1
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Chen Y, Xu C, Sun M, Zhao G, Wang Z, Lv C. Vertasile ferritin nanocages: Applications in detection and bioimaging. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 262:116567. [PMID: 39013360 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116567] [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] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Food safety and human health remain significant concerns in the food industry. Detecting food contaminants and diagnosing diseases are critical aspects. Ferritin, an iron storage protein widely found in nature, offers unique advantages. Its hollow protein nanocage structure, distinct interfaces, hydrophobic or hydrophilic channels, and B-C loop regions recognized by transferrin receptor 1 make ferritin versatile for detecting heavy metals, free radicals, and bioimaging both in vitro and in vivo. This review summarizes ferritin's general characteristics, its specific properties as biosensors, and its applications in food safety and in vivo imaging. It emphasizes not only ferritin's role in detecting heavy metals like mercury and chemical hazards but also its potential in early diagnosing chronic diseases such as tumors, macrophages, and kidney diseases. Further research into ferritin promises advancements in enhancing food safety and improving human health diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunqi Chen
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing, PR China
| | - Chen Xu
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing, PR China
| | - Mingyang Sun
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing, PR China
| | - Guanghua Zhao
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing, PR China
| | - Zhongjiang Wang
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Haerbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China.
| | - Chenyan Lv
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing, PR China.
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2
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Duan M, Lv C, Zang J, Leng X, Zhao G, Zhang T. Metals at the Helm: Revolutionizing Protein Assembly and Applications. Macromol Biosci 2024:e2400126. [PMID: 39239781 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202400126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Protein assembly is an essential process in biological systems, where proteins self-assemble into complex structures with diverse functions. Inspired by the exquisite control over protein assembly in nature, scientists have been exploring ways to design and assemble protein structures with precise control over their topologies and functions. One promising approach for achieving this goal is through metal coordination, which utilizes metal-binding motifs to mediate protein-protein interactions and assemble protein complexes with controlled stoichiometry and geometry. Metal coordination provides a modular and tunable approach for protein assembly and de novo structure design, where the metal ion acts as a molecular glue that holds the protein subunits together in a specific orientation. Metal-coordinated protein assemblies have shown great potential for developing functional metalloproteinase, novel biomaterials and integrated drug delivery systems. In this review, an overview of the recent advances in protein assemblies benefited from metal coordination is provided, focusing on various protein arrangements in different dimensions including protein oligomers, protein nanocage and higher-order protein architectures. Moreover, the key metal-binding motifs and strategies used to assemble protein structures with precise control over their properties are highlighted. The potential applications of metal-mediated protein assemblies in biotechnology and biomedicine are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoping Duan
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Chenyan Lv
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jiachen Zang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xiaojing Leng
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Guanghua Zhao
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Tuo Zhang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
- Center of Food Colloids and Delivery for Functionality, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
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3
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Xia X, Li H, Zang J, Cheng S, Du M. Advancements of the Molecular Directed Design and Structure-Activity Relationship of Ferritin Nanocage. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:7629-7654. [PMID: 38518374 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c09903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Ferritin nanocages possess remarkable structural properties and biological functions, making them highly attractive for applications in functional materials and biomedicine. This comprehensive review presents an overview of the molecular characteristics, extraction and identification of ferritin, ferritin receptors, as well as the advancements in the directional design of high-order assemblies of ferritin and the applications based on its unique structural properties. Specifically, this Review focuses on the regulation of ferritin assembly from one to three dimensions, leveraging the symmetry of ferritin and modifications on key interfaces. Furthermore, it discusses targeted delivery of nutrition and drugs through facile loading and functional modification of ferritin. The aim of this Review is to inspire the design of micro/nano functional materials using ferritin and the development of nanodelivery vehicles for nutritional fortification and disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Xia
- SKL of Marine Food Processing & Safety Control, School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
| | - Han Li
- SKL of Marine Food Processing & Safety Control, School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
| | - Jiachen Zang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Shuzhen Cheng
- SKL of Marine Food Processing & Safety Control, School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
| | - Ming Du
- SKL of Marine Food Processing & Safety Control, School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
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4
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Reutovich AA, Srivastava AK, Arosio P, Bou-Abdallah F. Ferritin nanocages as efficient nanocarriers and promising platforms for COVID-19 and other vaccines development. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2023; 1867:130288. [PMID: 36470367 PMCID: PMC9721431 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2022.130288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of safe and effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses with high antigenic drift is of crucial importance to public health. Ferritin is a well characterized and ubiquitous iron storage protein that has emerged not only as a useful nanoreactor and nanocarrier, but more recently as an efficient platform for vaccine development. SCOPE OF REVIEW This review discusses ferritin structure-function properties, self-assembly, and novel bioengineering strategies such as interior cavity and exterior surface modifications for cargo encapsulation and delivery. It also discusses the use of ferritin as a scaffold for biomedical applications, especially for vaccine development against influenza, Epstein-Barr, HIV, hepatitis-C, Lyme disease, and respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. The use of ferritin for the synthesis of mosaic vaccines to deliver a cocktail of antigens that elicit broad immune protection against different viral variants is also explored. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS The remarkable stability, biocompatibility, surface functionalization, and self-assembly properties of ferritin nanoparticles make them very attractive platforms for a wide range of biomedical applications, including the development of vaccines. Strong immune responses have been observed in pre-clinical studies against a wide range of pathogens and have led to the exploration of ferritin nanoparticles-based vaccines in multiple phase I clinical trials. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE The broad protective antibody response of ferritin nanoparticles-based vaccines demonstrates the usefulness of ferritin as a highly promising and effective approaches for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ayush K Srivastava
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York, Potsdam, NY 13676, USA
| | - Paolo Arosio
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
| | - Fadi Bou-Abdallah
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York, Potsdam, NY 13676, USA.
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5
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Zhu Y, Zhu Y, Cao T, Liu X, Liu X, Yan Y, Shi Y, Wang JC. Ferritin-based nanomedicine for disease treatment. MEDICAL REVIEW (2021) 2023; 3:49-74. [PMID: 37724111 PMCID: PMC10471093 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2023-0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Ferritin is an endogenous protein which is self-assembled by 24 subunits into a highly uniform nanocage structure. Due to the drug-encapsulating ability in the hollow inner cavity and abundant modification sites on the outer surface, ferritin nanocage has been demonstrated great potential to become a multi-functional nanomedicine platform. Its good biocompatibility, low toxicity and immunogenicity, intrinsic tumor-targeting ability, high stability, low cost and massive production, together make ferritin nanocage stand out from other nanocarriers. In this review, we summarized ferritin-based nanomedicine in field of disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The different types of drugs to be loaded in ferritin, as well as drug-loading methods were classified. The strategies for site-specific and non-specific functional modification of ferritin were investigated, then the application of ferritin for disease imaging, drug delivery and vaccine development were discussed. Finally, the challenges restricting the clinical translation of ferritin-based nanomedicines were analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanjun Zhu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuefeng Zhu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tianmiao Cao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Yan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yujie Shi
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian-Cheng Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Laboratory of Innovative Formulations and Pharmaceutical Excipients, Ningbo Institute of Marine Medicine, Peking University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
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6
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Ohara N, Kawakami N, Arai R, Adachi N, Moriya T, Kawasaki M, Miyamoto K. Reversible Assembly of an Artificial Protein Nanocage Using Alkaline Earth Metal Ions. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:216-223. [PMID: 36541447 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c09537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Protein nanocages are of increasing interest for use as drug capsules, but the encapsulation and release of drug molecules at appropriate times require the reversible association and dissociation of the nanocages. One promising approach to addressing this challenge is the design of metal-dependent associating proteins. Such designed proteins typically have Cys or His residues at the protein surface for connecting the associating proteins through metal-ion coordination. However, Cys and His residues favor interactions with soft and borderline metal ions, such as Au+ and Zn2+, classified by the hard and soft acids and bases concept, restricting the types of metal ions available to drive association. Here, we show the alkaline earth (AE) metal-dependent association of the recently designed artificial protein nanocage TIP60, which is composed of 60-mer fusion proteins. The introduction of a Glu (hard base) mutation to the fusion protein (K67E mutant) prevented the formation of the 60-mer but formed the expected cage structure in the presence of Ca, Sr, or Ba ions (hard acids). Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) analysis indicated a Ba ion at the interface of the subunits. Furthermore, we demonstrated the encapsulation and release of single-stranded DNA molecules using this system. Our results provide insights into the design of AE metal-dependent association and dissociation mechanisms for proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Ohara
- Department of Bioscience and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan
| | - Norifumi Kawakami
- Department of Bioscience and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Arai
- Department of Biomolecular Innovation, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu University, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan.,Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
| | - Naruhiko Adachi
- Structural Biology Research Center, Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Oho, Tsukuba 305-0801, Japan
| | - Toshio Moriya
- Structural Biology Research Center, Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Oho, Tsukuba 305-0801, Japan
| | - Masato Kawasaki
- Structural Biology Research Center, Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Oho, Tsukuba 305-0801, Japan
| | - Kenji Miyamoto
- Department of Bioscience and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan
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7
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Liu Y, Chen X, Yin S, Chang X, Lv C, Zang J, Leng X, Zhang T, Zhao G. Directed Self-Assembly of Dimeric Building Blocks into Networklike Protein Origami to Construct Hydrogels. ACS NANO 2022; 16:19472-19481. [PMID: 36315654 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c09391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Engineering proteins to construct self-assemblies is of crucial significance not only for understanding the sophisticated living systems but also for fabricating advanced materials with unexplored functions. However, due to the inherent chemical heterogeneity and structural complexity of the protein surface, designing complex protein assemblies in an anisotropic fashion remains challenging. Here, we describe a self-assembly approach to fabricating protein origami with a networklike structure by designing dual noncovalent interactions on the different positions of a single protein building block. With dimeric proteins as building blocks, 1D protein filaments were constructed by the designed metal coordination at key protein interfaces. Subsequently, the network superstructures were created by the cross-linking of the 1D protein filaments at branch point linkages through the second designed π-π stacking interactions. Notably, upon increasing the protein concentration, the formed protein networks convert into hydrogels with reversible, injectable, and self-healing properties, which have the ability to promote bone regeneration. This strategy could be used to fabricate other protein-based materials with unexplored functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Liu
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuemin Chen
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuhua Yin
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxi Chang
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenyan Lv
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiachen Zang
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojing Leng
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Tuo Zhang
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Guanghua Zhao
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
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8
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Bacterioferritin nanocage: Structure, biological function, catalytic mechanism, self-assembly and potential applications. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 61:108057. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.108057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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9
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Bradley JM, Gray E, Richardson J, Moore GR, Le Brun NE. Protein encapsulation within the internal cavity of a bacterioferritin. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:12322-12331. [PMID: 35969005 PMCID: PMC9439638 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr01780f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The thermal and chemical stability of 24mer ferritins has led to attempts to exploit their naturally occurring nanoscale (8 nm) internal cavities for biotechnological applications. An area of increasing interest is the encapsulation of molecules either for medical or biocatalysis applications. Encapsulation requires ferritin dissociation, typically induced using high temperature or acidic conditions (pH ≥ 2), which generally precludes the inclusion of fragile cargo such as proteins or peptide fragments. Here we demonstrate that minimizing salt concentration combined with adjusting the pH to ≤8.5 (i.e. low proton/metal ion concentration) reversibly shifts the naturally occurring equilibrium between dimeric and 24meric assemblies of Escherichia coli bacterioferritin (Bfr) in favour of the disassembled form. Interconversion between the different oligomeric forms of Bfr is sufficiently slow under these conditions to allow the use of size exclusion chromatography to obtain wild type protein in the purely dimeric and 24meric forms. This control over association state was exploited to bind heme at natural sites that are not accessible in the assembled protein. The potential for biotechnological applications was demonstrated by the encapsulation of a small, acidic [3Fe-4S] cluster-containing ferredoxin within the Bfr internal cavity. The capture of ∼4-6 negatively charged ferredoxin molecules per cage indicates that charge complementarity with the inner protein surface is not an essential determinant of successful encapsulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M Bradley
- Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Elizabeth Gray
- Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Jake Richardson
- Bioimaging Facility, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Geoffrey R Moore
- Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Nick E Le Brun
- Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
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10
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Sun J, Dong Y, Li X, Wang F, Zhang Y. Chitosan binding to a novel alfalfa phytoferritin nanocage loaded with baicalein: Simulated digestion and absorption evaluation. Food Chem 2022; 386:132716. [PMID: 35358860 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.132716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Phytoferritin was explored as an attractive nanocarrier to encapsulate bioactive compounds due to its excellent stability and biocompatibility. In the present study, a novel phytoferritin derived from alfalfa (Medicago sativa) was successfully expressed, purified and characterized. Results confirmed that alfalfa ferritin, self-assembled by 24 subunits, formed a spherical hollow structure. Baicalein exhibits superior antioxidant properties and nutritious values, but low bioavailability and solubility limit its application. Herein, we fabricated water-soluble chitosan-ferritin-baicalein nanoparticles to overcome its drawbacks. It was calculated that one apoferritin cage could encapsulate 52 molecules of baicalein. Moreover, chitosan-ferritin-baicalein nanoparticles prolonged the release of baicalein in simulated gastrointestinal tract digestion. Caco-2 cell monolayer absorption analysis demonstrated that baicalein encapsulated within ferritin-chitosan double layers was more efficient in cellular transportation. These results indicated that alfalfa ferritin, as a novel cage-like protein, has potential application in improving the bioavailability of insoluble bioactive molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinmiao Sun
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and Utilization of Agro-Forest Biomass, Jiangsu Key Lab of Biomass-Based Green Fuels and Chemicals, College of Chemical Engineering,Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, PR China
| | - Yixin Dong
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and Utilization of Agro-Forest Biomass, Jiangsu Key Lab of Biomass-Based Green Fuels and Chemicals, College of Chemical Engineering,Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, PR China
| | - Xun Li
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and Utilization of Agro-Forest Biomass, Jiangsu Key Lab of Biomass-Based Green Fuels and Chemicals, College of Chemical Engineering,Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, PR China
| | - Fei Wang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and Utilization of Agro-Forest Biomass, Jiangsu Key Lab of Biomass-Based Green Fuels and Chemicals, College of Chemical Engineering,Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, PR China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and Utilization of Agro-Forest Biomass, Jiangsu Key Lab of Biomass-Based Green Fuels and Chemicals, College of Chemical Engineering,Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, PR China.
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11
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Liu Y, Zang J, Leng X, Zhao G. A short helix regulates conversion of dimeric and 24-meric ferritin architectures. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 203:535-542. [PMID: 35120932 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.01.174] [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: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The inter-subunit interaction at the protein interfaces plays a key role in protein self-assembly, through which enabling protein self-assembly controllable is of great importance for preparing the novel nanoscale protein materials with unexplored properties. Different from normal 24-meric ferritin, archaeal ferritin, Thermotoga maritima ferritin (TmFtn) naturally occurs as a dimer, which can assemble into a 24-mer nanocage induced by salts. However, the regulation mechanism of protein self-assembly underlying this phenomenon remains unclear. Here, a combination of the computational energy simulation and key interface reconstruction revealed that a short helix involved interactions at the C4 interface are mainly responsible for the existence of such dimer. Agreeing with this idea, deletion of such short helix of each subunit triggers it to be a stable dimer, which losses the ability to reassemble into 24-meric ferritin in the presence of salts in solution. Further support for this idea comes from the observation that grafting a small helix from human H ferritin onto archaeal subunit resulted in a stable 24-mer protein nanocage even in the absence of salts. Thus, these findings demonstrate that adjusting the interactions at the protein interfaces appears to be a facile, effective approach to control subunit assembly into different protein architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Liu
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jiachen Zang
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiaojing Leng
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Guanghua Zhao
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing 100083, China.
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12
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Zhang X, Zhang T, Wang Y, Liu Y, Zang J, Zhao G. Reversible structure transformation between protein nanocages and nanorods controlled by small molecules. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:12996-12999. [PMID: 34796885 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc04510e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Constructing different protein nanostructures by using identical building blocks, while realizing their structural transformation in response to external stimuli, remains a challenge. Here, we fabricated protein nanocages and nanorods by using dimeric TmFtn as a building block and reacting with Mg2+/(α, L-lysine) with polymerization degrees of 9 (PLL9) and 15 (PLL15), respectively. Notably, the reversible shape transformation of these two supramolecular protein architectures with different dimensions can be achievable in response to external stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Zhang
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Tuo Zhang
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Yingjie Wang
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Yu Liu
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Jiachen Zang
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Guanghua Zhao
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing 100083, China.
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13
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Zhang X, Liu Y, Zheng B, Zang J, Lv C, Zhang T, Wang H, Zhao G. Protein interface redesign facilitates the transformation of nanocage building blocks to 1D and 2D nanomaterials. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4849. [PMID: 34381032 PMCID: PMC8357837 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25199-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Although various artificial protein nanoarchitectures have been constructed, controlling the transformation between different protein assemblies has largely been unexplored. Here, we describe an approach to realize the self-assembly transformation of dimeric building blocks by adjusting their geometric arrangement. Thermotoga maritima ferritin (TmFtn) naturally occurs as a dimer; twelve of these dimers interact with each other in a head-to-side manner to generate 24-meric hollow protein nanocage in the presence of Ca2+ or PEG. By tuning two contiguous dimeric proteins to interact in a fully or partially side-by-side fashion through protein interface redesign, we can render the self-assembly transformation of such dimeric building blocks from the protein nanocage to filament, nanorod and nanoribbon in response to multiple external stimuli. We show similar dimeric protein building blocks can generate three kinds of protein materials in a manner that highly resembles natural pentamer building blocks from viral capsids that form different protein assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Zhang
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing, 100083 China
| | - Yu Liu
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing, 100083 China
| | - Bowen Zheng
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing, 100083 China
| | - Jiachen Zang
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing, 100083 China
| | - Chenyan Lv
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing, 100083 China
| | - Tuo Zhang
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing, 100083 China
| | - Hongfei Wang
- grid.163032.50000 0004 1760 2008Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Education Ministry, Key Laboratory of Energy Conversion and Storage Materials of Shanxi Province, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Guanghua Zhao
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing, 100083 China
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Kumar M, Markiewicz-Mizera J, Janna Olmos JD, Wilk P, Grudnik P, Biela AP, Jemioła-Rzemińska M, Górecki A, Chakraborti S, Heddle JG. A single residue can modulate nanocage assembly in salt dependent ferritin. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:11932-11942. [PMID: 34195748 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr01632f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Cage forming proteins have numerous potential applications in biomedicine and biotechnology, where the iron storage ferritin is a widely used example. However, controlling ferritin cage assembly/disassembly remains challenging, typically requiring extreme conditions incompatible with many desirable cargoes, particularly for more fragile biopharmaceuticals. Recently, a ferritin from the hyperthermophile bacterium Thermotoga maritima (TmFtn) has been shown to have reversible assembly under mild conditions, offering greater potential biocompatibility in terms of cargo access and encapsulation. Like Archeoglobus fulgidus ferritin (AfFtn), TmFtn forms 24mer cages mediated by metal ions (Mg2+). We have solved the crystal structure of the wild type TmFtn and several mutants displaying different assembly/disassembly properties. These data combined with other biophysical studies allow us to suggest candidate interfacial amino acids crucial in controlling assembly. This work deepens our understanding of how these ferritin complexes assemble and is a useful step towards production of triggerable ferritins in which these properties can be finely designed and controlled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantu Kumar
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, 30-392 Krakow, Poland.
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15
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Electrostatic Self-Assembly of Protein Cage Arrays. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 32856259 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0928-6_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Protein and peptide cages are nanoscale containers, which are of particular interest in nanoscience due to their well-defined dimensions and enclosed central cavities that can be filled with material that is protected from the outside environment. Ferritin is a typical example of protein cage, formed by 24 polypeptide chains that self-assemble into a hollow, roughly spherical protein cage with external and internal diameters of approximately 12 nm and 8 nm, respectively. The interior cavity of ferritin provides a unique reaction vessel to carry out reactions separated from the exterior environment. In nature, the cavity is utilized for sequestration and biomineralization to render iron inert and safe by shielding from the external environment. Materials scientists have been inspired by this system and exploited a range of ferritin superfamily proteins as supramolecular templates to encapsulate cargoes ranging from cancer drugs to therapeutic proteins. Interesting possibilities arise if such containers can themselves be arranged into even higher-order structures such as crystalline arrays. Here, we describe how crystalline arrays of negatively charged ferritin protein cages can be built by taking advantage of electrostatic interactions with cationic gold nanoparticles.
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16
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Lv C, Zhang X, Liu Y, Zhang T, Chen H, Zang J, Zheng B, Zhao G. Redesign of protein nanocages: the way from 0D, 1D, 2D to 3D assembly. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:3957-3989. [PMID: 33587075 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01349h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Compartmentalization is a hallmark of living systems. Through compartmentalization, ubiquitous protein nanocages such as viral capsids, ferritin, small heat shock proteins, and DNA-binding proteins from starved cells fulfill a variety of functions, while their shell-like structures hold great promise for various applications in the field of nanomedicine and nanotechnology. However, the number and structure of natural protein nanocages are limited, and these natural protein nanocages may not be suited for a given application, which might impede their further application as nanovehicles, biotemplates or building blocks. To overcome these shortcomings, different strategies have been developed by scientists to construct artificial protein nanocages, and 1D, 2D and 3D protein arrays with protein nanocages as building blocks through genetic and chemical modification to rival the size and functionality of natural protein nanocages. This review outlines the recent advances in the field of the design and construction of artificial protein nanocages and their assemblies with higher order, summarizes the strategies for creating the assembly of protein nanocages from zero-dimension to three dimensions, and introduces their corresponding applications in the preparation of nanomaterials, electrochemistry, and drug delivery. The review will highlight the roles of both the inter-subunit/intermolecular interactions at the key interface and the protein symmetry in constructing and controlling protein nanocage assemblies with different dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyan Lv
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, Beijing 100083, China.
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17
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Zhang C, Zhang X, Zhao G. Ferritin Nanocage: A Versatile Nanocarrier Utilized in the Field of Food, Nutrition, and Medicine. NANOMATERIALS 2020; 10:nano10091894. [PMID: 32971961 PMCID: PMC7557750 DOI: 10.3390/nano10091894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Compared with other nanocarriers such as liposomes, mesoporous silica, and cyclodextrin, ferritin as a typical protein nanocage has received considerable attention in the field of food, nutrition, and medicine owing to its inherent cavity size, excellent water solubility, and biocompatibility. Additionally, ferritin nanocage also serves as a versatile bio-template for the synthesis of a variety of nanoparticles. Recently, scientists have explored the ferritin nanocage structure for encapsulation and delivery of guest molecules such as nutrients, bioactive molecules, anticancer drugs, and mineral metal ions by taking advantage of its unique reversible disassembly and reassembly property and biomineralization. In this review, we mainly focus on the preparation and structure of ferritin-based nanocarriers, and regulation of their self-assembly. Moreover, the recent advances of their applications in food nutrient delivery and medical diagnostics are highlighted. Finally, the main challenges and future development in ferritin-directed nanoparticles’ synthesis and multifunctional applications are discussed.
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18
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Chakraborti S, Korpi A, Kumar M, Stępień P, Kostiainen MA, Heddle JG. Three-Dimensional Protein Cage Array Capable of Active Enzyme Capture and Artificial Chaperone Activity. NANO LETTERS 2019; 19:3918-3924. [PMID: 31117758 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b01148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Development of protein cages for encapsulation of active enzyme cargoes and their subsequent arrangement into a controllable three-dimensional array is highly desirable. However, cargo capture is typically challenging because of difficulties in achieving reversible assembly/disassembly of protein cages in mild conditions. Herein we show that by using an unusual ferritin cage protein that undergoes triggerable assembly under mild conditions, we can achieve reversible filling with protein cargoes including an active enzyme. We demonstrate that these filled cages can be arrayed in three-dimensional crystal lattices and have an additional chaperone-like effect, increasing both thermostability and enzymatic activity of the encapsulated enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumyananda Chakraborti
- Bionanoscience and Biochemistry Laboratory, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology , Jagiellonian University , Gronostajowa 7A , 30-387 Krakow , Poland
| | - Antti Korpi
- Biohybrid Materials, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems , Aalto University , FI-00076 Aalto , Finland
| | - Mantu Kumar
- Bionanoscience and Biochemistry Laboratory, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology , Jagiellonian University , Gronostajowa 7A , 30-387 Krakow , Poland
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine ; Żwirki i Wigury 61 , 02-091 Warsaw , Poland
| | - Piotr Stępień
- Bionanoscience and Biochemistry Laboratory, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology , Jagiellonian University , Gronostajowa 7A , 30-387 Krakow , Poland
| | - Mauri A Kostiainen
- Biohybrid Materials, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems , Aalto University , FI-00076 Aalto , Finland
| | - Jonathan G Heddle
- Bionanoscience and Biochemistry Laboratory, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology , Jagiellonian University , Gronostajowa 7A , 30-387 Krakow , Poland
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19
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Tetter
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry; ETH Zürich; 8093 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Donald Hilvert
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry; ETH Zürich; 8093 Zurich Switzerland
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20
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Tetter S, Hilvert D. Enzyme Encapsulation by a Ferritin Cage. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:14933-14936. [PMID: 28902449 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201708530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ferritins, conserved across all kingdoms of life, are protein nanocages that evolved to mineralize iron. The last several decades have shown that these cages have considerable technological and medical potential owing to their stability and tolerance to modification, as well as their ability to template nanoparticle synthesis and incorporate small molecules. Here we show that it is possible to encapsulate proteins in a ferritin cage by exploiting electrostatic interactions with its negatively charged interior. Positively supercharged green fluorescent protein is efficiently taken up by Archaeoglobus fulgidus ferritin in a tunable fashion. Moreover, several enzymes were readily incorporated when genetically tethered to this fluorescent protein. These fusion proteins retained high catalytic activity and showed increased tolerance to proteolysis and heat. Equipping ferritins with enzymatic activity paves the way for many new nanotechnological and pharmacological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Tetter
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Donald Hilvert
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
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21
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Abstract
Iron is very important in many biological processes and the ferritin protein family has evolved to store iron and to maintain cellular iron homeostasis. The deletion of the coding gene for the H subunit of ferritin leads to early embryonic death in mice and mutations in the gene for the L subunits in humans has been observed in neurodegenerative diseases, such as neuroferritinopathy. Thus, understanding how ferritin works is imperative and many studies have been conducted to delineate the molecular mechanism of ferritins and bacterioferritins. In the ferritin protein family, it is clear that a catalytic center for iron oxidation, the routes for iron to reach this center and the ability to nucleate an iron core, are common requirements for all ferritins. However, there are differences in the structural and mechanistic details of iron oxidation and mineralization. Although a common mechanism has been proposed for all ferritins, this mechanism needs to be further explored. There is a mechanistic diversity related to structural variation in the ferritin protein family. It is clear that other factors appear to affect the mechanism of iron oxidation and mineralization. This review focusses on the structural features of the ferritin protein family and its role in the mechanism of iron mineralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Yévenes
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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22
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Abstract
Background Ureaplasma urealyticum is a major pathogen associated with many diseases. The ability of U. urealyticum to protect itself from oxidative stress is likely to be important for its pathogenesis and survival, but its oxidative stress tolerance mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates the antioxidant activity of a ferritin-like protein from U. urealyticum. Results The uuferritin gene, which was up regulated when U. urealyticum was subjected to oxidative stress, was cloned from U. urealyticum and the corresponding recombinant protein uuferritin was purified. Uuferritin protein reduced the levels of hydroxyl radicals generated by the Fenton reaction as a consequence of its ferroxidase activity, and thus the protein protected DNA from oxidative damage. Furthermore, oxidation-sensitive Escherichia coli mutants transformed with pTrc99a-uuferritin showed significantly improved tolerance to oxidative stress compared to E. coli mutants transformed with an empty pTrc99a vector. Conclusions The present work shows that uuferritin protein confers resistance to oxidative stress in vitro and in E. coli. The protective role of uuferritin provides a foundation for understanding the mechanisms of oxidative stress tolerance in U. urealyticum.
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Arenas-Salinas M, Townsend PD, Brito C, Marquez V, Marabolli V, Gonzalez-Nilo F, Matias C, Watt RK, López-Castro JD, Domínguez-Vera J, Pohl E, Yévenes A. The crystal structure of ferritin from Chlorobium tepidum reveals a new conformation of the 4-fold channel for this protein family. Biochimie 2014; 106:39-47. [PMID: 25079050 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2014.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 07/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ferritins are ubiquitous iron-storage proteins found in all kingdoms of life. They share a common architecture made of 24 subunits of five α-helices. The recombinant Chlorobium tepidum ferritin (rCtFtn) is a structurally interesting protein since sequence alignments with other ferritins show that this protein has a significantly extended C-terminus, which possesses 12 histidine residues as well as several aspartate and glutamic acid residues that are potential metal ion binding residues. We show that the macromolecular assembly of rCtFtn exhibits a cage-like hollow shell consisting of 24 monomers that are related by 4-3-2 symmetry; similar to the assembly of other ferritins. In all ferritins of known structure the short fifth α-helix adopts an acute angle with respect to the four-helix bundle. However, the crystal structure of the rCtFtn presented here shows that this helix adopts a new conformation defining a new assembly of the 4-fold channel of rCtFtn. This conformation allows the arrangement of the C-terminal region into the inner cavity of the protein shell. Furthermore, two Fe(III) ions were found in each ferroxidase center of rCtFtn, with an average FeA-FeB distance of 3 Å; corresponding to a diferric μ-oxo/hydroxo species. This is the first ferritin crystal structure with an isolated di-iron center in an iron-storage ferritin. The crystal structure of rCtFtn and the biochemical results presented here, suggests that rCtFtn presents similar biochemical properties reported for other members of this protein family albeit with distinct structural plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Arenas-Salinas
- Centro de Bioinformática y Simulación Molecular, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Philip D Townsend
- Department of Chemistry & School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Christian Brito
- Centro de Bioinformática y Biología Integrativa, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Valeria Marquez
- Centro de Bioinformática y Biología Integrativa, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Vanessa Marabolli
- Centro de Bioinformática y Biología Integrativa, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Fernando Gonzalez-Nilo
- Centro de Bioinformática y Biología Integrativa, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cata Matias
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Richard K Watt
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Juan D López-Castro
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - José Domínguez-Vera
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Ehmke Pohl
- Department of Chemistry & School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Alejandro Yévenes
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Characterization of the Bacteroides fragilis bfr gene product identifies a bacterial DPS-like protein and suggests evolutionary links in the ferritin superfamily. J Bacteriol 2012; 194:15-27. [PMID: 22020642 PMCID: PMC3256617 DOI: 10.1128/jb.05260-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A factor contributing to the pathogenicity of Bacteroides fragilis, the most common anaerobic species isolated from clinical infections, is the bacterium's extreme aerotolerance, which allows survival in oxygenated tissues prior to anaerobic abscess formation. We investigated the role of the bacterioferritin-related (bfr) gene in the B. fragilis oxidative stress response. The bfr mRNA levels are increased in stationary phase or in response to O(2) or iron. In addition, bfr null mutants exhibit reduced aerotolerance, and the bfr gene product protects DNA from hydroxyl radical cleavage in vitro. Crystallographic studies revealed a protein with a dodecameric structure and greater similarity to an archaeal DNA protection in starved cells (DPS)-like protein than to the 24-subunit bacterioferritins. Similarity to the DPS-like (DPSL) protein extends to the subunit and includes a pair of conserved cysteine residues juxtaposed to a buried dimetal binding site within the four-helix bundle. Compared to archaeal DPSLs, however, this bacterial DPSL protein contains several unique features, including a significantly different conformation in the C-terminal tail that alters the number and location of pores leading to the central cavity and a conserved metal binding site on the interior surface of the dodecamer. Combined, these characteristics confirm this new class of miniferritin in the bacterial domain, delineate the similarities and differences between bacterial DPSL proteins and their archaeal homologs, allow corrected annotations for B. fragilis bfr and other dpsl genes within the bacterial domain, and suggest an evolutionary link within the ferritin superfamily that connects dodecameric DPS to the (bacterio)ferritin 24-mer.
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