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Boyton I, Goodchild SC, Diaz D, Elbourne A, Collins-Praino LE, Care A. Characterizing the Dynamic Disassembly/Reassembly Mechanisms of Encapsulin Protein Nanocages. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:823-836. [PMID: 35036749 PMCID: PMC8757444 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c05472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Encapsulins, self-assembling icosahedral protein nanocages derived from prokaryotes, represent a versatile set of tools for nanobiotechnology. However, a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying encapsulin self-assembly, disassembly, and reassembly is lacking. Here, we characterize the disassembly/reassembly properties of three encapsulin nanocages that possess different structural architectures: T = 1 (24 nm), T = 3 (32 nm), and T = 4 (42 nm). Using spectroscopic techniques and electron microscopy, encapsulin architectures were found to exhibit varying sensitivities to the denaturant guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl), extreme pH, and elevated temperature. While all three encapsulins showed the capacity to reassemble following GuHCl-induced disassembly (within 75 min), only the smallest T = 1 nanocage reassembled after disassembly in basic pH (within 15 min). Furthermore, atomic force microscopy revealed that all encapsulins showed a significant loss of structural integrity after undergoing sequential disassembly/reassembly steps. These findings provide insights into encapsulins' disassembly/reassembly dynamics, thus informing their future design, modification, and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- India Boyton
- School
of Life Sciences, University of Technology
Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia
- ARC
Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics, Macquarie University, Macquarie
Park, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Sophia C. Goodchild
- Department
of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South
Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Dennis Diaz
- Department
of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South
Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Aaron Elbourne
- School
of Science, College of Science, Engineering and Health, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Lyndsey E. Collins-Praino
- Adelaide
Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
- ARC
Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics, Macquarie University, Macquarie
Park, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Andrew Care
- School
of Life Sciences, University of Technology
Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia
- ARC
Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics, Macquarie University, Macquarie
Park, New South Wales 2109, Australia
- ARC Centre
of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie
University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales 2109, Australia
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Rodríguez JM, Allende-Ballestero C, Cornelissen JJLM, Castón JR. Nanotechnological Applications Based on Bacterial Encapsulins. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:1467. [PMID: 34206092 PMCID: PMC8229669 DOI: 10.3390/nano11061467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Encapsulins are proteinaceous nanocontainers, constructed by a single species of shell protein that self-assemble into 20-40 nm icosahedral particles. Encapsulins are structurally similar to the capsids of viruses of the HK97-like lineage, to which they are evolutionarily related. Nearly all these nanocontainers encase a single oligomeric protein that defines the physiological role of the complex, although a few encapsulate several activities within a single particle. Encapsulins are abundant in bacteria and archaea, in which they participate in regulation of oxidative stress, detoxification, and homeostasis of key chemical elements. These nanocontainers are physically robust, contain numerous pores that permit metabolite flux through the shell, and are very tolerant of genetic manipulation. There are natural mechanisms for efficient functionalization of the outer and inner shell surfaces, and for the in vivo and in vitro internalization of heterologous proteins. These characteristics render encapsulin an excellent platform for the development of biotechnological applications. Here we provide an overview of current knowledge of encapsulin systems, summarize the remarkable toolbox developed by researchers in this field, and discuss recent advances in the biomedical and bioengineering applications of encapsulins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier M. Rodríguez
- Department of Structure of Macromolecules, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (J.M.R.); (C.A.-B.)
| | - Carolina Allende-Ballestero
- Department of Structure of Macromolecules, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (J.M.R.); (C.A.-B.)
| | - Jeroen J. L. M. Cornelissen
- Department of Molecules and Materials, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands;
| | - José R. Castón
- Department of Structure of Macromolecules, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (J.M.R.); (C.A.-B.)
- Nanobiotechnology Associated Unit CNB-CSIC-IMDEA, Campus Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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