@article {70052, title = {Aurora 2.0: A Fluorogenic Dye Library for Expanding the Capability of Protein-Adaptive Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (paDSF).}, journal = {SLAS Discov}, year = {2025}, month = {2025 Aug 8}, pages = {100259}, abstract = {

Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF) is a biophysical assay that is used to estimate protein stability in vitro. In a DSF experiment, the increased fluorescence of a solvatochromatic dye, such as Sypro Orange, is used to detect the unfolding of a protein during heating. However, Sypro Orange is only compatible with a minority of proteins (\< 30\%), limiting the scope of this method. We recently reported that protein-adaptive DSF (paDSF) can partially solve this problem, wherein the protein is initially pre-screened against \~{}300 chemically diverse dyes, termed the Aurora collection. While this approach significantly improves the number of targets amenable to DSF, it still fails to produce protein-dye pairs for some proteins. Here, we report the expansion of the dye collection to Aurora 2.0, which includes a total of 517 structurally diverse molecules and multiple new chemotypes. To assess performance, these dyes were screened against a panel of \~{}100 proteins, which were selected, in part, to represent the most challenging targets (e.g. small size). From this effort, Aurora 2.0 achieved an impressive success rate of 94\%, including producing dyes for some targets that were not matched in the original collection. These findings support the idea that larger, more chemically diverse libraries improve the likelihood of detecting melting transitions across a wider range of proteins. We propose that Aurora 2.0 makes paDSF an increasingly powerful method for studying protein stability, ligand binding and other biophysical properties in high throughput.

}, issn = {2472-5560}, doi = {10.1016/j.slasd.2025.100259}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.slasd.2025.100259}, author = {Charvat, Annemarie F and Mason-Chalmers, Kayleigh and Grabinska-Rogala, Aneta and Shivakumar, Shloka and Gale-Day, Zachary and Wu, Taiasean and Millbern, Zoe and Grimm, Jonathan and Carroll, Emma C and Nilsson, Peter and Lavis, Luke and Vinueza, Nelson R and Gestwicki, Jason E} } @article {69709, title = {In vivo multiplex imaging of dynamic neurochemical networks with designed far-red dopamine sensors}, journal = {Science}, year = {2025}, month = {2025 Jun 05}, abstract = {

Neurochemical signals like dopamine (DA) play a crucial role in a variety of brain functions through intricate interactions with other neuromodulators and intracellular signaling pathways. However, studying these complex networks has been hindered by the challenge of detecting multiple neurochemicals in vivo simultaneously. To overcome this limitation, we developed a single-protein chemigenetic DA sensor, HaloDA1.0, which combines a cpHaloTag-chemical dye approach with the G protein-coupled receptor activation-based (GRAB) strategy, providing high sensitivity for DA, sub-second response kinetics, and an extensive spectral range from far-red to near-infrared. When used together with existing green and red fluorescent neuromodulator sensors, Ca2+ indicators, cAMP sensors, and optogenetic tools, HaloDA1.0 provides high versatility for multiplex imaging in cultured neurons, brain slices, and behaving animals, facilitating in-depth studies of dynamic neurochemical networks.

}, doi = {10.1126/science.adt7705}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adt7705}, author = {Zheng, Yu and Cai, Ruyi and Wang, Kui and Zhang, Junwei and Zhuo, Yizhou and Dong, Hui and Zhang, Yuqi and Wang, Yifan and Deng, Fei and Ji, En and Cui, Yiwen and Fang, Shilin and Zhang, Xinxin and Zhang, Kecheng and Wang, Jinxu and Li, Guochuan and Miao, Xiaolei and Wang, Zhenghua and Yang, Yuqing and Li, Shaochuang and Grimm, Jonathan and Johnsson, Kai and Schreiter, Eric and Lavis, Luke and Chen, Zhixing and Mu, Yu and Li, Yulong} } @article {69785, title = {Stars by the Pocketful}, journal = {ACS Central Science}, year = {2025}, month = {2025 Feb 12}, abstract = {

Fluorescence is magical. Shine one color of light on a fluorophore and it glows in another color. This property allows imaging of biological systems with high sensitivity-we can visualize individual fluorescent molecules in an ocean of nonfluorescent ones.

Fluorescence microscopy has long been used to study isolated cells, both living and dead, but the development of newer, tailored fluorophores is swiftly expanding the use of fluorescence imaging to more complicated systems such as intact animals. In the latest in a long string of transformative work, Sletten and co-workers introduce dyes shrouded with multiple polymer chains-effectively star polymers with a bright fluorophore at the center.

}, doi = {10.1021/acscentsci.5c00223}, author = {Lavis, Luke and Lavis, Clara} } @article {49293, title = {Imaging dynamic and selective low-complexity domain interactions that control gene transcription.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {361}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 Jun 21}, pages = {eaar2555}, abstract = {

Many eukaryotic transcription factors (TFs) contain intrinsically disordered low-complexity domains (LCDs), but how they drive transactivation remains unclear. Here, live-cell single-molecule imaging reveals that TF-LCDs form local high-concentration interaction hubs at synthetic and endogenous genomic loci. TF-LCD hubs stabilize DNA binding, recruit RNA polymerase II (Pol II), and activate transcription. LCD-LCD interactions within hubs are highly dynamic, display selectivity with binding partners, and are differentially sensitive to disruption by hexanediols. Under physiological conditions, rapid and reversible LCD-LCD interactions occur between TFs and the Pol II machinery without detectable phase separation. Our findings reveal fundamental mechanisms underpinning transcriptional control and suggest a framework for developing single-molecule imaging screens for novel drugs targeting gene regulatory interactions implicated in disease.

}, issn = {1095-9203}, doi = {10.1126/science.aar2555}, author = {Chong, Shasha and Dugast-Darzacq, Claire and Liu, Zhe and Dong, Peng and Dailey, Gina M and Cattoglio, Claudia and Heckert, Alec and Banala, Sambashiva and Lavis, Luke and Darzacq, Xavier and Tjian, Robert} } @article {48859, title = {A dynamic interplay of enhancer elements regulates Klf4 expression in na{\"\i}ve pluripotency.}, journal = {Genes \& Development}, volume = {31}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 Sep 01}, pages = {1795-1808}, abstract = {

Transcription factor (TF)-directed enhanceosome assembly constitutes a fundamental regulatory mechanism driving spatiotemporal gene expression programs during animal development. Despite decades of study, we know little about the dynamics or order of events animating TF assembly at cis-regulatory elements in living cells and the long-range molecular "dialog" between enhancers and promoters. Here, combining genetic, genomic, and imaging approaches, we characterize a complex long-range enhancer cluster governing Kr{\"u}ppel-like factor 4 (Klf4) expression in na{\"\i}ve pluripotency. Genome editing by CRISPR/Cas9 revealed that OCT4 and SOX2 safeguard an accessible chromatin neighborhood to assist the binding of other TFs/cofactors to the enhancer. Single-molecule live-cell imaging uncovered that two na{\"\i}ve pluripotency TFs, STAT3 and ESRRB, interrogate chromatin in a highly dynamic manner, in which SOX2 promotes ESRRB target search and chromatin-binding dynamics through a direct protein-tethering mechanism. Together, our results support a highly dynamic yet intrinsically ordered enhanceosome assembly to maintain the finely balanced transcription program underlying na{\"\i}ve pluripotency.

}, issn = {1549-5477}, doi = {10.1101/gad.303321.117}, author = {Xie, Liangqi and Torigoe, Sharon E and Xiao, Jifang and Mai, Daniel H and Li, Li and Davis, Fred P and Dong, Peng and Marie-Nelly, Herve and Grimm, Jonathan and Lavis, Luke and Darzacq, Xavier and Cattoglio, Claudia and Liu, Zhe and Tjian, Robert} } @article {5387, title = {A genetically encoded fluorescent protein in echinoderms marks the history of neuronal activity.}, journal = {Luminescence}, volume = {27}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Apr}, pages = {170}, abstract = {

Since the original identification of GFP from jellyfish and corals, the genetically encoded fluorescent proteins have become mainstream indicators for imaging. Functionally homologous candidates exist in more highly evolved bioluminescent invertebrates, including echinoderms. For example, in brittlestars, stimulus-evoked bioluminescence is transient, lasting seconds, and emanates from specialized cells (photocytes). Prior to light emission, we observe little or no green fluorescence. However, concurrent with light emission, an intense green, calcium-dependent fluorescence develops that persists indefinitely.

}, author = {Verdecia, Mark A. and Looger, Loren L and Lavis, Luke and Graumann, Johannes and Mandel, Gail and Brehm, Paul} }