title: Directed evolution of protein-based neurotransmitter sensors for MRI.
abstract: The production of contrast agents sensitive to neuronal signaling events is a rate-limiting step in the development of molecular-level functional magnetic resonance imaging (molecular fMRI) approaches for studying the brain. High-throughput generation and evaluation of potential probes are possible using techniques for macromolecular engineering of protein-based contrast agents. In an initial exploration of this strategy, we used the method of directed evolution to identify mutants of a bacterial heme protein that allowed detection of the neurotransmitter dopamine in vitro and in living animals. The directed evolution method involves successive cycles of mutagenesis and screening that could be generalized to produce contrast agents sensitive to a variety of molecular targets in the nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Mikhail G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Frances H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jasanoff
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D019020:Directed Molecular Evolution / Q000379:methods*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000737:chemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli; D015723:Gene Library; D006418:Heme / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011485:Protein Binding; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods; D017186:Titrimetry
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003287:Contrast Media; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D006418:Heme; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase; C052423:flavocytochrome P450 BM3 monoxygenases; D004298:Dopamine