Quantum dot targeting with lipoic acid ligase and HaloTag for single-molecule imaging on living cells

ACS Nano. 2012 Dec 21;6(12):11080-7. doi: 10.1021/nn304793z. Epub 2012 Dec 5.

Abstract

We present a methodology for targeting quantum dots to specific proteins on living cells in two steps. In the first step, Escherichia coli lipoic acid ligase (LplA) site-specifically attaches 10-bromodecanoic acid onto a 13 amino acid recognition sequence that is genetically fused to a protein of interest. In the second step, quantum dots derivatized with HaloTag, a modified haloalkane dehalogenase, react with the ligated bromodecanoic acid to form a covalent adduct. We found this targeting method to be specific, fast, and fully orthogonal to a previously reported and analogous quantum dot targeting method using E. coli biotin ligase and streptavidin. We used these two methods in combination for two-color quantum dot visualization of different proteins expressed on the same cell or on neighboring cells. Both methods were also used to track single molecules of neurexin, a synaptic adhesion protein, to measure its lateral diffusion in the presence of neuroligin, its trans-synaptic adhesion partner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Biocatalysis
  • Cell Survival
  • Decanoic Acids / chemistry
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrolases / metabolism*
  • Ligases / chemistry
  • Ligases / metabolism*
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Quantum Dots*
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Thioctic Acid / metabolism*

Substances

  • Decanoic Acids
  • Peptide Fragments
  • decanoic acid
  • Thioctic Acid
  • Hydrolases
  • haloalkane dehalogenase
  • Ligases