151
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Abstract
In recent years, split inteins have seen widespread use as molecular platforms for the design of a variety of peptide and protein chemistry technologies, most notably protein ligation. The development of these approaches is dependent on the identification and/or design of split inteins with robust activity, stability, and solubility. Here, we describe two approaches to characterize and compare the activities of newly identified or engineered split inteins. The first assay employs an E. coli-based selection system to rapidly screen the activities of many inteins and can be repurposed for directed evolution. The second assay utilizes reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) to provide insights into individual chemical steps in the protein splicing reaction, information that can guide further engineering efforts. These techniques provide useful alternatives to common assays that utilize SDS-PAGE to analyze splicing reaction progress.
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152
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Romero-Casañas A, Gordo V, Castro J, Ribó M. Protein Splicing: From the Foundations to the Development of Biotechnological Applications. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2133:15-29. [PMID: 32144661 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0434-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Expressed protein ligation is a simple and powerful method in protein engineering to introduce sequences of unnatural amino acids, posttranslational modifications, and biophysical probes into proteins of any size. This methodology has been developed based on the knowledge obtained from protein splicing. Protein splicing is a multistep biochemical reaction that includes the concomitant cleavage and formation of peptide bonds carried out by self-processing domains named inteins. The natural substrates of protein splicing are essential proteins found in intein-containing organisms; inteins are also functional in nonnative frameworks and can be used to alter nearly any protein's primary amino acid sequence. Accordingly, different reactivity features of inteins have been largely exploited to manipulate proteins in countless methods encompassing fields from biochemical research to the development of biotechnological applications including the study of disease progression and validation of potential drug candidates. Here, we review almost three decades of research to uncover the chemical and biochemical enigmas of protein splicing and the development of inteins as potent protein engineering tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Romero-Casañas
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria de Proteïnes, Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Verónica Gordo
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria de Proteïnes, Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Jessica Castro
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria de Proteïnes, Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Marc Ribó
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria de Proteïnes, Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain.
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153
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Abstract
The split inteins from the DnaE cyanobacterial family are efficient and versatile tools for protein engineering and chemical biology applications. Their ultrafast splicing kinetics allow for the efficient production of native proteins from two separate polypeptides both in vitro and in cells. They can also be used to generate proteins with C-terminal thioesters for downstream applications. In this chapter, we describe a method based on a genetically fused version of the DnaE intein Npu for the preparation of doubly modified proteins through recombinant expression. In particular, we provide protocols for the recombinant production of modified ubiquitin through amber suppression where fused Npu is used (1) as a traceless purification tag or (2) as a protein engineering tool to introduce C-terminal modifications for subsequent attachment to other proteins of interest. Our purification protocol allows for quick and facile separation of truncated products and eliminates the need for engineering protease cleavage sites. Our approach can be easily adapted to different proteins and applications where the simultaneous presence of internal and C-terminal modifications is desirable.
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154
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Abstract
The development of expressed protein ligation (EPL) widened the scope of questions that could be addressed by mechanistic biochemistry. Protein trans-splicing (PTS) relies on the same basic chemical principles, but utilizes split inteins to tracelessly ligate distinct peptide or polypeptide fragments together with native peptide bonds. Here we present a method to adapt PTS methodologies for their use in live cells, in order to deliver synthetic or native histone modifications. As an example, we provide a protocol to incorporate a small molecule fluorophore into chromatinized histones. The protocol should be easily adaptable to incorporate other modifications to chromatin in vivo.
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155
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Forte N, Benni I, Karu K, Chudasama V, Baker JR. Cysteine-to-lysine transfer antibody fragment conjugation. Chem Sci 2019; 10:10919-10924. [PMID: 32190247 PMCID: PMC7066670 DOI: 10.1039/c9sc03825f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The modification of lysine residues with acylating agents has represented a ubiquitous approach to the construction of antibody conjugates, with the resulting amide bonds being robustly stable and clinically validated. However, the conjugates are highly heterogeneous, due to the presence of numerous lysines on the surface of the protein, and greater control of the sites of conjugation are keenly sought. Here we present a novel approach to achieve the targeted modification of lysines distal to an antibody fragment's binding site, using a disulfide bond as a temporary 'hook' to deliver the acylating agent. This cysteine-to-lysine transfer (CLT) methodology offers greatly improved homogeneity of lysine conjugates, whilst retaining the advantages offered by the formation of amide linkages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafsika Forte
- Department of Chemistry , University College London , 20 Gordon Street , London , WC1H 0AJ , UK . ;
| | - Irene Benni
- Department of Chemistry , University College London , 20 Gordon Street , London , WC1H 0AJ , UK . ;
| | - Kersti Karu
- Department of Chemistry , University College London , 20 Gordon Street , London , WC1H 0AJ , UK . ;
| | - Vijay Chudasama
- Department of Chemistry , University College London , 20 Gordon Street , London , WC1H 0AJ , UK . ;
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa) , Faculty of Pharmacy , Universidade de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - James R Baker
- Department of Chemistry , University College London , 20 Gordon Street , London , WC1H 0AJ , UK . ;
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156
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Bowen CH, Reed TJ, Sargent CJ, Mpamo B, Galazka JM, Zhang F. Seeded Chain-Growth Polymerization of Proteins in Living Bacterial Cells. ACS Synth Biol 2019; 8:2651-2658. [PMID: 31742389 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.9b00362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Microbially produced protein-based materials (PBMs) are appealing due to use of renewable feedstock, low energy requirements, tunable side-chain chemistry, and biodegradability. However, high-strength PBMs typically have high molecular weights (HMW) and repetitive sequences that are difficult to microbially produce due to genetic instability and metabolic burden. We report the development of a biosynthetic strategy termed seeded chain-growth polymerization (SCP) for synthesis of HMW PBMs in living bacterial cells. SCP uses split intein (SI) chemistry to cotranslationally polymerize relatively small, genetically stable material protein subunits, effectively preventing intramolecular cyclization. We apply SCP to bioproduction of spider silk in Escherichia coli, generating HMW spider silk proteins (spidroins) up to 300 kDa, resulting in spidroin fibers of high strength, modulus, and toughness. SCP provides a modular strategy to synthesize HMW, repetitive material proteins, and may facilitate bioproduction of a variety of high-performance PBMs for broad applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jonathan M. Galazka
- Space Biosciences Division, Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Moffett Field, California 94035, United States
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157
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Moon SP, Balana AT, Galesic A, Rakshit A, Pratt MR. Ubiquitination Can Change the Structure of the α-Synuclein Amyloid Fiber in a Site Selective Fashion. J Org Chem 2019; 85:1548-1555. [PMID: 31809571 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.9b02641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Toxic amyloid aggregates are a feature of many neurodegenerative diseases. A number of biochemical and structural studies have demonstrated that not all amyloids of a given protein are equivalent but rather that an aggregating protein can form different amyloid structures or polymorphisms. Different polymorphisms can also induce different amounts of pathology and toxicity in cells and in mice, suggesting that the structural differences may play important roles in disease. However, the features that cause the formation of polymorphisms in vivo are still being uncovered. Posttranslational modifications on several amyloid forming proteins, including the Parkinson's disease causing protein α-synuclein, may be one such cause. Here, we explore whether ubiquitination can induce structural changes in α-synuclein aggregates in vitro. We used protein chemistry to first synthesize ubiquitinated analogues at three different positions using disulfide linkages. After aggregation, these linkages can be reversed, allowing us to make relative comparisons between the structures using a proteinase K assay. We find that, while ubiquitination at residue 6, 23, or 96 inhibits α-synuclein aggregation, only modification at residue 96 causes an alteration in the aggregate structure, providing further evidence that posttranslational modifications may be an important feature in amyloid polymorphism formation.
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158
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Olorunniji FJ, Lawson-Williams M, McPherson AL, Paget JE, Stark WM, Rosser SJ. Control of ϕC31 integrase-mediated site-specific recombination by protein trans-splicing. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:11452-11460. [PMID: 31667500 PMCID: PMC6868429 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Serine integrases are emerging as core tools in synthetic biology and have applications in biotechnology and genome engineering. We have designed a split-intein serine integrase-based system with potential for regulation of site-specific recombination events at the protein level in vivo. The ϕC31 integrase was split into two extein domains, and intein sequences (Npu DnaEN and Ssp DnaEC) were attached to the two termini to be fused. Expression of these two components followed by post-translational protein trans-splicing in Escherichia coli generated a fully functional ϕC31 integrase. We showed that protein splicing is necessary for recombination activity; deletion of intein domains or mutation of key intein residues inactivated recombination. We used an invertible promoter reporter system to demonstrate a potential application of the split intein-regulated site-specific recombination system in building reversible genetic switches. We used the same split inteins to control the reconstitution of a split Integrase-Recombination Directionality Factor fusion (Integrase-RDF) that efficiently catalysed the reverse attR x attL recombination. This demonstrates the potential for split-intein regulation of the forward and reverse reactions using the integrase and the integrase-RDF fusion, respectively. The split-intein integrase is a potentially versatile, regulatable component for building synthetic genetic circuits and devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Femi J Olorunniji
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, Liverpool John Moores University, James Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Makeba Lawson-Williams
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, Liverpool John Moores University, James Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Arlene L McPherson
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Bower Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Jane E Paget
- UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology at the Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology, SynthSys, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JD, UK.,Institute for Bioengineering, University of Edinburgh, Faraday Building, The King's Buildings, Edinburgh, 2 EH9 3DW, UK
| | - W Marshall Stark
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Bower Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Susan J Rosser
- UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology at the Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology, SynthSys, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JD, UK.,Institute for Bioengineering, University of Edinburgh, Faraday Building, The King's Buildings, Edinburgh, 2 EH9 3DW, UK
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159
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Hackl S, Becker CFW. Prion protein-Semisynthetic prion protein (PrP) variants with posttranslational modifications. J Pept Sci 2019; 25:e3216. [PMID: 31713950 PMCID: PMC6899880 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Deciphering the pathophysiologic events in prion diseases is challenging, and the role of posttranslational modifications (PTMs) such as glypidation and glycosylation remains elusive due to the lack of homogeneous protein preparations. So far, experimental studies have been limited in directly analyzing the earliest events of the conformational change of cellular prion protein (PrPC ) into scrapie prion protein (PrPSc ) that further propagates PrPC misfolding and aggregation at the cellular membrane, the initial site of prion infection, and PrP misfolding, by a lack of suitably modified PrP variants. PTMs of PrP, especially attachment of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, have been shown to be crucially involved in the PrPSc formation. To this end, semisynthesis offers a unique possibility to understand PrP behavior invitro and invivo as it provides access to defined site-selectively modified PrP variants. This approach relies on the production and chemoselective linkage of peptide segments, amenable to chemical modifications, with recombinantly produced protein segments. In this article, advances in understanding PrP conversion using semisynthesis as a tool to obtain homogeneous posttranslationally modified PrP will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Hackl
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian F W Becker
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Vienna, Austria
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160
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsuya Maruyama
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Motomu Kanai
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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161
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Abstract
Selectable markers are widely used in transgenesis and genome editing for selecting engineered cells with a desired genotype but the variety of markers is limited. Here we present split selectable markers that each allow for selection of multiple “unlinked” transgenes in the context of lentivirus-mediated transgenesis as well as CRISPR-Cas-mediated knock-ins. Split marker gene segments fused to protein splicing elements called “inteins” can be separately co-segregated with different transgenic vectors, and rejoin via protein trans-splicing to reconstitute a full-length marker protein in host cells receiving all intended vectors. Using a lentiviral system, we create and validate 2-split Hygromycin, Puromycin, Neomycin and Blasticidin resistance genes as well as mScarlet fluorescent proteins. By combining split points, we create 3- and 6-split Hygromycin resistance genes, demonstrating that higher-degree split markers can be generated by a “chaining” design. We adapt the split marker system for selecting biallelically engineered cells after CRISPR gene editing. Future engineering of split markers may allow selection of a higher number of genetic modifications in target cells. Selectable markers are widely used in cell engineering but there is only a limited variety to choose from. Here the authors split markers using inteins, allowing up to six transgene integration events to be selected for with one marker.
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162
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A mesophilic cysteine-less split intein for protein trans-splicing applications under oxidizing conditions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:22164-22172. [PMID: 31611397 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1909825116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Split intein-mediated protein trans-splicing has found extensive applications in chemical biology, protein chemistry, and biotechnology. However, an enduring limitation of all well-established split inteins has been the requirement to carry out the reaction in a reducing environment due to the presence of 1 or 2 catalytic cysteines that need to be in a reduced state for splicing to occur. The concomitant exposure of the fused proteins to reducing agents severely limits the scope of protein trans-splicing by excluding proteins sensitive to reducing conditions, such as those containing critical disulfide bonds. Here we report the discovery, characterization, and engineering of a completely cysteine-less split intein (CL intein) that is capable of efficient trans-splicing at ambient temperatures, without a denaturation step, and in the absence of reducing agents. We demonstrate its utility for the site-specific chemical modification of nanobodies and an antibody Fc fragment by N- and C-terminal trans-splicing with short peptide tags (CysTag) that consist of only a few amino acids and have been prelabeled on a single cysteine using classical cysteine bioconjugation. We also synthesized the short N-terminal fragment of the atypically split CL intein by solid-phase peptide synthesis. Furthermore, using the CL intein in combination with a nanobody-epitope pair as a high-affinity mediator, we showed chemical labeling of the extracellular domain of a cell surface receptor on living mammalian cells with a short CysTag containing a synthetic fluorophore. The CL intein thus greatly expands the scope of applications for protein trans-splicing.
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163
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Abstract
Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative bacterium often found in animal intestinal tracts. Here, we present the genome of the Guernseyvirinae-like E. coli 4s siphophage Snoke. The 44.4-kb genome contains 81 protein-coding genes, for which 33 functions were predicted. The capsid morphogenesis gene in Snoke contains a large intein. Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative bacterium often found in animal intestinal tracts. Here, we present the genome of the Guernseyvirinae-like E. coli 4s siphophage Snoke. The 44.4-kb genome contains 81 protein-coding genes, for which 33 functions were predicted. The capsid morphogenesis gene in Snoke contains a large intein.
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164
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Mahmoodi S, Pourhassan-Moghaddam M, Wood DW, Majdi H, Zarghami N. Current affinity approaches for purification of recombinant proteins. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/23312025.2019.1665406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Mahmoodi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Pourhassan-Moghaddam
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - David W. Wood
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Hasan Majdi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nosratollah Zarghami
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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165
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Matico R, Szewczuk LM, Pietrak B, Chen S, Dul E, Bonnette WG, Meinhold DW, Quinque G, Totoritis R, Lewis T, Grimes M, Fornwald D, McCormick PM, Schaber M, Jiang Y, Bledsoe R, Holbert MA. Modular Protein Ligation: A New Paradigm as a Reagent Platform for Pre-Clinical Drug Discovery. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13078. [PMID: 31511536 PMCID: PMC6739470 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49149-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant resource is spent by drug discovery project teams to generate numerous, yet unique target constructs for the multiple platforms used to drive drug discovery programs including: functional assays, biophysical studies, structural biology, and biochemical high throughput screening campaigns. To improve this process, we developed Modular Protein Ligation (MPL), a combinatorial reagent platform utilizing Expressed Protein Ligation to site-specifically label proteins at the C-terminus with a variety of cysteine-lysine dipeptide conjugates. Historically, such proteins have been chemically labeled non-specifically through surface amino acids. To demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, we first applied MPL to proteins of varying size in different target classes using different recombinant protein expression systems, which were then evaluated in several different downstream assays. A key advantage to the implementation of this paradigm is that one construct can generate multiple final products, significantly streamlining the reagent generation for multiple early drug discovery project teams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalie Matico
- Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, 1400 McKean Rd., Springhouse, Pa, 19477, USA
| | - Lawrence M Szewczuk
- Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, 1400 McKean Rd., Springhouse, Pa, 19477, USA
| | - Beth Pietrak
- Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, 1400 McKean Rd., Springhouse, Pa, 19477, USA
| | - Stephanie Chen
- GlaxoSmithKline, 1250S Collegeville Rd., Collegeville, Pa, 19426, USA
| | - Ed Dul
- GlaxoSmithKline, 1250S Collegeville Rd., Collegeville, Pa, 19426, USA
| | - William G Bonnette
- Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, 1400 McKean Rd., Springhouse, Pa, 19477, USA
| | | | - Geoffrey Quinque
- GlaxoSmithKline, 1250S Collegeville Rd., Collegeville, Pa, 19426, USA
| | - Rachel Totoritis
- GlaxoSmithKline, 1250S Collegeville Rd., Collegeville, Pa, 19426, USA
| | - Tia Lewis
- GlaxoSmithKline, 1250S Collegeville Rd., Collegeville, Pa, 19426, USA
| | - Maggie Grimes
- GlaxoSmithKline, 1250S Collegeville Rd., Collegeville, Pa, 19426, USA
| | - Daniel Fornwald
- Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, 1400 McKean Rd., Springhouse, Pa, 19477, USA
| | | | - Michael Schaber
- Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, 1400 McKean Rd., Springhouse, Pa, 19477, USA
| | - Yong Jiang
- GlaxoSmithKline, 1250S Collegeville Rd., Collegeville, Pa, 19426, USA
| | - Randy Bledsoe
- GlaxoSmithKline, 1250S Collegeville Rd., Collegeville, Pa, 19426, USA
| | - Marc A Holbert
- GlaxoSmithKline, 1250S Collegeville Rd., Collegeville, Pa, 19426, USA.
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166
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Biosynthetic capacity, metabolic variety and unusual biology in the CPR and DPANN radiations. Nat Rev Microbiol 2019; 16:629-645. [PMID: 30181663 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-018-0076-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 216] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Candidate phyla radiation (CPR) bacteria and DPANN (an acronym of the names of the first included phyla) archaea are massive radiations of organisms that are widely distributed across Earth's environments, yet we know little about them. Initial indications are that they are consistently distinct from essentially all other bacteria and archaea owing to their small cell and genome sizes, limited metabolic capacities and often episymbiotic associations with other bacteria and archaea. In this Analysis, we investigate their biology and variations in metabolic capacities by analysis of approximately 1,000 genomes reconstructed from several metagenomics-based studies. We find that they are not monolithic in terms of metabolism but rather harbour a diversity of capacities consistent with a range of lifestyles and degrees of dependence on other organisms. Notably, however, certain CPR and DPANN groups seem to have exceedingly minimal biosynthetic capacities, whereas others could potentially be free living. Understanding of these microorganisms is important from the perspective of evolutionary studies and because their interactions with other organisms are likely to shape natural microbiome function.
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167
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Gramespacher JA, Burton AJ, Guerra LF, Muir TW. Proximity Induced Splicing Utilizing Caged Split Inteins. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:13708-13712. [PMID: 31418547 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b05721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Naturally split inteins drive the ligation of separately expressed polypeptides through a process called protein trans splicing (PTS). The ability to control PTS, so-called conditional protein splicing (CPS), has led to the development of tools to modulate protein structure and function at the post-translational level. CPS applications that utilize proximity as a trigger are especially intriguing as they afford the possibility to activate proteins in both a temporal and spatially targeted manner. In this study, we present the first proximity triggered CPS method that utilizes a naturally split fast splicing intein, Npu. We show that this method is amenable to diverse proximity triggers and capable of reconstituting and locally activating the acetyltransferase p300 in mammalian cells. This technology opens up a range of possibilities for the use of proximity triggered CPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef A Gramespacher
- Department of Chemistry , Princeton University , Frick Laboratory, Princeton , New Jersey 08544 , United States
| | - Antony J Burton
- Department of Chemistry , Princeton University , Frick Laboratory, Princeton , New Jersey 08544 , United States
| | - Luis F Guerra
- Department of Chemistry , Princeton University , Frick Laboratory, Princeton , New Jersey 08544 , United States
| | - Tom W Muir
- Department of Chemistry , Princeton University , Frick Laboratory, Princeton , New Jersey 08544 , United States
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168
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Utilizing intein trans-splicing for in vivo generation of site-specifically modified proteins. Methods Enzymol 2019; 626:203-222. [PMID: 31606075 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2019.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Many cellular processes as well as their associated pathologies are regulated by protein post-translational modifications (PTMs). Understanding the precise roles of these adducts hinges on the development of methods to robustly and site-specifically manipulate proteins in their physiological environments. Recently, ultrafast intein protein trans-splicing (PTS) was harnessed to incorporate site-specific modifications on cellular chromatin in live cells. In this chapter, we present the protocols for the generation of synthetic modifications on native chromatin as well as highlight the capabilities of this methodology.
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169
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Thompson RE, Stevens AJ, Muir TW. Protein engineering through tandem transamidation. Nat Chem 2019; 11:737-743. [PMID: 31263208 PMCID: PMC6711197 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-019-0281-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Semisynthetic proteins engineered to contain non-coded elements such as post-translational modifications (PTMs) represent a powerful class of tools for interrogating biological processes. Here, we introduce a one-pot, chemoenzymatic method that allows broad access to chemically modified proteins. The approach involves a tandem transamidation reaction cascade that integrates intein-mediated protein splicing with enzyme-mediated peptide ligation. We show that this approach can be used to introduce PTMs and biochemical probes into a range of proteins including Cas9 nuclease and the transcriptional regulator MeCP2, which causes Rett syndrome when mutated. The versatility of the approach is further illustrated through the chemical tailoring of histone proteins within a native chromatin setting. We expect our approach will extend the scope of semisynthesis in protein engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Thompson
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Frick Chemistry Laboratory, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Adam J Stevens
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Frick Chemistry Laboratory, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tom W Muir
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Frick Chemistry Laboratory, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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170
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Covalently-assembled single-chain protein nanostructures with ultra-high stability. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3317. [PMID: 31346167 PMCID: PMC6658521 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11285-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein nanostructures with precisely defined geometries have many potential applications in catalysis, sensing, signal processing, and drug delivery. While many de novo protein nanostructures have been assembled via non-covalent intramolecular and intermolecular interactions, a largely unexplored strategy is to construct nanostructures by covalently linking multiple individually folded proteins through site-specific ligations. Here, we report the synthesis of single-chain protein nanostructures with triangular and square shapes made using multiple copies of a three-helix bundle protein and split intein chemistry. Coarse-grained simulations confirm the experimentally observed flexibility of these nanostructures, which is optimized to produce triangular structures with high regularity. These single-chain nanostructures also display ultra-high thermostability, resist denaturation by chaotropes and organic solvents, and have applicability as scaffolds for assembling materials with nanometer resolution. Our results show that site-specific covalent ligation can be used to assemble individually folded proteins into single-chain nanostructures with bespoke architectures and high stabilities. De novo protein nanostructures are typically assembled via top-down approaches. Here, the authors developed a bottom-up approach, using split inteins to ligate multiple copies of a three-helix bundle to create 2D triangular and square-shaped structures with high stability.
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171
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Lennon CW, Stanger MJ, Belfort M. Mechanism of Single-Stranded DNA Activation of Recombinase Intein Splicing. Biochemistry 2019; 58:3335-3339. [PMID: 31318538 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Inteins, or intervening proteins, are mobile genetic elements translated within host polypeptides and removed through protein splicing. This self-catalyzed process breaks two peptide bonds and rejoins the flanking sequences, called N- and C-exteins, with the intein scarlessly escaping the host protein. As these elements have traditionally been viewed as purely selfish genetic elements, recent work has demonstrated that the conditional protein splicing (CPS) of several naturally occurring inteins can be regulated by a variety of environmental cues relevant to the survival of the host organism or crucial to the invading protein function. The RadA recombinase from the archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii represents an intriguing example of CPS, whereby protein splicing is inhibited by interactions between the intein and host protein C-extein. Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), a natural substrate of RadA as well as signal that recombinase activity is needed by the cell, dramatically improves the splicing rate and accuracy. Here, we investigate the mechanism by which ssDNA exhibits this influence and find that ssDNA strongly promotes a specific step of the splicing reaction, cyclization of the terminal asparagine of the intein. Interestingly, inhibitory interactions between the host protein and intein that block splicing localize to this asparagine, suggesting that ssDNA binding alleviates this inhibition to promote splicing. We also find that ssDNA directly influences the position of catalytic nucleophiles required for protein splicing, implying that ssDNA promotes assembly of the intein active site. This work advances our understanding of how ssDNA accelerates RadA splicing, providing important insights into this intriguing example of CPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W Lennon
- Department of Biological Sciences and RNA Institute and Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health , University at Albany , Albany , New York 12222 , United States
| | - Matthew J Stanger
- Department of Biological Sciences and RNA Institute and Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health , University at Albany , Albany , New York 12222 , United States
| | - Marlene Belfort
- Department of Biological Sciences and RNA Institute and Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health , University at Albany , Albany , New York 12222 , United States
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172
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Chow HY, Zhang Y, Matheson E, Li X. Ligation Technologies for the Synthesis of Cyclic Peptides. Chem Rev 2019; 119:9971-10001. [PMID: 31318534 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic peptides have been attracting a lot of attention in recent decades, especially in the area of drug discovery, as more and more naturally occurring cyclic peptides with diverse biological activities have been discovered. Chemical synthesis of cyclic peptides is essential when studying their structure-activity relationships. Conventional peptide cyclization methods via direct coupling have inherent limitations, like the susceptibility to epimerization at the C-terminus, poor solubility of fully protected peptide precursors, and low yield caused by oligomerization. In this regard, chemoselective ligation-mediated cyclization methods have emerged as effective strategies for cyclic peptide synthesis. The toolbox for cyclic peptide synthesis has been expanded substantially in the past two decades, allowing more efficient synthesis of cyclic peptides with various scaffolds and modifications. This Review will explore different chemoselective ligation technologies used for cyclic peptide synthesis that generate both native and unnatural peptide linkages. The practical issues and limitations of different methods will be discussed. The advance in cyclic peptide synthesis will benefit the biological and medicinal study of cyclic peptides, an important class of macrocycles with potentials in numerous fields, notably in therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoi Yee Chow
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry , The University of Hong Kong , Pokfulam Road , Hong Kong SAR , P. R. China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry , The University of Hong Kong , Pokfulam Road , Hong Kong SAR , P. R. China
| | - Eilidh Matheson
- School of Chemistry , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh EH8 9LE , United Kingdom
| | - Xuechen Li
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry , The University of Hong Kong , Pokfulam Road , Hong Kong SAR , P. R. China.,Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts , Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology , Qingdao 266237 , P. R. China
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173
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Shibuta MK, Matsuoka M, Matsunaga S. 2A Peptides Contribute to the Co-Expression of Proteins for Imaging and Genome Editing. CYTOLOGIA 2019. [DOI: 10.1508/cytologia.84.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mio K. Shibuta
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Megumi Matsuoka
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Sachihiro Matsunaga
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science
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174
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Deng Y, Wu T, Wang M, Shi S, Yuan G, Li X, Chong H, Wu B, Zheng P. Enzymatic biosynthesis and immobilization of polyprotein verified at the single-molecule level. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2775. [PMID: 31235796 PMCID: PMC6591319 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10696-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent development of chemical and bio-conjugation techniques allows for the engineering of various protein polymers. However, most of the polymerization process is difficult to control. To meet this challenge, we develop an enzymatic procedure to build polyprotein using the combination of a strict protein ligase OaAEP1 (Oldenlandia affinis asparaginyl endopeptidases 1) and a protease TEV (tobacco etch virus). We firstly demonstrate the use of OaAEP1-alone to build a sequence-uncontrolled ubiquitin polyprotein and covalently immobilize the coupled protein on the surface. Then, we construct a poly-metalloprotein, rubredoxin, from the purified monomer. Lastly, we show the feasibility of synthesizing protein polymers with rationally-controlled sequences by the synergy of the ligase and protease, which are verified by protein unfolding using atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (AFM-SMFS). Thus, this study provides a strategy for polyprotein engineering and immobilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibing Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, P. R. China
| | - Tao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, P. R. China
| | - Mengdi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, P. R. China
| | - Shengchao Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, P. R. China
| | - Guodong Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, P. R. China
| | - Xi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, P. R. China
| | - Hanchung Chong
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
- NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technological University, EMB 06-01, 59 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 636921, Singapore
| | - Bin Wu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
- NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technological University, EMB 06-01, 59 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 636921, Singapore
| | - Peng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, P. R. China.
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175
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Agouridas V, El Mahdi O, Diemer V, Cargoët M, Monbaliu JCM, Melnyk O. Native Chemical Ligation and Extended Methods: Mechanisms, Catalysis, Scope, and Limitations. Chem Rev 2019; 119:7328-7443. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 243] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vangelis Agouridas
- UMR CNRS 8204, Centre d’Immunité et d’Infection de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Institut Pasteur de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Ouafâa El Mahdi
- Faculté Polydisciplinaire de Taza, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, BP 1223 Taza Gare, Morocco
| | - Vincent Diemer
- UMR CNRS 8204, Centre d’Immunité et d’Infection de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Institut Pasteur de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Marine Cargoët
- UMR CNRS 8204, Centre d’Immunité et d’Infection de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Institut Pasteur de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Jean-Christophe M. Monbaliu
- Center for Integrated Technology and Organic Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Liège, Building B6a, Room 3/16a, Sart-Tilman, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Oleg Melnyk
- UMR CNRS 8204, Centre d’Immunité et d’Infection de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Institut Pasteur de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
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176
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Shemsi AM, Khanday FA, Qurashi A, Khalil A, Guerriero G, Siddiqui KS. Site-directed chemically-modified magnetic enzymes: fabrication, improvements, biotechnological applications and future prospects. Biotechnol Adv 2019; 37:357-381. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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177
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Hjelm LC, Nilvebrant J, Nygren PÅ, Nilsson AS, Seijsing J. Lysis of Staphylococcal Cells by Modular Lysin Domains Linked via a Non-covalent Barnase-Barstar Interaction Bridge. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:558. [PMID: 30967850 PMCID: PMC6439198 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage endolysins and bacterial exolysins are capable of enzymatic degradation of the cell wall peptidoglycan layer and thus show promise as a new class of antimicrobials. Both exolysins and endolysins often consist of different modules, which are responsible for enzymatic functions and cell wall binding, respectively. Individual modules from different endo- or exolysins with different binding and enzymatic activities, can via gene fusion technology be re-combined into novel variants for investigations of arrangements of potential clinical interest. The aim of this study was to investigate if separately produced cell wall binding and enzyme modules could be assembled into a functional lysin via a non-covalent affinity interaction bridge composed of the barnase ribonuclease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and its cognate inhibitor barstar, known to form a stable heterodimeric complex. In a proof-of-principle study, using surface plasmon resonance, flow cytometry and turbidity reduction assays, we show that separately produced modules of a lysin cysteine/histidine-dependent amidohydrolase/peptidase (CHAP) from Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage K endolysin (LysK) fused to barnase and a cell wall binding Src homology 3 domain (SH3b) from the S. simulans exolysin lysostaphin fused to barstar can be non-covalently assembled into a functional lysin showing both cell wall binding and staphylolytic activity. We hypothesize that the described principle for assembly of functional lysins from separate modules through appended hetero-dimerization domains has a potential for investigations of also other combinations of enzymatically active and cell wall binding domains for desired applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linnea C Hjelm
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Nilvebrant
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per-Åke Nygren
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders S Nilsson
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Seijsing
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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178
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Arora A, Somasundaram K. Targeted Proteomics Comes to the Benchside and the Bedside: Is it Ready for Us? Bioessays 2019; 41:e1800042. [PMID: 30734933 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201800042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
While mass spectrometry (MS)-based quantification of small molecules has been successfully used for decades, targeted MS has only recently been used by the proteomics community to investigate clinical questions such as biomarker verification and validation. Targeted MS holds the promise of a paradigm shift in the quantitative determination of proteins. Nevertheless, targeted quantitative proteomics requires improvisation in making sample processing, instruments, and data analysis more accessible. In the backdrop of the genomic era reaching its zenith, certain questions arise: is the proteomic era about to come? If we are at the beginning of a new future for protein quantification, are we prepared to incorporate targeted proteomics at the benchside for basic research and at the bedside for the good of patients? Here, an overview of the knowledge required to perform targeted proteomics as well as its applications is provided. A special emphasis is placed on upcoming areas such as peptidomics, proteoform research, and mass spectrometry imaging, where the utilization of targeted proteomics is expected to bring forth new avenues. The limitations associated with the acceptance of this technique for mainstream usage are also highlighted. Also see the video abstract here https://youtu.be/mieB47B8gZw.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Arora
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Kumaravel Somasundaram
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
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179
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Böcker JK, Dörner W, Mootz HD. Light-control of the ultra-fast Gp41-1 split intein with preserved stability of a genetically encoded photo-caged amino acid in bacterial cells. Chem Commun (Camb) 2019; 55:1287-1290. [PMID: 30633261 DOI: 10.1039/c8cc09204d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Inteins change the structure and function of their host protein in a unique way and the Gp41-1 split intein is the fastest protein trans-splicing intein known to date. To design a photo-activatable variant, we have incorporated ortho-nitrobenzyl-tyrosine (ONBY) at the position of a structurally conserved phenylalanine in the Gp41-1-N fragment. Using irradiation at 365 nm, the splicing reaction was triggered with virtually unchanged rates. The partial cellular reduction of the nitro group in ONBY, previously observed during bacterial protein expression for several photo-caged amino acids, was overcome by periplasmatic expression and by using an E. coli K12(DE3) strain instead of BL21(DE3). Together, our findings provide new tools for the artificial photo-control of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana K Böcker
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Muenster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
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180
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Osunsade A, Prescott NA, Hebert JM, Ray DM, Jmeian Y, Lorenz IC, David Y. A Robust Method for the Purification and Characterization of Recombinant Human Histone H1 Variants. Biochemistry 2019; 58:171-176. [PMID: 30585724 PMCID: PMC6541009 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b01060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Higher order compaction of the eukaryotic genome is key to the regulation of all DNA-templated processes, including transcription. This tightly controlled process involves the formation of mononucleosomes, the fundamental unit of chromatin, packaged into higher order architectures in an H1 linker histone-dependent process. While much work has been done to delineate the precise mechanism of this event in vitro and in vivo, major gaps still exist, primarily due to a lack of molecular tools. Specifically, there has never been a successful purification and biochemical characterization of all human H1 variants. Here we present a robust method to purify H1 and illustrate its utility in the purification of all somatic variants and one germline variant. In addition, we performed a first ever side-by-side biochemical comparison, which revealed a gradient of nucleosome binding affinities and compaction capabilities. These data provide new insight into H1 redundancy and lay the groundwork for the mechanistic investigation of disease-driving mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adewola Osunsade
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, New York, NY
| | - Nicholas A. Prescott
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, New York, NY
| | - Jakob M. Hebert
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, New York, NY
| | - Devin M. Ray
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, New York, NY
- Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, NY
| | - Yazen Jmeian
- Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, New York, NY
| | - Ivo C. Lorenz
- Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, New York, NY
| | - Yael David
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, New York, NY
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
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181
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Takatsuji R, Shinbara K, Katoh T, Goto Y, Passioura T, Yajima R, Komatsu Y, Suga H. Ribosomal Synthesis of Backbone-Cyclic Peptides Compatible with In Vitro Display. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:2279-2287. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b05327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Takatsuji
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Koki Shinbara
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Takayuki Katoh
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yuki Goto
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Toby Passioura
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Ryo Yajima
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yamato Komatsu
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Suga
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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182
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Affiliation(s)
- Seiji SAKAMOTO
- Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Kyoto University
| | - Itaru HAMACHI
- Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Kyoto University
- ERATO Innovative Molecular Technology for Neuroscience Project, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
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183
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Sarmiento C, Camarero JA. Biotechnological Applications of Protein Splicing. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2019; 20:408-424. [PMID: 30734675 PMCID: PMC7135711 DOI: 10.2174/1389203720666190208110416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Protein splicing domains, also called inteins, have become a powerful biotechnological tool for applications involving molecular biology and protein engineering. Early applications of inteins focused on self-cleaving affinity tags, generation of recombinant polypeptide α-thioesters for the production of semisynthetic proteins and backbone cyclized polypeptides. The discovery of naturallyoccurring split-inteins has allowed the development of novel approaches for the selective modification of proteins both in vitro and in vivo. This review gives a general introduction to protein splicing with a focus on their role in expanding the applications of intein-based technologies in protein engineering and chemical biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corina Sarmiento
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA9033 USA
| | - Julio A. Camarero
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA9033 USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA9033 USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-9121, USA
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184
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Reduction of non-specific toxicity of immunotoxin by intein mediated reconstitution on target cells. Int Immunopharmacol 2019; 66:288-295. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2018.11.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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185
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Mihăşan M, Babii C, Aslebagh R, Channaveerappa D, Dupree EJ, Darie CC. Exploration of Nicotine Metabolism in Paenarthrobacter nicotinovorans pAO1 by Microbial Proteomics. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1140:515-529. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-15950-4_30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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186
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Straub CT, Counts JA, Nguyen DMN, Wu CH, Zeldes BM, Crosby JR, Conway JM, Otten JK, Lipscomb GL, Schut GJ, Adams MWW, Kelly RM. Biotechnology of extremely thermophilic archaea. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2018; 42:543-578. [PMID: 29945179 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuy012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the extremely thermophilic archaea (Topt ≥ 70°C) may be the most primitive extant forms of life, they have been studied to a limited extent relative to mesophilic microorganisms. Many of these organisms have unique biochemical and physiological characteristics with important biotechnological implications. These include methanogens that generate methane, fermentative anaerobes that produce hydrogen gas with high efficiency, and acidophiles that can mobilize base, precious and strategic metals from mineral ores. Extremely thermophilic archaea have also been a valuable source of thermoactive, thermostable biocatalysts, but their use as cellular systems has been limited because of the general lack of facile genetics tools. This situation has changed recently, however, thereby providing an important avenue for understanding their metabolic and physiological details and also opening up opportunities for metabolic engineering efforts. Along these lines, extremely thermophilic archaea have recently been engineered to produce a variety of alcohols and industrial chemicals, in some cases incorporating CO2 into the final product. There are barriers and challenges to these organisms reaching their full potential as industrial microorganisms but, if these can be overcome, a new dimension for biotechnology will be forthcoming that strategically exploits biology at high temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher T Straub
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
| | - James A Counts
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
| | - Diep M N Nguyen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Chang-Hao Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Benjamin M Zeldes
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
| | - James R Crosby
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
| | - Jonathan M Conway
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
| | - Jonathan K Otten
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
| | - Gina L Lipscomb
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Gerrit J Schut
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Michael W W Adams
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Robert M Kelly
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
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187
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Sutherland AR, Alam MK, Geyer CR. Post‐translational Assembly of Protein Parts into Complex Devices by Using SpyTag/SpyCatcher Protein Ligase. Chembiochem 2018; 20:319-328. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201800538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley R. Sutherland
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Saskatchewan Saskatoon SK S7N 5E5 Canada
| | - Md. Kausar Alam
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular ResearchUniversity of Toronto Toronto ON M5S3E1 Canada
| | - C. Ronald Geyer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of Saskatchewan Saskatoon SK S7N 5E5 Canada
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188
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Böcker JK, Dörner W, Mootz HD. Rational design of an improved photo-activatable intein for the production of head-to-tail cyclized peptides. Biol Chem 2018; 400:417-427. [DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2018-0367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Head-to-tail cyclization of genetically encoded peptides and proteins can be achieved with the split intein circular ligation of peptides and proteins (SICLOPPS) method by inserting the desired polypeptide between the C- and N-terminal fragments of a split intein. To prevent the intramolecular protein splicing reaction from spontaneously occurring upon folding of the intein domain, we have previously rendered this process light-dependent in a photo-controllable variant of the M86 intein, using genetically encoded ortho-nitrobenzyltyrosine at a structurally important position. Here, we report improvements on this photo-intein with regard to expression yields and rate of cyclic peptide formation. The temporally defined photo-activation of the purified stable intein precursor enabled a kinetic analysis that identified the final resolution of the branched intermediate as the rate-determining individual reaction of the three steps catalyzed by the intein. With this knowledge, we prepared an R143H mutant with a block F histidine residue. This histidine is conserved in most inteins and helps catalyze the third step of succinimide formation. The engineered intein formed the cyclic peptide product up to 3-fold faster within the first 15 min after irradiation, underlining the potential of protein splicing pathway engineering. The broader utility of the intein was also shown by formation of the 14-mer sunflower trypsin inhibitor 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana K. Böcker
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Institute of Biochemistry , University of Münster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , D-48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Wolfgang Dörner
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Institute of Biochemistry , University of Münster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , D-48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Henning D. Mootz
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Institute of Biochemistry , University of Münster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , D-48149 Münster , Germany
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189
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Pearson CS, Nemati R, Liu B, Zhang J, Scalabrin M, Li Z, Li H, Fabris D, Belfort M, Belfort G. Structure of an engineered intein reveals thiazoline ring and provides mechanistic insight. Biotechnol Bioeng 2018; 116:709-721. [PMID: 30450538 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We have engineered an intein which spontaneously and reversibly forms a thiazoline ring at the native N-terminal Lys-Cys splice junction. We identified conditions to stablize the thiazoline ring and provided the first crystallographic evidence, at 1.54 Å resolution, for its existence at an intein active site. The finding bolsters evidence for a tetrahedral oxythiazolidine splicing intermediate. In addition, the pivotal mutation maps to a highly conserved B-block threonine, which is now seen to play a causative role not only in ground-state destabilization of the scissile N-terminal peptide bond, but also in steering the tetrahedral intermediate toward thioester formation, giving new insight into the splicing mechanism. We demonstrated the stability of the thiazoline ring at neutral pH as well as sensitivity to hydrolytic ring opening under acidic conditions. A pH cycling strategy to control N-terminal cleavage is proposed, which may be of interest for biotechnological applications requiring a splicing activity switch, such as for protein recovery in bioprocessing.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Seth Pearson
- Howard P Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
| | - Reza Nemati
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York, Albany, New York
| | - Binbin Liu
- Laboratory of Computational & Structural Biology, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
| | - Jing Zhang
- Laboratory of Computational & Structural Biology, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
| | - Matteo Scalabrin
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York, Albany, New York
| | - Zhong Li
- Laboratory of Computational & Structural Biology, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
| | - Hongmin Li
- Laboratory of Computational & Structural Biology, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York
| | - Dan Fabris
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York, Albany, New York
| | - Marlene Belfort
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York.,Department of Biological Sciences, Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York
| | - Georges Belfort
- Howard P Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
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190
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Palei S, Becher KS, Nienberg C, Jose J, Mootz HD. Bacterial Cell-Surface Display of Semisynthetic Cyclic Peptides. Chembiochem 2018; 20:72-77. [PMID: 30216604 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201800552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Semisynthetic cyclic peptides containing both non-proteinogenic building blocks, as the synthetic part, and a genetically encoded sequence amenable to DNA-based randomization hold great potential to expand the chemical space in the quest for novel bioactive peptides. Key to an efficient selection of novel binders to biomacromolecules is a robust method to link their genotype and phenotype. A novel bacterial cell surface display technology has been developed to present cyclic peptides composed of synthetic and genetically encoded fragments in their backbones. The fragments were combined by protein trans-splicing and intramolecular oxime ligation. To this end, a split intein half and an unnatural amino acid were displayed with the genetically encoded part on the surface of Escherichia coli. Addition of the synthetic fragment equipped with the split intein partner and an aminooxy moiety, as well as the application of a pH-shift protocol, resulted in the onsurface formation of the semisynthetic cyclic peptide. This approach will serve for the generation of cyclic peptide libraries suitable for selection by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and more generally enables chemical modification of proteins on the bacterial surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubhendu Palei
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Muenster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Strasse 2, 48149, Münster, Germany.,International Graduate School of Chemistry (GSC-MS), University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Kira S Becher
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Muenster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Strasse 2, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian Nienberg
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Muenster, PharmaCampus, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Joachim Jose
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Muenster, PharmaCampus, 48149, Münster, Germany.,International Graduate School of Chemistry (GSC-MS), University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Henning D Mootz
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Muenster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Strasse 2, 48149, Münster, Germany.,International Graduate School of Chemistry (GSC-MS), University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
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191
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Abstract
With the increasing utilization of high-throughput screening for lead identification in drug discovery, the need for easily constructed and diverse libraries which cover significant chemical space is greater than ever. Cyclic peptides address this need; they combine the advantageous properties of peptides (ease of production, high diversity, high potential specificity) with increased resistance to proteolysis and often increased biological activity (due to conformational locking). There are a number of techniques for the generation and screening of cyclic peptide libraries. As drug discovery moves toward tackling challenging targets, such as protein-protein interactions, cyclic peptide libraries are expected to continue producing hits where small molecule libraries may be stymied. However, it is important to design robust systems for the generation and screening of these large libraries, and to be able to make sense of structure-activity relationships in these highly variable scaffolds. There are a plethora of possible modifications that can be made to cyclic peptides, which is both a weakness and a strength of these scaffolds; high variability will allow more precise tuning of leads to targets, but exploring the whole range of modifications may become an overwhelming challenge.
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192
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Friedel K, Popp MA, Matern JCJ, Gazdag EM, Thiel IV, Volkmann G, Blankenfeldt W, Mootz HD. A functional interplay between intein and extein sequences in protein splicing compensates for the essential block B histidine. Chem Sci 2018; 10:239-251. [PMID: 30713635 PMCID: PMC6333167 DOI: 10.1039/c8sc01074a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Steric bulk can compensate for a catalytically critical histidine in an intein's active site and promote the N–S acyl shift.
Inteins remove themselves from a precursor protein by protein splicing. Due to the concomitant structural changes of the host protein, this self-processing reaction has enabled many applications in protein biotechnology and chemical biology. We show that the evolved M86 mutant of the Ssp DnaB intein displays a significantly improved tolerance towards non-native amino acids at the N-terminally flanking (–1) extein position compared to the parent intein, in the form of both an artificially trans-splicing split intein and the cis-splicing mini-intein. Surprisingly, side chains with increased steric bulk compared to the native Gly(–1) residue, including d-amino acids, were found to compensate for the essential block B histidine in His73Ala mutants in the initial N–S acyl shift of the protein splicing pathway. In the case of the M86 intein, large (–1) side chains can even rescue protein splicing activity as a whole. With the comparison of three crystal structures, namely of the M86 intein as well as of its Gly(–1)Phe and Gly(–1)Phe/His73Ala mutants, our data supports a model in which the intein's active site can exert a strain by varying mechanisms on the different angles of the scissile bond at the extein–intein junction to effect a ground-state destabilization. The compensatory mechanism of the block B histidine is the first example for the direct functional role of an extein residue in protein splicing. It sheds new light on the extein–intein interplay and on possible consequences of their co-evolution as well as on the laboratory engineering of improved inteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Friedel
- Institute of Biochemistry , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany .
| | - Monika A Popp
- Structure and Function of Proteins , Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research , Inhoffenstraße 7 , 38124 , Braunschweig , Germany
| | - Julian C J Matern
- Institute of Biochemistry , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany .
| | - Emerich M Gazdag
- Structure and Function of Proteins , Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research , Inhoffenstraße 7 , 38124 , Braunschweig , Germany
| | - Ilka V Thiel
- Institute of Biochemistry , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany .
| | - Gerrit Volkmann
- Institute of Biochemistry , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany .
| | - Wulf Blankenfeldt
- Structure and Function of Proteins , Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research , Inhoffenstraße 7 , 38124 , Braunschweig , Germany.,Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics , Technische Universität Braunschweig , Spielmannstraße 7 , 38106 Braunschweig , Germany
| | - Henning D Mootz
- Institute of Biochemistry , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany .
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193
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Stevens AJ, Sekar G, Gramespacher JA, Cowburn D, Muir TW. An Atypical Mechanism of Split Intein Molecular Recognition and Folding. J Am Chem Soc 2018; 140:11791-11799. [PMID: 30156841 PMCID: PMC7232844 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b07334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Split inteins associate to trigger protein splicing in trans, a post-translational modification in which protein sequences fused to the intein pair are ligated together in a traceless manner. Recently, a family of naturally split inteins has been identified that is split at a noncanonical location in the primary sequence. These atypically split inteins show considerable promise in protein engineering applications; however, the mechanism by which they associate is unclear and must be different from that of previously characterized canonically split inteins due to unique topological restrictions. Here, we use a consensus design strategy to generate an atypical split intein pair (Cat) that has greatly improved activity and is amenable to detailed biochemical and biophysical analysis. Guided by the solution structure of Cat, we show that the association of the fragments involves a disorder-to-order structural transition driven by hydrophobic interactions. This molecular recognition mechanism satisfies the topological constraints of the intein fold and, importantly, ensures that premature chemistry does not occur prior to fragment complementation. Our data lead a common blueprint for split intein complementation in which localized structural rearrangements are used to drive folding and regulate protein-splicing activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J. Stevens
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Frick Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Giridhar Sekar
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, United States
| | - Josef A. Gramespacher
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Frick Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - David Cowburn
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, United States
| | - Tom W. Muir
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Frick Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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194
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Huang SQ, Han BB, Li YM, Chen YX. A site-specific branching poly-glutamate tag mediates intracellular protein delivery by cationic lipids. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 503:671-676. [PMID: 29908182 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.06.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular protein delivery is of significance for cellular protein analysis and therapeutic development, but remains challenging technically. Herein, we report a general and highly potent strategy for intracellular protein delivery based on commercially available cationic lipids. In this strategy, a designed double branching poly-glutamate tag is site-specifically attached onto the C-terminal of protein cargos via expressed protein ligation (EPL), which mediates the entrapment of proteins into cationic liposomes driven by electrostatic interaction. The resultant protein-lipid complexes can enter into cytosol with a high efficiency even at the low protein concentration while maintaining protein's biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Qi Huang
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Center for Brain Disorders Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, PR China; Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Bei-Bei Han
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Center for Brain Disorders Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, PR China; Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Yan-Mei Li
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Center for Brain Disorders Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, PR China; Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Yong-Xiang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
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195
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Matern JCJ, Friedel K, Binschik J, Becher KS, Yilmaz Z, Mootz HD. Altered Coordination of Individual Catalytic Steps in Different and Evolved Inteins Reveals Kinetic Plasticity of the Protein Splicing Pathway. J Am Chem Soc 2018; 140:11267-11275. [PMID: 30111090 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b04794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Protein splicing performed by inteins provides powerful opportunities to manipulate protein structure and function, however, detailed mechanistic knowledge of the multistep pathway to help engineering optimized inteins remains scarce. A typical intein has to coordinate three steps to maximize the product yield of ligated exteins. We have revealed a new type of coordination in the Ssp DnaB intein, in which the initial N- S acyl shift appears rate-limiting and acts as an up-regulation switch to dramatically accelerate the last step of succinimide formation, which is thus coupled to the first step. The structure-activity relationship at the N-terminal scissile bond was studied with atomic precision using a semisynthetic split intein. We show that the removal of the extein acyl group from the α-amino moiety of the intein's first residue is strictly required and sufficient for the up-regulation switch. Even an acetyl group as the smallest possible extein moiety completely blocked the switch. Furthermore, we investigated the M86 intein, a mutant with faster splicing kinetics previously obtained by laboratory evolution of the Ssp DnaB intein, and the individual impact of its eight mutations. The succinimide formation was decoupled from the first step in the M86 intein, but the acquired H143R mutation acts as a brake to prevent premature C-terminal cleavage and thereby maximizes splicing yields. Together, these results revealed a high degree of plasticity in the kinetic coordination of the splicing pathway. Furthermore, our study led to the rational design of improved M86 mutants with the highest yielding trans-splicing and fastest trans-cleavage activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian C J Matern
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Kristina Friedel
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Jens Binschik
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Kira-Sophie Becher
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Zahide Yilmaz
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Henning D Mootz
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany
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196
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Jeon H, Lee E, Kim D, Lee M, Ryu J, Kang C, Kim S, Kwon Y. Cell-Based Biosensors Based on Intein-Mediated Protein Engineering for Detection of Biologically Active Signaling Molecules. Anal Chem 2018; 90:9779-9786. [PMID: 30028129 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b01481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Live-cell-based biosensors have emerged as a useful tool for biotechnology and chemical biology. Genetically encoded sensor cells often use bimolecular fluorescence complementation or fluorescence resonance energy transfer to build a reporter unit that suffers from nonspecific signal activation at high concentrations. Here, we designed genetically encoded sensor cells that can report the presence of biologically active molecules via fluorescence-translocation based on split intein-mediated conditional protein trans-splicing (PTS) and conditional protein trans-cleavage (PTC) reactions. In this work, the target molecules or the external stimuli activated intein-mediated reactions, which resulted in activation of the fluorophore-conjugated signal peptide. This approach fully valued the bond-making and bond-breaking features of intein-mediated reactions in sensor construction and thus eliminated the interference of false-positive signals resulting from the mere binding of fragmented reporters. We could also avoid the necessity of designing split reporters to refold into active structures upon reconstitution. These live-cell-based sensors were able to detect biologically active signaling molecules, such as Ca2+ and cortisol, as well as relevant biological stimuli, such as histamine-induced Ca2+ stimuli and the glucocorticoid receptor agonist, dexamethasone. These live-cell-based sensing systems hold large potential for applications such as drug screening and toxicology studies, which require functional information about targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjin Jeon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering (BK21 plus) , Dongguk University , Seoul 04620 , Korea
| | - Euiyeon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering (BK21 plus) , Dongguk University , Seoul 04620 , Korea
| | - Dahee Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering (BK21 plus) , Dongguk University , Seoul 04620 , Korea
| | - Minhyung Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering (BK21 plus) , Dongguk University , Seoul 04620 , Korea
| | - Jeahee Ryu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering (BK21 plus) , Dongguk University , Seoul 04620 , Korea
| | - Chungwon Kang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering (BK21 plus) , Dongguk University , Seoul 04620 , Korea
| | - Soyoun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering (BK21 plus) , Dongguk University , Seoul 04620 , Korea
| | - Youngeun Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering (BK21 plus) , Dongguk University , Seoul 04620 , Korea
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197
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Pishesha N, Ingram JR, Ploegh HL. Sortase A: A Model for Transpeptidation and Its Biological Applications. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2018; 34:163-188. [PMID: 30110557 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-100617-062527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Molecular biologists and chemists alike have long sought to modify proteins with substituents that cannot be installed by standard or even advanced genetic approaches. We here describe the use of transpeptidases to achieve these goals. Living systems encode a variety of transpeptidases and peptide ligases that allow for the enzyme-catalyzed formation of peptide bonds, and protein engineers have used directed evolution to enhance these enzymes for biological applications. We focus primarily on the transpeptidase sortase A, which has become popular over the past few years for its ability to perform a remarkably wide variety of protein modifications, both in vitro and in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Novalia Pishesha
- Program in Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; .,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Jessica R Ingram
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - Hidde L Ploegh
- Program in Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA;
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198
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Bowen CH, Dai B, Sargent CJ, Bai W, Ladiwala P, Feng H, Huang W, Kaplan DL, Galazka JM, Zhang F. Recombinant Spidroins Fully Replicate Primary Mechanical Properties of Natural Spider Silk. Biomacromolecules 2018; 19:3853-3860. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b00980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Wenwen Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Jonathan M. Galazka
- Space Biosciences Division, Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Moffett Field, California 94035, United States
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199
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Protein Engineering Strategies to Expand CRISPR-Cas9 Applications. Int J Genomics 2018; 2018:1652567. [PMID: 30155473 PMCID: PMC6098869 DOI: 10.1155/2018/1652567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of precise and modulated methods for customized manipulation of DNA is an important objective for the study and engineering of biological processes and is essential for the optimization of gene therapy, metabolic flux, and synthetic gene networks. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat- (CRISPR-) associated protein 9 is an RNA-guided site-specific DNA-binding complex that can be reprogrammed to specifically interact with a desired DNA sequence target. CRISPR-Cas9 has been used in a wide variety of applications ranging from basic science to the clinic, such as gene therapy, gene regulation, modifying epigenomes, and imaging chromosomes. Although Cas9 has been successfully used as a precise tool in all these applications, some limitations have also been reported, for instance (i) a strict dependence on a protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM) sequence, (ii) aberrant off-target activity, (iii) the large size of Cas9 is problematic for CRISPR delivery, and (iv) lack of modulation of protein binding and endonuclease activity, which is crucial for precise spatiotemporal control of gene expression or genome editing. These obstacles hinder the use of CRISPR for disease treatment and in wider biotechnological applications. Protein-engineering approaches offer solutions to overcome the limitations of Cas9 and generate robust and efficient tools for customized DNA manipulation. Here, recent protein-engineering approaches for expanding the versatility of the Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) is reviewed, with an emphasis on studies that improve or develop novel protein functions through domain fusion or splitting, rational design, and directed evolution.
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200
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Hu X, Lai CYN, Sivakumar T, Wang H, Ng KL, Lam CC, Wong WKR. Novel strategy for expression of authentic and bioactive human basic fibroblast growth factor in Bacillus subtilis. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:7061-7069. [PMID: 29951857 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9176-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Inteins, also known as "protein introns," have been found to be present in many microbial species and widely employed for the expression and purification of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli. However, interestingly, until now there has not been much information on the identification and application of inteins to protein expression in Bacillus subtilis. In this article, for the first time, despite the likelihood of absence of inteins in B. subtilis, this bacterium was shown to be able to facilitate auto-catalytic cleavages of fusions formed between inteins and recombinant proteins. Employing a construct expressing the intein, Ssp DnaB, (DnaB), which was fused at its N-terminus with the cellulose-binding domain (CellBD) of an endoglucanase encoded by the cenA gene of Cellulomonas fimi, the construct was demonstrated to be capable of mediating intracellular expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), followed by auto-processing of the CellBD-DnaB-bFGF fusion to result in bFGF possessing the 146-residue authentic structure. The mentioned fusion was shown to result in a high yield of 84 mg l-1 of biologically active bFGF. Future work in improving the growth of B. subtilis may enable the use of this bacterium, working in cooperation with inteins, to result in a new platform for efficient expression of valuable proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuhua Hu
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cheuk Yin Nelson Lai
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - T Sivakumar
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - K L Ng
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - C C Lam
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - W K R Wong
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
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