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Huang M, Park J, Seo J, Ko S, Yang YH, Lee Y, Kim HJ, Lee BS, Lee YS, Ko BJ, Jung ST, Park D, Yoo TH, Kim CH. An epidermal growth factor receptor-targeting immunotoxin based on IgG shows potent antitumor activity against head and neck cancer. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23759. [PMID: 38949635 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301968r] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an important target for cancer therapies. Many head and neck cancer (HNC) cells have been reported to overexpress EGFR; therefore, anti-EGFR therapies have been attempted in patients with HNC. However, its clinical efficacy is limited owing to the development of drug resistance. In this study, we developed an EGFR-targeting immunotoxin consisting of a clinically proven anti-EGFR IgG (cetuximab; CTX) and a toxin fragment (LR-LO10) derived from Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE) using a novel site-specific conjugation technology (peptide-directed photo-crosslinking reaction), as an alternative option. The immunotoxin (CTX-LR-LO10) showed specific binding to EGFR and properties of a typical IgG, such as stability, interactions with receptors of immune cells, and pharmacokinetics, and inhibited protein synthesis via modification of elongation factor-2. Treatment of EGFR-positive HNC cells with the immunotoxin resulted in apoptotic cell death and the inhibition of cell migration and invasion. The efficacy of CTX-LR-LO10 was evaluated in xenograft mouse models, and the immunotoxin exhibited much stronger tumor suppression than CTX or LR-LO10. Transcriptome analyses revealed that the immunotoxins elicited immune responses and altered the expression of genes related to its mechanisms of action. These results support the notion that CTX-LR-LO10 may serve as a new therapeutic agent targeting EGFR-positive cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Huang
- Department of Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jisoo Park
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jina Seo
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanghwan Ko
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Hee Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeaji Lee
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo Jeong Kim
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Bok-Soon Lee
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Sang Lee
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Byoung Joon Ko
- School of Biopharmaceutical and Medical Sciences, Sungshin Women's University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Teak Jung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Human Genetics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Deachan Park
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Advanced College of Bio-convergence Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hyeon Yoo
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Advanced College of Bio-convergence Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul-Ho Kim
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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2
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Knödler M, Frank K, Kerpen L, Buyel JF. Design, optimization, production and activity testing of recombinant immunotoxins expressed in plants and plant cells for the treatment of monocytic leukemia. Bioengineered 2023; 14:2244235. [PMID: 37598369 PMCID: PMC10444015 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2023.2244235] [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: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) can improve therapeutic indices compared to plain monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). However, ADC synthesis is complex because the components are produced separately in CHO cells (mAb) and often by chemical synthesis (drug). They are individually purified, coupled, and then the ADC is purified, increasing production costs compared to regular mAbs. In contrast, it is easier to produce recombinant fusion proteins consisting of an antibody derivative, linker and proteinaceous toxin, i.e. a recombinant immunotoxin (RIT). Plants are capable of the post-translational modifications needed for functional antibodies and can also express active protein toxins such as the recombinant mistletoe lectin viscumin, which is not possible in prokaryotes and mammalian cells respectively. Here, we used Nicotiana benthamiana and N. tabacum plants as well as tobacco BY-2 cell-based plant cell packs (PCPs) to produce effective RITs targeting CD64 as required for the treatment of myelomonocytic leukemia. We compared RITs with different subcellular targeting signals, linkers, and proteinaceous toxins. The accumulation of selected candidates was improved to ~ 40 mg kg-1 wet biomass using a design of experiments approach, and corresponding proteins were isolated with a purity of ~ 80% using an optimized affinity chromatography method with an overall yield of ~ 84%. One anti-CD64 targeted viscumin-based drug candidate was characterized in terms of storage stability and cytotoxicity test in vitro using human myelomonocytic leukemia cell lines. We identified bottlenecks in the plant-based expression platform that require further improvement and assessed critical process parameters that should be considered during process development for plant-made RITs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Knödler
- Bioprocess Engineering, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Katharina Frank
- Bioprocess Engineering, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lucy Kerpen
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Johannes Felix Buyel
- Bioprocess Engineering, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Aachen, Germany
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Institute of Bioprocess Science and Engineering (IBSE), Vienna, Austria
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3
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Knödler M, Reunious PW, Buyel JF. Risk assessment and bioburden evaluation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transient protein expression in plants using the CaMV35S promoter. BMC Biotechnol 2023; 23:14. [PMID: 37286972 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-023-00782-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Large-scale transient expression of recombinant proteins in plants is increasingly used and requires the multi-liter cultivation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformed with an expression vector, which is often cloned in Escherichia coli first. Depending on the promoter, unintentional activity can occur in both bacteria, which could pose a safety risk to the environment and operators if the protein is toxic. To assess the risk associated with transient expression, we first tested expression vectors containing the CaMV35S promoter known to be active in plants and bacteria, along with controls to measure the accumulation of the corresponding recombinant proteins. We found that, in both bacteria, even the stable model protein DsRed accumulated at levels near the detection limit of the sandwich ELISA (3.8 µg L-1). Higher levels were detected in short cultivations (< 12 h) but never exceeded 10 µg L-1. We determined the abundance of A. tumefaciens throughout the process, including infiltration. We detected few bacteria in the clarified extract and found none after blanching. Finally, we combined protein accumulation and bacterial abundance data with the known effects of toxic proteins to estimate critical exposures for operators. We found that unintended toxin production in bacteria is negligible. Furthermore, the intravenous uptake of multiple milliliters of fermentation broth or infiltration suspension would be required to reach acute toxicity even when handling the most toxic products (LD50 ~ 1 ng kg-1). The unintentional uptake of such quantities is unlikely and we therefore regard transient expression as safe in terms of the bacterial handling procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Knödler
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Forckenbeckstrasse 6, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Paul Winman Reunious
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Forckenbeckstrasse 6, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Johannes Felix Buyel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Forckenbeckstrasse 6, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
- Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Institute of Bioprocess Science and Engineering (IBSE), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria.
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4
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Knödler M, Opdensteinen P, Sankaranarayanan RA, Morgenroth A, Buhl EM, Mottaghy FM, Buyel JF. Simple plant-based production and purification of the assembled human ferritin heavy chain as a nanocarrier for tumor-targeted drug delivery and bioimaging in cancer therapy. Biotechnol Bioeng 2023; 120:1038-1054. [PMID: 36539373 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Nanoparticles are used as carriers for the delivery of drugs and imaging agents. Proteins are safer than synthetic nanocarriers due to their greater biocompatibility and the absence of toxic degradation products. In this context, ferritin has the additional benefit of inherently targeting the membrane receptor transferrin 1, which is overexpressed by most cancer cells. Furthermore, this self-assembling multimeric protein can be loaded with more than 2000 iron atoms, as well as drugs, contrast agents, and other cargos. However, recombinant ferritin currently costs ~3.5 million € g-1 , presumably because the limited number of producers cannot meet demand, making it generally unaffordable as a nanocarrier. Because plants can produce proteins at very-large-scale, we developed a simple, proof-of-concept process for the production of the human ferritin heavy chain by transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. We optimized the protein yields by screening different compartments and 5'-untranslated regions in PCPs, and selected the best-performing construct for production in differentiated plants. We then established a rapid and scalable purification protocol by combining pH and heat treatment before extraction, followed by an ultrafiltration/diafiltration size-based separation process. The optimized process achieved ferritin levels of ~40 mg kg-1 fresh biomass although depth filtration limited product recovery to ~7%. The purity of the recombinant product was >90% at costs ~3% of the current sales price. Our method therefore allows the production of affordable ferritin heavy chain as a carrier for therapeutic and diagnostic agents, which is suitable for further stability and functionality testing in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Knödler
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e. V., Aachen, Germany
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Patrick Opdensteinen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e. V., Aachen, Germany
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Agnieszka Morgenroth
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Eva Miriam Buhl
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Felix M Mottaghy
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes Felix Buyel
- Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Institute of Bioprocess Science and Engineering (IBSE), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
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5
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Targeting the Inside of Cells with Biologicals: Toxin Routes in a Therapeutic Context. BioDrugs 2023; 37:181-203. [PMID: 36729328 PMCID: PMC9893211 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-023-00580-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Numerous toxins translocate to the cytosol in order to fulfil their function. This demonstrates the existence of routes for proteins from the extracellular space to the cytosol. Understanding these routes is relevant to multiple aspects related to therapeutic applications. These include the development of anti-toxin treatments, the potential use of toxins as shuttles for delivering macromolecular cargo to the cytosol or the use of drugs based on toxins. Compared with other strategies for delivery, such as chemicals as carriers for macromolecular delivery or physical methods like electroporation, toxin routes present paths into the cell that potentially cause less damage and can be specifically targeted. The efficiency of delivery via toxin routes is limited. However, low-delivery efficiencies can be entirely sufficient, if delivered cargoes possess an amplification effect or if very few molecules are sufficient for inducing the desired effects. This is known for example from RNA-based vaccines that have been developed during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic as well as for other approved RNA-based drugs, which elicited the desired effect despite their typically low delivery efficiencies. The different mechanisms by which toxins enter cells may have implications for their technological utility. We review the mechanistic principles of the translocation pathway of toxins from the extracellular space to the cytosol, the delivery efficiencies, and therapeutic strategies or applications that exploit toxin routes for intracellular delivery.
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Tumor-specific intracellular delivery: peptide-guided transport of a catalytic toxin. Commun Biol 2023; 6:60. [PMID: 36650239 PMCID: PMC9845330 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04385-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
There continues to be a need for cancer-specific ligands that can deliver a wide variety of therapeutic cargos. Ligands demonstrating both tumor-specificity and the ability to mediate efficient cellular uptake of a therapeutic are critical to expand targeted therapies. We previously reported the selection of a peptide from a peptide library using a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line as the target. Here we optimize our lead peptide by a series of chemical modifications including truncations, N-terminal capping, and changes in valency. The resultant 10 amino acid peptide has an affinity of <40 nM on four different NSCLC cell lines as a monomer and is stable in human serum for >48 h. The peptide rapidly internalizes upon cell binding and traffics to the lysosome. The peptide homes to a tumor in an animal model and is retained up to 72 h. Importantly, we demonstrate that the peptide can deliver the cytotoxic protein saporin specifically to cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, resulting in an effective anticancer agent.
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7
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Reducing the Immunogenicity of Pulchellin A-Chain, Ribosome-Inactivating Protein Type 2, by Computational Protein Engineering for Potential New Immunotoxins. J 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/j6010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulchellin is a plant biotoxin categorized as a type 2 ribosome-inactivating protein (RIPs) which potentially kills cells at very low concentrations. Biotoxins serve as targeting immunotoxins (IT), consisting of antibodies conjugated to toxins. ITs have two independent protein components, a human antibody and a toxin with a bacterial or plant source; therefore, they pose unique setbacks in immunogenicity. To overcome this issue, the engineering of epitopes is one of the beneficial methods to elicit an immunological response. Here, we predicted the tertiary structure of the pulchellin A-chain (PAC) using five common powerful servers and adopted the best model after refining. Then, predicted structure using four distinct computational approaches identified conformational B-cell epitopes. This approach identified some amino acids as a potential for lowering immunogenicity by point mutation. All mutations were then applied to generate a model of pulchellin containing all mutations (so-called PAM). Mutants’ immunogenicity was assessed and compared to the wild type as well as other mutant characteristics, including stability and compactness, were computationally examined in addition to immunogenicity. The findings revealed a reduction in immunogenicity in all mutants and significantly in N146V and R149A. Furthermore, all mutants demonstrated remarkable stability and validity in Molecular Dynamic (MD) simulations. During docking and simulations, the most homologous toxin to pulchellin, Abrin-A was applied as a control. In addition, the toxin candidate containing all mutations (PAM) disclosed a high level of stability, making it a potential model for experimental deployment. In conclusion, by eliminating B-cell epitopes, our computational approach provides a potential less immunogenic IT based on PAC.
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8
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Shi Y, Habibi P, Haq ANU, Saeed M, Gulghutay Amjad N, Khan I. Seed-Based System for Cost-Effective Production of Vaccine Against Chronic Respiratory Disease in Chickens. Mol Biotechnol 2023; 65:570-580. [PMID: 36087216 PMCID: PMC9463513 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-022-00554-5] [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: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The production of vaccines in plant cells, termed plant-made pharmaceuticals or molecular farming, is a promising technology for scalable production. Compared to mammalian cell lines, like Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) or bacterial cells, plants can be grown with less cost on a large scale to make vaccines antigens and therapeutics affordable and accessible worldwide. An innovative application of this alternative system is the production of vaccines in edible tissues that can be consumed orally to deliver protein antigen without any further processing. In this project, we report stable expression of amino acid sequences corresponding to the TM-1 gene of Mycoplasma gallisepticum as a candidate vaccine antigen against Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD) in chickens using wheat seed's tissues as a production host. Molecular and immunoblotting analysis confirmed the ubiquitous expression of a recombinant 41.8-kDa protein with an expression level of 1.03 mg/g dry weight in the endosperm tissues. When orally delivered, the plant-made vaccine was effective in terms of developing antibody response in animal model i.e., chicken without any detectable weight loss. Two doses of orally delivered plant-made TM-1 vaccine candidate elicited the immune response and protective effect against MG virus challenge at the level comparable to commercially available inactivated vaccine against CRD. Our study demonstrates that plant-made vaccines are not only safe but also scalable and cost-effective with prolonged stability at room temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Shi
- Department of Basic and Translational Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Peyman Habibi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Ayesha Naveed Ul Haq
- SA-Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Madiha Saeed
- SA-Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Namra Gulghutay Amjad
- Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Khyber Girls Medical College, KPK, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Imran Khan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
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9
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Rozov SM, Zagorskaya AA, Konstantinov YM, Deineko EV. Three Parts of the Plant Genome: On the Way to Success in the Production of Recombinant Proteins. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:38. [PMID: 36616166 PMCID: PMC9824153 DOI: 10.3390/plants12010038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant proteins are the most important product of current industrial biotechnology. They are indispensable in medicine (for diagnostics and treatment), food and chemical industries, and research. Plant cells combine advantages of the eukaryotic protein production system with simplicity and efficacy of the bacterial one. The use of plants for the production of recombinant proteins is an economically important and promising area that has emerged as an alternative to traditional approaches. This review discusses advantages of plant systems for the expression of recombinant proteins using nuclear, plastid, and mitochondrial genomes. Possibilities, problems, and prospects of modifications of the three parts of the genome in light of obtaining producer plants are examined. Examples of successful use of the nuclear expression platform for production of various biopharmaceuticals, veterinary drugs, and technologically important proteins are described, as are examples of a high yield of recombinant proteins upon modification of the chloroplast genome. Potential utility of plant mitochondria as an expression system for the production of recombinant proteins and its advantages over the nucleus and chloroplasts are substantiated. Although these opportunities have not yet been exploited, potential utility of plant mitochondria as an expression system for the production of recombinant proteins and its advantages over the nucleus and chloroplasts are substantiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey M. Rozov
- Federal Research Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akad. Lavrentieva 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Alla A. Zagorskaya
- Federal Research Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akad. Lavrentieva 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Yuri M. Konstantinov
- Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Lermontova Str. 132, Irkutsk 664033, Russia
| | - Elena V. Deineko
- Federal Research Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akad. Lavrentieva 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
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10
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Krebs SK, Stech M, Jorde F, Rakotoarinoro N, Ramm F, Marinoff S, Bahrke S, Danielczyk A, Wüstenhagen DA, Kubick S. Synthesis of an Anti-CD7 Recombinant Immunotoxin Based on PE24 in CHO and E. coli Cell-Free Systems. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213697. [PMID: 36430170 PMCID: PMC9697001 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant immunotoxins (RITs) are an effective class of agents for targeted therapy in cancer treatment. In this article, we demonstrate the straight-forward production and testing of an anti-CD7 RIT based on PE24 in a prokaryotic and a eukaryotic cell-free system. The prokaryotic cell-free system was derived from Escherichia coli BL21 StarTM (DE3) cells transformed with a plasmid encoding the chaperones groEL/groES. The eukaryotic cell-free system was prepared from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells that leave intact endoplasmic reticulum-derived microsomes in the cell-free reaction mix from which the RIT was extracted. The investigated RIT was built by fusing an anti-CD7 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) with the toxin domain PE24, a shortened variant of Pseudomonas Exotoxin A. The RIT was produced in both cell-free systems and tested for antigen binding against CD7 and cell killing on CD7-positive Jurkat, HSB-2, and ALL-SIL cells. CD7-positive cells were effectively killed by the anti-CD7 scFv-PE24 RIT with an IC50 value of 15 pM to 40 pM for CHO and 42 pM to 156 pM for E. coli cell-free-produced RIT. CD7-negative Raji cells were unaffected by the RIT. Toxin and antibody domain alone did not show cytotoxic effects on either CD7-positive or CD7-negative cells. To our knowledge, this report describes the production of an active RIT in E. coli and CHO cell-free systems for the first time. We provide the proof-of-concept that cell-free protein synthesis allows for on-demand testing of antibody−toxin conjugate activity in a time-efficient workflow without cell lysis or purification required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon K. Krebs
- Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
- Institute for Biotechnology, Technical University of Berlin, Ackerstrasse 76, 13355 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marlitt Stech
- Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Felix Jorde
- Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Nathanaël Rakotoarinoro
- Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Strasse 2 + 4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Franziska Ramm
- Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sophie Marinoff
- Glycotope GmbH, Robert-Roessle-Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sven Bahrke
- Glycotope GmbH, Robert-Roessle-Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Antje Danielczyk
- Glycotope GmbH, Robert-Roessle-Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Doreen A. Wüstenhagen
- Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 6, 14195 Berlin, 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, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
- Correspondence:
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11
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Khoshnood S, Fathizadeh H, Neamati F, Negahdari B, Baindara P, Abdullah MA, Haddadi MH. Bacteria-derived chimeric toxins as potential anticancer agents. Front Oncol 2022; 12:953678. [PMID: 36158673 PMCID: PMC9491211 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.953678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the major causes of death globally, requiring everlasting efforts to develop novel, specific, effective, and safe treatment strategies. Despite advances in recent years, chemotherapy, as the primary treatment for cancer, still faces limitations such as the lack of specificity, drug resistance, and treatment failure. Bacterial toxins have great potential to be used as anticancer agents and can boost the effectiveness of cancer chemotherapeutics. Bacterial toxins exert anticancer effects by affecting the cell cycle and apoptotic pathways and regulating tumorigenesis. Chimeric toxins, which are recombinant derivatives of bacterial toxins, have been developed to address the low specificity of their conventional peers. Through their targeting moieties, chimeric toxins can specifically and effectively detect and kill cancer cells. This review takes a comprehensive look at the anticancer properties of bacteria-derived toxins and discusses their potential applications as therapeutic options for integrative cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Khoshnood
- Clinical Microbiology Research Centre, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Hadis Fathizadeh
- Student Research Committee, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran
| | - Foroogh Neamati
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Babak Negahdari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Piyush Baindara
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Mohd Azmuddin Abdullah
- Department of Toxicology, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam Campus, Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Mohammad Hossein Haddadi
- Clinical Microbiology Research Centre, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
- *Correspondence: Mohammad Hossein Haddadi,
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Konozy EHE, Osman MEFM. Plant lectin: A promising future anti-tumor drug. Biochimie 2022; 202:136-145. [PMID: 35952948 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Since the early discovery of plant lectins at the end of the 19th century, and the finding that they could agglutinate erythrocytes and precipitate glycans from their solutions, many applications and biological roles have been described for these proteins. Later, the observed erythrocytes clumping features were attributed to the lectin-cell surface glycoconjugates recognition. Neoplastic transformation leads to various cellular alterations which impact the growth of the cell and its persistence, among which is the mutation in the outer surface glycosylation signatures. Quite a few lectins have been found to act as excellent biomarkers for cancer diagnosis while some were presented with antiproliferative activity that initiated by lectin binding to the respective glycocalyx receptors. These properties are blocked by the hapten sugar that is competing for the lectin affinity binding site. In vitro investigations of lectin-cancer cell's glycocalyx interactions lead to a series of immunological reactions that result in autophagy or apoptosis of the transformed cells. Mistletoe lectin, an agglutinin purified from the European Viscum album is the first plant lectin employed in the treatment of cancer to enter into the clinical trial phases. The entrapment of lectin in nanoparticles besides other techniques to promote bioavailability and stability have also been recently studied. This review summarizes our up-to-date understanding of the future applications of plant lectins in cancer prognosis and diagnosis. With the provision of many examples of lectins that exhibit anti-neoplastic properties.
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Sanz L, Ibáñez-Pérez R, Guerrero-Ochoa P, Lacadena J, Anel A. Antibody-Based Immunotoxins for Colorectal Cancer Therapy. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1729. [PMID: 34829955 PMCID: PMC8615520 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111729] [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: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are included among the treatment options for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). However, while these mAbs effectively target cancer cells, they may have limited clinical activity. A strategy to improve their therapeutic potential is arming them with a toxic payload. Immunotoxins (ITX) combining the cell-killing ability of a toxin with the specificity of a mAb constitute a promising strategy for CRC therapy. However, several important challenges in optimizing ITX remain, including suboptimal pharmacokinetics and especially the immunogenicity of the toxin moiety. Nonetheless, ongoing research is working to solve these limitations and expand CRC patients' therapeutic armory. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of targets and toxins employed in the design of ITX for CRC and highlight a wide selection of ITX tested in CRC patients as well as preclinical candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sanz
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Biomedical Research Institute, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, 28222 Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Ibáñez-Pérez
- Apoptosis, Immunity and Cancer Group, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS-Aragón), University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (R.I.-P.); (P.G.-O.)
| | - Patricia Guerrero-Ochoa
- Apoptosis, Immunity and Cancer Group, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS-Aragón), University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (R.I.-P.); (P.G.-O.)
| | - Javier Lacadena
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Anel
- Apoptosis, Immunity and Cancer Group, Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS-Aragón), University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (R.I.-P.); (P.G.-O.)
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14
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Engineered antibody fusion proteins for targeted disease therapy. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2021; 42:1064-1081. [PMID: 34706833 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Since the FDA approval of the first therapeutic antibody 35 years ago, antibody-based products have gained prominence in the pharmaceutical market. Building on the early successes of monoclonal antibodies, more recent efforts have capitalized on the exquisite specificity and/or favorable pharmacokinetic properties of antibodies by developing fusion proteins that enable targeted delivery of therapeutic payloads which are otherwise ineffective when administered systemically. This review focuses on recent engineering and translational advances for therapeutics that genetically fuse antibodies to disease-relevant payloads, including cytokines, toxins, enzymes, neuroprotective agents, and soluble factor traps. With numerous antibody fusion proteins in the clinic and other innovative molecules poised to follow suit, these potent, multifunctional drug candidates promise to be a major player in the therapeutic development landscape for years to come.
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Immunotoxins Immunotherapy against Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Promising Prospect. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13100719. [PMID: 34679012 PMCID: PMC8538445 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13100719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world. Therefore, fighting against such cancer is reasonable. Chemotherapy drugs are sometimes inefficient and often accompanied by undesirable side effects for patients. On the other hand, the emergence of chemoresistant HCC emphasizes the need for a new high-efficiency treatment strategy. Immunotoxins are armed and rigorous targeting agents that can purposefully kill cancer cells. Unlike traditional chemotherapeutics, immunotoxins because of targeted toxicity, insignificant cross-resistance, easy production, and other favorable properties can be ideal candidates against HCC. In this review, the characteristics of proper HCC-specific biomarkers for immunotoxin targeting were dissected. After that, the first to last immunotoxins developed for the treatment of liver cancer were discussed. So, by reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of these immunotoxins, we attempted to provide keynotes for designing an optimal immunotoxin against HCC.
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Illian DN, Hafiz I, Meila O, Utomo ARH, Nuryawan A, Siregar GA, Basyuni M. Current Status, Distribution, and Future Directions of Natural Products against Colorectal Cancer in Indonesia: A Systematic Review. Molecules 2021; 26:4984. [PMID: 34443572 PMCID: PMC8398396 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26164984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2020, an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases and nearly 10 million cancer deaths have occurred worldwide, with colorectal cancer ranking as the third most frequently diagnosed (10.0%). Several attempts have been conducted against cancer, including surgery, radiation, monoclonal antibodies, and chemotherapy. Many people choose natural products as alternatives against cancer. These products will not only help in human life preservation but also work as a source of up-to-date information, leading people away from incorrect information. We discuss the current status, distribution, and future implications of protecting populations with natural products as an alternative against colorectal cancer in Indonesia. Thirty-eight studies were included in this review for data extraction. The distribution of natural products in Indonesia that have potential activity against colorectal cancer cells was predominated by terpenoids, followed by phytosterols, phenolics, alkaloids, and polyisoprenoids. The type of cell line utilized in the cytotoxic activity analysis of natural products was the WiDr cell line, followed by HT-29 cells and HCT-116 cells. This review showed that MTT in vitro assay is a general method used to analyze the cytotoxic activity of a natural product against colorectal cancer cells, followed by other in vitro and in vivo methods. The systematic review provided predictions for several secondary metabolites to be utilized as an alternative treatment against colorectal cancer in Indonesia. It also might be a candidate for a future co-chemotherapy agent in safety, quality, and standardization. In addition, computational methods are being developed to predict the drug-likeness of compounds, thus, drug discovery is already on the road towards electronic research and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didi Nurhadi Illian
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia; (D.N.I.); (O.M.)
| | - Ihsanul Hafiz
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health, Institut Kesehatan Helvetia, Medan 20124, Indonesia;
| | - Okpri Meila
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia; (D.N.I.); (O.M.)
| | | | - Arif Nuryawan
- Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia;
- Center of Excellence for Mangrove, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia;
| | - Gontar Alamsyah Siregar
- Center of Excellence for Mangrove, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia;
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia
| | - Mohammad Basyuni
- Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia;
- Center of Excellence for Mangrove, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia;
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Yang S, Ngai WSC, Chen PR. Chemical engineering of bacterial effectors for regulating cell signaling and responses. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2021; 64:48-56. [PMID: 33993047 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria have evolved a variety of effector proteins to facilitate their survival and proliferation within the host environment. Continuous competition at the host-pathogen interface has empowered these effectors with unique mechanism and high specificity toward their host targets. The rich repertoire of bacterial effectors has thus provided us an attractive toolkit for investigating various cellular processes, such as signal transductions. With recent advances in protein chemistry and engineering, we now have the capability for on-demand control of protein activity with high precision. Herein, we review the development of chemically engineered bacterial effectors to control kinase-mediated signal transductions, inhibit protein translation, and direct genetic editing within host cells. We also highlight future opportunities for harnessing diverse prokaryotic effectors as powerful tools for mechanistic investigation and therapeutic intervention of eukaryotic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaojun Yang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - William Shu Ching Ngai
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Peng R Chen
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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18
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Geem KR, Song Y, Hwang I, Bae HJ, Lee DW. Production of Gloeophyllum trabeum Endoglucanase Cel12A in Nicotiana benthamiana for Cellulose Degradation. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:696199. [PMID: 34262588 PMCID: PMC8273430 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.696199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Lignocellulosic biomass from plants has been used as a biofuel source and the potent acidic endoglucanase GtCel12A has been isolated from Gloeophyllum trabeum, a filamentous fungus. In this study, we established a plant-based platform for the production of active GtCel12A fused to family 3 cellulose-binding module (CBM3). We used the signal sequence of binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal for the accumulation of the produced GtCel12A in the ER. To achieve enhanced enzyme expression, we incorporated the M-domain of the human receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase C into the construct. In addition, to enable the removal of N-terminal domains that are not necessary after protein expression, we further incorporated the cleavage site of Brachypodium distachyon small ubiquitin-like modifier. The GtCel12A-CBM3 fusion protein produced in the leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana exhibited not only high solubility but also efficient endoglucanase activity on the carboxymethyl cellulose substrate as determined by 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid assay. The endoglucanase activity of GtCel12A-CBM3 was maintained even when immobilized on microcrystalline cellulose beads. Taken together, these results indicate that GtCel12A endoglucanase produced in plants might be used to provide monomeric sugars from lignocellulosic biomass for bioethanol production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung Rok Geem
- Department of Bioenergy Science and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Younho Song
- Bio-Energy Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Inhwan Hwang
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, South Korea
| | - Hyeun-Jong Bae
- Department of Bioenergy Science and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
- Bio-Energy Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
- Department of Integrative Food, Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Dong Wook Lee
- Department of Bioenergy Science and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
- Bio-Energy Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
- Department of Integrative Food, Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Dong Wook Lee
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