Biology subjects

Watrinet, I.

Publications and source records attributed to Watrinet, I..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Key determinants of VDAC-hexokinase I complex assembly revealed by a minimal vesicle-based interaction assay

Binding of hexokinase HKI to mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channels (VDACs) regulates the metabolic fate of glucose and promotes cell survival in hyperglycolytic tumors. Computer simulations indicated that complex assembly relies on intimate contacts between the N-terminal -helix of HKI and a charged bilayer-facing glutamate on the outer wall of VDACs. Protonation of this residue blocks complex formation in silico, explaining the release of HKI from mitochondria observed upon cytosolic acidification. To validate these findings, we here developed an in vitro assay for interrogating HKI binding to VDAC1 reconstituted in vesicles captured on a functionalized surface. TIRF-based quantitative interaction studies with a fluorescent peptide comprising the N-terminal -helix of HKI revealed a crucial role of the bilayer-facing glutamate in complex assembly and recapitulated an exquisite sensitivity of HKI-VDAC binding to fluctuations in pH. Our assay opens up important opportunities to investigate the impact of membrane environment on HKI-VDAC complex assembly and may benefit the development of therapeutics that target pathogenic imbalances in this process.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2024

Long-term single molecule localization microscopy uncovers dynamic co-assembly of Lrp6 and Ror2 into Wnt-signalosomes

The conserved Wnt signaling has been classified as two categories of canonical and noncanonical Wnt signaling. With a high promiscuity of Wnt signaling, how receptors from the two distinct pathways re-arrange in multi-protein signalosomes remains elusive. We here developed single-molecule tracking and localization microscopy based on labeling with reversibly binding nanobodies (rbTALM) for imaging receptor dynamics in the plasma membrane for extended time periods. To this end, we engineered nanobody-tag pairs with fine-tuned binding stabilities ensuring single-molecule tracking with high fidelity, yet continuous exchange of photobleached labels. Multicolor rbTALM imaging enabled simultaneous tracking and super-resolution imaging of three different Wnt co-receptors in the same cell for more than one hour at video rate. Time-lapse correlation analyses uncovered cooperative association of canonical and noncanonical Wnt co-receptors into a common, hybrid Wnt signalosome, demonstrating the exciting possibilities of rbTALM imaging for exploring nanoscale dynamics across millisecond to hour timescales.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2022

Live cell nanodot arrays uncover synergistic co-condensation of Wnt signalodroplets

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of transient signaling platforms in the plasma membrane has remained a key experimental challenge. Here, we have developed biofunctional nanodot arrays (bNDAs) to spatially control dimerization and clustering of cell surface receptors at nanoscale. High-contrast bNDAs with spot diameters of [~]300 nm were obtained by capillary nanostamping of BSA bioconjugates, which were subsequently biofunctionalized by reaction with tandem anti- GFP clamp fusions. We achieved spatially controlled assembly of active Wnt signalosomes at the nanoscale in the plasma membrane of live cells by capturing the co-receptor Lrp6 into bNDAs via an extracellular GFP tag. Strikingly, we observed co-recruitment of co-receptor Frizzled-8 as well as the cytosolic scaffold proteins Axin-1 and Disheveled-2 into Lrp6 nanodots in the absence of ligand. Density variation and the high dynamics of effector proteins uncover highly cooperative liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS)-driven assembly of Wnt "signalodroplets" at the plasma membrane, pinpointing the synergistic effects of LLPS for Wnt signaling amplification. These insights highlight the potential of bNDAs for systematically interrogating nanoscale signaling platforms and condensation at the plasma membrane of live cells.

biophysics↗