Visualize neuronal membrane cholesterol with split-fluorescent protein tagged YDQA sensor

Cholesterol is a major component of the cellular plasma membrane (PM), and its homeostasis is essential for brain health. Dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, in vivo visu...

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Main Authors: Yi Xu, Saixuan Li, Yiran Xu, Xiaoqin Sun, Yuqing Wei, Yuejun Wang, Shuang Li, Yongqi Ji, Keyi Hu, Yuxia Xu, Cuiqing Zhu, Bin Lu, Dandan Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Lipid Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022227525000410
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author Yi Xu
Saixuan Li
Yiran Xu
Xiaoqin Sun
Yuqing Wei
Yuejun Wang
Shuang Li
Yongqi Ji
Keyi Hu
Yuxia Xu
Cuiqing Zhu
Bin Lu
Dandan Wang
author_facet Yi Xu
Saixuan Li
Yiran Xu
Xiaoqin Sun
Yuqing Wei
Yuejun Wang
Shuang Li
Yongqi Ji
Keyi Hu
Yuxia Xu
Cuiqing Zhu
Bin Lu
Dandan Wang
author_sort Yi Xu
collection DOAJ
description Cholesterol is a major component of the cellular plasma membrane (PM), and its homeostasis is essential for brain health. Dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, in vivo visualization of cholesterol has remained challenging, hindering a comprehensive understanding of AD pathology. In this study, we generated a new sensor combining the split-fluorescent protein tags with YDQA, a derivate of cholesterol-dependent cytolysin PFO. Through a series of validations in cell and C. elegans models, we demonstrate that the new sensor (name as sfPMcho) efficiently detects neuronal PM cholesterol. We further applied this sensor in 5X FAD and APOE KO mice models and revealed the cholesterol changes within neurons. PM cholesterol became sparse and locally aggregated in neuron bodies but significantly accumulated in nerve fibers. Collectively, this study provides a new tool for detecting neuronal PM cholesterol in vivo and uncovers cholesterol abnormalities in AD-related pathology at the cellular level. Further development based on this sensor or a similar strategy is to be expected.
format Article
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institution DOAJ
issn 0022-2275
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Lipid Research
spelling doaj-art-efec98d4e8a94107895d00fc9315103c2025-08-20T03:09:03ZengElsevierJournal of Lipid Research0022-22752025-05-0166510078110.1016/j.jlr.2025.100781Visualize neuronal membrane cholesterol with split-fluorescent protein tagged YDQA sensorYi Xu0Saixuan Li1Yiran Xu2Xiaoqin Sun3Yuqing Wei4Yuejun Wang5Shuang Li6Yongqi Ji7Keyi Hu8Yuxia Xu9Cuiqing Zhu10Bin Lu11Dandan Wang12State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China; For correspondence: Yuxia Xu; Cuiqing Zhu; Bin Lu; Dandan WangState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China; For correspondence: Yuxia Xu; Cuiqing Zhu; Bin Lu; Dandan WangDepartment of Endocrinology, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China; For correspondence: Yuxia Xu; Cuiqing Zhu; Bin Lu; Dandan WangState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China; Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China; For correspondence: Yuxia Xu; Cuiqing Zhu; Bin Lu; Dandan WangCholesterol is a major component of the cellular plasma membrane (PM), and its homeostasis is essential for brain health. Dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, in vivo visualization of cholesterol has remained challenging, hindering a comprehensive understanding of AD pathology. In this study, we generated a new sensor combining the split-fluorescent protein tags with YDQA, a derivate of cholesterol-dependent cytolysin PFO. Through a series of validations in cell and C. elegans models, we demonstrate that the new sensor (name as sfPMcho) efficiently detects neuronal PM cholesterol. We further applied this sensor in 5X FAD and APOE KO mice models and revealed the cholesterol changes within neurons. PM cholesterol became sparse and locally aggregated in neuron bodies but significantly accumulated in nerve fibers. Collectively, this study provides a new tool for detecting neuronal PM cholesterol in vivo and uncovers cholesterol abnormalities in AD-related pathology at the cellular level. Further development based on this sensor or a similar strategy is to be expected.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022227525000410Alzheimer’s diseasecholesterolplasma membranesensor
spellingShingle Yi Xu
Saixuan Li
Yiran Xu
Xiaoqin Sun
Yuqing Wei
Yuejun Wang
Shuang Li
Yongqi Ji
Keyi Hu
Yuxia Xu
Cuiqing Zhu
Bin Lu
Dandan Wang
Visualize neuronal membrane cholesterol with split-fluorescent protein tagged YDQA sensor
Journal of Lipid Research
Alzheimer’s disease
cholesterol
plasma membrane
sensor
title Visualize neuronal membrane cholesterol with split-fluorescent protein tagged YDQA sensor
title_full Visualize neuronal membrane cholesterol with split-fluorescent protein tagged YDQA sensor
title_fullStr Visualize neuronal membrane cholesterol with split-fluorescent protein tagged YDQA sensor
title_full_unstemmed Visualize neuronal membrane cholesterol with split-fluorescent protein tagged YDQA sensor
title_short Visualize neuronal membrane cholesterol with split-fluorescent protein tagged YDQA sensor
title_sort visualize neuronal membrane cholesterol with split fluorescent protein tagged ydqa sensor
topic Alzheimer’s disease
cholesterol
plasma membrane
sensor
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022227525000410
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