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Depenveiller C, Baud S, Belloy N, Bochicchio B, Dandurand J, Dauchez M, Pepe A, Pomès R, Samouillan V, Debelle L. Structural and physical basis for the elasticity of elastin. Q Rev Biophys 2024; 57:e3. [PMID: 38501287 DOI: 10.1017/s0033583524000040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Elastin function is to endow vertebrate tissues with elasticity so that they can adapt to local mechanical constraints. The hydrophobicity and insolubility of the mature elastin polymer have hampered studies of its molecular organisation and structure-elasticity relationships. Nevertheless, a growing number of studies from a broad range of disciplines have provided invaluable insights, and several structural models of elastin have been proposed. However, many questions remain regarding how the primary sequence of elastin (and the soluble precursor tropoelastin) governs the molecular structure, its organisation into a polymeric network, and the mechanical properties of the resulting material. The elasticity of elastin is known to be largely entropic in origin, a property that is understood to arise from both its disordered molecular structure and its hydrophobic character. Despite a high degree of hydrophobicity, elastin does not form compact, water-excluding domains and remains highly disordered. However, elastin contains both stable and labile secondary structure elements. Current models of elastin structure and function are drawn from data collected on tropoelastin and on elastin-like peptides (ELPs) but at the tissue level, elasticity is only achieved after polymerisation of the mature elastin. In tissues, the reticulation of tropoelastin chains in water defines the polymer elastin that bears elasticity. Similarly, ELPs require polymerisation to become elastic. There is considerable interest in elastin especially in the biomaterials and cosmetic fields where ELPs are widely used. This review aims to provide an up-to-date survey of/perspective on current knowledge about the interplay between elastin structure, solvation, and entropic elasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Depenveiller
- UMR URCA/CNRS 7369, Matrice Extracellulaire et Dynamique Cellulaire (MEDyC), UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, SFR CAP Santé, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire UMR 7025 CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Stéphanie Baud
- UMR URCA/CNRS 7369, Matrice Extracellulaire et Dynamique Cellulaire (MEDyC), UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, SFR CAP Santé, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Nicolas Belloy
- UMR URCA/CNRS 7369, Matrice Extracellulaire et Dynamique Cellulaire (MEDyC), UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, SFR CAP Santé, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Brigida Bochicchio
- Laboratory of Bioinspired Materials, Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Jany Dandurand
- CIRIMAT UMR 5085, Université Paul Sabatier, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Manuel Dauchez
- UMR URCA/CNRS 7369, Matrice Extracellulaire et Dynamique Cellulaire (MEDyC), UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, SFR CAP Santé, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Antonietta Pepe
- Laboratory of Bioinspired Materials, Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Régis Pomès
- Molecular Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Valérie Samouillan
- CIRIMAT UMR 5085, Université Paul Sabatier, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Laurent Debelle
- UMR URCA/CNRS 7369, Matrice Extracellulaire et Dynamique Cellulaire (MEDyC), UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, SFR CAP Santé, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
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2
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Strader RL, Shmidov Y, Chilkoti A. Encoding Structure in Intrinsically Disordered Protein Biomaterials. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:302-311. [PMID: 38194282 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
In nature, proteins range from those with highly ordered secondary and tertiary structures to those that completely lack a well-defined three-dimensional structure, termed intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). IDPs are generally characterized by one or more segments that have a compositional bias toward small hydrophilic amino acids and proline residues that promote structural disorder and are called intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). The combination of IDRs with ordered regions and the interactions between the two determine the phase behavior, structure, and function of IDPs. Nature also diversifies the structure of proteins and thereby their functions by hybridization of the proteins with other moieties such as glycans and lipids; for instance, post-translationally glycosylated and lipidated proteins are important cell membrane components. Additionally, diversity in protein structure and function is achieved in nature through cross-linking proteins within themselves or with other domains to create various topologies. For example, an essential characteristic of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is the cross-linking of its network components, including proteins such as collagen and elastin, as well as polysaccharides such as hyaluronic acid (HA). Inspired by nature, synthetic IDP (SynIDP)-based biomaterials can be designed by employing similar strategies with the goal of introducing structural diversity and hence unique physiochemical properties. This Account describes such materials produced over the past decade and following one or more of the following approaches: (1) incorporating highly ordered domains into SynIDPs, (2) conjugating SynIDPs to other moieties through either genetically encoded post-translational modification or chemical conjugation, and (3) engineering the topology of SynIDPs via chemical modification. These approaches introduce modifications to the primary structure of SynIDPs, which are then translated to unique three-dimensional secondary and tertiary structures. Beginning with completely disordered SynIDPs as the point of origin, structure may be introduced into SynIDPs by each of these three unique approaches individually along orthogonal axes or by combinations of the three, enabling bioinspired designs to theoretically span the entire range of three-dimensional structural possibilities. Furthermore, the resultant structures span a wide range of length scales, from nano- to meso- to micro- and even macrostructures. In this Account, emphasis is placed on the physiochemical properties and structural features of the described materials. Conjugates of SynIDPs to synthetic polymers and materials achieved by simple mixing of components are outside the scope of this Account. Related biomedical applications are described briefly. Finally, we note future directions for the design of functional SynIDP-based biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Strader
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Yulia Shmidov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Ashutosh Chilkoti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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3
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Babiak PM, Minnich J, Torres JE, Madduri S, Liu JC. Recombinant Elastin-Based Bioelastomers for Biomedical Applications. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2720:101-113. [PMID: 37775660 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3469-1_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant elastin-based proteins (ELPs) are used in applications that include therapeutics, drug delivery, and tissue engineering due to their biocompatibility and unique ability to undergo simple coacervation. Here, we describe a cost-effective method to purify ELPs utilizing salt precipitation and their reversible phase transition property when heated above their lower critical solution temperature (LCST). Furthermore, we describe the post-translational modification of converting tyrosine residues to L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) for adhesive applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina M Babiak
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Jason Minnich
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Jessica E Torres
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Sathvik Madduri
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Julie C Liu
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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4
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Morozova TI, García NA, Matsarskaia O, Roosen-Runge F, Barrat JL. Structural and Dynamical Properties of Elastin-Like Peptides near Their Lower Critical Solution Temperature. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:1912-1923. [PMID: 36877869 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00124] [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
Elastin-like peptides (ELPs) are artificially derived intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) mimicking the hydrophobic repeat unit in the protein elastin. ELPs are characterized by a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in aqueous media. Here, we investigate the sequence GVG(VPGVG)3 over a wide range of temperatures (below, around, and above the LCST) and peptide concentrations employing all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, where we focus on the role of intra- and interpeptide interactions. We begin by investigating the structural properties of a single peptide that demonstrates a hydrophobic collapse with temperature, albeit moderate, because the sequence length is short. We observe a change in the interaction between two peptides from repulsive to attractive with temperature by evaluating the potential of mean force, indicating an LCST-like behavior. Next, we explore dynamical and structural properties of peptides in multichain systems. We report the formation of dynamical aggregates with coil-like conformation, in which valine central residues play an important role. Moreover, the lifetime of contacts between chains strongly depends on the temperature and can be described by a power-law decay that is consistent with the LCST-like behavior. Finally, the peptide translational and internal motion are slowed by an increase in the peptide concentration and temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicolás A García
- Instituto de Física del Sur (IFISUR), Departamento de Física, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), CONICET, Av. L. N. Alem 1253, B8000CPB Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Olga Matsarskaia
- Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Felix Roosen-Runge
- Department of Biomedical Science and Biofilms Research Center for Biointerfaces (BRCB), Malmö University, 20506 Malmö, Sweden
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5
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Zhang T, Peruch F, Weber A, Bathany K, Fauquignon M, Mutschler A, Schatz C, Garbay B. Solution behavior and encapsulation properties of fatty acid-elastin-like polypeptide conjugates. RSC Adv 2023; 13:2190-2201. [PMID: 36712617 PMCID: PMC9835928 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra06603c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing new biomaterials is an active research area owing to their applications in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and drug delivery. Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are good candidates for these applications because they are biosourced, biocompatible and biodegradable. With the aim of developing ELP-based micelles for drug delivery applications we have synthesized 15 acyl-ELP compounds by conjugating myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic or linoleic acid to the N-terminus of three ELPs differing in molar mass. The ELP-fatty acid conjugates have interesting solution behavior. They form micelles at low temperatures and aggregate above the cloud point temperature (Tcp). The critical micelle concentration depends on the fatty acid nature while the micelle size is mainly determined by the ELP block length. We were able to show that ELPs were better hydrated in the micelles than in their individual state in solution. The micelles are stable in phosphate-buffered saline at temperatures below the Tcp, which can vary between 20 °C and 38 °C depending on the length or hydrophilicity of the ELP. Acyl-ELP micelles were loaded with the small hydrophobic molecule Nile red. The encapsulation efficiency and release kinetics showed that the best loading conditions were achieved with the largest ELP conjugated to stearic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhang
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO UMR 5629F-33600 PessacFrance
| | - Frédéric Peruch
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO UMR 5629F-33600 PessacFrance
| | - Amélie Weber
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO UMR 5629F-33600 PessacFrance
| | - Katell Bathany
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN UMR 5248F-33600 PessacFrance
| | - Martin Fauquignon
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO UMR 5629F-33600 PessacFrance
| | - Angela Mutschler
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO UMR 5629F-33600 PessacFrance
| | - Christophe Schatz
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO UMR 5629F-33600 PessacFrance
| | - Bertrand Garbay
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO UMR 5629F-33600 PessacFrance
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6
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Elastin-like polypeptide-based micelles as a promising platform in nanomedicine. J Control Release 2023; 353:713-726. [PMID: 36526018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
New and improved nanomaterials are constantly being developed for biomedical purposes. Nanomaterials based on elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) have increasingly shown potential over the past two decades. These polymers are artificial proteins of which the design is based on human tropoelastin. Due to this similarity, ELP-based nanomaterials are biodegradable and therefore well suited to drug delivery. The assembly of ELP molecules into nanoparticles spontaneously occurs at temperatures above a transition temperature (Tt). The ELP sequence influences both the Tt and the physicochemical properties of the assembled nanomaterial. Nanoparticles with desired properties can hence be designed by choosing the appropriate sequence. A promising class of ELP nanoparticles are micelles assembled from amphiphilic ELP diblock copolymers. Such micelles are generally uniform and well defined. Furthermore, site-specific attachment of cargo to the hydrophobic block results in micelles with the cargo shielded inside their core, while conjugation to the hydrophilic block causes the cargo to reside in the corona where it is available for interactions. Such control over particle design is one of the main contributing factors for the potential of ELP-based micelles as a drug delivery system. Additionally, the micelles are easily loaded with protein or peptide-based cargo by expressing it as a fusion protein. Small molecule drugs and other cargo types can be either covalently conjugated to ELP domains or physically entrapped inside the micelle core. This review aims to give an overview of ELP-based micelles and their applications in nanomedicine.
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7
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Recombinant protein polymers as carriers of chemotherapeutic agents. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 190:114544. [PMID: 36176240 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Chemotherapy is the standard of care for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. However, its use is associated with severe toxicity and resistance arising mainly due to non-specificity, resulting in disease progression. The advancement in recombinant technology has led to the synthesis of genetically engineered protein polymers like Elastin-like polypeptide (ELP), Silk-like polypeptide (SLP), hybrid protein polymers with specific sequences to impart precisely controlled properties and to target proteins that have provided satisfactory preclinical outcomes. Such protein polymers have been exploited for the formulation and delivery of chemotherapeutics for biomedical applications. The use of such polymers has not only solved the limitation of conventional chemotherapy but has also improved the therapeutic index of typical drug delivery systems. This review, therefore, summarizes the development of such advanced recombinant protein polymers designed to deliver chemotherapeutics and also discusses the key challenges associated with their current usage and their application in the future.
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8
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Li Y, Champion JA. Self-assembling nanocarriers from engineered proteins: Design, functionalization, and application for drug delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 189:114462. [PMID: 35934126 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembling proteins are valuable building blocks for constructing drug nanocarriers due to their self-assembly behavior, monodispersity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Genetic and chemical modifications allow for modular design of protein nanocarriers with effective drug encapsulation, targetability, stimuli responsiveness, and in vivo half-life. Protein nanocarriers have been developed to deliver various therapeutic molecules including small molecules, proteins, and nucleic acids with proven in vitro and in vivo efficacy. This article reviews recent advances in protein nanocarriers that are not derived from natural protein nanostructures, such as protein cages or virus like particles. The protein nanocarriers described here are self-assembled from rationally or de novo designed recombinant proteins, as well as recombinant proteins complexed with other biomolecules, presenting properties that are unique from those of natural protein carriers. Design, functionalization, and therapeutic application of protein nanocarriers will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yirui Li
- BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States; BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States.
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9
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Sist P, Bandiera A, Urbani R, Passamonti S. Macromolecular and Solution Properties of the Recombinant Fusion Protein HUG. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:3336-3348. [PMID: 35876275 PMCID: PMC9364316 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
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The recombinant fusion protein HELP-UnaG (HUG) is a bifunctional
product that exhibits human elastin-like polypeptide (HELP)-specific
thermal behavior, defined as a reverse phase transition, and UnaG-specific
bilirubin-dependent fluorescence emission. HUG provides an interesting
model to understand how its two domains influence each other’s
properties. Turbidimetric, calorimetric, and light scattering measurements
were used to determine different parameters for the reverse temperature
transition and coacervation behavior. This shows that the UnaG domain
has a measurable but limited effect on the thermal properties of HELP.
Although the HELP domain decreased the affinity of UnaG for bilirubin,
HUG retained the property of displacing bilirubin from bovine serum
albumin and thus remains one of the strongest bilirubin-binding proteins
known to date. These data demonstrate that HELP can be used to create
new bifunctional fusion products that pave the way for expanded technological
applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Sist
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 1, Trieste I-34127, Italy
| | - Antonella Bandiera
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 1, Trieste I-34127, Italy
| | - Ranieri Urbani
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 1, Trieste I-34127, Italy
| | - Sabina Passamonti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 1, Trieste I-34127, Italy
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10
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Kulkarni P, Leite VBP, Roy S, Bhattacharyya S, Mohanty A, Achuthan S, Singh D, Appadurai R, Rangarajan G, Weninger K, Orban J, Srivastava A, Jolly MK, Onuchic JN, Uversky VN, Salgia R. Intrinsically disordered proteins: Ensembles at the limits of Anfinsen's dogma. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2022; 3:011306. [PMID: 38505224 PMCID: PMC10903413 DOI: 10.1063/5.0080512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are proteins that lack rigid 3D structure. Hence, they are often misconceived to present a challenge to Anfinsen's dogma. However, IDPs exist as ensembles that sample a quasi-continuum of rapidly interconverting conformations and, as such, may represent proteins at the extreme limit of the Anfinsen postulate. IDPs play important biological roles and are key components of the cellular protein interaction network (PIN). Many IDPs can interconvert between disordered and ordered states as they bind to appropriate partners. Conformational dynamics of IDPs contribute to conformational noise in the cell. Thus, the dysregulation of IDPs contributes to increased noise and "promiscuous" interactions. This leads to PIN rewiring to output an appropriate response underscoring the critical role of IDPs in cellular decision making. Nonetheless, IDPs are not easily tractable experimentally. Furthermore, in the absence of a reference conformation, discerning the energy landscape representation of the weakly funneled IDPs in terms of reaction coordinates is challenging. To understand conformational dynamics in real time and decipher how IDPs recognize multiple binding partners with high specificity, several sophisticated knowledge-based and physics-based in silico sampling techniques have been developed. Here, using specific examples, we highlight recent advances in energy landscape visualization and molecular dynamics simulations to discern conformational dynamics and discuss how the conformational preferences of IDPs modulate their function, especially in phenotypic switching. Finally, we discuss recent progress in identifying small molecules targeting IDPs underscoring the potential therapeutic value of IDPs. Understanding structure and function of IDPs can not only provide new insight on cellular decision making but may also help to refine and extend Anfinsen's structure/function paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Kulkarni
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA
| | - Vitor B. P. Leite
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Susmita Roy
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741246, India
| | - Supriyo Bhattacharyya
- Translational Bioinformatics, Center for Informatics, Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA
| | - Atish Mohanty
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA
| | - Srisairam Achuthan
- Center for Informatics, Division of Research Informatics, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA
| | - Divyoj Singh
- Center for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Rajeswari Appadurai
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Govindan Rangarajan
- Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Keith Weninger
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | | | - Anand Srivastava
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Center for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Jose N. Onuchic
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005-1892, USA
| | | | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA
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11
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Pica A, Graziano G. A Rationalization of the Effect That TMAO, Glycine, and Betaine Exert on the Collapse of Elastin-like Polypeptides. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12020140. [PMID: 35207427 PMCID: PMC8876568 DOI: 10.3390/life12020140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are soluble in water at low temperature, but, on increasing the temperature, they undergo a reversible and cooperative, coil-to-globule collapse transition. It has been shown that the addition to water of either trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), glycine, or betaine causes a significant decrease of T(collapse) in the case of a specific ELP. Traditional rationalizations of these phenomena do not work in the present case. We show that an alternative approach, grounded in the magnitude of the solvent-excluded volume effect and its temperature dependence (strictly linked to the translational entropy of solvent and co-solute molecules), is able to rationalize the occurrence of ELP collapse in water on raising the temperature, as well as the T(collapse) lowering caused by the addition to water of either TMAO, glycine, or betaine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pica
- ALPX, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France;
| | - Giuseppe Graziano
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università del Sannio, Via Francesco de Sanctis snc, 82100 Benevento, Italy
- Correspondence:
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12
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Li NK, Xie Y, Yingling YG. Insights into Structure and Aggregation Behavior of Elastin-like Polypeptide Coacervates: All-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:8627-8635. [PMID: 34288691 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c02822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The stimuli-responsive character of elastin-like polypeptides (ELP) has led to their use in a wide range of applications. The temperature-triggered aggregation, or LCST behavior, of ELPs is a complex and multistep phenomenon, which proposed to include the structural transitions, loss of hydrophobic hydration, expulsion of water molecules and physical association of chains. Thus, the origin and detailed mechanism of LCST in ELPs is difficult to elucidate. Here, to gain insights into structure and dynamics of coacervates, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of 27 90-mer ELPs in explicit water at 350 K. Two sequences, poly(VGPVG)18 and poly(VPGVG)18, were examined due to their experimentally observed differences in thermal hysteresis albeit identical overall composition but different arrangement of amino acids. The simulation results indicate that surface hydrophobicity of poly(VGPVG) aggregate is less than that of the poly(VPGVG) aggregate, and there are marked changes in torsion angles and the propensities of secondary structural motifs during the aggregation process. Moreover, there are significant differences between structure of a single polypeptide in water and structure within the aggregate. Overall, the aggregation process is driven by the formation of peptide-peptide interactions whereas the average hydration of peptides remains almost the same between dissolved and aggregated states. Even though the aggregation is driven by the hydrophobic interactions, ELP coacervate has no hydrophobic core and contains many water molecules. Overall, our findings provide an insight into the sequence-dependent structure of coacervates and molecular behavior of individual peptides during aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan K Li
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Yuxin Xie
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Yaroslava G Yingling
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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13
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López Barreiro D, Minten IJ, Thies JC, Sagt CMJ. Structure-Property Relationships of Elastin-like Polypeptides: A Review of Experimental and Computational Studies. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021. [PMID: 34251181 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c00145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Elastin is a structural protein with outstanding mechanical properties (e.g., elasticity and resilience) and biologically relevant functions (e.g., triggering responses like cell adhesion or chemotaxis). It is formed from its precursor tropoelastin, a 60-72 kDa water-soluble and temperature-responsive protein that coacervates at physiological temperature, undergoing a phenomenon termed lower critical solution temperature (LCST). Inspired by this behavior, many scientists and engineers are developing recombinantly produced elastin-inspired biopolymers, usually termed elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs). These ELPs are generally comprised of repetitive motifs with the sequence VPGXG, which corresponds to repeats of a small part of the tropoelastin sequence, X being any amino acid except proline. ELPs display LCST and mechanical properties similar to tropoelastin, which renders them promising candidates for the development of elastic and stimuli-responsive protein-based materials. Unveiling the structure-property relationships of ELPs can aid in the development of these materials by establishing the connections between the ELP amino acid sequence and the macroscopic properties of the materials. Here we present a review of the structure-property relationships of ELPs and ELP-based materials, with a focus on LCST and mechanical properties and how experimental and computational studies have aided in their understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego López Barreiro
- DSM Biotechnology Center, DSM, Alexander Fleminglaan 1, 2613 AX Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Inge J Minten
- DSM Materials Science Center - Applied Science Center, DSM, Urmonderbaan 22, 6160 BB, Geleen, The Netherlands
| | - Jens C Thies
- DSM Biomedical, DSM, Koestraat 1, 6167 RA, Geleen, The Netherlands
| | - Cees M J Sagt
- DSM Biotechnology Center, DSM, Alexander Fleminglaan 1, 2613 AX Delft, The Netherlands
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14
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Cannarozzo G, Bennardo L, Zingoni T, Pieri L, Duca ED, Nisticò SP. Histological Skin Changes After Treatment with 675 nm Laser. PHOTOBIOMODULATION PHOTOMEDICINE AND LASER SURGERY 2021; 39:617-621. [PMID: 34115944 DOI: 10.1089/photob.2020.4927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the histological effects of a new 675-nm laser device on the skin. Background: Innovative technologies based on physical principles have been proposed in recent years to improve the treatment of aging skin. Laser technology is currently being studied for its potential in skin care treatments. A new 675-nm laser device is being used for the treatment of hyperpigmentation, scars, and various types of wrinkles. Methods: A 42-year-old man underwent a 675-nm RedTouch® laser session for the treatment of aging signs on the neck. Two 2.5-mm biopsies were taken from the treated area and the adjacent area untreated with the laser, 45 days after the procedure. Comparison of the immunohistochemistry findings and assessment of the collagen and elastin fibers were performed by a board-certified dermatopathologist. Results: Skin biopsies revealed histological changes that comprised proliferation of new collagen fibers in the treated area, when compared to that in the untreated areas. Conclusions: Histological analysis suggests that the 675-nm laser has a potential role in stimulating collagen remodeling, with a significant increase in thin and new collagen fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luigi Bennardo
- Unit of Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Tiziano Zingoni
- Unit of Lasers in Dermatology, Università Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Pieri
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Ester Del Duca
- Unit of Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Steven Paul Nisticò
- Unit of Dermatology, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
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15
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Laaß K, Quiroz FG, Hunold J, Roberts S, Chilkoti A, Hinderberger D. Nanoscopic Dynamics Dictate the Phase Separation Behavior of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins. Biomacromolecules 2021; 22:1015-1025. [PMID: 33403854 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Many intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) in nature may undergo liquid-liquid phase separation to assemble membraneless organelles with varied liquid-like properties and stability/dynamics. While solubility changes underlie these properties, little is known about hydration dynamics in phase-separating IDPs. Here, by studying IDP polymers of similar composition but distinct liquid-like dynamics and stability upon separation, namely, thermal hysteresis, we probe at a nanoscopic level hydration/dehydration dynamics in IDPs as they reversibly switch between phase separation states. Using continuous-wave electron paramagnetic resonance (CW EPR) spectroscopy, we observe distinct backbone and amino acid side-chain hydration dynamics in these IDPs. This nanoscopic view reveals that side-chain rehydration creates a dynamic water shield around the main-chain backbone that effectively and counterintuitively prevents water penetration and governs IDP solubility. We find that the strength of this superficial water shell is a sequence feature of IDPs that encodes for the stability of their phase-separated assemblies. Our findings expose and offer an initial understanding of how the complexity of nanoscopic water-IDP interactions dictate their rich phase separation behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Laaß
- Institut für Chemie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Felipe García Quiroz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281, United States
| | - Johannes Hunold
- Institut für Chemie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Stefan Roberts
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281, United States
| | - Ashutosh Chilkoti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281, United States
| | - Dariush Hinderberger
- Institut für Chemie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
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16
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Zhang T, Peruch F, Wirotius AL, Ibarboure E, Rosu F, Schatz C, Garbay B. Unprecedented coupling of natural rubber and ELP: synthesis, characterization and self-assembly properties. Polym Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1py00969a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Developing new biomaterials is an active research area owing to their applications in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhang
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | - Frédéric Peruch
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | | | - Emmanuel Ibarboure
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | - Frédéric Rosu
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS & Inserm, IECB, UMS3033, US001, 33607 Pessac, France
| | - Christophe Schatz
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | - Bertrand Garbay
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, F-33600, Pessac, France
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17
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Taylor PA, Huang H, Kiick KL, Jayaraman A. Placement of Tyrosine Residues as a Design Element for Tuning the Phase Transition of Elastin-peptide-containing Conjugates: Experiments and Simulations. MOLECULAR SYSTEMS DESIGN & ENGINEERING 2020; 5:1239-1254. [PMID: 33796336 PMCID: PMC8009313 DOI: 10.1039/d0me00051e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Elastin-like polypeptides (ELP) have been widely used in the biomaterials community due to their controllable, thermoresponsive properties and biocompatibility. Motivated by our previous work on the effect of tryptophan (W) substitutions on the LCST-like transitions of short ELPs, we studied a series of short ELPs containing tyrosine (Y) and/or phenylalanine (F) guest residues with only 5 or 6 pentapeptide repeat units. A combination of experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations illustrated that the substitution of F with Y guest residues impacted the transition temperature (Tt) of short ELPs when conjugated to collagen-like-peptides (CLP), with a reduction in the transition temperature observed only after substitution of at least two residues. Placement of the Y residues near the N-terminal end of the ELP, away from the tethering point to the CLP, resulted in a lower Tt than that observed for peptides with the Y residues near the tethering point. Atomistic and coarse-grained MD simulations indicated an increase in intra- and inter- peptide hydrogen bonds in systems containing Y guest residues that are suggested to enhance the ability of the peptides to coacervate, with a concomitantly lower Tt. Simulations also revealed that the placement of Y-containing pentads near the N-terminus (i.e., away from CLP tethering point) versus C-terminus of the ELP led to more π-π stacking interactions at low temperatures, in agreement with our experimental observations of a lower Tt. Overall, this study provides mechanistic insights into the driving forces for the LCST-like transitions of ELPs and offers additional means for tuning the Tt of short ELPs for biomedical applications such as on-demand drug delivery and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip A. Taylor
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 USA
| | - Haofu Huang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 USA
| | - Kristi L. Kiick
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 USA
| | - Arthi Jayaraman
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 USA
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18
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Qiu Y, Lin Y, Zhang G. Unique silica biomimetic mineralization of acidic elastin-like polypeptides without hydroxyl and charged residues. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 153:224-231. [PMID: 32142846 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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19
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Glucose-induced structural changes and anomalous diffusion of elastin. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2020; 188:110776. [PMID: 31945631 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2020.110776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Elastin is the principal protein component of elastic fiber, which renders essential elasticity to connective tissues and organs. Here, we adopted a multi-technique approach to study the transport, viscoelastic, and structural properties of elastin exposed to various glucose concentrations (X=[gluc]/[elastin]). Laser light scattering experiments revealed an anomalous behavior (anomaly exponent, β <0.6) of elastin. In this regime (β <0.6), the diffusion constant decreases by 40% in the presence of glucose (X> 10), which suggests the structural change in elastin. We have observed a peculiar inverse temperature transition of elastin protein, which is a measure of structural change, at 40 °C through rheology experiments. Moreover, we observe its shift towards lower temperature with a higher X. FTIR revealed that the presence of glucose (X < 10) favors the formation of β-sheet structure in elastin. However, for X > 10, dominative crowding effect reduces the mobility of protein and favors the increase in β-turns and γ-turns by 25 ± 1% over the β-sheet (β-sheet decreases by 12 ± 0.8%) and α-helix (α-helix decreases by 13 ± 0.8%). The stiffness of protein is estimated through Flory characteristic ratio, C∞ and found to be increasing with X. These glucose-based structural changes in the elastin may explain the role of glucose in age-related issues of the skin.
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20
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Chittoor B, Krishnarjuna B, Morales RAV, Norton RS. The Single Disulfide-Directed β-Hairpin Fold: Role of Disulfide Bond in Folding and Effect of an Additional Disulfide Bond on Stability. Aust J Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/ch19386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Disulfide bonds play a key role in the oxidative folding, conformational stability, and functional activity of many peptides. A few disulfide-rich peptides with privileged architecture such as the inhibitor cystine knot motif have garnered attention as templates in drug design. The single disulfide-directed β-hairpin (SDH), a novel fold identified more recently in contryphan-Vc1, has been shown to possess remarkable thermal, conformational, and chemical stability and can accept a short bioactive epitope without compromising the core structure of the peptide. In this study, we demonstrated that the single disulfide bond is critical in maintaining the native fold by replacing both cysteine residues with serine. We also designed an analogue with an additional, non-native disulfide bridge by replacing Gln1 and Tyr9 with Cys. Contryphan-Vc11–22[Q1C, Y9C] was synthesised utilising orthogonal cysteine protection and its solution structure determined using solution NMR spectroscopy. This analogue maintained the overall fold of native contryphan-Vc1. Previous studies had shown that the β-hairpin core of contryphan-Vc1 was resistant to proteolysis by trypsin and α-chymotrypsin but susceptible to cleavage by pepsin. Contryphan-Vc11–22[Q1C, Y9C] proved to be completely resistant to pepsin, thus confirming our design strategy. These results highlight the role of the disulfide bond in maintaining the SDH fold and provide a basis for the design of more stable analogues for peptide epitope grafting.
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21
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Vindin H, Mithieux SM, Weiss AS. Elastin architecture. Matrix Biol 2019; 84:4-16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2019.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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22
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Lin CY, Liu JC. Incorporation of short, charged peptide tags affects the temperature responsiveness of positively-charged elastin-like polypeptides. J Mater Chem B 2019; 7:5245-5256. [PMID: 31384872 PMCID: PMC7098454 DOI: 10.1039/c9tb00821g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are recombinant protein domains exhibiting lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior. This LCST behavior is controlled not only by intrinsic factors including amino acid composition and polypeptide chain length but also by non-ELP fusion domains. Here, we report that the presence of a composite non-ELP sequence that includes both His and T7 tags or a short Ser-Lys-Gly-Pro-Gly (SKGPG) sequence can dramatically change the LCST behavior of a positively-charged ELP domain. Both the His and T7 tags have been widely used in recombinant protein design to enable affinity chromatography and serve as epitopes for protein detection. The SKGPG sequence has been used to improve the expression of ELPs. Both the composite tag and the SKGPG sequence are <15% of the total length of the ELP fusion proteins. Despite the small size of the composite tag, its incorporation imparted pH-sensitive LCST behavior to the positively-charged ELP fusion protein. This pH sensitivity was not observed with the incorporation of the SKGPG sequence. The pH sensitivity results from both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between the composite tag and the positively-charged ELP domain. The hydrophobicity of the composite tag also alters the ELP interaction with Hofmeister salts by changing the overall hydrophobicity of the fusion protein. Our results suggest that incorporation of short tag sequences should be considered when designing temperature-responsive ELPs and provide insights into utilizing both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions to design temperature-responsive recombinant proteins as well as synthetic polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charng-Yu Lin
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
| | - Julie C Liu
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. and Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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23
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Paiva dos Santos B, Garbay B, Pasqua M, Chevron E, Chinoy ZS, Cullin C, Bathany K, Lecommandoux S, Amédée J, Oliveira H, Garanger E. Production, purification and characterization of an elastin-like polypeptide containing the Ile-Lys-Val-Ala-Val (IKVAV) peptide for tissue engineering applications. J Biotechnol 2019; 298:35-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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24
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Tarakanova A, Ozsvar J, Weiss A, Buehler M. Coarse-grained model of tropoelastin self-assembly into nascent fibrils. Mater Today Bio 2019; 3:100016. [PMID: 32159149 PMCID: PMC7061556 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2019.100016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastin is the dominant building block of elastic fibers that impart structural integrity and elasticity to a range of important tissues, including the lungs, blood vessels, and skin. The elastic fiber assembly process begins with a coacervation stage where tropoelastin monomers reversibly self-assemble into coacervate aggregates that consist of multiple molecules. In this paper, an atomistically based coarse-grained model of tropoelastin assembly is developed. Using the previously determined atomistic structure of tropoelastin, the precursor molecule to elastic fibers, as the basis for coarse-graining, the atomistic model is mapped to a MARTINI-based coarse-grained framework to account for chemical details of protein-protein interactions, coupled to an elastic network model to stabilize the structure. We find that self-assembly of monomers generates up to ∼70 nm of dense aggregates that are distinct at different temperatures, displaying high temperature sensitivity. Resulting assembled structures exhibit a combination of fibrillar and globular substructures within the bulk aggregates. The results suggest that the coalescence of tropoelastin assemblies into higher order structures may be reinforced in the initial stages of coacervation by directed assembly, supporting the experimentally observed presence of heterogeneous cross-linking. Self-assembly of tropoelastin is driven by interactions of specific hydrophobic domains and the reordering of water molecules in the system. Domain pair orientation analysis throughout the self-assembly process at different temperatures suggests coacervation is a driving force to orient domains for heterogeneous downstream cross-linking. The model provides a framework to characterize macromolecular self-assembly for elastin, and the formulation could easily be adapted to similar assembly systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Tarakanova
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - J. Ozsvar
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - A.S. Weiss
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Nano Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - M.J. Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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25
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Matt A, Kuttich B, Grillo I, Weißheit S, Thiele CM, Stühn B. Temperature induced conformational changes in the elastin-like peptide GVG(VPGVG) 3. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:4192-4199. [PMID: 31065653 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm00583h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Elastin-like peptides are biopolymers that display LCST behaviour in solution quite similar to other synthetic polymers like polyethylene oxide. Here we study the structure of the peptide GVG(VPGVG)3 in a temperature range of 25 °C to 70 °C with small angle neutron scattering. The LCST for this peptide is outside the experimental range of temperatures. Molecular conformation is well described within the model of a random coil but increasing temperature leads to significant changes. The peptide displays a combination of conformational change and aggregation that show up in the scattering at low and intermediate scattering vector q. The aggregate size is determined from an integral measure of the scattered intensity. It increases with temperature and concentration. For low concentration we find a size variation with temperature that may be related to the collapse of conformation at the inverse temperature transition (ITT).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Matt
- Institut für Festkörperphysik, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Hochschulstraße 6, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany.
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26
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Prhashanna A, Taylor PA, Qin J, Kiick KL, Jayaraman A. Effect of Peptide Sequence on the LCST-Like Transition of Elastin-Like Peptides and Elastin-Like Peptide–Collagen-Like Peptide Conjugates: Simulations and Experiments. Biomacromolecules 2019; 20:1178-1189. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b01503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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27
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Roberts EG, Rim NG, Huang W, Tarakanova A, Yeo J, Buehler MJ, Kaplan DL, Wong JY. Fabrication and Characterization of Recombinant Silk-Elastin-Like-Protein (SELP) Fiber. Macromol Biosci 2018; 18:e1800265. [PMID: 30417967 PMCID: PMC6960454 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201800265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2018] [Revised: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Silk-elastin-like-protein polymers (SELPs) are genetically engineered recombinant protein sequences consisting of repeating units of silk-like and elastin-like blocks. By combining these entities, it is shown that both the characteristic strength of silk and the temperature-dependent responsiveness of elastin can be leveraged to create an enhanced stimuli-responsive material. It is hypothesized that SELP behavior can be influenced by varying the silk-to-elastin ratio. If the responsiveness of the material at different ratios is significantly different, this would allow for the design of materials with specific temperature-based swelling and mechanical properties. This study demonstrates that SELP fiber properties can be controlled via a temperature transition dependent on the ratio of silk-to-elastin in the material. SELP fibers are experimentally wet spun from polymers with different ratios of silk-to-elastin and conditioned in either a below or above transition temperature (T t ) water bath prior to characterization. The fibers with higher elastin content showed more stimuli-responsive behavior compared to the fibers with lower elastin content in the hot (57-60 °C) versus cold (4-7 °C) environment, both computationally and experimentally. This work builds a foundation for developing SELP materials with well-characterized mechanical properties and responsive features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin G Roberts
- Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Nae-Gyune Rim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Wenwen Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Anna Tarakanova
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Jingjie Yeo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Institute of High Performance Computing, A∗STAR, 1 Fusionopolis Way, Singapore, 138632, Singapore
| | - Markus J Buehler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Joyce Y Wong
- Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
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28
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Advances in Understanding Stimulus-Responsive Phase Behavior of Intrinsically Disordered Protein Polymers. J Mol Biol 2018; 430:4619-4635. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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29
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Tarakanova A, Yeo GC, Baldock C, Weiss AS, Buehler MJ. Tropoelastin is a Flexible Molecule that Retains its Canonical Shape. Macromol Biosci 2018; 19:e1800250. [DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201800250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tarakanova
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology 02139 Cambridge MA USA
| | - Giselle C. Yeo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney 2006 Sydney NSW Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre The University of Sydney 2006 Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Clair Baldock
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell‐Matrix Research Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine School of Biological Sciences Manchester Academic Health Science Centre The University of Manchester M13 9PL Manchester UK
| | - Anthony S. Weiss
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney 2006 Sydney NSW Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre The University of Sydney 2006 Sydney NSW Australia
- Bosch Institute The University of Sydney 2006 Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology 02139 Cambridge MA USA
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30
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Fernández-Colino A, Wolf F, Rütten S, Rodríguez-Cabello JC, Jockenhoevel S, Mela P. Combining Catalyst-Free Click Chemistry with Coaxial Electrospinning to Obtain Long-Term, Water-Stable, Bioactive Elastin-Like Fibers for Tissue Engineering Applications. Macromol Biosci 2018; 18:e1800147. [PMID: 30260568 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201800147] [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: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Elastic fibers are a fundamental requirement for tissue-engineered equivalents of physiologically elastic native tissues. Here, a simple one-step electrospinning approach is developed, combining i) catalyst-free click chemistry, ii) coaxial electrospinning, and iii) recombinant elastin-like polymers as a relevant class of biomaterials. Water-stable elastin-like fibers are obtained without the use of cross-linking agents, catalysts, or harmful organic solvents. The fibers can be directly exposed to an aqueous environment at physiological temperature and their morphology maintained for at least 3 months. The bioactivity of the fibers is demonstrated with human vascular cells and the potential of the process for vascular tissue engineering is shown by fabricating small-diameter tubular fibrous scaffolds. Moreover, highly porous fluffy 3D constructs are obtained without the use of specially designed collectors or sacrificial materials, further supporting their applicability in the biomedical field. Ultimately, the strategy that is developed here may be applied to other click systems, contributing to expanding their potential in medical technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Fernández-Colino
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 55, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Frederic Wolf
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 55, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stephan Rütten
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse, 30, D-52074, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Stefan Jockenhoevel
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 55, 52074, Aachen, Germany.,Aachen-Maastricht-Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Maastricht University, Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD, Geleen, The Netherlands
| | - Petra Mela
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 55, 52074, Aachen, Germany
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31
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Selig O, Cunha AV, van Eldijk MB, van Hest JCM, Jansen TLC, Bakker HJ, Rezus YLA. Temperature-Induced Collapse of Elastin-like Peptides Studied by 2DIR Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem B 2018; 122:8243-8254. [PMID: 30067028 PMCID: PMC6143280 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b05221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Elastin-like peptides are hydrophobic biopolymers that exhibit a reversible coacervation transition when the temperature is raised above a critical point. Here, we use a combination of linear infrared spectroscopy, two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations to study the structural dynamics of two elastin-like peptides. Specifically, we investigate the effect of the solvent environment and temperature on the structural dynamics of a short (5-residue) elastin-like peptide and of a long (450-residue) elastin-like peptide. We identify two vibrational energy transfer processes that take place within the amide I' band of both peptides. We observe that the rate constant of one of the exchange processes is strongly dependent on the solvent environment and argue that the coacervation transition is accompanied by a desolvation of the peptide backbone where up to 75% of the water molecules are displaced. We also study the spectral diffusion dynamics of the valine(1) residue that is present in both peptides. We find that these dynamics are relatively slow and indicative of an amide group that is shielded from the solvent. We conclude that the coacervation transition of elastin-like peptides is probably not associated with a conformational change involving this residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Selig
- AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ana V. Cunha
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mark B. van Eldijk
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University
Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg
135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan C. M. van Hest
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Kranenveld, Eindhoven University of Technology, Building 14, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas L. C. Jansen
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Huib J. Bakker
- FOM
institute AMOLF, Science
Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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32
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Tarakanova A, Yeo GC, Baldock C, Weiss AS, Buehler MJ. Molecular model of human tropoelastin and implications of associated mutations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:7338-7343. [PMID: 29946030 PMCID: PMC6048532 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1801205115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein folding poses unique challenges for large, disordered proteins due to the low resolution of structural data accessible in experiment and on the basis of short time scales and limited sampling attainable in computation. Such molecules are uniquely suited to accelerated-sampling molecular dynamics algorithms due to a flat-energy landscape. We apply these methods to report here the folded structure in water from a fully extended chain of tropoelastin, a 698-amino acid molecular precursor to elastic fibers that confer elasticity and recoil to tissues, finding good agreement with experimental data. We then study a series of artificial and disease-related mutations, yielding molecular mechanisms to explain structural differences and variation in hierarchical assembly observed in experiment. The present model builds a framework for studying assembly and disease and yields critical insight into molecular mechanisms behind these processes. These results suggest that proteins with disordered regions are suitable candidates for characterization by this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tarakanova
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 01239
| | - Giselle C Yeo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Clair Baldock
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony S Weiss
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Markus J Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 01239;
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33
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Yeo J, Huang W, Tarakanova A, Zhang YW, Kaplan DL, Buehler MJ. Unraveling the Molecular Mechanisms of Thermo-responsive Properties of Silk-Elastin-Like Proteins by Integrating Multiscale Modeling and Experiment. J Mater Chem B 2018; 6:3727-3734. [PMID: 30467524 PMCID: PMC6241539 DOI: 10.1039/c8tb00819a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Adaptive hydrogels tailor-made from silk-elastin-like proteins (SELPs) possess excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability with properties that are tunable and responsive to multiple simultaneous external stimuli. To unravel the molecular mechanisms of their physical response to external stimuli in tandem with experiments, here we predict and measure the variation in structural properties as a function of temperature through coarse-grained (CG) modeling of individual and crosslinked SE8Y and S4E8Y molecules, which have ratios of 1:8 and 4:8 of silk to elastin blocks respectively. Extensive structural reshuffling in single SE8Y molecules led to the increased compactness of the structure, whereas S4E8Y molecules did not experience any significant changes as they already adopted very compact structures at low temperatures. Crosslinking of SE8Y molecules at high concentrations impeded their structural transition at high temperatures that drastically reduced the degree of deswelling through extensive suppression of the structural shuffling and the trapping of the molecules in high potential energy states due to inter-molecular constraints. This integrative experimental and computational understanding of the thermal response in single molecules of SELPs and their crosslinked networks should lead to further improvements in the properties of SELP hydrogels through predictive designs and their wider applications in biomaterials and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjie Yeo
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Institute of High Performance Computing, ASTAR, 1 Fusionopolis Way, Singapore 138632, Singapore
| | - Wenwen Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Anna Tarakanova
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Yong-Wei Zhang
- Institute of High Performance Computing, ASTAR, 1 Fusionopolis Way, Singapore 138632, Singapore
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Markus J Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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34
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Weißheit S, Kahse M, Kämpf K, Tietze A, Vogel M, Winter R, Thiele CM. Elastin-like Peptide in Confinement: FT-IR and NMR T
1 Relaxation Data. Z PHYS CHEM 2018. [DOI: 10.1515/zpch-2017-1047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
We employed FT-IR and NMR experiments to investigate the influence of a cell-mimicking crowding environment on the structure and dynamics of an elastin-like peptide (ELP) with the sequence GVG(VPGVG)3, which – due to a high number of hydrophobic amino acid side chains – exhibits an inverse temperature transition (ITT). As simplified crowding agent, we used 30 wt% Ficoll. The FT-IR data revealed the well-known broad ITT above ~25°C, as observed by the decrease of the relative population of random coil structures and the concomitant increase of type II β-turns. Interestingly, the addition of Ficoll leads to a destabilizing effect of type II β-turn structures. This is in contrast to the expected excluded-volume effect of the macromolecular crowder, but can be explained by weak interactions of the peptide with the polysaccharide chains of the crowding agent. Further, the crowding agent leads to the onset of a reversal of the folding transition at high temperatures. The full assignment of the ELP allowed for a residue-specific investigation of the dynamic behavior of ELP by NMR. Due to a strong change of microscopic viscosity between native/buffered conditions and crowded conditions, relaxation data remain inconclusive with respect to the observation of an ITT. Hence, no quantitative details in terms of internal conformational changes can be obtained. However, temperature dependent differences in the 13C relaxation behavior between core and terminal parts of the peptide indicate temperature induced changes in the internal dynamics with generally higher internal mobility at chain ends: This is in full agreement with FT-IR data. In harmony with the FT-IR analysis, macromolecular crowding does not lead to significant changes in the relaxation behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susann Weißheit
- Clemens-Schöpf-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie , Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 16 , 64287 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Marie Kahse
- Physical Chemistry I – Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a , 44227 Dortmund , Germany
| | - Kerstin Kämpf
- Institut für Festkörperphysik , Technische Universität Darmstadt, Hochschulstr. 6 , 64289 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Alesia Tietze
- Clemens-Schöpf-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie , Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 16 , 64287 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Michael Vogel
- Institut für Festkörperphysik , Technische Universität Darmstadt, Hochschulstr. 6 , 64289 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Roland Winter
- Physical Chemistry I – Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology , TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a , 44227 Dortmund , Germany
| | - Christina Marie Thiele
- Clemens-Schöpf-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie , Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 16 , 64287 Darmstadt , Germany
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35
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Cinar H, Cinar S, Chan HS, Winter R. Pressure-Induced Dissolution and Reentrant Formation of Condensed, Liquid-Liquid Phase-Separated Elastomeric α-Elastin. Chemistry 2018; 24:8286-8291. [PMID: 29738068 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201801643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the combined effects of temperature and pressure on liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) phenomena of α-elastin up to the multi-kbar regime. FT-IR spectroscopy, CD, UV/Vis absorption, phase-contrast light and fluorescence microscopy techniques were employed to reveal structural changes and mesoscopic phase states of the system. A novel pressure-induced reentrant LLPS was observed in the intermediate temperature range. A molecular-level picture, in particular on the role of hydrophobic interactions, hydration, and void volume in controlling LLPS phenomena is presented. The potential role of the LLPS phenomena in the development of early cellular compartmentalization is discussed, which might have started in the deep sea, where pressures up to the kbar level are encountered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Cinar
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Süleyman Cinar
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Hue Sun Chan
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Roland Winter
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
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36
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Li NK, Roberts S, Quiroz FG, Chilkoti A, Yingling YG. Sequence Directionality Dramatically Affects LCST Behavior of Elastin-Like Polypeptides. Biomacromolecules 2018; 19:2496-2505. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b00099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nan K. Li
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, 911 Partners Way, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Stefan Roberts
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, P.O. Box 90281, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Felipe Garcia Quiroz
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Ashutosh Chilkoti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, P.O. Box 90281, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Yaroslava G. Yingling
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, 911 Partners Way, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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37
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Yoshino T, Shimada T, Ito Y, Honda T, Maeda Y, Matsunaga T, Tanaka T. Biosynthesis of Thermoresponsive Magnetic Nanoparticles by Magnetosome Display System. Bioconjug Chem 2018; 29:1756-1762. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Yoshino
- Division of Biotechnology and Life Science, Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Takumi Shimada
- Division of Biotechnology and Life Science, Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Ito
- Division of Biotechnology and Life Science, Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Toru Honda
- Division of Biotechnology and Life Science, Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Maeda
- Division of Biotechnology and Life Science, Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Tadashi Matsunaga
- Division of Biotechnology and Life Science, Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Tanaka
- Division of Biotechnology and Life Science, Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
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38
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Zhang Y, Zai-Rose V, Price CJ, Ezzell NA, Bidwell GL, Correia JJ, Fitzkee NC. Modeling the Early Stages of Phase Separation in Disordered Elastin-like Proteins. Biophys J 2018; 114:1563-1578. [PMID: 29642027 PMCID: PMC5954566 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.01.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastin-like proteins (ELPs) are known to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation reversibly above a concentration-dependent transition temperature. Previous studies suggested that, as temperature increases, ELPs experience an increased propensity for type II β-turns. However, how the ELPs behave below the phase transition temperature itself is still elusive. Here, we investigate the importance of β-turn formation during the early stages of ELP self-association. We examined the behavior of two ELPs, a 150-repeat construct that had been investigated previously (ELP[V5G3A2-150] as well as a new 40-repeat construct (ELP40) suitable for nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. Structural analysis of ELP40 reveals a disordered conformation, and chemical shifts throughout the sequence are insensitive to changes in temperature over 20°C. However, a low population of β-turn conformation cannot be ruled out based on chemical shifts alone. To examine the structural consequences of β-turns in ELPs, a series of structural ensembles of ELP[V5G3A2-150] were generated, incorporating differing amounts of β-turn bias throughout the chain. To mimic the early stages of the phase change, two monomers were paired, assuming preferential interaction at β-turn regions. This approach was justified by the observation that buried hydrophobic turns are commonly observed to interact in the Protein Data Bank. After dimerization, the ensemble-averaged hydrodynamic properties were calculated for each degree of β-turn bias, and the results were compared with analytical ultracentrifugation experiments at various temperatures. We find that the temperature dependence of the sedimentation coefficient (s20,wo) can be reproduced by increasing the β-turn content in the structural ensemble. This analysis allows us to estimate the presence of β-turns and weak associations under experimental conditions. Because disordered proteins frequently exhibit weak biases in secondary structure propensity, these experimentally-driven ensemble calculations may complement existing methods for modeling disordered proteins generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi
| | - Valeria Zai-Rose
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - Cody J Price
- Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi
| | - Nicholas A Ezzell
- Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi
| | - Gene L Bidwell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - John J Correia
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - Nicholas C Fitzkee
- Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi.
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39
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Olsen AJ, Katyal P, Haghpanah JS, Kubilius MB, Li R, Schnabel NL, O’Neill SC, Wang Y, Dai M, Singh N, Tu RS, Montclare JK. Protein Engineered Triblock Polymers Composed of Two SADs: Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Binding Abilities. Biomacromolecules 2018; 19:1552-1561. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.7b01259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Olsen
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, 6 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
| | - Priya Katyal
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, 6 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
| | - Jennifer S. Haghpanah
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, 6 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
| | - Matthew B. Kubilius
- Chemical Engineering Department, City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10031, United States
| | - Ruipeng Li
- National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Nicole L. Schnabel
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, 6 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
| | - Sean C. O’Neill
- Chemical Engineering Department, City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10031, United States
| | - Yao Wang
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, 6 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
| | - Min Dai
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, 6 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
| | - Navjot Singh
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, 6 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
| | - Raymond S. Tu
- Chemical Engineering Department, City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10031, United States
| | - Jin Kim Montclare
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, 6 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
- Biochemistry Department, SUNY Downstate Medical, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
- Chemistry Department, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, New York 10003, United States
- Biomaterials Department, New York University College of Dentistry, 433 First Avenue, New York, New York 10010, United States
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40
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Tatsubo D, Suyama K, Miyazaki M, Maeda I, Nose T. Stepwise Mechanism of Temperature-Dependent Coacervation of the Elastin-like Peptide Analogue Dimer, (C(WPGVG) 3) 2. Biochemistry 2018; 57:1582-1590. [PMID: 29388768 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b01144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Elastin-like peptides (ELPs) are distinct, repetitive, hydrophobic sequences, such as (VPGVG) n, that exhibit coacervation, the property of reversible, temperature-dependent self-association and dissociation. ELPs can be found in elastin and have been developed as new scaffold biomaterials. However, the detailed relationship between their amino acid sequences and coacervation properties remains obscure because of the structural flexibility of ELPs. In this study, we synthesized a novel, dimeric ELP analogue (H-C(WPGVG)3-NH2)2, henceforth abbreviated (CW3)2, and analyzed its self-assembly properties and structural factors as indicators of coacervation. Turbidity measurements showed that (CW3)2 demonstrated coacervation at a concentration much lower than that of its monomeric form and another ELP. In addition, the coacervate held water-soluble dye molecules. Thus, potent and distinct coacervation was obtained with a remarkably short sequence of (CW3)2. Furthermore, fluorescence microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and optical microscopy revealed that the coacervation of (CW3)2 was a stepwise process. The structural factors of (CW3)2 were analyzed by molecular dynamics simulations and circular dichroism spectroscopy. These measurements indicated that helical structures primarily consisting of proline and glycine became more disordered at high temperatures with concurrent, significant exposure of their hydrophobic surfaces. This extreme change in the hydrophobic surface contributes to the potent coacervation observed for (CW3)2. These results provide important insights into more efficient applications of ELPs and their analogues, as well as the coacervation mechanisms of ELP and elastin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Tatsubo
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty and Graduate School of Science , Kyushu University , Fukuoka 819-0395 , Japan
| | - Keitaro Suyama
- Faculty of Arts and Science , Kyushu University , Fukuoka 819-0395 , Japan
| | - Masaya Miyazaki
- Advanced Manufacturing Research Institute , National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) , Tosu , Saga 841-0052 , Japan
| | - Iori Maeda
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics , Kyushu Institute of Technology , Iizuka , Fukuoka 820-8502 , Japan
| | - Takeru Nose
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty and Graduate School of Science , Kyushu University , Fukuoka 819-0395 , Japan.,Faculty of Arts and Science , Kyushu University , Fukuoka 819-0395 , Japan
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41
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Tang JD, Lampe KJ. From de novo peptides to native proteins: advancements in biomaterial scaffolds for acute ischemic stroke repair. Biomed Mater 2018; 13:034103. [DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/aaa4c3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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42
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Ohgo K, Dabalos CL, Kumashiro KK. Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy and Isotopic Labeling Target Abundant Dipeptide Sequences in Elastin’s Hydrophobic Domains. Macromolecules 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.7b02616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Ohgo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, United States
| | - Chester L. Dabalos
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, United States
| | - Kristin K. Kumashiro
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii, 2545 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, United States
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43
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Fernández-Colino A, Quinteros DA, Allemandi DA, Girotti A, Palma SD, Arias FJ. Self-Assembling Elastin-Like Hydrogels for Timolol Delivery: Development of an Ophthalmic Formulation Against Glaucoma. Mol Pharm 2017; 14:4498-4508. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.7b00615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Fernández-Colino
- Bioforge Lab, University of Valladolid, CIBER-BBN, Paseo de Belén 19, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Daniela A. Quinteros
- Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología
Farmacéutica (UNITEFA), CONICET and Departamento de Ciencias
Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Daniel A. Allemandi
- Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología
Farmacéutica (UNITEFA), CONICET and Departamento de Ciencias
Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Alessandra Girotti
- Bioforge Lab, University of Valladolid, CIBER-BBN, Paseo de Belén 19, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Santiago D. Palma
- Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología
Farmacéutica (UNITEFA), CONICET and Departamento de Ciencias
Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - F. Javier Arias
- Bioforge Lab, University of Valladolid, CIBER-BBN, Paseo de Belén 19, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
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44
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Abstract
The protein elastin imparts extensibility, elastic recoil, and resilience to tissues including arterial walls, skin, lung alveoli, and the uterus. Elastin and elastin-like peptides are hydrophobic, disordered, and undergo liquid-liquid phase separation upon self-assembly. Despite extensive study, the structure of elastin remains controversial. We use molecular dynamics simulations on a massive scale to elucidate the structural ensemble of aggregated elastin-like peptides. Consistent with the entropic nature of elastic recoil, the aggregated state is stabilized by the hydrophobic effect. However, self-assembly does not entail formation of a hydrophobic core. The polypeptide backbone forms transient, sparse hydrogen-bonded turns and remains significantly hydrated even as self-assembly triples the extent of non-polar side chain contacts. Individual chains in the assembly approach a maximally-disordered, melt-like state which may be called the liquid state of proteins. These findings resolve long-standing controversies regarding elastin structure and function and afford insight into the phase separation of disordered proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Rauscher
- Molecular MedicineThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Régis Pomès
- Molecular MedicineThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
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45
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Luo T, David MA, Dunshee LC, Scott RA, Urello MA, Price C, Kiick KL. Thermoresponsive Elastin-b-Collagen-Like Peptide Bioconjugate Nanovesicles for Targeted Drug Delivery to Collagen-Containing Matrices. Biomacromolecules 2017; 18:2539-2551. [PMID: 28719196 PMCID: PMC5815509 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.7b00686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Over the past few decades, (poly)peptide block copolymers have been widely employed in generating well-defined nanostructures as vehicles for targeted drug delivery applications. We previously reported the assembly of thermoresponsive nanoscale vesicles from an elastin-b-collagen-like peptide (ELP-CLP). The vesicles were observed to dissociate at elevated temperatures, despite the LCST-like behavior of the tethered ELP domain, which is suggested to be triggered by the unfolding of the CLP domain. Here, the potential of using the vesicles as drug delivery vehicles for targeting collagen-containing matrices is evaluated. The sustained release of an encapsulated model drug was achieved over a period of 3 weeks, following which complete release could be triggered via heating. The ELP-CLP vesicles show strong retention on a collagen substrate, presumably through collagen triple helix interactions. Cell viability and proliferation studies using fibroblasts and chondrocytes suggest that the vesicles are highly cytocompatible. Additionally, essentially no activation of a macrophage-like cell line is observed, suggesting that the vesicles do not initiate an inflammatory response. Endowed with thermally controlled delivery, the ability to bind collagen, and excellent cytocompatibility, these ELP-CLP nanovesicles are suggested to have significant potential in the controlled delivery of drugs to collagen-containing matrices and tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianzhi Luo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Michael A. David
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Lucas C. Dunshee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Rebecca A. Scott
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, Newark, DE, 19711, USA
| | - Morgan A. Urello
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Christopher Price
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Kristi L. Kiick
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, Newark, DE, 19711, USA
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46
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Reichheld SE, Muiznieks LD, Keeley FW, Sharpe S. Direct observation of structure and dynamics during phase separation of an elastomeric protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E4408-E4415. [PMID: 28507126 PMCID: PMC5465911 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1701877114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite its growing importance in biology and in biomaterials development, liquid-liquid phase separation of proteins remains poorly understood. In particular, the molecular mechanisms underlying simple coacervation of proteins, such as the extracellular matrix protein elastin, have not been reported. Coacervation of the elastin monomer, tropoelastin, in response to heat and salt is a critical step in the assembly of elastic fibers in vivo, preceding chemical cross-linking. Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) derived from the tropoelastin sequence have been shown to undergo a similar phase separation, allowing formation of biomaterials that closely mimic the material properties of native elastin. We have used NMR spectroscopy to obtain site-specific structure and dynamics of a self-assembling elastin-like polypeptide along its entire self-assembly pathway, from monomer through coacervation and into a cross-linked elastic material. Our data reveal that elastin-like hydrophobic domains are composed of transient β-turns in a highly dynamic and disordered chain, and that this disorder is retained both after phase separation and in elastic materials. Cross-linking domains are also highly disordered in monomeric and coacervated ELP3 and form stable helices only after chemical cross-linking. Detailed structural analysis combined with dynamic measurements from NMR relaxation and diffusion data provides direct evidence for an entropy-driven mechanism of simple coacervation of a protein in which transient and nonspecific intermolecular hydrophobic contacts are formed by disordered chains, whereas bulk water and salt are excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean E Reichheld
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 0A4
| | - Lisa D Muiznieks
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 0A4
| | - Fred W Keeley
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 0A4
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 1A8
| | - Simon Sharpe
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 0A4;
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 1A8
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47
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Tarakanova A, Huang W, Weiss AS, Kaplan DL, Buehler MJ. Computational smart polymer design based on elastin protein mutability. Biomaterials 2017; 127:49-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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48
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Tarakanova A, Huang W, Qin Z, Kaplan DL, Buehler MJ. Modeling and Experiment Reveal Structure and Nanomechanics across the Inverse Temperature Transition in B. mori Silk-Elastin-like Protein Polymers. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2017; 3:2889-2899. [PMID: 33418710 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.6b00688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Silk and elastin are exemplary protein materials that exhibit exceptional material properties. Silk is uniquely strong, surpassing engineering materials such as Kevlar and steel, while elastin has exquisite flexibility and can reversibly fold into a more structured form at high temperatures when many other proteins would unfold and denature. This phenomenon in elastin is termed the inverse temperature transition. It is a reversible, controllable process that motivates applications in drug delivery, shape change materials, and biomimetic devices. Silk-elastinlike protein polymers (SELPs), which combine repeating B. mori silk and elastin blocks, have been introduced as biologically inspired materials that combine the distinctive properties of the component parts to achieve strong and extensible, tunable biomaterials. Here, we considered a single SELP sequence to examine temperature transition effects at the molecular scale. SELP molecular models were created using Replica Exchange Molecular Dynamics, an accelerated sampling method, and confirmed in experiment by comparing secondary structure distributions. A molecular collapse of the SELP molecule was observed with increased temperature in both molecular simulation and experiment. Temperature-specific differences were observed in the mechanical properties and the unfolding pathways of the polypeptide. Using the Bell-Evans model, we analyzed the free energy landscape associated with molecular unfolding at temperatures below and above the transition temperature range (Tt) of the polypeptide. We found that at physiological pulling rates, the energy barrier to unfold SELPs was counterintuitively higher above Tt. Our findings offer a foundational perspective on the molecular scale mechanisms of temperature-induced phase transition in SELPs, and suggest a novel approach to combine simulation and experiment to study materials for multifunctional biomimetic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tarakanova
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 1-290, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Wenwen Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Science & Technology Center, Room 251, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Zhao Qin
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 1-290, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Science & Technology Center, Room 251, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Markus J Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 1-290, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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49
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Zhao J, Yan Y, Shang Y, Du Y, Long L, Yuan X, Hou X. Thermosensitive elastin-derived polypeptide hydrogels crosslinked by genipin. INT J POLYM MATER PO 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/00914037.2016.1217534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jin Zhao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Yufang Yan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Yuezai Shang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Yang Du
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Lixia Long
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Xubo Yuan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Xin Hou
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P. R. China
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50
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A bioinspired elastin-based protein for a cytocompatible underwater adhesive. Biomaterials 2017; 124:116-125. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Revised: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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