scholarly journals A transient reporter for editing enrichment (TREE) in human cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (19) ◽  
pp. e120-e120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kylie Standage-Beier ◽  
Stefan J Tekel ◽  
Nicholas Brookhouser ◽  
Grace Schwarz ◽  
Toan Nguyen ◽  
...  

Abstract Current approaches to identify cell populations that have been modified with deaminase base editing technologies are inefficient and rely on downstream sequencing techniques. In this study, we utilized a blue fluorescent protein (BFP) that converts to green fluorescent protein (GFP) upon a C-to-T substitution as an assay to report directly on base editing activity within a cell. Using this assay, we optimize various base editing transfection parameters and delivery strategies. Moreover, we utilize this assay in conjunction with flow cytometry to develop a transient reporter for editing enrichment (TREE) to efficiently purify base-edited cell populations. Compared to conventional cell enrichment strategies that employ reporters of transfection (RoT), TREE significantly improved the editing efficiency at multiple independent loci, with efficiencies approaching 80%. We also employed the BFP-to-GFP conversion assay to optimize base editor vector design in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), a cell type that is resistant to genome editing and in which modification via base editors has not been previously reported. At last, using these optimized vectors in the context of TREE allowed for the highly efficient editing of hPSCs. We envision TREE as a readily adoptable method to facilitate base editing applications in synthetic biology, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine.

BMC Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Brookhouser ◽  
Toan Nguyen ◽  
Stefan J. Tekel ◽  
Kylie Standage-Beier ◽  
Xiao Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Adenine base editors (ABE) enable single nucleotide modifications without the need for double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) induced by conventional CRIPSR/Cas9-based approaches. However, most approaches that employ ABEs require inefficient downstream technologies to identify desired targeted mutations within large populations of manipulated cells. In this study, we developed a fluorescence-based method, named “Cas9-mediated adenosine transient reporter for editing enrichment” (CasMAs-TREE; herein abbreviated XMAS-TREE), to facilitate the real-time identification of base-edited cell populations. Results To establish a fluorescent-based assay able to detect ABE activity within a cell in real time, we designed a construct encoding a mCherry fluorescent protein followed by a stop codon (TGA) preceding the coding sequence for a green fluorescent protein (GFP), allowing translational readthrough and expression of GFP after A-to-G conversion of the codon to “TGG.” At several independent loci, we demonstrate that XMAS-TREE can be used for the highly efficient purification of targeted cells. Moreover, we demonstrate that XMAS-TREE can be employed in the context of multiplexed editing strategies to simultaneous modify several genomic loci. In addition, we employ XMAS-TREE to efficiently edit human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), a cell type traditionally resistant to genetic modification. Furthermore, we utilize XMAS-TREE to generate clonal isogenic hPSCs at target sites not editable using well-established reporter of transfection (RoT)-based strategies. Conclusion We established a method to detect adenosine base-editing activity within a cell, which increases the efficiency of editing at multiple genomic locations through an enrichment of edited cells. In the future, XMAS-TREE will greatly accelerate the application of ABEs in biomedical research.


2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (22) ◽  
pp. 7647-7654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Shiomi ◽  
Satomi Banno ◽  
Michio Homma ◽  
Ikuro Kawagishi

ABSTRACT In the chemotaxis of Escherichia coli, polar clustering of the chemoreceptors, the histidine kinase CheA, and the adaptor protein CheW is thought to be involved in signal amplification and adaptation. However, the mechanism that leads to the polar localization of the receptor is still largely unknown. In this study, we examined the effect of receptor covalent modification on the polar localization of the aspartate chemoreceptor Tar fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP). Amidation (and presumably methylation) of Tar-GFP enhanced its own polar localization, although the effect was small. The slight but significant effect of amidation on receptor localization was reinforced by the fact that localization of a noncatalytic mutant version of GFP-CheR that targets to the C-terminal pentapeptide sequence of Tar was similarly facilitated by receptor amidation. Polar localization of the demethylated version of Tar-GFP was also enhanced by increasing levels of the serine chemoreceptor Tsr. The effect of covalent modification on receptor localization by itself may be too small to account for chemotactic adaptation, but receptor modification is suggested to contribute to the molecular assembly of the chemoreceptor/histidine kinase array at a cell pole, presumably by stabilizing the receptor dimer-to-dimer interaction.


2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Sykes ◽  
Anthony Szempruch ◽  
Stephen Hajduk

ABSTRACT α-Ketoglutarate decarboxylase (α-KDE1) is a Krebs cycle enzyme found in the mitochondrion of the procyclic form (PF) of Trypanosoma brucei . The bloodstream form (BF) of T. brucei lacks a functional Krebs cycle and relies exclusively on glycolysis for ATP production. Despite the lack of a functional Krebs cycle, α-KDE1 was expressed in BF T. brucei and RNA interference knockdown of α-KDE1 mRNA resulted in rapid growth arrest and killing. Cell death was preceded by progressive swelling of the flagellar pocket as a consequence of recruitment of both flagellar and plasma membranes into the pocket. BF T. brucei expressing an epitope-tagged copy of α-KDE1 showed localization to glycosomes and not the mitochondrion. We used a cell line transfected with a reporter construct containing the N-terminal sequence of α-KDE1 fused to green fluorescent protein to examine the requirements for glycosome targeting. We found that the N-terminal 18 amino acids of α-KDE1 contain overlapping mitochondrion- and peroxisome-targeting sequences and are sufficient to direct localization to the glycosome in BF T. brucei . These results suggest that α-KDE1 has a novel moonlighting function outside the mitochondrion in BF T. brucei .


2015 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Aude Plamont ◽  
Emmanuelle Billon-Denis ◽  
Sylvie Maurin ◽  
Carole Gauron ◽  
Frederico M. Pimenta ◽  
...  

This paper presents Yellow Fluorescence-Activating and absorption-Shifting Tag (Y-FAST), a small monomeric protein tag, half as large as the green fluorescent protein, enabling fluorescent labeling of proteins in a reversible and specific manner through the reversible binding and activation of a cell-permeant and nontoxic fluorogenic ligand (a so-called fluorogen). A unique fluorogen activation mechanism based on two spectroscopic changes, increase of fluorescence quantum yield and absorption red shift, provides high labeling selectivity. Y-FAST was engineered from the 14-kDa photoactive yellow protein by directed evolution using yeast display and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Y-FAST is as bright as common fluorescent proteins, exhibits good photostability, and allows the efficient labeling of proteins in various organelles and hosts. Upon fluorogen binding, fluorescence appears instantaneously, allowing monitoring of rapid processes in near real time. Y-FAST distinguishes itself from other tagging systems because the fluorogen binding is highly dynamic and fully reversible, which enables rapid labeling and unlabeling of proteins by addition and withdrawal of the fluorogen, opening new exciting prospects for the development of multiplexing imaging protocols based on sequential labeling.


1998 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 2917-2931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Rinaldi ◽  
Carlo Ricci ◽  
Danilo Porro ◽  
Monique Bolotin-Fukuhara ◽  
Laura Frontali

We report here the functional characterization of an essentialSaccharomyces cerevisiae gene, MPR1, coding for a regulatory proteasomal subunit for which the name Rpn11p has been proposed. For this study we made use of thempr1-1 mutation that causes the following pleiotropic defects. At 24°C growth is delayed on glucose and impaired on glycerol, whereas no growth is seen at 36°C on either carbon source. Microscopic observation of cells growing on glucose at 24°C shows that most of them bear a large bud, whereas mitochondrial morphology is profoundly altered. A shift to the nonpermissive temperature produces aberrant elongated cell morphologies, whereas the nucleus fails to divide. Flow cytometry profiles after the shift to the nonpermissive temperature indicate overreplication of both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Consistently with the identification of Mpr1p with a proteasomal subunit, the mutation is complemented by the human POH1proteasomal gene. Moreover, the mpr1-1 mutant grown to stationary phase accumulates ubiquitinated proteins. Localization of the Rpn11p/Mpr1p protein has been studied by green fluorescent protein fusion, and the fusion protein has been found to be mainly associated to cytoplasmic structures. For the first time, a proteasomal mutation has also revealed an associated mitochondrial phenotype. We actually showed, by the use of [rho°] cells derived from the mutant, that the increase in DNA content per cell is due in part to an increase in the amount of mitochondrial DNA. Moreover, microscopy of mpr1-1 cells grown on glucose showed that multiple punctate mitochondrial structures were present in place of the tubular network found in the wild-type strain. These data strongly suggest that mpr1-1 is a valuable tool with which to study the possible roles of proteasomal function in mitochondrial biogenesis.


Microbiology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 150 (8) ◽  
pp. 2513-2525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhonda R. Powell ◽  
Lesly A. Temesvari

Establishment of cell–cell adhesions, regulation of actin, and secretion are critical during development. Rab8-like GTPases have been shown to modulate these cellular events, suggesting an involvement in developmental processes. To further elucidate the function of Rab8-like GTPases in a developmental context, a Rab8-related protein (Sas1) of Dictyostelium discoideum was examined, the expression of which increases at the onset of development. Dictyostelium cell lines expressing inactive (N128I mutant) and constitutively active (Q74L mutant) Sas1 as green fluorescent protein (GFP)-Sas1 chimeras were generated. Cells expressing Sas1Q74L displayed numerous actin-rich membrane protrusions, increased secretion, and were unable to complete development. In particular, these cells demonstrated a reduction in adhesion as well as in the levels of a cell adhesion molecule, gp24 (DdCAD-1). In contrast, cells expressing Sas1N128I exhibited increased cell–cell adhesion and increased levels of gp24. Counting factor is a multisubunit signalling complex that is secreted in early development and controls aggregate size by negatively regulating the levels of cell adhesion molecules, including gp24. Interestingly, the Sas1Q74L mutant demonstrated increased levels of extracellular countin, a subunit of counting factor, suggesting that Sas1 may regulate trafficking of counting factor components. Together, the data suggest that Sas1 may be a key regulator of actin, adhesion and secretion during development.


Cytometry ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Donahue ◽  
Maxine Santoro ◽  
Donald Hupe ◽  
Jay M. Jones ◽  
Brian Pollok ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Leardkamolkarn ◽  
W. Sirigulpanit

This study aimed to generate a stable cell line harboring subgenomic dengue virus replicon and a green fluorescent gene (DENV/GFP) for a cell-based model to screen anti-DENV compounds. The gene-encoding envelope protein of DENV-2 was deleted and then replaced with fragments of the GFP gene and a foot-and-mouth-disease virus 2A–derived cleavage site. The human cytomegalovirus immediate early and antisense hepatitis delta virus ribozyme sequences were added at the 5′- and 3′-ends. An internal ribosome entry site and neomycin resistance genes were placed upstream and next to the NS1 gene. The recombinant plasmids were propagated in a mammalian cell line. A stable cell line with the brightest green fluorescent protein and the highest viral protein and RNA expression was selected from six clones. The clone was then examined for effectiveness in an antiviral drug screening assay with compounds isolated from the local plants using two known antiviral agents as controls. Two novel flavones, PMF and TMF, were discovered having DENV-inhibitory properties. The data were validated by a conventional plaque titration assay. The results indicate that this newly developed cell line is efficient for use as a cell-based model for primary screening of anti-DENV compounds.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonel Malacrida ◽  
Per Niklas Hedde ◽  
Belen Torrado ◽  
Enrico Gratton

ABSTRACT Transient barriers are fundamental to cell supramolecular organization and assembly. Discontinuities between spaces can be generated by a physical barrier but also by thermodynamic barriers achieved by phase separation of molecules. However, because of the transient nature and the lack of a visible barrier, the existence of phase separation is difficult to demonstrate experimentally. We describe an approach based on the 2-dimensional pair correlation function (2D-pCF) analysis of the spatial connectivity in a cell. The educational aim of the article is to present both a model suitable for explaining diffusion barrier measurements to a broad range of courses and examples of biological situations. If there are no barriers to diffusion, particles could diffuse equally in all directions. In this situation the pair correlation function introduced in this article is independent of the direction and is uniform in all directions. However, in the presence of obstacles, the shape of the 2D-pCF is distorted to reflect how the obstacle position and orientation change the flow of molecules. In the example shown in this article, measurements of diffusion of enhanced green fluorescent protein moving in live cells show the lack of connectivity at the nucleolus surface for shorter distances. We also observe a gradual increase in the connectivity for longer distances or times, presumably because of molecular trajectories around the nucleolus.


2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 3834-3847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun-Fang Huang ◽  
Ya-Wen Liu ◽  
Luh Tung ◽  
Chiou-Hong Lin ◽  
Fang-Jen S. Lee

ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) are ubiquitous regulators of virtually every step of vesicular membrane traffic. Yeast Arf3p, which is most similar to mammalian ARF6, is not essential for cell viability and not required for endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi protein transport. Although mammalian ARF6 has been implicated in the regulation of early endocytic transport, we found that Arf3p was not required for fluid-phase, membrane internalization, or mating-type receptor-mediated endocytosis. Arf3p was partially localized to the cell periphery, but was not detected on endocytic structures. The nucleotide-binding, N-terminal region, and N-terminal myristate of Arf3p are important for its proper localization. C-Terminally green fluorescent protein-tagged Arf3, expressed from the endogenous promoter, exhibited a polarized localization to the cell periphery and buds, in a cell cycle-dependent manner. Arf3-GFP achieved its proper localization during polarity growth through an actin-independent pathway. Both haploid and homologous diploid arf3 mutants exhibit a random budding defect, and the overexpression of the GTP-bound form Arf3p(Q71L) or GDP-binding defective Arf3p(T31N) mutant interfered with budding-site selection. We conclude that the GTPase cycle of Arf3p is likely to be important for the function of Arf3p in polarizing growth of the emerging bud and/or an unidentified vesicular trafficking pathway.


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