1
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Hegde TR, Rufus OO, Lee J, Hong SH. Optimizing Cell-Free Protein Synthesis for Antimicrobial Protein Production. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2720:3-16. [PMID: 37775654 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3469-1_1] [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] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis provides a flexible platform for the production of difficult-to-express proteins, because maintaining cell viability is unnecessary. The antimicrobial proteins known as bacteriocins have great potential for development as antibiotic alternatives. Here, we describe detailed protocols for producing and characterizing colicins-antimicrobial proteins that are produced by Escherichia coli hosts and inactivate nonhost E. coli strains. Active colicins can be produced with lysates containing molecular chaperones and coproduction of immunity proteins in cell-free protein synthesis reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ogechi Okocha Rufus
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Joongoo Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
| | - Seok Hoon Hong
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA
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2
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Misorin AK, Chernyshova DO, Karbyshev MS. State-of-the-Art Approaches to Heterologous Expression of Bispecific Antibodies Targeting Solid Tumors. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2023; 88:1215-1231. [PMID: 37770390 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923090031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) are some of the most promising biotherapeutics due to the versatility provided by their structure and functional features. bsAbs simultaneously bind two antigens or two epitopes on the same antigen. Moreover, they are capable of directing immune effector cells to cancer cells and delivering various compounds (radionuclides, toxins, and immunologic agents) to the target cells, thus offering a broad spectrum of clinical applications. Current review is focused on the technologies used in bsAb engineering, current progress and prospects of these antibodies, and selection of various heterologous expression systems for bsAb production. We also discuss the platforms development of bsAbs for the therapy of solid tumors.
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3
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Liu J, Hu Y, Gu W, Lan H, Zhang Z, Jiang L, Xu X. Research progress on the application of cell-free synthesis systems for enzymatic processes. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2023; 43:938-955. [PMID: 35994247 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2022.2090314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Cell-free synthesis systems can complete the transcription and translation process in vitro to produce complex proteins that are difficult to be expressed in traditional cell-based systems. Such systems also can be used for the assembly of efficient localized multienzyme cascades to synthesize products that are toxic to cells. Cell-free synthesis systems provide a simpler and faster engineering solution than living cells, allowing unprecedented design freedom. This paper reviews the latest progress on the application of cell-free synthesis systems in the field of enzymatic catalysis, including cell-free protein synthesis and cell-free metabolic engineering. In cell-free protein synthesis: complex proteins, toxic proteins, membrane proteins, and artificial proteins containing non-natural amino acids can be easily synthesized by directly controlling the reaction conditions in the cell-free system. In cell-free metabolic engineering, the synthesis of desired products can be made more specific and efficient by designing metabolic pathways and screening biocatalysts based on purified enzymes or crude extracts. Through the combination of cell-free synthesis systems and emerging technologies, such as: synthetic biology, microfluidic control, cofactor regeneration, and artificial scaffolds, we will be able to build increasingly complex biomolecule systems. In the next few years, these technologies are expected to mature and reach industrialization, providing innovative platforms for a wide range of biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yongqi Hu
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wanyi Gu
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haiquan Lan
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhidong Zhang
- Institute of Microbiology, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Ling Jiang
- College of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xian Xu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
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4
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Pandey Y, Dondapati SK, Kubick S. Enriched cell-free and cell-based native membrane derived vesicles (nMV) enabling rapid in-vitro electrophysiological analysis of the voltage-gated sodium channel 1.5. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2023; 1865:184144. [PMID: 36889502 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2023.184144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Here, we demonstrate the utility of native membrane derived vesicles (nMVs) as tools for expeditious electrophysiological analysis of membrane proteins. We used a cell-free (CF) and a cell-based (CB) approach for preparing protein-enriched nMVs. We utilized the Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) lysate-based cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system to enrich ER-derived microsomes in the lysate with the primary human cardiac voltage-gated sodium channel 1.5 (hNaV1.5; SCN5A) in 3 h. Subsequently, CB-nMVs were isolated from fractions of nitrogen-cavitated CHO cells overexpressing the hNaV1.5. In an integrative approach, nMVs were micro-transplanted into Xenopus laevis oocytes. CB-nMVs expressed native lidocaine-sensitive hNaV1.5 currents within 24 h; CF-nMVs did not elicit any response. Both the CB- and CF-nMV preparations evoked single-channel activity on the planar lipid bilayer while retaining sensitivity to lidocaine application. Our findings suggest a high usability of the quick-synthesis CF-nMVs and maintenance-free CB-nMVs as ready-to-use tools for in-vitro analysis of electrogenic membrane proteins and large, voltage-gated ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogesh Pandey
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany; Institut für Biochemie und Biologie, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476 Potsdam OT Golm, Germany
| | - Srujan Kumar Dondapati
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany; Technische Universität Berlin, Institute of Biotechnology, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany; Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Faculty of Health Science, Joint Faculty of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, the Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and the University of Potsdam, Germany
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5
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Cell-free protein synthesis systems for vaccine design and production. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 79:102888. [PMID: 36641905 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Vaccines are vital for protection against existing and emergent diseases. Current vaccine production strategies are limited by long production times, risky viral material, weak immunogenicity, and poor stability, ultimately restricting the safe or rapid production of vaccines for widespread utilization. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems, which use extracted transcriptional and translational machinery from cells, are promising tools for vaccine production because they can rapidly produce proteins without the constraints of living cells, have a highly optimizable open system, and can be used for on-demand biomanufacturing. Here, we review how CFPS systems have been explored for the production of subunit, conjugate, virus-like particle (VLP), and membrane-augmented vaccines and as a tool in vaccine design. We also discuss efforts to address potential limitations with CFPS such as the presence of endotoxins, poor protein folding, reaction stability, and glycosylation to enable promising future vaccine design and production.
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6
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Kim KJ, Lee SJ, Kim DM. The Use of Cell-free Protein Synthesis to Push the Boundaries of Synthetic Biology. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2023; 28:1-7. [PMID: 36687336 PMCID: PMC9840425 DOI: 10.1007/s12257-022-0279-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis is emerging as a powerful tool to accelerate the progress of synthetic biology. Notably, cell-free systems that harness extracted synthetic machinery of cells can address many of the issues associated with the complexity and variability of living systems. In particular, cell-free systems can be programmed with various configurations of genetic information, providing great flexibility and accessibility to the field of synthetic biology. Empowered by recent progress, cell-free systems are now evolving into artificial biological systems that can be tailored for various applications, including on-demand biomanufacturing, diagnostics, and new materials design. Here, we review the key developments related to cell-free protein synthesis systems, and discuss the future directions of these promising technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyu Jae Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134 Korea
| | - So-Jeong Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134 Korea
| | - Dong-Myung Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134 Korea
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7
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Tang C, Wang L, Zang L, Wang Q, Qi D, Dai Z. On-demand biomanufacturing through synthetic biology approach. Mater Today Bio 2022; 18:100518. [PMID: 36636637 PMCID: PMC9830231 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Biopharmaceuticals including protein therapeutics, engineered protein-based vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, are currently the mainstay products of the biotechnology industry. However, the need for specialized equipment and refrigeration during production and distribution poses challenges for the delivery of these technologies to the field and low-resource area. With the development of synthetic biology, multiple studies rewire the cell-free system or living cells to impact the portable, on-site and on-demand manufacturing of biomolecules. Here, we review these efforts and suggest future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenwang Tang
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage; National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Materials Synthetic Biology Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Lei Zang
- Materials Synthetic Biology Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Qing Wang
- Materials Synthetic Biology Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Dianpeng Qi
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage; National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Synthesis, Transformation and Separation of Extreme Environmental Nutrients, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China,Corresponding author.
| | - Zhuojun Dai
- Materials Synthetic Biology Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China,Corresponding author.
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8
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Wu SY, Wu FG, Chen X. Antibody-Incorporated Nanomedicines for Cancer Therapy. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2109210. [PMID: 35142395 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202109210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Antibody-based cancer therapy, one of the most significant therapeutic strategies, has achieved considerable success and progress over the past decades. Nevertheless, obstacles including limited tumor penetration, short circulation half-lives, undesired immunogenicity, and off-target side effects remain to be overcome for the antibody-based cancer treatment. Owing to the rapid development of nanotechnology, antibody-containing nanomedicines that have been extensively explored to overcome these obstacles have already demonstrated enhanced anticancer efficacy and clinical translation potential. This review intends to offer an overview of the advancements of antibody-incorporated nanoparticulate systems in cancer treatment, together with the nontrivial challenges faced by these next-generation nanomedicines. Diverse strategies of antibody immobilization, formats of antibodies, types of cancer-associated antigens, and anticancer mechanisms of antibody-containing nanomedicines are provided and discussed in this review, with an emphasis on the latest applications. The current limitations and future research directions on antibody-containing nanomedicines are also discussed from different perspectives to provide new insights into the construction of anticancer nanomedicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun-Yu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 2 Sipailou Road, Nanjing, 210096, P. R. China
| | - Fu-Gen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 2 Sipailou Road, Nanjing, 210096, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119077, Singapore
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9
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Wei DX, Zhang XW. Biosynthesis, Bioactivity, Biosafety and Applications of Antimicrobial Peptides for Human Health. BIOSAFETY AND HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2022.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
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10
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Manteca A, Gadea A, Van Assche D, Cossard P, Gillard-Bocquet M, Beneyton T, Innis CA, Baret JC. Directed Evolution in Drops: Molecular Aspects and Applications. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:2772-2783. [PMID: 34677942 PMCID: PMC8609573 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The process of optimizing the properties of biological molecules is paramount for many industrial and medical applications. Directed evolution is a powerful technique for modifying and improving biomolecules such as proteins or nucleic acids (DNA or RNA). Mimicking the mechanism of natural evolution, one can enhance a desired property by applying a suitable selection pressure and sorting improved variants. Droplet-based microfluidic systems offer a high-throughput solution to this approach by helping to overcome the limiting screening steps and allowing the analysis of variants within increasingly complex libraries. Here, we review cases where successful evolution of biomolecules was achieved using droplet-based microfluidics, focusing on the molecular processes involved and the incorporation of microfluidics to the workflow. We highlight the advantages and limitations of these microfluidic systems compared to low-throughput methods and show how the integration of these systems into directed evolution workflows can open new avenues to discover or improve biomolecules according to user-defined conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aitor Manteca
- Univ.
Bordeaux, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche
Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ARNA,
U1212, UMR 5320, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Alejandra Gadea
- Univ.
Bordeaux, CNRS, CRPP, UMR 5031, F-33610, Pessac, France
| | | | - Pauline Cossard
- Univ.
Bordeaux, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche
Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ARNA,
U1212, UMR 5320, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Mélanie Gillard-Bocquet
- Univ.
Bordeaux, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche
Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ARNA,
U1212, UMR 5320, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Thomas Beneyton
- Univ.
Bordeaux, CNRS, CRPP, UMR 5031, F-33610, Pessac, France
| | - C. Axel Innis
- Univ.
Bordeaux, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche
Médicale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ARNA,
U1212, UMR 5320, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Baret
- Univ.
Bordeaux, CNRS, CRPP, UMR 5031, F-33610, Pessac, France
- Institut
Universitaire de France, F-75231 Paris, France
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11
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Park YJ, Kim DM. Production of Recombinant Horseradish Peroxidase in an Engineered Cell-free Protein Synthesis System. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:778496. [PMID: 34778239 PMCID: PMC8579056 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.778496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the main advantages of a cell-free synthesis system is that the synthetic machinery of cells can be modularized and re-assembled for desired purposes. In this study, we attempted to combine the translational activity of Escherichia coli extract with a heme synthesis pathway for the functional production of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). We first optimized the reaction conditions and the sequence of template DNA to enhance protein expression and folding. The reaction mixture was then supplemented with 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase to facilitate co-synthesis of the heme prosthetic group from glucose. Combining the different synthetic modules required for protein synthesis and cofactor generation led to successful production of functional HRP in a cell-free synthesis system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jin Park
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Dong-Myung Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
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12
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Dudley QM, Cai YM, Kallam K, Debreyne H, Carrasco Lopez JA, Patron NJ. Biofoundry-assisted expression and characterization of plant proteins. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2021; 6:ysab029. [PMID: 34693026 PMCID: PMC8529701 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysab029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Many goals in synthetic biology, including the elucidation and refactoring of biosynthetic pathways and the engineering of regulatory circuits and networks, require knowledge of protein function. In plants, the prevalence of large gene families means it can be particularly challenging to link specific functions to individual proteins. However, protein characterization has remained a technical bottleneck, often requiring significant effort to optimize expression and purification protocols. To leverage the ability of biofoundries to accelerate design-built-test-learn cycles, we present a workflow for automated DNA assembly and cell-free expression of plant proteins that accelerates optimization and enables rapid screening of enzyme activity. First, we developed a phytobrick-compatible Golden Gate DNA assembly toolbox containing plasmid acceptors for cell-free expression using Escherichia coli or wheat germ lysates as well as a set of N- and C-terminal tag parts for detection, purification and improved expression/folding. We next optimized automated assembly of miniaturized cell-free reactions using an acoustic liquid handling platform and then compared tag configurations to identify those that increase expression. We additionally developed a luciferase-based system for rapid quantification that requires a minimal 11-amino acid tag and demonstrate facile removal of tags following synthesis. Finally, we show that several functional assays can be performed with cell-free protein synthesis reactions without the need for protein purification. Together, the combination of automated assembly of DNA parts and cell-free expression reactions should significantly increase the throughput of experiments to test and understand plant protein function and enable the direct reuse of DNA parts in downstream plant engineering workflows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin M Dudley
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk UK
| | - Yao-Min Cai
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk UK
| | - Kalyani Kallam
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk UK
| | - Hubert Debreyne
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk UK
| | | | - Nicola J Patron
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk UK
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13
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Huleani S, Roberts MR, Beales L, Papaioannou EH. Escherichia coli as an antibody expression host for the production of diagnostic proteins: significance and expression. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2021; 42:756-773. [PMID: 34470557 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2021.1967871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
This review article concerns the production of recombinant antibody fragments for applications mainly in the diagnostic sector. The so-called "point of care diagnostics" is very important for timely diagnosis and treatment, thus being able to save lives and resources. There is intense pressure for more accurate and less expensive rapid diagnostic tests, with a value preferably <$1. Thus, the large-scale cost-effective production of recombinant antibodies is vital. The importance of Escherichia coli toward the production of inexpensive rapid tests will be explained in this review paper. Details about the different strains of E. coli, the strategies used for the insertion and the expression of recombinant proteins, and the challenges that still exist are provided. Afterward, the importance of the expression scale and culture parameters in the final yield of the antibodies are examined. From this analysis, it appears that for good yields of recombinant antibodies, aside from appropriate gene transfer and expression, the culturing parameters are of paramount importance. Larger scale production is more favorable, mainly due to the higher cell densities that can be achieved. Yields of functional Fab fragments in the range of 10-20 mg/L are considered good in shake flasks, whereas in bioreactors can be up to 1-2 g/L. An amount of 10-500 mg of such antibody per million rapid tests is required. Despite the substantial importance of the production of the antibodies and their fragments, their downstream processing should be appropriately considered from the beginning for achieving the target value of the final rapid diagnostic tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergiu Huleani
- Engineering Building, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
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14
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Pereira JM, Vieira M, Santos SM. Step-by-step design of proteins for small molecule interaction: A review on recent milestones. Protein Sci 2021; 30:1502-1520. [PMID: 33934427 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Protein design is the field of synthetic biology that aims at developing de novo custom-made proteins and peptides for specific applications. Despite exploring an ambitious goal, recent computational advances in both hardware and software technologies have paved the way to high-throughput screening and detailed design of novel folds and improved functionalities. Modern advances in the field of protein design for small molecule targeting are described in this review, organized in a step-by-step fashion: from the conception of a new or upgraded active binding site, to scaffold design, sequence optimization, and experimental expression of the custom protein. In each step, contemporary examples are described, and state-of-the-art software is briefly explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Pereira
- CICECO & Departamento de Química, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Maria Vieira
- CICECO & Departamento de Química, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sérgio M Santos
- CICECO & Departamento de Química, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
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15
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Cell-Free Expression of a Plant Membrane Protein BrPT2 From Boesenbergia Rotunda. Mol Biotechnol 2021; 63:316-326. [PMID: 33565047 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-021-00304-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Prenylation of aromatic natural products by membrane-bound prenyltransferases (PTs) is an important biosynthesis step of many bioactive compounds. At present, only a few plant flavonoid-related PT genes have been functionally characterized, mainly due to the difficulties of expressing these membrane proteins. Rapid and effective methods to produce functional plant membrane proteins are thus indispensable. Here, we evaluated expression systems through cell-based and cell-free approaches to express Boesenbergia rotunda BrPT2 encoding a membrane-bound prenyltransferase. We attempted to express BrPT2 in Escherichia coli and tobacco plants but failed to detect this protein using the Western-blot technique, whereas an intact single band of 43 kDa was detected when BrPT2 was expressed using a cell-free protein synthesis system (PURE). Under in vitro enzymatic condition, the synthesized BrPT2 successfully catalyzed pinostrobin chalcone to pinostrobin. Molecular docking analysis showed that pinostrobin chalcone interacts with BrPT2 at two cavities: (1) the main binding site at the central cavity and (2) the allosteric binding site located away from the central cavity. Our findings suggest that cell-free protein synthesis could be an alternative for rapid production of valuable difficult-to-express membrane proteins.
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16
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Karbalaei-Heidari HR, Budisa N. Combating Antimicrobial Resistance With New-To-Nature Lanthipeptides Created by Genetic Code Expansion. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:590522. [PMID: 33250877 PMCID: PMC7674664 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.590522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the rapid emergence of multi-resistant bacterial strains in recent decades, the commercially available effective antibiotics are becoming increasingly limited. On the other hand, widespread antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) such as the lantibiotic nisin has been used worldwide for more than 40 years without the appearance of significant bacterial resistance. Lantibiotics are ribosomally synthesized antimicrobials generated by posttranslational modifications. Their biotechnological production is of particular interest to redesign natural scaffolds improving their pharmaceutical properties, which has great potential for therapeutic use in human medicine and other areas. However, conventional protein engineering methods are limited to 20 canonical amino acids prescribed by the genetic code. Therefore, the expansion of the genetic code as the most advanced approach in Synthetic Biology allows the addition of new amino acid building blocks (non-canonical amino acids, ncAAs) during protein translation. We now have solid proof-of-principle evidence that bioexpression with these novel building blocks enabled lantibiotics with chemical properties transcending those produced by natural evolution. The unique scaffolds with novel structural and functional properties are the result of this bioengineering. Here we will critically examine and evaluate the use of the expanded genetic code and its alternatives in lantibiotics research over the last 7 years. We anticipate that Synthetic Biology, using engineered lantibiotics and even more complex scaffolds will be a promising tool to address an urgent problem of antibiotic resistance, especially in a class of multi-drug resistant microbes known as superbugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Reza Karbalaei-Heidari
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Institute of Chemistry, Technical University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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17
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Colant N, Melinek B, Teneb J, Goldrick S, Rosenberg W, Frank S, Bracewell DG. A rational approach to improving titer in Escherichia coli-based cell-free protein synthesis reactions. Biotechnol Prog 2020; 37:e3062. [PMID: 32761750 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.3062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is an established method for rapid recombinant protein production. Advantages like short synthesis times and an open reaction environment make CFPS a desirable platform for new and difficult-to-express products. Most recently, interest has grown in using the technology to make larger amounts of material. This has been driven through a variety of reasons from making site specific antibody drug conjugates, to emergency response, to the safe manufacture of toxic biological products. We therefore need robust methods to determine the appropriate reaction conditions for product expression in CFPS. Here we propose a process development strategy for Escherichia coli lysate-based CFPS reactions that can be completed in as little as 48 hr. We observed the most dramatic increases in titer were due to the E. coli strain for the cell extract. Therefore, we recommend identifying a high-producing cell extract for the product of interest as a first step. Next, we manipulated the plasmid concentration, amount of extract, temperature, concentrated reaction mix pH levels, and length of reaction. The influence of these process parameters on titer was evaluated through multivariate data analysis. The process parameters with the highest impact on titer were subsequently included in a design of experiments to determine the conditions that increased titer the most in the design space. This proposed process development strategy resulted in superfolder green fluorescent protein titers of 0.686 g/L, a 38% improvement on the standard operating conditions, and hepatitis B core antigen titers of 0.386 g/L, a 190% improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelle Colant
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Beatrice Melinek
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jaime Teneb
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Stephen Goldrick
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - William Rosenberg
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Division of Medicine, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
| | - Stefanie Frank
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Daniel G Bracewell
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
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18
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Kightlinger W, Warfel KF, DeLisa MP, Jewett MC. Synthetic Glycobiology: Parts, Systems, and Applications. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1534-1562. [PMID: 32526139 PMCID: PMC7372563 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Protein glycosylation, the attachment of sugars to amino acid side chains, can endow proteins with a wide variety of properties of great interest to the engineering biology community. However, natural glycosylation systems are limited in the diversity of glycoproteins they can synthesize, the scale at which they can be harnessed for biotechnology, and the homogeneity of glycoprotein structures they can produce. Here we provide an overview of the emerging field of synthetic glycobiology, the application of synthetic biology tools and design principles to better understand and engineer glycosylation. Specifically, we focus on how the biosynthetic and analytical tools of synthetic biology have been used to redesign glycosylation systems to obtain defined glycosylation structures on proteins for diverse applications in medicine, materials, and diagnostics. We review the key biological parts available to synthetic biologists interested in engineering glycoproteins to solve compelling problems in glycoscience, describe recent efforts to construct synthetic glycoprotein synthesis systems, and outline exemplary applications as well as new opportunities in this emerging space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weston Kightlinger
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Tech E136, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Center
for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Tech B486, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Katherine F. Warfel
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Tech E136, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Center
for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Tech B486, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Matthew P. DeLisa
- Department
of Microbiology, Cornell University, 123 Wing Drive, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
- Robert
Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, 120 Olin Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
- Nancy
E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Weill Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Michael C. Jewett
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Tech E136, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Center
for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Tech B486, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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19
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Zhang L, Liu WQ, Li J. Establishing a Eukaryotic Pichia pastoris Cell-Free Protein Synthesis System. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:536. [PMID: 32626695 PMCID: PMC7314905 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00536] [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: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems have been used to synthesize proteins, prototype genetic elements, manufacture chemicals, and diagnose diseases. These exciting, novel applications lead to a new wave of interest in the development of new CFPS systems that are derived from prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. The eukaryotic Pichia pastoris is emerging as a robust chassis host for recombinant protein production. To expand the current CFPS repertoire, we report here the development and optimization of a eukaryotic CFPS system, which is derived from a protease-deficient strain P. pastoris SMD1163. By developing a simple crude extract preparation protocol and optimizing CFPS reaction conditions, we were able to achieve superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) yields of 50.16 ± 7.49 μg/ml in 5 h batch reactions. Our newly developed P. pastoris CFPS system fits to the range of the productivity achieved by other eukaryotic CFPS platforms, normally ranging from several to tens of micrograms protein per milliliter in batch mode reactions. Looking forward, we believe that our P. pastoris CFPS system will not only expand the CFPS toolbox for synthetic biology applications, but also provide a novel platform for cost-effective, high-yielding production of complex proteins that need post-translational modification and functionalization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jian Li
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
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20
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Abstract
Proteins are the main source of drug targets and some of them possess therapeutic potential themselves. Among them, membrane proteins constitute approximately 50% of the major drug targets. In the drug discovery pipeline, rapid methods for producing different classes of proteins in a simple manner with high quality are important for structural and functional analysis. Cell-free systems are emerging as an attractive alternative for the production of proteins due to their flexible nature without any cell membrane constraints. In a bioproduction context, open systems based on cell lysates derived from different sources, and with batch-to-batch consistency, have acted as a catalyst for cell-free synthesis of target proteins. Most importantly, proteins can be processed for downstream applications like purification and functional analysis without the necessity of transfection, selection, and expansion of clones. In the last 5 years, there has been an increased availability of new cell-free lysates derived from multiple organisms, and their use for the synthesis of a diverse range of proteins. Despite this progress, major challenges still exist in terms of scalability, cost effectiveness, protein folding, and functionality. In this review, we present an overview of different cell-free systems derived from diverse sources and their application in the production of a wide spectrum of proteins. Further, this article discusses some recent progress in cell-free systems derived from Chinese hamster ovary and Sf21 lysates containing endogenous translocationally active microsomes for the synthesis of membrane proteins. We particularly highlight the usage of internal ribosomal entry site sequences for more efficient protein production, and also the significance of site-specific incorporation of non-canonical amino acids for labeling applications and creation of antibody drug conjugates using cell-free systems. We also discuss strategies to overcome the major challenges involved in commercializing cell-free platforms from a laboratory level for future drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srujan Kumar Dondapati
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Marlitt Stech
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Anne Zemella
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Joint Faculty of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, The Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and the University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
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21
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Ayoubi-Joshaghani MH, Dianat-Moghadam H, Seidi K, Jahanban-Esfahalan A, Zare P, Jahanban-Esfahlan R. Cell-free protein synthesis: The transition from batch reactions to minimal cells and microfluidic devices. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 117:1204-1229. [PMID: 31840797 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 11/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Thanks to the synthetic biology, the laborious and restrictive procedure for producing a target protein in living microorganisms by biotechnological approaches can now experience a robust, pliant yet efficient alternative. The new system combined with lab-on-chip microfluidic devices and nanotechnology offers a tremendous potential envisioning novel cell-free formats such as DNA brushes, hydrogels, vesicular particles, droplets, as well as solid surfaces. Acting as robust microreactors/microcompartments/minimal cells, the new platforms can be tuned to perform various tasks in a parallel and integrated manner encompassing gene expression, protein synthesis, purification, detection, and finally enabling cell-cell signaling to bring a collective cell behavior, such as directing differentiation process, characteristics of higher order entities, and beyond. In this review, we issue an update on recent cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) formats. Furthermore, the latest advances and applications of CFPS for synthetic biology and biotechnology are highlighted. In the end, contemporary challenges and future opportunities of CFPS systems are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Khaled Seidi
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Peyman Zare
- Faculty of Medicine, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rana Jahanban-Esfahlan
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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22
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Khambhati K, Bhattacharjee G, Gohil N, Braddick D, Kulkarni V, Singh V. Exploring the Potential of Cell-Free Protein Synthesis for Extending the Abilities of Biological Systems. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2019; 7:248. [PMID: 31681738 PMCID: PMC6797904 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system is a simple, rapid, and sensitive tool that is devoid of membrane-bound barriers, yet contains all the mandatory substrates, biomolecules, and machineries required for the synthesis of the desired proteins. It has the potential to overcome loopholes in the current in vivo production systems and is a promising tool in both basic and applied scientific research. It facilitates a simplified organization of desired experiments with a variety of reaction conditions, making CFPS a powerful tool in biological research. It has been used for the expansion of genetic code, assembly of viruses, and in metabolic engineering for production of toxic and complex proteins. Subsequently, CFPS systems have emerged as potent technology for high-throughput production of membrane proteins, enzymes, and therapeutics. The present review highlights the recent advances and uses of CFPS systems in biomedical, therapeutic, and biotechnological applications. Additionally, we highlight possible solutions to the potential biosafety issues that may be encountered while using CFPS technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khushal Khambhati
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Gargi Bhattacharjee
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Nisarg Gohil
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, India
| | | | - Vishwesh Kulkarni
- School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Vijai Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, India
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23
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Gao W, Cho E, Liu Y, Lu Y. Advances and Challenges in Cell-Free Incorporation of Unnatural Amino Acids Into Proteins. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:611. [PMID: 31191324 PMCID: PMC6549004 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Incorporation of unnatural amino acids (UNAAs) into proteins currently is an active biological research area for various fundamental and applied science. In this context, cell-free synthetic biology (CFSB) has been developed and recognized as a robust testing and biomanufacturing platform for highly efficient UNAA incorporation. It enables the orchestration of unnatural biological machinery toward an exclusive user-defined objective of unnatural protein synthesis. This review aims to overview the principles of cell-free unnatural protein synthesis (CFUPS) systems, their advantages, different UNAA incorporation approaches, and recent achievements. These have catalyzed cutting-edge research and diverse emerging applications. Especially, present challenges and future trends are focused and discussed. With the development of CFSB and the fusion with other advanced next-generation technologies, CFUPS systems would explicitly deliver their values for biopharmaceutical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Gao
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- College of Life Science, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China
| | - Eunhee Cho
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yingying Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- College of Life Science, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Key Lab of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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24
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Jin X, Kightlinger W, Hong SH. Optimizing Cell-Free Protein Synthesis for Increased Yield and Activity of Colicins. Methods Protoc 2019; 2:28. [PMID: 36358105 PMCID: PMC6632115 DOI: 10.3390/mps2020028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Colicins are antimicrobial proteins produced by Escherichia coli that hold great promise as viable complements or alternatives to antibiotics. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is a useful production platform for toxic proteins because it eliminates the need to maintain cell viability, a common problem in cell-based production. Previously, we demonstrated that colicins produced by CFPS based on crude Escherichia coli lysates are effective in eradicating antibiotic-tolerant bacteria known as persisters. However, we also found that some colicins have poor solubility or low cell-killing activity. In this study, we improved the solubility of colicin M from 16% to nearly 100% by producing it in chaperone-enriched E. coli extracts, resulting in enhanced cell-killing activity. We also improved the cytotoxicity of colicin E3 by adding or co-expressing the E3 immunity protein during the CFPS reaction, suggesting that the E3 immunity protein enhances colicin E3 activity in addition to protecting the host strain. Finally, we confirmed our previous finding that active colicins can be rapidly synthesized by observing colicin E1 production over time in CFPS. Within three hours of CFPS incubation, colicin E1 reached its maximum production yield and maintained high cytotoxicity during longer incubations up to 20 h. Taken together, our findings indicate that colicin production can be easily optimized for improved solubility and activity using the CFPS platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Jin
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616, USA;
| | - Weston Kightlinger
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA;
| | - Seok Hoon Hong
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616, USA;
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25
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Jin X, Park OJ, Hong SH. Incorporation of non-standard amino acids into proteins: challenges, recent achievements, and emerging applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:2947-2958. [PMID: 30790000 PMCID: PMC6449208 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-09690-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The natural genetic code only allows for 20 standard amino acids in protein translation, but genetic code reprogramming enables the incorporation of non-standard amino acids (NSAAs). Proteins containing NSAAs provide enhanced or novel properties and open diverse applications. With increased attention to the recent advancements in synthetic biology, various improved and novel methods have been developed to incorporate single and multiple distinct NSAAs into proteins. However, various challenges remain in regard to NSAA incorporation, such as low yield and misincorporation. In this review, we summarize the recent efforts to improve NSAA incorporation by utilizing orthogonal translational system optimization, cell-free protein synthesis, genomically recoded organisms, artificial codon boxes, quadruplet codons, and orthogonal ribosomes, before closing with a discussion of the emerging applications of NSAA incorporation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Jin
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, 60616, USA
| | - Oh-Jin Park
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, 60616, USA
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Yanbian University of Science and Technology, Yanji, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Seok Hoon Hong
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, 60616, USA.
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26
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Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) has become an established tool for rapid protein synthesis in order to accelerate the discovery of new enzymes and the development of proteins with improved characteristics. Over the past years, progress in CFPS system preparation has been made towards simplification, and many applications have been developed with regard to tailor-made solutions for specific purposes. In this review, various preparation methods of CFPS systems are compared and the significance of individual supplements is assessed. The recent applications of CFPS are summarized and the potential for biocatalyst development discussed. One of the central features is the high-throughput synthesis of protein variants, which enables sophisticated approaches for rapid prototyping of enzymes. These applications demonstrate the contribution of CFPS to enhance enzyme functionalities and the complementation to in vivo protein synthesis. However, there are different issues to be addressed, such as the low predictability of CFPS performance and transferability to in vivo protein synthesis. Nevertheless, the usage of CFPS for high-throughput enzyme screening has been proven to be an efficient method to discover novel biocatalysts and improved enzyme variants.
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