Yong-Jun Kwon

Automated Genome-Wide Visual Profiling of Cellular Proteins Involved in HIV Infection

Recent genome-wide RNAi screens have identified >842 human genes that affect the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cycle. The list of genes implicated in infection differs between screens, and there is minimal overlap. A reason for this variance is the interdependence of HIV infection and host cell function, producing a multitude of indirect or pleiotropic cellular effects affecting the viral infection during RNAi screening. To overcome this, the authors devised a 15-dimensional phenotypic profile to define the viral infection block induced by CD4 silencing in HeLa cells. They demonstrate that this phenotypic profile excludes nonspecific, RNAi-based side effects and viral replication defects mediated by silencing of housekeeping genes. To achieve statistical robustness, the authors used automatically annotated RNAi arrays for seven independent genome-wide RNAi screens. This identified 56 host genes, which reliably reproduced CD4-like phenotypes upon HIV infection. The factors include 11 known HIV interactors and 45 factors previously not associated with HIV infection. As proof of concept, the authors confirmed that silencing of PAK1, Ku70, and RNAseH2A impaired HIV replication in Jurkat cells. In summary, multidimensional, visual profiling can identify genes required for HIV infection.

Intracellular protein target detection by quantum dots optimized for live cell imaging.

Imaging of specific intracellular target proteins in living cells has been of great challenge and importance for understanding intracellular events and elucidating various biological phenomena. Highly photoluminescent and water-soluble semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs) have been extensively applied to various cellular imaging applications due to the long-term photostability and the tunable narrow emission spectra with broad excitation. Despite the great success of various bioimaging and diagnostic applications, visualization of intracellular targets in live cells still has been of great challenge. Nonspecific binding, difficulty of intracellular delivery, or endosomal trapping of nanosized QDs are the main reasons to hamper specific target binding in live cells. In this context, we prepared the polymer-coated QDs (pcQD) of which the surface was optimized for specific intracellular targeting in live cells. Efficient intracellular delivery was achieved through PEGylation and subsequent cell penetrating peptide (i.e., TAT) conjugation to the pcQD in order to avoid significant endosomal sequestration and to facilitate internalization of the QDs, respectively. In this study, we employed HEK293 cell line overexpressing endothelin A receptor (ET(A)R), a family of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), of which the cytosolic c-terminal site is genetically engineered to possess green fluorescent protein (GFP) as our intracellular protein target. The fluorescence signal of the target protein and the well-defined intracellular behavior of the GPCR help to evaluate the targeting specificity of QDs in living cells. To test the hypothesis that the TAT-QDs conjugated with antibody against intracellular target of interest can find the target, we conjugated anti-GFP antibody to TAT-PEG-pcQD using heterobifunctional linkers. Compared to the TAT-PEG-pcQD, which was distributed throughout the cytoplasm, the antiGFP-functionalized TAT-PEG-pcQD could penetrate the cell membrane and colocalize with the GFP. An agonist (endothelin-1, ET-1) treatment induced GFP-ET(A)R translocation into pericentriolar region, where the GFP also significantly colocalized with antiGFP-TAT-PEG-pcQD. These results demonstrate that stepwise optimization of PEG-pcQD conjugation with both a cell penetrating peptide and an antibody against a target of interest allows specific binding to the intracellular target protein with minimized nonspecific binding.

Quantum dot-based screening system for discovery of g protein-coupled receptor agonists

Cellular imaging has emerged as an important tool to unravel biological complexity and to accelerate the drug‐discovery process, including cell‐based screening, target identification, and mechanism of action studies. Recently, semiconductor nanoparticles known as quantum dots (QDs) have attracted great interest in cellular imaging applications due to their unique photophysical properties such as size, tunable optical property, multiplexing capability, and photostability. Herein, we show that QDs can also be applied to assay development and eventually to high‐throughput/content screening (HTS/HCS) for drug discovery. We have synthesized QDs modified with PEG and primary antibodies to be used as fluorescent probes for a cell‐based HTS system. The G protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR) family is known to be involved in most major diseases. We therefore constructed human osteosarcoma (U2OS) cells that specifically overexpress two types of differently tagged GPCRs: influenza hemagglutinin (HA) peptide‐tagged κ‐opioid receptors (κ‐ORs) and GFP‐tagged A3 adenosine receptors (A3AR). In this study, we have demonstrated that 1) anti‐HA antibody‐conjugated QDs could specifically label HA‐tagged κ‐ORs, 2) subsequent treatment of QD‐tagged GPCR agonists allowed agonist‐induced translocation to be monitored in real time, 3) excellent emission spectral properties of QD permitted the simultaneous detection of two GPCRs in one cell, and 4) the robust imaging capabilities of the QD–antibody conjugates could lead to reproducible quantitative data from high‐content cellular images. These results suggest that the present QD‐based GPCR inhibitor screening system can be a promising platform for further drug screening applications.

High-Content Classification of Nucleocytoplasmic Import or Export Inhibitors

Transcription factors of the nuclear factor κ B family are the paradigm for signaling dependent nuclear translocation and are ideally suited to analysis through image-based chemical genetic screening. The authors describe combining high-content image analysis with a compound screen to identify compounds affecting either nuclear import or export. Validation in silico and in vitro determined an EC50 for the nuclear export blocker leptomycin B of 2.4 ng/mL (4.4 nM). The method demonstrated high selectivity (Z′ >0.95), speed, and robustness in a screen of a compound collection. It identified the IκB protein kinase inhibitor BAY 11 7082 as an import inhibitor, the p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor PD98509 as an import enhancer, and phorbol ester as an export inhibitor. The results establish a robust method for identifying compounds regulating nucleocytoplasmic import or export and also implicate MAP kinases in nuclear import of nuclear factor κ B. (Journal of Biomolecular Screening 2007:621-627)

Development of a cell-defined siRNA microarray for analysis of gene function in human bone marrow stromal cells.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) screening approaches have provided useful tools for the validation of genetic functions; however, image-based siRNA screening using multiwell plates requires large numbers of cells and time, which could be the barrier in application for gene mechanisms study using human adult cells. Therefore, we developed the advanced method with the cell-defined siRNA microarray (CDSM), for functional analysis of genes in small scale within slide glass using human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs). We designed cell spot system with biomaterials (sucrose, gelatin, poly-L-lysine and matrigel) to control the attachment of hBMSCs inside spot area on three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel-coated slides. The p65 expression was used as a validation standard which described our previous report. For the optimization of siRNA mixture, first, we detected five kinds of commercialized reagent (Lipofectamine 2000, RNAi-Max, Metafectine, Metafectine Pro, TurboFectin 8.0) via validation. Then, according to quantification of p65 expression, we selected 2 μl of RNAi-Max as the most effective reagent condition on our system. Using same validation standard, we optimized sucrose and gelatin concentration (80 mM and 0.13%), respectively. Next, we performed titration of siRNA quantity (2.66-5.55 μM) by reverse transfection time (24 h, 48 h, 72 h) and confirmed 3.75 μM siRNA concentration and 48 h as the best condition. To sum up the process for optimized CDSM, 3 μl of 20 μM siRNA (3.75 μM) was transferred to the 384-well V-bottom plate containing 2 μl of dH2O and 2 μl of 0.6M sucrose (80 mM). Then, 2 μl of RNAi-Max was added and incubated for 20 min at room temperature after mixing gently and centrifugation shortly. Five microliters of gelatin (0.26%) and 2 μl of growth factor reduced phenol red-free matrigel (12.5%) were added and mixed by pipetting gently. Finally, optimized siRNA mixture was printed on 3D hydrogel-coated slides and cell-defined attachment and siRNA reverse transfection were induced. The efficiency of this CDSM was verified using three siRNAs (targeting p65, Slug, and N-cadherin), with persistent gene silencing for 5 days. We obtained the significant and reliable data with effective knock-down in our condition, and suggested our method as the qualitatively improved siRNA microarray screening method for hBMSCs.

Phenotypic MicroRNA Microarrays.

Microarray technology has become a very popular approach in cases where multiple experiments need to be conducted repeatedly or done with a variety of samples. In our lab, we are applying our high density spots microarray approach to microscopy visualization of the effects of transiently introduced siRNA or cDNA on cellular morphology or phenotype. In this publication, we are discussing the possibility of using this micro-scale high throughput process to study the role of microRNAs in the biology of selected cellular models. After reverse-transfection of microRNAs and siRNA, the cellular phenotype generated by microRNAs regulated NF-κB expression comparably to the siRNA. The ability to print microRNA molecules for reverse transfection into cells is opening up the wide horizon for the phenotypic high content screening of microRNA libraries using cellular disease models.

High content cellular microarray for automated drug target deconvolution

Despite the promising paradigm offered by high-content screening, the concrete execution of hundred of thousands of visual cell-based experiments has remained highly challenging in terms of both statistical robustness and speed. An efficient computational method for cellular microarrays was developed at Institut Pasteur-Korea that allow for high speed, high content genome-wide siRNA screening. Details of the method and examples of data from genome-wide analyses will be featured in this presentation. In particular, we will demonstrate that the sudden ability to dramatically increase the number of experiments has created the opportunity for automated identification of a drug’s target.

Optimization of Cell-Based cDNA Microarray Conditions for Gene Functional Studies in HEK293 Cells.

Since the cell-based cDNA microarray (CBCM) technique has been a useful tool for gain-of-function studies, many investigators have used CBCMs to identify interesting genes. However, this method requires better-established conditions to ensure high reverse transfection efficiency without cross-contamination. Therefore, we optimized CBCM techniques through various means. We determined that Lipofectamine 2000 was the most appropriate transfection reagent by evaluating eight commercialized reagents, and we determined that the most effective concentrations for printing solution constituents were 0.2 M sucrose (to yield a final concentration of 32 mM) and 0.2% gelatin (to yield a final concentration 0.075%). After examining various combinations, we also determined that the best concentrations of cDNA and transfection reagent for optimal reverse transfection efficiency were 1.5 µg/5 µL of cDNA and 5.5 µL of Lipofectamine 2000. Finally, via a time course, we determined that 72 h was the most effective reaction duration for reverse transfection, and we confirmed the stability of cDNA spot activity of CBCMs for various storage periods. In summary, the CBCM conditions that we have identified can provide more effective outcomes for cDNA reverse transfection on microarrays.

Development of Cell-Defined Lentivirus-Based Microarray for Mammalian Cells

Although reverse transfection cell microarray (RTCM) is a powerful tool for mammalian cell studies, the technique is not appropriate for cells that are difficult to transfect. The lentivirus-infected cell microarray (LICM) technique was designed to improve overall efficiency. However, LICM presents new challenges because individual lentiviral particles can spread through the cell population, leading to cross-contamination. Therefore, we designed a cell-defined lentivirus microarray (CDLM) technique using cell-friendly biomaterials that are controlled by cell attachment timing. We selected poly-l-lysine (PLL) with Matrigel as the best combination of biomaterials for cell-defined culture. We used 2 µL PLL to determine by titration the optimum concentration required (0.04% stock, 0.005% final concentration). We also determined the optimum concentration of 10 µL of lentivirus particles for maximum reverse infection efficiency (1 × 108 infectious units [IFU]/mL stock, 62.5% final concentration) and established the best combination of components for the lentivirus mixture (10 µL of lentivirus particles and 2 µL each of siGLO Red dye, Matrigel, and 0.04% PLL). Finally, we validated both the effect of reverse infection in various cell lines and lentivirus spot activity in CDLM by storage period. This method provides an effective lentivirus-infected cell microarray for large-scale gene function studies.

The monitoring of gene functions on a cell-defined siRNA microarray in human bone marrow stromal and U2OS cells

Here, we developed a cell defined siRNA microarray (CDSM) for human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) designed to control the culture of cells inside the spot area without reducing the efficiency of siRNA silencing, “Development of a cell-defined siRNA microarray for analysis of gene functionin human bone marrow stromal cells” (Kim et al., 2016 [1]). First, we confirmed that p65 protein inhibition efficiency was maintained when hBMSCs were culture for 7 days on the siRNA spot, and siRNA spot activity remained in spite of long term storage (10 days and 2 months). Additionally, we confirmed p65 protein inhibition in U2OS cells after 48 h reverse transfection.