1
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Moreno-Gutierrez DS, Del Toro-Ríos X, Martinez-Sulvaran NJ, Perez-Altamirano MB, Hernandez-Garcia A. Programming the Cellular Uptake of Protein-Based Viromimetic Nanoparticles for Enhanced Delivery. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:1563-1573. [PMID: 36877960 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Viral mimetics is a noteworthy strategy to design efficient delivery systems without the safety drawbacks and engineering difficulties of modifying viral vectors. The triblock polypeptide CSB was previously designed de novo to self-assemble with DNA into nanocomplexes called artificial virus-like particles (AVLPs) due to their similarities to viral particles. Here, we show how we can incorporate new blocks into the CSB polypeptide to enhance its transfection without altering its self-assembly capabilities and the stability and morphology of the AVLPs. The addition of a short peptide (aurein) and/or a large protein (transferrin) to the AVLPs improved their internalization and specific targeting to cells by up to 11 times. Overall, these results show how we can further program the cellular uptake of the AVLPs with a wide range of bioactive blocks. This can pave the way to develop programmable and efficient gene delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Moreno-Gutierrez
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Engineering and Bionanotechnology, Department of Chemistry of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Chemistry, UNAM, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ximena Del Toro-Ríos
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Engineering and Bionanotechnology, Department of Chemistry of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Chemistry, UNAM, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Natalia J Martinez-Sulvaran
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Engineering and Bionanotechnology, Department of Chemistry of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Chemistry, UNAM, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mayra B Perez-Altamirano
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Engineering and Bionanotechnology, Department of Chemistry of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Chemistry, UNAM, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Armando Hernandez-Garcia
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Engineering and Bionanotechnology, Department of Chemistry of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Chemistry, UNAM, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
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2
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de Bruijn R, Wielstra PCM, Calcines-Cruz C, van Waveren T, Hernandez-Garcia A, van der Schoot P. A kinetic model for the impact of packaging signal mimics on genome encapsulation. Biophys J 2022; 121:2583-2599. [PMID: 35642255 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.05.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Inspired by recent experiments on the spontaneous assembly of virus-like particles from a solution containing a synthetic coat protein and double-stranded DNA, we put forward a kinetic model that has as main ingredients a stochastic nucleation and a deterministic growth process. The efficiency and rate of DNA packaging strongly increase after tiling the DNA with CRISPR-Cas proteins at predesignated locations, mimicking assembly signals in viruses. Our model shows that treating these proteins as nucleation-inducing diffusion barriers is sufficient to explain the experimentally observed increase in encapsulation efficiency, but only if the nucleation rate is sufficiently high. We find an optimum in the encapsulation kinetics for conditions where the number of packaging signal mimics is equal to the number of nucleation events that can occur during the time required to fully encapsulate the DNA template, presuming that the nucleation events can only take place adjacent to a packaging signal. Our theory is in satisfactory agreement with the available experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- René de Bruijn
- Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Carlos Calcines-Cruz
- Department of Chemistry of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Tom van Waveren
- Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Armando Hernandez-Garcia
- Department of Chemistry of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Paul van der Schoot
- Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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3
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Cao M, Zhang Z, Zhang X, Wang Y, Wu J, Liu Z, Sun L, Wang D, Yue T, Han Y, Wang Y, Wang Y, Wang M. Peptide Self-assembly into stable Capsid-Like nanospheres and Co-assembly with DNA to produce smart artificial viruses. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 615:395-407. [PMID: 35150952 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.01.181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Smart artificial viruses have been successfully developed by co-assembly of de novo designed peptides with DNA, which achieved stimuli-responsibility and efficient gene transfection in cancer cells. The peptides were designed to incorporate several functional segments, including a hydrophobic aromatic segment to drive self-assembly, two or more cysteines to regulate the assemblage shape and stabilize the assembled nanostructures via forming disulfide bonds, several lysines to facilitate co-assembly with DNA and binding to cell membranes, and an enzyme-cleavable segment to introduce cancer sensitivity. The rationally designed peptides self-assembled into stable nanospheres with a uniform diameter of < 10 nm, which worked as capsid-like subunits to further interact with DNA to produce hierarchical virus-mimicking structures by encapsulating DNA in the interior. Such artificial viruses can effectively protect DNA from nuclease digestion and achieve efficient genome release by enzyme-triggered structure disassembly, which ensured a high level of gene transfection in tumor cells. The system emulates very well the structural and functional properties of natural viruses from the aspects of capsid formation, genome package and gene transfection, which is highly promising for application as efficient gene vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiwen Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing and Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao 266580, China.
| | - Zijin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing and Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Xiaoyang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing and Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing and Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Jingjing Wu
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zhihong Liu
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Dong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing and Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Tongtao Yue
- Institute of Coastal Environmental Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
| | - Yuchun Han
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, CAS Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Science, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yingxiong Wang
- Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 27 South Taoyuan Road, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Yilin Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, CAS Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Science, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Ming Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, CAS Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 China.
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4
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Zhou W, Liu L, Huang J, Cai Y, Cohen Stuart MA, de Vries R, Wang J. Supramolecular virus-like particles by co-assembly of triblock polypolypeptide and PAMAM dendrimers. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:5044-5049. [PMID: 33928336 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00290b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Virus-like particles are of special interest as functional delivery vehicles in a variety of fields ranging from nanomedicine to materials science. Controlled formation of virus-like particles relies on manipulating the assembly of the viral coat proteins. Herein, we report a new assembly system based on a triblock polypolypeptide C4-S10-BK12 and -COONa terminated PAMAM dendrimers. The polypolypeptide has a cationic BK12 block with 12 lysines; its binding with anionic PAMAM triggers the folding of the peptide's middle silk-like block and leads to formation of virus-like nanorods, stabilized against aggregation by the long hydrophilic "C" block of the polypeptide. Varying the dendrimer/polypeptide mixing ratio hardly influences the structure and size of the nanorod. However, increasing the dendrimer generation, that is, increasing the dendrimer size results in increased particle length and height, without affecting the width of the nanorod. The branched structure and well-defined size of the dendrimers allows delicate control of the particle size; it is impossible to achieve similar control over assembly of the polypeptide with linear polyelectrolyte as template. In conclusion, we report a novel protein assembling system with properties resembling a viral coat; the findings may therefore be helpful for designing functional virus-like particles like vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Zhou
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, 200237, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lei Liu
- Process Department, East China Engineering Science and Technology Co., Ltd, 70 East Wangjiang Road, 230024, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianan Huang
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, 200237, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ying Cai
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, 200237, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Martien A Cohen Stuart
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, 200237, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Renko de Vries
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Junyou Wang
- State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, 200237, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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5
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Balasco N, Diaferia C, Morelli G, Vitagliano L, Accardo A. Amyloid-Like Aggregation in Diseases and Biomaterials: Osmosis of Structural Information. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:641372. [PMID: 33748087 PMCID: PMC7966729 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.641372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery that the polypeptide chain has a remarkable and intrinsic propensity to form amyloid-like aggregates endowed with an extraordinary stability is one of the most relevant breakthroughs of the last decades in both protein/peptide chemistry and structural biology. This observation has fundamental implications, as the formation of these assemblies is systematically associated with the insurgence of severe neurodegenerative diseases. Although the ability of proteins to form aggregates rich in cross-β structure has been highlighted by recent studies of structural biology, the determination of the underlying atomic models has required immense efforts and inventiveness. Interestingly, the progressive molecular and structural characterization of these assemblies has opened new perspectives in apparently unrelated fields. Indeed, the self-assembling through the cross-β structure has been exploited to generate innovative biomaterials endowed with promising mechanical and spectroscopic properties. Therefore, this structural motif has become the fil rouge connecting these diversified research areas. In the present review, we report a chronological recapitulation, also performing a survey of the structural content of the Protein Data Bank, of the milestones achieved over the years in the characterization of cross-β assemblies involved in the insurgence of neurodegenerative diseases. A particular emphasis is given to the very recent successful elucidation of amyloid-like aggregates characterized by remarkable molecular and structural complexities. We also review the state of the art of the structural characterization of cross-β based biomaterials by highlighting the benefits of the osmosis of information between these two research areas. Finally, we underline the new promising perspectives that recent successful characterizations of disease-related amyloid-like assemblies can open in the biomaterial field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Balasco
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Carlo Diaferia
- Department of Pharmacy, Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides (CIRPeB), University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Morelli
- Department of Pharmacy, Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides (CIRPeB), University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Vitagliano
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonella Accardo
- Department of Pharmacy, Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides (CIRPeB), University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
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6
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Willems L, van Westerveld L, Roberts S, Weitzhandler I, Calcines Cruz C, Hernandez-Garcia A, Chilkoti A, Mastrobattista E, van der Oost J, de Vries R. Nature of Amorphous Hydrophilic Block Affects Self-Assembly of an Artificial Viral Coat Polypeptide. Biomacromolecules 2019; 20:3641-3647. [PMID: 31418550 PMCID: PMC6794640 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b00512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Consensus motifs for sequences of both crystallizable and amorphous blocks in silks and natural structural analogues of silks vary widely. To design novel silklike polypeptides, an important question is therefore how the nature of either the crystallizable or the amorphous block affects the self-assembly and resulting physical properties of silklike polypeptides. We address herein the influence of the amorphous block on the self-assembly of a silklike polypeptide that was previously designed to encapsulate single DNA molecules into rod-shaped viruslike particles. The polypeptide has a triblock architecture, with a long N-terminal amorphous block, a crystallizable midblock, and a C-terminal DNA-binding block. We compare the self-assembly behavior of a triblock with a very hydrophilic collagen-like amorphous block (GXaaYaa)132 to that of a triblock with a less hydrophilic elastin-like amorphous block (GSGVP)80. The amorphous blocks have similar lengths and both adopt a random coil structure in solution. Nevertheless, atomic force microscopy revealed significant differences in the self-assembly behavior of the triblocks. If collagen-like amorphous blocks are used, there is a clear distinction between very short polypeptide-only fibrils and much longer fibrils with encapsulated DNA. If elastin-like amorphous blocks are used, DNA is still encapsulated, but the polypeptide-only fibrils are now much longer and their size distribution partially overlaps with that of the encapsulated DNA fibrils. We attribute the difference to the more hydrophilic nature of the collagen-like amorphous block, which more strongly opposes the growth of polypeptide-only fibrils than the elastin-like amorphous blocks. Our work illustrates that differences in the chemical nature of amorphous blocks can strongly influence the self-assembly and hence the functionality of engineered silklike polypeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lione Willems
- Physical
Chemistry and Soft Matter and Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708
WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Larissa van Westerveld
- Physical
Chemistry and Soft Matter and Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708
WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Roberts
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Isaac Weitzhandler
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Carlos Calcines Cruz
- Institute
of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry of Biomacromolecules, National Autonomous University of Mexico, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Armando Hernandez-Garcia
- Institute
of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry of Biomacromolecules, National Autonomous University of Mexico, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ashutosh Chilkoti
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Enrico Mastrobattista
- Department
of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS),
Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - John van der Oost
- Physical
Chemistry and Soft Matter and Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708
WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Renko de Vries
- Physical
Chemistry and Soft Matter and Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708
WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
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