Despite advances in imaging, visualizing non-genetically encoded molecules such as glycans has been challenging. Attreed et al. have developed a technique that allows the visualization of the complex modification patterns of heparan sulphates — polysaccharides that interact with and modify the function of many proteins in their glycosylated, proteoglycan form. The authors used single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies that recognize distinctly modified forms of heparan sulphates. These were fused with green fluorescent protein and a secretion signal to ensure that the proteins were released from the cell and bound their targets, and the full constructs were expressed in scavenger cells in Caenorhabditis elegans. The authors were able to label distinct heparan sulphate modification patterns with specificity in vivo. As long as specific scFv antibodies are available, this approach could be used for the live imaging of other molecules, such as lipids, as well as of post-translationally modified proteins.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Attreed, M. et al. Direct visualization of specifically modified extracellular glycans in living animals. Nature Methods 1 Apr 2012 (doi:10.1038/nmeth.1945)
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David, R. Live imaging of sugars. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 13, 281 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3345
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3345