Optogenetic protein design for hypertrophic signaling pathways

光遗传学主要采用光门控离子通道（来自低等生物）来触发或抑制 神经元动作电位心血管领域的类似研究已经使用这些光响应 外源蛋白来调节收缩性和起搏。然而，光门控离子通道不能询问 控制行为和体内平衡的细胞内机制。因此，我们开发了一个 用于产生内源性蛋白质的光响应类似物的蛋白质工程策略。拟议 研究计划的重点是蛋白质的光遗传信号的设计，构建和验证， 有助于心肌内稳态，以及该技术的应用，以解开机制， 导致心脏肥大和纤维化目标1：光遗传工程获取生物化学 肥大和纤维化的途径。我们将采用一种新的光遗传工程策略来创造 光响应信号级联定位于特定的细胞内位点，重点是cAMP介导的 信号通路目的2：光引导映射的信号结构域介导的肥大。的 在目标1中概述的光遗传学构建体将用于探索在不同的细胞周期中信号传导事件的影响。 细胞内位置对心肌细胞行为的影响，重点是肥大相关反应。目标3： 介导纤维化的细胞间通讯的光引导映射。光遗传类似物 内源性蛋白质将用于评估两种不同心脏细胞类型之间的细胞间串扰。光- 工程信号通路的触发激活提供了一个机会， 在这些不同的细胞群之间观察到的信号网络。

Optogenetics has primarily employed light gated ion channels (derived from lower organisms) to trigger or inhibit the neuronal action potential. Analogous studies in the cardiovascular field have used these photoresponsive foreign proteins to regulate contractility and pacing. However, light gated ion channels are unable to interrogate the intracellular mechanisms that control behavior and homeostasis. As a consequence, we have developed a protein engineering strategy for creating light responsive analogs of endogenous proteins. The proposed research program is focused on the design, construction, and validation of optogenetic signaling for proteins that contribute to myocardial homeostasis, and the application of this technology to unravel the mechanisms that drive cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Aim 1: Optogenetic Engineering to Access the Biochemical Pathways of Hypertrophy and Fibrosis. We will employ a novel optogenetic engineering strategy to create light responsive signaling cascades localized at specific intracellular sites, with a focus on cAMP-mediated signaling pathways. Aim 2: Light Guided Mapping of the Signaling Domains that Mediate Hypertrophy. The optogenetic constructs outlined in Aim 1 will be used to explore the impact of signaling events at distinct intracellular locations on cardiomyocyte behavior, with an emphasis on hypertrophic relevant responses. Aim 3: Light Guided Mapping of the Intercellular Communication that Mediates Fibrosis. Optogenetic analogs of endogenous proteins will be used to assess intercellular crosstalk between two distinct cardiac cell types. Light- triggered activation of engineered signaling pathways offers the opportunity to tease apart a collaborative signaling network that has been observed between these distinct cell populations.