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Lee E, Shrestha KL, Kang S, Ramakrishnan N, Kwon Y. Cell-Based Sensors for the Detection of EGF and EGF-Stimulated Ca 2+ Signaling. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:383. [PMID: 36979595 PMCID: PMC10045995 DOI: 10.3390/bios13030383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-mediated activation of EGF receptors (EGFRs) has become an important target in drug development due to the implication of EGFR-mediated cellular signaling in cancer development. While various in vitro approaches are developed for monitoring EGF-EGFR interactions, they have several limitations. Herein, we describe a live cell-based sensor system that can be used to monitor the interaction of EGF and EGFR as well as the subsequent signaling events. The design of the EGF-detecting sensor cells is based on the split-intein-mediated conditional protein trans-cleavage reaction (CPC). CPC is triggered by the presence of the target (EGF) to activate a signal peptide that translocates the fluorescent cargo to the target cellular location (mitochondria). The developed sensor cell demonstrated excellent sensitivity with a fast response time. It was also successfully used to detect an agonist and antagonist of EGFR (transforming growth factor-α and Cetuximab, respectively), demonstrating excellent specificity and capability of screening the analytes based on their function. The usage of sensor cells was then expanded from merely detecting the presence of target to monitoring the target-mediated signaling cascade, by exploiting previously developed Ca2+-detecting sensor cells. These sensor cells provide a useful platform for monitoring EGF-EGFR interaction, for screening EGFR effectors, and for studying downstream cellular signaling cascades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Euiyeon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Keshab Lal Shrestha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Seonhye Kang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Neethu Ramakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngeun Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea
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Kang C, Shrestha KL, Kwon S, Park S, Kim J, Kwon Y. Intein-Mediated Protein Engineering for Cell-Based Biosensors. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12050283. [PMID: 35624584 PMCID: PMC9138240 DOI: 10.3390/bios12050283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Cell-based sensors provide a flexible platform for screening biologically active targets and for monitoring their interactions in live cells. Their applicability extends across a vast array of biological research and clinical applications. Particularly, cell-based sensors are becoming a potent tool in drug discovery and cell-signaling studies by allowing function-based screening of targets in biologically relevant environments and enabling the in vivo visualization of cellular signals in real-time with an outstanding spatiotemporal resolution. In this review, we aim to provide a clear view of current cell-based sensor technologies, their limitations, and how the recent improvements were using intein-mediated protein engineering. We first discuss the characteristics of cell-based sensors and present several representative examples with a focus on their design strategies, which differentiate cell-based sensors from in vitro analytical biosensors. We then describe the application of intein-mediated protein engineering technology for cell-based sensor fabrication. Finally, we explain the characteristics of intein-mediated reactions and present examples of how the intein-mediated reactions are used to improve existing methods and develop new approaches in sensor cell fabrication to address the limitations of current technologies.
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Lesovaya EA, Chudakova D, Baida G, Zhidkova EM, Kirsanov KI, Yakubovskaya MG, Budunova IV. The long winding road to the safer glucocorticoid receptor (GR) targeting therapies. Oncotarget 2022; 13:408-424. [PMID: 35198100 PMCID: PMC8858080 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (Gcs) are widely used to treat inflammatory diseases and hematological malignancies, and despite the introduction of novel anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer biologics, the use of inexpensive and effective Gcs is expected to grow. Unfortunately, chronic treatment with Gcs results in multiple atrophic and metabolic side effects. Thus, the search for safer glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-targeted therapies that preserve therapeutic potential of Gcs but result in fewer adverse effects remains highly relevant. Development of selective GR agonists/modulators (SEGRAM) with reduced side effects, based on the concept of dissociation of GR transactivation and transrepression functions, resulted in limited success, and currently focus has shifted towards partial GR agonists. Additional approach is the identification and inhibition of genes associated with Gcs specific side effects. Others and we recently identified GR target genes REDD1 and FKBP51 as key mediators of Gcs-induced atrophy, and selected and validated candidate molecules for REDD1 blockage including PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors. In this review, we summarized classic and contemporary approaches to safer GR-mediated therapies including unique concept of Gcs combination with REDD1 inhibitors. We discussed protective effects of REDD1 inhibitors against Gcs–induced atrophy in skin and bone and underlined the translational potential of this combination for further development of safer and effective Gcs-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina A. Lesovaya
- Deparment of Chemical Carcinogenesis, Institute of Carcinogenesis, N.N. Blokhin NMRCO, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Oncology, I.P. Pavlov Ryazan State Medical University, Ryazan, Russia
| | - Daria Chudakova
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Gleb Baida
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ekaterina M. Zhidkova
- Deparment of Chemical Carcinogenesis, Institute of Carcinogenesis, N.N. Blokhin NMRCO, Moscow, Russia
| | - Kirill I. Kirsanov
- Deparment of Chemical Carcinogenesis, Institute of Carcinogenesis, N.N. Blokhin NMRCO, Moscow, Russia
- Deparment of General Medical Practice, RUDN University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marianna G. Yakubovskaya
- Deparment of Chemical Carcinogenesis, Institute of Carcinogenesis, N.N. Blokhin NMRCO, Moscow, Russia
| | - Irina V. Budunova
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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