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Ribeiro ALJL, Pérez-Arnaiz P, Sánchez-Costa M, Pérez L, Almendros M, van Vliet L, Gielen F, Lim J, Charnock S, Hollfelder F, González-Pastor JE, Berenguer J, Hidalgo A. Thermostable in vitro transcription-translation compatible with microfluidic droplets. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:169. [PMID: 38858677 PMCID: PMC11165818 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02440-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In vitro expression involves the utilization of the cellular transcription and translation machinery in an acellular context to produce one or more proteins of interest and has found widespread application in synthetic biology and in pharmaceutical biomanufacturing. Most in vitro expression systems available are active at moderate temperatures, but to screen large libraries of natural or artificial genetic diversity for highly thermostable enzymes or enzyme variants, it is instrumental to enable protein synthesis at high temperatures. OBJECTIVES Develop an in vitro expression system operating at high temperatures compatible with enzymatic assays and with technologies that enable ultrahigh-throughput protein expression in reduced volumes, such as microfluidic water-in-oil (w/o) droplets. RESULTS We produced cell-free extracts from Thermus thermophilus for in vitro translation including thermostable enzymatic cascades for energy regeneration and a moderately thermostable RNA polymerase for transcription, which ultimately limited the temperature of protein synthesis. The yield was comparable or superior to other thermostable in vitro expression systems, while the preparation procedure is much simpler and can be suited to different Thermus thermophilus strains. Furthermore, these extracts have enabled in vitro expression in microfluidic droplets at high temperatures for the first time. CONCLUSIONS Cell-free extracts from Thermus thermophilus represent a simpler alternative to heavily optimized or pure component thermostable in vitro expression systems. Moreover, due to their compatibility with droplet microfluidics and enzyme assays at high temperatures, the reported system represents a convenient gateway for enzyme screening at higher temperatures with ultrahigh-throughput.
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Grants
- 324439, 635595, 685474, 695669 and 10100560 European Commission
- 324439, 635595, 685474, 695669 and 10100560 European Commission
- 324439, 635595, 685474, 695669 and 10100560 European Commission
- 324439, 635595, 685474, 695669 and 10100560 European Commission
- 324439, 635595, 685474, 695669 and 10100560 European Commission
- 324439, 635595, 685474, 695669 and 10100560 European Commission
- 324439, 635595, 685474, 695669 and 10100560 European Commission
- 324439, 635595, 685474, 695669 and 10100560 European Commission
- 324439, 635595, 685474, 695669 and 10100560 European Commission
- 324439, 635595, 685474, 695669 and 10100560 European Commission
- 324439, 635595, 685474, 695669 and 10100560 European Commission
- 324439, 635595, 685474, 695669 and 10100560 European Commission
- 324439, 635595, 685474, 695669 and 10100560 European Commission
- BIO-2013-44963-R, RED2022-134755-T, CEX2021-001154-S Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
- BIO-2013-44963-R, RED2022-134755-T, CEX2021-001154-S Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L J L Ribeiro
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (UAM-CSIC), Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Patricia Pérez-Arnaiz
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (UAM-CSIC), Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Sánchez-Costa
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (UAM-CSIC), Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lara Pérez
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (UAM-CSIC), Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marcos Almendros
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (UAM-CSIC), Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Liisa van Vliet
- Departament of Biochemistry, Cambridge University, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
- DropTech Ltd, 91 Canterbury Court, Cambridge, CB4 3QU, UK
| | - Fabrice Gielen
- DropTech Ltd, 91 Canterbury Court, Cambridge, CB4 3QU, UK
- Living Systems Institute, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK
| | - Jesmine Lim
- Prozomix Ltd, Building 4, West End Ind. Estate, Haltwhistle, Northumberland, NE49 9HA, UK
| | - Simon Charnock
- Prozomix Ltd, Building 4, West End Ind. Estate, Haltwhistle, Northumberland, NE49 9HA, UK
| | - Florian Hollfelder
- Departament of Biochemistry, Cambridge University, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
| | - J Eduardo González-Pastor
- Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), CSIC-INTA, Ctra de Torrejón a Ajalvir, Km 4, 28850, Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| | - José Berenguer
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (UAM-CSIC), Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aurelio Hidalgo
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (UAM-CSIC), Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
- Instituto de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
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2
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Melinek BJ, Tuck J, Probert P, Branton H, Bracewell DG. Designing of an extract production protocol for industrial application of cell-free protein synthesis technology: Building from a current best practice to a quality by design approach. ENGINEERING BIOLOGY 2023; 7:1-17. [PMID: 38094242 PMCID: PMC10715128 DOI: 10.1049/enb2.12029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell-Free Protein Synthesis (CFPS) has, over the past decade, seen a substantial increase in interest from both academia and industry. Applications range from fundamental research, through high-throughput screening to niche manufacture of therapeutic products. This review/perspective focuses on Quality Control in CFPS. The importance and difficulty of measuring the Raw Material Attributes (RMAs) of whole cell extract, such as constituent protein and metabolite concentrations, and of understanding and controlling these complicated enzymatic reactions is explored, for both centralised and distributed industrial production of biotherapeutics. It is suggested that a robust cell-free extract production process should produce cell extract of consistent quality; however, demonstrating this is challenging without a full understanding of the RMAs and their interaction with reaction conditions and product. Lack of technology transfer and knowledge sharing is identified as a key limiting factor in the development of CFPS. The article draws upon the experiences of industrial process specialists, discussions within the Future Targeted Healthcare Manufacturing Hub Specialist Working Groups and evidence drawn from various sources to identify sources of process variation and to propose an initial guide towards systematisation of CFPS process development and reporting. These proposals include the development of small scale screening tools, consistent reporting of selected process parameters and analytics and application of industrial thinking and manufacturability to protocol development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jade Tuck
- CPIDarlingtonUK
- Merck KGaADarmstadtGermany
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3
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Fábrega MJ, Knödlseder N, Nevot G, Sanvicente M, Toloza L, Santos-Moreno J, Güell M. Establishing a Cell-Free Transcription-Translation Platform for Cutibacterium acnes to Prototype Engineered Metabolic and Synthetic Biology. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:5101-5110. [PMID: 34971313 PMCID: PMC10498419 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c00894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
In the past few years, new bacterial-cell-free transcription-translation systems have emerged as potent and quick platforms for protein production as well as for prototyping of DNA regulatory elements, genetic circuits, and metabolic pathways. The Gram-positive commensal Cutibacterium acnes is one of the most abundant bacteria present in the human skin microbiome. However, it has recently been reported that some C. acnes phylotypes can be associated with common inflammatory skin conditions, such as acne vulgaris, whereas others seem to play a protective role, acting as possible "skin probiotics". This fact has made C. acnes become a bacterial model of interest for the cosmetic industry. In the present study we report for the first time the development and optimization of a C. acnes-based cell-free system (CFS) that is able to produce 85 μg/mL firefly luciferase. We highlight the importance of harvesting the bacterial pellet in mid log phase and maintaining CFS reactions at 30 °C and physiological pH to obtain the optimal yield. Additionally, a C. acnes promoter library was engineered to compare coupled in vitro TX-TL activities, and a temperature biosensor was tested, demonstrating the wide range of applications of this toolkit in the synthetic biology field.
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Affiliation(s)
- María-José Fábrega
- Department of Experimental
and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Carrer del Dr. Aiguader 88, 00803 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nastassia Knödlseder
- Department of Experimental
and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Carrer del Dr. Aiguader 88, 00803 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Guillermo Nevot
- Department of Experimental
and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Carrer del Dr. Aiguader 88, 00803 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Sanvicente
- Department of Experimental
and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Carrer del Dr. Aiguader 88, 00803 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lorena Toloza
- Department of Experimental
and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Carrer del Dr. Aiguader 88, 00803 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Santos-Moreno
- Department of Experimental
and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Carrer del Dr. Aiguader 88, 00803 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Güell
- Department of Experimental
and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Carrer del Dr. Aiguader 88, 00803 Barcelona, Spain
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4
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Ikari M, Yagi H, Kasai T, Inomata K, Ito M, Higuchi K, Matsuda N, Ito Y, Kigawa T. Direct Observation of Membrane-Associated H-Ras in the Native Cellular Environment by In-Cell 19F-NMR Spectroscopy. JACS AU 2023; 3:1658-1669. [PMID: 37388687 PMCID: PMC10302746 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Ras acts as a molecular switch to control intracellular signaling on the plasma membrane (PM). Elucidating how Ras associates with PM in the native cellular environment is crucial for understanding its control mechanism. Here, we used in-cell nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy combined with site-specific 19F-labeling to explore the membrane-associated states of H-Ras in living cells. The site-specific incorporation of p-trifluoromethoxyphenylalanine (OCF3Phe) at three different sites of H-Ras, i.e., Tyr32 in switch I, Tyr96 interacting with switch II, and Tyr157 on helix α5, allowed the characterization of their conformational states depending on the nucleotide-bound states and an oncogenic mutational state. Exogenously delivered 19F-labeled H-Ras protein containing a C-terminal hypervariable region was assimilated via endogenous membrane-trafficking, enabling proper association with the cell membrane compartments. Despite poor sensitivity of the in-cell NMR spectra of membrane-associated H-Ras, the Bayesian spectral deconvolution identified distinct signal components on three 19F-labeled sites, thus offering the conformational multiplicity of H-Ras on the PM. Our study may be helpful in elucidating the atomic-scale picture of membrane-associated proteins in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaomi Ikari
- RIKEN
Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Yagi
- RIKEN
Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Takuma Kasai
- RIKEN
Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- PRESTO/Japan
Science and Technology Agency, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Kohsuke Inomata
- RIKEN
Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- PRESTO/Japan
Science and Technology Agency, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Masahiro Ito
- RIKEN
Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Kae Higuchi
- RIKEN
Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Natsuko Matsuda
- RIKEN
Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- SI Innovation
Center, Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation, Tokyo 206-0001, Japan
| | - Yutaka Ito
- Department
of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Takanori Kigawa
- RIKEN
Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
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5
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Wagner L, Jules M, Borkowski O. What remains from living cells in bacterial lysate-based cell-free systems. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:3173-3182. [PMID: 37333859 PMCID: PMC10275740 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Because they mimic cells while offering an accessible and controllable environment, lysate-based cell-free systems (CFS) have emerged as valuable biotechnology tools for synthetic biology. Historically used to uncover fundamental mechanisms of life, CFS are nowadays used for a multitude of purposes, including protein production and prototyping of synthetic circuits. Despite the conservation of fundamental functions in CFS like transcription and translation, RNAs and certain membrane-embedded or membrane-bound proteins of the host cell are lost when preparing the lysate. As a result, CFS largely lack some essential properties of living cells, such as the ability to adapt to changing conditions, to maintain homeostasis and spatial organization. Regardless of the application, shedding light on the black-box of the bacterial lysate is necessary to fully exploit the potential of CFS. Most measurements of the activity of synthetic circuits in CFS and in vivo show significant correlations because these only require processes that are preserved in CFS, like transcription and translation. However, prototyping circuits of higher complexity that require functions that are lost in CFS (cell adaptation, homeostasis, spatial organization) will not show such a good correlation with in vivo conditions. Both for prototyping circuits of higher complexity and for building artificial cells, the cell-free community has developed devices to reconstruct cellular functions. This mini-review compares bacterial CFS to living cells, focusing on functional and cellular process differences and the latest developments in restoring lost functions through complementation of the lysate or device engineering.
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6
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Yanagisawa T, Seki E, Tanabe H, Fujii Y, Sakamoto K, Yokoyama S. Crystal Structure of Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase from a Methanogenic Archaeon ISO4-G1 and Its Structure-Based Engineering for Highly-Productive Cell-Free Genetic Code Expansion with Non-Canonical Amino Acids. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076256. [PMID: 37047230 PMCID: PMC10094482 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Pairs of pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) and tRNAPyl from Methanosarcina mazei and Methanosarcina barkeri are widely used for site-specific incorporations of non-canonical amino acids into proteins (genetic code expansion). Previously, we achieved full productivity of cell-free protein synthesis for bulky non-canonical amino acids, including Nε-((((E)-cyclooct-2-en-1-yl)oxy)carbonyl)-L-lysine (TCO*Lys), by using Methanomethylophilus alvus PylRS with structure-based mutations in and around the amino acid binding pocket (first-layer and second-layer mutations, respectively). Recently, the PylRS·tRNAPyl pair from a methanogenic archaeon ISO4-G1 was used for genetic code expansion. In the present study, we determined the crystal structure of the methanogenic archaeon ISO4-G1 PylRS (ISO4-G1 PylRS) and compared it with those of structure-known PylRSs. Based on the ISO4-G1 PylRS structure, we attempted the site-specific incorporation of Nε-(p-ethynylbenzyloxycarbonyl)-L-lysine (pEtZLys) into proteins, but it was much less efficient than that of TCO*Lys with M. alvus PylRS mutants. Thus, the first-layer mutations (Y125A and M128L) of ISO4-G1 PylRS, with no additional second-layer mutations, increased the protein productivity with pEtZLys up to 57 ± 8% of that with TCO*Lys at high enzyme concentrations in the cell-free protein synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuo Yanagisawa
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 1-7-22 Suehiro-Cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan;
- RIKEN Cluster for Science, Technology and Innovation Hub, 1-7-22 Suehiro-Cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (E.S.); (H.T.)
- Correspondence: (T.Y.); (S.Y.); Tel.: +81-45-503-9196 (S.Y.)
| | - Eiko Seki
- RIKEN Cluster for Science, Technology and Innovation Hub, 1-7-22 Suehiro-Cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (E.S.); (H.T.)
| | - Hiroaki Tanabe
- RIKEN Cluster for Science, Technology and Innovation Hub, 1-7-22 Suehiro-Cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (E.S.); (H.T.)
| | - Yoshifumi Fujii
- RIKEN Cluster for Science, Technology and Innovation Hub, 1-7-22 Suehiro-Cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (E.S.); (H.T.)
| | - Kensaku Sakamoto
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 1-7-22 Suehiro-Cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan;
| | - Shigeyuki Yokoyama
- RIKEN Cluster for Science, Technology and Innovation Hub, 1-7-22 Suehiro-Cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (E.S.); (H.T.)
- Correspondence: (T.Y.); (S.Y.); Tel.: +81-45-503-9196 (S.Y.)
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7
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Choi YN, Cho N, Lee K, Gwon DA, Lee JW, Lee J. Programmable Synthesis of Biobased Materials Using Cell-Free Systems. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2203433. [PMID: 36108274 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202203433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Motivated by the intricate mechanisms underlying biomolecule syntheses in cells that chemistry is currently unable to mimic, researchers have harnessed biological systems for manufacturing novel materials. Cell-free systems (CFSs) utilizing the bioactivity of transcriptional and translational machineries in vitro are excellent tools that allow supplementation of exogenous materials for production of innovative materials beyond the capability of natural biological systems. Herein, recent studies that have advanced the ability to expand the scope of biobased materials using CFS are summarized and approaches enabling the production of high-value materials, prototyping of genetic parts and modules, and biofunctionalization are discussed. By extending the reach of chemical and enzymatic reactions complementary to cellular materials, CFSs provide new opportunities at the interface of materials science and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Nam Choi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Namjin Cho
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Kanghun Lee
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering (I-Bio), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Da-Ae Gwon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Wook Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering (I-Bio), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Joongoo Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering (I-Bio), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
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8
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Imasaki T, Kikkawa S, Niwa S, Saijo-Hamano Y, Shigematsu H, Aoyama K, Mitsuoka K, Shimizu T, Aoki M, Sakamoto A, Tomabechi Y, Sakai N, Shirouzu M, Taguchi S, Yamagishi Y, Setsu T, Sakihama Y, Nitta E, Takeichi M, Nitta R. CAMSAP2 organizes a γ-tubulin-independent microtubule nucleation centre through phase separation. eLife 2022; 11:77365. [PMID: 35762204 PMCID: PMC9239687 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubules are dynamic polymers consisting of αβ-tubulin heterodimers. The initial polymerization process, called microtubule nucleation, occurs spontaneously via αβ-tubulin. Since a large energy barrier prevents microtubule nucleation in cells, the γ-tubulin ring complex is recruited to the centrosome to overcome the nucleation barrier. However, a considerable number of microtubules can polymerize independently of the centrosome in various cell types. Here, we present evidence that the minus-end-binding calmodulin-regulated spectrin-associated protein 2 (CAMSAP2) serves as a strong nucleator for microtubule formation by significantly reducing the nucleation barrier. CAMSAP2 co-condensates with αβ-tubulin via a phase separation process, producing plenty of nucleation intermediates. Microtubules then radiate from the co-condensates, resulting in aster-like structure formation. CAMSAP2 localizes at the co-condensates and decorates the radiating microtubule lattices to some extent. Taken together, these in vitro findings suggest that CAMSAP2 supports microtubule nucleation and growth by organizing a nucleation centre as well as by stabilizing microtubule intermediates and growing microtubules. Cells are able to hold their shape thanks to tube-like structures called microtubules that are made of hundreds of tubulin proteins. Microtubules are responsible for maintaining the uneven distribution of molecules throughout the cell, a phenomenon known as polarity that allows cells to differentiate into different types with various roles. A protein complex called the γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC) is necessary for microtubules to form. This protein helps bind the tubulin proteins together and stabilises microtubules. However, recent research has found that in highly polarized cells such as neurons, which have highly specialised regions, microtubules can form without γ-TuRC. Searching for the proteins that could be filling in for γ-TuRC in these cells some evidence has suggested that a group known as CAMSAPs may be involved, but it is not known how. To characterize the role of CAMSAPs, Imasaki, Kikkawa et al. studied how one of these proteins, CAMSAP2, interacts with tubulins. To do this, they reconstituted both CAMSAP2 and tubulins using recombinant biotechnology and mixed them in solution. These experiments showed that CAMSAP2 can help form microtubules by bringing together their constituent proteins so that they can bind to each other more easily. Once microtubules start to form, CAMSAP2 continues to bind to them, stabilizing them and enabling them to grow to full size. These results shed light on how polarity is established in cells such as neurons, muscle cells, and epithelial cells. Additionally, the ability to observe intermediate structures during microtubule formation can provide insights into the processes that these structures are involved in.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Imasaki
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.,JST, PRESTO, Saitama, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kikkawa
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Niwa
- Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yumiko Saijo-Hamano
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Hideki Shigematsu
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Hyogo, Japan.,Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), Hyogo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Aoyama
- Materials and Structural Analysis, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Tokyo, Japan.,Research Center for Ultra-High Voltage Electron Microscopy, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kaoru Mitsuoka
- Research Center for Ultra-High Voltage Electron Microscopy, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takahiro Shimizu
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Mari Aoki
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ayako Sakamoto
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yuri Tomabechi
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Naoki Sakai
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Hyogo, Japan.,Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), Hyogo, Japan
| | - Mikako Shirouzu
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Shinya Taguchi
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yosuke Yamagishi
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Tomiyoshi Setsu
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Sakihama
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Eriko Nitta
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | | | - Ryo Nitta
- Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Japan
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9
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Sato W, Sharon J, Deich C, Gaut N, Cash B, Engelhart AE, Adamala KP. Akaby-Cell-free protein expression system for linear templates. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266272. [PMID: 35390057 PMCID: PMC8989226 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein expression is increasingly becoming popular for biotechnology, biomedical and research applications. Among cell-free systems, the most popular one is based on Escherichia coli (E. coli). Endogenous nucleases in E. coli cell-free transcription-translation (TXTL) degrade the free ends of DNA, resulting in inefficient protein expression from linear DNA templates. RecBCD is a nuclease complex that plays a major role in nuclease activity in E. coli, with the RecB subunit possessing the actual nuclease activity. We created a RecB knockout of an E. coli strain optimized for cell-free expression. We named this new strain Akaby. We demonstrated that Akaby TXTL successfully reduced linear DNA degradations, rescuing the protein expression efficiency from the linear DNA templates. The practicality of Akaby for TXTL is an efficient, simple alternative for linear template expression in cell-free reactions. We also use this work as a model protocol for modifying the TXTL source E. coli strain, enabling the creation of TXTL systems with other custom modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wakana Sato
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Judee Sharon
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Christopher Deich
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Nathaniel Gaut
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Brock Cash
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Aaron E. Engelhart
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Katarzyna P. Adamala
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
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10
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11
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Arce A, Guzman Chavez F, Gandini C, Puig J, Matute T, Haseloff J, Dalchau N, Molloy J, Pardee K, Federici F. Decentralizing Cell-Free RNA Sensing With the Use of Low-Cost Cell Extracts. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:727584. [PMID: 34497801 PMCID: PMC8419261 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.727584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free gene expression systems have emerged as a promising platform for field-deployed biosensing and diagnostics. When combined with programmable toehold switch-based RNA sensors, these systems can be used to detect arbitrary RNAs and freeze-dried for room temperature transport to the point-of-need. These sensors, however, have been mainly implemented using reconstituted PURE cell-free protein expression systems that are difficult to source in the Global South due to their high commercial cost and cold-chain shipping requirements. Based on preliminary demonstrations of toehold sensors working on lysates, we describe the fast prototyping of RNA toehold switch-based sensors that can be produced locally and reduce the cost of sensors by two orders of magnitude. We demonstrate that these in-house cell lysates provide sensor performance comparable to commercial PURE cell-free systems. We further optimize these lysates with a CRISPRi strategy to enhance the stability of linear DNAs by knocking-down genes responsible for linear DNA degradation. This enables the direct use of PCR products for fast screening of new designs. As a proof-of-concept, we develop novel toehold sensors for the plant pathogen Potato Virus Y (PVY), which dramatically reduces the yield of this important staple crop. The local implementation of low-cost cell-free toehold sensors could enable biosensing capacity at the regional level and lead to more decentralized models for global surveillance of infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anibal Arce
- ANID – Millennium Science Initiative Program – Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Schools of Engineering, Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Chiara Gandini
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Juan Puig
- ANID – Millennium Science Initiative Program – Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Schools of Engineering, Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Tamara Matute
- ANID – Millennium Science Initiative Program – Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Schools of Engineering, Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jim Haseloff
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jenny Molloy
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Keith Pardee
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Fernán Federici
- ANID – Millennium Science Initiative Program – Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Schools of Engineering, Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Santiago, Chile
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12
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McSweeney MA, Styczynski MP. Effective Use of Linear DNA in Cell-Free Expression Systems. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:715328. [PMID: 34354989 PMCID: PMC8329657 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.715328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free expression systems (CFEs) are cutting-edge research tools used in the investigation of biological phenomena and the engineering of novel biotechnologies. While CFEs have many benefits over in vivo protein synthesis, one particularly significant advantage is that CFEs allow for gene expression from both plasmid DNA and linear expression templates (LETs). This is an important and impactful advantage because functional LETs can be efficiently synthesized in vitro in a few hours without transformation and cloning, thus expediting genetic circuit prototyping and allowing expression of toxic genes that would be difficult to clone through standard approaches. However, native nucleases present in the crude bacterial lysate (the basis for the most affordable form of CFEs) quickly degrade LETs and limit expression yield. Motivated by the significant benefits of using LETs in lieu of plasmid templates, numerous methods to enhance their stability in lysate-based CFEs have been developed. This review describes approaches to LET stabilization used in CFEs, summarizes the advancements that have come from using LETs with these methods, and identifies future applications and development goals that are likely to be impactful to the field. Collectively, continued improvement of LET-based expression and other linear DNA tools in CFEs will help drive scientific discovery and enable a wide range of applications, from diagnostics to synthetic biology research tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan A McSweeney
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Mark P Styczynski
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Atlanta, GA, United States
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13
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Watanabe S, Ito M, Kigawa T. DiRect: Site-directed mutagenesis method for protein engineering by rational design. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 551:107-113. [PMID: 33725571 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Site-directed mutagenesis (SDM), an indispensable method in molecular biology and protein engineering, is rather time-consuming and laborious. Protein engineering, especially that of enzymes, nowadays increasingly relies on rational design approaches in which both SDM and protein expression are the bottlenecks because they are generally based on the recombinant DNA technology. Here, we developed a new PCR-based mutagenesis method, DiRect, that achieves high performance in product quality (≥99% substitution) without recombinant DNA technology. We applied DiRect in combination with a cell-free protein expression system to an industrially relevant enzyme, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent 3-quinuclidinone reductase from Rhodotorula rubra. In a single round of screening, 90 newly designed mutant proteins were produced within two days, and an unreported mutant (Q135I) exhibiting much higher thermostability than the wild-type enzyme was successfully identified within one extra day. Thus, DiRect is a simple, efficient, and potentially scalable SDM method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Watanabe
- Laboratory for Cellular Structural Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan; Laboratory for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Masahiro Ito
- Laboratory for Cellular Structural Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan; Laboratory for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Takanori Kigawa
- Laboratory for Cellular Structural Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan; Laboratory for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan.
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14
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Cole SD, Miklos AE, Chiao AC, Sun ZZ, Lux MW. Methodologies for preparation of prokaryotic extracts for cell-free expression systems. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2020; 5:252-267. [PMID: 32775710 PMCID: PMC7398980 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2020.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free systems that mimic essential cell functions, such as gene expression, have dramatically expanded in recent years, both in terms of applications and widespread adoption. Here we provide a review of cell-extract methods, with a specific focus on prokaryotic systems. Firstly, we describe the diversity of Escherichia coli genetic strains available and their corresponding utility. We then trace the history of cell-extract methodology over the past 20 years, showing key improvements that lower the entry level for new researchers. Next, we survey the rise of new prokaryotic cell-free systems, with associated methods, and the opportunities provided. Finally, we use this historical perspective to comment on the role of methodology improvements and highlight where further improvements may be possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie D. Cole
- US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8567 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, USA
| | - Aleksandr E. Miklos
- US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8567 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, USA
| | - Abel C. Chiao
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Synvitrobio Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Zachary Z. Sun
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Synvitrobio Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Matthew W. Lux
- US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8567 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, USA
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15
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Williams LC, Gregorio NE, So B, Kao WY, Kiste AL, Patel PA, Watts KR, Oza JP. The Genetic Code Kit: An Open-Source Cell-Free Platform for Biochemical and Biotechnology Education. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:941. [PMID: 32974303 PMCID: PMC7466673 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Teaching the processes of transcription and translation is challenging due to the intangibility of these concepts and a lack of instructional, laboratory-based, active learning modules. Harnessing the genetic code in vitro with cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) provides an open platform that allows for the direct manipulation of reaction conditions and biological machinery to enable inquiry-based learning. Here, we report our efforts to transform the research-based CFPS biotechnology into a hands-on module called the “Genetic Code Kit” for implementation into teaching laboratories. The Genetic Code Kit includes all reagents necessary for CFPS, as well as a laboratory manual, student worksheet, and augmented reality activity. This module allows students to actively explore transcription and translation while gaining exposure to an emerging research technology. In our testing of this module, undergraduate students who used the Genetic Code Kit in a teaching laboratory showed significant score increases on transcription and translation questions in a post-lab questionnaire compared with students who did not participate in the activity. Students also demonstrated an increase in self-reported confidence in laboratory methods and comfort with CFPS, indicating that this module helps prepare students for careers in laboratory research. Importantly, the Genetic Code Kit can accommodate a variety of learning objectives beyond transcription and translation and enables hypothesis-driven science. This opens the possibility of developing Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) based on the Genetic Code Kit, as well as supporting next-generation science standards in 8–12th grade science courses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layne C Williams
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States.,Center for Applications in Biotechnology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
| | - Nicole E Gregorio
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States.,Center for Applications in Biotechnology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
| | - Byungcheol So
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States.,Center for Applications in Biotechnology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
| | - Wesley Y Kao
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States.,Center for Applications in Biotechnology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
| | - Alan L Kiste
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
| | - Pratish A Patel
- Department of Finance, Orfalea College of Business, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
| | - Katharine R Watts
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States.,Center for Applications in Biotechnology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
| | - Javin P Oza
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States.,Center for Applications in Biotechnology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
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16
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Seki E, Yanagisawa T, Kuratani M, Sakamoto K, Yokoyama S. Fully Productive Cell-Free Genetic Code Expansion by Structure-Based Engineering of Methanomethylophilus alvus Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:718-732. [PMID: 32182048 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.9b00288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS)/tRNAPyl pairs from Methanosarcina mazei and Methanosarcina barkeri are widely used for site-specific incorporations of non-canonical amino acids into proteins (genetic code expansion). In this study, we achieved the full productivity of cell-free protein synthesis for difficult, bulky non-canonical amino acids, such as Nε-((((E)-cyclooct-2-en-1-yl)oxy)carbonyl)-l-lysine (TCO*Lys), by using Methanomethylophilus alvus PylRS. First, based on the crystal structure of M. alvus PylRS, the productivities for various non-canonical amino acids were greatly increased by rational engineering of the amino acid-binding pocket. The productivities were further enhanced by using a much higher concentration of PylRS over that of M. mazei PylRS, or by mutating the outer layer of the amino acid-binding pocket. Thus, we achieved full productivity even for TCO*Lys. The quantity and quality of the cell-free-produced antibody fragment containing TCO*Lys were drastically improved. These results demonstrate the importance of full productivity for the expanded genetic code.
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17
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Higuchi K, Yabuki T, Ito M, Kigawa T. Cold shock proteins improve
E. coli
cell‐free synthesis in terms of soluble yields of aggregation‐prone proteins. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 117:1628-1639. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.27326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kae Higuchi
- Laboratory for Cellular Structural BiologyRIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research Yokohama Kanagawa Japan
| | - Takashi Yabuki
- Laboratory for Cellular Structural BiologyRIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research Yokohama Kanagawa Japan
- SI Innovation Center, Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation Tama‐shi Tokyo Japan
| | - Masahiro Ito
- Laboratory for Cellular Structural BiologyRIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research Yokohama Kanagawa Japan
| | - Takanori Kigawa
- Laboratory for Cellular Structural BiologyRIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research Yokohama Kanagawa Japan
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18
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Escherichia coli Extract-Based Cell-Free Expression System as an Alternative for Difficult-to-Obtain Protein Biosynthesis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21030928. [PMID: 32023820 PMCID: PMC7037961 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Before utilization in biomedical diagnosis, therapeutic treatment, and biotechnology, the diverse variety of peptides and proteins must be preliminarily purified and thoroughly characterized. The recombinant DNA technology and heterologous protein expression have helped simplify the isolation of targeted polypeptides at high purity and their structure-function examinations. Recombinant protein expression in Escherichia coli, the most-established heterologous host organism, has been widely used to produce proteins of commercial and fundamental research interests. Nonetheless, many peptides/proteins are still difficult to express due to their ability to slow down cell growth or disrupt cellular metabolism. Besides, special modifications are often required for proper folding and activity of targeted proteins. The cell-free (CF) or in vitro recombinant protein synthesis system enables the production of such difficult-to-obtain molecules since it is possible to adjust reaction medium and there is no need to support cellular metabolism and viability. Here, we describe E. coli-based CF systems, the optimization steps done toward the development of highly productive and cost-effective CF methodology, and the modification of an in vitro approach required for difficult-to-obtain protein production.
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19
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Lee KH, Kim DM. Recent advances in development of cell-free protein synthesis systems for fast and efficient production of recombinant proteins. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2019; 365:5062788. [PMID: 30084930 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fny174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis has emerged in recent years as a powerful tool that can potentially transform the production of recombinant proteins. Cell-free protein synthesis harnesses the synthetic power of living cells while eliminating many of the constraints of traditional cell-based gene expression methods. Due to the lack of physical barriers separating the protein synthesis machinery from the surrounding environment, a cell-free protein synthesis reaction mixture can be directly programmed using diverse genetic material for the instant production of recombinant proteins without complicated cloning procedures. However, a number of issues must be addressed for this technology to be widely accepted as an alternative platform for protein production, including quality-control of translation machinery preparations, and high reagent cost. This review describes recent efforts to make cell-free protein synthesis more affordable and more easily accessible for generic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Ho Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Dong-Myung Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea
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20
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Structural Basis for Genetic-Code Expansion with Bulky Lysine Derivatives by an Engineered Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase. Cell Chem Biol 2019; 26:936-949.e13. [PMID: 31031143 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2019.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 12/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) and tRNAPyl have been extensively used for genetic-code expansion. A Methanosarcina mazei PylRS mutant bearing the Y306A and Y384F mutations (PylRS(Y306A/Y384F)) encodes various bulky non-natural lysine derivatives by UAG. In this study, we examined how PylRS(Y306A/Y384F) recognizes many amino acids. Among 17 non-natural lysine derivatives, Nɛ-(benzyloxycarbonyl)lysine (ZLys) and 10 ortho/meta/para-substituted ZLys derivatives were efficiently ligated to tRNAPyl and were incorporated into proteins by PylRS(Y306A/Y384F). We determined crystal structures of 14 non-natural lysine derivatives bound to the PylRS(Y306A/Y384F) catalytic fragment. The meta- and para-substituted ZLys derivatives are snugly accommodated in the productive mode. In contrast, ZLys and the unsubstituted or ortho-substituted ZLys derivatives exhibited an alternative binding mode in addition to the productive mode. PylRS(Y306A/Y384F) displayed a high aminoacylation rate for ZLys, indicating that the double-binding mode minimally affects aminoacylation. These precise substrate recognition mechanisms by PylRS(Y306A/Y384F) may facilitate the structure-based design of novel non-natural amino acids.
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21
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Wiegand DJ, Lee HH, Ostrov N, Church GM. Cell-free Protein Expression Using the Rapidly Growing Bacterium Vibrio natriegens. J Vis Exp 2019:10.3791/59495. [PMID: 30933074 PMCID: PMC6512795 DOI: 10.3791/59495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The marine bacterium Vibrio natriegens has garnered considerable attention as an emerging microbial host for biotechnology due to its fast growth rate. A general protocol is described for the preparation of V. natriegens crude cell extracts using common laboratory equipment. This high yielding protocol has been specifically optimized for user accessibility and reduced cost. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) can be carried out in small scale 10 μL batch reactions in either a 96- or 384-well format and reproducibly yields concentrations of > 260 μg/mL super folder GFP (sfGFP) within 3 h. Overall, crude cell extract preparation and CFPS can be achieved in 1-2 full days by a single user. This protocol can be easily integrated into existing protein synthesis pipelines to facilitate advances in bio-production and synthetic biology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Wiegand
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering;
| | - Henry H Lee
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School
| | - Nili Ostrov
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School;
| | - George M Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering;
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22
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Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Using S30 Extracts from Escherichia coli RFzero Strains for Efficient Incorporation of Non-Natural Amino Acids into Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20030492. [PMID: 30678326 PMCID: PMC6387211 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis is useful for synthesizing difficult targets. The site-specific incorporation of non-natural amino acids into proteins is a powerful protein engineering method. In this study, we optimized the protocol for cell extract preparation from the Escherichia coli strain RFzero-iy, which is engineered to lack release factor 1 (RF-1). The BL21(DE3)-based RFzero-iy strain exhibited quite high cell-free protein productivity, and thus we established the protocols for its cell culture and extract preparation. In the presence of 3-iodo-l-tyrosine (IY), cell-free protein synthesis using the RFzero-iy-based S30 extract translated the UAG codon to IY at various sites with a high translation efficiency of >90%. In the absence of IY, the RFzero-iy-based cell-free system did not translate UAG to any amino acid, leaving UAG unassigned. Actually, UAG was readily reassigned to various non-natural amino acids, by supplementing them with their specific aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase variants (and their specific tRNAs) into the system. The high incorporation rate of our RFzero-iy-based cell-free system enables the incorporation of a variety of non-natural amino acids into multiple sites of proteins. The present strategy to create the RFzero strain is rapid, and thus promising for RF-1 deletions of various E. coli strains genomically engineered for specific requirements.
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23
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Cortès S, Hibti FE, Chiraz F, Ezzine S. High-Throughput E. coli Cell-Free Expression: From PCR Product Design to Functional Validation of GPCR. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2025:261-279. [PMID: 31267457 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9624-7_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This chapter outlines a protocol to express GPCRs libraries for screening of targets. High-throughput screening of GPCR expression raised a big interest in the development of proteomic drug candidates, protein engineering, and microarrays. However, GPCRs represent a large family of difficult-to-express proteins which can be successfully produced by cell-free systems in the presence of liposomes. The open and flexible nature of this in vitro expression system allows the manipulation of transcription and translation as well as the modulation of the cell-free reaction environment by the addition of any adjuvant or the incorporation of unnatural amino acid for example.The compatibility of PCR fragments with cell-free protein synthesis and using SPRi as multiplex analytical platform offer an effective method to rapidly select different targets. Large-scale expression and purification of GPCRs into proteoliposome format are discussed at the end of this chapter.
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24
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Wiegand DJ, Lee HH, Ostrov N, Church GM. Establishing a Cell-Free Vibrio natriegens Expression System. ACS Synth Biol 2018; 7:2475-2479. [PMID: 30160938 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.8b00222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The fast growing bacterium Vibrio natriegens is an emerging microbial host for biotechnology. Harnessing its productive cellular components may offer a compelling platform for rapid protein production and prototyping of metabolic pathways or genetic circuits. Here, we report the development of a V. natriegens cell-free expression system. We devised a simplified crude extract preparation protocol and achieved >260 μg/mL of superfolder GFP in a small-scale batch reaction after 3 h. Culturing conditions, including growth media and cell density, significantly affect translation kinetics and protein yield of extracts. We observed maximal protein yield at incubation temperatures of 26 or 30 °C, and show improved yield by tuning ions crucial for ribosomal stability. This work establishes an initial V. natriegens cell-free expression system, enables probing of V. natriegens biology, and will serve as a platform to accelerate metabolic engineering and synthetic biology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. Wiegand
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Henry H. Lee
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Nili Ostrov
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - George M. Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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Xiao X, Zhou Y, Sun Y, Wang Q, Liu J, Huang J, Zhu X, Yang X, Wang K. Integration of cell-free protein synthesis and purification in one microfluidic chip for on-demand production of recombinant protein. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2018; 12:054102. [PMID: 30271517 PMCID: PMC6136919 DOI: 10.1063/1.5042307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant proteins have shown several benefits compared with their non-recombinant counterparts in protein therapeutics. However, there are still some problems with the storage and distribution of recombinant proteins, owing to their temperature sensitivity. Microfluidic chips can integrate different functional modules into a single device because of the advantages of integration and miniaturization, which have the special potential to synthesize drugs when and where they are needed most. Here, we integrated cell-free protein synthesis and purification into a microfluidic chip for the production of recombinant protein. The chip consisted of a main channel and a branch channel. The main channel included two pinches, which were filled with template DNA-modified agarose microbeads and nickel ion-modified agarose beads as the cell-free protein synthesis unit and protein purification unit, respectively. The reaction mixture for protein synthesis was introduced into the main channel and first passed through the protein synthesis unit where the target protein was synthesized; next, the reaction mixture passed through the protein purification unit where the target protein was captured; and, finally, pure protein was collected at the outlet when washing buffer and eluting buffer were sequentially introduced into the branch channel. Enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was used as the model to investigate the performance of our chip. One chip could produce 70 μl of EGFP solution (144.3 μg/ml, 10.1 μg) per batch, and another round of protein synthesis and purification could be performed after replacing or regenerating nickel ion-modified agarose beads. It should be possible to produce other recombinant proteins on demand with this chip by simply replacing the template DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Xiaohai Yang
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and . Tel./Fax: +86-731-88821566
| | - Kemin Wang
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and . Tel./Fax: +86-731-88821566
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Liang J, Zhao J, Wang Z, Wang Y. Temperature gradient-based high-cell density fed-batch fermentation for the production of pyruvate oxidase by recombinant E. coli. Prep Biochem Biotechnol 2018; 48:188-193. [PMID: 29355461 DOI: 10.1080/10826068.2018.1425709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Pyruvate oxidase (PyOD) is a very powerful enzyme for clinical diagnostic applications and environmental monitoring. Influences of temperature on cell growth, plasmid stability, and PyOD expression during the PyOD fermentation process by recombinant Escherichia coli were investigated. Based on the influences of temperature on the physiological metabolism, a novel high-cell density fed-batch cultivation with gradient temperature decrease strategy for effective PyOD production was achieved, under which the biomass (OD600) of recombinant E. coli could reach to 71 and the highest PyOD activity in broth could reach to 3,307 U/L in 26 hr fermentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianguang Liang
- a School of Biology and Food Engineering , Changshu Institute of Technology , Changshu , PR China
| | - Jie Zhao
- b State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering , East China University of Science and Technology , Shanghai , PR China
| | - Zejian Wang
- b State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering , East China University of Science and Technology , Shanghai , PR China
| | - Yonghong Wang
- b State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering , East China University of Science and Technology , Shanghai , PR China
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Seki E, Yanagisawa T, Yokoyama S. Cell-Free Protein Synthesis for Multiple Site-Specific Incorporation of Noncanonical Amino Acids Using Cell Extracts from RF-1 Deletion E. coli Strains. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1728:49-65. [PMID: 29404990 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7574-7_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is an effective method for the site-specific incorporations of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins. The nature of in vitro synthesis enables the use of experimental conditions that are toxic or reduce cellular uptake during in vivo site-specific incorporations of ncAAs. Using the Escherichia coli cell extract (S30) from the highly reproductive RF-1 deletion strains, B-60.∆A::Z and B-95.∆A, with orthogonal tRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) pairs from Methanosarcina mazei, we have developed CFPS methods for the highly productive and efficient multiple incorporation of ncAAs. In this chapter, we describe our methods for the preparation of the S30 and the orthogonal tRNAPyl and PylRS pair, and two CFPS protocols for ncAA incorporation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eiko Seki
- RIKEN Structural Biology Laboratory, Yokohama, Japan
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28
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Katsura K, Matsuda T, Tomabechi Y, Yonemochi M, Hanada K, Ohsawa N, Sakamoto K, Takemoto C, Shirouzu M. A reproducible and scalable procedure for preparing bacterial extracts for cell-free protein synthesis. J Biochem 2017; 162:357-369. [PMID: 28992119 PMCID: PMC7109869 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvx039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis is a useful method for preparing proteins for functional or structural analyses. However, batch-to-batch variability with regard to protein synthesis activity remains a problem for large-scale production of cell extract in the laboratory. To address this issue, we have developed a novel procedure for large-scale preparation of bacterial cell extract with high protein synthesis activity. The developed procedure comprises cell cultivation using a fermentor, harvesting and washing of cells by tangential flow filtration, cell disruption with high-pressure homogenizer and continuous diafiltration. By optimizing and combining these methods, ∼100 ml of the cell extract was prepared from 150 g of Escherichia coli cells. The protein synthesis activities, defined as the yield of protein per unit of absorbance at 260 nm of the cell extract, were shown to be reproducible, and the average activity of several batches was twice that obtained using a previously reported method. In addition, combinatorial use of the high-pressure homogenizer and diafiltration increased the scalability, indicating that the cell concentration at disruption varies from 0.04 to 1 g/ml. Furthermore, addition of Gam protein and examinations of the N-terminal sequence rendered the extract prepared here useful for rapid screening with linear DNA templates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazushige Katsura
- Division of Structural and Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technology, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Matsuda
- Division of Structural and Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technology, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Yuri Tomabechi
- Division of Structural and Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technology, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Mayumi Yonemochi
- Division of Structural and Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technology, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Kazuharu Hanada
- Division of Structural and Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technology, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Noboru Ohsawa
- Division of Structural and Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technology, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Kensaku Sakamoto
- Division of Structural and Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technology, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Chie Takemoto
- Division of Structural and Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technology, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Mikako Shirouzu
- Division of Structural and Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technology, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
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Kigawa T. Advances in stable isotope assisted labeling strategies with information science. Arch Biochem Biophys 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2017.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Schinn SM, Broadbent A, Bradley WT, Bundy BC. Protein synthesis directly from PCR: progress and applications of cell-free protein synthesis with linear DNA. N Biotechnol 2016; 33:480-7. [PMID: 27085957 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Revised: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
A rapid, versatile method of protein expression and screening can greatly facilitate the future development of therapeutic biologics, proteomic drug targets and biocatalysts. An attractive candidate is cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS), a cell-lysate-based in vitro expression system, which can utilize linear DNA as expression templates, bypassing time-consuming cloning steps of plasmid-based methods. Traditionally, such linear DNA expression templates (LET) have been vulnerable to degradation by nucleases present in the cell lysate, leading to lower yields. This challenge has been significantly addressed in the recent past, propelling LET-based CFPS as a useful tool for studying, screening and engineering proteins in a high-throughput manner. Currently, LET-based CFPS has promise in fields such as functional proteomics, protein microarrays, and the optimization of complex biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song-Min Schinn
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Andrew Broadbent
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - William T Bradley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Bradley C Bundy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
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Kasai T, Koshiba S, Yokoyama J, Kigawa T. Stable isotope labeling strategy based on coding theory. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR 2015; 63:213-21. [PMID: 26293126 DOI: 10.1007/s10858-015-9978-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
We describe a strategy for stable isotope-aided protein nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, called stable isotope encoding. The basic idea of this strategy is that amino-acid selective labeling can be considered as "encoding and decoding" processes, in which the information of amino acid type is encoded by the stable isotope labeling ratio of the corresponding residue and it is decoded by analyzing NMR spectra. According to the idea, the strategy can diminish the required number of labelled samples by increasing information content per sample, enabling discrimination of 19 kinds of non-proline amino acids with only three labeled samples. The idea also enables this strategy to combine with information technologies, such as error detection by check digit, to improve the robustness of analyses with low quality data. Stable isotope encoding will facilitate NMR analyses of proteins under non-ideal conditions, such as those in large complex systems, with low-solubility, and in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuma Kasai
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
- JST CREST, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Seizo Koshiba
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
- Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, 2-1, Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8573, Japan
| | - Jun Yokoyama
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
- Cell-Free Technology Application Laboratory, RIKEN Innovation Center (RInC), 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
- SI Innovation Center, Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation, 2008-2 Wada, Tama-shi, Tokyo, 206-0001, Japan
| | - Takanori Kigawa
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC), 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan.
- JST CREST, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan.
- Cell-Free Technology Application Laboratory, RIKEN Innovation Center (RInC), 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan.
- Department of Computational Intelligence and Systems Science, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan.
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Terada T, Yokoyama S. Escherichia coli Cell-Free Protein Synthesis and Isotope Labeling of Mammalian Proteins. Methods Enzymol 2015; 565:311-45. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2015.08.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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A cell-free expression screen to identify fusion tags for improved protein expression. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1118:35-54. [PMID: 24395408 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-782-2_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis can now be routinely used for the rapid screening of protein expression at the microliter level using PCR-amplified templates. However, identification of the optimal expression construct for a target protein can still be a problem. A rapid cell-free procedure is described here for the systematic assessment of a range of diverse fusion tags on the expression and solubility of any given target protein. Overlap/extension PCR is used to fuse a library of T7 promoter (T7p)-tag fragments with a gene-T7terminator (T7ter) fragment to produce cell-free expression templates encoding different fusion proteins. These constructs are then expressed in a series of small-scale (50 μL) Escherichia coli cell-free reactions and SDS-PAGE analysis is used to identify the optimal fusion tag(s). This screen is particularly useful for the identification of expression constructs for proteins that are normally poorly expressed or are insoluble.
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35
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Sun ZZ, Yeung E, Hayes CA, Noireaux V, Murray RM. Linear DNA for rapid prototyping of synthetic biological circuits in an Escherichia coli based TX-TL cell-free system. ACS Synth Biol 2014; 3:387-97. [PMID: 24303785 DOI: 10.1021/sb400131a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Accelerating the pace of synthetic biology experiments requires new approaches for rapid prototyping of circuits from individual DNA regulatory elements. However, current testing standards require days to weeks due to cloning and in vivo transformation. In this work, we first characterized methods to protect linear DNA strands from exonuclease degradation in an Escherichia coli based transcription-translation cell-free system (TX-TL), as well as mechanisms of degradation. This enabled the use of linear DNA PCR products in TX-TL. We then compared expression levels and binding dynamics of different promoters on linear DNA and plasmid DNA. We also demonstrated assembly technology to rapidly build circuits entirely in vitro from separate parts. Using this strategy, we prototyped a four component genetic switch in under 8 h entirely in vitro. Rapid in vitro assembly has future applications for prototyping multiple component circuits if combined with predictive computational models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Z. Sun
- Division
of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91101, United States of America
| | - Enoch Yeung
- Department
of Control and Dynamical Systems, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91101, United States of America
| | - Clarmyra A. Hayes
- Division
of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91101, United States of America
| | - Vincent Noireaux
- School
of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, United States of America
| | - Richard M. Murray
- Division
of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91101, United States of America
- Department
of Control and Dynamical Systems, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91101, United States of America
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36
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Kawahara-Kobayashi A, Hitotsuyanagi M, Amikura K, Kiga D. Experimental evolution of a green fluorescent protein composed of 19 unique amino acids without tryptophan. ORIGINS LIFE EVOL B 2014; 44:75-86. [PMID: 25399308 DOI: 10.1007/s11084-014-9371-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2013] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
At some stage of evolution, genes of organisms may have encoded proteins that were synthesized using fewer than 20 unique amino acids. Similar to evolution of the natural 19-amino-acid proteins GroEL/ES, proteins composed of 19 unique amino acids would have been able to evolve by accumulating beneficial mutations within the 19-amino-acid repertoire encoded in an ancestral genetic code. Because Trp is thought to be the last amino acid included in the canonical 20-amino-acid repertoire, this late stage of protein evolution could be mimicked by experimental evolution of 19-amino-acid proteins without tryptophan (Trp). To further understand the evolution of proteins, we tried to mimic the evolution of a 19-amino-acid protein involving the accumulation of beneficial mutations using directed evolution by random mutagenesis on the whole targeted gene sequence. We created active 19-amino-acid green fluorescent proteins (GFPs) without Trp from a poorly fluorescent 19-amino-acid mutant, S1-W57F, by using directed evolution with two rounds of mutagenesis and selection. The N105I and S205T mutations showed beneficial effects on the S1-W57F mutant. When these two mutations were combined on S1-W57F, we observed an additive effect on the fluorescence intensity. In contrast, these mutations showed no clear improvement individually or in combination on GFPS1, which is the parental GFP mutant composed of 20 amino acids. Our results provide an additional example for the experimental evolution of 19-amino-acid proteins without Trp, and would help understand the mechanisms underlying the evolution of 19-amino-acid proteins. (236 words).
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Affiliation(s)
- Akio Kawahara-Kobayashi
- Department of Computational Intelligence and Systems Science, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 226-8503, Japan
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Amikura K, Sakai Y, Asami S, Kiga D. Multiple amino acid-excluded genetic codes for protein engineering using multiple sets of tRNA variants. ACS Synth Biol 2014; 3:140-4. [PMID: 24256181 DOI: 10.1021/sb400144h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A "simplified genetic code", with only 19 amino acids assigned to the sense codons, was recently developed. In this study, we describe novel simplified codes in which multiple amino acids are simultaneously excluded from the universal code. In the simplest code, tryptophan, cysteine, tyrosine, and asparagine codons are assigned to serine by using four kinds of tRNA (Ser) variants. The results revealed that various sets of amino acids can easily be excluded from the universal code, using our strategy for genetic code simplification. A simplified genetic code is useful as an engineering tool for the improvement of industrial enzymes and pharmaceuticals, and also provides new insights into the assessment of protein evolution. Simplified codes in which multiple amino acids are simultaneously excluded from the code can be more effective tools than codes excluding only one amino acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuaki Amikura
- Department
of Computational Intelligence and Systems Science, Interdisciplinary
Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
- Earth-Life
Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
| | - Yoko Sakai
- Department
of Computational Intelligence and Systems Science, Interdisciplinary
Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
| | - Shun Asami
- Department
of Computational Intelligence and Systems Science, Interdisciplinary
Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kiga
- Department
of Computational Intelligence and Systems Science, Interdisciplinary
Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
- Earth-Life
Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
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Kawahara-Kobayashi A, Masuda A, Araiso Y, Sakai Y, Kohda A, Uchiyama M, Asami S, Matsuda T, Ishitani R, Dohmae N, Yokoyama S, Kigawa T, Nureki O, Kiga D. Simplification of the genetic code: restricted diversity of genetically encoded amino acids. Nucleic Acids Res 2012; 40:10576-84. [PMID: 22909996 PMCID: PMC3488234 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
At earlier stages in the evolution of the universal genetic code, fewer than 20 amino acids were considered to be used. Although this notion is supported by a wide range of data, the actual existence and function of the genetic codes with a limited set of canonical amino acids have not been addressed experimentally, in contrast to the successful development of the expanded codes. Here, we constructed artificial genetic codes involving a reduced alphabet. In one of the codes, a tRNAAla variant with the Trp anticodon reassigns alanine to an unassigned UGG codon in the Escherichia coli S30 cell-free translation system lacking tryptophan. We confirmed that the efficiency and accuracy of protein synthesis by this Trp-lacking code were comparable to those by the universal genetic code, by an amino acid composition analysis, green fluorescent protein fluorescence measurements and the crystal structure determination. We also showed that another code, in which UGU/UGC codons are assigned to Ser, synthesizes an active enzyme. This method will provide not only new insights into primordial genetic codes, but also an essential protein engineering tool for the assessment of the early stages of protein evolution and for the improvement of pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akio Kawahara-Kobayashi
- Department of Computational Intelligence and Systems Science, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
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Wang Y, Xu W, Kou X, Luo Y, Zhang Y, Ma B, Wang M, Huang K. Establishment and optimization of a wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis system and its application in venom kallikrein. Protein Expr Purif 2012; 84:173-80. [PMID: 22626528 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2012.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2012] [Revised: 05/10/2012] [Accepted: 05/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis systems have the potential to synthesize functional proteins safely and with high accuracy, but the poor energy supply and the instability of mRNA templates reduce the productivity of this system, which restricts its applications. In this report, phosphocreatine and pyruvate were added to the system to supply ATP as a secondary energy source. After comparing the protein yield, we found that phosphocreatine is more suitable for use in the wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis system. To stabilize the mRNA template, the plasmid vector, SP6 RNA polymerase, and Cu(2+) were optimized, and a wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis system with high yield and speed was established. When plasmid vector (30 ng/μl), SP6 RNA polymerase (15 U), phosphocreatine (25 mM), and Cu(2+) (5 mM) were added to the system and incubated at 26°C for 16 h, the yield of venom kallikrein increased from 0.13 to 0.74 mg/ml. The specific activity of the recombinant protein was 1.3 U/mg, which is only slightly lower than the crude venom kallikrein (1.74 U/mg) due to the lack of the sugar chain. In this study, the yield of venom kallikrein was improved by optimizing the system, and a good foundation has been laid for industrial applications and for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunpeng Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072, China
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Babel I, Barderas R, Peláez-García A, Casal JI. Antibodies on demand: a fast method for the production of human scFvs with minimal amounts of antigen. BMC Biotechnol 2011; 11:61. [PMID: 21635725 PMCID: PMC3125328 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6750-11-61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2010] [Accepted: 06/02/2011] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibodies constitute a powerful tool to study protein function, protein localization and protein-protein interactions, as well as for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. High-throughput antibody development requires faster methodologies with lower antigen consumption. RESULTS Here, we describe a novel methodology to select human monoclonal recombinant antibodies by combining in vitro protein expression, phage display antibody libraries and antibody microarrays. The application of this combination of methodologies permitted us to generate human single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) against two proteins: green fluorescent protein (GFP) and thioredoxin (Trx) in a short time, using as low as 5 μg of purified protein. These scFvs showed specific reactivity against their respective targets and worked well by ELISA and western blot. The scFvs were able to recognise as low as 31 ng of protein of their respective targets by western blot. CONCLUSION This work describes a novel and miniaturized methodology to obtain human monoclonal recombinant antibodies against any target in a shorter time than other methodologies using only 5 μg of protein. The protocol could be easily adapted to a high-throughput procedure for antibody production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Babel
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB-CSIC). Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Barderas
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB-CSIC). Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Alberto Peláez-García
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB-CSIC). Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - J Ignacio Casal
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB-CSIC). Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid 28040, Spain
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Yokoyama J, Matsuda T, Koshiba S, Tochio N, Kigawa T. A practical method for cell-free protein synthesis to avoid stable isotope scrambling and dilution. Anal Biochem 2011; 411:223-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2011.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2010] [Revised: 01/11/2011] [Accepted: 01/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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42
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Yokoyama J, Matsuda T, Koshiba S, Kigawa T. An economical method for producing stable-isotope labeled proteins by the E. coli cell-free system. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR 2010; 48:193-201. [PMID: 21052777 DOI: 10.1007/s10858-010-9455-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2010] [Accepted: 08/12/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Improvement of the cell-free protein synthesis system (CF) over the past decade have made it one of the most powerful protein production methods. The CF approach is especially useful for stable-isotope (SI) labeling of proteins for NMR analysis. However, it is less popular than expected, partly because the SI-labeled amino acids used for SI labeling by the CF are too expensive. In the present study, we developed a simple and inexpensive method for producing an SI-labeled protein using Escherichia coli cell extract-based CF. This method takes advantage of endogenous metabolic conversions to generate SI-labeled asparagine, glutamine, cysteine, and tryptophan, which are much more expensive than the other 16 kinds of SI-labeled amino acids, from inexpensive sources, such as SI-labeled algal amino acid mixture, SI-labeled indole, and sodium sulfide, during the CF reaction. As compared with the conventional method employing 20 kinds of SI-labeled amino acids, highly enriched uniform SI-labeling with similar labeling efficiency was achieved at a greatly reduced cost with the newly developed method. Therefore, our method solves the cost problem of the SI labeling of proteins using the CF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yokoyama
- RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
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43
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Abstract
We have been developing and using an Escherichia coli cell extract-based coupled transcription-translation cell-free system. The development includes many different issues such as cell extract preparation, template construction, reaction condition, reaction format, and automation. These developments improved the efficiency, productivity, and throughput of our prokaryotic cell-free system, enabling us to use the system as one of the standard expression methods in our group. Our system certainly has the largest successful applications especially to the protein production for the structure determination, among the existing cell-free protein synthesis systems.
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44
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Cell-free protein production system with the E. coli crude extract for determination of protein folds. Methods Mol Biol 2010; 607:101-11. [PMID: 20204852 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60327-331-2_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Escherichia coli cell extract-based coupled transcription-translation cell-free system has been developed for large-scale production of protein samples for both X-ray crystallography (selenomethionine substitution) and NMR (stable-isotope labeling). For both cases, higher labeling/substitution efficiency can be achieved compared with the production using cell-based expression system. In addition, as the system is easily adapted to automated and/or high-throughput procedures, it is an especially suitable protein expression method for structural genomics and proteomics project. In this chapter, the procedure for large-scale protein production for structure determination using our E. coli cell-free system is presented.
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45
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Kigawa T. Analysis of protein functions through a bacterial cell-free protein expression system. Methods Mol Biol 2010; 607:53-62. [PMID: 20204848 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60327-331-2_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis is a suitable protein expression method for the high-throughput use because a PCR-amplified linear DNA fragment is utilized as a template for protein synthesis without any cloning procedures. We have developed a two-step PCR method for high-throughput and robust production of linear templates ready for cell-free protein synthesis. A high-throughput protein expression method has been established by combining the batch-mode cell-free protein synthesis with the two-step PCR, which is performed on multiwell plates, and is thus adapted for robotics. In this chapter, our two-step PCR method and the batch-mode cell-free protein synthesis are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takanori Kigawa
- RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, Yokohama, Japan
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46
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Seki E, Matsuda N, Kigawa T. Multiple inhibitory factor removal from an Escherichia coli cell extract improves cell-free protein synthesis. J Biosci Bioeng 2009; 108:30-5. [PMID: 19577188 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2009.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2008] [Revised: 02/10/2009] [Accepted: 02/12/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis systems are generally influenced by the nature of the cell extract, which contains various factors on the chromosomal DNA. Some of the Escherichia coli cell extract factors are essential, despite their negative effects on protein synthesis, because they are required during the cell growth and/or extract preparation stage. In this study, modified E. coli strains were generated by inserting a streptavidin binding peptide (SBP) tag sequence at the 3' termini of the genes encoding polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) and/or Exodeoxyribonuclease V alpha chain (RecD) on the chromosomal DNA. The SBP-tagged target gene products were specifically removed from the cell extract prepared from modified E. coli cells using SBP affinity resin. The linear DNA-directed cell-free protein synthesis using the treated extract achieved higher productivity, especially when removing both the PNPase and RecD factors. Using this strategy to remove multiple inhibitory factors in a cell extract will be widely applicable to improve cell-free protein synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eiko Seki
- NMR Pipeline Methodology Research Team, RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
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47
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Aoki M, Matsuda T, Tomo Y, Miyata Y, Inoue M, Kigawa T, Yokoyama S. Automated system for high-throughput protein production using the dialysis cell-free method. Protein Expr Purif 2009; 68:128-36. [PMID: 19664715 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2009.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2009] [Revised: 07/10/2009] [Accepted: 07/17/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
High-throughput protein production systems have become an important issue, because protein production is one of the bottleneck steps in large-scale structural and functional analyses of proteins. We have developed a dialysis reactor and a fully automated system for protein production using the dialysis cell-free synthesis method, which we previously established to produce protein samples on a milligram scale in a high-throughput manner. The dialysis reactor was designed to be suitable for an automated system and has six dialysis cups attached to a flat dialysis membrane. The automated system is based on a Tecan Freedom EVO 200 workstation in a three-arm configuration, and is equipped with shaking incubators, a vacuum module, a robotic centrifuge, a plate heat sealer, and a custom-made tilting carrier for collection of reaction solutions from the flat-bottom cups with dialysis membranes. The consecutive process, from the dialysis cell-free protein synthesis to the partial purification by immobilized metal affinity chromatography on a 96-well filtration plate, was performed within ca. 14h, including 8h of cell-free protein synthesis. The proteins were eluted stepwise in a high concentration using EDTA by centrifugation, while the resin in the filtration plate was washed on the vacuum manifold. The system was validated to be able to simultaneously and automatically produce up to 96 proteins in yields of several milligrams with high well-to-well reliability, sufficient for structural and functional analyses of proteins. The protein samples produced by the automated system have been utilized for NMR screening to judge the protein foldedness and for structure determinations using heteronuclear multi-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The automated high-throughput protein production system represents an important breakthrough in the structural and functional studies of proteins and has already contributed a massive amount of results in the structural genomics project at the RIKEN Structural Genomics/Proteomics Initiative (RSGI).
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaaki Aoki
- RIKEN Systems and Structural Biology Center (SSBC), 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
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48
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Jia X, Ozawa K, Loscha K, Otting G. Glutarate and N-acetyl-L-glutamate buffers for cell-free synthesis of selectively 15N-labelled proteins. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR 2009; 44:59-67. [PMID: 19399372 DOI: 10.1007/s10858-009-9315-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2009] [Accepted: 04/01/2009] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis provides rapid and economical access to selectively 15N-labelled proteins, greatly facilitating the assignment of 15N-HSQC spectra. While the best yields are usually obtained with buffers containing high concentrations of potassium L-glutamate, preparation of selectively 15N-Glu labelled samples requires non-standard conditions. Among many compounds tested to replace the L-Glu buffer, potassium N-acetyl-L-glutamate and potassium glutarate were found to perform best, delivering high yields for all proteins tested, with preserved selectivity of 15N-Glu labelling. Assessment of amino-transferase activity by combinatorial 15N-labelling revealed that glutarate and N-acetyl-L-glutamate suppress the transfer of the 15N-alpha-amino groups between amino acids less well than the conventional L-Glu buffer. On balance, the glutarate buffer appears most suitable for the preparation of samples containing 15N-L-Glu while the conventional L-Glu buffer is advantageous for all other samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinying Jia
- Research School of Chemistry, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
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