to outperform existing ratiometric calcium sensors in brightness and photobleaching metrics. In turn, the shot-noise limited signal fidelity of our sensors when reporting action potentials in cultured neurons and in the awake behaving mice was higher than the fidelity of existing sensors. Our sensor enabled a regime of imaging that simultaneously captured neural structure and function down to the deep layers of the mouse cortex.

Induction-resonance energy transfer between the terbium-binding peptide and the red fluorescent proteins DsRed2 and TagRFP

BIOPHYSICS ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. R. Arslanbaeva ◽  
V. V. Zherdeva ◽  
T. V. Ivashina ◽  
L. M. Vinokurov ◽  
V. B. Morozov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Transfer ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Binding Peptide ◽  
Red Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Terbium Binding

scholarly journals Comparing the Performance of mScarlet-I, mRuby3, and mCherry as FRET Acceptors for mNeonGreen

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler W. McCullock ◽  
David M. MacLean ◽  
Paul J. Kammermeier
Keyword(s):  
Protein Translocation ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Protein Oligomerization ◽  
Lower Efficiency ◽  
Red Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Ability To Act

AbstractFörster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) has become an immensely powerful tool to profile intra- and inter-molecular interactions. Through fusion of genetically encoded fluorescent proteins (FPs) researchers have been able to detect protein oligomerization, receptor activation, and protein translocation among other biophysical phenomena. Recently, two bright monomeric red fluorescent proteins, mRuby3 and mScarlet-I, have been developed. These proteins offer much improved physical properties compared to previous generations of monomeric red FPs that should help facilitate more general adoption of Green/Red FRET. Here we assess the ability of these two proteins, along with mCherry, to act as a FRET acceptor for the bright, monomeric, green-yellow FP mNeonGreen using intensiometric FRET and 2-photon Fluorescent Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) FRET techniques. We first determined that mNeonGreen was a stable donor for 2-photon FLIM experiments under a variety of imaging conditions. We then tested the red FP’s ability to act as FRET acceptors using mNeonGreen-Red FP tandem construct. With these constructs we found that mScarlet-I and mCherry are able to efficiently FRET with mNeonGreen in spectroscopic and FLIM FRET. In contrast, mNeonGreen and mRuby3 FRET with a much lower efficiency than predicted in these same assays. We explore possible explanations for this poor performance but are unable to definitively determine the cause, all though protein maturation seems to play a role. Overall, we find that mNeonGreen is an excellent FRET donor, and both mCherry and mScarlet-I, but not mRuby3, act as practical FRET acceptors, with mScarlet-I out performing mCherry due it’s higher brightness.

scholarly journals Characterization of a spectrally diverse set of fluorescent proteins as FRET acceptors for mTurquoise2

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marieke Mastop ◽  
Daphne S. Bindels ◽  
Nathan C. Shaner ◽  
Marten Postma ◽  
Theodorus W. J. Gadella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
G Protein ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Yellow Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Tandem Fusion ◽  
Red Fluorescent Proteins

AbstractGenetically encoded Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) based biosensors report on changes in biochemical states in single living cells. The performance of biosensors depends on their brightness and dynamic range, which are dependent on the characteristics of the fluorescent proteins that are employed. Cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) is frequently combined with yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) as FRET pair in biosensors. However, current YFPs are prone to photobleaching and pH changes. In addition, more efficient acceptors may yield biosensors that have higher contrast. In this study, we evaluated the properties of a diverse set of acceptor fluorescent proteins in combination with the optimized CFP variant mTurquoise2 as the donor. To determine the theoretical performance of acceptors, the Förster radius was determined. The practical performance was determined by measuring FRET efficiency and photostability of tandem fusion proteins in mammalian cells. Our results show that mNeonGreen is the most efficient acceptor for mTurquoise2 and that the photostability is better than SYFP2. The non-fluorescent YFP variant sREACh is an efficient acceptor, which is useful in lifetime-based FRET experiments. Among the orange and red fluorescent proteins, mChery and mScarlet-I are the best performing acceptors. Several new pairs were applied in a multimolecular FRET based sensor for detecting activation of a heterotrimeric G-protein by G-protein coupled receptors. The sensor with mScarlet-I as acceptor and mTurquoise2 as donor shows a higher dynamic range in ratiometric FRET imaging experiments and less variability than with mCherry as acceptor, due to the high quantum yield and efficient maturation of mScarlet-I. Overall, the sensor with mNeonGreen as acceptor and mTurquoise2 as donor showed the highest dynamic range in ratiometric FRET imaging experiments with the G-protein sensor.

scholarly journals Photochemical Reactivity of Naphthol-Naphthalimide Conjugates and Their Biological Activity

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3355
Author(s):  
Matija Sambol ◽  
Patricia Benčić ◽  
Antonija Erben ◽  
Marija Matković ◽  
Branka Mihaljević ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
Photophysical Properties ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Quinone Methide ◽  
Quantum Yields ◽  
Photochemical Reactivity ◽  
Human Cancer Cell Lines

Quinone methide precursors 1a–e, with different alkyl linkers between the naphthol and the naphthalimide chromophore, were synthesized. Their photophysical properties and photochemical reactivity were investigated and connected with biological activity. Upon excitation of the naphthol, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to the naphthalimide takes place and the quantum yields of fluorescence are low (ΦF ≈ 10−2). Due to FRET, photodehydration of naphthols to QMs takes place inefficiently (ΦR ≈ 10−5). However, the formation of QMs can also be initiated upon excitation of naphthalimide, the lower energy chromophore, in a process that involves photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from the naphthol to the naphthalimide. Fluorescence titrations revealed that 1a and 1e form complexes with ct-DNA with moderate association constants Ka ≈ 105–106 M−1, as well as with bovine serum albumin (BSA) Ka ≈ 105 M−1 (1:1 complex). The irradiation of the complex 1e@BSA resulted in the alkylation of the protein, probably via QM. The antiproliferative activity of 1a–e against two human cancer cell lines (H460 and MCF 7) was investigated with the cells kept in the dark or irradiated at 350 nm, whereupon cytotoxicity increased, particularly for 1e (>100 times). Although the enhancement of this activity upon UV irradiation has no imminent therapeutic application, the results presented have importance in the rational design of new generations of anticancer phototherapeutics that absorb visible light.

scholarly journals Lipid Bilayer Composition Affects Transmembrane Protein Orientation and Function

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie D. Hickey ◽  
Mary M. Buhr
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Bilayer ◽  
Lipid Composition ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Transmembrane Protein ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Outer Leaflet ◽  
Lipid Environment ◽  
Protein Incorporation ◽  
And Function

Sperm membranes change in structure and composition upon ejaculation to undergo capacitation, a molecular transformation which enables spermatozoa to undergo the acrosome reaction and be capable of fertilization. Changes to the membrane environment including lipid composition, specifically lipid microdomains, may be responsible for enabling capacitation. To study the effect of lipid environment on proteins, liposomes were created using lipids extracted from bull sperm membranes, with or without a protein (Na+K+-ATPase or -amylase). Protein incorporation, function, and orientation were determined. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) confirmed protein inclusion in the lipid bilayer, and protein function was confirmed using a colourometric assay of phosphate production from ATP cleavage. In the native lipid liposomes, ATPase was oriented with the subunit facing the outer leaflet, while changing the lipid composition to 50% native lipids and 50% exogenous lipids significantly altered this orientation of Na+K+-ATPase within the membranes.

scholarly journals Single-Molecule Studies on a FRET Biosensor: Lessons from a Comparison of Fluorescent Protein Equipped versus Dye-Labeled Species

Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 3105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henning Höfig ◽  
Michele Cerminara ◽  
Ilona Ritter ◽  
Antonie Schöne ◽  
Martina Pohl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Change ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Fluorescent Dyes ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Strong Increase ◽  
Single Molecule Level ◽  
Labeling Scheme

Bacterial periplasmic binding proteins (PBPs) undergo a pronounced ligand-induced conformational change which can be employed to monitor ligand concentrations. The most common strategy to take advantage of this conformational change for a biosensor design is to use a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) signal. This can be achieved by attaching either two fluorescent proteins (FPs) or two organic fluorescent dyes of different colors to the PBPs in order to obtain an optical readout signal which is closely related to the ligand concentration. In this study we compare a FP-equipped and a dye-labeled version of the glucose/galactose binding protein MglB at the single-molecule level. The comparison demonstrates that changes in the FRET signal upon glucose binding are more pronounced for the FP-equipped sensor construct as compared to the dye-labeled analog. Moreover, the FP-equipped sensor showed a strong increase of the FRET signal under crowding conditions whereas the dye-labeled sensor was not influenced by crowding. The choice of a labeling scheme should therefore be made depending on the application of a FRET-based sensor.

scholarly journals Proteasomal conformation controls unfolding ability

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (25) ◽  
pp. e2101004118
Author(s):  
Julianna R. Cresti ◽  
Abramo J. Manfredonia ◽  
Christopher E. Bragança ◽  
Joseph A. Boscia ◽  
Christina M. Hurley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Conformational State ◽  
26S Proteasome ◽  
Eukaryotic Cells ◽  
Ubiquitinated Protein ◽  
Equilibrium Conditions ◽  
Substrate Processing

The 26S proteasome is the macromolecular machine responsible for the bulk of protein degradation in eukaryotic cells. As it degrades a ubiquitinated protein, the proteasome transitions from a substrate-accepting conformation (s1) to a set of substrate-processing conformations (s3 like), each stabilized by different intramolecular contacts. Tools to study these conformational changes remain limited, and although several interactions have been proposed to be important for stabilizing the proteasome’s various conformations, it has been difficult to test these directly under equilibrium conditions. Here, we describe a conformationally sensitive Förster resonance energy transfer assay, in which fluorescent proteins are fused to Sem1 and Rpn6, which are nearer each other in substrate-processing conformations than in the substrate-accepting conformation. Using this assay, we find that two sets of interactions, one involving Rpn5 and another involving Rpn2, are both important for stabilizing substrate-processing conformations. Mutations that disrupt these interactions both destabilize substrate-processing conformations relative to the substrate-accepting conformation and diminish the proteasome’s ability to successfully unfold and degrade hard-to-unfold substrates, providing a link between the proteasome’s conformational state and its unfolding ability.

scholarly journals Development of FRET-based indicators for visualizing homophilic trans interaction of a clustered protocadherin

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Kanadome ◽  
Natsumi Hoshino ◽  
Takeharu Nagai ◽  
Tomoki Matsuda ◽  
Takeshi Yagi
Keyword(s):  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Direct Visualization ◽  
Binding Properties ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Self Recognition ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Donor And Acceptor ◽  
Clustered Protocadherins

AbstractClustered protocadherins (Pcdhs), which are cell adhesion molecules, play a fundamental role in self-recognition and non-self-discrimination by conferring diversity on the cell surface. Although systematic cell-based aggregation assays provide information regarding the binding properties of Pcdhs, direct visualization of Pcdh trans interactions across cells remains challenging. Here, we present Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based indicators for directly visualizing Pcdh trans interactions. We developed the indicators by individually inserting FRET donor and acceptor fluorescent proteins (FPs) into the ectodomain of Pcdh molecules. They enabled successful visualization of specific trans interactions of Pcdh and revealed that the Pcdh trans interaction is highly sensitive to changes in extracellular Ca2+ levels. We expect that FRET-based indicators for visualizing Pcdh trans interactions will provide a new approach for investigating the roles of Pcdh in self-recognition and non-self-discrimination processes.

scholarly journals Accurate Determination of Human CPR Conformational Equilibrium by smFRET using Dual Orthogonal Non-Canonical Amino Acid Labeling

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert B. Quast ◽  
Fataneh Fatemi ◽  
Michel Kranendonk ◽  
Emmanuel Margeat ◽  
Gilles Truan
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Conformational Equilibrium ◽  
Fluorescent Dyes ◽  
Photophysical Properties ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
Conformational Dynamics ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
General Strategy

ABSTRACTConjugation of fluorescent dyes to proteins - a prerequisite for the study of conformational dynamics by single molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) - can lead to substantial changes of the dye’s photophysical properties, ultimately biasing the quantitative determination of inter-dye distances. In particular the popular cyanine dyes and their derivatives, which are by far the most used dyes in smFRET experiments, exhibit such behavior. To overcome this, a general strategy to site-specifically equip proteins with FRET pairs by chemo-selective reactions using two distinct non-canonical amino acids simultaneously incorporated through genetic code expansion in Escherichia coli was developed. Applied to human NADPH- cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR), the importance of homogenously labeled samples for accurate determination of FRET efficiencies was demonstrated. Furthermore, the effect of NADP+ on the ionic strength dependent modulation of the conformational equilibrium of CPR was unveiled. Given its generality and accuracy, the presented methodology establishes a new benchmark to decipher complex molecular dynamics on single molecules.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document