Probe Labeling Research Articles

Sydnone‐Cyanines as Clickable Probes for Fluorescent Labelling

Sydnone‐Cyanines as Clickable Probes for Fluorescent Labelling

Deep Red to NIR Emitting Xanthene Hybrids: Xanthene‐Hemicyanine Hybrids and Xanthene‐Coumarin Hybrids

AbstractXanthene dyes exhibit remarkable photophysical properties and photostability. Their ability to switch fluorescence on/off depending on the external environment makes them a promising candidate for imaging/sensing/tracking/labeling probes. However, their emission ≤600 nm and Stokes shift ∼34 nm restrict their use in biological applications. A well‐known approach to shifting the emission of xanthene dyes in the deep red to Near infrared (NIR) is by forming xanthene hybrids. This review gives a comprehensive list of the deep red to NIR xanthene‐hemicyanine and xanthene‐coumarin hybrids. We have outlined general synthetic strategies and a detailed discussion of substituent effect, π‐conjugation, and ring effect on the photophysical properties of these dyes. A section on applications of deep red to NIR xanthene hybrids based on fluorophore‐linker strategy and spirocyclization is included. This review highlights the structure‐spectroscopic relationships, which will be useful in designing new deep red to NIR xanthene analogs.

A novel class of sulphonamides potently block malaria transmission by targeting a Plasmodium vacuole membrane protein.

Phenotypic cell-based screens are critical tools for discovering candidate drugs for development, yet identification of the cellular target and mode of action of a candidate drug is often lacking. Using an imaging-based screen, we recently discovered an N-[(4-hydroxychroman-4-yl)methyl]-sulphonamide (N-4HCS) compound, DDD01035881, that blocks male gamete formation in the malaria parasite life cycle and subsequent transmission of the parasite to the mosquito with nanomolar activity. To identify the target(s) of DDD01035881, and of the N-4HCS class of compounds more broadly, we synthesised a photoactivatable derivative, probe 2. Photoaffinity labelling of probe 2 coupled with mass spectrometry identified the 16 kDa Plasmodium falciparum parasitophorous vacuole membrane protein Pfs16 as a potential parasite target. Complementary methods including cellular thermal shift assays confirmed that the parent molecule DDD01035881 stabilised Pfs16 in lysates from activated mature gametocytes. Combined with high-resolution, fluorescence and electron microscopy data, which demonstrated that parasites inhibited with N-4HCS compounds phenocopy the targeted deletion of Pfs16 in gametocytes, these data implicate Pfs16 as a likely target of DDD01035881. This finding establishes N-4HCS compounds as being flexible and effective starting candidates from which transmission-blocking antimalarials can be developed in the future.

Antibody Functionalization of Ultrasmall Fluorescent Core–Shell Aluminosilicate Nanoparticle Probes for Advanced Intracellular Labeling and Optical Super Resolution Microscopy

Fluorescent labeling of cellular substructures is commonly performed using antibody–organic dye conjugates. Organic dyes do not exhibit ideal optical properties in terms of brightness and photostability, however, in particular when it comes to advanced optical super-resolution microscopy (SRM) applications. Here, we demonstrate the efficient conjugation of widely available secondary antibodies and cationic species to ultrasmall (sub-10 nm) fluorescent silica core─poly(ethylene glycol) shell (core–shell) aluminosilicate nanoparticles (aC′ dots) encapsulating different color dyes for specific targeting and high-quality fluorescence imaging of structures of the cytoskeleton (tubulin and actin) and nucleus, respectively. We show that the different color aC′ dots provide enhanced brightness and photostability relative to their parent dyes. As recently discovered, we further demonstrate that they exhibit photo-induced blinking with low ON–OFF duty cycles enabling optical SRM, for example, in the form of stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM), without the need for complex imaging setups or cocktails. After carefully optimizing Ab–aC′ dot conjugation as well as cell structure labeling protocols in fixed and permeabilized HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cells, we demonstrate three-color STORM and exemplify improved resolution compared to standard antibody–dye conjugates. This work paves the way to next-generation multifunctional optical probes based on ultrasmall silica nanoparticle platforms for advanced applications in bioimaging, nanomedicine, and beyond.

Development of Nitroso-Based Probes for Labeling and Regulation of RAS Proteins in Cancer Cells via Sequential Ene-Ligation and Oxime Condensation.

Prenyl functionalities have been widely discovered in natural products, nucleic acids, and proteins with significant biological roles in both healthy and diseased cells. In this work, we develop a series of new nitroso-based probes for the labeling, enrichment, and regulation of prenylated RAS protein, which is highly associated with ∼20% of human cancers and used to be regarded as an "undruggable" target via a sequential ene-ligation and oxime condensation (SELOC) process. We found that these nitroso species can rapidly react with prenyl-containing molecules through ene-ligation and install a molecular tag for functional applications under physiological conditions. We first investigated this ligation process on two peptide models and demonstrated its labeling efficiency on various proteins such as myoglobin, lysozyme, RNase A, BSA, and HSP40. We further coupled this reactive platform with proteolysis-targeting chimera technology targeting to increase its efficiency and accuracy, as well as to expand its application range. Using the prenylated RAS protein as the model, we demonstrated that RAS could be efficiently decorated with our nitroso probes, which further condensate with oxime and rapidly react with a pomalidomide-containing hydroxylamine probe for protein degradation. As a result, the RAS protein in both HeLa and A549 cell lines has been determined to be efficiently degraded both in vitro and in vivo. This is the first case targeting post-translational modification other than ligand-protein interaction to degrade and regulate RAS proteins. We envision that our SELOC strategy will have great potential in studying the fundamental structures and functions of prenylated biomolecules and developing new drugs based on these unique cellular pathways.

Exploring a chemical scaffold for rapid and selective photoaffinity labelling of non-ribosomal peptide synthetases in living bacterial cells.

Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) biosynthesize many pharmaceuticals and virulence factors. The biosynthesis of these natural peptide products from biosynthetic gene clusters depends on complex regulations in bacteria. However, our current knowledge of NRPSs is based on enzymological studies using full NRPS systems and/or a single NRPS domain in heterologous hosts. Chemical and/or biochemical strategies to capture the endogenous activities of NRPSs facilitate studies on NRPS cell biology in bacterial cells. Here, we describe a chemical scaffold for the rapid and selective photoaffinity labelling of NRPSs in purified systems, crude biological samples and living bacterial cells. We synthesized photoaffinity labelling probes coupled with 5'-O-N-(phenylalanyl)sulfamoyladenosine with clickable alkyl diazirine or trifluoromethyl phenyl diazirine. We found that a trifluoromethyl phenyl diazirine-based probe cross-linked the Phe-activating domain of a GrsA-NRPS with high selectivity and sensitivity at shorter ultraviolet (UV) irradiation times (less than 5 min) relative to a prototypical benzophenone-based probe. Our results demonstrated that this quick labelling protocol can prevent damage to proteins and cells caused by long UV irradiation times, providing a mild photoaffinity labelling method for biological samples. This article is part of the theme issue 'Reactivity and mechanism in chemical and synthetic biology'.

Electrochemical ratiometric dual-signal immunoassay for accurate detection of carcinoembryonic antigen in clinical serum based on rGO-Pd@Au-Thi and Chi-Fc-Au

For prevention and early diagnosis of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), it is necessary to develop more accurate approaches for its detection. In this work, a new sensitive electrochemical ratiometric immunosensor for the determination of CEA was constructed on account of chitosan-ferrocenecarboxaldehyde-gold nanospheres (Chi-Fc-Au) and reduced graphene oxide-Pd@Au nanocomposits-thionine (rGO-Pd@Au-Thi) with dual-signal output. The immunosensor utilized Chi-Fc-Au as the substrate to anchor the primary antibody (Ab1) and rGO-Pd@Au-Thi as the secondary antibody (Ab2) label probe, generating two electrical signals (IFc and IThi) derived from Fc and Thi in the presence of CEA, respectively. With the increase of CEA concentration, the IFc and IThi showed opposite changes, so the peak current ratio of IThi/IFc was positively correlated with CEA concentration. In comparison with other immunosensors especially single-signal mode, the proposed immunosensor exhibited a wider linear range (10–4−200 ng mL−1) and a lower detection limit (14.9 fg mL−1), which could be applied in human serum samples for CEA measurement, and was comparable to commercial electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassay. Given the significantly improved accuracy of the constructed sensor, it is expected to be applied in clinical diagnosis for other protein biomarkers determination.

Glycosidase-targeting small molecules for biological and therapeutic applications.

Glycosidases are ubiquitous enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of glycosidic linkages in oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates. These enzymes play a vital role in a wide variety of biological events, such as digestion of nutritional carbohydrates, lysosomal catabolism of glycoconjugates, and posttranslational modifications of glycoproteins. Abnormal glycosidase activities are associated with a variety of diseases, particularly cancer and lysosomal storage disorders. Owing to the physiological and pathological significance of glycosidases, the development of small molecules that target these enzymes is an active area in glycoscience and medicinal chemistry. Research efforts carried out thus far have led to the discovery of numerous glycosidase-targeting small molecules that have been utilized to elucidate biological processes as well as to develop effective chemotherapeutic agents. In this review, we describe the results of research studies reported since 2018, giving particular emphasis to the use of fluorescent probes for detection and imaging of glycosidases, activity-based probes for covalent labelling of these enzymes, glycosidase inhibitors, and glycosidase-activatable prodrugs.

Ultrabright two-photon excitable red-emissive fluorogenic probes for fast and wash-free bioorthogonal labelling in live cells.

Fluorogenic bioorthogonal reactions are promising tools for tracking small molecules or biomolecules in living organisms. Two-photon excitation, by shifting absorption towards the red, significantly increases the signal-to-noise ratio and decreases photodamage, while allowing imaging about 10 times deeper than with a confocal microscope. However, efficient two-photon excitable fluorogenic probes are currently lacking. We report here the design and synthesis of fluorogenic probes based on a two-photon excitable fluorophore and a tetrazine quenching moiety. These probes react with bicyclo[6.1.0]no-4-yn-9ylmethanol (BCN) with a good to impressive kinetic rate constant (up to 1.1 × 103 M-1 s-1) and emit in the red window with moderate to high turn-on ratios. TDDFT allowed the rationalization of both the kinetic and fluorogenic performance of the different probes. The best candidate displays a 13.8-fold turn-on measured by quantifying fluorescence intensities in live cells under one-photon excitation, whereas a value of 3 is sufficient for high contrast live-cell imaging. In addition, live-cell imaging under two-photon excitation confirmed that there was no need for washing to monitor the reaction between BCN and this probe since an 8.0-fold turn-on was measured under two-photon excitation. Finally, the high two-photon brightness of the clicked adduct (>300 GM) allows the use of a weak laser power compatible with in vivo imaging.

Bulked Oligo-FISH for Chromosome Painting and Chromosome Barcoding.

Recently developed bulked oligo-FISH is a highly versatile method, which is applicable in any plant species with an assembled genome sequence. This technique allows in situ identification of individual chromosomes, large chromosomal rearrangements, comparative karyotype analysis, or even the reconstruction of the three-dimensional organization of the genome. The method is based on the identification of thousands of short oligonucleotides, unique to specific genome regions, which are synthesized in parallel, fluorescently labeled and used as probes for FISH. In this chapter, we propose a detailed protocol for amplification and labeling of single-stranded oligo-based painting probes from so-called MYtags immortal libraries, the preparation of mitotic metaphase and meiotic pachytene chromosome spreads, and a protocol for the fluorescence in situ hybridization procedure using the synthetic oligo probes. The proposed protocols are demonstrated for banana (Musa spp.).

Labeling approaches for DNA-PAINT super-resolution imaging.

Super-resolution imaging is becoming a commonly employed tool to visualize biological targets in unprecedented detail. DNA-PAINT is one of the single-molecule localization microscopy-based super-resolution imaging modalities allowing the ultra-high-resolution imaging with superior multiplexing capabilities. We discuss the importance of patterned DNA nanostructures in demonstrating the capabilities of DNA-PAINT and the design of various combinations of imager-docking strand pairs for imaging. Central to the implementation of DNA-PAINT imaging in a biological context is the generation of docking strand-conjugated binders against the target molecules. Several researchers have developed a variety of labelling probes for improving resolution while also providing multiplexing capabilities for the broader application of DNA-PAINT. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the repertoire of labelling probes used for DNA-PAINT in cells and the strategies implemented to chemically modify them with a docking strand.

The effects of doxorubicin loaded aptamer S3-linked DNA tetrahedrons on nasopharyngeal carcinoma

ObjectiveOur research group in the early stage identified CD109 as the target of aptamer S3 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study was to use S3 to connect DNA tetrahedron (DT) and load doxorubicin (Dox) onto DT to develop a targeted delivery system, and explore whether S3-DT-Dox can achieve targeted therapy for NPC.MethodsAptamer S3-conjugated DT was synthesized and loaded with Dox. The effects of S3-DT-Dox on NPC cells were investigated with laser confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and MTS assays. A nude mouse tumor model was established from NPC 5-8F cells, and the in vivo anti-tumor activity of S3-DT-Dox was examined by using fluorescent probe labeling and hematoxylin–eosin staining.ResultsThe synthesized S3-DT had high purity and stability. S3-DT specifically recognized 5-8F cells and NPC tissues in vitro. When the ratio of S3-DT to Dox was 1:20, S3-DT had the best Dox loading efficiency. The drug release rate reached the maximum (0.402 ± 0.029) at 48 h after S3-DT-Dox was prepared and mixed with PBS. S3-DT did not affect Dox toxicity to 5-8F cells, but reduced Dox toxicity to non-target cells. Meanwhile, S3-DT-Dox was able to specifically target the transplanted tumors and inhibit their growth in nude mice, with minor damage to normal tissues.ConclusionOur study highlights the ability and safety of S3-DT-Dox to target NPC cells and inhibit the development NPC.Graphical abstract

An ultrasensitive dual-signal ratio electrochemical aptamer biosensor for the detection of HER2

Electrochemical ratiometric biosensors have received attention from researchers because of their self-calibration capability, which can improve the accuracy of detection. In the present study, a ratiometric dual signal electrochemical aptamer biosensor based on ZIF-67 @polydopamine (PDA) nanocomposite and Cu/UiO-66 @ 3, 3′, 5, 5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) nanocomposite was fabricated for the detection of breast cancer biomarker- human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). PDA was chosen as the electroactive material with electrochemical redox activity and ZIF-67 with a high specific surface area, forming the ZIF-67 @PDA+Apt as the nanoprobe for capturing HER2 in this paper. Cu/UiO-66 is a bimetallic compound with high stability, specific surface area, and strong adsorption onto aptamer chains, and the Cu/UiO-66 @TMB+Apt nanocomposite was used as a probe for signal labeling. In the presence of HER2, the capture of HER2 by the ZIF-67 @PDA+Apt probe results in a weakening of the conductivity of the electrode, however, by attenuating the electrochemical signal from the PDA, altering the probe-Cu/UiO-66 @TMB+Apt signaling will result in the enhancement of the TMB electrochemical signal. With a sensitive detection of HER2 biomarkers in as little as 30 min with the detection range of 0.75–40 pg/mL and a limit of detection as low as 44.8 fg/mL. Dual signal ratio biosensors have a low limit of detection, short detection time, which can accurately detect targets in complex biological samples, which has important theoretical importance.

Strategic design of lysine-targeted irreversible covalent NDM-1 inhibitors

New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase 1 (NDM-1) can hydrolyze most β-lactam antibiotics, which is the major factor for drug resistance of Gram-negative bacteria. The binding of most reversible inhibitors to NDM-1 is relatively weak due to the shallow active pocket of NDM-1. Alternatively, irreversible covalent inhibitors can prevent their dissociation from the target, leading to permanent inactivation of the protein. Herein, we report a series of irreversible covalent inhibitors of NDM-1 targeting the conserved Lys211 in the active pocket. Several methods, including mass spectrometry, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, fluorescent labeling, and coumarin probe were used to demonstrate that pentafluorophenyl ester formed a covalent bond with Lys211. Moreover, our target inhibitor, in combination with meropenem, achieved an antibacterial effect on drug-resistant bacteria, along with an excellent safety profile. Our new strategy in designing lysine-targeted irreversible covalent NDM-1 inhibitors provides a potential option for the clinical treatment of Gram-negative bacteria.

Bladder cancer tissue-derived exosomes suppress ferroptosis of T24 bladder cancer cells by transporting miR-217.

It has been reported that miR-217 can inhibit the oncogenic activity and progression of bladder cancer (BCa) cells, but it has not been explored whether miR-217 is involved in the regulation of ferroptosis. In the present study, RNA transfection, real-time PCR, flow cytometry, Western blotting assays, immunofluorescence and ELISA were performed to explore the effects and mechanisms of miR-217 in BCa tissue-derived exosomes. We found that extracellular fluid from bladder cancer tissue promoted the growth and miR-217 expression of T24 cells and inhibited ferroptosis. MiR-217 was confirmed to inhibit ferroptosis in bladder cancer cells by RNA interference and functional assays. By cell membrane fluorescence probe (CM-Dil) labeling, inhibiting exosome secretion by GW4689 and exosome extraction, we determined that BCa tissue-derived exosomes transport miR-217 into T24 cells. Culture of T24 cells with extracellular fluid after RNA interference showed that exosomes carrying miR-217 derived from BCa tissues inhibited ferroptosis of T24 cells. We conclude that bladder cancer tissue-derived exosomes inhibit ferroptosis of T24 bladder cancer cells by transporting miR-217. The results of our study provide a new insight into the progression of bladder cancer.

Development of NLRP3 inhibitors for intervening in Alzheimer’s disease

AbstractBackgroundNLRP3 inflammasome is an essential component of innate immunity, and its dysregulation has been linked to neuroinflammation and the development of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, NLRP3 inflammasome represents a promising target for effective AD treatment development.MethodBased on our newly identified lead NLRP3 inhibitor, a photoaffinity labeling probe was designed and employed to understand the mechanism of action for inhibitors based on this chemical scaffold using biochemical, biophysical, and molecular biology assays.ResultThe chemical probe can specifically recognize the NLRP3 protein from cell lysates. Photo‐affinity labeling studies using recombinant human NLRP3 protein also showed their interactions, and notably, the mode of action is different than other known NLRP3 inhibitors. Further characterization using FRET confirmed its interaction with the NLRP3 protein. Mass spectrometry analyses of the photo‐affinity labeled NLRP3 protein revealed a novel biding site with the NACHT domain of the NLRP3 protein.ConclusionStudies using a rationally designed photo‐affinity probe based on our lead NLRP3 inhibitor demonstrated that our inhibitors directly bind to the NLRP3 protein via a novel mechanism of action, distinct from other known NLRP3 inhibitors.

Mechanism of gamma‐secretase modulators

AbstractBackgroundAmyloid‐beta (Aβ) peptides are believed to be integral to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis through their role in the “amyloid hypothesis,” in which the accumulation of Aβ peptides initiates a cascade of pathological events leading to neurodegeneration and AD. γ‐Secretase is a transmembrane aspartyl protease which cleaves APP to generate Aβ peptides, making γ‐secretase an attractive drug target. However, inhibitors failed in clinical trials due to their unwanted side effects on other γ‐secretase substrates such as Notch. ɣ‐Secretase modulators (GSMs) selectively reduce levels of the pathogenic Aβ species without affecting Notch and overall APP processing. However, many questions on their mechanism still remain. Here we investigate the molecular mechanism of GSMs by (1) investigating the binding site of imidazole GSM E2012 using photoaffinity labeling and molecular docking and (2) investigating combination therapy with different GSMs on reducing Aβ production.MethodPart I: We incubated clickable GSM photoaffinity probes with cell membranes in the presence or absence of competitors, followed by UV irradiation to initiate photo‐crosslinking to nearby proteins and conjugation to biotin via click chemistry. Labeled proteins were isolated with affinity chromatography by streptavidin beads, eluted, and analyzed by western blot. Probes were docked onto γ‐secretase (PDB 7D8X) using tools from Schrodinger Suite 2021‐2. Part II: We treated N2a‐APP cells with GSM‐1 (acid GSM), E2012, or BPN‐15606 (imidazole GSMs) individually or in combination for 12h. Afterwards we collected cell culture media and measured secreted Aβ38, Aβ40, and Aβ42 levels using MesoScale Discovery.ResultWe demonstrate that GSM photoprobe E2012‐BPyne labels presenilin‐1 and nicastrin in the presence of transition state analog L‐685, 458, consistent with structural observations. From molecular docking studies we observe that GSM photoprobes differentially interacted with γ‐secretase and docking scores aligned with probe labeling efficiency. Furthermore, we demonstrate that acid and imidazole GSMs synergistically inhibit cellular Aβ production.ConclusionOur findings have revealed insight into the binding of GSMs and the effects of two GSM classes in combination. We are currently examining the effects of combined GSMs in primary neurons and on Notch production. These studies aim to better understand the mechanisms of GSMs to target γ‐secretase in AD.

Ion-Exchange Reaction-Mediated Hierarchical Dual Z-Scheme Heterojunction for Split-Type Photoelectrochemical Immunoassays.

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunoassays with ultrasensitive detection abilities are highly desirable for in vitro PEC diagnosis and biological detection. In this paper, dual Z-scheme PEC immunoassays with hierarchical nanostructures (TiO2@NH2-MIL-125@CdS) are synthesized through epitaxial growth of MOF-on-MOF and further in situ derivatization. The dual Z-scheme configuration not only extends the light absorption range but also increases the redox ability due to the interface structure nanoengineering, which synergistically suppresses bulk carrier recombination and promotes the charge transfer efficiency at the electron level. Furthermore, a smart MOF-derived labeling probe (CuO@ZnO nanocube) is designed to develop a split-type PEC biosensor by using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as a target biomarker. In the presence of PSA, the Ab2-labeled CuO@ZnO would specifically bond to the dual Z-scheme electrode. Then, the MOF-derived CuO@ZnO is dissolved by hydrochloric acid to release Cu2+, which could replace Cd2+ via an ion-exchange reaction, thus leading to the decrease of the photocurrent due to the destruction of the dual Z-scheme configuration. In typical applications, the split-type PEC immunoassay exhibits an excellent detection performance for PSA with a LOD as low as 0.025 pg·mL-1.

Cysteine Sulfenylation of Protein Disulfide Isomerase Links Oxidative Stress to Thrombosis

Oxidative stress increases the risk of clinically significant thrombosis in the setting of inflammation, malignancy, infection, and dyslipidemia. Oxidants generated during oxidative stress are prothrombotic; however, the mechanisms by which oxidants induce thrombus formation is poorly understood. Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is a thiol isomerase that serves an important role in thrombus formation. It has a domain structure of a-b-b'-a', in which the aand a' domains are catalytic and the b and b' are substrate binding. A flexible x linker is between the b' and a'domains. PDI is uniquely sensitive to oxidative cysteine modification within the CGHC catalytic motif of its a and a'domains. Yet whether PDI cysteine modifications mediates thrombosis in an oxidative environment has not previously been studied. We hypothesized that oxidized PDI links oxidative stress to a prothrombotic phenotype through post-translational modification of proteins. We have previously shown that dyslipidemia promotes hydrogen peroxide generation from platelets and oxidizes proteins. Using hydrogen peroxide as a model oxidant, we found that oxidation of recombinant PDI promoted the loss of free thiols and inhibited reductase activity in a dose-dependent manner (IC50= 3.3 ± 0.12 µM). To understand how free thiols were lost, we used a benzothiazine-based nucleophilic probe, termed BTD, to label sulfenic acid. The transient cysteine sulfenic acid (S-OH) was detected by BTD labeling in wildtype PDI following exposure to hydrogen peroxide, but not in a PDI mutant in which all active site cysteines had been mutated to alanine. PDI exposure to oxidized lipoprotein particles (OxLDL) or 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), a peroxynitrite donor, also promoted its sulfenylation. Using single cysteine mutants of PDI to identify the sulfenylation site, we found that Cys56 was preferentially sulfenylated as mutation of this cysteine prevented further labeling of the sulfenic acid probe. To assess whether interdomain interactions influenced sulfenylation, we evaluated BTD labeling in isolated fragments of PDI. Sulfenylation was identified in the a domain, consistent with Cys56 labeling, and was significantly enhanced in the ab fragment, implicating an interaction between the a and b domains in sulfenylation. No labeling was observed in an isolated b'xa' fragment. Further analysis of structural elements revealed that a conserved Arg120 within the a domain regulates Cys56 reactivity. Indeed, mutation of Arg120 to Ala prevented sulfenylation by peroxides compared to the wildtype control. Maleimide labeling showed that sulfenylated PDI is an intermediary that resolves into disulfided PDI. To determine whether this disulfided PDI promotes oxidase activity, we used a denatured and reduced RNAse that refolds when disulfides are transferred from oxidized PDI to the RNAse. PDI oxidized by hydrogen peroxide promoted RNAse refolding, whereas reduced PDI did not. A selective inhibitor of sulfenylation, arsenite, prevented RNAse refolding, indicating that hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidation of PDI proceeds through a sulfenic acid intermediate. Since PDI is secreted from cells, we evaluated whether activated cells release sulfenylated PDI using both human vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and platelets. Sulfenylated PDI was increased in the cultured media of HUVECs stimulated with thrombin and in the releasate of platelets stimulated via PAR1 or glycoprotein VI. OxLDL exposure sensitizes platelets to activation by low doses of agonists. Inhibition of PDI using a neutralizing antibody inhibited augmentation of platelet aggregation by oxLDL, suggesting that oxidation of PDI by oxLDL promotes platelet activation. The ability of oxLDL to enhance the prothrombotic effect of PDI was tested in vivo in a murine model of laser-induced thrombus formation. Mice were infused with either control IgG or IgG directed at PDI, followed by the infusion of oxLDL. OxLDL significantly enhanced thrombus formation in this model. The effect of oxLDL was inhibited by anti-PDI IgG but not control IgG antibody or buffer, implicating PDI as an effector of oxLDL-augmented thrombus formation. In conclusion, our study demonstrates sulfenylation of PDI and shows that PDI sulfenylation retains PDI oxidase activity. Oxidation of PDI by oxidants such as oxLDL occurs in platelets and in endothelium and promotes thrombosis in the setting of oxidative stress.

A fluorogenic probe for predicting treatment response in non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR-activating mutations

Therapeutic responses of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) - tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are known to be associated with EGFR mutations. However, a proportion of NSCLCs carrying EGFR mutations still progress on EGFR-TKI underlining the imperfect correlation. Structure-function-based approaches have recently been reported to perform better in retrospectively predicting patient outcomes following EGFR-TKI treatment than exon-based method. Here, we develop a multicolor fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) with an EGFR-TKI-based fluorogenic probe (HX103) to profile active-EGFR in tumors. HX103-based FACS shows an overall agreement with gene mutations of 82.6%, sensitivity of 81.8% and specificity of 83.3% for discriminating EGFR-activating mutations from wild-type in surgical specimens from NSCLC patients. We then translate HX103 to the clinical studies for prediction of EGFR-TKI sensitivity. When integrating computed tomography imaging with HX103-based FACS, we find a high correlation between EGFR-TKI therapy response and probe labeling. These studies demonstrate HX103-based FACS provides a high predictive performance for response to EGFR-TKI, suggesting the potential utility of an EGFR-TKI-based probe in precision medicine trials to stratify NSCLC patients for EGFR-TKI treatment.