Optical Control of a Neuronal Protein Using a Genetically Encoded Unnatural Amino Acid in Neurons

Summary

Here, a procedure to selectively activate a neuronal protein with a short pulse of light by genetically encoding a photo-reactive unnatural amino acid into a target neuronal protein expressed in neurons in culture or in vivo is presented.

Abstract

Photostimulation is a noninvasive way to control biological events with excellent spatial and temporal resolution. New methods are desired to photo-regulate endogenous proteins expressed in their native environment. Here, we present an approach to optically control the function of a neuronal protein directly in neurons using a genetically encoded unnatural amino acid (Uaa). By using an orthogonal tRNA/aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pair to suppress the amber codon, a photo-reactive Uaa 4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl-cysteine (Cmn) is site-specifically incorporated in the pore of a neuronal protein Kir2.1, an inwardly rectifying potassium channel. The bulky Cmn physically blocks the channel pore, rendering Kir2.1 non-conducting. Light illumination instantaneously converts Cmn into a smaller natural amino acid Cys, activating Kir2.1 channel function. We express these photo-inducible inwardly rectifying potassium (PIRK) channels in rat hippocampal primary neurons, and demonstrate that light-activation of PIRK ceases the neuronal firing due to the outflux of K⁺ current through the activated Kir2.1 channels. Using in utero electroporation, we also express PIRK in the embryonic mouse neocortex in vivo, showing the light-activation of PIRK in neocortical neurons. Genetically encoding Uaa imposes no restrictions on target protein type or cellular location, and a family of photoreactive Uaas is available for modulating different natural amino acid residues. This technique thus has the potential to be generally applied to many neuronal proteins to achieve optical regulation of different processes in brains. The current protocol presents an accessible procedure for intricate Uaa incorporation in neurons in vitro and in vivo to achieve photo control of neuronal protein activity on the molecular level.

Introduction

Compared to conventional electric stimulation, photostimulation offers greater temporal and spatial resolution with minimum interference to the physiological system of specimens. Since the demonstration of using lasers to stimulate neurons in 1971¹, many creative ways have been invented to exogenously control neuronal activity with light. Optical release of photocaged agonists has long been used to study physiological response of the neuronal network to ligands^2,3,4. This technique has limited specificity due to diffusion of caged agonists. Genetic specificity is achieved by ectopically expressing light-sensitive opsin channels and pumps^5,6,....

Protocol

All procedures in the current study were performed using Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approved protocols for animal handling at The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA.

1. Uaa Incorporation in Kir2.1 and Expression of the Resultant PIRK in the Primary Neuronal Culture

1. DNA Construction
   1. Select a target site of Kir2.1 for Uaa incorporation. Exploit prior knowledge and information about structure and function of Kir2.1, so that the chosen site with the photoresponsive Uaa incorporated enables optical modulation of Kir2.1 function²¹.
   2. Construct a recombinant DNA ....

Results

To genetically incorporate a Uaa into a protein in neurons, the first important step is to design appropriate gene constructs to deliver and express genes efficiently in neurons. There are three genetic components for Uaa incorporation: (1) the target gene with the TAG amber stop codon introduced at the chosen site for Uaa incorporation (2) an orthogonal tRNA to recognize the mutated TAG stop codon, and (3) an orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase to charge the Uaa onto the orthogonal tRNA.......

Discussion

To achieve effective photo-modulation, the important initial step is to decide where to incorporate the photoresponsive Uaa in the target protein. Structural and functional information of the target protein is very helpful to guide the selection of candidate sites. At the same time, the purpose of light regulation would determine which site is most suitable. After choosing candidate sites, we recommend to test the sites in mammalian cell lines such as the Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) cells for easier culture and manipula.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Cover Glasses, Circles, 12 mm, Thickness 0.13-0.17 mm	Carolina Biologicals	633029
Corning BioCoat Poly-D-Lysine	Corning Discovery Labware	354210
D-(+)-Glucose solution	Sigma-Aldrich	G8769
Iris Spatula-curved	Fine Science Tool	10092-12
Dissecting Knife - Fine Angled Tip	Fine Science Tool	10056-12
GlutaMAX-I Supplement	Life Technologies	35050-061
MITO+ Serum Extender	BD Biosciences	355006
Falcon 40 µm Cell Strainer	Corning Life Sciences	352340
BES (N,N-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, N,N-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)taurine)	Sigma-Aldrich	B6420
LED LIGHT SOURCE – Black LED 385	Prizmatix Ltd.
Agarose, Low Melting Point, Analytical Grade	Promega	V2111