1
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Rothschild LJ, Averesch NJH, Strychalski EA, Moser F, Glass JI, Cruz Perez R, Yekinni IO, Rothschild-Mancinelli B, Roberts Kingman GA, Wu F, Waeterschoot J, Ioannou IA, Jewett MC, Liu AP, Noireaux V, Sorenson C, Adamala KP. Building Synthetic Cells─From the Technology Infrastructure to Cellular Entities. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:974-997. [PMID: 38530077 PMCID: PMC11037263 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
The de novo construction of a living organism is a compelling vision. Despite the astonishing technologies developed to modify living cells, building a functioning cell "from scratch" has yet to be accomplished. The pursuit of this goal alone has─and will─yield scientific insights affecting fields as diverse as cell biology, biotechnology, medicine, and astrobiology. Multiple approaches have aimed to create biochemical systems manifesting common characteristics of life, such as compartmentalization, metabolism, and replication and the derived features, evolution, responsiveness to stimuli, and directed movement. Significant achievements in synthesizing each of these criteria have been made, individually and in limited combinations. Here, we review these efforts, distinguish different approaches, and highlight bottlenecks in the current research. We look ahead at what work remains to be accomplished and propose a "roadmap" with key milestones to achieve the vision of building cells from molecular parts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn J. Rothschild
- Space Science
& Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research
Center, Moffett
Field, California 94035-1000, United States
- Department
of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Nils J. H. Averesch
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | | | - Felix Moser
- Synlife, One Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-1661, United States
| | - John I. Glass
- J.
Craig
Venter Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Rolando Cruz Perez
- Department
of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Blue
Marble
Space Institute of Science at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California 94035-1000, United
States
| | - Ibrahim O. Yekinni
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, University of
Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Brooke Rothschild-Mancinelli
- School
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute
of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0150, United States
| | | | - Feilun Wu
- J. Craig
Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Jorik Waeterschoot
- Mechatronics,
Biostatistics and Sensors (MeBioS), KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven Belgium
| | - Ion A. Ioannou
- Department
of Chemistry, MSRH, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, U.K.
| | - Michael C. Jewett
- Department
of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Allen P. Liu
- Mechanical
Engineering & Biomedical Engineering, Cellular and Molecular Biology,
Biophysics, Applied Physics, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Vincent Noireaux
- Physics
and Nanotechnology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Carlise Sorenson
- Department
of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katarzyna P. Adamala
- Department
of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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2
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Hsu YY, Hwang SW, Chen SJ, Alsberg E, Liu AP. Development of mechanosensitive synthetic cells for biomedical applications. SLAS Technol 2024; 29:100095. [PMID: 37385542 DOI: 10.1016/j.slast.2023.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
The ability of cells to sense and respond to their physical environment plays a fundamental role in a broad spectrum of biological processes. As one of the most essential molecular force sensors and transducers found in cell membranes, mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels can convert mechanical inputs into biochemical or electrical signals to mediate a variety of sensations. The bottom-up construction of cell-sized compartments displaying cell-like organization, behaviors, and complexity, also known as synthetic cells, has gained popularity as an experimental platform to characterize biological functions in isolation. By reconstituting MS channels in the synthetic lipid bilayers, we envision using mechanosensitive synthetic cells for several medical applications. Here, we describe three different concepts for using ultrasound, shear stress, and compressive stress as mechanical stimuli to activate drug release from mechanosensitive synthetic cells for disease treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Yu Hsu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sung-Won Hwang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Samuel J Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Eben Alsberg
- Richard and Loan Hill Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Departments of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Orthopaedic Surgery, and Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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3
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Wubshet NH, Cai G, Chen SJ, Sullivan M, Reeves M, Mays D, Harrison M, Varnado P, Yang B, Arreguin-Martinez E, Qu Y, Lin SS, Duran P, Aguilar C, Giza S, Clements T, Liu AP. Cellular mechanotransduction of human osteoblasts in microgravity. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10:35. [PMID: 38514677 PMCID: PMC10957960 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00386-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Astronauts experience significant and rapid bone loss as a result of an extended stay in space, making the International Space Station (ISS) the perfect laboratory for studying osteoporosis due to the accelerated nature of bone loss on the ISS. This prompts the question, how does the lack of load due to zero-gravity propagate to bone-forming cells, human fetal osteoblasts (hFOBs), altering their maturation to mineralization? Here, we aim to study the mechanotransduction mechanisms by which bone loss occurs in microgravity. Two automated experiments, microfluidic chips capable of measuring single-cell mechanics via aspiration and cell spheroids incubated in pressure-controlled chambers, were each integrated into a CubeLab deployed to the ISS National Laboratory. For the first experiment, we report protrusion measurements of aspirated cells after exposure to microgravity at the ISS and compare these results to ground control conducted inside the CubeLab. We found slightly elongated protrusions for space samples compared to ground samples indicating softening of hFOB cells in microgravity. In the second experiment, we encapsulated osteoblast spheroids in collagen gel and incubated the samples in pressure-controlled chambers. We found that microgravity significantly reduced filamentous actin levels in the hFOB spheroids. When subjected to pressure, the spheroids exhibited increased pSMAD1/5/9 expression, regardless of the microgravity condition. Moreover, microgravity reduced YAP expression, while pressure increased YAP levels, thus restoring YAP expression for spheroids in microgravity. Our study provides insights into the influence of microgravity on the mechanical properties of bone cells and the impact of compressive pressure on cell signaling in space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadab H Wubshet
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Grace Cai
- Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Samuel J Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Benjamin Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | | | - Yunjia Qu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Shan-Shan Lin
- Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Pamela Duran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Carlos Aguilar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | | | | | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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4
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Cai G, Li X, Lin SS, Chen SJ, Rodgers NC, Koning KM, Bi D, Liu AP. Matrix confinement modulates 3D spheroid sorting and burst-like collective migration. Acta Biomater 2024:S1742-7061(24)00126-0. [PMID: 38490482 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
While it is known that cells with differential adhesion tend to segregate and preferentially sort, the physical forces governing sorting and invasion in heterogeneous tumors remain poorly understood. To investigate this, we tune matrix confinement, mimicking changes in the stiffness and confinement of the tumor microenvironment, to explore how physical confinement influences individual and collective cell migration in 3D spheroids. High levels of confinement lead to cell sorting while reducing matrix confinement triggers the collective fluidization of cell motion. Cell sorting, which depends on cell-cell adhesion, is crucial to this phenomenon. Burst-like migration does not occur for spheroids that have not undergone sorting, regardless of the degree of matrix confinement. Using computational Self-Propelled Voronoi modeling, we show that spheroid sorting and invasion into the matrix depend on the balance between cell-generated forces and matrix resistance. The findings support a model where matrix confinement modulates 3D spheroid sorting and unjamming in an adhesion-dependent manner, providing insights into the mechanisms of cell sorting and migration in the primary tumor and toward distant metastatic sites. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The mechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment significantly influence cancer cell migration within the primary tumor, yet how these properties affect intercellular interactions in heterogeneous tumors is not well understood. By utilizing calcium and calcium chelators, we dynamically alter collagen-alginate hydrogel stiffness and investigate tumor cell behavior within co-culture spheroids in response to varying degrees of matrix confinement. High confinement is found to trigger cell sorting while reducing confinement for sorted spheroids facilitates collective cell invasion. Notably, without prior sorting, spheroids do not exhibit burst-like migration, regardless of confinement levels. This work establishes that matrix confinement and intercellular adhesion regulate 3D spheroid dynamics, offering insights into cellular organization and migration within the primary tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Cai
- Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xinzhi Li
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shan-Shan Lin
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Samuel J Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nicole C Rodgers
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Katherine M Koning
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Dapeng Bi
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Allen P Liu
- Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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5
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Loi KJ, Moghimianavval H, Liu AP. Reconstitution of the Bacterial Glutamate Receptor Channel by Encapsulation of a Cell-Free Expression System. J Vis Exp 2024. [PMID: 38526087 DOI: 10.3791/66595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell-free expression (CFE) systems are powerful tools in synthetic biology that allow biomimicry of cellular functions like biosensing and energy regeneration in synthetic cells. Reconstruction of a wide range of cellular processes, however, requires successful reconstitution of membrane proteins into the membrane of synthetic cells. While the expression of soluble proteins is usually successful in common CFE systems, the reconstitution of membrane proteins in lipid bilayers of synthetic cells has proven to be challenging. Here, a method for reconstitution of a model membrane protein, bacterial glutamate receptor (GluR0), in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) as model synthetic cells based on encapsulation and incubation of the CFE reaction inside synthetic cells is demonstrated. Utilizing this platform, the effect of substituting the N-terminal signal peptide of GluR0 with proteorhodopsin signal peptide on successful cotranslational translocation of GluR0 into membranes of hybrid GUVs is demonstrated. This method provides a robust procedure that will allow cell-free reconstitution of various membrane proteins in synthetic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J Loi
- Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | | | - Allen P Liu
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor;
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6
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Wubshet NH, Cai G, Chen SJ, Sullivan M, Reeves M, Mays D, Harrison M, Varnado P, Yang B, Arreguin-Martinez E, Qu Y, Lin SS, Duran P, Aguilar C, Giza S, Clements T, Liu AP. Cellular mechanotransduction of human osteoblasts in microgravity. bioRxiv 2024:2024.03.03.583164. [PMID: 38464311 PMCID: PMC10925314 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.03.583164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Astronauts experience significant and rapid bone loss as a result of an extended stay in space, making the International Space Station (ISS) the perfect laboratory for studying osteoporosis due to the accelerated nature of bone loss on the ISS. This prompts the question, how does the lack of load due to zero-gravity propagate to bone-forming cells, human fetal osteoblasts (hFOBs), altering their maturation to mineralization? Here, we aim to study the mechanotransduction mechanisms by which bone loss occurs in microgravity. Two automated experiments, 4 microfluidic chips capable of measuring single-cell mechanics of hFOBs via aspiration and cell spheroids incubated in pressure-controlled chambers, were each integrated into a CubeLab deployed to the ISS National Laboratory. For the first experiment, we report protrusion measurements of aspirated cells after exposure to microgravity at the ISS and compare these results to ground control conducted inside the CubeLab. Our analysis revealed slightly elongated protrusions for space samples compared to ground samples indicating softening of hFOB cells in microgravity. In the second experiment, we encapsulated osteoblast spheroids in collagen gel and incubated the samples in pressure-controlled chambers. We found that microgravity significantly reduced filamentous actin levels in the hFOB spheroids. When subjected to pressure, the spheroids exhibited increased pSMAD1/5/9 expression, regardless of the microgravity condition. Moreover, microgravity reduced YAP expression, while pressure increased YAP levels, thus restoring YAP expression for spheroids in microgravity. Our study provides insights into the influence of microgravity on the mechanical properties of bone cells and the impact of compressive pressure on cell behavior and signaling in space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadab H. Wubshet
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Grace Cai
- Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Samuel J. Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Benjamin Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Yunjia Qu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Shan-Shan Lin
- Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Pamela Duran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Carlos Aguilar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | | | - Allen P. Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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7
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Wubshet NH, Young CJ, Liu AP. Rearrangement of GUV-confined actin networks in response to micropipette aspiration. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024. [PMID: 38326972 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Although diverse actin network architectures found inside the cell have been individually reconstituted outside of the cell, how different types of actin architectures reorganize under applied forces is not entirely understood. Recently, bottom-up reconstitution has enabled studies where dynamic and phenotypic characteristics of various actin networks can be recreated in an isolated cell-like environment. Here, by creating a giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV)-based cell model encapsulating actin networks, we investigate how actin networks rearrange in response to localized stresses applied by micropipette aspiration. We reconstitute actin bundles and branched bundles in GUVs separately and mechanically perturb them. Interestingly, we find that, when aspirated, protrusive actin bundles that are otherwise randomly oriented in the GUV lumen collapse and align along the axis of the micropipette. However, when branched bundles are aspirated, the network remains intact and outside of the pipette while the GUV membrane is aspirated into the micropipette. These results reveal distinct responses in the rearrangement of actin networks in a network architecture-dependent manner when subjected to physical forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadab H Wubshet
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Cole J Young
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
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8
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Cai G, Li X, Lin SS, Chen SJ, Rodgers NC, Koning KM, Bi D, Liu AP. Matrix confinement modulates 3D spheroid sorting and burst-like collective migration. bioRxiv 2024:2023.07.23.549940. [PMID: 37546827 PMCID: PMC10401934 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.23.549940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
While it is known that cells with differential adhesion tend to segregate and preferentially sort, the physical forces governing sorting and invasion in heterogeneous tumors remain poorly understood. To investigate this, we tune matrix confinement, mimicking changes in the stiffness and confinement of the tumor microenvironment, to explore how physical confinement influences individual and collective cell migration in 3D spheroids. High levels of confinement lead to cell sorting while reducing matrix confinement triggers the collective fluidization of cell motion. Cell sorting, which depends on cell-cell adhesion, is crucial to this phenomenon. Burst-like migration does not occur for spheroids that have not undergone sorting, regardless of the degree of matrix confinement. Using computational Self-Propelled Voronoi modeling, we show that spheroid sorting and invasion into the matrix depend on the balance between cell-generated forces and matrix resistance. The findings support a model where matrix confinement modulates 3D spheroid sorting and unjamming in an adhesion-dependent manner, providing insights into the mechanisms of cell sorting and migration in the primary tumor and toward distant metastatic sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Cai
- Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xinzhi Li
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shan-Shan Lin
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Samuel J. Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nicole C. Rodgers
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Katherine M. Koning
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Dapeng Bi
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Allen P. Liu
- Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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9
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Moghimianavval H, Loi KJ, Hwang SW, Bashirzadeh Y, Liu AP. Light-based juxtacrine signaling between synthetic cells. bioRxiv 2024:2024.01.05.574425. [PMID: 38260570 PMCID: PMC10802317 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.05.574425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Cell signaling through direct physical cell-cell contacts plays vital roles in biology during development, angiogenesis, and immune response. Intercellular communication mechanisms between synthetic cells constructed from the bottom up are majorly reliant on diffusible chemical signals, thus limiting the range of responses in receiver cells. Engineering contact-dependent signaling between synthetic cells promises to unlock more complicated signaling schemes with different types of responses. Here, we design and demonstrate a light-activated contact-dependent communication tool for synthetic cells. We utilize a split bioluminescent protein to limit signal generation exclusively to contact interfaces of synthetic cells, driving the recruitment of a photoswitchable protein in receiver cells, akin to juxtacrine signaling in living cells. Our modular design not only demonstrates contact-dependent communication between synthetic cells but also provides a platform for engineering orthogonal contact-dependent signaling mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kyle J. Loi
- Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sung-Won Hwang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Yashar Bashirzadeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Allen P. Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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10
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DeNies MS, Liu AP, Schnell S. Seeing beyond the blot: A critical look at assumptions and raw data interpretation in Western blotting. Biomol Concepts 2024; 15:bmc-2022-0047. [PMID: 38557557 DOI: 10.1515/bmc-2022-0047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Rapid advancements in technology refine our understanding of intricate biological processes, but a crucial emphasis remains on understanding the assumptions and sources of uncertainty underlying biological measurements. This is particularly critical in cell signaling research, where a quantitative understanding of the fundamental mechanisms governing these transient events is essential for drug development, given their importance in both homeostatic and pathogenic processes. Western blotting, a technique developed decades ago, remains an indispensable tool for investigating cell signaling, protein expression, and protein-protein interactions. While improvements in statistical analysis and methodology reporting have undoubtedly enhanced data quality, understanding the underlying assumptions and limitations of visual inspection in Western blotting can provide valuable additional information for evaluating experimental conclusions. Using the example of agonist-induced receptor post-translational modification, we highlight the theoretical and experimental assumptions associated with Western blotting and demonstrate how raw blot data can offer clues to experimental variability that may not be fully captured by statistical analyses and reported methodologies. This article is not intended as a comprehensive technical review of Western blotting. Instead, we leverage an illustrative example to demonstrate how assumptions about experimental design and data normalization can be revealed within raw data and subsequently influence data interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell S DeNies
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Allen P Liu
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Santiago Schnell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Applied & Computational Mathematics & Statistics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
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11
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Moghimianavval H, Mohapatra S, Liu AP. A Mammalian-Based Synthetic Biology Toolbox to Engineer Membrane-Membrane Interfaces. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2774:43-58. [PMID: 38441757 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3718-0_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Intercellular membrane-membrane interfaces are compartments with specialized functions and unique biophysical properties that are essential in numerous cellular processes including cell signaling, development, and immunity. Using synthetic biology to engineer or to create novel cellular functions in the intercellular regions has led to an increasing need for a platform that allows generation of functionalized intercellular membrane-membrane interfaces. Here, we present a synthetic biology platform to engineer functional membrane-membrane interfaces using a pair of dimerizing proteins in both cell-free and cellular environments. We envisage this platform to be a helpful tool for synthetic biologists who wish to engineer novel intercellular signaling and communication systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sonisilpa Mohapatra
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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12
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Hwang SW, Lim CM, Huynh CT, Moghimianavval H, Kotov NA, Alsberg E, Liu AP. Hybrid Vesicles Enable Mechano-Responsive Hydrogel Degradation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202308509. [PMID: 37607024 PMCID: PMC10600738 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202308509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are intriguing biomimetic materials. Previous efforts to develop mechano-responsive hydrogels have mostly relied on chemical modifications of the hydrogel structures. Here, we present a simple, generalizable strategy that confers mechano-responsive behavior on hydrogels. Our approach involves embedding hybrid vesicles, composed of phospholipids and amphiphilic block copolymers, within the hydrogel matrix to act as signal transducers. Under mechanical stress, these vesicles undergo deformation and rupture, releasing encapsulated compounds that can control the hydrogel network. To demonstrate this concept, we embedded vesicles containing ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA), a calcium chelator, into a calcium-crosslinked alginate hydrogel. When compressed, the released EGTA sequesters calcium ions and degrades the hydrogel. This study provides a novel method for engineering mechano-responsive hydrogels that may be useful in various biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Won Hwang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Chung-Man Lim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Cong Truc Huynh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | | | - Nicholas A. Kotov
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Eben Alsberg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Departments of Orthopedic Surgery, Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, and Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Allen P. Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Biophysics, Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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13
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Hsu YY, Chen SJ, Bernal-Chanchavac J, Sharma B, Moghimianavval H, Stephanopoulos N, Liu AP. Calcium-triggered DNA-mediated membrane fusion in synthetic cells. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:8806-8809. [PMID: 37365952 PMCID: PMC10527479 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc02204h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
In cells, membrane fusion is mediated by SNARE proteins, whose activities are calcium-dependent. While several non-native membrane fusion mechanisms have been demonstrated, few can respond to external stimuli. Here, we develop a calcium-triggered DNA-mediated membrane fusion strategy where fusion is regulated using surface-bound PEG chains that are cleavable by the calcium-activated protease calpain-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Yu Hsu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
| | - Samuel J Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
| | | | - Bineet Sharma
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Biophysics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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14
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Zhang ZW, Hua YM, Liu AP. [Joint association of depression symptoms and 10-year risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease with the cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and elderly people in China]. Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2023; 55:465-470. [PMID: 37291922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore joint association of depression symptoms and 10-year risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease (CVD) in middle-aged and elderly people in China. METHODS Based on China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CHARLS)database using 2011 baseline data and the follow-up cohort data of 2013, 2015 and 2018, describe the distribution characteristics of baseline depressive symptoms and 10-year risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease in 2011. Cox survival analysis model was used to analyze the individual, independent and joint association of depression symptoms and 10-year risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease with cardiovascular disease. RESULTS A total of 9 412 subjects were enrolled. The detection rate of depressive symptoms at baseline was 44.7%, and the 10-year middle and high risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease was 13.62%. During an average follow-up of 6.19 (6.19±1.66) years, 1 401 cases of cardiovascular disease were diagnosed in 58 258 person-years, revealing an overall incidence density of 24.048/1 000 person-years. After adjusting the factors, in terms of individual impact, the participants with depressive symptoms had a higher risk of developing CVD (HR=1.263, 95%CI: 1.133-1.408), while medium to high risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease had a higher risk of developing CVD (HR=1.892, 95%CI: 1.662-2.154). Among independent influences, participants with depressive symptoms had a higher risk of developing CVD (HR=1.269, 95% CI: 1.138-1.415), while medium to high risk of 10-year risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease had a higher risk of developing CVD (HR=1.898, 95%CI: 1.668-2.160). Joint impact result showed the incidence of cardiovascular disease in the low risk of 10-year risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease with depressive symptoms group, middle and high risk of 10-year risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease without depressive symptoms group, and 10-year middle and high risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease with depressive symptoms group were 1.390, 2.149, and 2.339 times higher than that of low risk of 10-year risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease without depressive symptoms (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The superimposed depression symptoms of the middle and high-risk population at the 10-year risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease will aggravate the risk of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and elderly people. In combination with the actual lifestyle intervention and physical index health management, attention should be paid to mental health intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z W Zhang
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Y M Hua
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing 100191, China
| | - A P Liu
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing 100191, China
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15
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Hsu YY, Chen SJ, Bernal-Chanchavac J, Sharma B, Moghimianavval H, Stephanopoulos N, Liu AP. Calcium-triggered DNA-mediated membrane fusion in synthetic cells. bioRxiv 2023:2023.05.06.539684. [PMID: 37205334 PMCID: PMC10187331 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.06.539684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
In cells, membrane fusion is mediated by SNARE proteins, whose activities are calcium-dependent. While several non-native membrane fusion mechanisms have been demonstrated, few can respond to external stimuli. Here, we develop a calcium-triggered DNA-mediated membrane fusion strategy where fusion is regulated using surface-bound PEG chains that are cleavable by the calcium-activated protease calpain-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Yu Hsu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Samuel J. Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Bineet Sharma
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | - Allen P. Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Biophysics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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16
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Moghimianavval H, Patel C, Mohapatra S, Hwang SW, Kayikcioglu T, Bashirzadeh Y, Liu AP, Ha T. Engineering Functional Membrane-Membrane Interfaces by InterSpy. Small 2023; 19:e2202104. [PMID: 35618485 PMCID: PMC9789529 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202202104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Engineering synthetic interfaces between membranes has potential applications in designing non-native cellular communication pathways and creating synthetic tissues. Here, InterSpy is introduced as a synthetic biology tool consisting of a heterodimeric protein engineered to form and maintain membrane-membrane interfaces between apposing synthetic as well as cell membranes through the SpyTag/SpyCatcher interaction. The inclusion of split fluorescent protein fragments in InterSpy allows tracking of the formation of a membrane-membrane interface and reconstitution of functional fluorescent protein in the space between apposing membranes. First, InterSpy is demonstrated by testing split protein designs using a mammalian cell-free expression (CFE) system. By utilizing co-translational helix insertion, cell-free synthesized InterSpy fragments are incorporated into the membrane of liposomes and supported lipid bilayers with the desired topology. Functional reconstitution of split fluorescent protein between the membranes is strictly dependent on SpyTag/SpyCatcher. Finally, InterSpy is demonstrated in mammalian cells by detecting fluorescence reconstitution of split protein at the membrane-membrane interface between two cells each expressing a component of InterSpy. InterSpy demonstrates the power of CFE systems in the functional reconstitution of synthetic membrane interfaces via proximity-inducing proteins. This technology may also prove useful where cell-cell contacts and communication are recreated in a controlled manner using minimal components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Moghimianavval
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Chintan Patel
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Sonisilpa Mohapatra
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Sung-Won Hwang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Tunc Kayikcioglu
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Yashar Bashirzadeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Allen P. Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Taekjip Ha
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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17
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Abstract
Plasma membrane tension functions as a global physical organizer of cellular activities. Technical limitations of current membrane tension measurement techniques have hampered in-depth investigation of cellular membrane biophysics and the role of plasma membrane tension in regulating cellular processes. Here, we develop an optical membrane tension reporter by repurposing an E. coli mechanosensitive channel via insertion of circularly permuted GFP (cpGFP), which undergoes a large conformational rearrangement associated with channel activation and thus fluorescence intensity changes under increased membrane tension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Yu Hsu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Agnes M Resto Irizarry
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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18
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Wubshet NH, Liu AP. Methods to mechanically perturb and characterize GUV-based minimal cell models. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 21:550-562. [PMID: 36659916 PMCID: PMC9816913 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells shield organelles and the cytosol via an active boundary predominantly made of phospholipids and membrane proteins, yet allowing communication between the intracellular and extracellular environment. Micron-sized liposome compartments commonly known as giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are used to model the cell membrane and encapsulate biological materials and processes in a cell-like confinement. In the field of bottom-up synthetic biology, many have utilized GUVs as substrates to study various biological processes such as protein-lipid interactions, cytoskeletal assembly, and dynamics of protein synthesis. Like cells, it is ideal that GUVs are also mechanically durable and able to stay intact when the inner and outer environment changes. As a result, studies have demonstrated approaches to tune the mechanical properties of GUVs by modulating membrane composition and lumenal material property. In this context, there have been many different methods developed to test the mechanical properties of GUVs. In this review, we will survey various perturbation techniques employed to mechanically characterize GUVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadab H. Wubshet
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Allen P. Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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19
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Poddar A, Hsu YY, Zhang F, Shamma A, Kreais Z, Muller C, Malla M, Ray A, Liu AP, Chen Q. Membrane stretching activates calcium permeability of a putative channel Pkd2 during fission yeast cytokinesis. Mol Biol Cell 2022; 33:ar134. [PMID: 36200871 PMCID: PMC9727806 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e22-07-0248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pkd2 is the fission yeast homologue of polycystins. This putative ion channel localizes to the plasma membrane. It is required for the expansion of cell volume during interphase growth and cytokinesis, the last step of cell division. However, the channel activity of Pkd2 remains untested. Here, we examined the calcium permeability and mechanosensitivity of Pkd2 through in vitro reconstitution and calcium imaging of pkd2 mutant cells. Pkd2 was translated and inserted into the lipid bilayers of giant unilamellar vesicles using a cell-free expression system. The reconstituted Pkd2 permeated calcium when the membrane was stretched via hypoosmotic shock. In vivo, inactivation of Pkd2 through a temperature-sensitive mutation pkd2-B42 reduced the average intracellular calcium level by 34%. Compared with the wild type, the hypomorphic mutation pkd2-81KD reduced the amplitude of hypoosmotic shock-triggered calcium spikes by 59%. During cytokinesis, mutations of pkd2 reduced the calcium spikes, accompanying cell separation and the ensuing membrane stretching, by 60%. We concluded that fission yeast polycystin Pkd2 allows calcium influx when activated by membrane stretching, representing a likely mechanosensitive channel that contributes to the cytokinetic calcium spikes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Poddar
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606
| | - Yen-Yu Hsu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Faith Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606
| | - Abeda Shamma
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606
| | - Zachary Kreais
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606
| | - Clare Muller
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606
| | - Mamata Malla
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606
| | - Aniruddha Ray
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606
| | - Allen P. Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,*Address correspondence to: Qian Chen (); Allen Liu ()
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606,*Address correspondence to: Qian Chen (); Allen Liu ()
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20
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Cai G, Nguyen A, Bashirzadeh Y, Lin SS, Bi D, Liu AP. Compressive stress drives adhesion-dependent unjamming transitions in breast cancer cell migration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:933042. [PMID: 36268514 PMCID: PMC9577106 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.933042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular unjamming is the collective fluidization of cell motion and has been linked to many biological processes, including development, wound repair, and tumor growth. In tumor growth, the uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells in a confined space generates mechanical compressive stress. However, because multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms may be operating simultaneously, the role of compressive stress in unjamming transitions during cancer progression remains unknown. Here, we investigate which mechanism dominates in a dense, mechanically stressed monolayer. We find that long-term mechanical compression triggers cell arrest in benign epithelial cells and enhances cancer cell migration in transitions correlated with cell shape, leading us to examine the contributions of cell–cell adhesion and substrate traction in unjamming transitions. We show that cadherin-mediated cell–cell adhesion regulates differential cellular responses to compressive stress and is an important driver of unjamming in stressed monolayers. Importantly, compressive stress does not induce the epithelial–mesenchymal transition in unjammed cells. Furthermore, traction force microscopy reveals the attenuation of traction stresses in compressed cells within the bulk monolayer regardless of cell type and motility. As traction within the bulk monolayer decreases with compressive pressure, cancer cells at the leading edge of the cell layer exhibit sustained traction under compression. Together, strengthened intercellular adhesion and attenuation of traction forces within the bulk cell sheet under compression lead to fluidization of the cell layer and may impact collective cell motion in tumor development and breast cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Cai
- Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Anh Nguyen
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Yashar Bashirzadeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Shan-Shan Lin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Dapeng Bi
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Allen P. Liu
- Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Allen P. Liu,
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21
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Joseph JG, Mudgal R, Lin SS, Ono A, Liu AP. Biomechanical Role of Epsin in Influenza A Virus Entry. Membranes (Basel) 2022; 12:859. [PMID: 36135878 PMCID: PMC9505878 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12090859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Influenza A virus (IAV) utilizes clathrin-mediated endocytosis for cellular entry. Membrane-bending protein epsin is a cargo-specific adaptor for IAV entry. Epsin interacts with ubiquitinated surface receptors bound to IAVs via its ubiquitin interacting motifs (UIMs). Recently, epsin was shown to have membrane tension sensitivity via its amphiphilic H0 helix. We hypothesize this feature is important as IAV membrane binding would bend the membrane and clinical isolates of IAVs contain filamentous IAVs that may involve more membrane bending. However, it is not known if IAV internalization might also depend on epsin's H0 helix. We found that CALM, a structurally similar protein to epsin lacking UIMs shows weaker recruitment to IAV-containing clathrin-coated structures (CCSs) compared to epsin. Removal of the ENTH domain of epsin containing the N-terminus H0 helix, which detects changes in membrane curvature and membrane tension, or mutations in the ENTH domain preventing the formation of H0 helix reduce the ability of epsin to be recruited to IAV-containing CCSs, thereby reducing the internalization of spherical IAVs. However, internalization of IAVs competent in filamentous particle formation is not affected by the inhibition of H0 helix formation in the ENTH domain of epsin. Together, these findings support the hypothesis that epsin plays a biomechanical role in IAV entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jophin G. Joseph
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Rajat Mudgal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Shan-Shan Lin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Akira Ono
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Allen P. Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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22
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Ganzinger KA, Bonfio C, Liu AP. Editorial: From reconstituting minimal cell-cell signaling systems to bioinspired synthetic communication networks. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:979163. [PMID: 35992265 PMCID: PMC9386473 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.979163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Claudia Bonfio
- CNRS, UMR 7006, Institut de Science et d’Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Allen P. Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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23
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Majumder S, Hsu YY, Moghimianavval H, Andreas M, Giessen TW, Luxton GG, Liu AP. In Vitro Synthesis and Reconstitution Using Mammalian Cell-Free Lysates Enables the Systematic Study of the Regulation of LINC Complex Assembly. Biochemistry 2022; 61:1495-1507. [PMID: 35737522 PMCID: PMC9789527 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the structure and structure-function relationships of membrane proteins is a fundamental problem in biomedical research. Given the difficulties inherent to performing mechanistic biochemical and biophysical studies of membrane proteins in vitro, we previously developed a facile HeLa cell-based cell-free expression (CFE) system that enables the efficient reconstitution of full-length (FL) functional inner nuclear membrane Sad1/UNC-84 (SUN) proteins (i.e., SUN1 and SUN2) in supported lipid bilayers. Here, we provide evidence that suggests that the reconstitution of CFE-synthesized FL membrane proteins in supported lipid bilayers occurs primarily through the fusion of endoplasmic reticulum-derived microsomes present within our CFE reactions with our supported lipid bilayers. In addition, we demonstrate the ease with which our synthetic biology platform can be used to investigate the impact of the chemical environment on the ability of CFE-synthesized FL SUN proteins reconstituted in supported lipid bilayers to interact with the luminal domain of the KASH protein nesprin-2. Moreover, we use our platform to study the molecular requirements for the homo- and heterotypic interactions between SUN1 and SUN2. Finally, we show that our platform can be used to simultaneously reconstitute three different CFE-synthesized FL membrane proteins in a single supported lipid bilayer. Overall, these results establish our HeLa cell-based CFE and supported lipid bilayer reconstitution platform as a powerful tool for performing mechanistic dissections of the oligomerization and function of FL membrane proteins in vitro. While our platform is not a substitute for cell-based studies, it does provide important mechanistic insights into the biology of difficult-to-study membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagardip Majumder
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Yen-Yu Hsu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Hossein Moghimianavval
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Michael Andreas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Tobias W. Giessen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - G.W. Gant Luxton
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Allen P. Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
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24
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Bashirzadeh Y, Moghimianavval H, Liu AP. Encapsulated actomyosin patterns drive cell-like membrane shape changes. iScience 2022; 25:104236. [PMID: 35521522 PMCID: PMC9061794 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell shape changes from locomotion to cytokinesis are, to a large extent, driven by myosin-driven remodeling of cortical actin patterns. Passive crosslinkers such as α-actinin and fascin as well as actin nucleator Arp2/3 complex largely determine actin network architecture and, consequently, membrane shape changes. Here we reconstitute actomyosin networks inside cell-sized lipid bilayer vesicles and show that depending on vesicle size and concentrations of α-actinin and fascin actomyosin networks assemble into ring and aster-like patterns. Anchoring actin to the membrane does not change actin network architecture yet exerts forces and deforms the membrane when assembled in the form of a contractile ring. In the presence of α-actinin and fascin, an Arp2/3 complex-mediated actomyosin cortex is shown to assemble a ring-like pattern at the equatorial cortex followed by myosin-driven clustering and consequently blebbing. An active gel theory unifies a model for the observed membrane shape changes induced by the contractile cortex. Myosin, α-actinin, and fascin drive the formation of diverse actin patterns in GUVs A self-assembling membrane-bound contractile ring pattern slightly deforms GUVs Dendritic actomyosin requires actin crosslinkers for clustering and GUV blebbing A physical model describes membrane deformation at the site of actomyosin cluster
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25
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Liu AP, Appel EA, Ashby PD, Baker BM, Franco E, Gu L, Haynes K, Joshi NS, Kloxin AM, Kouwer PHJ, Mittal J, Morsut L, Noireaux V, Parekh S, Schulman R, Tang SKY, Valentine MT, Vega SL, Weber W, Stephanopoulos N, Chaudhuri O. The living interface between synthetic biology and biomaterial design. Nat Mater 2022; 21:390-397. [PMID: 35361951 PMCID: PMC10265650 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-022-01231-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Recent far-reaching advances in synthetic biology have yielded exciting tools for the creation of new materials. Conversely, advances in the fundamental understanding of soft-condensed matter, polymers and biomaterials offer new avenues to extend the reach of synthetic biology. The broad and exciting range of possible applications have substantial implications to address grand challenges in health, biotechnology and sustainability. Despite the potentially transformative impact that lies at the interface of synthetic biology and biomaterials, the two fields have, so far, progressed mostly separately. This Perspective provides a review of recent key advances in these two fields, and a roadmap for collaboration at the interface between the two communities. We highlight the near-term applications of this interface to the development of hierarchically structured biomaterials, from bioinspired building blocks to 'living' materials that sense and respond based on the reciprocal interactions between materials and embedded cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Eric A Appel
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Paul D Ashby
- Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Brendon M Baker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Elisa Franco
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Luo Gu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Karmella Haynes
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Neel S Joshi
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - April M Kloxin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Paul H J Kouwer
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jeetain Mittal
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Leonardo Morsut
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Vincent Noireaux
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Sapun Parekh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Rebecca Schulman
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sindy K Y Tang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Megan T Valentine
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Sebastián L Vega
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Wilfried Weber
- Faculty of Biology and Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Ovijit Chaudhuri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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26
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Moghimianavval H, Hsu YY, Groaz A, Liu AP. In Vitro Reconstitution Platforms of Mammalian Cell-Free Expressed Membrane Proteins. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2433:105-120. [PMID: 34985740 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1998-8_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Membrane proteins are essential components in cell membranes and enable cells to communicate with their outside environment and to carry out intracellular signaling. Functional reconstitution of complex membrane proteins using cell-free expression (CFE) systems has been proved to be challenging mainly due to the lack of necessary machinery for proper folding and translocation of nascent membrane proteins and their delivery to the supplied synthetic bilayers. Here, we provide protocols for detergent-free, cell-free reconstitution of functional membrane proteins using HeLa-based CFE system and outline assays for studying their membrane insertion, topology, and their orientation upon incorporation into the supported lipid bilayers or bilayers of giant unilamellar vesicles as well as methods to isolate functional translocated cell-free produced membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yen-Yu Hsu
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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27
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Luo M, Cai G, Ho KKY, Wen K, Tong Z, Deng L, Liu AP. Compression enhances invasive phenotype and matrix degradation of breast Cancer cells via Piezo1 activation. BMC Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:1. [PMID: 34979904 PMCID: PMC8722159 DOI: 10.1186/s12860-021-00401-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Uncontrolled growth in solid breast cancer generates mechanical compression that may drive the cancer cells into a more invasive phenotype, but little is known about how such compression affects the key events and corresponding regulatory mechanisms associated with invasion of breast cancer cells including cellular behaviors and matrix degradation. Results Here we show that compression enhanced invasion and matrix degradation of breast cancer cells. We also identified Piezo1 as the putative mechanosensitive cellular component that transmitted compression to not only enhance the invasive phenotype, but also induce calcium influx and downstream Src signaling. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Piezo1 was mainly localized in caveolae, and both Piezo1 expression and compression-enhanced invasive phenotype of the breast cancer cells were reduced when caveolar integrity was compromised by either knocking down caveolin1 expression or depleting cholesterol content. Conclusions Taken together, our data indicate that mechanical compression activates Piezo1 channels to mediate enhanced breast cancer cell invasion, which involves both cellular events and matrix degradation. This may be a critical mechanotransduction pathway during breast cancer metastasis, and thus potentially a novel therapeutic target for the disease. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12860-021-00401-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhi Luo
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Grace Cai
- Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kenneth K Y Ho
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Present address: Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kang Wen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaowen Tong
- Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Linhong Deng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. .,Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. .,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. .,Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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28
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Sharma B, Ma Y, Hiraki HL, Baker BM, Ferguson AL, Liu AP. Facile formation of giant elastin-like polypeptide vesicles as synthetic cells. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:13202-13205. [PMID: 34816831 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc05579h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We demonstrate the facile and robust generation of giant peptide vesicles by using an emulsion transfer method. These robust vesicles can sustain chemical and physical stresses. The peptide vesicles can host cell-free expression reactions by encapsulating essential ingredients. We show the incorporation of another cell-free expressed elastin-like polypeptide into the existing membrane of the peptide vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bineet Sharma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
| | - Yutao Ma
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - Harrison L Hiraki
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Brendon M Baker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Andrew L Ferguson
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.,Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA.,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA
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29
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Sharma B, Moghimianavval H, Hwang SW, Liu AP. Synthetic Cell as a Platform for Understanding Membrane-Membrane Interactions. Membranes (Basel) 2021; 11:912. [PMID: 34940413 PMCID: PMC8706075 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11120912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In the pursuit of understanding life, model membranes made of phospholipids were envisaged decades ago as a platform for the bottom-up study of biological processes. Micron-sized lipid vesicles have gained great acceptance as their bilayer membrane resembles the natural cell membrane. Important biological events involving membranes, such as membrane protein insertion, membrane fusion, and intercellular communication, will be highlighted in this review with recent research updates. We will first review different lipid bilayer platforms used for incorporation of integral membrane proteins and challenges associated with their functional reconstitution. We next discuss different methods for reconstitution of membrane fusion and compare their fusion efficiency. Lastly, we will highlight the importance and challenges of intercellular communication between synthetic cells and synthetic cells-to-natural cells. We will summarize the review by highlighting the challenges and opportunities associated with studying membrane-membrane interactions and possible future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bineet Sharma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (B.S.); (H.M.)
| | - Hossein Moghimianavval
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (B.S.); (H.M.)
| | - Sung-Won Hwang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
| | - Allen P. Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (B.S.); (H.M.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
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30
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Bashirzadeh Y, Wubshet N, Litschel T, Schwille P, Liu AP. Rapid Encapsulation of Reconstituted Cytoskeleton inside Giant Unilamellar Vesicles. J Vis Exp 2021. [PMID: 34842240 DOI: 10.3791/63332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are frequently used as models of biological membranes and thus are a great tool to study membrane-related cellular processes in vitro. In recent years, encapsulation within GUVs has proven to be a helpful approach for reconstitution experiments in cell biology and related fields. It better mimics confinement conditions inside living cells, as opposed to conventional biochemical reconstitution. Methods for encapsulation inside GUVs are often not easy to implement, and success rates can differ significantly from lab to lab. One technique that has proven to be successful for encapsulating more complex protein systems is called continuous droplet interface crossing encapsulation (cDICE). Here, a cDICE-based method is presented for rapidly encapsulating cytoskeletal proteins in GUVs with high encapsulation efficiency. In this method, first, lipid-monolayer droplets are generated by emulsifying a protein solution of interest in a lipid/oil mixture. After being added into a rotating 3D-printed chamber, these lipid-monolayered droplets then pass through a second lipid monolayer at a water/oil interface inside the chamber to form GUVs that contain the protein system. This method simplifies the overall procedure of encapsulation within GUVs and speeds up the process, and thus allows us to confine and observe the dynamic evolution of network assembly inside lipid bilayer vesicles. This platform is handy for studying the mechanics of cytoskeleton-membrane interactions in confinement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nadab Wubshet
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Thomas Litschel
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University
| | - Petra Schwille
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor;
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31
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Wubshet NH, Arreguin-Martinez E, Nail M, Annamalai H, Koerner R, Rousseva M, Tom T, Gillespie RB, Liu AP. Simulating microgravity using a random positioning machine for inducing cellular responses to mechanotransduction in human osteoblasts. Rev Sci Instrum 2021; 92:114101. [PMID: 34852501 PMCID: PMC9643046 DOI: 10.1063/5.0056366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The mechanotransduction pathways that mediate cellular responses to contact forces are better understood than those that mediate response to distance forces, especially the force of gravity. Removing or reducing gravity for significant periods of time involves either sending samples to space, inducing diamagnetic levitation with high magnetic fields, or continually reorienting samples for a period, all in a manner that supports cell culturing. Undesired secondary effects due to high magnetic fields or shear forces associated with fluid flow while reorienting must be considered in the design of ground-based devices. We have developed a lab-friendly and compact random positioning machine (RPM) that fits in a standard tissue culture incubator. Using a two-axis gimbal, it continually reorients samples in a manner that produces an equal likelihood that all possible orientations are visited. We contribute a new control algorithm by which the distribution of probabilities over all possible orientations is completely uniform. Rather than randomly varying gimbal axis speed and/or direction as in previous algorithms (which produces non-uniform probability distributions of orientation), we use inverse kinematics to follow a trajectory with a probability distribution of orientations that is uniform by construction. Over a time period of 6 h of operation using our RPM, the average gravity is within 0.001 23% of the gravity of Earth. Shear forces are minimized by limiting the angular speed of both gimbal motors to under 42 °/s. We demonstrate the utility of our RPM by investigating the effects of simulated microgravity on adherent human osteoblasts immediately after retrieving samples from our RPM. Cytoskeletal disruption and cell shape changes were observed relative to samples cultured in a 1 g environment. We also found that subjecting human osteoblasts in suspension to simulated microgravity resulted in less filamentous actin and lower cell stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadab H. Wubshet
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | | | | | - Hariprasad Annamalai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Robert Koerner
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Maria Rousseva
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Tristan Tom
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | | | - Allen P. Liu
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: . Current address: University of Michigan, 2350 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. Tel.: +1 734-764-7719
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32
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Tsan YC, DePalma SJ, Zhao YT, Capilnasiu A, Wu YW, Elder B, Panse I, Ufford K, Matera DL, Friedline S, O'Leary TS, Wubshet N, Ho KKY, Previs MJ, Nordsletten D, Isom LL, Baker BM, Liu AP, Helms AS. Physiologic biomechanics enhance reproducible contractile development in a stem cell derived cardiac muscle platform. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6167. [PMID: 34697315 PMCID: PMC8546060 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26496-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) allow investigations in a human cardiac model system, but disorganized mechanics and immaturity of hPSC-CMs on standard two-dimensional surfaces have been hurdles. Here, we developed a platform of micron-scale cardiac muscle bundles to control biomechanics in arrays of thousands of purified, independently contracting cardiac muscle strips on two-dimensional elastomer substrates with far greater throughput than single cell methods. By defining geometry and workload in this reductionist platform, we show that myofibrillar alignment and auxotonic contractions at physiologic workload drive maturation of contractile function, calcium handling, and electrophysiology. Using transcriptomics, reporter hPSC-CMs, and quantitative immunofluorescence, these cardiac muscle bundles can be used to parse orthogonal cues in early development, including contractile force, calcium load, and metabolic signals. Additionally, the resultant organized biomechanics facilitates automated extraction of contractile kinetics from brightfield microscopy imaging, increasing the accessibility, reproducibility, and throughput of pharmacologic testing and cardiomyopathy disease modeling. Investigations of human cardiac disease involving human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes are limited by the disorganized presentation of biomechanical cues resulting in cell immaturity. Here the authors develop a platform of micron-scale 2D cardiac muscle bundles to precisely deliver physiologic cues, improving reproducibility and throughput.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Chang Tsan
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Samuel J DePalma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yan-Ting Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Adela Capilnasiu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yu-Wei Wu
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, NanKang, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Brynn Elder
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Isabella Panse
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kathryn Ufford
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Daniel L Matera
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sabrina Friedline
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Thomas S O'Leary
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Nadab Wubshet
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kenneth K Y Ho
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Michael J Previs
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - David Nordsletten
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lori L Isom
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Brendon M Baker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Adam S Helms
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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33
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Bashirzadeh Y, Redford SA, Lorpaiboon C, Groaz A, Moghimianavval H, Litschel T, Schwille P, Hocky GM, Dinner AR, Liu AP. Actin crosslinker competition and sorting drive emergent GUV size-dependent actin network architecture. Commun Biol 2021. [PMID: 34584211 DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.03.322354v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The proteins that make up the actin cytoskeleton can self-assemble into a variety of structures. In vitro experiments and coarse-grained simulations have shown that the actin crosslinking proteins α-actinin and fascin segregate into distinct domains in single actin bundles with a molecular size-dependent competition-based mechanism. Here, by encapsulating actin, α-actinin, and fascin in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), we show that physical confinement can cause these proteins to form much more complex structures, including rings and asters at GUV peripheries and centers; the prevalence of different structures depends on GUV size. Strikingly, we found that α-actinin and fascin self-sort into separate domains in the aster structures with actin bundles whose apparent stiffness depends on the ratio of the relative concentrations of α-actinin and fascin. The observed boundary-imposed effect on protein sorting may be a general mechanism for creating emergent structures in biopolymer networks with multiple crosslinkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashar Bashirzadeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Steven A Redford
- James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- The graduate program in Biophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | | | - Alessandro Groaz
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | | | - Thomas Litschel
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Petra Schwille
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Glen M Hocky
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Aaron R Dinner
- James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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34
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Bashirzadeh Y, Redford SA, Lorpaiboon C, Groaz A, Moghimianavval H, Litschel T, Schwille P, Hocky GM, Dinner AR, Liu AP. Actin crosslinker competition and sorting drive emergent GUV size-dependent actin network architecture. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1136. [PMID: 34584211 PMCID: PMC8478941 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02653-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The proteins that make up the actin cytoskeleton can self-assemble into a variety of structures. In vitro experiments and coarse-grained simulations have shown that the actin crosslinking proteins α-actinin and fascin segregate into distinct domains in single actin bundles with a molecular size-dependent competition-based mechanism. Here, by encapsulating actin, α-actinin, and fascin in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), we show that physical confinement can cause these proteins to form much more complex structures, including rings and asters at GUV peripheries and centers; the prevalence of different structures depends on GUV size. Strikingly, we found that α-actinin and fascin self-sort into separate domains in the aster structures with actin bundles whose apparent stiffness depends on the ratio of the relative concentrations of α-actinin and fascin. The observed boundary-imposed effect on protein sorting may be a general mechanism for creating emergent structures in biopolymer networks with multiple crosslinkers. By encapsulating proteins in giant unilamellar vesicles, Bashirzadeh et al find that actin crosslinkers, α-actinin and fascin, can self-assemble with actin into complex structures that depend on the degree of confinement. Further analysis and modeling show that α-actinin and fascin sort to separate domains of these structures. These insights may be generalizable to other biopolymer networks containing crosslinkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashar Bashirzadeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Steven A Redford
- James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.,The graduate program in Biophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | | | - Alessandro Groaz
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | | | - Thomas Litschel
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.,John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Petra Schwille
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Glen M Hocky
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Aaron R Dinner
- James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA. .,Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. .,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. .,Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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35
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Abstract
The interactions between actin networks and cell membrane are immensely important for eukaryotic cell functions including cell shape changes, motility, polarity establishment, and adhesion. Actin-binding proteins are known to compete and cooperate using a finite amount of actin monomers to form distinct actin networks. How actin-bundling protein fascin and actin-branching protein Arp2/3 complex compete to remodel membranes is not entirely clear. To investigate fascin- and Arp2/3-mediated actin network remodeling, we applied a reconstitution approach encapsulating bundled and dendritic actin networks inside giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Independently reconstituted, membrane-bound Arp2/3 nucleation forms an actin cortex in GUVs, whereas fascin mediates formation of actin bundles that protrude out of GUVs. Coencapsulating both fascin and Arp2/3 complex leads to polarized dendritic aggregates and significantly reduces membrane protrusions, irrespective of whether the dendritic network is membrane bound or not. However, reducing Arp2/3 complex while increasing fascin restores membrane protrusion. Such changes in network assembly and the subsequent interplay with membrane can be attributed to competition between fascin and Arp2/3 complex to utilize a finite pool of actin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadab H Wubshet
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109
| | - Yashar Bashirzadeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109.,Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109.,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109
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36
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Khodadadei F, Liu AP, Harris CA. A high-resolution real-time quantification of astrocyte cytokine secretion under shear stress for investigating hydrocephalus shunt failure. Commun Biol 2021; 4:387. [PMID: 33758339 PMCID: PMC7988003 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01888-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been hypothesized that physiological shear forces acting on medical devices implanted in the brain significantly accelerate the rate to device failure in patients with chronically indwelling neuroprosthetics. In hydrocephalus shunt devices, shear forces arise from cerebrospinal fluid flow. The shunt's unacceptably high failure rate is mostly due to obstruction with adherent inflammatory cells. Astrocytes are the dominant cell type bound directly to obstructing shunts, rapidly manipulating their activation via shear stress-dependent cytokine secretion. Here we developed a total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy combined with a microfluidic shear device chip (MSDC) for quantitative analysis and direct spatial-temporal mapping of secreted cytokines at the single-cell level under physiological shear stress to identify the root cause for shunt failure. Real-time secretion imaging at 1-min time intervals enabled successful detection of a significant increase of astrocyte IL-6 cytokine secretion under shear stress greater than 0.5 dyne/cm2, validating our hypothesis and highlighting the importance of reducing shear stress activation of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Khodadadei
- Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Allen P Liu
- Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Dept. of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Dept. of Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Carolyn A Harris
- Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
- Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
- Dept. of Neurosurgery, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
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37
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Ufford K, Friedline S, Tong Z, Tang VT, Dobbs AS, Tsan YC, Bielas SL, Liu AP, Helms AS. Myofibrillar Structural Variability Underlies Contractile Function in Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:470-477. [PMID: 33577793 PMCID: PMC7940249 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Disease modeling and pharmaceutical testing using cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CMs) requires accurate assessment of contractile function. Micropatterning iPSC-CMs on elastic substrates controls cell shape and alignment to enable contractile studies, but determinants of intrinsic variability in this system have been incompletely characterized. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of myofibrillar structure on contractile function in iPSC-CMs. Automated analysis of micropatterned iPSC-CMs labeled with a cell-permeant F-actin dye revealed that myofibrillar abundance is widely variable among iPSC-CMs and strongly correlates with contractile function. This variability is not reduced by subcloning from single iPSCs and is independent of the iPSC-CM purification method. Controlling for myofibrillar structure reduces false-positive findings related to batch effect and improves sensitivity for pharmacologic testing and disease modeling. This analysis provides compelling evidence that myofibrillar structure should be assessed concurrently in studies investigating contractile function in iPSC-CMs. iPSC-cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) exhibit marked variability in contractile function Myofibrillar structure and abundance correlates with iPSC-CM contractile function Myofibrillar variability is not diminished by single-cell subcloning Controlling for myofibrillar structure is important for iPSC-CM contractile studies
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Ufford
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sabrina Friedline
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zhaowen Tong
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Vi T Tang
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Amani S Dobbs
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yao-Chang Tsan
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Stephanie L Bielas
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Adam S Helms
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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38
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Sharma B, Ma Y, Ferguson AL, Liu AP. In search of a novel chassis material for synthetic cells: emergence of synthetic peptide compartment. Soft Matter 2020; 16:10769-10780. [PMID: 33179713 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01644f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Giant lipid vesicles have been used extensively as a synthetic cell model to recapitulate various life-like processes, including in vitro protein synthesis, DNA replication, and cytoskeleton organization. Cell-sized lipid vesicles are mechanically fragile in nature and prone to rupture due to osmotic stress, which limits their usability. Recently, peptide vesicles have been introduced as a synthetic cell model that would potentially overcome the aforementioned limitations. Peptide vesicles are robust, reasonably more stable than lipid vesicles and can withstand harsh conditions including pH, thermal, and osmotic variations. This mini-review summarizes the current state-of-the-art in the design, engineering, and realization of peptide-based chassis materials, including both experimental and computational work. We present an outlook for simulation-aided and data-driven design and experimental realization of engineered and multifunctional synthetic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bineet Sharma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
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39
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DeNies MS, Smrcka AV, Schnell S, Liu AP. β-arrestin mediates communication between plasma membrane and intracellular GPCRs to regulate signaling. Commun Biol 2020; 3:789. [PMID: 33339901 PMCID: PMC7749148 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01510-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
It has become increasingly apparent that G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) localization is a master regulator of cell signaling. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in this process are not well understood. To date, observations of intracellular GPCR activation can be organized into two categories: a dependence on OCT3 cationic channel-permeable ligands or the necessity of endocytic trafficking. Using CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) as a model, we identified a third mechanism of intracellular GPCR signaling. We show that independent of membrane permeable ligands and endocytosis, upon stimulation, plasma membrane and internal pools of CXCR4 are post-translationally modified and collectively regulate EGR1 transcription. We found that β-arrestin-1 (arrestin 2) is necessary to mediate communication between plasma membrane and internal pools of CXCR4. Notably, these observations may explain that while CXCR4 overexpression is highly correlated with cancer metastasis and mortality, plasma membrane localization is not. Together these data support a model where a small initial pool of plasma membrane-localized GPCRs are capable of activating internal receptor-dependent signaling events. DeNies et al. identify a new mechanism of intracellular GPCR signalling. Using CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) as a model, they show that upon stimulation with receptor agonists that not only plasma membrane-localized receptors, but also intracellular CXCR4 molecules are post-translationally modified and regulate transcription. This study suggests that a small pool of plasma membrane-localized GPCRs can activate internal receptor-dependent signaling, and that β-arrestin-1 mediates this activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell S DeNies
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Alan V Smrcka
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Santiago Schnell
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Allen P Liu
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. .,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. .,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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40
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Joseph JG, Osorio C, Yee V, Agrawal A, Liu AP. Complimentary action of structured and unstructured domains of epsin supports clathrin-mediated endocytosis at high tension. Commun Biol 2020; 3:743. [PMID: 33293652 PMCID: PMC7722716 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01471-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane tension plays an inhibitory role in clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) by impeding the transition of flat plasma membrane to hemispherical clathrin-coated structures (CCSs). Membrane tension also impedes the transition of hemispherical domes to omega-shaped CCSs. However, CME is not completely halted in cells under high tension conditions. Here we find that epsin, a membrane bending protein which inserts its N-terminus H0 helix into lipid bilayer, supports flat-to-dome transition of a CCS and stabilizes its curvature at high tension. This discovery is supported by molecular dynamic simulation of the epsin N-terminal homology (ENTH) domain that becomes more structured when embedded in a lipid bilayer. In addition, epsin has an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) C-terminus domain which induces membrane curvature via steric repulsion. Insertion of H0 helix into lipid bilayer is not sufficient for stable epsin recruitment. Epsin's binding to adaptor protein 2 and clathrin is critical for epsin's association with CCSs under high tension conditions, supporting the importance of multivalent interactions in CCSs. Together, our results support a model where the ENTH and unstructured IDP region of epsin have complementary roles to ensure CME initiation and CCS maturation are unimpeded under high tension environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jophin G Joseph
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Carlos Osorio
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vivian Yee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ashutosh Agrawal
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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41
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Groaz A, Moghimianavval H, Tavella F, Giessen TW, Vecchiarelli AG, Yang Q, Liu AP. Engineering spatiotemporal organization and dynamics in synthetic cells. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2020; 13:e1685. [PMID: 33219745 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Constructing synthetic cells has recently become an appealing area of research. Decades of research in biochemistry and cell biology have amassed detailed part lists of components involved in various cellular processes. Nevertheless, recreating any cellular process in vitro in cell-sized compartments remains ambitious and challenging. Two broad features or principles are key to the development of synthetic cells-compartmentalization and self-organization/spatiotemporal dynamics. In this review article, we discuss the current state of the art and research trends in the engineering of synthetic cell membranes, development of internal compartmentalization, reconstitution of self-organizing dynamics, and integration of activities across scales of space and time. We also identify some research areas that could play a major role in advancing the impact and utility of engineered synthetic cells. This article is categorized under: Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Lipid-Based Structures Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus-Based Structures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Qiong Yang
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Allen P Liu
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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42
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Bashirzadeh Y, Wubshet NH, Liu AP. Confinement Geometry Tunes Fascin-Actin Bundle Structures and Consequently the Shape of a Lipid Bilayer Vesicle. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:610277. [PMID: 33240934 PMCID: PMC7680900 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.610277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Depending on the physical and biochemical properties of actin-binding proteins, actin networks form different types of membrane protrusions at the cell periphery. Actin crosslinkers, which facilitate the interaction of actin filaments with one another, are pivotal in determining the mechanical properties and protrusive behavior of actin networks. Short crosslinkers such as fascin bundle F-actin to form rigid spiky filopodial protrusions. By encapsulation of fascin and actin in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), we show that fascin-actin bundles cause various GUV shape changes by forming bundle networks or straight single bundles depending on GUV size and fascin concentration. We also show that the presence of a long crosslinker, α-actinin, impacts fascin-induced GUV shape changes and significantly impairs the formation of filopodia-like protrusions. Actin bundle-induced GUV shape changes are confirmed by light-induced disassembly of actin bundles leading to the reversal of GUV shape. Our study contributes to advancing the design of shape-changing minimal cells for better characterization of the interaction between lipid bilayer membranes and actin cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashar Bashirzadeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Nadab H. Wubshet
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Allen P. Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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43
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Kunisaki SM, Jiang G, Biancotti JC, Ho KKY, Dye BR, Liu AP, Spence JR. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived lung organoids in an ex vivo model of the congenital diaphragmatic hernia fetal lung. Stem Cells Transl Med 2020; 10:98-114. [PMID: 32949227 PMCID: PMC7780804 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.20-0199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Three‐dimensional lung organoids (LOs) derived from pluripotent stem cells have the potential to enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms and to enable novel therapeutic approaches in neonates with pulmonary disorders. We established a reproducible ex vivo model of lung development using transgene‐free human induced pluripotent stem cells generated from fetuses and infants with Bochdalek congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a polygenic disorder associated with fetal lung compression and pulmonary hypoplasia at birth. Molecular and cellular comparisons of CDH LOs revealed impaired generation of NKX2.1+ progenitors, type II alveolar epithelial cells, and PDGFRα+ myofibroblasts. We then subjected these LOs to disease relevant mechanical cues through ex vivo compression and observed significant changes in genes associated with pulmonary progenitors, alveolar epithelial cells, and mesenchymal fibroblasts. Collectively, these data suggest both primary cell‐intrinsic and secondary mechanical causes of CDH lung hypoplasia and support the use of this stem cell‐based approach for disease modeling in CDH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun M Kunisaki
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Guihua Jiang
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Juan C Biancotti
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kenneth K Y Ho
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Briana R Dye
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jason R Spence
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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44
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45
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Abstract
The cell-free molecular synthesis of biochemical systems is a rapidly growing field of research. Advances in the Human Genome Project, DNA synthesis, and other technologies have allowed the in vitro construction of biochemical systems, termed cell-free biology, to emerge as an exciting domain of bioengineering. Cell-free biology ranges from the molecular to the cell-population scales, using an ever-expanding variety of experimental platforms and toolboxes. In this review, we discuss the ongoing efforts undertaken in the three major classes of cell-free biology methodologies, namely protein-based, nucleic acids–based, and cell-free transcription–translation systems, and provide our perspectives on the current challenges as well as the major goals in each of the subfields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Noireaux
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Allen P. Liu
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biophysics, and the Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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46
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Joseph JG, Liu AP. Mechanical Regulation of Endocytosis: New Insights and Recent Advances. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 4:e1900278. [PMID: 32402120 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201900278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Endocytosis is a mechanosensitive process. It involves remodeling of the plasma membrane from a flat shape to a budded morphology, often at the sub-micrometer scale. This remodeling process is energy-intensive and is influenced by mechanical factors such as membrane tension, membrane rigidity, and physical properties of cargo and extracellular surroundings. The cellular responses to a variety of mechanical factors by distinct endocytic pathways are important for cells to counteract rapid and extreme disruptions in the mechanohomeostasis of cells. Recent advances in microscopy and mechanical manipulation at the cellular scale have led to new discoveries of mechanoregulation of endocytosis by the aforementioned factors. While factors such as membrane tension and membrane rigidity are generally shown to inhibit endocytosis, other mechanical stimuli have complex relationships with endocytic pathways. At this juncture, it is now possible to utilize experimental techniques to interrogate theoretical predictions on mechanoregulation of endocytosis in cells and even living organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jophin G Joseph
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.,Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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47
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Liu AP, Yuan QH, Zhang B, Yang L, He QW, Chen K, Liu QS, Li Z, Zhan J. Corrigendum to "Cannabinoid receptor 2 activation alleviates septic lung injury by promoting autophagy via inhibition of inflammatory mediator release" [Cellular signaling 69 (2020) 109556]. Cell Signal 2020; 72:109600. [PMID: 32199719 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A P Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430071 Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Q H Yuan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 430060 Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - B Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430071 Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - L Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430071 Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Q W He
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430071 Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - K Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430071 Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Q S Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430071 Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Z Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430071 Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
| | - J Zhan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430071 Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
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48
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Rosselli-Murai LK, Joseph JG, Lopes-Cendes I, Liu AP, Murai MJ. The Machado-Joseph disease-associated form of ataxin-3 impacts dynamics of clathrin-coated pits. Cell Biol Int 2020; 44:1252-1259. [PMID: 31970864 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Expansion above a certain threshold in the polyglutamine (polyQ) tract of ataxin-3 is the main cause of neurodegeneration in Machado-Joseph disease. Ataxin-3 contains an N-terminal catalytic domain, called Josephin domain, and a highly aggregation-prone C-terminal domain containing the polyQ tract. Recent work has shown that protein aggregation inhibits clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME). However, the effects of polyQ expansion in ataxin-3 on CME have not been investigated. We hypothesize that the expansion of the polyQ tract in ataxin-3 could impact CME. Here, we report that both the wild-type and the expanded ataxin-3 reduce transferrin internalization and expanded ataxin-3 impacts dynamics of clathrin-coated pits (CCPs) by reducing CCP nucleation and increasing short-lived abortive CCPs. Since endocytosis plays a central role in regulating receptor uptake and cargo release, our work highlights a potential mechanism linking protein aggregation to cellular dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana K Rosselli-Murai
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, 2301 MSRB III, 1150 W. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2674 GGB, 2350 Hayward, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Jophin G Joseph
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2674 GGB, 2350 Hayward, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Iscia Lopes-Cendes
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, R. Tessália Vieira de Camargo, 126, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil.,The Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, R. Vital Brasil, 251, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-888, Brazil
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2674 GGB, 2350 Hayward, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Marcelo J Murai
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, 2301 MSRB III, 1150 W. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA.,Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, R. Tessália Vieira de Camargo, 126, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil
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Helms AS, Tang VT, O'Leary TS, Friedline S, Wauchope M, Arora A, Wasserman AH, Smith ED, Lee LM, Wen XW, Shavit JA, Liu AP, Previs MJ, Day SM. Effects of MYBPC3 loss-of-function mutations preceding hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. JCI Insight 2020; 5:133782. [PMID: 31877118 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.133782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in cardiac myosin binding protein C (MyBP-C, encoded by MYBPC3) are the most common cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Most MYBPC3 mutations result in premature termination codons (PTCs) that cause RNA degradation and a reduction of MyBP-C in HCM patient hearts. However, a reduction in MyBP-C has not been consistently observed in MYBPC3-mutant induced pluripotent stem cell cardiomyocytes (iPSCMs). To determine early MYBPC3 mutation effects, we used patient and genome-engineered iPSCMs. iPSCMs with frameshift mutations were compared with iPSCMs with MYBPC3 promoter and translational start site deletions, revealing that allelic loss of function is the primary inciting consequence of mutations causing PTCs. Despite a reduction in wild-type mRNA in all heterozygous iPSCMs, no reduction in MyBP-C protein was observed, indicating protein-level compensation through what we believe is a previously uncharacterized mechanism. Although homozygous mutant iPSCMs exhibited contractile dysregulation, heterozygous mutant iPSCMs had normal contractile function in the context of compensated MyBP-C levels. Agnostic RNA-Seq analysis revealed differential expression in genes involved in protein folding as the only dysregulated gene set. To determine how MYBPC3-mutant iPSCMs achieve compensated MyBP-C levels, sarcomeric protein synthesis and degradation were measured with stable isotope labeling. Heterozygous mutant iPSCMs showed reduced MyBP-C synthesis rates but a slower rate of MyBP-C degradation. These findings indicate that cardiomyocytes have an innate capacity to attain normal MyBP-C stoichiometry despite MYBPC3 allelic loss of function due to truncating mutations. Modulating MyBP-C degradation to maintain MyBP-C protein levels may be a novel treatment approach upstream of contractile dysfunction for HCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam S Helms
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Vi T Tang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Thomas S O'Leary
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Sabrina Friedline
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mick Wauchope
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Akul Arora
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Eric D Smith
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | | | | | - Allen P Liu
- Mechanical Engineering.,Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Michael J Previs
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Sharlene M Day
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Departments of Molecular and Integrative Physiology
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Abstract
The ability to construct a functional system from its individual components is foundational to understanding how it works. Synthetic biology is a broad field that draws from principles of engineering and computer science to create new biological systems or parts with novel function. While this has drawn well-deserved acclaim within the biotechnology community, application of synthetic biology methodologies to study biological systems has potential to fundamentally change how biomedical research is conducted by providing researchers with improved experimental control. While the concepts behind synthetic biology are not new, we present evidence supporting why the current research environment is conducive for integration of synthetic biology approaches within biomedical research. In this perspective we explore the idea of synthetic biology as a discovery science research tool and provide examples of both top-down and bottom-up approaches that have already been used to answer important physiology questions at both the organismal and molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell S DeNies
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Allen P Liu
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Santiago Schnell
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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