Magnetic Cytoskeleton Affinity Purification of Microtubule Motors Conjugated to Quantum Dots.

We develop magnetic cytoskeleton affinity (MiCA) purification, which allows for rapid isolation of molecular motors conjugated to large multivalent quantum dots, in miniscule quantities, which is especially useful for single-molecule applications. When purifying labeled molecular motors, an excess of fluorophores or labels is usually used. However, large labels tend to sediment during the centrifugation step of microtubule affinity purification, a traditionally powerful technique for motor purification.

L-edge sum rule analysis on 3d transition metal sites: from d to d and towards application to extremely dilute metallo-enzymes.

According to L-edge sum rules, the number of 3d vacancies at a transition metal site is directly proportional to the integrated intensity of the L-edge X-ray absorption spectrum (XAS) for the corresponding metal complex. In this study, the numbers of 3d holes are characterized quantitatively or semi-quantitatively for a series of manganese (Mn) and nickel (Ni) complexes, including the electron configurations 3d→ 3d. In addition, extremely dilute (<0.

Structural Contributions to Hydrodynamic Diameter for Quantum Dots Optimized for Live-Cell Single-Molecule Tracking.

Quantum dots are fluorescent nanoparticles with narrow-band, size-tunable, and long-lasting emission. Typical formulations used for imaging proteins in cells are hydrodynamically much larger than the protein targets, so it is critical to assess the impact of steric effects deriving from hydrodynamic size. This report analyzes a new class of quantum dots that have been engineered for minimized size specifically for imaging receptors in narrow synaptic junctions between neurons.

Super-resolution imaging of synaptic and Extra-synaptic AMPA receptors with different-sized fluorescent probes.

Previous studies tracking AMPA receptor (AMPAR) diffusion at synapses observed a large mobile extrasynaptic AMPAR pool. Using super-resolution microscopy, we examined how fluorophore size and photostability affected AMPAR trafficking outside of, and within, post-synaptic densities (PSDs) from rats. Organic fluorescent dyes (≈4 nm), quantum dots, either small (≈10 nm diameter; sQDs) or big (>20 nm; bQDs), were coupled to AMPARs via different-sized linkers.

Labeling proteins inside living cells using external fluorophores for microscopy.

Site-specific fluorescent labeling of proteins inside live mammalian cells has been achieved by employing Streptolysin O, a bacterial enzyme which forms temporary pores in the membrane and allows delivery of virtually any fluorescent probes, ranging from labeled IgG's to small ligands, with high efficiency (>85% of cells). The whole process, including recovery, takes 30 min, and the cell is ready to be imaged immediately. A variety of cell viability tests were performed after treatment with SLO to ensure that the cells have intact membranes, are able to divide, respond normally to signaling molecules, and maintains healthy organelle morphology.

Multidentate Polymer Coatings for Compact and Homogeneous Quantum Dots with Efficient Bioconjugation.

Quantum dots are fluorescent nanoparticles used to detect and image proteins and nucleic acids. Compared with organic dyes and fluorescent proteins, these nanocrystals have enhanced brightness, photostability, and wavelength tunability, but their larger size limits their use. Recently, multidentate polymer coatings have yielded stable quantum dots with small hydrodynamic dimensions (≤10 nm) due to high-affinity, compact wrapping around the nanocrystal.

Small quantum dots conjugated to nanobodies as immunofluorescence probes for nanometric microscopy.

Immunofluorescence, a powerful technique to detect specific targets using fluorescently labeled antibodies, has been widely used in both scientific research and clinical diagnostics. The probes should be made with small antibodies and high brightness. We conjugated GFP binding protein (GBP) nanobodies, small single-chain antibodies from llamas, with new ∼7 nm quantum dots.

Stable small quantum dots for synaptic receptor tracking on live neurons.

We developed a coating method to produce functionalized small quantum dots (sQDs), about 9 nm in diameter, that were stable for over a month. We made sQDs in four emission wavelengths, from 527 to 655 nm and with different functional groups. AMPA receptors on live neurons were labeled with sQDs and postsynaptic density proteins were visualized with super-resolution microscopy.

Direct detection of adenosine in undiluted serum using a luminescent aptamer sensor attached to a terbium complex.

Aptamers, single-stranded nucleic acids that can selectively bind to various target molecules, have been widely used for constructing biosensors. A major challenge in this field, however, is direct sensing of analytes in complex biological media such as undiluted serum. While progress has been made in developing an inhomogeneous assay by using a preseparation step to wash away the interferences within serum, a facile strategy for direct detection of targets in homogeneous unprocessed serum is highly desired.

Counting bungarotoxin binding sites of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in mammalian cells with high signal/noise ratios.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are some of the most studied synaptic proteins; however, many questions remain that can only be answered using single molecule approaches. Here we report our results from single α7 and neuromuscular junction type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in mammalian cell membranes. By labeling the receptors with fluorophore-labeled bungarotoxin, we can image individual receptors and count the number of bungarotoxin-binding sites in receptors expressed in HEK 293 cells.

A new quinoline sensitizer-centered lanthanide chelate and its use for protein labling on Ni-NTA beads for TR LRET assays.

A quinoline sensitizer-centered lanthanide chelate system of novel design for TR-LRET was prepared; it exhibited high labelling efficiency with a his-tagged protein (ERalpha-LBD) on the Ni-NTA beads, using a mixed metal chelate protocol, and it functioned well in TR-LRET protein-protein interaction assays.

New 9- or 10-dentate luminescent lanthanide chelates.

Polyaminocarboxylate-based luminescent lanthanide complexes have unusual emission properties, including millisecond excited-state lifetimes and sharply spiked spectra compared to common organic fluorophores. There are three distinct sections in the structure of the luminescent lanthanide chelates: a polyaminocarboxylate backbone to bind the lanthanide ions tightly, an antenna molecule to sensitize the emission of lanthanide ions, and a reactive group to attach to biomolecules. We have previously reported the modifications on the chelates, on the antenna molecules (commonly cs124), and on the reactive sites.

Distance measurements reveal a common topology of prokaryotic voltage-gated ion channels in the lipid bilayer.

Voltage-dependent ion channels are fundamental to the physiology of excitable cells because they underlie the generation and propagation of the action potential and excitation-contraction coupling. To understand how ion channels work, it is important to determine their structures in different conformations in a membrane environment. The validity of the crystal structure for the prokaryotic K(+) channel, K(V)AP, has been questioned based on discrepancies with biophysical data from functional eukaryotic channels, underlining the need for independent structural data under native conditions.

Small vertical movement of a K+ channel voltage sensor measured with luminescence energy transfer.

Voltage-gated ion channels open and close in response to voltage changes across electrically excitable cell membranes. Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels are homotetramers with each subunit constructed from six transmembrane segments, S1-S6 (ref. 2).

Carbostyril derivatives as antenna molecules for luminescent lanthanide chelates.

Luminescent lanthanide complexes consisting of a lanthanide-binding chelate and organic-based antenna molecule have unusual emission properties, including millisecond excited state lifetimes and sharply spiked spectra, compared to standard organic fluorophores. We have previously used carbostyril (cs124, 7-amino-4-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone) as an antenna molecule (Li and Selvin, J. Am.

Thiol-reactive luminescent lanthanide chelates: part 2.

Luminescent lanthanide complexes have unusual spectroscopic characteristics, including millisecond excited-state lifetime and sharply spiked emission spectra. These characteristics make them valuable alternatives to conventional organic fluorescent probes in detection applications and for measuring nanometer-scale conformational changes in biomolecules via resonance energy transfer. Our group has previously reported the syntheses and application of various luminescence complexes that have polyaminocarboxylate chelates coupled to a carbostyril antenna and thiol or amine-reactive groups.

An actin-dependent conformational change in myosin.

Conformational changes within myosin lead to its movement relative to an actin filament. Several crystal structures exist for myosin bound to various nucleotides, but none with bound actin. Therefore, the effect of actin on the structure of myosin is poorly understood.

Thiol-reactive lanthanide chelates for phasing protein X-ray diffraction data.

Lanthanides can contribute a large anomalous component to X-ray scattering when present and ordered in a target crystal. This large anomalous signal is a useful source of phase information in X-ray crystallographic studies of biological macromolecules. Thiol-reactive lanthanide chelates were tested as a means of incorporation of lanthanides into protein crystals.

Nickel complexes of bidentate [S2] and [SN] borato ligands.

Nickel(II) complexes of the monoanionic borato ligands [Ph2B(CH2SCH3)2] (abbreviated Ph2Bt), [Ph2B(CH2S(t)Bu)2] (Ph2Bt(tBu)), [Ph2B(1-pyrazolyl)(CH2SCH3)], and [Ph2B(1-pyrazolyl)(CH2S(t)Bu)] have been prepared and characterized. While [Ph2Bt] formed the square planar homoleptic complex, [Ph2Bt]2Ni, the larger [S2] ligand with tert-butyl substituents, [Ph2BttBu], yielded an unexpected organometallic derivative, [Ph2Bt(tBu)]Ni(eta2-CH2SBut), resulting from B-C bond rupture. The analogous thiametallacycle derived from the [S3] ligand, [PhB(CH2S(t)Bu)3] (PhTt(tBu)), has been structurally authenticated (Schebler, P.

Poly(2-thienyl)borates: An Investigation into the Coordination of Thiophene and Its Derivatives.

The synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of a new sulfur-rich tridentate ligand, tetrakis(2-thienyl)borate (1(-)()), are reported along with a molecular orbital analysis of its coordination to a metal center. Unlike the analogous tetrakis((methylthio)methyl)borate (2(-)()), 1(-)() does not coordinate Mo(CO)(3) when reacted with (C(7)H(8))Mo(CO)(3). The sulfur atoms in both ligands are oriented to coordinate the metal in a pyramidal eta(1) sulfur-bound mode.