@phdthesis{Kurz2022,
  author    = {Kurz, Hendrikje},
  title     = {Regulation of ion conductance and cAMP/cGMP concentration in megakaryocytes by light},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-21694},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-216947},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Platelets play an essential role in haemostasis. Through granule secretion of second wave mediators and aggregation, they secure vascular integrity. Due to incorrect activation, platelet aggregation and subsequent thrombus formation can cause blood vessel occlusion, leading to ischemia. Patients with defects in platelet production have a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), which can cause an increased bleeding risk. In vitro platelet generation is still in its development phase. So far, no convincing results have been obtained. For this reason, the health care system still depends on blood donors. Platelets are produced by bone marrow megakaryocytes (MKs), which extend long cytoplasmic protrusions, designated proplatelets, into sinusoidal blood vessels. Due to shear forces, platelets are then released into the bloodstream. The molecular mechanisms underlying platelet production are still not fully understood. However, a more detailed insight of this biological process is necessary to improve the in vitro generation of platelets and to optimise treatment regimens of patients. Optogenetics is defined as "light-modulation of cellular activity or of animal behaviour by gene transfer of photo-sensitive proteins". Optogenetics has had a big impact on neuroscience over the last decade. The use of channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2), a light-sensitive cation channel, made it possible to stimulate neurons precisely and minimally invasive for the first time. Recent developments in the field of optogenetics intend to address a broader scope of cellular and molecular biology. The aim of this thesis is to establish optogenetics in the field of MK research in order to precisely control and manipulate MK differentiation. An existing "optogenetic toolbox" was used, which made it possible to light-modulate the cellular concentration of specific signalling molecules and ion conductance in MKs. Expression of the bacterial photoactivated adenylyl cyclase (bPAC) resulted in a significant increase in cAMP concentration after 5 minutes of illumination. Similarly, intracellular cGMP concentrations in MKs expressing photoactivated guanylyl cyclase (BeCyclop) were elevated. Furthermore, proplatelet formation of MKs expressing the light-sensitive ion channels ChR2 and anion channelrhodopsin (ACR) was altered in a light-dependent manner. These results show that MK physiology can be modified by optogenetic approaches. This might help shed new light on the underlying mechanisms of thrombopoiesis.},
  subject      = {Optogenetik},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{TianYangNageletal.2022,
  author    = {Tian, Yuehui and Yang, Shang and Nagel, Georg and Gao, Shiqiang},
  title     = {Characterization and modification of light-sensitive phosphodiesterases from choanoflagellates},
  series = {Biomolecules},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {Biomolecules},
  number    = {1},
  issn      = {2218-273X},
  doi       = {10.3390/biom12010088},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-254769},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Enzyme rhodopsins, including cyclase opsins (Cyclops) and rhodopsin phosphodiesterases (RhoPDEs), were recently discovered in fungi, algae and protists. In contrast to the well-developed light-gated guanylyl/adenylyl cyclases as optogenetic tools, ideal light-regulated phosphodiesterases are still in demand. Here, we investigated and engineered the RhoPDEs from Salpingoeca rosetta, Choanoeca flexa and three other protists. All the RhoPDEs (fused with a cytosolic N-terminal YFP tag) can be expressed in Xenopus oocytes, except the AsRhoPDE that lacks the retinal-binding lysine residue in the last (8th) transmembrane helix. An N296K mutation of YFP::AsRhoPDE enabled its expression in oocytes, but this mutant still has no cGMP hydrolysis activity. Among the RhoPDEs tested, SrRhoPDE, CfRhoPDE1, 4 and MrRhoPDE exhibited light-enhanced cGMP hydrolysis activity. Engineering SrRhoPDE, we obtained two single point mutants, L623F and E657Q, in the C-terminal catalytic domain, which showed ~40 times decreased cGMP hydrolysis activity without affecting the light activation ratio. The molecular characterization and modification will aid in developing ideal light-regulated phosphodiesterase tools in the future.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{vomDahlMuellerBerishaetal.2022,
  author    = {vom Dahl, Christian and M{\"u}ller, Christoph Emanuel and Berisha, Xhevat and Nagel, Georg and Zimmer, Thomas},
  title     = {Coupling the cardiac voltage-gated sodium channel to channelrhodopsin-2 generates novel optical switches for action potential studies},
  series = {Membranes},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {Membranes},
  number    = {10},
  issn      = {2077-0375},
  doi       = {10.3390/membranes12100907},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-288228},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Voltage-gated sodium (Na\(^+\)) channels respond to short membrane depolarization with conformational changes leading to pore opening, Na\(^+\) influx, and action potential (AP) upstroke. In the present study, we coupled channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), the key ion channel in optogenetics, directly to the cardiac voltage-gated Na\(^+\) channel (Na\(_v\)1.5). Fusion constructs were expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and electrophysiological recordings were performed by the two-microelectrode technique. Heteromeric channels retained both typical Na\(_v\)1.5 kinetics and light-sensitive ChR2 properties. Switching to the current-clamp mode and applying short blue-light pulses resulted either in subthreshold depolarization or in a rapid change of membrane polarity typically seen in APs of excitable cells. To study the effect of individual K\(^+\) channels on the AP shape, we co-expressed either K\(_v\)1.2 or hERG with one of the Na\(_v\)1.5-ChR2 fusions. As expected, both delayed rectifier K\(^+\) channels shortened AP duration significantly. K\(_v\)1.2 currents remarkably accelerated initial repolarization, whereas hERG channel activity efficiently restored the resting membrane potential. Finally, we investigated the effect of the LQT3 deletion mutant ΔKPQ on the AP shape and noticed an extremely prolonged AP duration that was directly correlated to the size of the non-inactivating Na\(^+\) current fraction. In conclusion, coupling of ChR2 to a voltage-gated Na\(^+\) channel generates optical switches that are useful for studying the effect of individual ion channels on the AP shape. Moreover, our novel optogenetic approach provides the potential for an application in pharmacology and optogenetic tissue-engineering.},
  language  = {en}
}