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Lu Q, Sun Y, Liang Z, Zhang Y, Wang Z, Mei Q. Nano-optogenetics for Disease Therapies. ACS NANO 2024. [PMID: 38768091 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c00698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Optogenetic, known as the method of 21 centuries, combines optic and genetic engineering to precisely control photosensitive proteins for manipulation of a broad range of cellular functions, such as flux of ions, protein oligomerization and dissociation, cellular intercommunication, and so on. In this technique, light is conventionally delivered to targeted cells through optical fibers or micro light-emitting diodes, always suffering from high invasiveness, wide-field illumination facula, strong absorption, and scattering by nontargeted endogenous substance. Light-transducing nanomaterials with advantages of high spatiotemporal resolution, abundant wireless-excitation manners, and easy functionalization for recognition of specific cells, recently have been widely explored in the field of optogenetics; however, there remain a few challenges to restrain its clinical applications. This review summarized recent progress on light-responsive genetically encoded proteins and the myriad of activation strategies by use of light-transducing nanomaterials and their disease-treatment applications, which is expected for sparking helpful thought to push forward its preclinical and translational uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Lu
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Yaru Sun
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Zhengbing Liang
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Zhigang Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Qingsong Mei
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
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Mao Y, Wang S, Yu J, Li W. Engineering pluripotent stem cells with synthetic biology for regenerative medicine. MEDICAL REVIEW (2021) 2024; 4:90-109. [PMID: 38680679 PMCID: PMC11046572 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2023-0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), characterized by self-renewal and capacity of differentiating into three germ layers, are the programmable building blocks of life. PSC-derived cells and multicellular systems, particularly organoids, exhibit great potential for regenerative medicine. However, this field is still in its infancy, partly due to limited strategies to robustly and precisely control stem cell behaviors, which are tightly regulated by inner gene regulatory networks in response to stimuli from the extracellular environment. Synthetic receptors and genetic circuits are powerful tools to customize the cellular sense-and-response process, suggesting their underlying roles in precise control of cell fate decision and function reconstruction. Herein, we review the progress and challenges needed to be overcome in the fields of PSC-based cell therapy and multicellular system generation, respectively. Furthermore, we summarize several well-established synthetic biology tools and their applications in PSC engineering. Finally, we highlight the challenges and perspectives of harnessing synthetic biology to PSC engineering for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihuan Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Siqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jiazhen Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Reconstruction, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Huang Dennis Z, Benman W, Dong L, Bugaj LJ. Rapid Optogenetic Clustering in the Cytoplasm with BcLOVclust. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168452. [PMID: 38246410 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Protein clustering is a powerful form of optogenetic control, yet remarkably few proteins are known to oligomerize with light. Recently, the photoreceptor BcLOV4 was found to form protein clusters in mammalian cells in response to blue light, although clustering coincided with its translocation to the plasma membrane, potentially constraining its application as an optogenetic clustering module. Herein we identify key amino acids that couple BcLOV4 clustering to membrane binding, allowing us to engineer a variant that clusters in the cytoplasm and does not associate with the membrane in response to blue light. This variant-called BcLOVclust-clustered over many cycles with substantially faster clustering and de-clustering kinetics compared to the widely used optogenetic clustering protein Cry2. The magnitude of clustering could be strengthened by appending an intrinsically disordered region from the fused in sarcoma (FUS) protein, or by selecting the appropriate fluorescent protein to which it was fused. Like wt BcLOV4, BcLOVclust activity was sensitive to temperature: light-induced clusters spontaneously dissolved at a rate that increased with temperature despite constant illumination. At low temperatures, BcLOVclust and Cry2 could be multiplexed in the same cells, allowing light control of independent protein condensates. BcLOVclust could also be applied to control signaling proteins and stress granules in mammalian cells. While its usage is currently best suited in cells and organisms that can be cultured below ∼30 °C, a deeper understanding of BcLOVclust thermal response will further enable its use at physiological mammalian temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zikang Huang Dennis
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - William Benman
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Liang Dong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lukasz J Bugaj
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Huang Z, Benman W, Dong L, Bugaj LJ. Rapid optogenetic clustering of a cytoplasmic BcLOV4 variant. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.14.557726. [PMID: 37745456 PMCID: PMC10515924 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.14.557726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Protein clustering is a powerful form of optogenetic control, yet there is currently only one protein -Cry2-whose light-induced clustering has been harnessed for these purposes. Recently, the photoreceptor BcLOV4 was found to form protein clusters in mammalian cells in response to blue light, although clustering coincided with its translocation to the plasma membrane, potentially constraining its application as an optogenetic clustering module. Herein we identify key amino acids that couple clustering to membrane binding, allowing us to engineer a variant of BcLOV4 that clusters in the cytoplasm and does not associate with the membrane in response to blue light. This variant, BcLOVclust, clustered over many cycles with dramatically faster clustering and de-clustering kinetics compared to Cry2. The magnitude of BcLOVclust clustering could be strengthened by appending an intrinsically disordered region from the fused in sarcoma (FUS) protein, or by optimizing the fluorescent protein to which it was fused. BcLOVclust retained the temperature sensitivity of BcLOV4 such that light induced clustering was transient, and the rate of spontaneous declustering increased with temperature. At low temperatures, BcLOVclust and Cry2 could be multiplexed in the same cells, allowing light control of independent protein condensates. BcLOVclust could also be applied to control signaling proteins and stress granules in mammalian cells. Thus BcLOVclust provides an alternative to Cry2 for optogenetic clustering and a method for multiplexed clustering. While its usage is currently suited for organisms that can be cultured below ~30 °C, a deeper understanding of BcLOVclust thermal response will further enable its use at physiological mammalian temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zikang Huang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - William Benman
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Liang Dong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Lukasz J. Bugaj
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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The people behind the papers - Nicole Repina and David Schaffer. Development 2023; 150:dev202180. [PMID: 37493026 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
During embryogenesis, cells differentiate and organise into spatially defined regions in response to varying patterns of signalling. A new paper in Development uses an optogenetic system (optoWnt) to investigate how cells organise into distinct domains in response to Wnt signalling in two-dimensional human embryonic stem cell cultures. To hear more about the story behind the paper, we caught up with the first author Nicole Repina and her PhD supervisor David Schaffer, Professor at University of California, Berkeley.
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