Source: Ma, R. et al., DNA Tension Probes to Map the Transient Piconewton Receptor Forces by Immune Cells. J. Vis. Exp. (2021)
The video demonstrates a method for assessing receptor forces applied by immune cells using polyethylene glycol-anchored gold nanoparticles and DNA hairpin tension probes. CD8-positive T cell interactions trigger probe unfolding, emitting fluorescence while locking strands sustain the signal for quantifying the forces applied by immune cells.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
3-hydroxypicolinic acid (3-HPA) | Sigma | 56197 | Maldi-TOF-MS matrix |
mPEG-SC | Biochempeg | MF001023-2K | Surface prep |
(3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane | Acros | AC430941000 | Surface prep |
10x Red blood cell lysis buffer | Biolegend | 00-4333-57 | Buffer |
8.8 nm gold nanoparticles, tannic acid | Nanocomposix | customized order | Surface prep |
Atto647N NHS ester | Sigma | 18373-1MG-F | Fluorophore, oligo prep |
Attofluor Cell Chamber, for microscopy | Thermo Fisher Scientific | A7816 | Imaging |
BD Syringes only with Luer-Lok | BD bioscience | 309657 | Cells |
Biotinylated anti-mouse CD3e | ebioscience | 13-0031-82 | Antibody/ligand |
Biotinylated pMHC ovalbumin (SIINFEKL) | NIH Tetramer Core Facility at Emory University | NA | Antibody/ligand |
Bovine serum albumin | Sigma | 735078001 | Block non-specific interactions |
Cell strainers | Biologix | 15-1100 | Cells |
Coverslip Mini-Rack, teflon | Thermo Fisher Scientific | C14784 | Surface prep |
Cy3B NHS ester | GE Healthcare | PA63101 | Fluorophore, oligo prep |
Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline (DPBS) | Corning | 21-031-CM | Buffer |
Ethanol | Sigma | 459836 | Surface prep |
Hank's balanced salts (HBSS) | Sigma | H8264 | Buffer |
Hydrogen peroxide | Sigma | H1009 | Surface prep |
LA-PEG-SC | Biochempeg | HE039023-3.4K | Surface prep |
Midi MACS (LS) startup kit | Miltenyi Biotec | 130-042-301 | Cells |
Mouse CD8+ T cell isolation kit | Miltenyi Biotec | 130-104-075 | Cells |
Nanosep MF centrifugal devices | Pall laboratory | ODM02C35 | Oligo prep |
No. 2 round glass coverslips | VWR | 48382-085 | Surface prep |
NTA-SAM | Dojindo Molecular Technologies | N475-10 | Surface prep |
P2 gel | Bio-rad | 1504118 | Oligo prep |
Sulfuric acid | EMD Millipore Corporation | SX1244-6 | Surface prep |
Sulfo-NHS acetate | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 26777 | Surface prep |
Equipment | |||
Agilent AdvanceBio Oligonucleotide C18 column, 4.6 x 150 mm, 2.7 μm | 653950-702 | Oligonucleotide preparation | |
Barnstead Nanopure water purifying system | Thermo Fisher | Water | |
CFI Apo 100× NA 1.49 objective | Nikon | Microscopy | |
Cy5 cube | CHROMA | Microscopy | |
Evolve electron multiplying charge coupled device (EMCCD) | Photometrics | Microscopy | |
High-performance liquid chromatography | Agilent 1100 | Oligonucleotide preparation | |
Intensilight epifluorescence source | Nikon | Microscopy | |
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF-MS) | Voyager STR | Oligonucleotide preparation | |
Nanodrop 2000 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer | Thermo Fisher | Oligonucleotide preparation | |
Nikon Eclipse Ti inverted microscope | Nikon | Microscopy | |
Nikon Perfect Focus System | Nikon | Microscopy | |
NIS Elements software | Nikon | Microscopy | |
Quad band TIRF 405/488/561/647 cube | CHROMA | Microscopy | |
RICM cube | CHROMA | Microscopy | |
TIRF launcher with 488 nm (50 mW), 561 nm (50 mW), and 640 nm | Coherent | Microscopy | |
TRITC cube | CHROMA | Microscopy | |
Oligo name | 5' modification / 3' modification | Sequence (5' to 3') | Use |
15mer amine locking strand | 5' modification: no modification 3' modification: /3AmMO/ |
AAA AAA CAT TTA TAC CCT ACC TA | Locking real-time tension signal |
15mer Atto647N locking strand | 5' modification: Atto647N 3' modification: /3AmMO/ |
AAA AAA CAT TTA TAC CCT ACC TA | Locking real-time tension signal |
15mer non-fluoresccent locking strand | 5' modification: no modification 3' modification: no modification |
A AAA AAC ATT TAT AC | Locking real-time tension signal for quantitative analysis |
4.7 pN hairpin strand | 5' modification: no modification 3' modification: no modification |
GTGAAATACCGCACAGATGCGT TTGTATAAATGTTTTTTTCATTTAT ACTTTAAGAGCGCCACGTAGCC CAGC |
Hairpin probe |
Amine ligand strand | 5' modification: /5AmMC6/ 3' modification: /3Bio/ |
CGCATCTGTGCG GTA TTT CAC TTT | Hairpin probe |
BHQ2 anchor strand | 5' modification: /5ThiolMC6-D/ 3' modification: /3BHQ_2/ |
TTTGCTGGGCTACGTGGCGCTCTT | Hairpin probe |
Cy3B ligand strand | 5' modification: Cy3B 3' modification: /3Bio/ |
CGCATCTGTGCG GTA TTT CAC TTT | Hairpin probe |
Unlocking strand | 5' modification: no modification 3' modification: no modification |
TAG GTA GGG TAT AAA TGT TTT TTT C | Unlocking accumulated tension signal |