1
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Guessous G, Blake L, Bui A, Woo Y, Manzanarez G. Disentangling the Web: An Interdisciplinary Review on the Potential and Feasibility of Spider Silk Bioproduction. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:5412-5438. [PMID: 39136701 PMCID: PMC11388149 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
The remarkable material properties of spider silk, such as its high toughness and tensile strength combined with its low density, make it a highly sought-after material with myriad applications. In addition, the biological nature of spider silk makes it a promising, potentially sustainable alternative to many toxic or petrochemical-derived materials. Therefore, interest in the heterologous production of spider silk proteins has greatly increased over the past few decades, making recombinant spider silk an important frontier in biomanufacturing. This has resulted in a diversity of potential host organisms, a large space for sequence design, and a variety of downstream processing techniques and product applications for spider silk production. Here, we highlight advances in each of these technical aspects as well as white spaces therein, still ripe for further investigation and discovery. Additionally, industry landscaping, patent analyses, and interviews with Key Opinion Leaders help define both the research and industry landscapes. In particular, we found that though textiles dominated the early products proposed by companies, the versatile nature of spider silk has opened up possibilities in other industries, such as high-performance materials in automotive applications or biomedical therapies. While continuing enthusiasm has imbued scientists and investors alike, many technical and business considerations still remain unsolved before spider silk can be democratized as a high-performance product. We provide insights and strategies for overcoming these initial hurdles, and we highlight the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and policy makers. Linking technical considerations to business and market entry strategies highlights the importance of a holistic approach for the effective scale-up and commercial viability of spider silk bioproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghita Guessous
- Department of Physics, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92092, United States
- Research Initiative, Nucleate, 88 Gordon Street #401, Brighton, Massachusetts 02135, United States
| | - Lauren Blake
- Research Initiative, Nucleate, 88 Gordon Street #401, Brighton, Massachusetts 02135, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
- Tufts University Center for Cellular Agriculture (TUCCA), Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Anthony Bui
- Research Initiative, Nucleate, 88 Gordon Street #401, Brighton, Massachusetts 02135, United States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, United States
| | - Yelim Woo
- Research Initiative, Nucleate, 88 Gordon Street #401, Brighton, Massachusetts 02135, United States
- Questrom School of Business, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Gabriel Manzanarez
- Research Initiative, Nucleate, 88 Gordon Street #401, Brighton, Massachusetts 02135, United States
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92092, United States
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2
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Bitar L, Isella B, Bertella F, Bettker Vasconcelos C, Harings J, Kopp A, van der Meer Y, Vaughan TJ, Bortesi L. Sustainable Bombyx mori's silk fibroin for biomedical applications as a molecular biotechnology challenge: A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 264:130374. [PMID: 38408575 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130374] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Silk is a natural engineering material with a unique set of properties. The major constituent of silk is fibroin, a protein widely used in the biomedical field because of its mechanical strength, toughness and elasticity, as well as its biocompatibility and biodegradability. The domestication of silkworms allows large amounts of fibroin to be extracted inexpensively from silk cocoons. However, the industrial extraction process has drawbacks in terms of sustainability and the quality of the final medical product. The heterologous production of fibroin using recombinant DNA technology is a promising approach to address these issues, but the production of such recombinant proteins is challenging and further optimization is required due to the large size and repetitive structure of fibroin's DNA and amino acid sequence. In this review, we describe the structure-function relationship of fibroin, the current extraction process, and some insights into the sustainability of silk production for biomedical applications. We focus on recent advances in molecular biotechnology underpinning the production of recombinant fibroin, working toward a standardized, successful and sustainable process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Bitar
- Maastricht University-Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, the Netherlands; Fibrothelium GmbH, Philipsstraße 8, 52068 Aachen, Germany
| | - Benedetta Isella
- Fibrothelium GmbH, Philipsstraße 8, 52068 Aachen, Germany; Biomechanics Research Centre (BioMEC), Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, University of Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
| | - Francesca Bertella
- Maastricht University-Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, the Netherlands; B4Plastics, IQ Parklaan 2A, 3650 Dilsen-Stokkem, Belgium
| | - Carolina Bettker Vasconcelos
- Maastricht University-Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, the Netherlands; Umlaut GmbH, Am Kraftversorgungsturm 3, 52070 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jules Harings
- Maastricht University-Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, the Netherlands
| | - Alexander Kopp
- Fibrothelium GmbH, Philipsstraße 8, 52068 Aachen, Germany
| | - Yvonne van der Meer
- Maastricht University-Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, the Netherlands
| | - Ted J Vaughan
- Biomechanics Research Centre (BioMEC), Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, University of Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
| | - Luisa Bortesi
- Maastricht University-Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, the Netherlands.
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3
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Mi J, Li X, Niu S, Zhou X, Lu Y, Yang Y, Sun Y, Meng Q. High-strength and ultra-tough supramolecular polyamide spider silk fibers assembled via specific covalent and reversible hydrogen bonds. Acta Biomater 2024; 176:190-200. [PMID: 38199426 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.01.004] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Achieving ultra-high tensile strength and exceptional toughness is a longstanding goal for structural materials. However, previous attempts using covalent and non-covalent bonds have failed, leading to the belief that these two properties are mutually exclusive. Consequently, commercial fibers have been forced to compromise between tensile strength and toughness, as seen in the differences between nylon and Kevlar. To address this challenge, we drew inspiration from the disparate tensile strength and toughness of nylon and Kevlar, both of which are polyamide fibers, and developed an innovative approach that combines specific intermolecular disulfide bonds and reversible hydrogen bonds to create ultra-strong and ultra-tough polyamide spider silk fibers. Our resulting Supramolecular polyamide spider silk, which has a maximum molecular weight of 1084 kDa, exhibits high tensile strength (1180 MPa) and extraordinary toughness (433 MJ/m3), surpassing Kevlar's toughness 8-fold. This breakthrough presents a new opportunity for the sustainable development of spider silk as an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic commercial fibers, as spider silk is composed of amino acids. Future research could explore the use of these techniques and fundamental knowledge to develop other super materials in various mechanical fields, with the potential to improve people's lives in many ways. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: • By emulating synthetic commercial fibers such as nylon and polyethylene, we have successfully produced supramolecular-weight polyamide spider silk fibers with a molecular weight of 1084 kDa through a unique covalent bond-mediated linear polymerization reaction of spider silk protein molecules. This greatly surpasses the previous record of a maximum molecular weight of 556 kDa. • We obtained supramolecular polyamide spider silk fibers with both high-tensile strength and toughness. The stress at break is 1180 MPa, and the toughness is 8 times that of kevlar, reaching 433 MJ/m3. • Our results challenge the notion that it is impossible to manufacture fibers with both ultra-high tensile strength and ultra-toughness, and provide theoretical guidance for developing environmentally friendly and sustainable structural materials that meet industrial needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junpeng Mi
- College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore,14 Science Drive 4 117543, Singapore
| | - Shiwei Niu
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Science and Technology Achievement Incubation Center, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Xingping Zhou
- College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
| | - Yihang Lu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Yuchen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Yuan Sun
- College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Qing Meng
- College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China; College of Life and Geographic Sciences, Kashi University, Xin Jiang 844006, China.
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4
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Dai X, Ye X, Shi L, Yu S, Wang X, Zhong B. High mechanical property silk produced by transgenic silkworms expressing the Drosophila Dumpy. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1359587. [PMID: 38410165 PMCID: PMC10895422 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1359587] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Extensive research has been conducted on utilizing transgenic silkworms and their natural spinning apparatus to produce high-performance spider silk fibers. However, research on using non-spider biological proteins to optimize the molecular structure of silk protein and improve the mechanical performance of silk fibers is still relatively scarce. Dumpy, a massive extracellular matrix polypeptide, is essential for preserving the shape and structural integrity of the insect cuticle due to its remarkable tension and elasticity. Here, we constructed two transgenic donor plasmids containing the fusion genes of FibH-Dumpy and FibL-Dumpy. The results indicated the successful integration of two exogenous gene expression cassettes, driven by endogenous promoters, into the silkworm genome using piggyBac-mediated transgenic technology. Secondary structure analysis revealed a 16.7% and 13.6% increase in the β-sheet content of transgenic silks compared to wild-type (WT) silk fibers. Mechanical testing demonstrated that, compared to the WT, HDUY and LDUY transgenic silk fibers exhibited respective increases of 39.54% and 21.45% in maximum stress, 44.43% and 45.02% in toughness, and 24.91% and 28.51% in elastic recovery rate. These findings suggest that Drosophila Dumpy significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of silk, positioning it as an excellent candidate for the development of extraordinary-performance fibers. This study provides rich inspiration for using other biological proteins to construct high-performance silk fibers and expands the possibilities for designing and applying novel biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangping Dai
- Institute of Silkworm and Bee Research, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Bee Resource Utilization and Innovation of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaogang Ye
- Institute of Silkworm and Bee Research, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Bee Resource Utilization and Innovation of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liangen Shi
- Institute of Applied Bioresource Research, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shihua Yu
- Institute of Silkworm and Bee Research, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Bee Resource Utilization and Innovation of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinqiu Wang
- Institute of Silkworm and Bee Research, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Bee Resource Utilization and Innovation of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Boxiong Zhong
- Institute of Silkworm and Bee Research, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Bee Resource Utilization and Innovation of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
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5
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Hu X, Li N, Guo S, Zhu M, Zhang X, Wang C, Gong C. Rapid production of chimeric silkworm/spider silk with improved mechanical properties by infection of nonpermissive Bombyx mori with recombinant AcMNPV harboring native-size of spidroin genes. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 256:128466. [PMID: 38035957 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128466] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Spider silks with excellent mechanical properties attract more attention from scientists worldwide, and the dragline silk that serves as the framework of the spider's web is considered one of the strongest fibers. However, it is unfeasible for large-scale production of spider silk due to its highly territorial, cannibalistic, predatory, and solitary behavior. Herein, to alleviate some of these problems and explore aneasy way to produce spider fibers, we constructed recombinant baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) simultaneously expressing Trichonephila clavipes native ampullate spidroin 2 (MaSp-G) and spidroin 1 (MaSp-C) driven by the promoters of silkworm fibroin genes, to infect the nonpermissive Bombyx mori larvae at the fifth instar. MaSp-G and MaSp-C were co-expressed in the posterior silk glands (PSGs) of infected silkworms and successfully secreted into the lumen of the silk gland for fibroin globule assembly. The integration of MaSp-G and MaSp-C into silkworm silk fibers significantly improved the mechanical properties of these chimeric silk fibers, especially the strength and extensibility, which may be caused by the increment of β-sheet in the chimeric silkworm/spider silk fiber. These results demonstrated that silkworms could be developed as the nonpermissive heterologous host for the mass production of chimeric silkworm/spider silk fibers via the recombinant baculovirus AcMNPV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Hu
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology and Ecological Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Nan Li
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Sicheng Guo
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Min Zhu
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology and Ecological Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xing Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Life Science, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Chonglong Wang
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology and Ecological Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
| | - Chengliang Gong
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology and Ecological Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
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6
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Thagun C, Suzuki T, Kodama Y, Numata K. C-Terminal Domain Controls Protein Quality and Secretion of Spider Silk in Tobacco Cells. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2300011. [PMID: 37409415 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300011] [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: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
The remarkable mechanical strength and extensibility of spider dragline silk spidroins are attributed to the major ampullate silk proteins (MaSp). Although fragmented MaSp molecules have been extensively produced in various heterologous expression platforms for biotechnological applications, complete MaSp molecules are required to achieve instinctive spinning of spidroin fibers from aqueous solutions. Here, a plant cell-based expression platform for extracellular production of the entire MaSp2 protein is developed, which exhibits remarkable self-assembly properties to form spider silk nanofibrils. The engineered transgenic Bright-yellow 2 (BY-2) cell lines overexpressing recombinant secretory MaSp2 proteins yield 0.6-1.3 µg L-1 at 22 days post-inoculation, which is four times higher than those of cytosolic expressions. However, only 10-15% of these secretory MaSp2 proteins are discharged into the culture media. Surprisingly, expression of functional domain-truncated MaSp2 proteins lacking the C-terminal domain in transgenic BY-2 cells increases recombinant protein secretion incredibly, from 0.9 to 2.8 mg L-1 per day within 7 days. These findings demonstrate significant improvement in the extracellular production of recombinant biopolymers such as spider silk spidroins using plant cells. In addition, the results reveal the regulatory roles of the C-terminal domain of MaSp2 proteins in controlling their protein quality and secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chonprakun Thagun
- Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto-Daigaku-Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi, 321-8505, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Suzuki
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi, 321-8505, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kodama
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi, 321-8505, Japan
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Keiji Numata
- Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto-Daigaku-Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
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7
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Miserez A, Yu J, Mohammadi P. Protein-Based Biological Materials: Molecular Design and Artificial Production. Chem Rev 2023; 123:2049-2111. [PMID: 36692900 PMCID: PMC9999432 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Polymeric materials produced from fossil fuels have been intimately linked to the development of industrial activities in the 20th century and, consequently, to the transformation of our way of living. While this has brought many benefits, the fabrication and disposal of these materials is bringing enormous sustainable challenges. Thus, materials that are produced in a more sustainable fashion and whose degradation products are harmless to the environment are urgently needed. Natural biopolymers─which can compete with and sometimes surpass the performance of synthetic polymers─provide a great source of inspiration. They are made of natural chemicals, under benign environmental conditions, and their degradation products are harmless. Before these materials can be synthetically replicated, it is essential to elucidate their chemical design and biofabrication. For protein-based materials, this means obtaining the complete sequences of the proteinaceous building blocks, a task that historically took decades of research. Thus, we start this review with a historical perspective on early efforts to obtain the primary sequences of load-bearing proteins, followed by the latest developments in sequencing and proteomic technologies that have greatly accelerated sequencing of extracellular proteins. Next, four main classes of protein materials are presented, namely fibrous materials, bioelastomers exhibiting high reversible deformability, hard bulk materials, and biological adhesives. In each class, we focus on the design at the primary and secondary structure levels and discuss their interplays with the mechanical response. We finally discuss earlier and the latest research to artificially produce protein-based materials using biotechnology and synthetic biology, including current developments by start-up companies to scale-up the production of proteinaceous materials in an economically viable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Miserez
- Center
for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and
Engineering, Nanyang Technological University
(NTU), Singapore637553
- School
of Biological Sciences, NTU, Singapore637551
| | - Jing Yu
- Center
for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and
Engineering, Nanyang Technological University
(NTU), Singapore637553
- Institute
for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science (IDMxS), NTU, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore637553
| | - Pezhman Mohammadi
- VTT
Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Espoo, UusimaaFI-02044, Finland
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8
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Fan R, Hakanpää J, Elfving K, Taberman H, Linder MB, Aranko AS. Biomolecular Click Reactions Using a Minimal pH-Activated Catcher/Tag Pair for Producing Native-Sized Spider-Silk Proteins. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202216371. [PMID: 36695475 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202216371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
A type of protein/peptide pair known as Catcher/Tag pair spontaneously forms an intermolecular isopeptide bond which can be applied for biomolecular click reactions. Covalent protein conjugation using Catcher/Tag pairs has turned out to be a valuable tool in biotechnology and biomedicines, but it is essential to increase the current toolbox of orthogonal Catcher/Tag pairs to expand the range of applications further, for example, for controlled multiple-fragment ligation. We report here the engineering of novel Catcher/Tag pairs for protein ligation, aided by a crystal structure of a minimal CnaB domain from Lactobacillus plantarum. We show that a newly engineered pair, called SilkCatcher/Tag enables efficient pH-inducible protein ligation in addition to being compatible with the widely used SpyCatcher/Tag pair. Finally, we demonstrate the use of the SilkCatcher/Tag pair in the production of native-sized highly repetitive spider-silk-like proteins with >90 % purity, which is not possible by traditional recombinant production methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruxia Fan
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - Johanna Hakanpää
- Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Photon Science, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg Unit c/o DESY, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Notkestrasse 85, 22603, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Karoliina Elfving
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - Helena Taberman
- Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Photon Science, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus B Linder
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - A Sesilja Aranko
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 02150, Espoo, Finland
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9
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Tian KK, Qian ZG, Xia XX. Synthetic biology-guided design and biosynthesis of protein polymers for delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 194:114728. [PMID: 36791475 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114728] [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: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Vehicles derived from genetically engineered protein polymers have gained momentum in the field of biomedical engineering due to their unique designability, remarkable biocompatibility and excellent biodegradability. However, the design and production of these protein polymers with on-demand sequences and supramolecular architectures remain underexplored, particularly from a synthetic biology perspective. In this review, we summarize the state-of-the art strategies for constructing the highly repetitive genes encoding the protein polymers, and highlight the advanced approaches for metabolically engineering expression hosts towards high-level biosynthesis of the target protein polymers. Finally, we showcase the typical protein polymers utilized to fabricate delivery vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Kai Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Gang Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Xia Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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10
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Lemetti L, Scacchi A, Yin Y, Shen M, Linder MB, Sammalkorpi M, Aranko AS. Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation and Assembly of Silk-like Proteins is Dependent on the Polymer Length. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:3142-3153. [PMID: 35796676 PMCID: PMC9364312 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Phase transitions
have an essential role in the assembly of nature’s
protein-based materials into hierarchically organized structures,
yet many of the underlying mechanisms and interactions remain to be
resolved. A central question for designing proteins for materials
is how the protein architecture and sequence affects the nature of
the phase transitions and resulting assembly. In this work, we produced
82 kDa (1×), 143 kDa (2×), and 204 kDa (3×) silk-mimicking
proteins by taking advantage of protein ligation by SpyCatcher/Tag
protein-peptide pair. We show that the three silk proteins all undergo
a phase transition from homogeneous solution to assembly formation.
In the assembly phase, a length- and concentration-dependent transition
between two distinct assembly morphologies, one forming aggregates
and another coacervates, exists. The coacervates showed properties
that were dependent on the protein size. Computational modeling of
the proteins by a bead-spring model supports the experimental results
and provides us a possible mechanistic origin for the assembly transitions
based on architectures and interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Lemetti
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Kemistintie 1, Espoo 02150, Finland.,Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, Kemistintie 1, Espoo 02150, Finland
| | - Alberto Scacchi
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, Kemistintie 1, Espoo 02150, Finland.,Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Kemistintie 1, Espoo 02150, Finland.,Department of Applied Physics, School of Science, Aalto University, Otakaari 1, Espoo 02150, Finland
| | - Yin Yin
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Kemistintie 1, Espoo 02150, Finland.,Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, Kemistintie 1, Espoo 02150, Finland
| | - Mengjie Shen
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Kemistintie 1, Espoo 02150, Finland.,Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, Kemistintie 1, Espoo 02150, Finland
| | - Markus B Linder
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Kemistintie 1, Espoo 02150, Finland.,Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, Kemistintie 1, Espoo 02150, Finland
| | - Maria Sammalkorpi
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, and Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, 02150, Finland
| | - A Sesilja Aranko
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Kemistintie 1, Espoo 02150, Finland.,Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, Kemistintie 1, Espoo 02150, Finland
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11
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Engineering Circularized mRNAs for the Production of Spider Silk Proteins. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0002822. [PMID: 35384707 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00028-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomaterials offer unique properties that make them irreplaceable for next-generation applications. Fibrous proteins, such as various caterpillar silks and especially spider silk, have strength and toughness not found in human-made materials. In early studies, proteins containing long tandem repeats, such as major ampullate spidroin 1 (MaSp1) and flagelliform silk protein (FSLP), were produced using a large DNA template composed of many tandem repeats. The hierarchical DNA assembly of the DNA template is very time-consuming and labor-intensive, which makes the fibrous proteins difficult to study and engineer. In this study, we designed a circularized mRNA (cmRNA) employing the RNA cyclase ribozyme mechanism. cmRNAs encoding spider silk protein MaSp1 and FSLP were designed based on only one unit of the template sequence but provide ribosomes with a circular and infinite translation template for production of long peptides containing tandem repeats. Using this technique, cmRNAs of MaSp1 and FSLP were successfully generated with circularization efficiencies of 8.5% and 36.7%, respectively, which supported the production of recombinant MaSp1 and FSLP larger than 110 and 88 kDa, containing tens of repeat units. Western blot analysis and mass spectrometry confirmed the authenticity of MaSp1 and FSLP, which were produced at titers of 22.1 and 81.5 mg · liter-1, respectively. IMPORTANCE Spider silk is a biomaterial with superior properties. However, its heterologous expression template is hard to construct. The cmRNA technique simplifies the construction and expression strategy by proving the ribosome a circular translation template for expression of long peptides containing tandem repeats. This revolutionary technique will allow researchers to easily build, study, and experiment with any fiber proteins with sequences either from natural genes or artificial designs. We expect a significantly accelerated development of fibrous protein-based biomaterials with the cmRNA technique.
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12
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Ramezaniaghdam M, Nahdi ND, Reski R. Recombinant Spider Silk: Promises and Bottlenecks. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:835637. [PMID: 35350182 PMCID: PMC8957953 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.835637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Spider silk threads have exceptional mechanical properties such as toughness, elasticity and low density, which reach maximum values compared to other fibre materials. They are superior even compared to Kevlar and steel. These extraordinary properties stem from long length and specific protein structures. Spider silk proteins can consist of more than 20,000 amino acids. Polypeptide stretches account for more than 90% of the whole protein, and these domains can be repeated more than a hundred times. Each repeat unit has a specific function resulting in the final properties of the silk. These properties make them attractive for innovative material development for medical or technical products as well as cosmetics. However, with livestock breeding of spiders it is not possible to reach high volumes of silk due to the cannibalistic behaviour of these animals. In order to obtain spider silk proteins (spidroins) on a large scale, recombinant production is attempted in various expression systems such as plants, bacteria, yeasts, insects, silkworms, mammalian cells and animals. For viable large-scale production, cost-effective and efficient production systems are needed. This review describes the different types of spider silk, their proteins and structures and discusses the production of these difficult-to-express proteins in different host organisms with an emphasis on plant systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Ramezaniaghdam
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS at FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nadia D. Nahdi
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Reski
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS at FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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13
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Whittall DR, Baker KV, Breitling R, Takano E. Host Systems for the Production of Recombinant Spider Silk. Trends Biotechnol 2021; 39:560-573. [PMID: 33051051 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Spider silk is renowned for its impressive mechanical properties. It is one of the strongest known biomaterials, possessing mechanical properties that outmatch both steel and Kevlar. However, the farming of spiders for their silk is unfeasible. Consequently, production of recombinant spider silk proteins (spidroins) in more amenable hosts is an exciting field of research. For large-scale production to be viable, a heterologous silk production system that is both highly efficient and cost effective is essential. Genes encoding recombinant spidroin have been expressed in bacterial, yeast, insect, and mammalian cells, in addition to many other platforms. This review discusses the recent advances in exploiting an increasingly diverse range of host platforms in the heterologous production of recombinant spidroins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic R Whittall
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre SYNBIOCHEM, Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - Katherine V Baker
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre SYNBIOCHEM, Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - Rainer Breitling
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre SYNBIOCHEM, Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - Eriko Takano
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre SYNBIOCHEM, Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
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14
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Leem JW, Fraser MJ, Kim YL. Transgenic and Diet-Enhanced Silk Production for Reinforced Biomaterials: A Metamaterial Perspective. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2020; 22:79-102. [PMID: 32160010 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-082719-032747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Silk fibers, which are protein-based biopolymers produced by spiders and silkworms, are fascinating biomaterials that have been extensively studied for numerous biomedical applications. Silk fibers often have remarkable physical and biological properties that typical synthetic materials do not exhibit. These attributes have prompted a wide variety of silk research, including genetic engineering, biotechnological synthesis, and bioinspired fiber spinning, to produce silk proteins on a large scale and to further enhance their properties. In this review, we describe the basic properties of spider silk and silkworm silk and the important production methods for silk proteins. We discuss recent advances in reinforced silk using silkworm transgenesis and functional additive diets with a focus on biomedical applications. We also explain that reinforced silk has an analogy with metamaterials such that user-designed atypical responses can be engineered beyond what naturally occurring materials offer. These insights into reinforced silk can guide better engineering of superior synthetic biomaterials and lead to discoveries of unexplored biological and medical applications of silk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Woo Leem
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Malcolm J Fraser
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA.,Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
| | - Young L Kim
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.,Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, and Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA;
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15
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Peng CA, Kozubowski L, Marcotte WR. Advances in Plant-Derived Scaffold Proteins. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:122. [PMID: 32161608 PMCID: PMC7052361 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Scaffold proteins form critical biomatrices that support cell adhesion and proliferation for regenerative medicine and drug screening. The increasing demand for such applications urges solutions for cost effective and sustainable supplies of hypoallergenic and biocompatible scaffold proteins. Here, we summarize recent efforts in obtaining plant-derived biosynthetic spider silk analogue and the extracellular matrix protein, collagen. Both proteins are composed of a large number of tandem block repeats, which makes production in bacterial hosts challenging. Furthermore, post-translational modification of collagen is essential for its function which requires co-transformation of multiple copies of human prolyl 4-hydroxylase. We discuss our perspectives on how the GAANTRY system could potentially assist the production of native-sized spider dragline silk proteins and prolyl hydroxylated collagen. The potential of recombinant scaffold proteins in drug delivery and drug discovery is also addressed.
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16
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Roberts AD, Finnigan W, Wolde-Michael E, Kelly P, Blaker JJ, Hay S, Breitling R, Takano E, Scrutton NS. Synthetic biology for fibres, adhesives and active camouflage materials in protection and aerospace. MRS COMMUNICATIONS 2019; 9:486-504. [PMID: 31281737 PMCID: PMC6609449 DOI: 10.1557/mrc.2019.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology has huge potential to produce the next generation of advanced materials by accessing previously unreachable (bio)chemical space. In this prospective review, we take a snapshot of current activity in this rapidly developing area, focussing on prominent examples for high-performance applications such as those required for protective materials and the aerospace sector. The continued growth of this emerging field will be facilitated by the convergence of expertise from a range of diverse disciplines, including molecular biology, polymer chemistry, materials science and process engineering. This review highlights the most significant recent advances and address the cross-disciplinary challenges currently being faced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aled D. Roberts
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester Synthetic Biology
Research Centre SYBIOCHEM, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester,
Manchester, UK, M1 7DN
- Bio-Active Materials Group, School of Materials, The University of
Manchester, Manchester, UK, M13 9PL
| | - William Finnigan
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester Synthetic Biology
Research Centre SYBIOCHEM, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester,
Manchester, UK, M1 7DN
| | - Emmanuel Wolde-Michael
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester Synthetic Biology
Research Centre SYBIOCHEM, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester,
Manchester, UK, M1 7DN
| | - Paul Kelly
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester Synthetic Biology
Research Centre SYBIOCHEM, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester,
Manchester, UK, M1 7DN
| | - Jonny J. Blaker
- Bio-Active Materials Group, School of Materials, The University of
Manchester, Manchester, UK, M13 9PL
| | - Sam Hay
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester Synthetic Biology
Research Centre SYBIOCHEM, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester,
Manchester, UK, M1 7DN
| | - Rainer Breitling
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester Synthetic Biology
Research Centre SYBIOCHEM, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester,
Manchester, UK, M1 7DN
| | - Eriko Takano
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester Synthetic Biology
Research Centre SYBIOCHEM, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester,
Manchester, UK, M1 7DN
| | - Nigel S. Scrutton
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Manchester Synthetic Biology
Research Centre SYBIOCHEM, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester,
Manchester, UK, M1 7DN
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17
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Sarmiento C, Camarero JA. Biotechnological Applications of Protein Splicing. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2019; 20:408-424. [PMID: 30734675 PMCID: PMC7135711 DOI: 10.2174/1389203720666190208110416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Protein splicing domains, also called inteins, have become a powerful biotechnological tool for applications involving molecular biology and protein engineering. Early applications of inteins focused on self-cleaving affinity tags, generation of recombinant polypeptide α-thioesters for the production of semisynthetic proteins and backbone cyclized polypeptides. The discovery of naturallyoccurring split-inteins has allowed the development of novel approaches for the selective modification of proteins both in vitro and in vivo. This review gives a general introduction to protein splicing with a focus on their role in expanding the applications of intein-based technologies in protein engineering and chemical biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corina Sarmiento
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA9033 USA
| | - Julio A. Camarero
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA9033 USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA9033 USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-9121, USA
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18
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Wu HC, Wu SR, Yang TCK, Yang JC. A Facile Measurement for Monitoring Dragline Silk Dope Concentration in Nephila pilipes upon Spinning. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2018; 11:E1951. [PMID: 30321988 PMCID: PMC6213051 DOI: 10.3390/ma11101951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In spite of all the efforts towards deciphering the silk spinning process of spiders, the underlying mechanism is yet to be fully revealed. In this research, we designed a novel approach that allowed us to quantitatively evaluate the concentration change of silk dope during the liquid-to-solid spinning process of the orb-weaver Nephila pilipes. As a prior characterization of the optimal silking conditions, we first gauged the influence of silking-rate, ranging from 1.5 to 8.0 m/min, on dragline silk diameters and silk tensile strengths obtained from the spiders. Next, to evaluate the liquid content of the silk dope, the major ampullate gland was dissected and the concentration of the sac portion was measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The solid content of the dragline fibers leaving the spinneret was investigated by calculating the ratio of collected dried silk to the weight loss of the spider recorded in situ upon spinning. As the results indicate, the tensile strength and diameter of the spun dragline fibers were 800⁻1100 MPa and 8⁻11 μm, respectively. The liquid content of silk stored in the major ampullate sac (50.0 wt%) was significantly lower than that of silk leaving the spinnerets (80.9⁻96.1 wt%), indicating that a liquid supplying mechanism might be involved during the spinning process. This reveals, for the first time, quantitative evidence in support of the lubricative hypothesis proposed formerly, namely that a liquid coating layer is supplemented to compensate for silking resistance during the spinning process of a spider. The spigot, at the exit of the spinneret, is speculated to serve as a valve-like controller that regulates the lubrication process along with fiber formation. Taken together, these findings provide understanding of the physiological functions in the spider spinning process and could further shed some light on the future biomimetic development of silk material fabrication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsuan-Chen Wu
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
- Research Center for Biomedical Devices and Prototyping Production, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan.
| | - Shang-Ru Wu
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
| | - Thomas Chung-Kuang Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
| | - Jen-Chang Yang
- Research Center for Biomedical Devices and Prototyping Production, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Nanomedicine and Medical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan.
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19
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Xu J, Dong Q, Yu Y, Niu B, Ji D, Li M, Huang Y, Chen X, Tan A. Mass spider silk production through targeted gene replacement in Bombyx mori. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:8757-8762. [PMID: 30082397 PMCID: PMC6126722 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1806805115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider silk is one of the best natural fibers and has superior mechanical properties. However, the large-scale harvesting of spider silk by rearing spiders is not feasible, due to their territorial and cannibalistic behaviors. The silkworm, Bombyx mori, has been the most well known silk producer for thousands of years and has been considered an ideal bioreactor for producing exogenous proteins, including spider silk. Previous attempts using transposon-mediated transgenic silkworms to produce spider silk could not achieve efficient yields, due to variable promoter activities and endogenous silk fibroin protein expression. Here, we report a massive spider silk production system in B. mori by using transcription activator-like effector nuclease-mediated homology-directed repair to replace the silkworm fibroin heavy chain gene (FibH) with the major ampullate spidroin-1 gene (MaSp1) in the spider Nephila clavipes We successfully replaced the ∼16-kb endogenous FibH gene with a 1.6-kb MaSp1 gene fused with a 1.1-kb partial FibH sequence and achieved up to 35.2% chimeric MaSp1 protein amounts in transformed cocoon shells. The presence of the MaSp1 peptide significantly changed the mechanical characteristics of the silk fiber, especially the extensibility. Our study provides a native promoter-driven, highly efficient system for expressing the heterologous spider silk gene instead of the transposon-based, random insertion of the spider gene into the silkworm genome. Targeted MaSp1 integration into silkworm silk glands provides a paradigm for the large-scale production of spider silk protein with genetically modified silkworms, and this approach will shed light on developing new biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Xu
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Qinglin Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Ye Yu
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Baolong Niu
- Sericultural Research Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 310021 Hangzhou, China
| | - Dongfeng Ji
- Sericultural Research Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 310021 Hangzhou, China
| | - Muwang Li
- Sericultural Research Institute, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, 212018 Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yongping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200032 Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Anjiang Tan
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200032 Shanghai, China;
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20
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Decker RE, Harris TI, Memmott DR, Peterson CJ, Lewis RV, Jones JA. Method for the Destruction of Endotoxin in Synthetic Spider Silk Proteins. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12166. [PMID: 30111805 PMCID: PMC6093939 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29719-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although synthetic spider silk has impressive potential as a biomaterial, endotoxin contamination of the spider silk proteins is a concern, regardless of the production method. The purpose of this research was to establish a standardized method to either remove or destroy the endotoxins present in synthetic spider silk proteins, such that the endotoxin level was consistently equal to or less than 0.25 EU/mL, the FDA limit for similar implant materials. Although dry heat is generally the preferred method for endotoxin destruction, heating the silk proteins to the necessary temperatures led to compromised mechanical properties in the resultant materials. In light of this, other endotoxin destruction methods were investigated, including caustic rinses and autoclaving. It was found that autoclaving synthetic spider silk protein dopes three times in a row consistently decreased the endotoxin level 10–20 fold, achieving levels at or below the desired level of 0.25 EU/mL. Products made from triple autoclaved silk dopes maintained mechanical properties comparable to products from untreated dopes while still maintaining low endotoxin levels. Triple autoclaving is an effective and scalable method for preparing synthetic spider silk proteins with endotoxin levels sufficiently low for use as biomaterials without compromising the mechanical properties of the materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard E Decker
- Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, 84322, United States
| | - Thomas I Harris
- Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, 84322, United States
| | - Dylan R Memmott
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, 84322, United States
| | | | - Randolph V Lewis
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, 84322, United States
| | - Justin A Jones
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, 84322, United States.
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21
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Li X, Zhang XL, Cai YM, Zhang L, Lin Y, Meng Q. Site specific labeling of two proteins in one system by atypical split inteins. Int J Biol Macromol 2018; 109:921-931. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.11.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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22
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Miletic S, Hünerberg M, Kaldis A, MacDonald J, Leuthreau A, McAllister T, Menassa R. A Plant-Produced Candidate Subunit Vaccine Reduces Shedding of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in Ruminants. Biotechnol J 2017; 12. [PMID: 28869356 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201700405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are commonly present in the gastrointestinal tract of cattle and cause serious infectious disease in humans. Immunizing cattle against EHEC is a promising strategy to decrease the risk of food contamination; however, veterinary vaccines against EHEC such as Econiche have not been widely adopted by the agricultural industry, and have been discontinued, prompting the need for more cost-effective EHEC vaccines. The objective of this project is to develop a platform to produce plant-made antigens for oral vaccination of ruminants against EHEC. Five recombinant proteins were designed as vaccine candidates and expressed transiently in Nicotiana benthamiana and transplastomically in Nicotiana tabacum. Three of these EHEC proteins, NleA, Stx2b, and a fusion of EspA accumulated when transiently expressed. Transient protein accumulation was the highest when EHEC proteins were fused to an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) tag. In the transplastomic lines, EspA accumulated up to 479 mg kg-1 in lyophilized leaf material. Sheep that were administered leaf tissue containing recombinant EspA shed less E. coli O157:H7 when challenged, as compared to control animals. These results suggest that plant-made, transgenic EspA has the potential to reduce EHEC shedding in ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Miletic
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London Research and Development Centre, 1391 Sandford Street, London N5V 4T3, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London N6A 3K7, Ontario, Canada
| | - Martin Hünerberg
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 5403-1 Avenue South, Lethbridge T1J 4P4, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Animal Sciences, Ruminant Nutrition Unit, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Angelo Kaldis
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London Research and Development Centre, 1391 Sandford Street, London N5V 4T3, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jacqueline MacDonald
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London Research and Development Centre, 1391 Sandford Street, London N5V 4T3, Ontario, Canada
| | - Antoine Leuthreau
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London Research and Development Centre, 1391 Sandford Street, London N5V 4T3, Ontario, Canada
- Université de Bordeaux and INRA, UMR 1332 Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie, Villenave d'ornon, France
| | - Tim McAllister
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 5403-1 Avenue South, Lethbridge T1J 4P4, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rima Menassa
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London Research and Development Centre, 1391 Sandford Street, London N5V 4T3, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London N6A 3K7, Ontario, Canada
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23
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Lin S, Chen G, Liu X, Meng Q. Chimeric spider silk proteins mediated by intein result in artificial hybrid silks. Biopolymers 2017; 105:385-92. [PMID: 26948769 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Hybrid silks hold a great potential as specific biomaterials due to its controlled mechanical properties. To produce fibers with tunable properties, here we firstly made chimeric proteins in vitro, called W2C4CT and W2C8CT, with ligation of MaSp repetitive modules (C) with AcSp modules (W) by intein trans splicing technology from smaller precursors without final yield reduction. Intein mediated chimeric proteins form fibers at a low concentration of 0.4 mg/mL in 50 mM K3 PO4 pH 7.5 just drawn by hand. Hybrid fibers show smoother surface, and also have stronger chemical resistance as compared with fibers from W2CT (W fibers) and mixture of W2CT/C8CT (MHF8 fibers). Fibers from chimeric protein W2C4CT (HFH4) have improved mechanical properties than W fibers; however, with more C modules W2C8CT fibers (HFH8) properties decreased, indicates the length proportion of various modules is very important and should be optimized for fibers with specific properties. Generally, hybrid silks generated via chimeric proteins, which can be simplified by intein trans splicing, has greater potential to produce fibers with tunable properties. Our research shows that intein mediated directional protein ligation is a novel way to make large chimeric spider silk proteins and hybrid silks. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 105: 385-392, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senzhu Lin
- Institute of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2
| | - Gefei Chen
- Institute of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangqin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2
| | - Qing Meng
- Institute of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China
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24
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Abstract
Silk is a protein-based material which is predominantly produced by insects and spiders. Hundreds of millions of years of evolution have enabled these animals to utilize different, highly adapted silk types in a broad variety of applications. Silk occurs in several morphologies, such as sticky glue or in the shape of fibers and can, depending on the application by the respective animal, dissipate a high mechanical energy, resist heat and radiation, maintain functionality when submerged in water and withstand microbial settling. Hence, it's unsurprising that silk piqued human interest a long time ago, which catalyzed the domestication of silkworms for the production of silk to be used in textiles. Recently, scientific progress has enabled the development of analytic tools to gain profound insights into the characteristics of silk proteins. Based on these investigations, the biotechnological production of artificial and engineered silk has been accomplished, which allows the production of a sufficient amount of silk materials for several industrial applications. This chapter provides a review on the biotechnological production of various silk proteins from different species, as well as on the processing techniques to fabricate application-oriented material morphologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Lang
- Research Group Biopolymer Processing, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Heike Herold
- Department of Biomaterials, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Thomas Scheibel
- Department of Biomaterials, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.
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A Recessive Pollination Control System for Wheat Based on Intein-Mediated Protein Splicing. Methods Mol Biol 2016. [PMID: 27714617 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6451-2_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
A transgene-expression system for wheat that relies on the complementation of inactive precursor protein fragments through a split-intein system is described. The N- and C-terminal fragments of a barnase gene from Bacillus amyloliquifaciens were fused to intein sequences from Synechocystis sp. and transformed into wheat plants. Upon translation, both barnase fragments are assembled by an autocatalytic intein-mediated trans-splicing reaction, thus forming a cytotoxic enzyme. This chapter focuses on the use of introns and flexible polypeptide linkers to foster the expression of a split-barnase expression system in plants. The methods and protocols that were employed with the objective to test the effects of such genetic elements on transgene expression and to find the optimal design of expression vectors for use in wheat are provided. Split-inteins can be used to form an agriculturally important trait (male sterility) in wheat plants. The use of this principle for the production of hybrid wheat seed is described. The suggested toolbox will hopefully be a valuable contribution to future optimization strategies in this commercially important crop.
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Peng CA, Russo J, Gravgaard C, McCartney H, Gaines W, Marcotte WR. Spider silk-like proteins derived from transgenic Nicotiana tabacum. Transgenic Res 2016; 25:517-26. [PMID: 27026165 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-016-9949-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The high tensile strength and biocompatibility of spider dragline silk makes it a desirable material in many engineering and tissue regeneration applications. Here, we present the feasibility to produce recombinant proteins in transgenic tobacco Nicotiana tabacum with sequences representing spider silk protein building blocks . Recombinant mini-spidroins contain native N- and C-terminal domains of major ampullate spidroin 1 (rMaSp1) or rMaSp2 flanking an abbreviated number (8, 16 or 32) of consensus repeat domains. Two different expression plasmid vectors were tested and a downstream chitin binding domain and self-cleavable intein were included to facilitate protein purification. We confirmed gene insertion and RNA transcription by PCR and reverse-transcriptase PCR, respectively. Mini-spidroin production was detected by N-terminus specific antibodies. Purification of mini-spidroins was performed through chitin affinity chromatography and subsequent intein activation with reducing reagent. Mini-spidroins, when dialyzed and freeze-dried, formed viscous gelatin-like fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congyue Annie Peng
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 130 McGinty Court, 153 Robert F. Poole Agricultural Center, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Julia Russo
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 130 McGinty Court, 153 Robert F. Poole Agricultural Center, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Charlene Gravgaard
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 130 McGinty Court, 153 Robert F. Poole Agricultural Center, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
- College of Pharmacy, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Heather McCartney
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 130 McGinty Court, 153 Robert F. Poole Agricultural Center, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - William Gaines
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 130 McGinty Court, 153 Robert F. Poole Agricultural Center, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - William R Marcotte
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, 130 McGinty Court, 153 Robert F. Poole Agricultural Center, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA.
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Weichert N, Hauptmann V, Helmold C, Conrad U. Seed-Specific Expression of Spider Silk Protein Multimers Causes Long-Term Stability. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:6. [PMID: 26858734 PMCID: PMC4729946 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Seeds enable plants to germinate and to grow in situations of limited availability of nutrients. The stable storage of different seed proteins is a remarkable presumption for successful germination and growth. These strategies have been adapted and used in several molecular farming projects. In this study, we explore the benefits of seed-based expression to produce the high molecular weight spider silk protein FLAG using intein-based trans-splicing. Multimers larger than 460 kDa in size are routinely produced, which is above the native size of the FLAG protein. The storage of seeds for 8 weeks and 1 year at an ambient temperature of 15°C does not influence the accumulation level. Even the extended storage time does not influence the typical pattern of multimerized bands. These results show that seeds are the method of choice for stable accumulation of products of complex transgenes and have the capability for long-term storage at moderate conditions, an important feature for the development of suitable downstream processes.
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Snell KD, Singh V, Brumbley SM. Production of novel biopolymers in plants: recent technological advances and future prospects. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2015; 32:68-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2014.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Hauptmann V, Menzel M, Weichert N, Reimers K, Spohn U, Conrad U. In planta production of ELPylated spidroin-based proteins results in non-cytotoxic biopolymers. BMC Biotechnol 2015; 15:9. [PMID: 25888206 PMCID: PMC4343268 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-015-0123-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spider silk is a tear-resistant and elastic biopolymer that has outstanding mechanical properties. Additionally, exiguous immunogenicity is anticipated for spider silks. Therefore, spider silk represents a potential ideal biomaterial for medical applications. All known spider silk proteins, so-called spidroins, reveal a composite nature of silk-specific units, allowing the recombinant production of individual and combined segments. RESULTS In this report, a miniaturized spidroin gene, named VSO1 that contains repetitive motifs of MaSp1 has been synthesized and combined to form multimers of distinct lengths, which were heterologously expressed as elastin-like peptide (ELP) fusion proteins in tobacco. The elastic penetration moduli of layered proteins were analyzed for different spidroin-based biopolymers. Moreover, we present the first immunological analysis of synthetic spidroin-based biopolymers. Characterization of the binding behavior of the sera after immunization by competitive ELISA suggested that the humoral immune response is mainly directed against the fusion partner ELP. In addition, cytocompatibility studies with murine embryonic fibroblasts indicated that recombinant spidroin-based biopolymers, in solution or as coated proteins, are well tolerated. CONCLUSION The results show that spidroin-based biopolymers can induce humoral immune responses that are dependent on the fusion partner and the overall protein structure. Furthermore, cytocompatibility assays gave no indication of spidroin-derived cytotoxicity, suggesting that recombinant produced biopolymers composed of spider silk-like repetitive elements are suitable for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeska Hauptmann
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Stadt Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany.
| | - Matthias Menzel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials, Walter-Hülse-Strasse 1, 06120, Halle/Saale, Germany.
| | - Nicola Weichert
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Stadt Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany.
| | - Kerstin Reimers
- Department of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Podbielskistr. 380, 30659, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Uwe Spohn
- Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials, Walter-Hülse-Strasse 1, 06120, Halle/Saale, Germany.
| | - Udo Conrad
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Stadt Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany.
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30
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Topilina NI, Mills KV. Recent advances in in vivo applications of intein-mediated protein splicing. Mob DNA 2014; 5:5. [PMID: 24490831 PMCID: PMC3922620 DOI: 10.1186/1759-8753-5-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Intein-mediated protein splicing has become an essential tool in modern biotechnology. Fundamental progress in the structure and catalytic strategies of cis- and trans-splicing inteins has led to the development of modified inteins that promote efficient protein purification, ligation, modification and cyclization. Recent work has extended these in vitro applications to the cell or to whole organisms. We review recent advances in intein-mediated protein expression and modification, post-translational processing and labeling, protein regulation by conditional protein splicing, biosensors, and expression of trans-genes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kenneth V Mills
- Department of Chemistry, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College Street, Worcester, MA 01610, USA.
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31
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Weichert N, Hauptmann V, Menzel M, Schallau K, Gunkel P, Hertel TC, Pietzsch M, Spohn U, Conrad U. Transglutamination allows production and characterization of native-sized ELPylated spider silk proteins from transgenic plants. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2014; 12:265-75. [PMID: 24237483 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2013] [Revised: 09/03/2013] [Accepted: 09/12/2013] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
In the last two decades it was shown that plants have a great potential for production of specific heterologous proteins. But high cost and inefficient downstream processing are a main technical bottleneck for the broader use of plant-based production technology especially for protein-based products, for technical use as fibres or biodegradable plastics and also for medical applications. High-performance fibres from recombinant spider silks are, therefore, a prominent example. Spiders developed rather different silk materials that are based on proteins. These spider silks show excellent properties in terms of elasticity and toughness. Natural spider silk proteins have a very high molecular weight, and it is precisely this property which is thought to give them their strength. Transgenic plants were generated to produce ELPylated recombinant spider silk derivatives. These fusion proteins were purified by Inverse Transition Cycling (ITC) and enzymatically multimerized with transglutaminase in vitro. Layers produced by casting monomers and multimers were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and AFM-based nanoindentation. The layered multimers formed by mixing lysine- and glutamine-tagged monomers were associated with the highest elastic penetration modulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Weichert
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Stadt Seeland/Ortsteil, Gatersleben, Germany
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Tokareva O, Michalczechen-Lacerda VA, Rech EL, Kaplan DL. Recombinant DNA production of spider silk proteins. Microb Biotechnol 2013; 6:651-63. [PMID: 24119078 PMCID: PMC3815454 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2013] [Revised: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 08/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider dragline silk is considered to be the toughest biopolymer on Earth due to an extraordinary combination of strength and elasticity. Moreover, silks are biocompatible and biodegradable protein-based materials. Recent advances in genetic engineering make it possible to produce recombinant silks in heterologous hosts, opening up opportunities for large-scale production of recombinant silks for various biomedical and material science applications. We review the current strategies to produce recombinant spider silks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olena Tokareva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts UniversityMedford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Valquíria A Michalczechen-Lacerda
- Department of Cell Biology, Campus Universitario Darcy Ribeiro, Institute of Biology, University of BrasiliaBrasilia, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Elíbio L Rech
- Embrapa Genetics Resources and Biotechnology, Biotechnology UnitParque Estação Biológica PqEB W5 Norte, Brasilia, 70770-900, DF, Brazil
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts UniversityMedford, MA, 02155, USA
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33
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Ugarte L, Fernández-d'Arlas B, Valea A, González ML, Corcuera M, Eceiza A. Morphology-properties relationship in high-renewable content polyurethanes. POLYM ENG SCI 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/pen.23777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Ugarte
- “Materials + Technologies” Group, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering; Polytechnic School; University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU); Pza Europa 1 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián Spain
| | - B. Fernández-d'Arlas
- “Materials + Technologies” Group, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering; Polytechnic School; University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU); Pza Europa 1 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián Spain
| | - A. Valea
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering; Technical Engineering College of Bilbao, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU); Paseo Rafael Moreno “Pitxitxi” 3 48013 Bilbao Spain
| | - M. L. González
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering; Technical Engineering College of Bilbao, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU); Paseo Rafael Moreno “Pitxitxi” 3 48013 Bilbao Spain
| | - M.A. Corcuera
- “Materials + Technologies” Group, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering; Polytechnic School; University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU); Pza Europa 1 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián Spain
| | - A. Eceiza
- “Materials + Technologies” Group, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering; Polytechnic School; University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU); Pza Europa 1 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián Spain
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34
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Hauptmann V, Weichert N, Rakhimova M, Conrad U. Spider silks from plants - a challenge to create native-sized spidroins. Biotechnol J 2013; 8:1183-92. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201300204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2013] [Revised: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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