A New Single-Chain, Genetically Encoded Biosensor for RhoB GTPase Based on FRET, Useful for Live-Cell Imaging

TL;DR

Scientists created a new tool to track RhoB activity in live cells, revealing how it interacts with other proteins during cell movement.

Contribution

A novel single-chain FRET biosensor for RhoB GTPase was developed and validated for live-cell imaging.

Findings

The biosensor captures spatially heterogeneous RhoB activity during cell migration.

RhoB and TC10 exhibit coordinated yet antagonistic spatiotemporal patterns at the cell edge.

Perturbing TC10 regulation alters the spatial coupling of RhoB and TC10 activities.

Abstract

RhoB is an atypical Rho GTPase whose function is tightly linked to its subcellular localization and membrane trafficking, reflecting its unique post-translational modifications and association with endosomal membranes in addition to the plasma membrane. Despite its implication in membrane trafficking and cytoskeletal regulation, tools to directly monitor RhoB activity in space and time have been lacking. Here, we describe the development and validation of a single-chain, genetically encoded Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensor that enables direct visualization of RhoB activity in living cells while preserving its native membrane-targeting determinants. The biosensor exhibits a large dynamic range and resolves spatially heterogeneous RhoB activity during leading-edge protrusion–retraction cycles in migrating mouse embryonic fibroblasts. To demonstrate the utility of this tool, we performed multiplex live-cell imaging with a previously developed near-infrared FRET biosensor for the exocytic Rho GTPase TC10. Quantitative morphodynamic and cross-correlation analyses reveal coordinated yet antagonistic spatiotemporal patterns of RhoB and TC10 activities at the leading edge and show that perturbation of TC10 regulation reorganizes their spatial coupling. Together, this work introduces a robust biosensor for RhoB and establishes a multiplex imaging framework to study the coordination of trafficking and signaling during cell migration.

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