Shohei Uchinomiya

Selective Covalent Labeling of Tag-Fused GPCR Proteins on Live Cell Surface with a Synthetic Probe for Their Functional Analysis

Selective protein labeling with a small molecular probe is a versatile method for elucidating protein functions in living cells. In this paper, we report a covalent labeling method of tag-fused G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) proteins expressing on cell surfaces utilizing small functional molecules. This method employs the selective and rapid reaction of a peptide tag and a molecular probe, which comprises the cysteine-containing short CA6D4x2 tag (CAAAAAADDDDGDDDD) and a tetranuclear Zn(II)-DpaTyr probe containing a reactive alpha-chloroacetyl moiety. The covalent labeling of tag-fused GPCRs such as bradykinin receptor (B2R) and acetylcholine receptor (m1AchR) selectively proceeded under physiological conditions during short incubation (10-30 min) with Zn(II)-DpaTyr probes bearing various functional groups. Labeling with fluorophore-appended Zn(II)-DpaTyr probes enabled visualization of the GPCRs on the surface of HEK293 cells by fluorescence. Labeling with the biotin-appended probe allowed introduction of a biotin unit into the GPCRs. This biotin label was utilized for fluorescence bioimaging studies and postlabeling blotting analysis of the labeled GPCRs by use of the specific biotin-streptavidin interaction. The utility of this labeling method was demonstrated in several function analyses of GPCRs, such as fluorescence visualization of the stimuli-responsive internalization of GPCRs and pH change in endosomes containing the internalized GPCRs.

Site-specific covalent labeling of His-tag fused proteins with a reactive Ni(II)-NTA probe.

A new method for covalent labeling of a His-tag fused protein with a small reactive probe was developed; this method is based on the complementary interaction between the His-tag and Ni(II)-NTA, which facilitates a nucleophilic reaction between a histidine residue of the tag and the electrophilic tosyl group of the Ni(II)-NTA probe by the proximity effect.

In-cell covalent labeling of reactive His-tag fused proteins

A new method for in-cell protein labeling was developed. This method employed a binding-induced nucleophilic reaction between the Cys-appended His-tag and the Ni(II)-NTA containing an α-chloroacetamide. Using this method, not only labeling of His-tag fused proteins but also the detection of a protein-protein interaction was achieved inside living cells.

Peptide tag/probe pairs based on the coordination chemistry for protein labeling.

Protein-labeling methods serve as essential tools for analyzing functions of proteins of interest under complicated biological conditions such as in live cells. These labeling methods are useful not only to fluorescently visualize proteins of interest in biological systems but also to conduct protein and cell analyses by harnessing the unique functions of molecular probes. Among the various labeling methods available, an appropriate binding pair consisting of a short peptide and a de novo designed small molecular probe has attracted attention because of its wide utility and versatility. Interestingly, most peptide tag/probe pairs exploit metal-ligand coordination interactions as the main binding force responsible for their association. Herein, we provide an overview of the recent progress of these coordination-chemistry-based protein-labeling methods and their applications for fluorescence imaging and functional analysis of cellular proteins, while highlighting our originally developed labeling methods. These successful examples clearly exemplify the utility and versatility of metal coordination chemistry in protein functional analysis.

Design of a multinuclear Zn(II) complex as a new molecular probe for fluorescence imaging of His-tag fused proteins

A Zn(II) complex (Zn(II)-Ida) was designed as the new fluorescent probe for His-tag fused proteins. Thanks to the tight binding ability to histidine-rich sequences and bright fluorescence property of the Cy5-appended Zn(II)-Ida probes, selective and clear fluorescent imaging of the His-tag fused G-protein coupled receptors on live cell surfaces was carried out.

Binuclear NiII-DpaTyr Complex as a High Affinity Probe for an Oligo-Aspartate Tag Tethered to Proteins

A complementary recognition pair of a short-peptide tag and a small molecular probe is a versatile molecular tool for protein detection, handling, and purification, and so forth. In this manuscript, we report that the binuclear Ni(II)-DpaTyr (DpaTyr=bis((dipicolylamino)methyl)tyrosine) complex serves as a strong binding probe for an oligo-aspartate tag tethered to a protein. Among various binuclear metal complexes of M-DpaTyr (M=Zn(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), Co(III), and Fe(III)), we have found that Ni(II)-DpaTyr (1-2Ni(II)) displays a strong-binding affinity (apparent binding constant: K(app) approximately 10(5) M(-1)) for an oligo-aspartate peptide under neutral aqueous conditions (50 mM HEPES, 100 mM NaCl, pH 7.2). Detailed isothermal-titration calorimetry (ITC) studies reveal that the tri-aspartate D3-tag (DDD) is an optimal sequence recognized by 1-2Ni(II) in a 1:1 binding stoichiometry. On the other hand, other metal complexes of DpaTyr, except for Ni(II)- and Zn(II)-DpaTyr, show a negligible binding affinity for the oligo-aspartate peptide. The binding affinity was greatly enhanced in the pair between the dimer of Ni(II)-DpaTyr and the repeated D3 tag peptide (D3x2), such as DDDXXDDD, on the basis of the multivalent coordination interaction between them. Most notably, a remarkably high-binding affinity (K(app)=2x10(9) M(-1)) was achieved between the Ni(II)-DpaTyr dimer 4-4Ni(II) and the D3x2 tag peptide (DDDNGDDD). This affinity is approximately 100-fold stronger than that observed in the binding pair of the Zn(II)-DpaTyr (4-4Zn(II)) and the D4x2 tag (DDDDGDDDD), a useful tag-probe pair previously reported by us. The recognition pair of the Ni(II)-DpaTyr probe and the D3x2 tag can also work effectively on a protein surface, that is, 4-4Ni(II) is strongly bound to the FKBP12 protein tethered with the D3x2 tag (DDDNGDDD) with a large K(app) value of 5x10(8) M(-1). Taking advantage of the strong-binding affinity, this pair was successfully applied to the selective inactivation of the tag-fused beta-galactosidase by using the chromophore-assisted light inactivation (CALI) technique under crude conditions, such as cell lysate.

FLAG-tag selective covalent protein labeling via a binding-induced acyl-transfer reaction

A FLAG tag selective protein labeling method is newly developed in this study. Coupling of the selective binding between synthetic Ni-complex probe and FLAG tag with the acyl transfer reaction enables the site-selective covalent modification of FLAG peptide and FLAG-tag fused protein.

Design of a binuclear Ni(II)–iminodiacetic acid (IDA) complex for selective recognition and covalent labeling of His-tag fused proteins

Selective protein labeling with a small molecular probe is a versatile method for elucidating protein functions under live-cell conditions. In this Letter, we report the design of the binuclear Ni(II)-iminodiacetic acid (IDA) complex for selective recognition and covalent labeling of His-tag-fused proteins. We found that the Ni(II)-IDA complex 1-2Ni(II) binds to the His6-tag (HHHHHH) with a strong binding affinity (Kd=24 nM), the value of which is 16-fold higher than the conventional Ni(II)-NTA complex (Kd=390 nM). The strong binding affinity of the Ni(II)-IDA complex was successfully used in the covalent labeling and fluorescence bioimaging of a His-tag fused GPCR (G-protein coupled receptor) located on the surface of living cells.

Prediction of Intracellular Localization of Fluorescent Dyes Using QSAR Models.

Control of fluorescent dye localization in live cells is crucial for fluorescence imaging. Here, we describe quantitative structure activity relation (QSAR) models for predicting intracellular localization of fluorescent dyes. For generating the QSAR models, electric charge (Z) calculated by pKa, conjugated bond number (CBN), the largest conjugated fragment (LCF), molecular weight (MW) and log P were used as parameters. We identified the intracellular localization of 119 BODIPY dyes in live NIH3T3 cells, and assessed the accuracy of our models by comparing their predictions with the observed dye localizations. As predicted by the models, no BODIPY dyes localized in nuclei or plasma membranes. The accuracy of the model for localization in fat droplets was 92%, with the models for cytosol and lysosomes showing poorer agreement with observed dye localization, albeit well above chance levels. Overall therefore the utility of QSAR models for predicting dye localization in live cells was clearly demonstrated.

Discovery of highly reactive peptide tag by ELISA-type screening for specific cysteine conjugation

We report the discovery of a highly reactive peptide tag for the specific cysteine conjugation of proteins. Screening of cysteine-containing peptides using ELISA-type screening yielded a 19-amino acid tag (DCPPPDDAADDAADDAADD), named DCP3 tag, which enabled the rapid and selective labeling of the tag-fused protein with a synthetic zinc complex on the surface of living cells.