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Grady CJ, Castellanos Franco EA, Schossau J, Ashbaugh RC, Pelled G, Gilad AA. A putative design for the electromagnetic activation of split proteins for molecular and cellular manipulation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1355915. [PMID: 38605993 PMCID: PMC11007078 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1355915] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability to manipulate cellular function using an external stimulus is a powerful strategy for studying complex biological phenomena. One approach to modulate the function of the cellular environment is split proteins. In this method, a biologically active protein or an enzyme is fragmented so that it reassembles only upon a specific stimulus. Although many tools are available to induce these systems, nature has provided other mechanisms to expand the split protein toolbox. Here, we show a novel method for reconstituting split proteins using magnetic stimulation. We found that the electromagnetic perceptive gene (EPG) changes conformation due to magnetic field stimulation. By fusing split fragments of a certain protein to both termini of the EPG, the fragments can be reassembled into a functional protein under magnetic stimulation due to conformational change. We show this effect with three separate split proteins: NanoLuc, APEX2, and herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase. Our results show, for the first time, that reconstitution of split proteins can be achieved only with magnetic fields. We anticipate that this study will be a starting point for future magnetically inducible split protein designs for cellular perturbation and manipulation. With this technology, we can help expand the toolbox of the split protein platform and allow better elucidation of complex biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor J. Grady
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | | | - Jory Schossau
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Ryan C. Ashbaugh
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Galit Pelled
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Assaf A. Gilad
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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Ashbaugh RC, Udpa L, Israeli RR, Gilad AA, Pelled G. Bioelectromagnetic Platform for Cell, Tissue, and In Vivo Stimulation. Biosensors (Basel) 2021; 11:248. [PMID: 34436050 PMCID: PMC8392012 DOI: 10.3390/bios11080248] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Magnetogenetics is a new field that utilizes electromagnetic fields to remotely control cellular activity. In addition to the development of the biological genetic tools, this approach requires designing hardware with a specific set of demands for the electromagnets used to provide the desired stimulation for electrophysiology and imaging experiments. Here, we present a universal stimulus delivery system comprising four magnet designs compatible with electrophysiology, fluorescence and luminescence imaging, microscopy, and freely behaving animal experiments. The overall system includes a low-cost stimulation controller that enables rapid switching between active and sham stimulation trials as well as precise control of stimulation delivery thereby enabling repeatable and reproducible measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan C. Ashbaugh
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (R.C.A.); (L.U.)
- Neuroengineering Division, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
| | - Lalita Udpa
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (R.C.A.); (L.U.)
| | - Ron R. Israeli
- Neuroengineering Division, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Assaf A. Gilad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Synthetic Biology Division, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Galit Pelled
- Neuroengineering Division, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Hunt RD, Ashbaugh RC, Reimers M, Udpa L, Saldana De Jimenez G, Moore M, Gilad AA, Pelled G. Swimming direction of the glass catfish is responsive to magnetic stimulation. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248141. [PMID: 33667278 PMCID: PMC7935302 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Several marine species have developed a magnetic perception that is essential for navigation and detection of prey and predators. One of these species is the transparent glass catfish that contains an ampullary organ dedicated to sense magnetic fields. Here we examine the behavior of the glass catfish in response to static magnetic fields which will provide valuable insight on function of this magnetic response. By utilizing state of the art animal tracking software and artificial intelligence approaches, we quantified the effects of magnetic fields on the swimming direction of glass catfish. The results demonstrate that glass catfish placed in a radial arm maze, consistently swim away from magnetic fields over 20 μT and show adaptability to changing magnetic field direction and location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan D. Hunt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Neuroengineering Division, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Ryan C. Ashbaugh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Neuroengineering Division, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Mark Reimers
- Neuroengineering Division, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Lalita Udpa
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Gabriela Saldana De Jimenez
- Neuroengineering Division, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Michael Moore
- Neuroengineering Division, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Assaf A. Gilad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Synthetic Biology Division, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Galit Pelled
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Neuroengineering Division, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Cywiak C, Ashbaugh RC, Metto AC, Udpa L, Qian C, Gilad AA, Reimers M, Zhong M, Pelled G. Non-invasive neuromodulation using rTMS and the electromagnetic-perceptive gene (EPG) facilitates plasticity after nerve injury. Brain Stimul 2020; 13:1774-1783. [PMID: 33068795 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2020.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Twenty million Americans suffer from peripheral nerve injury. These patients often develop chronic pain and sensory dysfunctions. In the past decade, neuroimaging studies showed that these changes are associated with altered cortical excitation-inhibition balance and maladaptive plasticity. We tested if neuromodulation of the deprived sensory cortex could restore the cortical balance, and whether it would be effective in alleviating sensory complications. OBJECTIVE We tested if non-invasive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) which induces neuronal excitability, and cell-specific magnetic activation via the Electromagnetic-perceptive gene (EPG) which is a novel gene that was identified and cloned from glass catfish and demonstrated to evoke neural responses when magnetically stimulated, can restore cortical excitability. METHODS A rat model of forepaw denervation was used. rTMS was delivered every other day for 30 days, starting at the acute or at the chronic post-injury phase. A minimally-invasive neuromodulation via EPG was performed every day for 30 days starting at the chronic phase. A battery of behavioral tests was performed in the days and weeks following limb denervation in EPG-treated rats, and behavioral tests, fMRI and immunochemistry were performed in rTMS-treated rats. RESULTS The results demonstrate that neuromodulation significantly improved long-term mobility, decreased anxiety and enhanced neuroplasticity. The results identify that both acute and delayed rTMS intervention facilitated rehabilitation. Moreover, the results implicate EPG as an effective cell-specific neuromodulation approach. CONCLUSION Together, these results reinforce the growing amount of evidence from human and animal studies that are establishing neuromodulation as an effective strategy to promote plasticity and rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Cywiak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; The Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Ryan C Ashbaugh
- The Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Abigael C Metto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; The Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Lalita Udpa
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Chunqi Qian
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Assaf A Gilad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; The Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Mark Reimers
- The Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Ming Zhong
- The Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Galit Pelled
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; The Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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