Human heart-forming organoids recapitulate early heart and foregut development.

Organoid models of early tissue development have been produced for the intestine, brain, kidney and other organs, but similar approaches for the heart have been lacking. Here we generate complex, highly structured, three-dimensional heart-forming organoids (HFOs) by embedding human pluripotent stem cell aggregates in Matrigel followed by directed cardiac differentiation via biphasic WNT pathway modulation with small molecules. HFOs are composed of a myocardial layer lined by endocardial-like cells and surrounded by septum-transversum-like anlagen; they further contain spatially and molecularly distinct anterior versus posterior foregut endoderm tissues and a vascular network. The architecture of HFOs closely resembles aspects of early native heart anlagen before heart tube formation, which is known to require an interplay with foregut endoderm development. We apply HFOs to study genetic defects in vitro by demonstrating that NKX2.5-knockout HFOs show a phenotype reminiscent of cardiac malformations previously observed in transgenic mice.

Advanced Single-Cell Mapping Reveals that in hESC Cardiomyocytes Contraction Kinetics and Action Potential Are Independent of Myosin Isoform.

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) represent an attractive model to investigate CM function and disease mechanisms. One characteristic marker of ventricular specificity of human CMs is expression of the ventricular, slow ß-myosin heavy chain (MyHC), as opposed to the atrial, fast α-MyHC. The main aim of this study was to investigate at the single-cell level whether contraction kinetics and electrical activity of hESC-CMs are influenced by the relative expression of α-MyHC versus ß-MyHC. For effective assignment of functional parameters to the expression of both MyHC isoforms at protein and mRNA levels in the very same hESC-CMs, we developed a single-cell mapping technique. Surprisingly, α- versus ß-MyHC was not related to specific contractile or electrophysiological properties of the same cells. The multiparametric cell-by-cell analysis suggests that in hESC-CMs the expression of genes associated with electrical activity, contraction, calcium handling, and MyHCs is independently regulated.

DHHC7-mediated palmitoylation of the accessory protein barttin critically regulates the functions of ClC-K chloride channels.

Barttin is the accessory subunit of the human ClC-K chloride channels, which are expressed in both the kidney and inner ear. Barttin promotes trafficking of the complex it forms with ClC-K to the plasma membrane and is involved in activating this channel. Barttin undergoes post-translational palmitoylation that is essential for its functions, but the enzyme(s) catalyzing this post-translational modification is unknown. Here, we identified zinc finger DHHC-type containing 7 (DHHC7) protein as an important barttin palmitoyl acyltransferase, whose depletion affected barttin palmitoylation and ClC-K-barttin channel activation. We investigated the functional role of barttin palmitoylation in vivo in Zdhhc7-/- mice. Although palmitoylation of barttin in kidneys of Zdhhc7-/- animals was significantly decreased, it did not pathologically alter kidney structure and functions under physiological conditions. However, when Zdhhc7-/- mice were fed a low-salt diet, they developed hyponatremia and mild metabolic alkalosis, symptoms characteristic of human Bartter syndrome (BS) type IV. Of note, we also observed decreased palmitoylation of the disease-causing R8L barttin variant associated with human BS type IV. Our results indicate that dysregulated DHHC7-mediated barttin palmitoylation appears to play an important role in chloride channel dysfunction in certain BS variants, suggesting that targeting DHHC7 activity may offer a potential therapeutic strategy for reducing hypertension.

Comparing human iPSC-cardiomyocytes versus HEK293T cells unveils disease-causing effects of Brugada mutation A735V of NaV1.5 sodium channels.

Loss-of-function mutations of the SCN5A gene encoding for the sodium channel α-subunit NaV1.5 result in the autosomal dominant hereditary disease Brugada Syndrome (BrS) with a high risk of sudden cardiac death in the adult. We here engineered human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) carrying the CRISPR/Cas9 introduced BrS-mutation p.A735V-NaV1.5 (g.2204C > T in exon 14 of SCN5A) as a novel model independent of patient´s genetic background. Recent studies raised concern regarding the use of hiPSC-CMs for studying adult-onset hereditary diseases due to cells' immature phenotype. To tackle this concern, long-term cultivation of hiPSC-CMs on a stiff matrix (27-42 days) was applied to promote maturation. Patch clamp recordings of A735V mutated hiPSC-CMs revealed a substantially reduced upstroke velocity and sodium current density, a prominent rightward shift of the steady state activation curve and decelerated recovery from inactivation as compared to isogenic hiPSC-CMs controls. These observations were substantiated by a comparative study on mutant A735V-NaV1.5 channels heterologously expressed in HEK293T cells. In contrast to mutated hiPSC-CMs, a leftward shift of sodium channel inactivation was not observed in HEK293T, emphasizing the importance of investigating mechanisms of BrS in independent systems. Overall, our approach supports hiPSC-CMs' relevance for investigating channelopathies in a dish.

The Binary Toxin CDT of Clostridium difficile as a Tool for Intracellular Delivery of Bacterial Glucosyltransferase Domains.

Binary toxins are produced by several pathogenic bacteria. Examples are the C2 toxin from Clostridium botulinum, the iota toxin from Clostridium perfringens, and the CDT from Clostridium difficile. All these binary toxins have ADP-ribosyltransferases (ADPRT) as their enzymatically active component that modify monomeric actin in their target cells. The binary C2 toxin was intensively described as a tool for intracellular delivery of allogenic ADPRTs. Here, we firstly describe the binary toxin CDT from C. difficile as an effective tool for heterologous intracellular delivery. Even 60 kDa glucosyltransferase domains of large clostridial glucosyltransferases can be delivered into cells. The glucosyltransferase domains of five tested large clostridial glucosyltransferases were successfully introduced into cells as chimeric fusions to the CDTa adapter domain (CDTaN). Cell uptake was demonstrated by the analysis of cell morphology, cytoskeleton staining, and intracellular substrate glucosylation. The fusion toxins were functional only when the adapter domain of CDTa was N-terminally located, according to its native orientation. Thus, like other binary toxins, the CDTaN/b system can be used for standardized delivery systems not only for bacterial ADPRTs but also for a variety of bacterial glucosyltransferase domains.

Activation of renal ClC-K chloride channels depends on an intact N terminus of their accessory subunit barttin.

ClC-K channels belong to the CLC family of chloride channels and chloride/proton antiporters. They contribute to sodium chloride reabsorption in Henle's loop of the kidney and to potassium secretion into the endolymph by the stria vascularis of the inner ear. Their accessory subunit barttin stabilizes the ClC-K/barttin complex, promotes its insertion into the surface membrane, and turns the pore-forming subunits into a conductive state. Barttin mutations cause Bartter syndrome type IV, a salt-wasting nephropathy with sensorineural deafness. Here, studying ClC-K/barttin channels heterologously expressed in MDCK-II and HEK293T cells with confocal imaging and patch-clamp recordings, we demonstrate that the eight-amino-acids-long barttin N terminus is required for channel trafficking and activation. Deletion of the complete N terminus (Δ2-8 barttin) retained barttin and human hClC-Ka channels in intracellular compartments. Partial N-terminal deletions did not compromise subcellular hClC-Ka trafficking but drastically reduced current amplitudes. Sequence deletions encompassing Thr-6, Phe-7, or Arg-8 in barttin completely failed to activate hClC-Ka. Analyses of protein expression and whole-cell current noise revealed that inactive channels reside in the plasma membrane. Substituting the deleted N terminus with a polyalanine sequence was insufficient for recovering chloride currents, and single amino acid substitutions highlighted that the correct sequence is required for proper function. Fast and slow gate activation curves obtained from rat V166E rClC-K1/barttin channels indicated that mutant barttin fails to constitutively open the slow gate. Increasing expression of barttin over that of ClC-K partially recovered this insufficiency, indicating that N-terminal modifications of barttin alter both binding affinities and gating properties.

Light-emitting quantum dot transistors: emission at high charge carrier densities.

For the application of colloidal semiconductor quantum dots in optoelectronic devices, for example, solar cells and light-emitting diodes, it is crucial to understand and control their charge transport and recombination dynamics at high carrier densities. Both can be studied in ambipolar, light-emitting field-effect transistors (LEFETs). Here, we report the first quantum dot light-emitting transistor. Electrolyte-gated PbS quantum dot LEFETs exhibit near-infrared electroluminescence from a confined region within the channel, which proves true ambipolar transport in ligand-exchanged quantum dot solids. Unexpectedly, the external quantum efficiencies improve significantly with current density. This effect correlates with the unusual increase of photoluminescence quantum yield and longer average lifetimes at higher electron and hole concentrations in PbS quantum dot thin films. We attribute the initially low emission efficiencies to nonradiative losses through trap states. At higher carrier densities, these trap states are deactivated and emission is dominated by trions.

Ambipolar, low-voltage and low-hysteresis PbSe nanowire field-effect transistors by electrolyte gating.

Semiconductor nanowire field-effect transistors (FETs) are interesting for fundamental studies of charge transport as well as possible applications in electronics. Here, we report low-voltage, low-hysteresis and ambipolar PbSe nanowire FETs using electrolyte-gating with ionic liquids and ion gels. We obtain balanced hole and electron mobilities at gate voltages below 1 V. Due to the large effective capacitance of the ionic liquids and thus high charge carrier densities electrolyte-gated nanowire FETs are much less affected by external doping and traps than nanowire FETs with traditional dielectrics such as SiO2. The observed current-voltage characteristics and on/off ratios indicate almost completely transparent Schottky barriers and efficient ambipolar charge injection into a low band gap one-dimensional semiconductor. Finally, we explore the possibility of applying these ambipolar nanowire FETs in complementary inverters for printed electronics.

High-mobility ZnO nanorod field-effect transistors by self-alignment and electrolyte-gating.

High mobility, solution-processed field-effect transistors are important building blocks for flexible electronics. Here we demonstrate the alignment of semiconducting, colloidal ZnO nanorods by a simple solvent evaporation technique and achieve high electron mobilities in field-effect transistors at low operating voltages by electrolyte-gating with ionic liquids. The degree of alignment varies with nanorod length, concentration and solvent evaporation rate. We find a strong dependence of electron mobility on the degree of alignment but less on the length of the nanorods. Maximum field-effect mobilities reach up to 9 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) for optimal alignment. Because of the low process temperature (150 °C), ZnO nanorod thin films are suitable for application on flexible polymer substrates.