Geometric Control of Cell Behavior by Biomolecule Nanodistribution.

Many dynamic interactions within the cell microenvironment modulate cell behavior and cell fate. However, the pathways and mechanisms behind cell-cell or cell-extracellular matrix interactions remain understudied, as they occur at a nanoscale level. Recent progress in nanotechnology allows for mimicking of the microenvironment at nanoscale in vitro; electron-beam lithography (EBL) is currently the most promising technique. Although this nanopatterning technique can generate nanostructures of good quality and resolution, it has resulted, thus far, in the production of only simple shapes (e.g., rectangles) over a relatively small area (100 × 100 µm), leaving its potential in biological applications unfulfilled. Here, we used EBL for cell-interaction studies by coating cell-culture-relevant material with electron-conductive indium tin oxide, which formed nanopatterns of complex nanohexagonal structures over a large area (500 × 500 µm). We confirmed the potential of EBL for use in cell-interaction studies by analyzing specific cell responses toward differentially distributed nanohexagons spaced at 1000, 500, and 250 nm. We found that our optimized technique of EBL with HaloTags enabled the investigation of broad changes to a cell-culture-relevant surface and can provide an understanding of cellular signaling mechanisms at a single-molecule level.

Development of Fluorescent Assay for Monitoring of Dehalogenase Activity.

The rapid accumulation of sequence data and powerful protein engineering techniques providing large mutant libraries have greatly heightened interest in efficient methods for biochemical characterization of proteins. Herein is reported a continuous assay for screening of enzymatic activity. The assay is developed and tested with the model enzymes haloalkane dehalogenases and relies upon a fluorescent change of a derivative of 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulphonic acid due to the pH drop associated with the dehalogenation reactions. The assay is performed in a microplate format using a purified enzyme, cell-free extract or intact cells, making the analysis quick and simple. The method exhibits high sensitivity with a limit of detection of 0.06 mM. The assay is successfully validated with gas chromatography and then applied for screening of 12 haloalkane dehalogenases with the environmental pollutant bis(2-chloroethyl) ether and chemical warfare agent sulfur mustard. Six enzymes exhibited detectable activity with both substrates. The within-day variability of the assay for five replicates (n = 5) was 21%.