Stephen J. Butler

Very bright europium complexes that stain cellular mitochondria

The synthesis, structure and photophysical properties of a series of highly emissive europium complexes is reported. Certain complexes enter mammalian cells by macropinocytosis and stain the mitochondria selectively, allowing observation of the Eu emission in cellulo by time-gated spectral imaging.

EuroTracker dyes: highly emissive europium complexes as alternative organelle stains for live cell imaging

Nine very bright europium(III) complexes with different macrocyclic ligands have been prepared that exhibit excellent cell uptake behaviour and distinctive sub-cellular localisation profiles, allowing the use of fluorescence microscopy and time-gated spectral imaging to track their fate in cellulo. Their use as cellular imaging stains is described for the selective illumination of mitochondria, lysosomes or the endoplasmic reticulum of various mammalian cell types.

Comparative Analysis of Conjugated Alkynyl Chromophore–Triazacyclononane Ligands for Sensitized Emission of Europium and Terbium

A series of europium and terbium complexes based on a functionalized triazacyclononane carboxylate or phosphinate macrocyclic ligand is described. The influence of the anionic group, that is, carboxylate, methylphosphinate, or phenylphosphinate, on the photophysical properties was studied and rationalized on the basis of DFT calculated structures. The nature, number, and position of electron-donating or electron-withdrawing aryl substituents were varied systematically within the same phenylethynyl scaffold in order to optimize the brightness of the corresponding europium complexes and investigate their two-photon absorption properties. Finally, the europium complexes were examined in cell-imaging applications, and selected terbium complexes were studied as potential oxygen sensors.

Tuning colourimetric indicator displacement assays for naked-eye sensing of pyrophosphate in aqueous media

A library of anion receptors comprising cyclic peptide scaffolds bearing two (ZnII-DPA) anion binding sites have been synthesised and their anion binding abilities evaluated using colourimetric indicator displacement assays with three different indicators. The resulting chemosensing ensembles provided excellent discrimination between polyphosphate ions, with several of the receptor : indicator combinations providing naked-eye sensing of pyrophosphate ions in aqueous solutions containing more than 100 fold excess of ATP.

Tyrosine sulfation of chemokine receptor CCR2 enhances interactions with both monomeric and dimeric forms of the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)

Background: Chemokine receptors are post-translationally sulfated on tyrosine residues. Results: A tyrosine-sulfated fragment of CCR2 binds more tightly to the monomeric form than the dimeric form of the chemokine MCP-1. Conclusion: Binding to sulfated CCR2 promotes conversion of MCP-1 from inactive dimer to active monomer. Significance: Tyrosine sulfation may regulate the ability of chemokine receptors to be activated by chemokines. Chemokine receptors are commonly post-translationally sulfated on tyrosine residues in their N-terminal regions, the initial site of binding to chemokine ligands. We have investigated the effect of tyrosine sulfation of the chemokine receptor CCR2 on its interactions with the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2). Inhibition of CCR2 sulfation, by growth of expressing cells in the presence of sodium chlorate, significantly reduced the potency for MCP-1 activation of CCR2. MCP-1 exists in equilibrium between monomeric and dimeric forms. The obligate monomeric mutant MCP-1(P8A) was similar to wild type MCP-1 in its ability to induce leukocyte recruitment in vivo, whereas the obligate dimeric mutant MCP-1(T10C) was less effective at inducing leukocyte recruitment in vivo. In two-dimensional NMR experiments, sulfated peptides derived from the N-terminal region of CCR2 bound to both the monomeric and dimeric forms of wild type MCP-1 and shifted the equilibrium to favor the monomeric form. Similarly, MCP-1(P8A) bound more tightly than MCP-1(T10C) to the CCR2-derived sulfopeptides. NMR chemical shift mapping using the MCP-1 mutants showed that the sulfated N-terminal region of CCR2 binds to the same region (N-loop and β3-strand) of both monomeric and dimeric MCP-1 but that binding to the dimeric form also influences the environment of chemokine N-terminal residues, which are involved in dimer formation. We conclude that interaction with the sulfated N terminus of CCR2 destabilizes the dimerization interface of inactive dimeric MCP-1, thus inducing dissociation to the active monomeric state.

Bright mono-aqua europium complexes based on triazacyclononane that bind anions reversibly and permeate cells efficiently.

A series of five europium(III) complexes has been prepared from heptadentate N5O2 ligands that possess a brightness of more than 10 mM(-1) cm(-1) in water, following excitation over the range λ=330-355 nm. Binding of several oxy anions has been assessed by emission spectral titrimetric analysis, with the binding of simple carboxylates, lactate and citrate involving a common ligation mode following displacement of the coordinated water. Selectivity for bicarbonate allows the rapid determination of this anion in human serum, with K(d)=37 mM (295 K). The complexes are internalised quickly into mammalian cells and exhibit a mitochondrial localisation at early time points, migrating after a few hours to reveal a predominant lysosomal distribution. Herein, we report the synthesis and complexation behaviour of strongly emissive europium (III) complexes that bind oxy-anions in aqueous media with an affinity and selectivity profile that is distinctively different from previously studied systems.

Selective anion binding in water with use of a zinc(II) dipicolylamino functionalized diketopiperazine scaffold.

The design and synthesis of a diketopiperazine based anion receptor bearing two dipicolylamino arms complexed to zinc(II) ions is described. This receptor is readily prepared from the dipeptide precursor by a microwave-assisted intramolecular cyclization reaction. Upon addition of zinc(II), the receptor binds di- and triphosphate ions with high affinity and selectivity in aqueous solution, as determined by using a fluorescent indicator displacement assay.

Sulfopeptide probes of the CXCR4/CXCL12 interface reveal oligomer-specific contacts and chemokine allostery.

Tyrosine sulfation is a post-translational modification that enhances protein-protein interactions and may identify druggable sites in the extracellular space. The G protein-coupled receptor CXCR4 is a prototypical example with three potential sulfation sites at positions 7, 12, and 21. Each receptor sulfotyrosine participates in specific contacts with its chemokine ligand in the structure of a soluble, dimeric CXCL12:CXCR4(1-38) complex, but their relative importance for CXCR4 binding and activation by the monomeric chemokine remains undefined. NMR titrations with short sulfopeptides showed that the tyrosine motifs of CXCR4 varied widely in their contributions to CXCL12 binding affinity and site specificity. Whereas the Tyr21 sulfopeptide bound the same site as in previously solved structures, the Tyr7 and Tyr12 sulfopeptides interacted nonspecifically. Surprisingly, the unsulfated Tyr7 peptide occupied a hydrophobic site on the CXCL12 monomer that is inaccessible in the CXCL12 dimer. Functional analysis of CXCR4 mutants validated the relative importance of individual CXCR4 sulfotyrosine modifications (Tyr21 > Tyr12 > Tyr7) for CXCL12 binding and receptor activation. Biophysical measurements also revealed a cooperative relationship between sulfopeptide binding at the Tyr21 site and CXCL12 dimerization, the first example of allosteric behavior in a chemokine. Future ligands that occupy the sTyr21 recognition site may act as both competitive inhibitors of receptor binding and allosteric modulators of chemokine function. Together, our data suggests that sulfation does not ubiquitously enhance complex affinity and that distinct patterns of tyrosine sulfation could encode oligomer selectivity, implying another layer of regulation for chemokine signaling.

Synthesis of a family of cyclic peptide-based anion receptors

We report here the design and synthesis of a family of novel backbone modified cyclic peptides, bearing dipicolylamine side chains for metal complexation and subsequent anion binding studies. Two approaches to the cyclic peptides were investigated. Initially, a stepwise approach was employed, involving solid-phase assembly of oxazole-based building blocks, followed by solution-phase macrolactamisation of the resulting linear precursor. The alternative strategy involved the formation of linear bisoxazole fragments in solution-phase, followed by a cyclodimerisation reaction. The zinc(II) complexes of these receptors bind selectively to di- and tri-phosphate ions over hydrogenphosphate.

Design and Receptor Interactions of Obligate Dimeric Mutant of Chemokine Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1)

Background: Pro-inflammatory CC chemokines form conserved dimeric structures. Results: An obligate dimeric form of MCP-1 retains the wild type dimer structure but cannot bind or activate receptor CCR2. Conclusion: CC chemokine dimers cannot bind to their receptors at affinities approaching those of the chemokine monomers. Significance: Chemokine monomer-dimer equilibria are critical in regulating leukocyte recruitment during inflammation. Chemokine-receptor interactions regulate leukocyte trafficking during inflammation. CC chemokines exist in equilibrium between monomeric and dimeric forms. Although the monomers can activate chemokine receptors, dimerization is required for leukocyte recruitment in vivo, and it remains controversial whether dimeric CC chemokines can bind and activate their receptors. We have developed an obligate dimeric mutant of the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) by substituting Thr10 at the dimer interface with Cys. Biophysical analysis showed that MCP-1(T10C) forms a covalent dimer with similar structure to the wild type MCP-1 dimer. Initial cell-based assays indicated that MCP-1(T10C) could activate chemokine receptor CCR2 with potency reduced 1 to 2 orders of magnitude relative to wild type MCP-1. However, analysis of size exclusion chromatography fractions demonstrated that the observed activity was due to a small proportion of MCP-1(T10C) being monomeric and highly potent, whereas the majority dimeric form could neither bind nor activate CCR2 at concentrations up to 1 μm. These observations help to reconcile previous conflicting results and indicate that dimeric CC chemokines do not bind to their receptors with affinities approaching those of the corresponding monomeric chemokines.