Function-spacer-lipid construct
Function-spacer-lipid constructs (FSL constructs) are amphiphatic, water dispersible biosurface engineering constructs that can be used to engineer the surface of cells, viruses and organisms, or to modify solutions and non-biological surfaces with bioactives.[1][2][3] FSL constructs spontaneously and stably incorporate into cell membranes. FSL constructs with all these aforementioned features are also known as Kode™ Constructs.[1] The process of modifying surfaces with FSL constructs is known as "koding" and the resultant "koded" cells,[1] viruses and liposomes are respectively known as kodecytes,[1][4] kodevirions[1][5] and kodesomes.
Technology description
All living surfaces are decorated with a diverse range of complex molecules, which are key modulators of chemical communications and other functions such as protection, adhesion, infectivity, apoptosis, etc. Functional-Spacer-Lipid (FSL) constructs can be synthesized to mimic the bioactive components present on biological surfaces, and then re-present them in novel ways.[1][2]
The architecture of an FSL construct, as implicit in the name, consists of three components - a functional head group, a spacer, and a lipid tail.[3] This structure is analogous to a flowering plant in that they have three structural components, with each component having a separate purpose.[1][2] In the examples shown in all the figures a sunflower has been used for the analogy. However, it should be appreciated that this is merely a representation and the true structural similarity is significantly varied between flowers and FSL constructs (fig 2). The functional group of an FSL is equivalent to a flower head, with both being at the extremity and carrying the functional components. The spacer of the FSL is equivalent to the stalk of the flower and the leaves on the stalk are representative of substitutions which may be engineered into the chemical makeup of the spacer. The lipid of the FSL anchors it to lipid membranes and gives the FSL construct its amphiphatic nature which can cause it to self-assemble. Because the lipid tail can act directly as an anchor it is analogous to the root system of a plant.
Flexible design
The functional group, the spacer and the lipid tail components of the FSL construct can each be individually designed resulting in FSL constructs with specific biological functions.[2] The functional head group is usually the bioactive component of the construct and the various spacers and lipids influence and effect its presentation, orientation and location on a surface. Critical to the definition of an FSL construct is the requirement to be dispersible in water, and spontaneously and stably incorporate into cell membranes. Other lipid bioconjugates that include components similar to FSLs but do not have these features are not termed as Function-Spacer-Lipid constructs.[2]
Functional groups[3]
A large range of functional groups have already been made into FSL constructs. These include:
- Carbohydrates – ranging from monosaccharides to polysaccharides and including blood group antigens,[1][2][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] hyaluronic acid oligomers and sialic acid residues[2]
- Peptide/protein – ranging from single amino acids[8][13][14][15] to proteins as large as antibodies[1]
- Labels – including fluorophores,[1][2][5][9][10][16][17] radioisotopes,[1][5] biotin,[1][2][9][10] etc.
- Other – chemical moieties such as maleimide,[15][18] click residues, PEG, charged compounds
Note 1: Multimeric – the presentation of the F residue can be as multimers with controlled spacing and be variable.
Note 2: Mass – the mass that can be anchored by an FSL constructs can range from 200 to >1x106 Da
Spacers[3]
The spacer is an integral part of the FSL construct and gives it several important characteristics including water dispersibility.[2]
- Length – the spacer can be varied in length, for example 1.9 nm (Ad), 7.2 nm (CMG2), 11.5 nm (CMG4),[2] allowing for enhanced presentation of Functional groups at the biosurface.
- Optimizes F presentation – The presentation of the bioactive (functional group) on a spacer reduces steric hindrance and increases the bioactive surfaces exposed and available for interactions
- Rigidity – the spacer can be modified to be either flexible or rigid depending upon desired characteristics
- Substitutions(represented by the leaves on the stalk) – the spacer can be modified both in charge, and polarity.
- Branches – usually the spacer is linear, but it can also be branched including specific spacing of the branches to optimize presentation and interaction of the F group.
- Inert – important to the design of FSL constructs is the biologically inert nature of the spacer. Importantly this feature means the S-L components of the constructs are unreactive with undiluted serum. Consequently the constructs are compatible in vivo use, and can improve diagnostic assay sensitivity by allowing for the use of undiluted serum.
Lipids[3]
The lipid tail is essential for enabling lipid membrane insertion and retention but also for giving the construct amphiphilic characteristics that enable hydrophilic surface coating (due to formation of bilipid layers). Different membrane lipids that can be used to create FSLs have different membrane physiochemical characteristics and thus can affect biological function of the FSL. Lipids in FSL constructs include:[2]
- Diacyl/diakyl e.g. DOPE
- Sterols e.g. cholesterol
- Ceramides
Optimising functional group (F) presentation
One of the important functions of an FSL construct is that it can optimise the presentation of antigens, both on cell surfaces and solid-phase membranes. This optimisation is achieved primarily by the spacer, and secondarily by the lipid tail. In a typical immunoassay the antigen is deposited directly onto the microplate surface and binds to the surface either in a random fashion, or in a preferred orientation depending on the residues present on the surface of this antigen (Fig. 3). Usually this deposition process is uncontrolled. In contrast, the FSL construct when bound to a microplate presents the antigen away from the surface in an orientation with a high level of exposure to the environment. Furthermore typical immunoassays use recombinant peptides rather than discrete peptide antigens. As the recombinant peptide is many times bigger than the epitope of interest, a lot of undesired and unwanted peptide sequences are also represented on the microplate. These additional sequences may include unwanted microbially related sequences (as determined by a BLAST analysis) that can cause issues of low level cross-reactivity. Often the mechanism by which an immunoassay is able to overcome this low level activity is to dilute the serum so that the low level microbially reactive antibodies are not seen, and only high-level specific antibodies result in an interpretable result. In contrast, FSL constructs usually use specifically selected peptide fragments (up to 40 amino acids),[15][18] thereby overcoming cross-reactivity with microbial sequences, and allowing for the use of undiluted serum (which increases sensitivity).
The F component can be further enhanced by presentation of it in multimeric formats and with specific spacing. The four types of multimeric format include linear repeating units, linear repeating units with spacing, clusters, and branching (Fig. 4).
Mechanisms of interaction
Amphiphilic FSL construct
The FSL construct by nature of its composition in possessing both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions are amphiphilic (or amphipathic). This characteristic determines the way in which the construct will interact with surfaces. When present in a solution they may form simple micelles or adopt more complex bilayer structures with two simplistic examples shown in Fig. 5a. More complex structures are expected. The actual nature of FSL micelles has not been determined. However, based on normal structural function of micelles, it is expected that it will be determined in part by the combination of functional group, spacer and lipid together with temperature, concentration, size and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity for each FSL construct type.
Surface coatings will occur via two theoretical mechanisms, the first being direct hydrophobic interaction of the lipid tail with a hydrophobic surface resulting in a monolayer of FSL at the surface (Fig. 5b). Hydrophobic binding of the FSL will be via its hydrophobic lipid tail interacting directly with the hydrophobic (lipophilic) surface. The second surface coating will be through the formation of bilayers as the lipid tail is unable to react with the hydrophilic surface. In this case the lipids will induce the formation of a bilayer, the surface of which will be hydrophilic. This hydrophilic membrane will then interact directly with the hydrophilic surface and will probably encapsulate fibres. This hydrophilic bilayer binding is the expected mechanism by which FSLs are able to bind to fibrous membranes such as paper[19] and glass fibres (Fig. 5c) and (Fig. 9).
Lipid membrane modification
After labeling of the surface with the selected F bioactive(s) the constructs will be present and orientated at the membrane surface. It is expected that the FSL will be highly mobile within the membrane and the choice of lipid tail will effect is relative partitioning within the membrane.[2][7] The construct unless it has flip-flop behavior is expected to remain surface presented. However, the modification is not permanent in living cells and constructs will be lost (consumed) at a rate proportional to the activity at the membrane and division rate of the cell (with dead cells remaining highly labeled).[1] Additionally when present in vivo with serum lipids FSLs will elute from the membrane into the plasma at a rate of about 1% per hour.[5][10] In fixed cells or inactive cells (e.g. red cells) stored in serum free media the constructs are retained normally.[1]
Liposomes are easy koded by simply adding FSL constructs into the preparation. Contacting kodesomes with microplates or other surfaces can cause the labeling of the microplate surface.
Non-biologic surface interaction
Non-biologic surface coatings will occur via two mechanisms, the first being direct hydrophobic interaction of the lipid tail with a hydrophobic surface resulting in a monolayer of FSL at the surface. The second surface coating will be through the formation of bilayers, which probably either encapsulate fibres or being via the hydrophilic F group. This is the expected mechanism by which FSLs bind to fibrous membranes such as paper[19] and glass fibres. A recent study has found that when FSL constructs are optimised, could in a few seconds glycosylate almost any non-biological surface including metals, glass, plastics, rubbers, and other polymers.[20]
Technology features
The technological features of FSL constructs and the koding process can be summarized as follows:
- Rapid and simple – simple contact for 10–120 minutes and constructs spontaneously and stably incorporate – no washing required.[1]
- Replicable – same variables (time, temperature, concentration) equals the same result.[1][6]
- Toxicity – FSL constructs are biocompatible, disperse into biological solutions without solvents, detergents. They label non-covalently and are non-genetic. Normal vitality and functionality is maintained in modified cells/virions/organisms.[7][9][10][16] Toxicity/vitality experiments in small laboratory animals, zebrafish, cell cultures, spermatozoa and embryos find no toxic effects within physiological ranges.
- Amphiphilic – the amphiphilic nature of the FSL construct makes them water dispersible (clear solution of micelles), yet once interacted with a membrane they insert/coat and become water resistant
- Variable design – a single F can be presented in more than 100 ways by varying the spacer and lipid.
- High biovisibility – as the spacer holds the F moiety away for the membrane it is able to achieve increased sensitivity, specificity and reactivity can be optimized by use of multiple and variable biomarker presentations on the same surface.
- Additive – FSL modification is compatible with other technologies allowing users to add additional features to cells/viruses/organisms/surfaces already modified by more traditional methods. Multiple FSL constructs may be added to a surface simultaneously by simply creating a mix of FSL constructs. Constructs insert into living or fixed cell (glutaraldehyde) membranes.
- Simple FSL peptide synthesis – there is a reactive-functional-group FSL construct with maleimide as its functional group which can be used for preparation of FSLs from cysteine-containing peptides, proteins or any other thiols of biological interest.[15][18] The effective synthetic approach is based on the well-known Michael nucleophilic addition to maleimides (Fig. 7).
- Synthetic "Gylcolipids" – one family of the FSL constructs are synthetic glycolipids with well-defined hydrophobic tails and carbohydrate head groups
Koded membranes surfaces and solutions
FSL constructs have a wide range of uses and they have been used to modify the following:
- Cells – blood cells,[1][2][4][6][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][17][19][21] culture lines,[1] embryos,[1] spermatozoa[1]
- Viruses[5] – influenza,[2] measles, varicella
- Organisms – parasites, microbes, zebrafish[16]
- Liposomes – also micelles, lipid particles[9]
- Surfaces/fibres – hydrophobic or hydrophilic membranes/fibres, paper,[19] nitrocellulose, cotton, silk, glass, Teflon, silica, magnetic beads (microspheres)[22] etc.
- Solutions – saline, plasma/serum, culture media
Methodology for FSL use (koding)
FSL constructs, when in solution (saline) and in contact, will spontaneously incorporate into cell and virus membranes.[1] The methodology involves simply preparing a solution of FSL construct(s) in the range of 1–1000 µg/mL. The actual concentration will depend on the construct and the quantity of construct required in the membrane. One part of FSL solution is added to one part of cells (up to 100% suspension) and they are incubated at a set temperature within the range of 4–37°C (39–99°F) depending on temperature compatibility of the cells being modified. The higher the temperature, the faster the rate of FSL insertion into the membrane. For red blood cells, at 37°C incubation for 2 hours achieves >95% insertion with at least 50% insertion being achieved within 20 minutes. In general, FSL insertion time of 4 hours at room temperature or 20 hours at 4°C gives results similar to 1 hour at 37°C for carbohydrate based FSLs inserting into red blood cells.[1] The resultant kodecytes or kodevirions do not required to be washed, however this option should be considered if an excess of FSL construct is used in the koding process.
Applications
FSL constructs have be used for research and development, diagnostic products, and are currently being investigated as potential therapeutic agents.
Kodecytes
Main article: Kodecyte Applications
FSL have been used to create human red cell kodecytes that have been used to detect and identify blood group allo-antibodies[13][14][15] as ABO sub-group mimics,[11] ABO quality control systems,[4] serologic teaching kits[12] and a syphilis diagnostic.[21] Kodecytes have also demonstrated that FSL-FLRO4 is a suitable reagent for labelling packed red blood cells (PRBC) at any point during routine storage and look to facilitate the development of immunoassays and transfusion models focused on addressing the mechanisms involved in tansfusion-related immunomodulation (TRIM).[17] Murine kodecytes have been experimentally used to determine in vivo cell survival,[10] and create model transfusion reactions.[9][10] Zebrafish kodecytes have been used to determine real time in vivo cell migration.[16] Kodecytes have been used to create influenza diagnostics.[2] Kodecytes which have been modified with FSL-GB3 were unable to be infected with the HIV virus.[7][23]
Kodevirions
Main article: Kodevirion Applications
Kodevirions are FSL modified viruses. Several FSL constructs have been used to label viruses to assist in their flow-cytometric visualisation[5] and to track them real time distribution in animal models.[5] They have also been used to modify the surface of viruses with the intention of targeting them to be used to attach tumors (oncolytic).[5]
Kodesomes
Kodesomes are liposomes that have been decorated with FSL constructs. These have been used to deposit FSL constructs onto microplates to create diagnostic assays. They also have the potential for therapeutic use.[24]
Koded solutions
These are solutions containing FSL constructs where the construct will exist as a clear micellular dispersion. FSL-GB3 as a solution/gel has been used to inhibit HIV infection[7] and to neutralise Shiga toxin.[7] FSL blood group A as a solution has been used to neutralise circulating antibodies in a mouse model and allow incompatible blood group A (murine kodecytes) transfusion.[9] This model experiment was used to demonstrate the potential of FSLs to neutralise circulating antibody and allow for incompatible blood transfusion or organ transplantation.[19]
Koded surfaces
All FSL constructs disperse in water and are therefore compatible with inkjet printers. FSL constructs can be printed with a standard desktop inkjet printer directly onto paper to create immunoassays.[19] An empty ink cartridge is filled with an FSL construct and words, barcodes, or graphics are printed. A Perspex template is adhered to the surface to create reaction wells. The method is then a standard EIA procedure, but blocking of serum is not required and undiluted serum can be used. A typical procedure is as follows: add serum, incubate, wash by immersion, add secondary EIA conjugate, incubate, wash, add NBT/BCIP precipitating substrate and stop the reaction when developed by washing (Fig. 9). The end result is stable for years.
See also
External links
- FSL Constructs: A Simple Method for Modifying Cell/Virion Surfaces with a Range of Biological Markers Without Affecting their Viability – Journal of Visualised Experiments (JOVE) free video article
- kodecyte.com - the academic resource for Kode™ Technology
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Blake, Debbie A; Bovin, Nicolai V; Bess, Dan; Henry, Stephen M (2011). "FSL Constructs: A Simple Method for Modifying Cell/Virion Surfaces with a Range of Biological Markers Without Affecting their Viability". J Visualized Experiments 54 (e3289). doi:10.3791/3289.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Korchagina, Elena; Tuzikov, Alexander; Formanovsky, Andrey; Popova, Inna; Henry, Stephen; Bovin, Nicolai (2012). "Toward creating cell membrane glycolandscapes with glycan lipid constructs". Carbohydrate Research 356: 238–46. doi:10.1016/j.carres.2012.03.044. PMID 22551471.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Korchagina, E. Y.; Henry, S. M. (2015-07-16). "Synthetic glycolipid-like constructs as tools for glycobiology research, diagnostics, and as potential therapeutics". Biochemistry (Moscow) 80 (7): 857–871. doi:10.1134/S0006297915070068. ISSN 0006-2979.
- 1 2 3 Henry, Stephen M (2009). "Modification of red blood cells for laboratory quality control use". Current Opinion in Hematology 16 (6): 467–472. doi:10.1097/MOH.0b013e328331257e. PMID 19680123.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hadac, Elizabeth M; Federspiel, Mark J; Cherneyy, Evgeny; Tuzikov, Alexander; Korchagina, Elena; Bovin, Nicolai V; Russel, Stephen; Henry, Stephen M (2011). "Fluorescein and radiolabeled Function-Spacer-Lipid constructs allow for simple in vitro and in vivo bioimaging of enveloped virions". J Virilogical Methods 176 (1–2): 78–84. doi:10.1016/j.jviromet.2011.06.005.
- 1 2 3 Frame, Tom; Carroll, Tim; Korchagina, Elena; Bovin, Nicolai; Henry, Stephen (2007). "Synthetic glycolipid modification of red blood cell membranes". Transfusion 47 (5): 876–882. doi:10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01204.x. PMID 17465953.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Harrison, Amanda L; Olsson, Martin L; Brad Jones, R; Ramkumar, Stephanie; Sakac, Darinka; Binnington, Beth; Henry, Stephen; Lingwood, Clifford A; Branch, Donald R (2010). "A synthetic globotriaosylceramide analogue inhibits HIV-1 infection in vitro by two mechanisms". Glycobiology 27 (5): 515–524. doi:10.1007/s10719-010-9297-y.
- 1 2 3 Georgakopoulos, T; Komarraju, Sarvani; Henry, Stephen; Bertolini, Joseph (2011). "An improved Fc function assay utilising CMV antigen coated red blood cells generated with synthetic Function-Spacer-Lipid constructs". Vox Sanguinis 102 (1): 72–78. doi:10.1111/j.1423-0410.2011.01512.x. PMID 21749406.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Oliver, Caroline; Blake, Debbie; Henry, Stephen (2011). "In vivo neutralization of anti-A and successful transfusion of A antigen incompatible red cells in an animal model". Transfusion 51 (12): 2664–2675. doi:10.1111/j.1537-2995.2011.03184.x. PMID 21599675.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Oliver, Caroline; Blake, Debbie; Henry, Stephen (2011). "Modeling transfusion reactions and predicting in vivo cell survival with kodecytes". Transfusion 51 (8): 1723–1730. doi:10.1111/j.1537-2995.2010.03034.x. PMID 21303367.
- 1 2 3 Hult, Annika K; Frame, Tim; Chesla, Scott; Henry, Stephen; Olsson, Martin L (2012). "Flow cytometry evaluation of red blood cells mimicking naturally-occurring ABO subgroups following modification with variable amounts of FSL-A and B constructs". Transfusion 52 (2): 247–251. doi:10.1111/j.1537-2995.2011.03268.x. PMID 21812783.
- 1 2 3 Henry, Stephen; Perry, Holly (2012). FSL-A+B(tri) Serologic Teaching Kit Technical Bulletin. Scholarly Commons.
- 1 2 3 Heathcote, Damien; Carrol, Tim; Wang, Jui-Jen; Flower, Robert; Rodionov, Igor; Tuzikov, Alexander; Bovin, Nicolai; Henry, Stephen (2010). "Novel antibody screening cells, MUT+Mur kodecytes, created by attaching peptides onto erythrocytes". Transfusion 50 (3): 635–641. doi:10.1111/j.1537-2995.2009.02480.x. PMID 19912581.
- 1 2 3 Nadarajan, V.S.; Laing, A. A.; Saad, S. M.; Usin, M (2011). "Prevalence and specificity of red-blood-cell antibodies in a multiethnic South and East Asian patient population and influence of using novel MUT+Mur+ kodecytes on its detection". Vox Sanguinis 102 (1): 65–71. doi:10.1111/j.1423-0410.2011.01507.x. PMID 21592136.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Henry, Stephen; Komarraju, Sarvani; Heathcote, Damien; Rodinov, Igor L (2011). "Designing peptide-based FSL constructs to create Miltenberger kodecytes". ISBT Science Series 6 (2): 306–312. doi:10.1111/j.1751-2824.2011.01505.x.
- 1 2 3 4 Lan, C-C; Blake, D; Henry, S; Love, D R (2012). "Fluorescent Function-Spacer-Lipid construct labelling allows for real-time in vivo imaging of cell migration and behaviour in zebrafish (Danio rerio)". Journal of Fluorescence 22 (4): 1055–63. doi:10.1007/s10895-012-1043-3. PMID 22434405.
- 1 2 3 Ki, Katrina K.; Flower, Robert L.; Faddy, Helen M.; Dean, Melinda M. (Jan 7, 2016). "Incorporation of fluorescein conjugated function-spacer-lipid constructs into the red blood cell membrane facilitates detection of labeled cells for the duration of ex-vivo storage". Journal of Immunological Methods. doi:10.1016/j.jim.2016.01.003.
- 1 2 3 Henry, Stephen; Rodionov, Igor (2012). "FSL-RFG(Maleimide) FSL Construction Kit Technical Bulletin". Scholarly Commons.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Henry, Stephen; Barr, Katie; Oliver, Caroline (2012). "Modeling transfusion reactions with kodecytes and enabling ABO incompatible transfusion with Function-Spacer-Lipid constructs" 7 (1). ISBT Science Series: 106–111. doi:10.1111/j.1751-2824.2012.01563.x.
- ↑ Williams, Eleanor; Barr, Katie; Korchagina, Elena; Tuzikov, Alexander; Henry, Stephen; Bovin, Nicolai (2016-01-16). "Ultra-Fast Glyco-Coating of Non-Biological Surfaces". International Journal of Molecular Sciences 17 (1): 118. doi:10.3390/ijms17010118.
- 1 2 Chesla, S; Henry, S; Eatz, R; Sinor, L (2010). "Solid phase syphilis test utilizing KODE™ technology". Transfusion 50: 196A–197A. doi:10.1111/j.1537-2995.2010.02833_1.x.
- ↑ "Rapid biofunctionalization of magnetic beads with function-spacer-lipid constructs". sepmag.eu. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
- ↑ Branch, D R; Harrison, A; Sakac, D; Lingwood, C; Henry, S (2008). "A synthetic, water dispersible glycolipid analogue of the Pk blood group antigen completely blocks HIV-1 infection". Transfusion 48 (2S): 104A. doi:10.1111/j.1537-2995.2008.01891.x.
- ↑ Harrison, A L; Henry, S; Mahfoud, R; Manis, A; Albertini, A; Gaudin, Y; Lingwood, C A; Branch, D R (2010). "A novel VSV/HIV pseudotype approach for the study of HIV microbicides without requirement for level 3 biocontainment". Future Virology 6 (10): 1241–1259. doi:10.2217/fvl.11.88.