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Philipp M, Müller L, Andrée M, Hussnaetter KP, Schaal H, Feldbrügge M, Schipper K. Efficient virus detection utilizing chitin-immobilized nanobodies synthesized in Ustilago maydis. J Biotechnol 2023; 366:72-84. [PMID: 36948402 PMCID: PMC10028217 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2023.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the global economy and health care systems, illustrating the urgent need for timely and inexpensive responses to pandemic threats in the form of vaccines and antigen tests. Currently, antigen testing is mostly conducted by qualitative flow chromatography or via quantitative ELISA-type assays. The latter mostly utilize materials like protein-adhesive polymers and gold or latex particles. Here we present an alternative ELISA approach using inexpensive, biogenic materials and permitting quick detection based on components produced in the microbial model Ustilago maydis. In this fungus, heterologous proteins like biopharmaceuticals can be exported by fusion to unconventionally secreted chitinase Cts1. As a unique feature, the carrier chitinase binds to chitin allowing its additional use as a purification or immobilization tag. Recent work has demonstrated that nanobodies are suitable target proteins. These proteins represent a very versatile alternative antibody format and can quickly be adapted to detect novel antigens by camelidae immunization or synthetic libraries. In this study, we exemplarily produced different mono- and bivalent SARS-CoV-2 nanobodies directed against the spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) as Cts1 fusions and screened their antigen binding affinity in vitro and in vivo. Functional nanobody-Cts1 fusions were immobilized on chitin forming an RBD tethering surface. This provides a solid base for future development of inexpensive antigen tests utilizing unconventionally secreted nanobodies as antigen trap and a matching ubiquitous and biogenic surface for immobilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Philipp
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lisa Müller
- Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marcel Andrée
- Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Kai P Hussnaetter
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Heiner Schaal
- Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Feldbrügge
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schipper
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Philipp M, Hussnaetter KP, Reindl M, Müntjes K, Feldbrügge M, Schipper K. A Novel Potent Carrier for Unconventional Protein Export in Ustilago maydis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:816335. [PMID: 35083222 PMCID: PMC8784666 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.816335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant proteins are ubiquitously applied in fields like research, pharma, diagnostics or the chemical industry. To provide the full range of useful proteins, novel expression hosts need to be established for proteins that are not sufficiently produced by the standard platform organisms. Unconventional secretion in the fungal model Ustilago maydis is an attractive novel option for export of heterologous proteins without N-glycosylation using chitinase Cts1 as a carrier. Recently, a novel factor essential for unconventional Cts1 secretion termed Jps1 was identified. Here, we show that Jps1 is unconventionally secreted using a fusion to bacterial β-glucuronidase as an established reporter. Interestingly, the experiment also demonstrates that the protein functions as an alternative carrier for heterologous proteins, showing about 2-fold higher reporter activity than the Cts1 fusion in the supernatant. In addition, Jps1-mediated secretion even allowed for efficient export of functional firefly luciferase as a novel secretion target which could not be achieved with Cts1. As an application for a relevant pharmaceutical target, export of functional bi-specific synthetic nanobodies directed against the SARS-CoV2 spike protein was demonstrated. The establishment of an alternative efficient carrier thus constitutes an excellent expansion of the existing secretion platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Philipp
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Kai P Hussnaetter
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michèle Reindl
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Kira Müntjes
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Feldbrügge
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schipper
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Hussnaetter KP, Philipp M, Müntjes K, Feldbrügge M, Schipper K. Controlling Unconventional Secretion for Production of Heterologous Proteins in Ustilago maydis through Transcriptional Regulation and Chemical Inhibition of the Kinase Don3. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7030179. [PMID: 33802393 PMCID: PMC7999842 DOI: 10.3390/jof7030179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterologous protein production is a highly demanded biotechnological process. Secretion of the product to the culture broth is advantageous because it drastically reduces downstream processing costs. We exploit unconventional secretion for heterologous protein expression in the fungal model microorganism Ustilago maydis. Proteins of interest are fused to carrier chitinase Cts1 for export via the fragmentation zone of dividing yeast cells in a lock-type mechanism. The kinase Don3 is essential for functional assembly of the fragmentation zone and hence, for release of Cts1-fusion proteins. Here, we are first to develop regulatory systems for unconventional protein secretion using Don3 as a gatekeeper to control when export occurs. This enables uncoupling the accumulation of biomass and protein synthesis of a product of choice from its export. Regulation was successfully established at two different levels using transcriptional and post-translational induction strategies. As a proof-of-principle, we applied autoinduction based on transcriptional don3 regulation for the production and secretion of functional anti-Gfp nanobodies. The presented developments comprise tailored solutions for differentially prized products and thus constitute another important step towards a competitive protein production platform.
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Reindl M, Stock J, Hussnaetter KP, Genc A, Brachmann A, Schipper K. A Novel Factor Essential for Unconventional Secretion of Chitinase Cts1. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1529. [PMID: 32733418 PMCID: PMC7358432 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Subcellular targeting of proteins is essential to orchestrate cytokinesis in eukaryotic cells. During cell division of Ustilago maydis, for example, chitinases must be specifically targeted to the fragmentation zone at the site of cell division to degrade remnant chitin and thus separate mother and daughter cells. Chitinase Cts1 is exported to this location via an unconventional secretion pathway putatively operating in a lock-type manner. The underlying mechanism is largely unexplored. Here, we applied a forward genetic screen based on UV mutagenesis to identify components essential for Cts1 export. The screen revealed a novel factor termed Jps1 lacking known protein domains. Deletion of the corresponding gene confirmed its essential role for Cts1 secretion. Localization studies demonstrated that Jps1 colocalizes with Cts1 in the fragmentation zone of dividing yeast cells. While loss of Jps1 leads to exclusion of Cts1 from the fragmentation zone and strongly reduced unconventional secretion, deletion of the chitinase does not disturb Jps1 localization. Yeast-two hybrid experiments indicate that the two proteins might interact. In essence, we identified a novel component of unconventional secretion that functions in the fragmentation zone to enable export of Cts1. We hypothesize that Jps1 acts as an anchoring factor for Cts1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michèle Reindl
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Janpeter Stock
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Kai P. Hussnaetter
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Aycin Genc
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andreas Brachmann
- Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schipper
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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Vincent D, Rafiqi M, Job D. The Multiple Facets of Plant-Fungal Interactions Revealed Through Plant and Fungal Secretomics. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 10:1626. [PMID: 31969889 PMCID: PMC6960344 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The plant secretome is usually considered in the frame of proteomics, aiming at characterizing extracellular proteins, their biological roles and the mechanisms accounting for their secretion in the extracellular space. In this review, we aim to highlight recent results pertaining to secretion through the conventional and unconventional protein secretion pathways notably those involving plant exosomes or extracellular vesicles. Furthermore, plants are well known to actively secrete a large array of different molecules from polymers (e.g. extracellular RNA and DNA) to small compounds (e.g. ATP, phytochemicals, secondary metabolites, phytohormones). All of these play pivotal roles in plant-fungi (or oomycetes) interactions, both for beneficial (mycorrhizal fungi) and deleterious outcomes (pathogens) for the plant. For instance, recent work reveals that such secretion of small molecules by roots is of paramount importance to sculpt the rhizospheric microbiota. Our aim in this review is to extend the definition of the plant and fungal secretomes to a broader sense to better understand the functioning of the plant/microorganisms holobiont. Fundamental perspectives will be brought to light along with the novel tools that should support establishing an environment-friendly and sustainable agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Vincent
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Maryam Rafiqi
- AgroBioSciences Program, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Dominique Job
- CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1/Institut National des Sciences Appliquées/Bayer CropScience Joint Laboratory (UMR 5240), Bayer CropScience, Lyon, France
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Aschenbroich J, Hussnaetter KP, Stoffels P, Langner T, Zander S, Sandrock B, Bölker M, Feldbrügge M, Schipper K. The germinal centre kinase Don3 is crucial for unconventional secretion of chitinase Cts1 in Ustilago maydis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2019; 1867:140154. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2018.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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A Potential Lock-Type Mechanism for Unconventional Secretion in Fungi. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20030460. [PMID: 30678160 PMCID: PMC6386918 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein export in eukaryotes can either occur via the classical pathway traversing the endomembrane system or exploit alternative routes summarized as unconventional secretion. Besides multiple examples in higher eukaryotes, unconventional secretion has also been described for fungal proteins with diverse functions in important processes such as development or virulence. Accumulating molecular insights into the different export pathways suggest that unconventional secretion in fungal microorganisms does not follow a common scheme but has evolved multiple times independently. In this study, we review the most prominent examples with a focus on the chitinase Cts1 from the corn smut Ustilago maydis. Cts1 participates in cell separation during budding growth. Recent evidence indicates that the enzyme might be actively translocated into the fragmentation zone connecting dividing mother and daughter cells, where it supports cell division by the degradation of remnant chitin. Importantly, a functional fragmentation zone is prerequisite for Cts1 release. We summarize in detail what is currently known about this potential lock-type mechanism of Cts1 secretion and its connection to the complex regulation of fragmentation zone assembly and cell separation.
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van der Linde K, Egger RL, Timofejeva L, Walbot V. Application of the pathogen Trojan horse approach in maize (Zea mays). PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR 2018; 13:e1547575. [PMID: 30444162 PMCID: PMC6296385 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2018.1547575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Maize, Zea mays, the second-most-widely-grown crop, yields 20 % of all consumed calories worldwide.1 Despite its agronomic importance, research progress is limited by costly transformation. We recently described the Trojan horse method as a useful tool to study maize proteins in situ that circumvents time- and space-consuming whole plant transformation. The Trojan horse approach uses the protein-folding and secretory properties of the corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis to secrete maize proteins from fungal cells into the maize apoplast. Here, we discuss the timing and location of U. maydis during infection and the protein secretion site in relation to anther anatomy. This spatiotemporal analysis enables the study of apoplastic anther proteins in various premeiotic anther developmental stages, and could be adapted for larger screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina van der Linde
- Department of Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Rachel L. Egger
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ljudmilla Timofejeva
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Virginia Walbot
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Applying Unconventional Secretion in Ustilago maydis for the Export of Functional Nanobodies. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18050937. [PMID: 28468279 PMCID: PMC5454850 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18050937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Exploiting secretory pathways for production of heterologous proteins is highly advantageous with respect to efficient downstream processing. In eukaryotic systems the vast majority of heterologous proteins for biotechnological application is exported via the canonical endoplasmic reticulum–Golgi pathway. In the endomembrane system target proteins are often glycosylated and may thus be modified with foreign glycan patterns. This can be destructive for their activity or cause immune reactions against therapeutic proteins. Hence, using unconventional secretion for protein expression is an attractive alternative. In the fungal model Ustilago maydis, chitinase Cts1 is secreted via an unconventional pathway connected to cell separation which can be used to co-export heterologous proteins. Here, we apply this mechanism for the production of nanobodies. First, we achieved expression and unconventional secretion of a functional nanobody directed against green fluorescent protein (Gfp). Second, we found that Cts1 binds to chitin and that this feature can be applied to generate a Gfp-trap. Thus, we demonstrated the dual use of Cts1 serving both as export vehicle and as purification tag. Finally, we established and optimized the production of a nanobody against botulinum toxin A and hence describe the first pharmaceutically relevant target exported by Cts1-mediated unconventional secretion.
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Pompa A, De Marchis F, Pallotta MT, Benitez-Alfonso Y, Jones A, Schipper K, Moreau K, Žárský V, Di Sansebastiano GP, Bellucci M. Unconventional Transport Routes of Soluble and Membrane Proteins and Their Role in Developmental Biology. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18040703. [PMID: 28346345 PMCID: PMC5412289 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18040703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Revised: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Many proteins and cargoes in eukaryotic cells are secreted through the conventional secretory pathway that brings proteins and membranes from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane, passing through various cell compartments, and then the extracellular space. The recent identification of an increasing number of leaderless secreted proteins bypassing the Golgi apparatus unveiled the existence of alternative protein secretion pathways. Moreover, other unconventional routes for secretion of soluble or transmembrane proteins with initial endoplasmic reticulum localization were identified. Furthermore, other proteins normally functioning in conventional membrane traffic or in the biogenesis of unique plant/fungi organelles or in plasmodesmata transport seem to be involved in unconventional secretory pathways. These alternative pathways are functionally related to biotic stress and development, and are becoming more and more important in cell biology studies in yeast, mammalian cells and in plants. The city of Lecce hosted specialists working on mammals, plants and microorganisms for the inaugural meeting on “Unconventional Protein and Membrane Traffic” (UPMT) during 4–7 October 2016. The main aim of the meeting was to include the highest number of topics, summarized in this report, related to the unconventional transport routes of protein and membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pompa
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources-Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council (CNR), via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Francesca De Marchis
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources-Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council (CNR), via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy.
| | | | | | - Alexandra Jones
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
| | - Kerstin Schipper
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany.
| | - Kevin Moreau
- Clinical Biochemistry, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK.
| | - Viktor Žárský
- Department of Experimental Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12844, Prague 2, Czech Republic.
- Institute of Experimental Botany, v.v.i., the Czech Academy of Sciences, 16502, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Gian Pietro Di Sansebastiano
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DISTEBA), University of Salento, S.P. 6, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
| | - Michele Bellucci
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources-Research Division of Perugia, National Research Council (CNR), via della Madonna Alta 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy.
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