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Published on: July 30, 2018
Visualizing Dynamics of Cell Signaling In Vivo with a Phase Separation-Based Kinase Reporter
Qiang Zhang1, Hai Huang2, Luqing Zhang2
1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Abstract:
Visualizing dynamics of kinase activity in living animals is essential for mechanistic understanding of cell and developmental biology. We describe GFP-based kinase reporters that phase-separate upon kinase activation via multivalent protein-protein interactions, forming intensively fluorescent droplets. Called SPARK (separation of phases-based activity reporter of kinase), these reporters have large dynamic range (fluorescence change), high brightness, fast kinetics, and are reversible. The SPARK-based protein kinase A (PKA) reporter reveals oscillatory dynamics of PKA activities upon G protein-coupled receptor activation. The SPARK-based extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) reporter unveils transient dynamics of ERK activity during tracheal metamorphosis in live Drosophila. Because of intensive brightness and simple signal pattern, SPARKs allow easy examination of kinase signaling in living animals in a qualitative way. The modular design of SPARK will facilitate development of reporters of other kinases.
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