@phdthesis{MaierPeuschel2010, author = {Maier-Peuschel, Monika}, title = {Characterization of allosteric mechanisms on the M2 and M4 mACh receptor using the FRET-technique}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-49237}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Allosteric modulators have been proposed as promising new compounds to modify protein function. Allosteric binding sites have been discovered for several G-protein-coupled receptors, including M1-5 muscarinic receptors. Since these receptors play a pivotal role in the regulation of a plethora of organ functions, it is particularly important to investigate the mechanisms of allosteric modulation. To study molecular mechanisms of allosteric modulation in the M2 muscarinic receptor, a new FRET-based sensor was designed. CFP fused to the C-terminus of the receptor and a small fluorescent compound FlAsH, which labels a specific binding sequence in the third intracellular loop, were used as donor and acceptor fluorophores, respectively. The first part of the study was to design a functional FRET receptor sensor. After several optimization steps the constructs FLAG-M2-sl3-FlAsH-GSGEG-CFP and HA-FLAG-M2-sl3-FlAsH-GSGEG-CFP were generated which showed good cell-surface expression, robust changes in FRET and the ability to deliver reproducible data. The second part of this thesis sought to elucidate the mechanisms of the allosteric ligand binding and their effects on the receptor conformation. The described modifications, which were introduced in the wild type M2 mAChR to create the FRET sensor can alter receptor functionality and influence receptor expression. Radioligand binding studies revealed that the used transfection method provided sufficient receptor expression but, unfortunately, about 60 \% of the FLAG-M2-sl3-FlAsH-GSGEG-CFP receptor remains in the cytosol. However, this was sufficient to perform FRET experiments. Patch clamp GIRK-measurements with acetylcholine evinced that the new M2-sensor was able to activate Gi-proteins. Also, radioligand-binding assays with the second construct HA-FLAG-M2-sl3-FlAsH-GSGEG-CFP showed ligand affinity comparable to the wildtype receptor. Furthermore inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP production was indistinguishable from the behaviour of the wildtype receptor. According to that, the full functionality of both receptor constructs could be confirmed. FRET measurements with the full muscarinic receptor agonists carbachol and acetylcholine confirmed that the FLAG-M2-sl3-FlAsH-GSGEG-CFP receptor construct showed rapid changes in FRET upon addition of both ligands, which were concentration-dependent. Concentration response curves and the resulting EC50 values of both agonists were similar to those already published in literature. In addition, the orthosteric antagonists atropine and methoctramine inhibited the FRET changes induced by the agonists. This inhibition was significantly faster than the washout kinetics, pointing to an active displacement of the agonists by the antagonists. Allosteric ligands gallamine, tacrine and dimethyl-W84 did not alter receptor conformation when added without an orthosteric ligand. However, when applied in addition to muscarinic agonists, all three substances inhibited the FRET-signal. The extent of this inhibition was dependent on the used concentration of the allosteric ligands. These results reveal that conformational changes brought about by allosteric ligands can be measured with the FRET technique. Furthermore real-time FRET-based kinetic measurements could be performed in living cells and showed that the allosteric ligands gallamine and dimethyl-W84 alter receptor conformation significantly faster than the antagonists atropine and methoctramine. This data indicate that allosteric ligands actively induce the conformational changes in the receptor.}, subject = {Allosterie}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Schlippverh:Woelfel2011, author = {Schlipp [verh.: W{\"o}lfel], Angela}, title = {Characterization of anti-beta1-adrenoceptor antibodies with F{\"o}rster resonance energy transfer microscopy}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-67162}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) represents an important subgroup of patients suffering from heart failure. The disease is supposed to be associated with autoimmune mechanisms in about one third of the cases. In the latter patients functionally active conformational autoantibodies directed against the second extracellular loop of the β1-adrenergic receptor (AR, β1ECII-aabs) have been detected. Such antibodies chronically stimulate the β1-AR thereby inducing the adrenergic signaling cascade in cardiomyocytes, which, in the long run, contributes to heart failure progression. We analyzed the production of cAMP after aab-mediated β1-AR activation in vitro using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay. This assay is based on HEK293 cells stably expressing human β1-AR as well as the cAMP-sensor Epac1-camps. The assay showed a concentration-dependent increase in intracellular cAMP upon stimulation with the full agonist (-) isoproterenol. This response was comparable to results obtained in isolated adult murine cardiomyocytes and was partially blockable by a selective β1-AR antagonist. In the same assay poly- and monoclonal anti-β1ECII-abs (induced in different animals) could activate the adrenergic signaling cascade, whereas isotypic control abs had no effect on intracellular cAMP levels. Using the same method, we were able to detect functionally activating aabs in the serum of heart failure patients with ischemic and hypertensive heart disease as well as patients with DCM, but not in sera of healthy control subjects. In patients with DCM we observed an inverse correlation between the stimulatory potential of anti-β1-aabs and left ventricular pump function. To adopt this assay for the detection of functionally activating anti-β1ECII-aabs in clinical routine we attempted to establish an automated large-scale approach. Neither flow cytometry nor FRET detection with a fluorescence plate reader provided an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio. It was possible to detect (-) isoproterenol in a concentration-dependent manner using two different FRET multiwell microscopes. However, due to focus problems large-scale detection of activating anti-β1ECII-abs could not be implemented. Neutralization of anti-β1-aabs with the corresponding epitope-mimicking peptides is a possible therapeutic approach to treat aab-associated autoimmune DCM. Using our FRET assay we could demonstrate a reduction in the stimulatory potential of anti-β1ECII-abs after in vitro incubation with β1ECII-mimicking peptides. Cyclic (and to a lesser extent linear) peptides in 40-fold molar excess acted as efficient ab-scavengers in vitro. Intravenously injected cyclic peptides in a rat model of DCM also neutralized functionally active anti-β1ECII-abs efficiently in vivo. For a detailed analysis of the receptor-epitope targeted by anti-β1ECII-abs we used sequentially alanine-mutated β1ECII-mimicking cyclic peptides. Our data revealed that the disulfide bridge between the cysteine residues C209 and C215 of the human β1-AR appears essential for the formation of the ab-epitope. Substitution of further amino acids relevant for ab-binding in the cyclic scavenger peptide by alanine reduced its affinity to the ab and the receptor-activating potential was blocked less efficiently. In contrast, the non-mutant cyclic peptide almost completely blocked ab-induced receptor activation. Using this ala-scan approach we were able to identify a "NDPK"-epitope as essential for ab binding to the β1ECII. In summary, neutralization of conformational activating anti-β1ECII-(a)abs by cyclic peptides is a plausible therapeutic concept in heart failure that should be further exploited based on the here presented data.}, subject = {Adrenerger Rezeptor}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{AlonsoCanizal2020, author = {Alonso Ca{\~n}izal, Maria Consuelo}, title = {Detection of ligand dependent Frizzled conformational changes}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-17833}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-178335}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Frizzled (FZD) are highly conserved receptors that belong to class F of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. They are involved in a great variety of processes during embryonic development, organogenesis, and adult tissue homeostasis. In particular, FZD5 is an important therapeutic target due to its involvement in several pathologies, such as tumorigenesis. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the activation of FZD receptors and the signal initiation, and their GPCR nature has been debated. In order to investigate the activation mechanism of these receptors, FRET (F{\"o}rster Resonance Energy Transfer)-based biosensors for FZD5 have been developed and characterized. A cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) was fused to the C-terminus of the receptor and the specific FlAsH-binding sequence (CCPGCC) was inserted within the 2nd or the 3rd intracellular loop. Single-cell FRET experiments performed using one of these sensors, V5-mFZD5-FlAsH436-CFP, reported structural rearrangements in FZD5 upon stimulation with the endogenous ligand WNT-5A. These movements are similar to those observed in other GPCRs using the same technique, which suggests an activation mechanism for FZD reminiscent of GPCRs. Furthermore, stimulation of the FZD5 FRET-based sensor with various recombinant WNT proteins in a microplate FRET reader allowed to obtain concentration-response curves for several ligands, being possible to distinguish between full and partial agonists. This technology allowed to address the selectivity between WNTs and FZD5 using a full-length receptor in living cells. In addition, G protein FRET-based sensors revealed that WNT-5A specifically induced Gαq activation mediated by FZD5, but not Gαi activation. Other WNT proteins were also able to induce Gαq activation, but with lower efficacy than WNT-5A. In addition, a dual DAG/calcium sensor further showed that WNT-5A stimulation led to the activation of the Gαq-dependent signaling pathway mediated by FZD5, which outcome was the activation of Protein Kinase C (PKC) and the release of intracellular calcium. Altogether, these data provide evidence that the activation process of FZD5 resembles the general characteristics of class A and B GPCR activation, and this receptor also mediates the activation of the heterotrimeric Gαq protein and its downstream signaling pathway. In addition, the FZD5 receptor FRET-based sensor provides a valuable tool to characterize the pharmacological properties of WNTs and other potential ligands for this receptor.}, subject = {Fluoreszenz-Resonanz-Energie-Transfer}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Nikolaev2005, author = {Nikolaev, Viacheslav}, title = {Development and application of fluorescent cAMP und cGMP biosensors}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-15673}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2005}, abstract = {The cyclic nucleotides cAMP and cGMP are two ubiquitous important second messengers, which regulate diverse physiological responses from vision and memory to blood pressure and thrombus formation. They act in cells via cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases (PKA and GK), cyclic nucleotide-gated channels and Epac. Although the concept of cyclic nucleotide signalling is well developed based on classical biochemical studies, these techniques have not allowed to analyze cAMP and cGMP in live cells with high temporal and spatial resolution. In the present study fluorescence resonance energy transfer was used to develop a technique for visualization of cAMP and cGMP in live cells and in vitro by means of fluorescent biosensors. Ligand-induced conformational change in a single nucleotide-binding domain flanked with green fluorescent protein mutants was used for dynamic, highly sensitive measurements of cAMP and cGMP. Such biosensors retained binding properties and chemical specificity of unmodified domains, allowing to image cyclic nucleotides in a physiologically relevant range of concentrations. To develop cAMP-sensors, binding domains of PKA, Epac and cAMP-gated HCN-channel were used. cGMP-sensors were based on single domains of GK and phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Sensors based on Epac were used to analyze spatio-temporal dynamics of cAMP in neurons and macrophages, demonstrating that cAMP-gradients travel with a high speed (~ 40 \&\#956;m/s) throughout the entire cytosol. To understand the mechanisms of cAMP-compartmentation, kinetics properties of phosphodi-esterase (PDE2) were, next, analyzed in aldosterone producing cells. PDE2 is able to rapidly hydrolyze extensive amounts of cAMP, so that the speed of cAMP-hydrolysis is much faster than that of its synthesis, which might serve as a basis of compartmentation. cAMP-sensors were also used to develop a clinically relevant diagnostic method for reliable detection of \&\#946;1-adrenergic receptor autoantibodies in cardiac myopathy patients, which has allowed to significantly increase the sensitivity of previously developed diagnostic approaches. Conformational change in a single binding domain of GK and PDE was, next, used to create novel fluorescent biosensors for cGMP. These sensors demonstrated high spatio-temporal resolution and were applied to analyze rapid dynamics of cGMP production by soluble and particulate guanylyl cyclases as well as to image cGMP in mesangial cells. In summary, highly sensitive biosensors for cAMP and cGMP based on single cyclic nucleotide-binding domains have been developed and used in various biological and clinically relevant applications.}, subject = {Cyclo-AMP}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Stumpf2015, author = {Stumpf, Anette D.}, title = {Development of fluorescent FRET receptor sensors for investigation of conformational changes in adenosine A1 and A2A receptors}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-125469}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Adenosine receptors that belong to the rhodopsin-like G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are involved in a lot of regulatory processes and are widely distributed throughout the body which makes them an attractive target for drugs. However, pharmacological knowledge of these receptors is still limited. A big advance regarding the structural knowledge of adenosine receptors was the development of the first crystal structure of the adenosine A2A receptor in 2008. The crystal structure revealed the amino acids that form the ligand binding pocket of the receptor and depicted the endpoint of receptor movement in the ligand binding process. Within the scope of this work two members of the adenosine receptor family were investigated, namely the adenosine A1 and the A2A receptor (A1R, A2AR). A1R was generated on base of the previously developed A2AR. Receptors were tagged with fluorophores, with the cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) at the C-terminal end of receptor and the Fluorescein Arsenical Hairpin binder (FlAsH) binding sequence within the third intracellular loop of receptors. Resulting fluorescent receptor sensors A1 Fl3 CFP and A2A Fl3 CFP were investigated with help of Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) measurements within living cells. FRET experiments enable the examination of alteration in the distance of two fluorophores and thus the observation of receptor dynamical movements. For comparison of A1R and A2AR regarding receptor dynamical movement upon ligand binding, fluorescent receptor sensors A1 Fl3 CFP and A2A Fl3 CFP were superfused with various ligands and the outcomes of FRET experiments were compared regarding signal height of FRET ratio evoked by the distinct ligand that is correlated to the conformational change of receptor upon ligand binding. Beside the different direction of FRET ratio upon ligand binding at A1R and A2AR sensor, there were differences observable when signal height and association and dissociation kinetics of the various ligands investigated were compared to each other. Differences between the adenosine receptor subtypes were especially remarkable for the A1R subtype selective agonist CPA and the A2AR subtype selective agonist CGS 21680. Another part of the project was to investigate the influence of single amino acids in the ligand binding process within the fluorescent A1R sensor. Amino acid positions were derived from the crystal structure of the A2AR forming the ligand binding pocket and these amino acids were mutated in the A1R structure. Investigation of the A1R sensor and its mutants regarding confocal analysis showed involvement of some amino acids in receptor localization. When these amino acids were mutated receptors were not expressed in the plasma membrane of cells. Some amino acids investigated were found to be involved in the ligand binding process in general whereas other amino acids were found to have an influence on the binding of distinct structural groups of the ligands investigated. In a further step, A1R and A2AR were N-terminally tagged with SNAP or CLIP which allowed to label receptor sensors with multiple fluorophores. With this technique receptor distribution in cells could be investigated with help of confocal analysis. Furthermore, ligand binding with fluorescent adenosine receptor ligands and their competition with help of a non-fluorescent antagonist was examined at the SNAP tagged A1R and A2AR. Finally the previously developed receptor sensors were combined to the triple labeled receptor sensors SNAP A1 Fl3 CFP and SNAP A2A Fl3 CFP which were functional regarding FRET experiments and plasma membrane expression was confirmed via confocal analysis. In the future, with the help of this technique, interaction between fluorescent ligand and SNAP tagged receptor can be monitored simultaneously with the receptor movement that is indicated by the distance alteration between FlAsH and CFP. This can lead to a better understanding of receptor function and its dynamical movement upon ligand binding which may contribute to the development of new and more specific drugs for the A1R and A2AR in the future.}, subject = {Adenosinrezeptor}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Steinmetzger2020, author = {Steinmetzger, Christian}, title = {Fluorogenic Aptamers and Fluorescent Nucleoside Analogs as Probes for RNA Structure and Function}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-20760}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-207604}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {RNA plays a key role in numerous cellular processes beyond the central dogma of molecular biology. Observing and understanding this wealth of functions, discovering new ones and engineering them into purpose-built tools requires a sensitive means of observation. Over the past decade, fluorogenic aptamers have emerged to fill this niche. These short oligonucleotides are generated by in vitro selection to specifically interact with small organic fluorophores and can be utilized as genetically encoded tags for RNAs of interest. The most versatile class of fluorogenic aptamers is based on derivatives of hydroxybenzylidene imidazolone (HBI), a conditional fluorophore mimicking the chromophore structure found in green and red fluorescent proteins. The respective aptamers are well-known by the "vegetable" nomenclature, including Spinach, Broccoli and Corn, and have found numerous applications for studying RNA function in vitro and in cells. Their success, however, is somewhat overshadowed by individual shortcomings such as a propensity for misfolding, dependence on unphysiologically high concentrations of magnesium ions or, in the case of Corn, dimerization that might affect the function of the tagged RNA. Moreover, most fluorogenic aptamers exhibit limited ligand promiscuity by design, thereby restricting their potential for spectral tuning to a narrow window of wavelengths. This thesis details the characterization of a new fluorogenic aptamer system nicknamed Chili. Chili is derived from an aptamer that was originally selected to bind 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy¬hydroxy-benzylidene imidazolone (DMHBI), resulting in a green fluorescent complex. Unlike other aptamers of its kind, Chili engages in a proton transfer cycle with the bound ligand, resulting in a remarkably large Stokes shift of more than 130 nm. By means of an empirical ligand optimization approach, several new DMHBI derivatives were found that bind to Chili with high affinity, furnishing complexes up to 7.5 times brighter compared to the parent ligand. In addition, Chili binds to π-extended DMHBI derivatives that confer fluorescence in the yellow-red region of the visible spectrum. The highest affinity and degree of fluorescence turn-on for both green and red fluorogenic ligands were achieved by the incorporation of a unique, positively charged substituent into the HBI scaffold. Supplemented by NMR spectroscopy, kinetic and thermodynamic studies showed that the binding site of Chili is loosely preorganized in the absence of ligand and likely forms a G-quadruplex upon ligand binding. To showcase future applications, Chili was incorporated into a FRET sensor for monitoring the cleavage of an RNA substrate by a 10-23 DNAzyme. Besides aptamers as macromolecular fluorescent complexes, fluorescent nucleobase analogs are powerful small isomorphic components of RNA suitable for studying structure and folding. Here, the highly emissive nucleobase analog 4-cyanoindole (4CI) was developed into a ribonucleoside (r4CI) for this purpose. A new phosphoramidite building block was synthesized to enable site-specific incorporation of 4CI into RNA. Thermal denaturation experiments confirmed that 4CI behaves as a universal nucleobase, i.e. without bias towards any particular hybridization partner. Photophysical characterization established r4CI as a generally useful fluorescent ribonucleoside analog. In this work, it was employed to gain further insight into the structure of the Chili aptamer. Using several 4CI-modified Chili-HBI complexes, a novel base-ligand FRET assay was established to obtain a set of combined distance and orientation restraints for the tertiary structure of the aptamer. In addition to their utility for interrogating structure and binding, supramolecular FRET pairs comprising a fluorescent nucleobase analog donor and an innately fluorogenic acceptor hold great promise for the construction of color-switchable RNA aptamer sensor devices.}, subject = {Aptamer}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Nemec2023, author = {Nemec, Katarina}, title = {Modulation of parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R) signaling by receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs)}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-28858}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-288588}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {The receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs) are ubiquitously expressed membrane proteins that interact with several G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest and pharmacologically most important family of cell surface receptors. RAMPs can regulate GPCR function in terms of ligand-binding, G-protein coupling, downstream signaling, trafficking, and recycling. The integrity of their interactions translates to many physiological functions or pathological conditions. Regardless of numerous reports on its essential importance for cell biology and pivotal role in (patho-)physiology, the molecular mechanism of how RAMPs modulate GPCR activation remained largely elusive. This work presents new insights that add to the common understanding of the allosteric regulation of receptor activation and will help interpret how accessory proteins - RAMPs - modulate activation dynamics and how this affects the fundamental aspects of cellular signaling. Using a prototypical class B GPCR, the parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R) in the form of advanced genetically encoded optical biosensors, I examined RAMP's impact on the PTH1R activation and signaling in intact cells. A panel of single-cell FRET and confocal microscopy experiments as well canonical and non-canonical functional assays were performed to get a holistic picture of the signaling initiation and transduction of that clinically and therapeutically relevant GPCR. Finally, structural modeling was performed to add molecular mechanistic details to that novel art of modulation. I describe here that RAMP2 acts as a specific allosteric modulator of PTH1R, shifting PTH1R to a unique pre-activated state that permits faster activation in a ligand-specific manner. Moreover, RAMP2 modulates PTH1R downstream signaling in an agonist-dependent manner, most notably increasing the PTH-mediated Gi3 signaling sensitivity and kinetics of cAMP accumulation. Additionally, RAMP2 increases PTH- and PTHrP-triggered β-arrestin2 recruitment to PTH1R and modulates cytosolic ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Structural homology modeling shows that structural motifs governing GPCR-RAMP interaction originate in allosteric hotspots and rationalize functional modulation. Moreover, to interpret the broader role of RAMP's modulation in GPCRs pharmacology, different fluorescent tools to investigate RAMP's spatial organization were developed, and novel conformational biosensors for class B GPCRs were engineered. Lastly, a high throughput assay is proposed and prototyped to expand the repertoire of RAMPs or other membrane protein interactors. These data uncover the critical role of RAMPs in GPCR activation and signaling and set up a novel platform for studying GPCR modulation. Furthermore, these insights may provide a new venue for precise modulation of GPCR function and advanced drug design.}, subject = {G-Protein gekoppelter Rezeptor}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Hippius2007, author = {Hippius, Catharina}, title = {Multichromophoric Arrays of Perylene Bisimide Dyes - Synthesis and Optical Properties}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-24767}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2007}, abstract = {The present work deals with the synthesis and the investigation of the photophysical properties of covalently constructed calix[4]arene-perylene bisimide dye arrays containing various PBI units. The obtained conjugates are characterized with respect towards their application in a new, zigzag-type architecture of artificial light-harvesting systems. For this purpose, orange (core-unsubstituted), red (6,7,11,12-tert-butylphenoxy-functionalized) and green (1,7-pyrrolidino-substituted) perylene bisimide building blocks have been attached to the calix[4]arene scaffold. First, the monochromophoric reference systems have been studied, and second, the photophysical properties of a comprehensive series of newly synthesized, multichromophoric calix[4]arene-perylene bisimide conjugates showing efficient energy transfer processes between the individual dye subunits have been investigated. Furthermore, a series of bichromophoric compounds containing identical chromophoric units has been obtained. Towards this goal, a variety of spectroscopic techniques such as UV/vis absorption, steady state and time-resolved fluorescence emission, and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy as well as a spectrotemporal analysis of the obtained data has been applied. This work presents a new concept for an artificial light-harvesting system positioning the dye units by means of calix[4]arene spacers along a zigzag chain. The investigations start with the syntheses and optical properties of the monochromophoric building blocks and result in an elaborate study on the energy and electron transfer processes occurring after photoexcitation in a comprehensive series of multichromophoric calix[4]arene-perylene bisimide conjugates. Finally, the photophysical properties of a series of compounds containing each two identical PBI units are discussed.}, subject = {Fluoreszenz-Resonanz-Energie-Transfer}, language = {en} }