Conçues à partir d’une approche rationnelle, nous avons créé de nouvelles sondes membranaires permettant l’imagerie de l’organisation de la membrane plasmique cellulaire. Dans ce travail, nous avons d’abord développé un groupe d’outils, à partir du fluorophore solvatochrome Nile Red et de Black Hole Quencher-2, capable de marquer spécifiquement les domaines ordonnés et désordonnés (radeaux) en les identifiant par leur couleur d’émission. Les études cellulaires, à l’aide de ces sondes, suggèrent que la membrane plasmique est composée de deux phases distinctes. Puis dans le but de créer de nouvelles sondes basées sur Nile Red compatibles avec le sérum et fixables par formaldéhyde/glutaraldéhyde, nous avons modifié la sonde, préalablement développée, NR12S avec un groupement PEG ou amino, respectivement. Etonnamment, la sonde PEGylée est rapidement internalisée dans la cellule et le dérivé animo agrège avec l’agent fixant. D’un autre côté,basée sur Nile Red, nous avons conçu une sonde capable de détecter un récepteur donné et de visualiser son environnement lipidique. Initialement, nous avons obtenu des sondes capables d’allumer leur fluorescence en se liant sur le RCPG à l’ocytocine. Puis, nous avons conjugué NR12Spar l’intermédiaire d’un espaceur PEG(12) au ligand de l’intégrine, RGD. Les résultats préliminaires montrent que la molécule peut se lier à la membrane et détecter l’ordre lipidique, cependant les études cellulaires nécessitent un achèvement. Nous avons aussi travaillé sur des sondes membranaires fluorogéniques (turn-on) pour de l’imagerie multi-couleurs. Basées sur le fluorophore3-méthoxychromone, nous avons obtenu des sondes plus brillantes et plus photostables que la sonde développée originellement à partir de 3-hydroxychromone (F2N12S). Grâce à l’important déplacement de Stokes, elles permettent une imagerie de la membrane cellulaire avec une autofluorescence minimale dans la région spectrale bleue, compatible avec les marqueurs communs verts et rouges. Pour finir, basées sur le fluorophore squaraine, nous avons développé trois nouvelles sondes opérant dans la région rouge lointain, qui est particulièrement intéressante pour l’imagerie in vitro et in vivo. Ces sondes montrent une orientation parallèle avec la membrane lipidique, alors que les expériences cellulaires indiquent que seule la sonde avec deux ancres lipidiques est capable de marquer de façon stable la membrane plasmique. Ces sondes développées ici sont prévues pour être utilisées dans la recherche des radeaux lipidiques aussi bien que pour l’imagerie super-résolution et multi-couleurs de cellules vivantes. / Based on rational molecular design, we design new membrane probes that enable fluorescence imaging of cell plasma membrane organization. In this work, we first synthesized a toolkit, based on solvatochromic Nile Red dye and Black Hole Quencher-2, that can stain specifically ordered and disordered lipid domains (rafts) and identify them by the emission color. Cellular studies with these probes suggested that the plasma membrane is composed of two distinct phases. Then,with the idea to make Nile Red-based probes compatible with serum medium and fixable by formaldehyde/glutaraldehyde, we modified previously developed probe NR12S with PEG and aminogroups, respectively. Surprisingly, the PEGylated probe is quickly internalized inside the cell and the amino-derivative aggregates with the fixing agent. On the other hand, based on Nile Red we designed probes capable to detect a given receptor and visualize its lipid environment. Initially, we obtained probes that can turn-on fluorescence on binding to the oxytocin GPCR receptor. Then, we conjugated NR12S through a PEG(12) spacer to the ligand of intergrin, RGD. The first data show that the molecule can bind to the membrane and detect the lipid order, though cellular studies have to be completed. We also worked on fluorogenic (turn-on) membrane probes for multi-color imaging. Based on blue 3-methoxychromone dyes, we obtained probes that are brighter and more photostable than the originally developed probe based on 3-hydroxychromone (F2N12S). Due to large Stocks shift, they enabled cell membrane imaging with minimal auto-fluorescence in the blue spectral region, compatible with common green and red probes. At the end, based on squaraine fluorophore, we developed three new probes operating in the far red region, which is also very interesting for in vitro and in vivo imaging. These dyes show a parallel orientation with the lipid membrane, while the cellular experiments point out that only the probe with two anchor groups is able to stain stably the plasma membrane. The probes developed here are expected to be used for lipid rafts research as well as for super-resolution and multi-color imaging of living cells.

Study of HEK293 cells stably expressing fusion protein between delta opioid receptor (δ-OR) and pertussis toxin-insensitive mutant of Gi1α protein, δ-OR-Gi1α (Cys351 -Ile351 ), provided the following results. Decrease of plasma membrane cholesterol content (cholesterol depletion) induced by cyclic oligosaccharide β-cyclodextrin did not affect binding of specific δ-OR agonist, [3 H]DADLE. Neither the maximum number of binding sites nor the affinity of [3 H]DADLE binding was changed by cholesterol depletion. However, the ability of δ-OR to activate cognate trimeric G proteins was impaired. EC50 value of agonist-stimulated [35 S]GTPγS binding was an order of magnitude higher. This effect was observed in case of both control and pertussis toxin-treated cells. It means that cholesterol depletion markedly reduced the efficiency of functional coupling of δ-OR to endogenously expressed pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins of Gi/Go family as well as covalently bound Gi1α (Cys351 -Ile351 ) protein. Unchanged plasma membrane cholesterol content is therefore important requirement for proper δ-OR function. Detection of the effect of cholesterol depletion on the functional activity of δ-OR was supported by the analysis of changes in biophysical state of plasma membrane using fluorescent membrane probes,...

Apresentamos os resultados de estudos sobre a utilização de técnicas baseadas no fenômeno de fluorescência para a investigação de processos relacionados a membranas modelo. Nessa investigação, estão envolvidas medidas de propriedades espectrais de absorção e emissão de luz por cromóforos adequados, determinação xperimental de perfis de decaimento temporal da fluorescência e correlação temporal de emissão fluorescente, bem como a utilização apropriada de metodologias para análise e interpretação dos dados experimentais. Foram utilizados diversos compostos que apresentam absorção e emissão na região ultravioleta/visível, como as sondas lipofílicas 2-Amino-N-hexadecil-benzamida (Ahba), 6-lauryl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (Laurdan), N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3- diazol-4-yl) (NBD), em diferentes condições: meio aquoso homogêneo, suspensões de micelas de Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS), Cetyl-trimethyl-ammonium-bromide (CTAB) e 3-(Dodecyl-Dimethyl-Ammonio)-propane-sulfonate (DPS) e vesículas de fosfolipídios, como o 1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine (DMPC), o 1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-Glycero-3-[Phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)](Sodium Salt) (DMPG) e o 1-Palmitoyl-2-Oleoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine (POPC). Supressores alquilpiridínios de diferentes comprimentos da cadeia alquila e, portanto, diferentes afinidades por agregados anfifílicos, foram utilizados em experimentos de supressão da fluorescência da sonda Ahba. Usando o formalismo que descreve fenômenos de supressão dependente de colisões entre fluoróforo e supressor, observamos que as taxas de supressão são maiores em presença de agregados anfifílicos carregados negativamente: micelas de SDS e vesículas de DMPG; em micelas zwiteriônicas o processo é mais eficiente quando a hidrofobicidade do supressor é grande, o que ocorre quando a cadeia alquila é mais longa. Realizamos experimentos de transferência de energia por ressonância de Förster (FRET) onde o grupo fluorescente da sonda lipofílica Ahba atuou como doador. Como aceitadores utilizamos os compostos Acridina Laranja, -(2,4,dinitrofenil)-etilenodiamina (Eddnp) e o NBD ligado a fosfolipídios. Fizemos uso do programa CONTIN para análise de dados experimentais de perfis de decaimento da fluorescência em sistemas em que ocorre transferência de energia e obtivemos distribuições de distâncias para os pares Ahba/Eddnp e Ahba/NBD-fosfolipídios na presença de vesículas de fosfolipídios. Para este último par, verificou-se que a distribuição de distâncias depende da temperatura do sistema, ou seja, da fase da bicamada, da concentração de aceitador e da posição onde o NBD está ligado ao fosfolipídio. Analisamos a utilização da sonda Laurdan em presença de vesículas de DMPC e POPC, em experimentos de espectroscopia de correlação de fluorescência. Embora tenha apresentado sinal elevado de fluorescência, a sonda é fotodegradável. Os mesmos experimentos de correlação de fluorescência foram realizados com o Ahba que, apesar de ter se mostrado bastante fotoestável, revelou não ser uma sonda adequada para uso em tal técnica. O espectro de excitação a dois fótons foi obtido para esta sonda, com máximo de absorção em 695 nm. Em experimentos de microscopia de fluorescência, o Ahba mostrou ser um bom marcador fluorescente para membranas lipídicas, ao possibilitar a aquisição de imagens de fluorescência de vesículas gigantes marcadas. / In this work we showed results from studies about the use of fluorescence spectroscopy techniques as a tool to investigate amphiphilic aggregates, used as a model of the cell membrane. We performed measurements on the spectral properties of light absorption and emission of adequate chromophors, registered the experimental timeresolved decay of fluorescence and time correlated fluorescence emission of the probes and used also adequate methodologies for the analysis and interpretation of experimental data. Several compounds presenting absorption and emission in the UV/visible spectral range were employed: the lipophilic probes 2-Amino-N-hexadecil-benzamida (Ahba), 6-lauryl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (Laurdan), N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl) (NBD), in different environment:homogeneous aqueous medium, micelles of surfactants like Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS), Cetyl-trimethyl-ammonium-bromide (CTAB) and 3- (Dodecyl-Dimethyl-Ammonio)-propane-sulfonate (DPS) and phospholipid vesicles of 1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-Glycero-3- [Phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)](Sodium Salt) (DMPG) and 1-Palmitoyl-2-Oleoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine (POPC). Alkyilpyridinium halides with different alkyl chain length were employed fluorescence quenchers of the Ahba probe. Using the Stern-Volmer model to describe the quenching phenomena dependent on fluorophor/quencher collision, we observed that higher quenching rates were obtained in the presence of negatively charged amphiphilic agreggates: SDS micelles and DMPG vesicles; in the presence of zwitterionic vesicles the quenching efficiency was more efficient when the quencher hydrophobicity was high (long alkyl chain). We performed Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments where the fluorescent moiety of the probe Ahba was the energy donor. As acceptors molecules we used Acridine Orange, Ethylene-diamine-dinitrophenyl (Eddnp) and NBD-labeled phospholipids. The computational package CONTIN was adapted to analyze the experimentally obtained fluorescence decay profiles of the donor in the presence of the acceptor, in order to determine the distance distribution between the Ahba/Eddnp and Ahba/NBD-phospholipids pairs in the presence of lipid vesicles. For the Ahba/NBD pair, the distances were dependent on the emperature of the system (or the phase bilayer behavior), the acceptor concentration and the NBD position in the phospholipid. We observed that the Laurdan probe can be used in studies about DMPC vesicles diffusion using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy techniques. Investigation about the use of the probe Ahba with this technique had shown that its maximum absorption for two photon excitation occurs near to 695 nm, but it is not an appropriated probe to FCS experiments due to its very low brightness. On the other hand, Ahba can be used as a membrane fluorescent label in membrane fluorescence microscopy, as we can see in the fluorescence imaging experiments with giant vesicles labeled with Ahba.

Apresentamos os resultados de estudos sobre a utilização de técnicas baseadas no fenômeno de fluorescência para a investigação de processos relacionados a membranas modelo. Nessa investigação, estão envolvidas medidas de propriedades espectrais de absorção e emissão de luz por cromóforos adequados, determinação xperimental de perfis de decaimento temporal da fluorescência e correlação temporal de emissão fluorescente, bem como a utilização apropriada de metodologias para análise e interpretação dos dados experimentais. Foram utilizados diversos compostos que apresentam absorção e emissão na região ultravioleta/visível, como as sondas lipofílicas 2-Amino-N-hexadecil-benzamida (Ahba), 6-lauryl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (Laurdan), N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3- diazol-4-yl) (NBD), em diferentes condições: meio aquoso homogêneo, suspensões de micelas de Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS), Cetyl-trimethyl-ammonium-bromide (CTAB) e 3-(Dodecyl-Dimethyl-Ammonio)-propane-sulfonate (DPS) e vesículas de fosfolipídios, como o 1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine (DMPC), o 1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-Glycero-3-[Phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)](Sodium Salt) (DMPG) e o 1-Palmitoyl-2-Oleoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine (POPC). Supressores alquilpiridínios de diferentes comprimentos da cadeia alquila e, portanto, diferentes afinidades por agregados anfifílicos, foram utilizados em experimentos de supressão da fluorescência da sonda Ahba. Usando o formalismo que descreve fenômenos de supressão dependente de colisões entre fluoróforo e supressor, observamos que as taxas de supressão são maiores em presença de agregados anfifílicos carregados negativamente: micelas de SDS e vesículas de DMPG; em micelas zwiteriônicas o processo é mais eficiente quando a hidrofobicidade do supressor é grande, o que ocorre quando a cadeia alquila é mais longa. Realizamos experimentos de transferência de energia por ressonância de Förster (FRET) onde o grupo fluorescente da sonda lipofílica Ahba atuou como doador. Como aceitadores utilizamos os compostos Acridina Laranja, -(2,4,dinitrofenil)-etilenodiamina (Eddnp) e o NBD ligado a fosfolipídios. Fizemos uso do programa CONTIN para análise de dados experimentais de perfis de decaimento da fluorescência em sistemas em que ocorre transferência de energia e obtivemos distribuições de distâncias para os pares Ahba/Eddnp e Ahba/NBD-fosfolipídios na presença de vesículas de fosfolipídios. Para este último par, verificou-se que a distribuição de distâncias depende da temperatura do sistema, ou seja, da fase da bicamada, da concentração de aceitador e da posição onde o NBD está ligado ao fosfolipídio. Analisamos a utilização da sonda Laurdan em presença de vesículas de DMPC e POPC, em experimentos de espectroscopia de correlação de fluorescência. Embora tenha apresentado sinal elevado de fluorescência, a sonda é fotodegradável. Os mesmos experimentos de correlação de fluorescência foram realizados com o Ahba que, apesar de ter se mostrado bastante fotoestável, revelou não ser uma sonda adequada para uso em tal técnica. O espectro de excitação a dois fótons foi obtido para esta sonda, com máximo de absorção em 695 nm. Em experimentos de microscopia de fluorescência, o Ahba mostrou ser um bom marcador fluorescente para membranas lipídicas, ao possibilitar a aquisição de imagens de fluorescência de vesículas gigantes marcadas. / In this work we showed results from studies about the use of fluorescence spectroscopy techniques as a tool to investigate amphiphilic aggregates, used as a model of the cell membrane. We performed measurements on the spectral properties of light absorption and emission of adequate chromophors, registered the experimental timeresolved decay of fluorescence and time correlated fluorescence emission of the probes and used also adequate methodologies for the analysis and interpretation of experimental data. Several compounds presenting absorption and emission in the UV/visible spectral range were employed: the lipophilic probes 2-Amino-N-hexadecil-benzamida (Ahba), 6-lauryl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (Laurdan), N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl) (NBD), in different environment:homogeneous aqueous medium, micelles of surfactants like Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS), Cetyl-trimethyl-ammonium-bromide (CTAB) and 3- (Dodecyl-Dimethyl-Ammonio)-propane-sulfonate (DPS) and phospholipid vesicles of 1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-Glycero-3- [Phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)](Sodium Salt) (DMPG) and 1-Palmitoyl-2-Oleoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine (POPC). Alkyilpyridinium halides with different alkyl chain length were employed fluorescence quenchers of the Ahba probe. Using the Stern-Volmer model to describe the quenching phenomena dependent on fluorophor/quencher collision, we observed that higher quenching rates were obtained in the presence of negatively charged amphiphilic agreggates: SDS micelles and DMPG vesicles; in the presence of zwitterionic vesicles the quenching efficiency was more efficient when the quencher hydrophobicity was high (long alkyl chain). We performed Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments where the fluorescent moiety of the probe Ahba was the energy donor. As acceptors molecules we used Acridine Orange, Ethylene-diamine-dinitrophenyl (Eddnp) and NBD-labeled phospholipids. The computational package CONTIN was adapted to analyze the experimentally obtained fluorescence decay profiles of the donor in the presence of the acceptor, in order to determine the distance distribution between the Ahba/Eddnp and Ahba/NBD-phospholipids pairs in the presence of lipid vesicles. For the Ahba/NBD pair, the distances were dependent on the emperature of the system (or the phase bilayer behavior), the acceptor concentration and the NBD position in the phospholipid. We observed that the Laurdan probe can be used in studies about DMPC vesicles diffusion using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy techniques. Investigation about the use of the probe Ahba with this technique had shown that its maximum absorption for two photon excitation occurs near to 695 nm, but it is not an appropriated probe to FCS experiments due to its very low brightness. On the other hand, Ahba can be used as a membrane fluorescent label in membrane fluorescence microscopy, as we can see in the fluorescence imaging experiments with giant vesicles labeled with Ahba.