A Luminescence-Based System for Identification of Genetically Encodable Inhibitors of Protein Aggregation.

Molecules that disrupt protein aggregation represent potential tool compounds for the investigation of numerous human disease states. However, the identification of small molecules capable of disrupting protein aggregation has proven challenging. Larger biomolecules such as antibodies and proteins are promising alternatives due to their increased size. Despite the promise of protein-based inhibitors, generalizable assays are needed to more readily identify proteins capable of inhibiting aggregation. Herein, we utilize our previously reported self-assembling NanoLuc luciferase fragments to engineer a platform in which both detection reagents are expressed from the same plasmid, enabling facile co-transformation with a genetically encodable inhibitor. This streamlined system is capable of detecting changes in the solubility of amylin, huntingtin, and amyloid-ß (Aß) proteins in response to mutations, small-molecule inhibitors, and expression of genetically encodable inhibitors. This improved platform provides a means to begin to identify protein-based inhibitors with improved efficacy.

A luminescence-based assay for monitoring changes in alpha-synuclein aggregation in living cells.

Parkinson's disease is characterized by the accumulation of protein aggregates in the brain, termed Lewy bodies. Lewy bodies are predominantly composed of α-synuclein and mutations that increase the aggregation potential of α-synuclein have been associated with early on-set disease. Assays capable of reporting on the solubility of α-synuclein in living cells could provide a means to interrogate the influence of mutations on aggregation as well as identify small molecules capable of modulating the aggregation of α-synuclein. Herein, we repurpose our previously reported self-assembling NanoLuc luciferase fragments to engineer a platform for detecting α-synuclein solubility in living cells. This new assay is capable of reporting on changes in α-synuclein solubility caused by disease-relevant mutations as well as inhibitors of aggregation. In the long term, this new assay platform provides a means to investigate the influence of mutations on α-synuclein solubility as well as identify potential tool compounds capable of modulating α-synuclein aggregation.

Utilizing split-NanoLuc luciferase fragments as luminescent probes for protein solubility in living cells.

Protein misfolding and aggregation is now recognized as a hallmark of numerous human diseases. Standard bioanalytical techniques for monitoring protein aggregation generally rely on small molecules that provide an optical readout of fibril formation. While these methods have been useful for mechanistic studies, additional approaches are required to probe the equilibrium between soluble and insoluble protein within living systems. Such approaches could provide platforms for the identification of inhibitors of protein aggregation as well as a means to investigate the effect of mutations on protein aggregation in model systems. In this chapter, we provide detailed protocols for employing split-NanoLuc luciferase (Nluc) fragments to monitor changes in protein solubility in bacterial and mammalian cells. This sensitive luminesce-based assay can report upon changes in protein solubility induced by inhibitors and disease-relevant mutations.

Self-Assembling NanoLuc Luciferase Fragments as Probes for Protein Aggregation in Living Cells.

Given the clear role of protein aggregation in human disease, there is a critical need for assays capable of quantifying protein aggregation in living systems. We hypothesized that the inherently low background and biocompatibility of luminescence signal readouts could provide a potential solution to this problem. Herein, we describe a set of self-assembling NanoLuc luciferase (Nluc) fragments that produce a tunable luminescence readout that is dependent upon the solubility of a target protein fused to the N-terminal Nluc fragment. To demonstrate this approach, we employed this assay in bacteria to assess mutations known to disrupt amyloid-beta (Aß) aggregation as well as disease-relevant mutations associated with familial Alzheimer's diseases. The luminescence signal from these experiments correlates with the reported aggregation potential of these Aß mutants and reinforces the increased aggregation potential of disease-relevant mutations in Aß1-42. To further demonstrate the utility of this approach, we show that the effect of small molecule inhibitors on Aß aggregation can be monitored using this system. In addition, we demonstrate that aggregation assays can be ported into mammalian cells. Taken together, these results indicate that this platform could be used to rapidly screen for mutations that influence protein aggregation as well as inhibitors of protein aggregation. This method offers a novel, genetically encodable luminescence readout of protein aggregation in living cells.