Fluorescent imaging using novel conjugated polymeric nanoparticles-affimer probes in complex in vitro models of colorectal cancer.

We developed a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) conjugated polymer nanoparticle (CPN510-CEA-Af) probe to target CEA-expressing CRC cells in vitro. Its efficacy was evaluated in 2D and 3D cultures of LS174T, LoVo, and HT29 CRC cell lines. CPN510-CEA-Af produced greater fluorescent signal intensity than unconjugated particles in both 2D cells and 3D spheriods, indicating its potential as a probe for image-guided colorectal cancer surgery.

Near infrared conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPN™) for tracking cells using fluorescence and optoacoustic imaging.

Tracking the biodistribution of cell therapies is crucial for understanding their safety and efficacy. Optical imaging techniques are particularly useful for tracking cells due to their clinical translatability and potential for intra-operative use to validate cell delivery. However, there is a lack of appropriate optical probes for cell tracking. The only FDA-approved material for clinical use is indocyanine green (ICG). ICG can be used for both fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging, but is prone to photodegradation, and at higher concentrations, undergoes quenching and can adversely affect cell health. We have developed novel near-infrared imaging probes comprising conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs™) that can be fine-tuned to absorb and emit light at specific wavelengths. To compare the performance of the CPNs™ with ICG for in vivo cell tracking, labelled mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) were injected subcutaneously in mice and detected using fluorescence imaging (FI) and a form of photoacoustic imaging called multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT). MSCs labelled with either ICG or CPN™ 770 could be detected with FI, but only CPN™ 770-labelled MSCs could be detected with MSOT. These results show that CPNs™ show great promise for tracking cells in vivo using optical imaging techniques, and for some applications, out-perform ICG.

Dynamics and calcium sensitivity of the Ca2+/myristoyl switch protein hippocalcin in living cells.

Hippocalcin is a neuronal calcium sensor protein that possesses a Ca2+/myristoyl switch allowing it to translocate to membranes. Translocation of hippocalcin in response to increased cytosolic [Ca2+] was examined in HeLa cells expressing hippocalcin-enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) to determine the dynamics and Ca2+ affinity of the Ca2+/myristoyl switch in living cells. Ca2+-free hippocalcin was freely diffusible, as shown by photobleaching and use of a photoactivable GFP construct. The translocation was dependent on binding of Ca2+ by EF-hands 2 and 3. Using photolysis of NP-EGTA, the maximal kinetics of translocation was determined (t1/2 = 0.9 s), and this was consistent with a diffusion driven process. Low intensity photolysis of NP-EGTA produced a slow [Ca2+] ramp and revealed that translocation of hippocalcin-EYFP initiated at around 180 nM and was half maximal at 290 nM. Histamine induced a reversible translocation of hippocalcin-EYFP. The data show that hippocalcin is a sensitive Ca2+ sensor capable of responding to increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration over the narrow dynamic range of 200-800 nM free Ca2+.

Neuronal Ca2+-sensor proteins: multitalented regulators of neuronal function.

Many aspects of neuronal activity are regulated by Ca2+ signals. The transduction of temporally and spatially distinct Ca2+ signals requires the action of Ca2+-sensor proteins including various EF-hand-containing Ca2+-binding proteins. The neuronal Ca2+ sensor (NCS) protein family and the related Ca2+-binding proteins (CaBPs) have begun to emerge as key players in neuronal function. Many of these proteins are expressed predominantly or only in neurons, sometimes with cell-specific patterns of expression. Their ability to associate with membranes either constitutively or in response to elevated Ca2+ concentration allows the NCS proteins to discriminate between different spatial and temporal patterns of Ca2+ signals. Recent work has established several physiological roles of these proteins, including diverse actions on gene expression, ion channel function, membrane traffic of ion channels and receptors, and the control of apoptosis.

High-affinity interaction of the N-terminal myristoylation motif of the neuronal calcium sensor protein hippocalcin with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate.

Many proteins are associated with intracellular membranes due to their N-terminal myristoylation. Not all myristoylated proteins have the same localization within cells, indicating that other factors must determine their membrane targeting. The NCS (neuronal calcium sensor) proteins are a family of Ca2+-binding proteins with diverse functions. Most members of the family are N-terminally myristoylated and are either constitutively membrane-bound or have a Ca2+/myristoyl switch that allows their reversible membrane association in response to Ca2+ signals. In the case of hippocalcin and NCS-1, or alternatively KChIP1 (K+ channel-interacting protein 1), their N-terminal myristoylation motifs are sufficient for targeting to distinct organelles. We have shown that an N-terminal myristoylated hippocalcin peptide is able to specifically reproduce the membrane targeting of hippocalcin/NCS-1 when introduced into permeabilized cells. The peptide binds to liposomes containing phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] with high affinity (K(d) 50 nM). Full-length hippocalcin also bound preferentially to liposomes supplemented with PtdIns(4,5)P2. Co-expression of hippocalcin-(1-14)-ECFP (enhanced cyan fluorescent protein) or NCS-1-ECFP partially displaced the expressed PH (pleckstrin homology) domain of phospholipase delta1 from the plasma membrane in live cells, indicating that they have a higher affinity for PtdIns(4,5)P2 than does this PH domain. The Golgi localization of the PH domain of FAPP1 (four-phosphate-adaptor protein 1), which binds to phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, was unaffected. The localization of NCS-1 and hippocalcin is likely to be determined, therefore, by their interaction with PtdIns(4,5)P2.

Analysis of the interacting partners of the neuronal calcium-binding proteins L-CaBP1, hippocalcin, NCS-1 and neurocalcin delta.

Intracellular Ca2+ signals are transduced by the binding of Ca2+ to sensor proteins, which subsequently modify the activity of their target proteins. Identification of these target proteins is, therefore, important for an understanding of cellular signalling processes. We have investigated the binding partners of four EF-hand Ca2+-binding proteins. Three proteins of the neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) family, hippocalcin, NCS-1 and neurocalcin delta were prepared as N-terminally tagged GST fusion proteins, and the less closely related protein L-CaBP1 was prepared in both N- and C-terminally tagged forms, the latter requiring generation of a new vector. Immobilised fusion proteins were used to purify binding partners from bovine brain cytosol and membrane extracts in the presence of 1 microM free Ca2+. Bound proteins were eluted with Ca2+-free and high-salt buffers and eluted proteins were identified by MALDI-MS and Western blotting. New protein targets detected included ARF1, Ca2+-dependent activator protein for secretion 1, cyclic nucleotide 3',5'-phosphodiesterase, the vacuolar ATPase, AP1 and AP2 complexes and the type I TGF-beta receptor. While certain of these interactions occurred with more than one of the Ca2+-binding proteins, others were found to be specific targets for particular Ca2+ sensors, and many of these did not overlap with known calmodulin-binding proteins. These findings provide new clues to the functional roles of the neuronal calcium sensor proteins.

Identification of residues that determine the absence of a Ca(2+)/myristoyl switch in neuronal calcium sensor-1.

The neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) family of Ca(2+)-binding proteins regulates a number of different processes in neurons and photoreceptor cells. The first of these proteins to be characterized, recoverin, was shown to exhibit a Ca(2+)/myristoyl switch whereby its N-terminal myristoyl group is sequestered in the Ca(2+)-free form and is exposed on Ca(2+) binding to allow the protein to become membrane-associated. It has subsequently been shown that certain other family members also exhibit this mechanism in living cells. In contrast, NCS-1 does not show the Ca(2+)/myristoyl switch and is membrane-associated even at low Ca(2+) concentrations. We have used sequence comparison combined with information from structural analyses to attempt to identify candidate residues within the NCS proteins that determine whether or not the Ca(2+)/myristoyl switch operates in cells and have tested their functional significance by mutagenesis. The results show that NCS-1 possesses residues within its N terminus that lock the myristoyl group in an exposed conformation. In addition, other structural aspects within the C-terminal domains are required to allow the switch to operate. We have determined a key role for residues within the motif EELTRK in NCS-1 in keeping the myristoyl group exposed and allowing the protein to be constitutively membrane-associated.

Residues within the myristoylation motif determine intracellular targeting of the neuronal Ca2+ sensor protein KChIP1 to post-ER transport vesicles and traffic of Kv4 K+ channels.

KChIPs (K+ channel interacting proteins) regulate the function of A-type Kv4 potassium channels by modifying channel properties and by increasing their cell surface expression. We have explored factors affecting the localisation of Kv4.2 and the targeting of KChIP1 and other NCS proteins by using GFP-variant fusion proteins expressed in HeLa cells. ECFP-Kv4.2 expressed alone was not retained in the ER but reached the Golgi complex. In cells co-expressing ECFP-Kv4.2 and KChIP1-EYFP, the two proteins were co-localised and were mainly present on the plasma membrane. When KChIP1-EYFP was expressed alone it was instead targeted to punctate structures. This was distinct from the localisation of the NCS proteins NCS-1 and hippocalcin, which were targeted to the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and plasma membrane. The membrane localisation of each NCS protein required myristoylation and minimal myristoylation motifs of hippocalcin or KChIP1 were sufficient to target fusion proteins to either TGN/plasma membrane or to punctate structures. The existence of targeting information within the N-terminal motifs was confirmed by mutagenesis of residues corresponding to three conserved basic amino acids in hippocalcin and NCS-1 at positions 3, 7 and 9. Residues at these positions determined intracellular targeting to the different organelles. Myristoylation and correct targeting of KChIP1 was required for the efficient traffic of ECFP-Kv4.2 to the plasma membrane. Expression of KChIP1(1-11)-EYFP resulted in the formation of enlarged structures that were positive for ERGIC-53 and beta-COP. ECFP-Kv4.2 was also accumulated in these structures suggesting that KChIP1(1-11)-EYFP inhibited traffic out of the ERGIC. We suggest that KChIP1 is targeted by its myristoylation motif to post-ER transport vesicles where it could interact with and regulate the traffic of Kv4 channels to the plasma membrane under the influence of localised Ca2+ signals.

Dynamin-dependent and dynamin-independent processes contribute to the regulation of single vesicle release kinetics and quantal size.

Accumulating evidence suggests that the kinetics of release from single secretory vesicles can be regulated and that quantal size can be modified during fast kiss-and-run fusion. Multiple pathways for vesicle retrieval have been identified involving clathrin and dynamin. It has been unclear whether dynamin could participate in a fast kiss-and-run process to reclose a transient fusion pore and thereby limit vesicle release. We have disrupted dynamin function in adrenal chromaffin cells by expression of the amphiphysin Src-homology domain 3 (SH3) or by application of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP gamma S), and have monitored single vesicle release events, evoked by digitonin and Ca(2+), by using carbon-fiber amperometry. Under both conditions, there was an increase in mean quantal size accompanying an increase in the half-width of amperometric spikes and a slowing of the fall time. These data suggest the existence of a dynamin-dependent process that can terminate vesicle release under basal conditions. Protein kinase C activation changed release kinetics and decreased quantal size by shortening the release period. The effects of phorbol ester treatment were not prevented by expression of the amphiphysin SH3 domain or by GTP gamma S suggesting the existence of alternative dynamin-independent process underlying fast kiss-and-run exocytosis.

Differential use of myristoyl groups on neuronal calcium sensor proteins as a determinant of spatio-temporal aspects of Ca2+ signal transduction.

The localizations of three members of the neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) family were studied in HeLa cells. Using hippocalcin-EYFP and NCS-1-ECFP, it was found that their localization differed dramatically in resting cells. NCS-1 had a distinct predominantly perinuclear localization (similar to trans-Golgi markers), whereas hippocalcin was present diffusely throughout the cell. Upon the elevation of intracellular Ca(2+), hippocalcin rapidly translocated to the same perinuclear compartment as NCS-1. Another member of the family, neurocalcin delta, also translocated to this region after a rise in Ca(2+) concentration. Permeabilization of transfected cells using digitonin caused loss of hippocalcin and neurocalcin delta in the absence of calcium, but in the presence of 10 microm Ca(2+), both proteins translocated to and were retained in the perinuclear region. NCS-1 localization was unchanged in permeabilized cells regardless of calcium concentration. The localization of NCS-1 was unaffected by mutations in all functional EF hands, indicating that its localization was independent of Ca(2+). A minimal myristoylation motif (hippocalcin-(1-14)) fused to EGFP resulted in similar perinuclear targeting, showing that localization of these proteins is because of the exposure of the myristoyl group. This was confirmed by mutation of the myristoyl motif of NCS-1 and hippocalcin that resulted in both proteins remaining cytosolic, even at elevated Ca(2+) concentration. Dual imaging of hippocalcin-EYFP and cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration in Fura Red-loaded cells demonstrated the kinetics of the Ca(2+)/myristoyl switch in living cells and showed that hippocalcin rapidly translocated with a half-time of approximately 12 s after a short lag period when Ca(2+) was elevated. These results demonstrate that closely related Ca(2+) sensor proteins use their myristoyl groups in distinct ways in vivo in a manner that will determine the time course of Ca(2+) signal transduction.