scholarly journals Supramolecular Encapsulation of Small-Ultra Red Fluorescent Proteins in Virus-Like Nanoparticles for Non-Invasive In Vivo Imaging Agents

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian C. Herbert ◽  
Olivia Brohlin ◽  
Tyler Galbraith ◽  
Candace Benjamin ◽  
Cesar A. Reyes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Vivo Imaging ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Imaging Agents ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Red Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Ex Vivo Imaging

<div> <div> <div> <p>Icosahedral virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from bacteriophages Qβ and PP7 encapsulating small-ultra red fluorescent protein (smURFP) were produced using a versatile supramolecualr capsid dissassemble-reassemble approach. The generated fluorescent VLPs display identical structural properties to their non-fluorescent analogs. Encapsulated smURFP shows indistinguishable photochemical properties to its unencapsulated counterpart, exhibits outstanding stability towards pH, and produces bright in vitro images following phagocytosis by macrophages. In vivo imaging allows biodistribution to be imaged at different time points. Ex vivo imaging of intravenously administered encapsulated smURFP reveleas localization in the liver and </p> </div> </div> <div> <div> <p>kidneys after 2 h blood circulation and substantial elimination constructs as non-invasive in vivo imaging agents. </p> </div> </div> </div>

scholarly journals Supramolecular Encapsulation of Small-Ultra Red Fluorescent Proteins in Virus-Like Nanoparticles for Non-Invasive In Vivo Imaging Agents

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian C. Herbert ◽  
Olivia Brohlin ◽  
Tyler Galbraith ◽  
Candace Benjamin ◽  
Cesar A. Reyes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Vivo Imaging ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Imaging Agents ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Red Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Ex Vivo Imaging

<div> <div> <div> <p>Icosahedral virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from bacteriophages Qβ and PP7 encapsulating small-ultra red fluorescent protein (smURFP) were produced using a versatile supramolecualr capsid dissassemble-reassemble approach. The generated fluorescent VLPs display identical structural properties to their non-fluorescent analogs. Encapsulated smURFP shows indistinguishable photochemical properties to its unencapsulated counterpart, exhibits outstanding stability towards pH, and produces bright in vitro images following phagocytosis by macrophages. In vivo imaging allows biodistribution to be imaged at different time points. Ex vivo imaging of intravenously administered encapsulated smURFP reveleas localization in the liver and </p> </div> </div> <div> <div> <p>kidneys after 2 h blood circulation and substantial elimination constructs as non-invasive in vivo imaging agents. </p> </div> </div> </div>

scholarly journals Comparative assessment of fluorescent proteins for in vivo imaging in an animal model system

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (22) ◽  
pp. 3385-3394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer K. Heppert ◽  
Daniel J. Dickinson ◽  
Ariel M. Pani ◽  
Christopher D. Higgins ◽  
Annette Steward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
In Vivo Imaging ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Model System ◽  
Red Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Fluorescent Protein Tags ◽  
Protein Tags

Fluorescent protein tags are fundamental tools used to visualize gene products and analyze their dynamics in vivo. Recent advances in genome editing have expedited the precise insertion of fluorescent protein tags into the genomes of diverse organisms. These advances expand the potential of in vivo imaging experiments and facilitate experimentation with new, bright, photostable fluorescent proteins. Most quantitative comparisons of the brightness and photostability of different fluorescent proteins have been made in vitro, removed from biological variables that govern their performance in cells or organisms. To address the gap, we quantitatively assessed fluorescent protein properties in vivo in an animal model system. We generated transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans strains expressing green, yellow, or red fluorescent proteins in embryos and imaged embryos expressing different fluorescent proteins under the same conditions for direct comparison. We found that mNeonGreen was not as bright in vivo as predicted based on in vitro data but is a better tag than GFP for specific kinds of experiments, and we report on optimal red fluorescent proteins. These results identify ideal fluorescent proteins for imaging in vivo in C. elegans embryos and suggest good candidate fluorescent proteins to test in other animal model systems for in vivo imaging experiments.

scholarly journals Comparative assessment of fluorescent proteins forin vivoimaging in an animal model system

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer K Heppert ◽  
Daniel J Dickinson ◽  
Ariel M Pani ◽  
Christopher D Higgins ◽  
Annette Steward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Model System ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Red Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Fluorescent Protein Tags ◽  
Protein Tags

Fluorescent protein tags are fundamental tools used to visualize gene products and analyze their dynamicsin vivo. Recent advances in genome editing have enabled precise insertion of fluorescent protein tags into the genomes of diverse organisms. These advances expand the potential ofin vivoimaging experiments, and they facilitate experimentation with new, bright, photostable fluorescent proteins. Most quantitative comparisons of the brightness and photostability of different fluorescent proteins have been madein vitro, removed from biological variables that govern their performance in cells or organisms. To address the gap we quantitatively assessed fluorescent protein propertiesin vivoin an animal model system. We generated transgenicC. elegansstrains expressing green, yellow, or red fluorescent proteins in embryos, and we imaged embryos expressing different fluorescent proteins under the same conditions for direct comparison. We found that mNeonGreen was not brightin vivoas predicted based onin vitrodata, but that mNeonGreen is a better tag than GFP for specific kinds of experiments, and we report on optimal red fluorescent proteins. These results identify ideal fluorescent proteins for imagingin vivoinC. elegansembryos, and they suggest good candidate fluorescent proteins to test in other animal model systems.

Fluorescent proteins for in vivo imaging, where's the biliverdin?

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 2657-2667
Author(s):  
Felipe Montecinos-Franjola ◽  
John Y. Lin ◽  
Erik A. Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
In Vivo Imaging ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Fluorescent Imaging ◽  
Infrared Light ◽  
Red Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Color Palette

Noninvasive fluorescent imaging requires far-red and near-infrared fluorescent proteins for deeper imaging. Near-infrared light penetrates biological tissue with blood vessels due to low absorbance, scattering, and reflection of light and has a greater signal-to-noise due to less autofluorescence. Far-red and near-infrared fluorescent proteins absorb light &gt;600 nm to expand the color palette for imaging multiple biosensors and noninvasive in vivo imaging. The ideal fluorescent proteins are bright, photobleach minimally, express well in the desired cells, do not oligomerize, and generate or incorporate exogenous fluorophores efficiently. Coral-derived red fluorescent proteins require oxygen for fluorophore formation and release two hydrogen peroxide molecules. New fluorescent proteins based on phytochrome and phycobiliproteins use biliverdin IXα as fluorophores, do not require oxygen for maturation to image anaerobic organisms and tumor core, and do not generate hydrogen peroxide. The small Ultra-Red Fluorescent Protein (smURFP) was evolved from a cyanobacterial phycobiliprotein to covalently attach biliverdin as an exogenous fluorophore. The small Ultra-Red Fluorescent Protein is biophysically as bright as the enhanced green fluorescent protein, is exceptionally photostable, used for biosensor development, and visible in living mice. Novel applications of smURFP include in vitro protein diagnostics with attomolar (10−18 M) sensitivity, encapsulation in viral particles, and fluorescent protein nanoparticles. However, the availability of biliverdin limits the fluorescence of biliverdin-attaching fluorescent proteins; hence, extra biliverdin is needed to enhance brightness. New methods for improved biliverdin bioavailability are necessary to develop improved bright far-red and near-infrared fluorescent proteins for noninvasive imaging in vivo.

scholarly journals Properties of Fluorescent Far-Red Anti-TNF Nanobodies

Antibodies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Gorshkova ◽  
Grigory Efimov ◽  
Ksenia Ermakova ◽  
Ekaterina Vasilenko ◽  
Diana Yuzhakova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autoimmune Diseases ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Humanized Mice ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Whole Body Imaging ◽  
Theranostic Agent ◽  
Variable Heavy

Upregulation of the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α, TNF) has a significant role in the development of autoimmune diseases. The fluorescent antibodies binding TNF may be used for personalized therapy of TNF-dependent diseases as a tool to predict the response to anti-TNF treatment. We generated recombinant fluorescent proteins consisting of the anti-TNF module based on the variable heavy chain (VHH) of camelid antibodies fused with the far-red fluorescent protein Katushka (Kat). Two types of anti-TNF VHH were developed: one (BTN-Kat) that was bound both human or mouse TNF, but did not neutralize their activity, and a second (ITN-Kat) that was binding and neutralizing human TNF. BTN-Kat does not interfere with TNF biological functions and can be used for whole-body imaging. ITN-Kat can be evaluated in humanized mice or in cells isolated from humanized mice. It is able to block human TNF (hTNF) activities both in vitro and in vivo and may be considered as a prototype of a theranostic agent for autoimmune diseases.

scholarly journals C-terminal eYFP fusion impairs Escherichia coli MinE function

Open Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 200010
Author(s):  
Navaneethan Palanisamy ◽  
Mehmet Ali Öztürk ◽  
Emir Bora Akmeriç ◽  
Barbara Di Ventura
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Yellow Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Enhanced Yellow Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Min Proteins

The Escherichia coli Min system plays an important role in the proper placement of the septum ring at mid-cell during cell division. MinE forms a pole-to-pole spatial oscillator with the membrane-bound ATPase MinD, resulting in MinD concentration being the lowest at mid-cell. MinC, the direct inhibitor of the septum initiator protein FtsZ, forms a complex with MinD at the membrane, mirroring its polar gradients. Therefore, MinC-mediated FtsZ inhibition occurs away from mid-cell. Min oscillations are often studied in living cells by time-lapse microscopy using fluorescently labelled Min proteins. Here, we show that, despite permitting oscillations to occur in a range of protein concentrations, the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) C-terminally fused to MinE impairs its function. Combining in vivo , in vitro and in silico approaches, we demonstrate that eYFP compromises the ability of MinE to displace MinC from MinD, to stimulate MinD ATPase activity and to directly bind to the membrane. Moreover, we reveal that MinE-eYFP is prone to aggregation. In silico analyses predict that other fluorescent proteins are also likely to compromise several functionalities of MinE, suggesting that the results presented here are not specific to eYFP.

scholarly journals The Opportunities and Use of Imaging to Measure Target Engagement

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-136
Author(s):  
Juliana Maynard ◽  
Philippa Hart
Keyword(s):  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Clinical Success ◽  
Receptor Occupancy ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Target Engagement ◽  
Drug Molecule ◽  
Drug Discovery And Development ◽  
Ex Vivo Imaging

Lack of efficacy and poor safety outcomes are deemed to be the greatest causes of clinical failure of novel therapeutics. The use of biomarkers that give accurate information on target engagement, providing confidence that pharmacological activity in the target organ is being achieved, is key in optimizing clinical success. Without a measurement of target engagement, it can be very difficult to discern the basis for any lack of efficacy of a drug molecule within the pharmaceutical industry. Target engagement can be measured in both an in vitro and in vivo setting, and in recent years imaging measurements have been used frequently in drug discovery and development to assess target engagement and receptor occupancy in both human and animal models. From this perspective, we assess and look at the advancements in both in vivo and ex vivo imaging to demonstrate the enormous potential that imaging has as an application to provide a greater understanding of target engagement with a correlative therapeutic impact.

Cellular Uptake of Carbon Nanotubes Conjugated to Semiconductor Quantum Dots for Breast Cancer Imaging and Treatment Applications

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen A. Zimmermann ◽  
Jianfei Zhang ◽  
Harry Dorn ◽  
Christopher Rylander ◽  
Marissa Nichole Rylander
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Quantum Dots ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Fluorescent Properties ◽  
Breast Cancer Imaging ◽  
Fluorescent Markers ◽  
Green Fluorescent

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are attractive materials for early detection, treatment, and imaging of cancer malignancies; however, they are limited by their inability to be monitored in vitro and in vivo [1]. Unlabeled CNTs are difficult to distinguish using elemental analysis because they are composed entirely of carbon, which is also characteristic of cellular membranes. Although some single walled nanotubes (SWNT) have been found to exhibit fluorescent properties, not all particles in a single batch fluoresce [2]. Additionally, these emissions may be too weak to be detected using conventional imaging modalities [3]. Incorporating fluorescent markers, such as fluorescent proteins or quantum dots, allows the non-fluorescent particles to be visualized. Previously, fluorophores, such as green fluorescent protein (GFP) or red fluorescent protein (RFP), have been used to visualize and track cells or other particles in biological environments, but their low quantum yield and tendency to photobleach generate limitations for their use in such applications.

scholarly journals Visualization of Periplasmic and Cytoplasmic Proteins with a Self-Labeling Protein Tag

2016 ◽  
Vol 198 (7) ◽  
pp. 1035-1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Ke ◽  
Dirk Landgraf ◽  
Johan Paulsson ◽  
Mehmet Berkmen
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Functional Protein ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Additional Tool

ABSTRACTThe use of fluorescent and luminescent proteins in visualizing proteins has become a powerful tool in understanding molecular and cellular processes within living organisms. This success has resulted in an ever-increasing demand for new and more versatile protein-labeling tools that permit light-based detection of proteins within living cells. In this report, we present data supporting the use of the self-labeling HaloTag protein as a light-emitting reporter for protein fusions within the model prokaryoteEscherichia coli. We show that functional protein fusions of the HaloTag can be detected bothin vivoandin vitrowhen expressed within the cytoplasmic or periplasmic compartments ofE. coli. The capacity to visually detect proteins localized in various prokaryotic compartments expands today's molecular biologist toolbox and paves the path to new applications.IMPORTANCEVisualizing proteins microscopically within living cells is important for understanding both the biology of cells and the role of proteins within living cells. Currently, the most common tool is green fluorescent protein (GFP). However, fluorescent proteins such as GFP have many limitations; therefore, the field of molecular biology is always in need of new tools to visualize proteins. In this paper, we demonstrate, for the first time, the use of HaloTag to visualize proteins in two different compartments within the model prokaryoteEscherichia coli. The use of HaloTag as an additional tool to visualize proteins within prokaryotes increases our capacity to ask about and understand the role of proteins within living cells.

scholarly journals Orange Fluorescent Proteins: Filling the Spectral Gap

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C1670-C1670
Author(s):  
Sergei Pletnev ◽  
Daria Shcherbakova ◽  
Oksana Subach ◽  
Vladimir Malashkevich ◽  
Steven Almo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Vivo Imaging ◽  
Spectral Properties ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Stokes Shift ◽  
Emission Wavelength ◽  
Microscopy Imaging ◽  
Large Stokes Shift

Fluorescent proteins (FPs) have become valuable tools for molecular biology, biochemistry, medicine, and cancer research. Starting from parent green fluorescent protein (GFP), most challenging task of the FPs studies was the development of FPs with longer excitation/emission wavelength. This pursuit was motivated by advantages of so-called red-shifted FPs, namely, lower background of cellular autofluorescence in microscopy, lower light scattering and reduced tissue absorbance of longer wavelengths for in vivo imaging. In addition to FPs with regular spectral properties, there are proteins of other types available, including FPs with a large Stokes shift and photoconvertible FPs. These special kinds of FPs have become useful in super-resolution microscopy, imaging of enzyme activities, protein-protein interactions, photolabeling, and in vivo imaging. According to their emission wavelength, red-shifted FPs could be divided in the following groups: 520-540 nm yellow FPs (YFPs), 540-570 nm orange FPs (OFPs), 570-620 nm red FPs (RFPs), and > 620 nm far-RFPs. Red shift of the excitation/emission bands of these FPs is predominantly achieved by extension of the conjugated system of the chromophore and its protonation/deprotonation. The variety of spectral properties of FPs (excitation and emission wavelength, quantum yield, brightness, photo- and pH- stability, photoconversion, large Stokes shift, etc) results from the different chromophore structures and its interactions with surrounding amino acid residues. In this work we focus on structural studies and molecular mechanisms of FPs with orange emission.

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