Part:BBa_K1965002
P3:FAStm:HA:TRPC1:Myc
This part contains the coding sequence of P3:FAStm:TRPC1, a designed mechanosensitive channel. The transient receptor potential channel 1 TRPC1 (Read more) is a human non-specific cation channel [1], which was we fused to an additional FAS transmembrane domain in order to improve plasma membrane localization. Addition of the FAS transmembrane domain was previously used for similar purposes [2]. The addition of the FAS transmembrane domain to the N-terminal of TRPC1 would affect the localization of the N-terminus, changing it from cytoplasmic in native protein to extracellular in the presence of FAS transmembrane domain. This modification also presents an additional advantage, since our construct P3:FAStm:TRPC1 (where P3 stands for coiled coil) would be able to interact with proteins, fused with the P3 coiled coil peptide pair AP4 from outside the cell.
We used theP3:FAStm:TRPC1 mechanosensitive channel as a source of Ca2+ influx when stimulated with ultrasound 1.
Cells in resting stage with closed P3:FAStm:TRPC1 channels in the plasma membrane (left). Upon ultrasound stimulation P3:FAStm:TRPC1 channels open, leading to Ca2+ influx (right).
Characterization
Subcellular localization of P3:FAStm:TRPC1 channels in HEK293T cells was inspected. HEK293T cells were transfected with plasmids encoding HA- and Myc-tagged P3:FAStm:TRPC1 channel and protein localization was investigated by confocal microscopy.
(A) Scheme of ion channel P3:FAStm:TRPC1. (B) Ion channel P3:FAStm:TRPC1 is localized on the plasma membrane. Cells were permeabilized (upper) or non-permeabilized (lower) and stained with antibodies against HA and Myc-tag. Localization on plasma membrane is shown with arrows.
Ultrasound stimulation
After confirming P3:FAStm:TRPC1 localization on the plasma membrane in HEK293 cells, we stimulated the transfected cells with ultrasound to verify and characterize channel activity. Our experimental setup included an in-house built hardware MODUSON connected to unfocused transducer Olympus V318-SU. To monitor cell response in situ and in real time we used standard ratiometric fluorescent calcium indicators Fura Red, AM and Fluo-4, AM, which can be easily detected with confocal microscopy.. When activated, mechanosensitive channels open, leading to calcium influx, which in turn binds the fluorescent calcium indicators. The indicator conformation changes upon calcium binding, resulting in an increase or a decrease of fluorescence.
Fusion of the FAS transmembrane domain to TRPC1 did not only improve its membrane localization, but also significantly enhanced its sensitivity to ultrasound stimulation 3 suggesting the importance of membrane localization in the function of mechanosensitive receptors.
(A) Schematic presentation of the stimulation sequence and (B) signal parameters used for stimulation. (C, D)Cells expressing the P3:FAStm:TRPC1 channel showed increased sensitivity/responsiveness to ultrasound stimulation in comparison to the cells without exogenous mechanosensitive channel. HEK293 cells either expressing P3:FAStm:TRPC1 or transfected with a mock plasmid were stimulated with ultrasound for 10 s and calcium influx was recorded in real time (D) using confocal microscopy. Changes in fluorescence intensity of calcium indicators Fluo-4, AM (green line) and Fura Red, AM (red line) are shown. The blue line represents the ratio of Fluo-4 and Fura Red intensities, indicating the increase in intracellular free calcium ions after ultrasound stimulation.
References
[1]Xu, Shang-zhong, and David J Beech. 2001. “TrpC1 Is a Membrane-Spanning Subunit of Store-Operated Ca2+ Channels in Native Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.” Circulation Research 88: 84–87.[2]Majerle, Andreja, Rok Gaber, Mojca Benčina, and Roman Jerala. 2015. “Function-Based Mutation-Resistant Synthetic Signaling Device Activated by HIV-1 Proteolysis.” ACS Synthetic Biology 4(6): 667–72.
Team UM-Macau 2024: Contribution on BBa_K1965002
For BBa_K1965002, which was used in 2016, we applied it to humans in a new way. Using the same expression vector as MscS in this year's project, we also tested hTRPC1 in exosomes and two cancer cell lines in a very different application scenario than in the 2016 iGEM project. After a series of experimental validations, UM-Macau has demonstrated with preliminary results the potential of hTRPC1 for cancer-related applications, building on the parameters of hTRPC1 in 2016 and providing an important reference for future iGEMers in the field of biomedicine and oncology. Of course, in our experiments up to this point, since our experiments related to hTRPC1 have not yet reached the same amount of data as MscS, we do not yet have detailed data specifically around the use of hTRPC1 channels to kill cancer cells here, and we plan to complete the data in the future before sharing it with future iGEMers through other means.
Our project focuses on developing a novel approach by engineering exosomes to deliver essential proteins to cancer cells, stimulating calcium overloading and inducing cancer cell death. By introducing the hTRPC1 channels into cancer cells, we aim to generate calcium overload upon ultrasound stimulation. The ultrasound stimulation could precisely control cell death in tumors by opening the channels and leading to calcium ion influx. We utilized the exosomal transmembrane protein lamp2b, fused with our target proteins, to enhance the loading of MscS into the exosomes.
We used the supernatant of the successfully infected HEK293T cell to isolate the exosomes. And we confirm the production of exosomes by TEM. The halo-like structure is the exosomes, and the light dots shown on the background are salts.
We used DLS to provide valuable insights into the size distribution and polydispersity of exosomes.
We will use the exosomes containing hTRPC1 to investigate its function to the cancer cell death later.
Sequence and Features
- 10COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
- 12COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]
- 21INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]Illegal BglII site found at 655
Illegal BglII site found at 3099
Illegal BamHI site found at 649
Illegal BamHI site found at 850
Illegal BamHI site found at 1494
Illegal XhoI site found at 2789 - 23COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
- 25INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]Illegal NgoMIV site found at 73
- 1000COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]
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