Imaging of morphological and biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis with optimized optogenetic tools
Author
Godwin, Walton C.; Hoffmann, George F.; Gray, Taylor J.; Hughes, Robert M.
Abstract
Creation of optogenetic switches for specific activation of cell death pathways can provide insights into apoptosis and could also form a basis for noninvasive, next-generation therapeutic strategies. Previous work has demonstrated that cryptochrome 2 (Cry2)/cryptochrome-interacting β helix–loop–helix (CIB), a blue light–activated protein–protein dimerization module from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, together with BCL2-associated X apoptosis regulator (BAX), an outer mitochondrial membrane–targeting pro-apoptotic protein, can be used for light-mediated initiation of mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) and downstream apoptosis. In this work, we further developed the original light-activated Cry2-BAX system (hereafter referred to as OptoBAX) by improving the photophysical properties and light-independent interactions of this optogenetic switch. The resulting optogenetic constructs significantly reduced the frequency of light exposure required for membrane permeabilization activation and also decreased dark-state cytotoxicity. We used OptoBAX in a series of experiments in Neuro-2a and HEK293T cells to measure the timing of the dramatic morphological and biochemical changes occurring in cells after light-induced MOMP. In these experiments, we used OptoBAX in tandem with fluorescent reporters to image key events in early apoptosis, including membrane inversion, caspase cleavage, and actin redistribution. We then used these data to construct a timeline of biochemical and morphological events in early apoptosis, demonstrating a direct link between MOMP-induced redistribution of actin and apoptosis progression. In summary, we created a next-generation Cry2/CIB–BAX system requiring less frequent light stimulation and established a timeline of critical apoptotic events, providing detailed insights into key steps in early apoptosis.
Date
2019-10-03
Citation:
APA:
Godwin, Walton C., & Hoffmann, George F., & Gray, Taylor J., & Hughes, Robert M.. (October 2019).
Imaging of morphological and biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis with optimized optogenetic tools.
,
(),
-
. Retrieved from
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/7577
MLA:
Godwin, Walton C., and Hoffmann, George F., and Gray, Taylor J., and Hughes, Robert M..
"Imaging of morphological and biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis with optimized optogenetic tools". .
. (),
October 2019.
September 27, 2023.
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/7577.
Chicago:
Godwin, Walton C. and Hoffmann, George F. and Gray, Taylor J. and Hughes, Robert M.,
"Imaging of morphological and biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis with optimized optogenetic tools," , no.
(October 2019),
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/7577 (accessed
September 27, 2023).
AMA:
Godwin, Walton C., Hoffmann, George F., Gray, Taylor J., Hughes, Robert M..
Imaging of morphological and biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis with optimized optogenetic tools. .
October 2019;
():
.
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/7577. Accessed
September 27, 2023.
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