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Artificial reporter gene providing MRI contrast based on proton exchange

Nature Biotechnology volume 25, pages 217–219 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Existing magnetic resonance reporter genes all rely on the presence of (super)paramagnetic substances and employ water relaxation to gain contrast. We designed a nonmetallic, biodegradable, lysine rich–protein (LRP) reporter, the prototype of a potential family of genetically engineered reporters expressing artificial proteins with frequency-selective contrast. This endogenous contrast, based on transfer of radiofrequency labeling from the reporter's amide protons to water protons, can be switched on and off.

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Figure 1: LRP as an MR-CEST reporter.
Figure 2: CEST imaging of poly-L-lysine (30 kDa) samples and LRP and control cell extracts.
Figure 3: In vivo imaging of LRP.

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Acknowledgements

We thank D.A. Kedziorek, V.P. Chacko and J. Zhang for experimental assistance. Supported by National Institutes of Health grants CA103175, NS045062, EB005252 and K01 EB006394.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, Neurosection, Traylor Building Rm. 217, 720 Rutland Ave., Baltimore, 21205, Maryland, USA

    Assaf A Gilad, Michael T McMahon, Piotr Walczak, Paul T Winnard Jr, Venu Raman, Hanneke W M van Laarhoven, Cynthia M Skoglund, Jeff W M Bulte & Peter C M van Zijl

  2. Institute for Cell Engineering, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, 21205, Maryland, USA

    Assaf A Gilad, Piotr Walczak, Hanneke W M van Laarhoven, Cynthia M Skoglund & Jeff W M Bulte

  3. Institute for Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, 21205, Maryland, USA

    Michael T McMahon & Peter C M van Zijl

  4. F.M. Kirby Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, 21205, Maryland, USA

    Venu Raman

  5. Department of Medical Oncology 452, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500, HB, The Netherlands

    Hanneke W M van Laarhoven

Authors
  1. Assaf A Gilad
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  2. Michael T McMahon
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  6. Hanneke W M van Laarhoven
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  7. Cynthia M Skoglund
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  8. Jeff W M Bulte
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  9. Peter C M van Zijl
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jeff W M Bulte or Peter C M van Zijl.

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We have applied for a patent for the technology described in the paper.

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Gilad, A., McMahon, M., Walczak, P. et al. Artificial reporter gene providing MRI contrast based on proton exchange. Nat Biotechnol 25, 217–219 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1277

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