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Puertas-Bartolomé M, Venegas-Bustos D, Acosta S, Rodríguez-Cabello JC. Contribution of the ELRs to the development of advanced in vitro models. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1363865. [PMID: 38650751 PMCID: PMC11033926 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1363865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Developing in vitro models that accurately mimic the microenvironment of biological structures or processes holds substantial promise for gaining insights into specific biological functions. In the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, in vitro models able to capture the precise structural, topographical, and functional complexity of living tissues, prove to be valuable tools for comprehending disease mechanisms, assessing drug responses, and serving as alternatives or complements to animal testing. The choice of the right biomaterial and fabrication technique for the development of these in vitro models plays an important role in their functionality. In this sense, elastin-like recombinamers (ELRs) have emerged as an important tool for the fabrication of in vitro models overcoming the challenges encountered in natural and synthetic materials due to their intrinsic properties, such as phase transition behavior, tunable biological properties, viscoelasticity, and easy processability. In this review article, we will delve into the use of ELRs for molecular models of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), as well as for the development of in vitro 3D models for regenerative medicine. The easy processability of the ELRs and their rational design has allowed their use for the development of spheroids and organoids, or bioinks for 3D bioprinting. Thus, incorporating ELRs into the toolkit of biomaterials used for the fabrication of in vitro models, represents a transformative step forward in improving the accuracy, efficiency, and functionality of these models, and opening up a wide range of possibilities in combination with advanced biofabrication techniques that remains to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Puertas-Bartolomé
- Technical Proteins Nanobiotechnology, S.L. (TPNBT), Valladolid, Spain
- Bioforge Lab (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER's Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Desiré Venegas-Bustos
- Bioforge Lab (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER's Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Sergio Acosta
- Bioforge Lab (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER's Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - José Carlos Rodríguez-Cabello
- Bioforge Lab (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER's Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
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Jeon J, Subramani SV, Lee KZ, Jiang B, Zhang F. Microbial Synthesis of High-Molecular-Weight, Highly Repetitive Protein Polymers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:6416. [PMID: 37047388 PMCID: PMC10094428 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
High molecular weight (MW), highly repetitive protein polymers are attractive candidates to replace petroleum-derived materials as these protein-based materials (PBMs) are renewable, biodegradable, and have outstanding mechanical properties. However, their high MW and highly repetitive sequence features make them difficult to synthesize in fast-growing microbial cells in sufficient amounts for real applications. To overcome this challenge, various methods were developed to synthesize repetitive PBMs. Here, we review recent strategies in the construction of repetitive genes, expression of repetitive proteins from circular mRNAs, and synthesis of repetitive proteins by ligation and protein polymerization. We discuss the advantages and limitations of each method and highlight future directions that will lead to scalable production of highly repetitive PBMs for a wide range of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juya Jeon
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA; (J.J.); (S.V.S.); (K.Z.L.); (B.J.)
| | - Shri Venkatesh Subramani
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA; (J.J.); (S.V.S.); (K.Z.L.); (B.J.)
| | - Kok Zhi Lee
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA; (J.J.); (S.V.S.); (K.Z.L.); (B.J.)
| | - Bojing Jiang
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA; (J.J.); (S.V.S.); (K.Z.L.); (B.J.)
| | - Fuzhong Zhang
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA; (J.J.); (S.V.S.); (K.Z.L.); (B.J.)
- Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Division of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA
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3
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Skowron PM, Krawczun N, Zebrowska J, Krefft D, Zołnierkiewicz O, Bielawa M, Jezewska-Frackowiak J, Janus L, Witkowska M, Palczewska M, Schumacher A, Wardowska A, Deptula M, Czupryn A, Mucha P, Piotrowski A, Sachadyn P, Rodziewicz-Motowidlo S, Pikula M, Zylicz-Stachula A. A vector-enzymatic DNA fragment amplification-expression technology for construction of artificial, concatemeric DNA, RNA and proteins for novel biomaterials, biomedical and industrial applications. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2019; 108:110426. [PMID: 31923928 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2019.110426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A DNA fragment amplification/expression technology for the production of new generation biomaterials for scientific, industrial and biomedical applications is described. The technology enables the formation of artificial Open Reading Frames (ORFs) encoding concatemeric RNAs and proteins. It recruits the Type IIS SapI restriction endonuclease (REase) for an assembling of DNA fragments in an ordered head-to-tail-orientation. The technology employs a vector-enzymatic system, dedicated to the expression of newly formed, concatemeric ORFs from strong promoters. Four vector series were constructed to suit specialised needs. As a proof of concept, a model amplification of a 7-amino acid (aa) epitope from the S protein of HBV virus was performed, resulting in 500 copies of the epitope-coding DNA segment, consecutively linked and expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli). Furthermore, a peptide with potential pro-regenerative properties (derived from an angiopoietin-related growth factor) was designed. Its aa sequence was back-translated, codon usage optimized and synthesized as a continuous ORF 10-mer. The 10-mer was cloned into the amplification vector, enabling the N-terminal fusion and multiplication of the encoded protein with MalE signal sequence. The obtained genes were expressed, and the proteins were purified. Conclusively, we show that the proteins are neither cytotoxic nor immunogenic and they have a very low allergic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr M Skowron
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Gdansk 80-308, Poland; BioVentures Institute Ltd., Poznan 60-141, Poland.
| | - Natalia Krawczun
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Gdansk 80-308, Poland; BioVentures Institute Ltd., Poznan 60-141, Poland
| | - Joanna Zebrowska
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Gdansk 80-308, Poland; BioVentures Institute Ltd., Poznan 60-141, Poland
| | - Daria Krefft
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Gdansk 80-308, Poland; BioVentures Institute Ltd., Poznan 60-141, Poland
| | - Olga Zołnierkiewicz
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Gdansk 80-308, Poland
| | | | - Joanna Jezewska-Frackowiak
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Gdansk 80-308, Poland; BioVentures Institute Ltd., Poznan 60-141, Poland
| | - Lukasz Janus
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Gdansk 80-308, Poland; BioVentures Institute Ltd., Poznan 60-141, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Witkowska
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Gdansk 80-308, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Palczewska
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Gdansk 80-308, Poland
| | - Adriana Schumacher
- Department of Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk 80-211, Poland; Department of Clinical Immunology and Transplantology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210, Poland
| | - Anna Wardowska
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transplantology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210, Poland; Laboratory of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk 80-211, Poland
| | - Milena Deptula
- Laboratory of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk 80-211, Poland
| | - Artur Czupryn
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Piotr Mucha
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, 80-308, Poland
| | - Arkadiusz Piotrowski
- Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-416, Poland; International Research Agenda - 3P Medicine Lab, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-416, Poland
| | - Pawel Sachadyn
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk 80-233, Poland
| | | | - Michal Pikula
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transplantology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210, Poland; Laboratory of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk 80-211, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Zylicz-Stachula
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Gdansk 80-308, Poland; BioVentures Institute Ltd., Poznan 60-141, Poland
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Werten MWT, Eggink G, Cohen Stuart MA, de Wolf FA. Production of protein-based polymers in Pichia pastoris. Biotechnol Adv 2019; 37:642-666. [PMID: 30902728 PMCID: PMC6624476 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2019.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Revised: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Materials science and genetic engineering have joined forces over the last three decades in the development of so-called protein-based polymers. These are proteins, typically with repetitive amino acid sequences, that have such physical properties that they can be used as functional materials. Well-known natural examples are collagen, silk, and elastin, but also artificial sequences have been devised. These proteins can be produced in a suitable host via recombinant DNA technology, and it is this inherent control over monomer sequence and molecular size that renders this class of polymers of particular interest to the fields of nanomaterials and biomedical research. Traditionally, Escherichia coli has been the main workhorse for the production of these polymers, but the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris is finding increased use in view of the often high yields and potential bioprocessing benefits. We here provide an overview of protein-based polymers produced in P. pastoris. We summarize their physicochemical properties, briefly note possible applications, and detail their biosynthesis. Some challenges that may be faced when using P. pastoris for polymer production are identified: (i) low yields and poor process control in shake flask cultures; i.e., the need for bioreactors, (ii) proteolytic degradation, and (iii) self-assembly in vivo. Strategies to overcome these challenges are discussed, which we anticipate will be of interest also to readers involved in protein expression in P. pastoris in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc W T Werten
- Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, NL-6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Gerrit Eggink
- Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, NL-6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands; Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University & Research, NL-6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martien A Cohen Stuart
- Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University & Research, NL-6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Frits A de Wolf
- Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, NL-6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Chu HS, Ryum J, Won JI. Cadmium detection by a thermally responsive elastin copolymer with metal-binding functionality. Enzyme Microb Technol 2013; 53:189-93. [PMID: 23830461 DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2013.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2012] [Revised: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Heavy metals are of great concern to environmental safety because of their adverse effects on the environment and human health, even at very low levels. In particular, cadmium and several cadmium-containing compounds are carcinogens and induce many types of cancer. Biological extracts of cadmium have been given greater attention recently because they are considered to be environmentally benign and economically acceptable. Among promising candidates, one emerging technology is the use of tunable, metal-binding biopolymers based on elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs). An ELP consists of the repeating pentapeptide of specific amino acids, Val-Pro-Gly-Xaa-Gly (where the "guest residue" Xaa is any amino except proline) that undergoes a reversible phase transition at a specific temperature (transition temperature, Tt). However, the ELP itself is relatively non-selective. A biopolymer with metal-binding domains that have stronger affinity, capacity, and selectivity would have distinct advantages. We investigated the use of a new generation of ELP biopolymers, EC18-ELP containing synthetic phytochelatin (EC), which is a metal-binding protein with a repetitive motif (Glu-Cys)nGly, as the metal-binding domain. In this study, an EC18-ELP fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and the metal binding ability of EC to cadmium was examined quantitatively. In addition, transition temperature variation was analyzed when the fusion protein bound to cadmium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hun Su Chu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Mapo-gu, Seoul 121-791, Republic of Korea
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Havukainen H, Underhaug J, Wolschin F, Amdam G, Halskau Ø. A vitellogenin polyserine cleavage site: highly disordered conformation protected from proteolysis by phosphorylation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 215:1837-46. [PMID: 22573762 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.065623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Vitellogenin (Vg) is an egg-yolk precursor protein in most oviparous species. In honeybee (Apis mellifera), the protein (AmVg) also affects social behavior and life-span plasticity. Despite its manifold functions, the AmVg molecule remains poorly understood. The subject of our structure-oriented AmVg study is its polyserine tract - a little-investigated repetitive protein segment mostly found in insects. We previously reported that AmVg is tissue specifically cleaved in the vicinity of this tract. Here, we show that, despite its potential for an open, disordered structure, AmVg is unexpectedly resistant to trypsin/chymotrypsin digestion at the tract. Our findings suggest that multiple phosphorylation plays a role in this resilience. Sequence variation is highly pronounced at the polyserine region in insect Vgs. We demonstrate that sequence differences in this region can lead to structural variation, as NMR and circular dichroism (CD) evidence assign different conformational propensities to polyserine peptides from the honeybee and the jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis; the former is extended and disordered and the latter more compact and helical. CD analysis of the polyserine region of bumblebee Bombus ignitus and wasp Pimpla nipponica supports a random coil structure in these species. The spectroscopic results strengthen our model of the AmVg polyserine tract as a flexible domain linker shielded by phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heli Havukainen
- Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas, Norway.
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Lee S, Kim JS, Chu HS, Kim GW, Won JI, Jang JH. Electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds for controlled release of adeno-associated viral vectors. Acta Biomater 2011; 7:3868-76. [PMID: 21745607 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2011.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2011] [Revised: 05/27/2011] [Accepted: 06/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The integration of viral gene delivery with key features of biomaterial scaffolds that modulate viral delivery in a controlled manner offers a promising strategy for numerous tissue engineering applications. In this study adeno-associated virus (AAV), which is widely utilized in human gene therapy as a gene carrier due to its safety and efficient gene delivery capability, was encapsulated within electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds composed of blended mixtures of elastin-like polypeptides (ELP) and poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and was employed to transduce fibroblasts adherent on the scaffolds. Combinatorial interactions between ELP and PCL chains upon physical blending significantly altered the mechanical properties (i.e. wettability, elastic modulus, strain, etc.) of the ELP/PCL composites, thus providing key tools to mediate controlled release of AAV vectors and robust cellular transduction on the fibrous scaffolds. The ability of ELP/PCL composites to manipulate the controlled release of AAV-mediated gene delivery for subsequent high-efficiency cellular transduction will provide tremendous opportunities for a variety of tissue engineering applications.
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