Neuropeptide nanoprobe research is a novel technique using nanoscale probes to detect and regulate neuropeptides. Neuropeptides are a class of small molecule peptides that transmit and regulate signals in the nervous system, such as endomorphins, somatostatin, cholecystokinin, etc. Neuropeptides are involved in many important physiological processes, such as energy balance, sleep and circadian rhythms, stress, social behavior, etc. Investigating and regulating the dynamic changes of neuropeptides is important for the understanding and treatment of multiple nervous system-related disorders. Neuropeptide nanoprobes are a class of probes with high specificity, high sensitivity, high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution, which can enable direct, accurate and real-time detection and regulation of neuropeptides. Neuropeptide nanoprobe can be combined, amplified, image and release of neuropeptide through different design and preparation methods, and combined with other diagnosis and treatment methods such as optics, electrophysiology, drugs, etc. Neuropeptide nanoprobe studies are highly innovative and applicable and can provide new ideas and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of neurological-related diseases.

A series of genetically encoded neuropeptide sensors based on G protein-coupled receptor activation (GRAB) for somatostatin (SST), cholecystokinin (CCK), corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), neuropeptide Y (NPY), neurohypotentensin (NTS), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). These fluorescent sensors utilize the corresponding GPCR as a neuropeptide-sensing module and insert a ring-displacement GFP as an optical reporter. This design can detect specific neuropeptide binding at the nanomolar concentration level and produce significant fluorescence enhancement. These GRAB neuropeptide sensors were used to measure endogenous SST release dynamics in isolated islets and to examine CCK and CRF release in isolated brain slices. In addition, the stress-induced endogenous CRF release was examined in mice in vivo using an optical fiber photometer and two-photon imaging.

The important role of cell surface sugars in biology and changes in disease, and introduced some chemical biology methods and tools, such as sugar synthesis, sugar labeling, sugar imaging, sugar probes, etc., for the study and regulation of cell surface sugar structure and function. A neuropeptide-based Y receptor (NPYR) sugar probe enables efficient antagonism and fluorescent labeling of the neuropeptide Y (NPY).

Reference Documentation:

[1]In vivo Self-assembled Peptide Nanoprobes for Disease Diagnosis.

[2]A toolkit of highly selective and sensitive genetically encoded neuropeptide sensors.

[3]Chemical Biology of Cell Surface Glycans.