Rational Engineering of XCaMPs, a Multicolor GECI Suite for In Vivo Imaging of Complex Brain Circuit Dynamics.

To decipher dynamic brain information processing, current genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) are limited in single action potential (AP) detection speed, combinatorial spectral compatibility, and two-photon imaging depth. To address this, here, we rationally engineered a next-generation quadricolor GECI suite, XCaMPs. Single AP detection was achieved within 3-10 ms of spike onset, enabling measurements of fast-spike trains in parvalbumin (PV)-positive interneurons in the barrel cortex in vivo and recording three distinct (two inhibitory and one excitatory) ensembles during pre-motion activity in freely moving mice. In vivo paired recording of pre- and postsynaptic firing revealed spatiotemporal constraints of dendritic inhibition in layer 1 in vivo, between axons of somatostatin (SST)-positive interneurons and apical tufts dendrites of excitatory pyramidal neurons. Finally, non-invasive, subcortical imaging using red XCaMP-R uncovered somatosensation-evoked persistent activity in hippocampal CA1 neurons. Thus, the XCaMPs offer a critical enhancement of solution space in studies of complex neuronal circuit dynamics. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

Phosphorylation of phase-separated p62 bodies by ULK1 activates a redox-independent stress response.

NRF2 is a transcription factor responsible for antioxidant stress responses that is usually regulated in a redox-dependent manner. p62 bodies formed by liquid-liquid phase separation contain Ser349-phosphorylated p62, which participates in the redox-independent activation of NRF2. However, the regulatory mechanism and physiological significance of p62 phosphorylation remain unclear. Here, we identify ULK1 as a kinase responsible for the phosphorylation of p62. ULK1 colocalizes with p62 bodies, directly interacting with p62. ULK1-dependent phosphorylation of p62 allows KEAP1 to be retained within p62 bodies, thus activating NRF2. p62S351E/+ mice are phosphomimetic knock-in mice in which Ser351, corresponding to human Ser349, is replaced by Glu. These mice, but not their phosphodefective p62S351A/S351A counterparts, exhibit NRF2 hyperactivation and growth retardation. This retardation is caused by malnutrition and dehydration due to obstruction of the esophagus and forestomach secondary to hyperkeratosis, a phenotype also observed in systemic Keap1-knockout mice. Our results expand our understanding of the physiological importance of the redox-independent NRF2 activation pathway and provide new insights into the role of phase separation in this process.

Inverse synaptic tagging of inactive synapses via dynamic interaction of Arc/Arg3.1 with CaMKIIß.

The Arc/Arg3.1 gene product is rapidly upregulated by strong synaptic activity and critically contributes to weakening synapses by promoting AMPA-R endocytosis. However, how activity-induced Arc is redistributed and determines the synapses to be weakened remains unclear. Here, we show targeting of Arc to inactive synapses via a high-affinity interaction with CaMKIIß that is not bound to calmodulin. Synaptic Arc accumulates in inactive synapses that previously experienced strong activation and correlates with removal of surface GluA1 from individual synapses. A lack of CaMKIIß either in vitro or in vivo resulted in loss of Arc upregulation in the silenced synapses. The discovery of Arc's role in "inverse" synaptic tagging that is specific for weaker synapses and prevents undesired enhancement of weak synapses in potentiated neurons reconciles essential roles of Arc both for the late phase of long-term plasticity and for reduction of surface AMPA-Rs in stimulated neurons.

A discrete neuronal circuit induces a hibernation-like state in rodents.

Hibernating mammals actively lower their body temperature to reduce energy expenditure when facing food scarcity1. This ability to induce a hypometabolic state has evoked great interest owing to its potential medical benefits2,3. Here we show that a hypothalamic neuronal circuit in rodents induces a long-lasting hypothermic and hypometabolic state similar to hibernation. In this state, although body temperature and levels of oxygen consumption are kept very low, the ability to regulate metabolism still remains functional, as in hibernation4. There was no obvious damage to tissues and organs or abnormalities in behaviour after recovery from this state. Our findings could enable the development of a method to induce a hibernation-like state, which would have potential applications in non-hibernating mammalian species including humans.

An intact pituitary vasopressin system is critical for building a robust circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

The circadian clock is a biological timekeeping system that oscillates with a circa-24-h period, reset by environmental timing cues, especially light, to the 24-h day-night cycle. In mammals, a "central" clock in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) synchronizes "peripheral" clocks throughout the body to regulate behavior, metabolism, and physiology. A key feature of the clock's oscillation is resistance to abrupt perturbations, but the mechanisms underlying such robustness are not well understood. Here, we probe clock robustness to unexpected photic perturbation by measuring the speed of reentrainment of the murine locomotor rhythm after an abrupt advance of the light-dark cycle. Using an intersectional genetic approach, we implicate a critical role for arginine vasopressin pathways, both central within the SCN and peripheral from the anterior pituitary.

An RNA-binding protein, Qki5, regulates embryonic neural stem cells through pre-mRNA processing in cell adhesion signaling.

Cell type-specific transcriptomes are enabled by the action of multiple regulators, which are frequently expressed within restricted tissue regions. In the present study, we identify one such regulator, Quaking 5 (Qki5), as an RNA-binding protein (RNABP) that is expressed in early embryonic neural stem cells and subsequently down-regulated during neurogenesis. mRNA sequencing analysis in neural stem cell culture indicates that Qki proteins play supporting roles in the neural stem cell transcriptome and various forms of mRNA processing that may result from regionally restricted expression and subcellular localization. Also, our in utero electroporation gain-of-function study suggests that the nuclear-type Qki isoform Qki5 supports the neural stem cell state. We next performed in vivo transcriptome-wide protein-RNA interaction mapping to search for direct targets of Qki5 and elucidate how Qki5 regulates neural stem cell function. Combined with our transcriptome analysis, this mapping analysis yielded a bona fide map of Qki5-RNA interaction at single-nucleotide resolution, the identification of 892 Qki5 direct target genes, and an accurate Qki5-dependent alternative splicing rule in the developing brain. Last, our target gene list provides the first compelling evidence that Qki5 is associated with specific biological events; namely, cell-cell adhesion. This prediction was confirmed by histological analysis of mice in which Qki proteins were genetically ablated, which revealed disruption of the apical surface of the lateral wall in the developing brain. These data collectively indicate that Qki5 regulates communication between neural stem cells by mediating numerous RNA processing events and suggest new links between splicing regulation and neural stem cell states.

Crucial Roles of Leaving Group and Open-Shell Cation in Photoreaction of (Coumarin-4-yl)methyl Derivatives.

Photoreactions of (coumarin-4-yl)methyl derivatives have been extensively studied in many fields of chemistry, including organic synthesis and photoinduced drug delivery systems. The identification of the reaction intermediates involved in the photoreactions is crucial not only for elucidating the reaction mechanism but also for the application of the photoreactions. In this study, the photoreactions of 7-diethylamino(coumarin-4-yl)methyl thioester 1a [-SC(O)CH3], thionoester 1b [-OC(S)CH3], and ester 1c [-OC(O)CH3] were investigated to clarify the intermediary species and their chemical behavior. While a radical pair [i.e., 7-diethylamino(coumarin-4-yl)methyl radical and CH3C(O)S•] plays an important role in the photoreactions of 1a and 1b, an ion pair [i.e., 7-diethylamino(coumarin-4-yl)methyl cation, and CH3CO2-] was the key in the photoreaction of 1c. 18O-isotope-labeling of 1c revealed a negligible recombination process within the ion pair. The unprecedented observation was rationalized by the open-shell character of the 7-diethylamino(coumarin-4-yl)methyl cation, whose formation was confirmed through product analysis and transient absorption spectroscopy.

Fis1 ablation in the male germline disrupts mitochondrial morphology and mitophagy, and arrests spermatid maturation.

Male germline development involves choreographed changes to mitochondrial number, morphology and organization. Mitochondrial reorganization during spermatogenesis was recently shown to require mitochondrial fusion and fission. Mitophagy, the autophagic degradation of mitochondria, is another mechanism for controlling mitochondrial number and physiology, but its role during spermatogenesis is largely unknown. During post-meiotic spermatid development, restructuring of the mitochondrial network results in packing of mitochondria into a tight array in the sperm midpiece to fuel motility. Here, we show that disruption of mouse Fis1 in the male germline results in early spermatid arrest that is associated with increased mitochondrial content. Mutant spermatids coalesce into multinucleated giant cells that accumulate mitochondria of aberrant ultrastructure and numerous mitophagic and autophagic intermediates, suggesting a defect in mitophagy. We conclude that Fis1 regulates mitochondrial morphology and turnover to promote spermatid maturation.

Generation and characterization of cerebellar granule neurons specific knockout mice of Golli-MBP.

Golli-myelin basic proteins, encoded by the myelin basic protein gene, are widely expressed in neurons and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system. Further, prior research has shown that Golli-myelin basic protein is necessary for myelination and neuronal maturation during central nervous system development. In this study, we established Golli-myelin basic protein-floxed mice to elucidate the cell-type-specific effects of Golli-myelin basic protein knockout through the generation of conditional knockout mice (Golli-myelin basic proteinsfl/fl; E3CreN), in which Golli-myelin basic proteins were specifically deleted in cerebellar granule neurons, where Golli-myelin basic proteins are expressed abundantly in wild-type mice. To investigate the role of Golli-myelin basic proteins in cerebellar granule neurons, we further performed histopathological analyses of these mice, with results indicating no morphological changes or degeneration of the major cellular components of the cerebellum. Furthermore, behavioral analysis showed that Golli-myelin basic proteinsfl/fl; E3CreN mice were healthy and did not display any abnormal behavior. These results suggest that the loss of Golli-myelin basic proteins in cerebellar granule neurons does not lead to cerebellar perturbations or behavioral abnormalities. This mouse model could therefore be employed to analyze the effect of Golli-myelin basic protein deletion in specific cell types of the central nervous system, such as other neuronal cells and oligodendrocytes, or in lymphocytes of the immune system.

Development of a Two-Photon-Responsive Chromophore, 2-(p-Aminophenyl)-5,6-dimethoxy-1-(hydroxyinden-3-yl)methyl Derivative, as a Photoremovable Protecting Group.

Photoremovable protecting groups (PPGs) are powerful tools that are widely used to investigate biological events in cells. An important requirement for PPGs is the efficient release of bioactive molecules by using visible to near-infrared light in the biological window (650-1350 nm). In this study, we report a new two-photon (2P)-responsive PPG, 2-(p-aminophenyl)-5,6-dimethoxy-1-(hydroxyinden-3-yl)methyl, with a donor-π-donor cyclic stilbene structure. The 2P cross section was approximately 40-50 GM at ∼700 nm. The quantum yield of the uncaging process of caged benzoate was greater than 0.7, demonstrating that the 2P uncaging efficiency was approximately 30 GM at around 700 nm. This newly developed 2P-responsive chromophore can be used in future biological experiments. The mechanism of the photo-uncaging reaction via the carbocation intermediate was elucidated using transient absorption spectroscopy and product analysis.

α-Cleavage of 2,2-Diazido-2,3-dihydroinden-1-one in Solution and Cryogenic Matrices.

The Norrish type I (α-cleavage) reaction is an excellent photochemical method for radical-pair formation in solution. However, in cryogenic matrices, the starting material typically re-forms before the radical pair diffuses apart. This study focused on N2 extrusion from an azido alkyl radical to prevent radical-pair recombination. Irradiation of 2,2-diazido-2,3-dihydroinden-1-one (1) in methanol mainly yielded methyl 2-cyanomethylbenzoate (2) and 2-cyanomethylbenzoic acid (3) via α-cleavage. Laser flash photolysis of 1 in argon-saturated acetonitrile resulted in α-cleavage to form triplet biradical 31Br1 (λmax ∼ 410 nm, τ ∼ 400 ns). In contrast, upon irradiation in glassy 2-methyltetrahydrofuran matrices, triplet alkylnitrene 31N was directly detected using electron spin resonance (D/hc = 1.5646 cm-1, E/hc = 0.00161 cm-1) and absorption spectroscopy (λmax = 276 and 341 nm). Irradiation of 1 in argon matrices generated 31N, benzoyl azide 4, singlet benzoylnitrene 14N, and isocyanide 5, as revealed by IR spectroscopy. The experimental results supported by density functional theory calculations [B3PW91/6-311++G(d,p)] suggest that irradiation of 1 in matrices results in α-cleavage to form biradical 31Br1, which extrudes N2 to yield 31Br2. Rearrangement of 31Br2 into 31N competes with cleavage of a N3 radical to form radical 1Ra3. The N3/1Ra3 radical pair combines to form 4, which upon irradiation yields 14N and 5.

Sequential C-F Bond Transformation of the Difluoromethylene Unit in Perfluoroalkyl Groups: A Combination of Fine-Tuned Phenothiazine Photoredox Catalyst and Lewis Acid.

A sequential process via photoredox catalysis and Lewis acid mediation for C-F bond transformation of the CF2 unit in perfluoroalkyl groups has been achieved to transform perfluoroalkylarenes into complex fluoroalkylated compounds. A phenothiazine-based photocatalyst promotes the defluoroaminoxylation of perfluoroalkylarenes with (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPO) under visible light irradiation, affording the corresponding aminoxylated products. These products undergo a further defluorinative transformation with various organosilicon reagents mediated by AlCl3 to provide highly functionalized perfluoroalkyl alcohols. Our novel phenothiazine catalyst works efficiently in the defluoroaminoxylation. Transient absorption spectroscopy revealed that the catalyst regeneration step is crucial for the photocatalytic aminoxylation.

Temporal-Focusing Multiphoton Excitation Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy Using Spontaneously Blinking Fluorophores.

Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) based on temporal-focusing multiphoton excitation (TFMPE) and single-wavelength excitation is used to visualize the three-dimensional (3D) distribution of spontaneously blinking fluorophore-labeled subcellular structures in a thick specimen with a nanoscale-level spatial resolution. To eliminate the photobleaching effect of unlocalized molecules in out-of-focus regions for improving the utilization rate of the photon budget in 3D SMLM imaging, SMLM with single-wavelength TFMPE achieves wide-field and axially confined two-photon excitation (TPE) of spontaneously blinking fluorophores. TPE spectral measurement of blinking fluorophores is then conducted through TFMPE imaging at a tunable excitation wavelength, yielding the optimal TPE wavelength for increasing the number of detected photons from a single blinking event during SMLM. Subsequently, the TPE fluorescence of blinking fluorophores is recorded to obtain a two-dimensional TFMPE-SMLM image of the microtubules in cancer cells with a localization precision of 18±6 nm and an overall imaging resolution of approximately 51 nm, which is estimated based on the contribution of Nyquist resolution and localization precision. Combined with astigmatic imaging, the system is capable of 3D TFMPE-SMLM imaging of brain tissue section of a 5XFAD transgenic mouse with the pathological features of Alzheimer's disease, revealing the distribution of neurotoxic amyloid-beta peptide deposits.

Bidirectional Neuronal Actuation by Uncaging with Violet and Green Light.

We have developed a photochemical protecting group that enables wavelength selective uncaging using green versus violet light. Change of the exocyclic oxygen of the laser dye coumarin-102 to sulfur, gave thio-coumarin-102, a new chromophore with an absorption ratio at 503/402 nm of 37. Photolysis of thio-coumarin-102 caged γ-aminobutyric acid was found to be highly wavelength selective on neurons, with normalized electrical responses >100-fold higher in the green versus violet channel. When partnered with coumarin-102 caged glutamate, we could use whole cell violet and green irradiation to fire and block neuronal action potentials with complete orthogonality. Localized irradiation of different dendritic segments, each connected to a neuronal cell body, in concert with 3-dimenional Ca2+ imaging, revealed that such inputs could function independently. Chemical signaling in living cells always involves a complex balance of multiple pathways, use of (thio)-coumarin-102 caged compounds will enable arbitrarily timed flashes of green and violet light to interrogate two independent pathways simultaneously.

A new beta cell-specific mitophagy reporter mouse shows that metabolic stress leads to accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria despite increased mitophagy.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Mitophagy, the selective autophagy of mitochondria, is essential for maintenance of mitochondrial function. Recent studies suggested that defective mitophagy in beta cells caused diabetes. However, because of technical difficulties, the development of a convenient and reliable method to evaluate mitophagy in beta cells in vivo is needed. The aim of this study was to establish beta cell-specific mitophagy reporter mice and elucidate the role of mitophagy in beta cell function under metabolically stressed conditions induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). METHODS: Mitophagy was assessed using newly generated conditional mitochondrial matrix targeting mitophagy reporter (CMMR) mice, in which mitophagy can be visualised specifically in beta cells in vivo using a fluorescent probe sensitive to lysosomal pH and degradation. Metabolic stress was induced in mice by exposure to the HFD for 20 weeks. The accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria was examined by staining for functional/total mitochondria and reactive oxygen species (ROS) using specific fluorescent dyes and antibodies. To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying mitophagy in beta cells, overexpression and knockdown experiments were performed. HFD-fed mice were examined to determine whether chronic insulin treatment for 6 weeks could ameliorate mitophagy, mitochondrial function and impaired insulin secretion. RESULTS: Exposure to the HFD increased the number of enlarged (HFD-G) islets with markedly elevated mitophagy. Mechanistically, HFD feeding induced severe hypoxia in HFD-G islets, which upregulated mitophagy through the hypoxia-inducible factor 1-ɑ (Hif-1ɑ)/BCL2 interacting protein 3 (BNIP3) axis in beta cells. However, HFD-G islets unexpectedly showed the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria due to excessive ROS production, suggesting an insufficient capacity of mitophagy for the degradation of dysfunctional mitochondria. Chronic administration of insulin ameliorated hypoxia and reduced ROS production and dysfunctional mitochondria, leading to decreased mitophagy and restored insulin secretion. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: We demonstrated that CMMR mice enabled the evaluation of mitophagy in beta cells. Our results suggested that metabolic stress induced by the HFD caused the aberrant accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria, which overwhelmed the mitophagic capacity and was associated with defective maintenance of mitochondrial function and impaired insulin secretion.

Energetically More Stable Singlet Cyclopentane-1,3-diyl Diradical with π-Single Bonding Character than the Corresponding σ-Single Bonded Compound.

Carbon-carbon σ-single bonds are crucial for constructing molecules like ethane derivatives (R3C-CR3), which are composed of tetrahedral four-coordinate carbons. Molecular functions, such as light absorption or emission, originate from the π-bonds existing in ethylene derivatives (R2C═CR2). In this study, a relatively stable cyclopentane-1,3-diyl species with π-single bonding system (C-π-C) with planar four-coordinate carbons is constructed. This diradicaloid is energetically more stable than the corresponding σ-single bonding system. The π-electron single bonding system provides deeper insights into the chemical bonding and the physical properties derived from the small energy gaps between the bonding and antibonding molecular orbitals.

Photoinduced α-Aminoalkylation of Sulfonylarenes with Alkylamines.

α-Aminoalkylation of sulfonylarenes with alkylamines was found to be induced by photoirradiation. Here various types of alkylamines, such as trialkylamines, dialkylamines, N,N-dialkylanilines and N-alkylanilines as well as sulfonylarenes containing an azole, azine, heterole or benzene ring are available. The reaction proceeds through a homolytic aromatic substitution (HAS) process consisting of addition of an α-aminoalkyl radical to a sulfonylarene and elimination of the sulfonyl radical to give the α-arylalkylamine, where photoirradiation is considered to induce homolysis of sulfonylarenes leading to the generation of α-aminoalkyl radicals that make a radical chain operative.

Generation and Characterization of a Tetraradical Embedded in a Curved Cyclic Paraphenylene Unit.

Unique spin-spin (magnetic) interactions, ring-size effects on ground-state spin multiplicity, and in-plane aromaticity has been found in localized 1,3-diradicals embedded in curved benzene structures such as cycloparaphenylene (CPP). In this study, we characterized the magnetic interactions in a tetraradical consisting of two localized 1,3-diradical units connected by p-quaterphenyl within a curved CPP skeleton by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. Persistent triplet species with zero-field splitting parameters similar to those of a triplet 1,3-diphenylcyclopentane-1,3-diyl diradical were observed by continuous wave (CW) or pulsed X-band EPR measurements. The quintet state derived from the ferromagnetic interaction between the two triplet diradical moieties was not detected at 20 K under glassy matrix conditions. At the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory, the singlet state was lower in energy than the triplet and quintet states. These findings will aid in the development of open-shell species for material science application.

Molecular and Crystal Structure, Spectroscopy, and Photochemistry of a Dispiro Compound Bearing the Tetraoxane Pharmacophore.

The molecular structure and photochemistry of dispiro[cyclohexane-1,3'-[1,2,4,5]tetraoxane-6',2''-tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7 ]decan]-4-one (TX), an antiparasitic 1,2,4,5-tetraoxane was investigated using matrix isolation IR and EPR spectroscopies, together with quantum chemical calculations undertaken at the DFT(B3LYP)/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level of theory, with and without Grimme's dispersion correction. Photolysis of the matrix-isolated TX, induced by in situ broadband (λ>235 nm) or narrowband (λ in the range 220-263 nm) irradiation, led to new bands in the infrared spectrum that could be ascribed to two distinct photoproducts, oxepane-2,5-dione, and 4-oxohomoadamantan-5-one. Our studies show that these photoproducts result from initial photoinduced cleavage of an O-O bond, with the formation of an oxygen-centered diradical that regioselectivity rearranges to a more stable (secondary carbon-centered)/(oxygen-centered) diradical, yielding the final products. Formation of the diradical species was confirmed by EPR measurements, upon photolysis of the compound at λ=266 nm, in acetonitrile ice (T=10-80 K). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies demonstrated that the TX molecule adopts nearly the same conformation in the crystal and matrix-isolation conditions, revealing that the intermolecular interactions in the TX crystal are weak. This result is in keeping with observed similarities between the infrared spectrum of the crystalline material and that of matrix-isolated TX. The detailed structural, vibrational, and photochemical data reported here appear relevant to the practical uses of TX in medicinal chemistry, considering its efficient and broad parasiticidal properties.

Photochemically Induced Hydrogen Atom Transfer and Intramolecular Radical Cyclization Reactions with Oxazolones.

Photochemically induced intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer in oxazolones is reported. An acetal or thioacetal function at the side chain acts as a hydrogen donor while the photochemical exited oxazolone is the acceptor. A one-step process─the electron and the proton are simultaneously transferred─is productive, while electron transfer followed by proton transfer is inefficient. Radical combination then takes place, leading to the formation of a C-C or C-N bond. The regioselectivity of the reaction is explained by the diradical/zwitterion dichotomy of radical intermediates at the singlet state. In the present case, the zwitterion structure plays a central role, and intramolecular electron transfer favors spin-orbit coupling and thus the intersystem crossing to the singlet state. The reaction of corresponding thioacetal derivatives is less efficient. In this case, photochemical electron transfer is competitive. The photoproducts resulting from C-C bond formation easily undergo stepwise thermal decarboxylation in which zwitterionic and polar transition states are involved. A computational study of this step has also been performed.