Innovative affinitätsbasierte Markierungen für die High-End-Mikroskopie

Advanced tissue imaging techniques and super resolution microscopy are opening new avenues of investigations in life sciences. These mainly instrumentation-driven innovations require the development of appropriate molecular labelling tools. Here, we discuss currently used and upcoming manipulation-free protein labelling strategies and their potential for the precise and interference-free visualization of endogenous proteins.

Bioorthogonal Protein Labelling Enables The Study Of Antigen Processing of Citrullinated and Carbamylated Auto-Antigens

Proteolysis is fundamental to many biological processes. In the immune system, it underpins the activation of the adaptive immune response: degradation of antigenic material into short peptides and presentation thereof...

Protein Labelling Accuracy for UK Patients with PKU Following a Low Protein Diet

A phenylalanine (protein)-restricted diet is the primary treatment for phenylketonuria (PKU). Patients are dependent on food protein labelling to successfully manage their condition. We evaluated the accuracy of protein labelling on packaged manufactured foods from supermarket websites for foods that may be eaten as part of a phenylalanine-restricted diet. Protein labelling information was evaluated for 462 food items (“free from”, n = 159, regular, n = 303), divided into 16 food groups using supermarket website data. Data collection included protein content per portion/100 g when food was “as sold”, “cooked” or “prepared”; cooking methods, and preparation instructions. Labelling errors affecting protein content were observed in every food group, with overall protein labelling unclear in 55% (n = 255/462) of foods. There was misleading, omitted, or erroneous (MOE) information in 43% (n = 68/159) of “free from” foods compared with 62% (n = 187/303) of regular foods, with fewer inaccuracies in “free from” food labelling (p = 0.007). Protein analysis was available for uncooked weight only but not cooked weight for 58% (n = 85/146) of foods; 4% (n = 17/462) had misleading protein content. There was a high rate of incomplete, misleading, or inaccurate data affecting the interpretation of the protein content of food items on supermarket websites. This could adversely affect metabolic control of patients with PKU and warrants serious consideration.

Site-Specific Fluorogenic Protein Labelling Agent for Bioconjugation

Many clinically relevant therapeutic agents are formed from the conjugation of small molecules to biomolecules through conjugating linkers. In this study, two novel conjugating linkers were prepared, comprising a central coumarin core, functionalized with a dimaleimide moiety at one end and a terminal alkyne at the other. In our first design, we developed a protein labelling method that site-specifically introduces an alkyne functional group to a dicysteine target peptide tag that was genetically fused to a protein of interest. This method allows for the subsequent attachment of azide-functionalized cargo in the facile synthesis of novel protein-cargo conjugates. However, the fluorogenic aspect of the reaction between the linker and the target peptide was less than we desired. To address this shortcoming, a second linker reagent was prepared. This new design also allowed for the site-specific introduction of an alkyne functional group onto the target peptide, but in a highly fluorogenic and rapid manner. The site-specific addition of an alkyne group to a protein of interest was thus monitored in situ by fluorescence increase, prior to the attachment of azide-functionalized cargo. Finally, we also demonstrated that the cargo can also be attached first, in an azide/alkyne cycloaddition reaction, prior to fluorogenic conjugation with the target peptide-fused protein.

Conditional Copper-Catalyzed Azide Alkyne Cycloaddition by Catalyst Encapsulation

Supramolecular encapsulation is known to alter chemical properties of guest molecules. Here we apply this strategy of molecular encapsulation to temporally control the catalytic activity of a stable Cu(I)-carbene catalyst. Encapsulation of the Cu(I)-carbene catalyst by supramolecular host cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) resulted in the complete inactivation of a copper catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. The addition of a chemical signal achieved the near instantaneous activation of the catalyst, by releasing the catalyst from the inhibited CB[7] catalyst complex. To broaden the scope of our on demand CuAAC reaction, we demonstrated the protein labelling of Vinculin using the Cu(I)-carbene catalyst, to inhibit its activity by encapsulation with CB[7], and to initiate labelling at any moment by adding a specific signal molecule. <br>

Conditional Copper-Catalyzed Azide Alkyne Cycloaddition by Catalyst Encapsulation

Supramolecular encapsulation is known to alter chemical properties of guest molecules. Here we apply this strategy of molecular encapsulation to temporally control the catalytic activity of a stable Cu(I)-carbene catalyst. Encapsulation of the Cu(I)-carbene catalyst by supramolecular host cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) resulted in the complete inactivation of a copper catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. The addition of a chemical signal achieved the near instantaneous activation of the catalyst, by releasing the catalyst from the inhibited CB[7] catalyst complex. To broaden the scope of our on demand CuAAC reaction, we demonstrated the protein labelling of Vinculin using the Cu(I)-carbene catalyst, to inhibit its activity by encapsulation with CB[7], and to initiate labelling at any moment by adding a specific signal molecule. <br>

Correlative cathodoluminescence electron microscopy bioimaging: towards single protein labelling with ultrastructural context

We discuss the opportunities and challenges of correlative cathodoluminescence electron microscopy for biomedical applications.