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Ultra-fast genetically encoded sensor for precise real-time monitoring of physiological and pathophysiological peroxide dynamics


AUTHORS

Berndt A , Lee J , Won W , Kimball K , Neiswanger C , Schattauer S , Wang Y , Yeboah F , Ruiz M , Evitts K , Rappleye M , Bremner S , Chun C , Smith N , Mack D , Young J , Lee CJ , Chavkin C , . Research square. 2024 3 25; ().

ABSTRACT

Hydrogen Peroxide (H O ) is a central oxidant in redox biology due to its pleiotropic role in physiology and pathology. However, real-time monitoring of H O in living cells and tissues remains a challenge. We address this gap with the development of an optogenetic hydRogen perOxide Sensor (oROS), leveraging the bacterial peroxide binding domain OxyR. Previously engineered OxyR-based fluorescent peroxide sensors lack the necessary sensitivity and response speed for effective real-time monitoring. By structurally redesigning the fusion of Escherichia coli (E. coli) ecOxyR with a circularly permutated green fluorescent protein (cpGFP), we created a novel, green-fluorescent peroxide sensor oROS-G. oROS-G exhibits high sensitivity and fast on-and-off kinetics, ideal for monitoring intracellular H O dynamics. We successfully tracked real-time transient and steady-state H O levels in diverse biological systems, including human stem cell-derived neurons and cardiomyocytes, primary neurons and astrocytes, and mouse brain and . These applications demonstrate oROS’s capabilities to monitor H O as a secondary response to pharmacologically induced oxidative stress and when adapting to varying metabolic stress. We showcased the increased oxidative stress in astrocytes via Aβ-putriscine-MAOB axis, highlighting the sensor’s relevance in validating neurodegenerative disease models. Lastly, we demonstrated acute opioid-induced generation of H O signal which highlights redox-based mechanisms of GPCR regulation. oROS is a versatile tool, offering a window into the dynamic landscape of H O signaling. This advancement paves the way for a deeper understanding of redox physiology, with significant implications for understanding diseases associated with oxidative stress, such as cancer, neurodegenerative, and cardiovascular diseases.



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