Simon Ameer-Beg

Fluorescence lifetime and polarization-resolved imaging in cell biology

Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) and fluorescence polarization imaging are complementary techniques that can be used to extract information about macromolecules from biological samples. Owing to the sensitivity of fluorescence to the physicochemical environment, and nanometer-scale interactions via Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), FLIM has been implemented in many laboratories for numerous applications in the life sciences and beyond. This review seeks to provide a brief overview of some of the recent advances in the techniques and more pertinently their applications in cell and tissue imaging. The particular merits of polarization-resolved fluorescence measurements are highlighted, including the unique ability to elucidate the occurrence of homo-FRET.

Multiphoton time-domain fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy: practical application to protein-protein interactions using global analysis

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) detected via fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) and global analysis provide a way in which protein–protein interactions may be spatially localized and quantified within biological cells. The FRET efficiency and proportion of interacting molecules have been determined using bi-exponential fitting to time-domain FLIM data from a multiphoton time-correlated single-photon counting microscope system. The analysis has been made more robust to noise and significantly faster using global fitting, allowing higher spatial resolutions and/or lower acquisition times. Data have been simulated, as well as acquired from cell experiments, and the accuracy of a modified Levenberg–Marquardt fitting technique has been explored. Multi-image global analysis has been used to follow the epidermal growth factor-induced activation of Cdc42 in a short-image-interval time-lapse FLIM/FRET experiment. Our implementation offers practical analysis and time-resolved-image manipulation, which have been targeted towards providing fast execution, robustness to low photon counts, quantitative results and amenability to automation and batch processing.

Spatially distinct binding of Cdc42 to PAK1 and N-WASP in breast carcinoma cells.

ABSTRACT While a significant amount is known about the biochemical signaling pathways of the Rho family GTPase Cdc42, a better understanding of how these signaling networks are coordinated in cells is required. In particular, the predominant subcellular sites where GTP-bound Cdc42 binds to its effectors, such as p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) and N-WASP, a homolog of the Wiskott-Aldritch syndrome protein, are still undetermined. Recent fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging experiments using activity biosensors show inconsistencies between the site of local activity of PAK1 or N-WASP and the formation of specific membrane protrusion structures in the cell periphery. The data presented here demonstrate the localization of interactions by using multiphoton time-domain fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). Our data here establish that activated Cdc42 interacts with PAK1 in a nucleotide-dependent manner in the cell periphery, leading to Thr-423 phosphorylation of PAK1, particularly along the lengths of cell protrusion structures. In contrast, the majority of GFP-N-WASP undergoing FRET with Cy3-Cdc42 is localized within a transferrin receptor- and Rab11-positive endosomal compartment in breast carcinoma cells. These data reveal for the first time distinct spatial association patterns between Cdc42 and its key effector proteins controlling cytoskeletal remodeling.

Imaging molecular interactions by multiphoton FLIM

Summry— The spatio‐temporal localisation of molecular interactions within cells in situ and in particular in vivo is of great importance in elucidating the key mechanisms in regulation of fundamental process within the cell. Measurements of such near‐field localisation of protein complexes may be achieved by the detection of fluorescence (or Förster) resonance energy transfer (FRET) between protein‐conjugated fluorophores. The use of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to determine both intra‐ and intermolecular FRET has become an important and powerful technique for investigating biological systems. In this review we focus on the time‐domain‐based fluorescence lifetime sensing, using time‐correlated single photon counting multiphoton microscopy. We give a description of the technique, including data acquisition and analysis, and discuss the different biological applications of this technology.

Essential Role of hIST1 in Cytokinesis

The last steps of multivesicular body (MVB) formation, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 budding and cytokinesis require a functional endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) machinery to facilitate topologically equivalent membrane fission events. Increased sodium tolerance (IST) 1, a new positive modulator of the ESCRT pathway, has been described recently, but an essential function of this highly conserved protein has not been identified. Here, we describe the previously uncharacterized KIAA0174 as the human homologue of IST1 (hIST1), and we report its conserved interaction with VPS4, CHMP1A/B, and LIP5. We also identify a microtubule interacting and transport (MIT) domain interacting motif (MIM) in hIST1 that is necessary for its interaction with VPS4, LIP5 and other MIT domain-containing proteins, namely, MITD1, AMSH, UBPY, and Spastin. Importantly, hIST1 is essential for cytokinesis in mammalian cells but not for HIV-1 budding, thus providing a novel mechanism of functional diversification of the ESCRT machinery. Last, we show that the hIST1 MIM activity is essential for cytokinesis, suggesting possible mechanisms to explain the role of hIST1 in the last step of mammalian cell division.

Femtosecond laser microstructuring of materials

Abstract Femtosecond laser pulses at 790 and 395 nm combined with a scanning galvo mirror system have allowed the ablation of high quality microchannels in Pyrex, fused silica and silicon (100) for microchemical applications. While Pyrex and fused silica can be micromachined in the near infrared or UV, silicon can only be micromachined to the required depths of ∼50 μ m in the near UV where the linear absorption coefficient is much higher. Residual roughness on these materials is μ m.

Biomedical Imaging: From Nano to Macro

Studying cellular protein-protein interactions in situ requires a technique such as fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) which is sensitive on the nanometer scale. Observing FRET is significantly simplified if the fluorescence lifetime of the donor can be monitored. Results from live cells and tissue micro arrays are presented from an automated microscope incorporating time-domain TCSPC fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). Novel hardware and software with a modular approach and scripting abilities allow us to work towards speed-optimized acquisition and ease of use to bring FLIM into the high-throughput regime.

Fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy and imaging of nano-engineered glucose sensor microcapsules based on glucose/galactose-binding protein

We aimed to develop microsensors for eventual glucose monitoring in diabetes, based on fluorescence lifetime changes in glucose/galactose-binding protein (GBP) labelled with the environmentally sensitive fluorophore dye, badan. A mutant of GBP was labelled with badan near the binding site, the protein adsorbed to microparticles of CaCO(3) as templates and encapsulated in alternating nano-layers of poly-L-lysine and heparin. We used fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) with two-photon excitation and time-correlated single-photon counting to visualize the lifetime changes in the capsules. Addition of glucose increased the mean lifetime of GBP-badan by a maximum of approximately 2 ns. Analysis of fluorescence decay curves was consistent with two GBP states, a short-lifetime component (approximately 0.8 ns), likely representing the open form of the protein with no bound glucose, and a long-lifetime component (approximately 3.1 ns) representing the closed form with bound glucose and where the lobes of GBP have closed round the dye creating a more hydrophobic environment. FLIM demonstrated that increasing glucose increased the fractional proportion of the long-lifetime component. We conclude that fluorescence lifetime-based glucose sensing using GBP encapsulated with nano-engineered layer-by-layer films is a glucose monitoring technology suitable for development in diabetes management.

Imaging protein–protein interactions in cell motility using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)

Protein-protein interactions and signal transduction pathways have traditionally been analysed using biochemical techniques or standard microscopy. Although invaluable in the delineation of protein hierarchy, these methods do not provide information on the true spatial and temporal nature of complex formation within the intact cell. Recent advances in microscopy have allowed the development of new methods to analyse protein-protein interactions at very high resolution in both fixed and live cells. The present paper provides a brief overview of using fluorescence resonance energy transfer to analyse directly molecular interactions and conformational changes in various proteins involved in the regulation of cell adhesion and motility.

The potential of optical proteomic technologies to individualize prognosis and guide rational treatment for cancer patients

Genomics and proteomics will improve outcome prediction in cancer and have great potential to help in the discovery of unknown mechanisms of metastasis, ripe for therapeutic exploitation. Current methods of prognosis estimation rely on clinical data, anatomical staging and histopathological features. It is hoped that translational genomic and proteomic research will discriminate more accurately than is possible at present between patients with a good prognosis and those who carry a high risk of recurrence. Rational treatments, targeted to the specific molecular pathways of an individual’s high-risk tumor, are at the core of tailored therapy. The aim of targeted oncology is to select the right patient for the right drug at precisely the right point in their cancer journey. Optical proteomics uses advanced optical imaging technologies to quantify the activity states of and associations between signaling proteins by measuring energy transfer between fluorophores attached to specific proteins. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) assays are suitable for use in cell line models of cancer, fresh human tissues and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPE). In animal models, dynamic deep tissue FLIM/FRET imaging of cancer cells in vivo is now also feasible. Analysis of protein expression and post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation and ubiquitination can be performed in cell lines and are remarkably efficiently in cancer tissue samples using tissue microarrays (TMAs). FRET assays can be performed to quantify protein-protein interactions within FFPE tissue, far beyond the spatial resolution conventionally associated with light or confocal laser microscopy. Multivariate optical parameters can be correlated with disease relapse for individual patients. FRET-FLIM assays allow rapid screening of target modifiers using high content drug screens. Specific protein-protein interactions conferring a poor prognosis identified by high content tissue screening will be perturbed with targeted therapeutics. Future targeted drugs will be identified using high content/throughput drug screens that are based on multivariate proteomic assays. Response to therapy at a molecular level can be monitored using these assays while the patient receives treatment: utilizing re-biopsy tumor tissue samples in the neoadjuvant setting or by examining surrogate tissues. These technologies will prove to be both prognostic of risk for individuals when applied to tumor tissue at first diagnosis and predictive of response to specifically selected targeted anticancer drugs. Advanced optical assays have great potential to be translated into real-life benefit for cancer patients.