Questo lavoro è stato finanziato dalla Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, e dal UNCF / Merck Iniziativa Scienza.

1. Screening piastra preparazione <ol><li> Aggiungere 25g terreno di coltura LB, agar 15g, e 1,5 g carbossimetil cellulosa (CMC) substrato di 1L di acqua distillata, e autoclave per la sterilizzazione. </li><li> Dopo la sterilizzazione in autoclave, permette raffreddare e aggiungere antibiotici appropriati, e IPTG ad una concentrazione finale di 100μM. </li><li> Versare 200 mL in media ogni 5 piatti grandi Petri piazza / vassoi biologico (240 x 240 x 20mm o più grandi). Lasciare le piastre ad asciugare completamente. </li></ol> 2. Endoglucanase generazione biblioteca e schermo <ol><li> Generare una libreria di endoglucanase dominio catalitico (s). Questo può essere ottenuto in molti modi (ad esempio, sito-diretta o mutagenesi casuale, ricombinazione, ecc) ed è determinato dal ricercatore. </li><li> Clonare la biblioteca in un vettore tale che essi sono sotto il controllo del promotore T7 con l&#39;operatore lac, e contengono una sequenza pelB segnale per il targeting al periplasma. Un esempio di un vettore adatto è pET22b (+) da Novagen. </li><li> Trasformare la biblioteca in endoglucanase E. coli ceppo BL21 (DE3) e la piastra per singole colonie. </li><li> Incubare trasformazione durante la notte a 37 ° C. </li><li> Utilizzando stuzzicadenti sterile, inoculare cloni in 96 pozzetti profondi pozzetti contenenti medio 400μL LB integrato con antibiotici appropriati. Incubare a 37 ° C per una notte in agitazione a 250 rpm. </li><li> Aggiungere glicerolo sterile a 96 culture e durante la notte per una concentrazione finale del 10% per la conservazione a lungo termine a -80 ° C. Questo sarà il piatto principale. </li><li> Utilizzando un 96-pin bollo, replicare culture piatto durante la notte sulle piastre di screening contenenti IPTG e CMC. Fino a 5 gruppi di culture durante la notte può essere stampato su ogni piatto di screening. </li><li> Etichetta le piastre di screening in modo che l&#39;identità e l&#39;orientamento di ogni piastra 96 ​​pozzetti è noto. </li><li> Incubare le librerie timbrato a temperatura ambiente (17-25 ° C) durante la notte o fino a quando si sono formate colonie visibili. </li><li> Risciacquare con acqua distillata piatto fino a quando tutte le tracce delle colonie sono stati rimossi. </li><li> Versare Congo Red (CR; 0,5% in acqua) sulla piastra lavato. Assicurarsi di aggiungere quel tanto che basta CR per coprire la piastra. </li><li> Incubare 15 minuti a temperatura ambiente. Non superare i 15 minuti per l&#39;incubazione CR. Tempi di incubazione più lungo si tradurrà in aloni meno distinte. </li><li> Eliminare CR e aggiungere una generosa quantità (più che sufficienti a coprire il piatto) di NaCl 1M. </li><li> Incubare 15 minuti a temperatura ambiente. </li><li> Eliminare NaCl per rivelare aloni degrado CMC. Per una migliore risoluzione delle aureole, tempi di incubazione più lungo con lavaggi NaCl NaCl o multipli possono essere richiesti. </li><li> Utilizzando uno stuzzicadenti sterile, pick attivo cloni enzimi dalla lastra per la ulteriore caratterizzazione. </li></ol> 3. Rappresentante dei risultati: Un esempio di lettura di questo schermo ad alto rendimento è mostrata in Figura 3. I cloni possono essere identificati come inattivo, debolmente attiva e molto attivi in ​​base alle dimensioni delle zone di degrado. Questo è particolarmente utile se un enzima ad attività nota è incluso nella biblioteca come riferimento. Come mostrato qui, l&#39;identificazione degli enzimi attivi è robusta e riproducibile. Tuttavia, tieni presente che un&#39;adeguata etichettatura delle lastre di screening è estremamente importante. Il ricercatore deve essere in grado di identificare le varianti attivo dopo aver lavato le colonie di distanza, al fine di raccoglierli dal piatto principale conservato a -80 ° C per un&#39;ulteriore caratterizzazione. Infine, è difficile valutare a priori il rapporto tra le attività su substrati artificiali vs naturale. Pertanto, il ricercatore deve verificare tutti i cloni positivi su materiali di interesse industriale per determinare l&#39;idoneità fisica proteine. <img src="/files/ftp_upload/2942/2942fig1.jpg" alt="Figura 1"/> Figura 1. Delineare schematica della procedura di screening. Le cellule sono trasformate con una libreria endoglucanase e placcato selettivamente per singole colonie. Cloni raccolto e cresciuto durante la notte in 96 pozzetti pozzo profondo per (1) conservazione a -80 ° C e (2) placcatura replica su piastre contenenti CMC e IPTG per indurre l&#39;espressione endoglucanase. Cloni attive vengono prelevati dalla piastra principale conservato a -80 ° C. <img src="/files/ftp_upload/2942/2942fig2.jpg" alt="Figura 2"/> Figura 2. Clonazione ed espressione di funghi domini catalitici in E. coli. (A) vettore di espressione Endoglucanase. I geni sono stati clonati in pET22b (+) (Novagen) sotto il controllo del promotore T7. (B) pannello di destra: endoglucanase che esprimono BL21 (DE3) colonie. Pannello di sinistra: aloni degrado CMC dopo il lavaggio e lo sviluppo con Rosso Congo. <img src="/files/ftp_upload/2942/2942fig3.jpg" alt="Figura 3"/> Figura 3. I risultati dei campioni da CMC / Congo schermo Rosso. Foto scattate delle lastre di screening dopo il lavaggio e lo sviluppo del Congo Rosso. Tutte le colonie su spiatti creening erano di dimensioni simili.

<ol>
	<li>Atsumi, S., Hanai, T., Liao, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Non-fermentative+pathways+for+synthesis+of+branched-chain+higher+alcohols+as+biofuels.">Non-fermentative pathways for synthesis of branched-chain higher alcohols as biofuels.</a> Nature. 451, 86-89 (2008).</li><li>Wilson, D. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cellulases+and+biofuels.">Cellulases and biofuels.</a> Curr Opin Biotechnol. 20, 295-299 (2009).</li><li>Qin, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Engineering+endoglucanase+II+from+Trichoderma+reesei+to+improve+the+catalytic+efficiency+at+a+higher+pH+optimum.">Engineering endoglucanase II from Trichoderma reesei to improve the catalytic efficiency at a higher pH optimum.</a> J Biotechnol. 135, 190-195 (2008).</li><li>Nakazawa, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Directed+evolution+of+endoglucanase+III+(Cel12A)+from+Trichoderma+reesei.">Directed evolution of endoglucanase III (Cel12A) from Trichoderma reesei.</a> Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 83, 649-657 (2009).</li><li>Heinzelman, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+family+of+thermostable+fungal+cellulases+created+by+structure-guided+recombination.">A family of thermostable fungal cellulases created by structure-guided recombination.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci. 106, 5610-5615 (2009).</li><li>Heinzelman, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=SCHEMA+recombination+of+a+fungal+cellulase+uncovers+a+single+mutation+that+contributes+markedly+to+stability.">SCHEMA recombination of a fungal cellulase uncovers a single mutation that contributes markedly to stability.</a> J Biol Chem. 284, 26229-26233 (2009).</li><li>Lantz, S. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hypocrea+jecorina+CEL6A+protein+engineering.">Hypocrea jecorina CEL6A protein engineering.</a> Biotechnol Biofuels. 8, 3-20 (2010).</li><li>Mahadevan, S. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Site-directed+mutagenesis+and+CBM+engineering+of+Cel5A+(Thermotoga+maritima).">Site-directed mutagenesis and CBM engineering of Cel5A (Thermotoga maritima).</a> FEMS Microbiol Lett. 287, 205-211 (2008).</li><li>Nakazawa, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+the+catalytic+domains+of+Trichoderma+reesei+endoglucanase+I,+II,+and+III,+expressed+in+Escherichia+coli.">Characterization of the catalytic domains of Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase I, II, and III, expressed in Escherichia coli.</a> Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 81, 681-689 (2008).</li><li>Wang, H., Jones, R. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Properties+of+the+Macrophomina+phaseolina+endoglucanase+(EGL+1)+gene+product+in+bacterial+and+yeast+expression+systems.">Properties of the Macrophomina phaseolina endoglucanase (EGL 1) gene product in bacterial and yeast expression systems.</a> Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 81, 153-160 (1999).</li><li>Howard, R. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enzyme+activity+of+a+Phanerochaete+chrysosporium+cellobiohydrolase+(CBHI.1)+expressed+as+a+heterologous+protein+from+Escherichia+coli.">Enzyme activity of a Phanerochaete chrysosporium cellobiohydrolase (CBHI.1) expressed as a heterologous protein from Escherichia coli.</a> Afr J Biotechnol. 2, 296-300 (2003).</li><li>Howard, . <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterisation+of+a+chimeric+Phanerochaete+chrysosporium+cellobiohydrolase+expressed+from+Escherichia+coli.">Characterisation of a chimeric Phanerochaete chrysosporium cellobiohydrolase expressed from Escherichia coli.</a> Afr J Biotechnol. 3, 349-352 (2004).</li><li>Teather, R. M., Wood, P. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Use+of+Congo+red-polysaccharide+interactions+in+enumeration+and+characterization+of+cellulolytic+bacteria+from+the+bovine+rumen.">Use of Congo red-polysaccharide interactions in enumeration and characterization of cellulolytic bacteria from the bovine rumen.</a> Appl Env Microbiol. 43, 777-780 (1982).</li><li>Gilkes, N. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mode+of+action+and+substrate+specificities+of+cellulases+from+cloned+bacterial+genes.">Mode of action and substrate specificities of cellulases from cloned bacterial genes.</a> J Bio Chem. 259, 10455-10459 (1984).</li></ol>

Nessun conflitto di interessi dichiarati.

Il protocollo qui descritto consente una rapida identificazione e ad alta velocità di enzimi attivi, con la manipolazione minima. Rilevamento di attività è abbastanza sensibile, e riflette qualitativamente la quantità di attività all&#39;interno della cellula. La sua facilità d&#39;uso rende questo metodo adatto per una vasta gamma di librerie enzima, limitato solo dalla espressione funzionale in E. coli. Inoltre, lo screening attività di questo genere non è limitato a cellulasi fungine, ma può essere ...

<table border="1"><tbody><tr><th> Reagente </th><th> Azienda </th><th> Prodotto numero </th></tr><tr><td> IPTG </td><td> Sigma </td><td> I1284 </td></tr><tr><td> Rosso Congo </td><td> Sigma </td><td> C6277 </td></tr><tr><td> Carbossimetilcellulosa </td><td> Sigma </td><td> 360384 </td></tr><tr><td> NaCl </td><td> Sigma </td><td> S1679 </td></tr><tr><td> Bacto-agar </td><td> BD Biosciences </td><td> 214030 </td></tr><tr><td> Bioassay piastre </td><td> Thermo Scientific </td><td> 240845 </td></tr></tbody></table>

high throughput screening of fungal endoglucanase activity in escherichia coli

Cellulasi enzimi (endoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases e β-glucosidasi) idrolizzare cellulosa in zuccheri componente, che a sua volta può essere convertito in alcol carburante 1. Il potenziale per idrolisi enzimatica di biomasse cellulosiche per fornire energia rinnovabile ha intensificato gli sforzi per ingegnere cellulasi per 2 economiche di produzione di combustibile. Di particolare interesse sono cellulasi fungine 3-8, che sono già in uso industriale per i cibi e la lavorazione tessile. Identificare varianti attivo tra una libreria di cellulasi mutante è fondamentale per il processo di progettazione; mutanti attivo può essere ulteriormente testato per migliorare le proprietà e / o sottoposti a mutagenesi aggiuntivi. Ingegneria efficiente delle cellulasi fungine è stata ostacolata dalla mancanza di strumenti genetici per gli organismi nativi e dalla difficoltà di esprimere gli enzimi in ospiti eterologhi. Recentemente, Morikawa e collaboratori sviluppato un metodo per esprimere in E. coli i domini catalitici di endoglucanases da H. jecorina 3,9, un fungo importante industriale con la capacità di secernere cellulasi in grandi quantità. Funzionale E. espressione coli è stato anche segnalato per la cellulasi da altri funghi, compresi Macrophomina phaseolina 10 e Phanerochaete chrysosporium 11-12. Vi presentiamo un metodo per lo screening ad alto rendimento di attività endoglucanase fungine in E. coli. (Fig. 1) Questo metodo utilizza il comune microbica colorante Rosso Congo (CR) per visualizzare la degradazione enzimatica della carbossimetilcellulosa (CMC) di cellule in crescita su terreno solido. Il dosaggio attività richiede reagenti poco costosi, la manipolazione minima, e dà risultati inequivocabili come zone di degrado (&quot;aloni&quot;) sul sito colonia. Anche se una misura quantitativa di attività enzimatica non può essere determinato con questo metodo, abbiamo trovato che le dimensioni alone si correla con l&#39;attività enzimatica totale nella cella. Un&#39;ulteriore caratterizzazione dei singoli cloni positivi determinerà, fitness relativa proteina. Tradizionale batterica a cellule intere, CMC / CR saggi attività 13 coinvolgere versando CMC colonie su agar contenente, che è soggetto a contaminazione incrociata, o culture incubazione in pozzetti agar CMC, che è meno suscettibile di sperimentazione su larga scala. Qui riportiamo un protocollo che modifica migliorato i metodi esistenti lavare 14 per attività cellulasi: le cellule coltivate su piastre di agar CMC sono stati rimossi prima della colorazione CR. Il nostro protocollo riduce notevolmente la contaminazione crociata ed è altamente scalabile, permettendo un rapido screening di migliaia di cloni. Oltre ad H. enzimi jecorina, abbiamo espresso e proiettato varianti endoglucanase dal aurantiacus Thermoascus e Penicillium decumbens (Figura 2), suggerendo che questo protocollo è applicabile agli enzimi da una serie di organismi.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about High Throughput Screening of Fungal Endoglucanase Activity in Escherichia coli at JoVE.com

High Throughput Screening of Fungal Endoglucanase Activity in Escherichia coli

Descriviamo un basso costo, metodo elevato throughput per lo screening per l&#39;attività endoglucanase fungine in<em&gt; E. coli.</em&gt; Il metodo si basa su una semplice lettura visiva di degradazione del substrato, non necessita di purificazione degli enzimi, ed è altamente scalabile. Questo consente lo screening rapido di grandi biblioteche di varianti dell&#39;enzima.

Throughput Screening elevati di attività Endoglucanase fungine in Escherichia coli</em

Cellulase enzymes (endoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases, and &beta;-glucosidases) hydrolyze cellulose into component sugars, which in turn can be converted ...

high-throughput-screening-fungal-endoglucanase-activity-escherichia

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

High Throughput Screening of Fungal Endoglucanase Activity in Escherichia coli

20.4K Views.  California Institute of Technology. Descriviamo un basso costo, metodo elevato throughput per lo screening per l'attività endoglucanase fungine in E. coli. Il metodo si basa su una semplice lettura visiva di degradazione del substrato, non necessita di purificazione degli enzimi, ed è altamente scalabile. Questo consente lo screening rapido di grandi biblioteche di varianti dell'enzima.

Video: High Throughput Screening of Fungal Endoglucanase Activity in Escherichia coli

An Assay for Measuring the Activity of Escherichia coli Inducible Lysine Decarboxyase

Escherichia coli is an enteric bacterium that is capable of growing over a wide range of pH values (pH 5 - 9)1 and, incredibly, is able to survive extreme acid stresses including passage through the mammalian stomach where the pH can fall to as low as pH 1 - 22. To enable such a broad range of acidic pH survival, E. coli possesses four different inducible amino acid decarboxylases that decarboxylate their substrate amino acids in a proton-dependent manner thus raising the internal pH. The decarboxylases include the glutamic acid decarboxylases GadA and GadB3, the arginine decarboxylase AdiA4, the lysine decarboxylase LdcI5, 6 and the ornithine decarboxylase SpeF7. All of these enzymes utilize pyridoxal-5'-phospate as a co-factor8 and function together with inner-membrane substrate-product antiporters that remove decarboxylation products to the external medium in exchange for fresh substrate2. In the case of LdcI, the lysine-cadaverine antiporter is called CadB. Recently, we determined the X-ray crystal structure of LdcI to 2.0 &#197;, and we discovered a novel small-molecule bound to LdcI the stringent response regulator guanosine 5'-diphosphate,3'-diphosphate (ppGpp) 14. The stringent response occurs when exponentially growing cells experience nutrient deprivation or one of a number of other stresses9. As a result, cells produce ppGpp which leads to a signaling cascade culminating in the shift from exponential growth to stationary phase growth10. We have demonstrated that ppGpp is a specific inhibitor of LdcI 14. Here we describe the lysine decarboxylase assay, modified from the assay developed by Phan et al.11, that we have used to determine the activity of LdcI and the effect of pppGpp/ppGpp on that activity. The LdcI decarboxylation reaction removes the &alpha;-carboxy group of L-lysine and produces carbon dioxide and the polyamine cadaverine (1,5-diaminopentane)5. L-lysine and cadaverine can be reacted with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzensulfonic acid (TNBS) at high pH to generate N,N'-bistrinitrophenylcadaverine (TNP-cadaverine) and N,N&#8242;-bistrinitrophenyllysine (TNP-lysine), respectively11. The TNP-cadaverine can be separated from the TNP-lysine as the former is soluble in organic solvents such as toluene while the latter is not (See Figure 1). The linear range of the assay was determined empirically using purified cadaverine.

An Assay for Measuring the Activity of Escherichia coli Inducible Lysine Decarboxyase

The activity of the inducible lysine decarboxylase is monitored by reacting the substrate L-lysine and the product cadaverine with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzensulfonic acid to form adducts that have differential solubility in toluene.

Un test per misurare l&#39;attività di Escherichia coli Inducibile Lisina Decarboxyase

Escherichia coli is an enteric bacterium that is capable of growing over a wide range of pH values (pH 5 - 9)1 and, incredibly, is able to survive extreme ...

Ricerca

Biologia

A High Throughput Screen for Biomining Cellulase Activity from Metagenomic Libraries

Cellulose, the most abundant source of organic carbon on the planet, has wide-ranging industrial applications with increasing emphasis on biofuel production 1. Chemical methods to modify or degrade cellulose typically require strong acids and high temperatures. As such, enzymatic methods have become prominent in the bioconversion process. While the identification of active cellulases from bacterial and fungal isolates has been somewhat effective, the vast majority of microbes in nature resist laboratory cultivation. Environmental genomic, also known as metagenomic, screening approaches have great promise in bridging the cultivation gap in the search for novel bioconversion enzymes. Metagenomic screening approaches have successfully recovered novel cellulases from environments as varied as soils 2, buffalo rumen 3 and the termite hind-gut 4 using carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) agar plates stained with congo red dye (based on the method of Teather and Wood 5). However, the CMC method is limited in throughput, is not quantitative and manifests a low signal to noise ratio 6. Other methods have been reported 7,8 but each use an agar plate-based assay, which is undesirable for high-throughput screening of large insert genomic libraries. Here we present a solution-based screen for cellulase activity using a chromogenic dinitrophenol (DNP)-cellobioside substrate 9. Our library was cloned into the pCC1 copy control fosmid to increase assay sensitivity through copy number induction 10. The method uses one-pot chemistry in 384-well microplates with the final readout provided as an absorbance measurement. This readout is quantitative, sensitive and automated with a throughput of up to 100X 384-well plates per day using a liquid handler and plate reader with attached stacking system.

This protocol describes a high throughput screen for cellulolytic activity from a metagenomic library expressed in Escherichia coli. The screen is solution based and highly automated, and uses one-pot chemistry in 384 well microplates with the final readout as an absorbance measurement.

Una schermata di High Throughput per Biomining attività Cellulase da librerie metagenomiche

Cellulose, the most abundant source of organic carbon on the planet, has wide-ranging industrial applications with increasing emphasis on biofuel ...

High-throughput Screening and Biosensing with Fluorescent C. elegans Strains

High-throughput screening (HTS) is a powerful approach for identifying chemical modulators of biological processes. However, many compounds identified in screens using cell culture models are often found to be toxic or pharmacologically inactive in vivo1-2. Screening in whole animal models can help avoid these pitfalls and streamline the path to drug development.
C. elegans is a multicellular model organism well suited for HTS. It is small (&lt;1 mm) and can be economically cultured and dispensed in liquids. C. elegans is also one of the most experimentally tractable animal models permitting rapid and detailed identification of drug mode-of-action3.
We describe a protocol for culturing and dispensing fluorescent strains of C. elegans for high-throughput screening of chemical libraries or detection of environmental contaminants that alter the expression of a specific gene. Large numbers of developmentally synchronized worms are grown in liquid culture, harvested, washed, and suspended at a defined density. Worms are then added to black, flat-bottomed 384-well plates using a peristaltic liquid dispenser. Small molecules from a chemical library or test samples (e.g., water, food, or soil) can be added to wells with worms. In vivo, real-time fluorescence intensity is measured with a fluorescence microplate reader. This method can be adapted to any inducible gene in C. elegans for which a suitable reporter is available. Many inducible stress and developmental transcriptional pathways are well defined in C. elegans and GFP transgenic reporter strains already exist for many of them4. When combined with the appropriate transgenic reporters, our method can be used to screen for pathway modulators or to develop robust biosensor assays for environmental contaminants. 
We demonstrate our C. elegans culture and dispensing protocol with an HTS assay we developed to monitor the C. elegans cap &#x2018;n&#x2019; collar transcription factor SKN-1. SKN-1 and its mammalian homologue Nrf2 activate cytoprotective genes during oxidative and xenobiotic stress5-10. Nrf2 protects mammals from numerous age-related disorders such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and chronic inflammation and has become a major chemotherapeutic target11-13.Our assay is based on a GFP transgenic reporter for the SKN-1 target gene gst-414, which encodes a glutathione-s transferase6. The gst-4 reporter is also a biosensor for xenobiotic and oxidative chemicals that activate SKN-1 and can be used to detect low levels of contaminants such as acrylamide and methyl-mercury15-16.

High-throughput Screening and Biosensing with Fluorescent C. elegans Strains

A procedure for liquid-based culturing and dispensing of C. elegans strains expressing fluorescent reporter proteins is described that does not require expensive sorting equipment. This approach can be applied to numerous inducible C. elegans genes for drug discovery or biosensing of contaminants.

High-throughput screening e biopercezione con fluorescente C. elegans Ceppi

High-throughput screening (HTS) is a powerful approach for identifying chemical modulators of biological processes.  However, many compounds identified in ...

High-throughput Screening for Small-molecule Modulators of Inward Rectifier Potassium Channels

Specific members of the inward rectifier potassium (Kir) channel family are postulated drug targets for a variety of disorders, including hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and pain1,2. For the most part, however, progress toward understanding their therapeutic potential or even basic physiological functions has been slowed by the lack of good pharmacological tools. Indeed, the molecular pharmacology of the inward rectifier family has lagged far behind that of the S4 superfamily of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels, for which a number of nanomolar-affinity and highly selective peptide toxin modulators have been discovered3. The bee venom toxin tertiapin and its derivatives are potent inhibitors of Kir1.1 and Kir3 channels4,5, but peptides are of limited use therapeutically as well as experimentally due to their antigenic properties and poor bioavailability, metabolic stability and tissue penetrance. The development of potent and selective small-molecule probes with improved pharmacological properties will be a key to fully understanding the physiology and therapeutic potential of Kir channels.
The Molecular Libraries Probes Production Center Network (MLPCN) supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund has created opportunities for academic scientists to initiate probe discovery campaigns for molecular targets and signaling pathways in need of better pharmacology6. The MLPCN provides researchers access to industry-scale screening centers and medicinal chemistry and informatics support to develop small-molecule probes to elucidate the function of genes and gene networks. The critical step in gaining entry to the MLPCN is the development of a robust target- or pathway-specific assay that is amenable for high-throughput screening (HTS).
Here, we describe how to develop a fluorescence-based thallium (Tl+) flux assay of Kir channel function for high-throughput compound screening7,8,9,10.The assay is based on the permeability of the K+ channel pore to the K+ congener Tl+. A commercially available fluorescent Tl+ reporter dye is used to detect transmembrane flux of Tl+ through the pore. There are at least three commercially available dyes that are suitable for Tl+ flux assays: BTC, FluoZin-2, and FluxOR7,8. This protocol describes assay development using FluoZin-2. Although originally developed and marketed as a zinc indicator, FluoZin-2 exhibits a robust and dose-dependent increase in fluorescence emission upon Tl+ binding. We began working with FluoZin-2 before FluxOR was available7,8 and have continued to do so9,10. However, the steps in assay development are essentially identical for all three dyes, and users should determine which dye is most appropriate for their specific needs. We also discuss the assay's performance benchmarks that must be reached to be considered for entry to the MLPCN. Since Tl+ readily permeates most K+ channels, the assay should be adaptable to most K+ channel targets.

Methods for developing and validating a quantitative fluorescence assay for measuring the activity of inward rectifier potassium (Kir) channels for high-throughput compound screening is presented.

High-throughput screening per la piccola molecola modulatori di canali di potassio Inward Rectifier

Specific members of the inward rectifier potassium (Kir) channel family are postulated drug targets for a variety of disorders, including hypertension, ...

High-throughput Functional Screening using a Homemade Dual-glow Luciferase Assay

We present a rapid and inexpensive high-throughput screening protocol to identify transcriptional regulators of alpha-synuclein, a gene associated with Parkinson&#39;s disease. 293T cells are transiently transfected with plasmids from an arrayed ORF expression library, together with luciferase reporter plasmids, in a one-gene-per-well microplate format. Firefly luciferase activity is assayed after 48 hr to determine the effects of each library gene upon alpha-synuclein transcription, normalized to expression from an internal control construct (a hCMV promoter directing Renilla luciferase). This protocol is facilitated by a bench-top robot enclosed in a biosafety cabinet, which performs aseptic liquid handling in 96-well format. Our automated transfection protocol is readily adaptable to high-throughput lentiviral library production or other functional screening protocols requiring triple-transfections of large numbers of unique library plasmids in conjunction with a common set of helper plasmids. We also present an inexpensive and validated alternative to commercially-available, dual luciferase reagents which employs PTC124, EDTA, and pyrophosphate to suppress firefly luciferase activity prior to measurement of Renilla luciferase. Using these methods, we screened 7,670 human genes and identified 68 regulators of alpha-synuclein. This protocol is easily modifiable to target other genes of interest.

We present a rapid and inexpensive screening method for identifying transcriptional regulators using high-throughput robotic transfections and a homemade dual-glow luciferase assay. This protocol rapidly generates direct side-by-side functional data for thousands of genes and is easily modifiable to target any gene of interest.

High-throughput screening funzionale utilizzando una casalinga Dual-glow Luciferase Assay

We present a rapid and inexpensive high-throughput screening protocol to identify transcriptional regulators of alpha-synuclein, a gene associated with ...

High Throughput Quantitative Expression Screening and Purification Applied to Recombinant Disulfide-rich Venom Proteins Produced in E. coli

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most widely used expression system for the production of recombinant proteins for structural and functional studies. However, purifying proteins is sometimes challenging since many proteins are expressed in an insoluble form. When working with difficult or multiple targets it is therefore recommended to use high throughput (HTP) protein expression screening on a small scale (1-4&#160;ml cultures) to quickly identify conditions for soluble expression. To cope with the various structural genomics programs of the lab, a quantitative (within a range of 0.1-100 mg/L culture of recombinant protein) and HTP protein expression screening protocol was implemented and validated on thousands of proteins. The protocols were automated with the use of a liquid handling robot but can also be performed manually without specialized equipment.
Disulfide-rich venom proteins are gaining increasing recognition for their potential as therapeutic drug leads. They can be highly potent and selective, but their complex disulfide bond networks make them challenging to produce. As a member of the FP7 European Venomics project (<a href="http://www.venomics.eu">www.venomics.eu</a>), our challenge is to develop successful production strategies with the aim of producing thousands of novel venom proteins for functional characterization. Aided by the redox properties of disulfide bond isomerase DsbC, we adapted our HTP production pipeline for the expression of oxidized, functional venom peptides in the E. coli cytoplasm. The protocols are also applicable to the production of diverse disulfide-rich proteins. Here we demonstrate our pipeline applied to the production of animal venom proteins. With the protocols described herein it is likely that soluble disulfide-rich proteins will be obtained in as little as a week. Even from a small scale, there is the potential to use the purified proteins for validating the oxidation state by mass spectrometry, for characterization in pilot studies, or for sensitive micro-assays.

High Throughput Quantitative Expression Screening and Purification Applied to Recombinant Disulfide-rich Venom Proteins Produced in E. coli

A protocol for the quantitative, high throughput expression screening and analytical purification of fusion proteins from small-scale Escherichia coli cultures is described and applied to the expression of disulfide-rich animal venom protein targets.

High Throughput Screening espressione quantitativa e purificazione Applicata al ricombinante Disulfide ricchi di Venom proteine ​​prodotte in<em&gt; E. coli</em

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most widely used expression system for the production of recombinant proteins for structural and functional studies. ...

Green Fluorescent Protein-based Expression Screening of Membrane Proteins in Escherichia coli

The production of recombinant membrane proteins for structural and functional studies remains technically challenging due to low levels of expression and the inherent instability of many membrane proteins once solubilized in detergents. A protocol is described that combines ligation independent cloning of membrane proteins as GFP fusions with expression in Escherichia coli detected by GFP fluorescence. This enables the construction and expression screening of multiple membrane protein/variants to identify candidates suitable for further investment of time and effort. The GFP reporter is used in a primary screen of expression by visualizing GFP fluorescence following SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Membrane proteins that show both a high expression level with minimum degradation as indicated by the absence of free GFP, are selected for a secondary screen. These constructs are scaled and a total membrane fraction prepared and solubilized in four different detergents. Following ultracentrifugation to remove detergent-insoluble material, lysates are analyzed by fluorescence detection size exclusion chromatography (FSEC). Monitoring the size exclusion profile by GFP fluorescence provides information about the mono-dispersity and integrity of the membrane proteins in different detergents. Protein: detergent combinations that elute with a symmetrical peak with little or no free GFP and minimum aggregation are candidates for subsequent purification. Using the above methodology, the heterologous expression in E. coli of SED (shape, elongation, division, and sporulation) proteins from 47 different species of bacteria was analyzed. These proteins typically have ten transmembrane domains and are essential for cell division. The results show that the production of the SEDs orthologues in E. coli was highly variable with respect to the expression levels and integrity of the GFP fusion proteins. The experiment identified a subset for further investigation.

Green Fluorescent Protein-based Expression Screening of Membrane Proteins in Escherichia coli

A streamlined approach to screening for the expression of recombinant membrane proteins in Escherichia coli based on fusion to green fluorescent protein is presented.

Green Fluorescent Protein-base Espressione Proiezione di proteine ​​di membrana in<em&gt; Escherichia coli</em

The production of recombinant membrane proteins for structural and functional studies remains technically challenging due to low levels of expression and ...

The Multifaceted Benefits of Protein Co-expression in Escherichia coli

We report here that the expression of protein complexes in vivo in Escherichia coli can be more convenient than traditional reconstitution experiments in vitro. In particular, we show that the poor solubility of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III &#949; subunit (featuring 3&#8217;-5&#8217; exonuclease activity) is highly improved when the same protein is co-expressed with the &#945; and &#952; subunits (featuring DNA polymerase activity and stabilizing &#949;, respectively). We also show that protein co-expression in E. coli can be used to efficiently test the competence of subunits from different bacterial species to associate in a functional protein complex. We indeed show that the &#945; subunit of Deinococcus radiodurans DNA polymerase III can be co-expressed in vivo with the &#949; subunit of E. coli. In addition, we report on the use of protein co-expression to modulate mutation frequency in E. coli. By expressing the wild-type &#949; subunit under the control of the araBAD promoter (arabinose-inducible), and co-expressing the mutagenic D12A variant of the same protein, under the control of the lac promoter (inducible by isopropyl-thio-&#946;-D-galactopyranoside, IPTG), we were able to alter the E. coli mutation frequency using appropriate concentrations of the inducers arabinose and IPTG. Finally, we discuss recent advances and future challenges of protein co-expression in E. coli.

The Multifaceted Benefits of Protein Co-expression in Escherichia coli

Protein co-expression is a powerful alternative to the reconstitution in vitro of protein complexes, and is of help in performing biochemical and genetic tests in vivo. Here we report on the use of protein co-expression in Escherichia coli to obtain protein complexes, and to tune the mutation frequency of cells.

I benefici multiforme Protein Co-espressione in<em&gt; Escherichia coli</em

We report here that the expression of protein complexes in vivo in Escherichia coli can be more convenient than traditional reconstitution experiments in ...

High-throughput Screening for Chemical Modulators of Post-transcriptionally Regulated Genes

Both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation have a profound impact on genes expression. However, commonly adopted cell-based screening assays focus on transcriptional regulation, being essentially aimed at the identification of promoter-targeting molecules. As a result, post-transcriptional mechanisms are largely uncovered by gene expression targeted drug development. Here we describe a cell-based assay aimed at investigating the role of the 3&#39; untranslated region (3&#8217; UTR) in the modulation of the fate of its mRNA, and at identifying compounds able to modify it. The assay is based on the use of a luciferase reporter construct containing the 3&#8217; UTR of a gene of interest stably integrated into a disease-relevant cell line. The protocol is divided into two parts, with the initial focus on the primary screening aimed at the identification of molecules affecting luciferase activity after 24 hr of treatment. The second part of the protocol describes the counter-screening necessary to discriminate compounds modulating luciferase activity specifically through the 3&#8217; UTR. In addition to the detailed protocol and representative results, we provide important considerations about the assay development and the validation of the hit(s) on the endogenous target. The described cell-based reporter gene assay will allow scientists to identify molecules modulating protein levels via post-transcriptional mechanisms dependent on a 3&#8217; UTR.

Here we describe a cell-based reporter gene assay as a valuable tool to screen chemical libraries for compounds modulating post-transcriptional control mechanisms exerted through 3&#8217; UTR.

Screening ad alto rendimento per i modulatori chimici di Genes post-trascrizionale regolamentati

Both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation have a profound impact on genes expression. However, commonly adopted cell-based screening assays ...

Identification of Kinase-substrate Pairs Using High Throughput Screening

We have developed a screening platform to identify dedicated human protein kinases for phosphorylated substrates which can be used to elucidate novel signal transduction pathways. Our approach features the use of a library of purified GST-tagged human protein kinases and a recombinant protein substrate of interest. We have used this technology to identify MAP/microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 2 (MARK2) as the kinase for a glucose-regulated site on CREB-Regulated Transcriptional Coactivator 2 (CRTC2), a protein required for beta cell proliferation, as well as the Axl family of tyrosine kinases as regulators of cell metastasis by phosphorylation of the adaptor protein ELMO. We describe this technology and discuss how it can help to establish a comprehensive map of how cells respond to environmental stimuli.

Protein phosphorylation is a central feature of how cells interpret and respond to information in their extracellular milieu. Here, we present a high throughput screening protocol using kinases purified from mammalian cells to rapidly identify kinases that phosphorylate a substrate(s) of interest.

Identificazione delle coppie Kinase-substrato Usando High Throughput Screening


We have developed a screening platform to identify dedicated human protein kinases for phosphorylated substrates which can be used to elucidate novel ...