1
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Ohara N, Kawakami N, Arai R, Adachi N, Ikeda A, Senda T, Miyamoto K. Fusion then fission: splitting and reassembly of an artificial fusion-protein nanocage. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:4605-4608. [PMID: 38586927 DOI: 10.1039/d4cc00115j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
A split-protein system is a simple approach to introduce new termini which are useful as modification sites in protein engineering, but has been adapted mainly for monomeric proteins. Here we demonstrate the design of split subunits of the 60-mer artificial fusion-protein nanocage TIP60. The subunit fragments successfully reformed the cage structure in the same manner as prior to splitting. One of the newly introduced terminals at the interior surface can be modified using a tag peptide and green fluorescent protein. Therefore, the termini could serve as a versatile modification site for incorporating a wide variety of functional peptides and proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Ohara
- Department of Bioscience and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan.
| | - Norifumi Kawakami
- Department of Bioscience and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan.
| | - Ryoichi Arai
- Department of Biomolecular Innovation, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu University, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
- Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
| | - Naruhiko Adachi
- Structural Biology Research Center, Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Oho, Tsukuba 305-0801, Japan
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - Akihito Ikeda
- Structural Biology Research Center, Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Oho, Tsukuba 305-0801, Japan
| | - Toshiya Senda
- Structural Biology Research Center, Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Oho, Tsukuba 305-0801, Japan
| | - Kenji Miyamoto
- Department of Bioscience and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan.
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2
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Munoz-Robles BG, DeForest CA. Irreversible light-activated SpyLigation mediates split-protein assembly in 4D. Nat Protoc 2024; 19:1015-1052. [PMID: 38253657 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-023-00938-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The conditional assembly of split-protein pairs to modulate biological activity is commonly achieved by fusing split-protein fragments to dimerizing components that bring inactive pairs into close proximity in response to an exogenous trigger. However, current methods lack full spatial and temporal control over reconstitution, require sustained activation and lack specificity. Here light-activated SpyLigation (LASL), based on the photoregulation of the covalent SpyTag (ST)/SpyCatcher (SC) peptide-protein reaction, assembles nonfunctional split fragment pairs rapidly and irreversibly in solution, in engineered biomaterials and intracellularly. LASL introduces an ortho-nitrobenzyl(oNB)-caged lysine into SC's reactive site to generate a photoactivatable SC (pSC). Split-protein pairs of interest fused to pSC and ST are conditionally assembled via near-ultraviolet or pulsed near-infrared irradiation, as the uncaged SC can react with ST to ligate appended fragments. We describe procedures for the efficient synthesis of the photocaged amino acid that is incorporated within pSC (<5 days) as well as the design and cloning of LASL plasmids (1-4 days) for recombinant protein expression in either Escherichia coli (5-6 days) or mammalian cells (4-6 days), which require some prior expertise in protein engineering. We provide a chemoenzymatic scheme for appending bioorthogonal reactive handles onto E. coli-purified pSC protein (<4 days) that permits LASL component incorporation and patterned protein activation within many common biomaterial platforms. Given that LASL is irreversible, the photolithographic patterning procedures are fast and do not require sustained light exposure. Overall, LASL can be used to interrogate and modulate cell signaling in various settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brizzia G Munoz-Robles
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Cole A DeForest
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Institute of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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3
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Grady CJ, Castellanos Franco EA, Schossau J, Ashbaugh RC, Pelled G, Gilad AA. A putative design for the electromagnetic activation of split proteins for molecular and cellular manipulation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1355915. [PMID: 38605993 PMCID: PMC11007078 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1355915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability to manipulate cellular function using an external stimulus is a powerful strategy for studying complex biological phenomena. One approach to modulate the function of the cellular environment is split proteins. In this method, a biologically active protein or an enzyme is fragmented so that it reassembles only upon a specific stimulus. Although many tools are available to induce these systems, nature has provided other mechanisms to expand the split protein toolbox. Here, we show a novel method for reconstituting split proteins using magnetic stimulation. We found that the electromagnetic perceptive gene (EPG) changes conformation due to magnetic field stimulation. By fusing split fragments of a certain protein to both termini of the EPG, the fragments can be reassembled into a functional protein under magnetic stimulation due to conformational change. We show this effect with three separate split proteins: NanoLuc, APEX2, and herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase. Our results show, for the first time, that reconstitution of split proteins can be achieved only with magnetic fields. We anticipate that this study will be a starting point for future magnetically inducible split protein designs for cellular perturbation and manipulation. With this technology, we can help expand the toolbox of the split protein platform and allow better elucidation of complex biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor J. Grady
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | | | - Jory Schossau
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Ryan C. Ashbaugh
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Galit Pelled
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Assaf A. Gilad
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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4
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Cui M, Lee S, Ban SH, Ryu JR, Shen M, Yang SH, Kim JY, Choi SK, Han J, Kim Y, Han K, Lee D, Sun W, Kwon HB, Lee D. A single-component, light-assisted uncaging switch for endoproteolytic release. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:353-364. [PMID: 37973890 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01480-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Proteases function as pivotal molecular switches, initiating numerous biological events. Notably, potyviral protease, derived from plant viruses, has emerged as a trusted proteolytic switch in synthetic biological circuits. To harness their capabilities, we have developed a single-component photocleavable switch, termed LAUNCHER (Light-Assisted UNcaging switCH for Endoproteolytic Release), by employing a circularly permutated tobacco etch virus protease and a blue-light-gated substrate, which are connected by fine-tuned intermodular linkers. As a single-component system, LAUNCHER exhibits a superior signal-to-noise ratio compared with multi-component systems, enabling precise and user-controllable release of payloads. This characteristic renders LAUNCHER highly suitable for diverse cellular applications, including transgene expression, tailored subcellular translocation and optochemogenetics. Additionally, the plug-and-play integration of LAUNCHER into existing synthetic circuits facilitates the enhancement of circuit performance. The demonstrated efficacy of LAUNCHER in improving existing circuitry underscores its significant potential for expanding its utilization in various applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingguang Cui
- Department of Anatomy, 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
| | - Seunghwan Lee
- Department of Anatomy, 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
| | - Sung Hwan Ban
- Department of Anatomy, 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
| | - Jae Ryun Ryu
- Department of Anatomy, 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
| | - Meiying Shen
- Department of Anatomy, 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
| | - Soo Hyun Yang
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Young Kim
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seul Ki Choi
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaemin Han
- Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoonhee Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kihoon Han
- BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neuroscience, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Donghun Lee
- Department of Physics, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woong Sun
- Department of Anatomy, 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
| | - Hyung-Bae Kwon
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dongmin Lee
- Department of Anatomy, 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.
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5
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Giltrap A, Yuan Y, Davis BG. Late-Stage Functionalization of Living Organisms: Rethinking Selectivity in Biology. Chem Rev 2024; 124:889-928. [PMID: 38231473 PMCID: PMC10870719 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
With unlimited selectivity, full post-translational chemical control of biology would circumvent the dogma of genetic control. The resulting direct manipulation of organisms would enable atomic-level precision in "editing" of function. We argue that a key aspect that is still missing in our ability to do this (at least with a high degree of control) is the selectivity of a given chemical reaction in a living organism. In this Review, we systematize existing illustrative examples of chemical selectivity, as well as identify needed chemical selectivities set in a hierarchy of anatomical complexity: organismo- (selectivity for a given organism over another), tissuo- (selectivity for a given tissue type in a living organism), cellulo- (selectivity for a given cell type in an organism or tissue), and organelloselectivity (selectivity for a given organelle or discrete body within a cell). Finally, we analyze more traditional concepts such as regio-, chemo-, and stereoselective reactions where additionally appropriate. This survey of late-stage biomolecule methods emphasizes, where possible, functional consequences (i.e., biological function). In this way, we explore a concept of late-stage functionalization of living organisms (where "late" is taken to mean at a given state of an organism in time) in which programmed and selective chemical reactions take place in life. By building on precisely analyzed notions (e.g., mechanism and selectivity) we believe that the logic of chemical methodology might ultimately be applied to increasingly complex molecular constructs in biology. This could allow principles developed at the simple, small-molecule level to progress hierarchically even to manipulation of physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew
M. Giltrap
- The
Rosalind Franklin Institute, Oxfordshire OX11 0FA, U.K.
- Department
of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QT, U.K.
| | - Yizhi Yuan
- The
Rosalind Franklin Institute, Oxfordshire OX11 0FA, U.K.
- Department
of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QT, U.K.
| | - Benjamin G. Davis
- The
Rosalind Franklin Institute, Oxfordshire OX11 0FA, U.K.
- Department
of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QT, U.K.
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6
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He Y, Faulkner BM, Roberti MA, Bassford DK, Stains CI. Standardized Parts for Activation of Small GTPase Signaling in Living Cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.03.574079. [PMID: 38260610 PMCID: PMC10802329 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.03.574079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Small GTPases comprise a superfamily of over 167 proteins in the human genome and are critical regulators of a variety of pathways including cell migration and proliferation. Despite the importance of these proteins in cell signaling, a standardized approach for controlling small GTPase activation within living cells is lacking. Herein, we report a split-protein-based approach to directly activate small GTPase signaling in living cells. Importantly, our fragmentation site can be applied across the small GTPase superfamily. We highlight the utility of these standardized parts by demonstrating the ability to directly modulate the activity of four different small GTPases with user-defined inputs, providing a plug and play system for direct activation of small GTPases in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen He
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Benjamin M Faulkner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Meaghan A Roberti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Dana K Bassford
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Cliff I Stains
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Virginia Drug Discovery Consortium, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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7
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Stylianopoulou E, Daviti A, Giourou V, Gerasimidi E, Nikolaou A, Kourkoutas Y, Grigoriou ME, Paleologou KE, Skavdis G. Assessment of the Anti-Amyloidogenic Properties of Essential Oils and Their Constituents in Cells Using a Whole-Cell Recombinant Biosensor. Brain Sci 2023; 14:35. [PMID: 38248250 PMCID: PMC10812981 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14010035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Essential oils exhibit numerous medicinal properties, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Recent studies also indicate that certain essential oils demonstrate anti-amyloidogenic activity against β-amyloid, the protein implicated in Alzheimer's disease. To investigate whether the anti-aggregating properties of essential oils extend to α-synuclein, the protein involved in Parkinson's disease, we constructed and employed a whole-cell biosensor based on the split-luciferase complementation assay. We validated our biosensor by using baicalein, a known inhibitor of α-synuclein aggregation, and subsequently we tested eight essential oils commonly used in food and the hygienic industry. Two of them, citron and sage, along with their primary components, pure linalool (the main constituent in citron essential oil) and pure eucalyptol (1,8-cineole, the main constituent in sage essential oil), were able to reduce α-syn aggregation. These findings suggest that both essential oils and their main constituents could be regarded as potential components in functional foods or incorporated into complementary Parkinson's disease therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Electra Stylianopoulou
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology & Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (E.S.); (A.D.); (E.G.); (M.E.G.)
- Laboratory of Molecular Regulation & Diagnostic Technology, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece;
| | - Anastasia Daviti
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology & Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (E.S.); (A.D.); (E.G.); (M.E.G.)
| | - Venetia Giourou
- Laboratory of Molecular Regulation & Diagnostic Technology, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece;
| | - Eleni Gerasimidi
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology & Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (E.S.); (A.D.); (E.G.); (M.E.G.)
| | - Anastasios Nikolaou
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (A.N.); (Y.K.)
| | - Yiannis Kourkoutas
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (A.N.); (Y.K.)
| | - Maria E. Grigoriou
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology & Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (E.S.); (A.D.); (E.G.); (M.E.G.)
| | - Katerina E. Paleologou
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology & Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (E.S.); (A.D.); (E.G.); (M.E.G.)
| | - George Skavdis
- Laboratory of Molecular Regulation & Diagnostic Technology, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece;
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8
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Lin B, Xiao F, Jiang J, Zhao Z, Zhou X. Engineered aptamers for molecular imaging. Chem Sci 2023; 14:14039-14061. [PMID: 38098720 PMCID: PMC10718180 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc03989g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular imaging, including quantification and molecular interaction studies, plays a crucial role in visualizing and analysing molecular events occurring within cells or organisms, thus facilitating the understanding of biological processes. Moreover, molecular imaging offers promising applications for early disease diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation. Aptamers are oligonucleotides that can recognize targets with a high affinity and specificity by folding themselves into various three-dimensional structures, thus serving as ideal molecular recognition elements in molecular imaging. This review summarizes the commonly employed aptamers in molecular imaging and outlines the prevalent design approaches for their applications. Furthermore, it highlights the successful application of aptamers to a wide range of targets and imaging modalities. Finally, the review concludes with a forward-looking perspective on future advancements in aptamer-based molecular imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingqian Lin
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, Department of Hematology of Zhongnan Hospital, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University Wuhan 430072 China
| | - Feng Xiao
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, Department of Hematology of Zhongnan Hospital, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University Wuhan 430072 China
| | - Jinting Jiang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, Department of Hematology of Zhongnan Hospital, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University Wuhan 430072 China
| | - Zhengjia Zhao
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, Department of Hematology of Zhongnan Hospital, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University Wuhan 430072 China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, Department of Hematology of Zhongnan Hospital, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University Wuhan 430072 China
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9
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Lauzon D, Vallée-Bélisle A. Programing Chemical Communication: Allostery vs Multivalent Mechanism. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:18846-18854. [PMID: 37581934 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c04045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of life has relied on chemical communication and the ability to integrate multiple chemical inputs into a specific output. Two mechanisms are typically employed by nature to do so: allostery and multivalent activation. Although a better understanding of allostery has recently provided a variety of strategies to optimize the binding affinity, sensitivity, and specificity of molecular switches, mechanisms relying on multivalent activation remain poorly understood. As a proof of concept to compare the thermodynamic basis and design principles of both mechanisms, we have engineered a highly programmable DNA-based switch that can be triggered by either a multivalent or an allosteric DNA activator. By precisely designing the binding interface of the multivalent activator, we show that the affinity, dynamic range, and activated half-life of the molecular switch can be programed with even more versatility than when using an allosteric activator. The simplicity by which the activation properties of molecular switches can be rationally tuned using multivalent assembly suggests that it may find many applications in biosensing, drug delivery, synthetic biology, and molecular computation fields, where precise control over the transduction of binding events into a specific output is key.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Lauzon
- Département de Chimie, Laboratoire de Biosenseurs et Nanomachines, Université de Montréal, Montréal QC H2V 0B3, Canada
| | - Alexis Vallée-Bélisle
- Département de Chimie, Laboratoire de Biosenseurs et Nanomachines, Université de Montréal, Montréal QC H2V 0B3, Canada
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10
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Park YS, Choi S, Jang HJ, Yoo TH. Assay methods based on proximity-enhanced reactions for detecting non-nucleic acid molecules. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1188313. [PMID: 37456730 PMCID: PMC10343955 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1188313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Accurate and reliable detection of biological molecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, and small molecules is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. While simple homogeneous assays have been developed and are widely used for detecting nucleic acids, non-nucleic acid molecules such as proteins and small molecules are usually analyzed using methods that require time-consuming procedures and highly trained personnel. Recently, methods using proximity-enhanced reactions (PERs) have been developed for detecting non-nucleic acids. These reactions can be conducted in a homogeneous liquid phase via a single-step procedure. Herein, we review three assays based on PERs for the detection of non-nucleic acid molecules: proximity ligation assay, proximity extension assay, and proximity proteolysis assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Seop Park
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunjoo Choi
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Ju Jang
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hyeon Yoo
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biological Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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11
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Park HJ, Kim Y, Lee KW, Gwon M, Yoon HC, Yoo TH. Coupling hCG-based protease sensors with a commercial pregnancy test strip for simple analyses of protease activities. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 235:115364. [PMID: 37207580 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115364] [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: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Proteases play an essential role in many cellular processes, and consequently, abnormalities in their activities are related to various diseases. Methods have been developed to measure the activity of these enzymes, but most involve sophisticated instruments or complicated procedures, which hampers the development of a point-of-care test (POCT). Here, we propose a strategy for developing simple and sensitive methods to analyze protease activity using commercial pregnancy test strips that detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG was engineered to have site-specific conjugated biotin and a peptide sequence, which can be cleaved by a target protease, between hCG and biotin. hCG protein was immobilized on streptavidin-coated beads, resulting in a protease sensor. The hCG-immobilized beads were too large to flow through the membrane of the hCG test strip and yielded only one band in the control line. When the peptide linker was hydrolyzed by the target protease, hCG was released from the beads, and the signal appeared in both the control and test lines. Three protease sensors for matrix metalloproteinase-2, caspase-3, and thrombin were constructed by replacing the protease-cleavable peptide linker. The combination of the protease sensors and a commercial pregnancy strip enabled the specific detection of each protease in the picomolar range, with a 30-min incubation of the hCG-immobilized beads and samples. The modular design of the protease sensor and simple assay procedure will facilitate the development of POCTs for various protease disease markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon Ji Park
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, 206 World cup-ro, Yengtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, South Korea
| | - Yuseon Kim
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, 206 World cup-ro, Yengtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, South Korea
| | - Kyung Won Lee
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, 206 World cup-ro, Yengtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, South Korea
| | - Minji Gwon
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, 206 World cup-ro, Yengtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, South Korea
| | - Hyun C Yoon
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, 206 World cup-ro, Yengtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, South Korea; Department of Applied Chemistry and Biological Engineering, Ajou University, 206 World cup-ro, Yengtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, South Korea.
| | - Tae Hyeon Yoo
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, 206 World cup-ro, Yengtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, South Korea; Department of Applied Chemistry and Biological Engineering, Ajou University, 206 World cup-ro, Yengtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, South Korea.
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12
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Ruskowitz ER, Munoz-Robles BG, Strange AC, Butcher CH, Kurniawan S, Filteau JR, DeForest CA. Spatiotemporal functional assembly of split protein pairs through a light-activated SpyLigation. Nat Chem 2023; 15:694-704. [PMID: 37069270 PMCID: PMC10164143 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01152-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Proteins provide essential functional regulation of many bioprocesses across all scales of life; however, new techniques to specifically modulate protein activity within living systems and in engineered biomaterials are needed to better interrogate fundamental cell signalling and guide advanced decisions of biological fate. Here we establish a generalizable strategy to rapidly and irreversibly activate protein function with full spatiotemporal control. Through the development of a genetically encoded and light-activated SpyLigation (LASL), bioactive proteins can be stably reassembled from non-functional split fragment pairs following brief exposure (typically minutes) to cytocompatible light. Employing readily accessible photolithographic processing techniques to specify when, where and how much photoligation occurs, we demonstrate precise protein activation of UnaG, NanoLuc and Cre recombinase using LASL in solution, biomaterials and living mammalian cells, as well as optical control over protein subcellular localization. Looking forward, we expect that these photoclick-based optogenetic approaches will find tremendous utility in probing and directing complex cellular fates in both time and three-dimensional space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Ruskowitz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Alder C Strange
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Carson H Butcher
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sebastian Kurniawan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeremy R Filteau
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Cole A DeForest
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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13
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Lauzon D, Vallée-Bélisle A. Functional advantages of building nanosystems using multiple molecular components. Nat Chem 2023; 15:458-467. [PMID: 36759713 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-022-01127-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Over half of all the natural nanomachines in living organisms are multimeric and likely exploit the self-assembly of their components to provide functional benefits. However, the advantages and disadvantages of building nanosystems using multiple molecular components remain relatively unexplored at the thermodynamic, kinetic and functional levels. In this study we used theory and a simple DNA-based model that forms the same nanostructures with different numbers of components to advance our knowledge in this area. Despite its lower assembly rate, we found that a system built with three components may undergo a more cooperative assembly transition from less preorganized components, which facilitates the emergence of functionalities. Using simple variations of its components, we also found that trimeric nanosystems display a much higher level of programmability than their dimeric counterparts because they can assemble with various levels of cooperativity, self-inhibition and time-dependent properties. We show here how two simple strategies (for example, cutting and adding components) can be employed to efficiently programme the regulatory function of a more complex, artificially selected, RNA-cleaving catalytic nanosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Lauzon
- Laboratoire de Biosenseurs & Nanomachines, Département de Chimie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - A Vallée-Bélisle
- Laboratoire de Biosenseurs & Nanomachines, Département de Chimie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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14
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Xu Y, Tian N, Shi H, Zhou C, Wang Y, Liang FS. A Split CRISPR/Cas13b System for Conditional RNA Regulation and Editing. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:5561-5569. [PMID: 36811465 PMCID: PMC10425183 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c01087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas13b system has been demonstrated as a robust tool for versatile RNA studies and relevant applications. New strategies enabling precise control of Cas13b/dCas13b activities and minimal interference with native RNA activities will further facilitate the understanding and regulation of RNA functions. Here, we engineered a split Cas13b system that can be conditionally activated and deactivated under the induction of abscisic acid (ABA), which achieved the downregulation of endogenous RNAs in dosage- and time-dependent manners. Furthermore, an ABA inducible split dCas13b system was generated to achieve temporally controlled deposition of m6A at specific sites on cellular RNAs through conditional assembly and disassembly of split dCas13b fusion proteins. We also showed that the activities of split Cas13b/dCas13b systems can be modulated by light via using a photoactivatable ABA derivative. Overall, these split Cas13b/dCas13b platforms expand the existing repertoire of the CRISPR and RNA regulation toolkit to achieve targeted manipulation of RNAs in native cellular environments with minimal functional disruption to these endogenous RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 2080 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Na Tian
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 2080 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Huaxia Shi
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 2080 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Chenwei Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 2080 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Yufan Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 2080 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Fu-Sen Liang
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 2080 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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15
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Fan R, Hakanpää J, Elfving K, Taberman H, Linder MB, Aranko AS. Biomolecular Click Reactions Using a Minimal pH-Activated Catcher/Tag Pair for Producing Native-Sized Spider-Silk Proteins. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202216371. [PMID: 36695475 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202216371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
A type of protein/peptide pair known as Catcher/Tag pair spontaneously forms an intermolecular isopeptide bond which can be applied for biomolecular click reactions. Covalent protein conjugation using Catcher/Tag pairs has turned out to be a valuable tool in biotechnology and biomedicines, but it is essential to increase the current toolbox of orthogonal Catcher/Tag pairs to expand the range of applications further, for example, for controlled multiple-fragment ligation. We report here the engineering of novel Catcher/Tag pairs for protein ligation, aided by a crystal structure of a minimal CnaB domain from Lactobacillus plantarum. We show that a newly engineered pair, called SilkCatcher/Tag enables efficient pH-inducible protein ligation in addition to being compatible with the widely used SpyCatcher/Tag pair. Finally, we demonstrate the use of the SilkCatcher/Tag pair in the production of native-sized highly repetitive spider-silk-like proteins with >90 % purity, which is not possible by traditional recombinant production methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruxia Fan
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - Johanna Hakanpää
- Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Photon Science, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg Unit c/o DESY, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Notkestrasse 85, 22603, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Karoliina Elfving
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - Helena Taberman
- Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), Photon Science, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus B Linder
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - A Sesilja Aranko
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, 02150, Espoo, Finland
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16
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Gambill L, Staubus A, Mo KW, Ameruoso A, Chappell J. A split ribozyme that links detection of a native RNA to orthogonal protein outputs. Nat Commun 2023; 14:543. [PMID: 36725852 PMCID: PMC9892565 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36073-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Individual RNA remains a challenging signal to synthetically transduce into different types of cellular information. Here, we describe Ribozyme-ENabled Detection of RNA (RENDR), a plug-and-play strategy that uses cellular transcripts to template the assembly of split ribozymes, triggering splicing reactions that generate orthogonal protein outputs. To identify split ribozymes that require templating for splicing, we use laboratory evolution to evaluate the activities of different split variants of the Tetrahymena thermophila ribozyme. The best design delivers a 93-fold dynamic range of splicing with RENDR controlling fluorescent protein production in response to an RNA input. We further resolve a thermodynamic model to guide RENDR design, show how input signals can be transduced into diverse outputs, demonstrate portability across different bacteria, and use RENDR to detect antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This work shows how transcriptional signals can be monitored in situ and converted into different types of biochemical information using RNA synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Gambill
- PhD Program in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - August Staubus
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Kim Wai Mo
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Andrea Ameruoso
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - James Chappell
- PhD Program in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA. .,Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA. .,Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA.
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17
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A split β-lactamase sensor for the detection of DNA modification by cisplatin and ruthenium-based chemotherapeutic drugs. J Inorg Biochem 2022; 236:111986. [PMID: 36084568 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2022.111986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Here we present a split-enzyme sensor approach for the sequence-specific detection of metal-based drug adducts of DNA. Split β-lactamase reporters were constructed using domain A of the High Mobility Group Box 1 protein (HMGB1a) in conjunction with zinc finger DNA-binding domains. As a proof of concept, the sensors were characterized with the well-known drug cisplatin, which forms 1,2-intrastrand crosslinks with DNA that are recognized by HMGB1a. After promising results with cisplatin, five ruthenium-based drugs were studied, four of which produced significant signal over background. These results highlight the utility of our approach for rapid screening of novel metal-based chemotherapeutic drug candidates and provide evidence that HMGB1a likely binds to DNA adducts formed by NAMI-A (imidazolium trans-tetrachlorodimethylsulfoxideimidazoleruthenate(III)), KP1019 (indazolium trans-tetrachlorodiindazoleruthenate(III)), KP418 (imidazolium trans-tetrachlorodiimidazoleruthenate(III)), and RAPTA-C (dichloro(η6-p-cymene)(1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane)ruthenium(II)). These results thus imply a potential biologically relevant mode of action for the ruthenium-based drugs investigated herein.
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18
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McArthur N, Cruz-Teran C, Thatavarty A, Reeves GT, Rao BM. Experimental and Analytical Framework for "Mix-and-Read" Assays Based on Split Luciferase. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:24551-24560. [PMID: 35874239 PMCID: PMC9301641 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c02319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The use of immunodetection assays including the widely used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in applications such as point-of-care detection is often limited by the need for protein immobilization and multiple binding and washing steps. Here, we describe an experimental and analytical framework for the development of simple and modular "mix-and-read" enzymatic complementation assays based on split luciferase that enable sensitive detection and quantification of analytes in solution. In this assay, two engineered protein binders targeting nonoverlapping epitopes on the target analyte were each fused to nonactive fragments of luciferase to create biosensor probes. Binding proteins to two model targets, lysozyme and Sso6904, were isolated from a combinatorial library of Sso7d mutants using yeast surface display. In the presence of the analyte, probes were brought into close proximity, reconstituting enzymatic activity of luciferase and enabling detection of low picomolar concentrations of the analyte by chemiluminescence. Subsequently, we constructed an equilibrium binding model that relates binding affinities of the binding proteins for the target, assay parameters such as the concentrations of probes used, and assay performance (limit of detection and concentration range over which the target can be quantified). Overall, our experimental and analytical framework provides the foundation for the development of split luciferase assays for detection and quantification of various targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikki McArthur
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Carlos Cruz-Teran
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Apoorva Thatavarty
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Gregory T. Reeves
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Interdisciplinary
Program in Genetics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Balaji M. Rao
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
- Golden
LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC), North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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19
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Engineered Allosteric Regulation of Protein Function. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167620. [PMID: 35513109 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Allosteric regulation of proteins has been utilized to study various aspects of cell signaling, from unicellular events to organism-wide phenotypes. However, traditional methods of allosteric regulation, such as constitutively active mutants and inhibitors, lack tight spatiotemporal control. This often leads to unintended signaling consequences that interfere with data interpretation. To overcome these obstacles, researchers employed protein engineering approaches that enable tight control of protein function through allosteric mechanisms. These methods provide high specificity as well as spatial and temporal precision in regulation of protein activity in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we focus on the recent advancements in engineered allosteric regulation and discuss the various bioengineered allosteric techniques available now, from chimeric GPCRs to chemogenetic and optogenetic switches. We highlight the benefits and pitfalls of each of these techniques as well as areas in which future improvements can be made. Additionally, we provide a brief discussion on implementation of engineered allosteric regulation approaches, demonstrating that these tools can shed light on elusive biological events and have the potential to be utilized in precision medicine.
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20
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Engineering and exploiting synthetic allostery of NanoLuc luciferase. Nat Commun 2022; 13:789. [PMID: 35145068 PMCID: PMC8831504 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28425-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Allostery enables proteins to interconvert different biochemical signals and form complex metabolic and signaling networks. We hypothesize that circular permutation of proteins increases the probability of functional coupling of new N- and C- termini with the protein's active center through increased local structural disorder. To test this we construct a synthetically allosteric version of circular permutated NanoLuc luciferase that can be activated through ligand-induced intramolecular non-covalent cyclisation. This switch module is tolerant of the structure of binding domains and their ligands, and can be used to create biosensors of proteins and small molecules. The developed biosensors covers a range of emission wavelengths and displays sensitivity as low as 50pM and dynamic range as high as 16-fold and could quantify their cognate ligand in human fluids. We apply hydrogen exchange kinetic mass spectroscopy to analyze time resolved structural changes in the developed biosensors and observe ligand-mediated folding of newly created termini.
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21
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Zhou K, Litfin T, Solayman M, Zhao H, Zhou Y, Zhan J. High-throughput split-protein profiling by combining transposon mutagenesis and regulated protein-protein interactions with deep sequencing. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 203:543-552. [PMID: 35120933 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.01.173] [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: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Splitting a protein at a position may lead to self- or assisted-complementary fragments depending on whether two resulting fragments can reconstitute to maintain the native function spontaneously or require assistance from two interacting molecules. Assisted complementary fragments with high contrast are an important tool for probing biological interactions. However, only a small number of assisted-complementary split-variants have been identified due to manual, labour-intensive optimization of a candidate gene. Here, we introduce a technique for high-throughput split-protein profiling (HiTS) that allows fast identification of self- and assisted complementary positions by transposon mutagenesis, a rapamycin-regulated FRB-FKBP protein interaction pair, and deep sequencing. We test this technique by profiling three antibiotic-resistant genes (fosfomycin-resistant gene, fosA3, erythromycin-resistant gene, ermB, and chloramphenicol-resistant gene, catI). Self- and assisted complementary fragments discovered by the high-throughput technique were subsequently confirmed by low-throughput testing of individual split positions. Thus, the HiTS technique provides a quicker alternative for discovering the proteins with suitable self- and assisted-complementary split positions when combining with a readout such as fluorescence, bioluminescence, cell survival, gene transcription or genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhou
- Institute for Glycomics and School of Information and Communication Technology, Griffith University, Parklands Dr Southport, QLD 4222, Australia; Institute for Systems and Physical Biology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Thomas Litfin
- Institute for Glycomics and School of Information and Communication Technology, Griffith University, Parklands Dr Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Md Solayman
- Institute for Glycomics and School of Information and Communication Technology, Griffith University, Parklands Dr Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Huijun Zhao
- Centre for Clean Environment and Energy, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland 4222, Australia
| | - Yaoqi Zhou
- Institute for Glycomics and School of Information and Communication Technology, Griffith University, Parklands Dr Southport, QLD 4222, Australia; Institute for Systems and Physical Biology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Jian Zhan
- Institute for Glycomics and School of Information and Communication Technology, Griffith University, Parklands Dr Southport, QLD 4222, Australia; Institute for Systems and Physical Biology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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22
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Neitz H, Paul NB, Häge FR, Lindner C, Graebner R, Kovermann M, Thomas F. Identification of novel functional mini-receptors by combinatorial screening of split-WW domains. Chem Sci 2022; 13:9079-9090. [PMID: 36091217 PMCID: PMC9365081 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc01078j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A combinatorial approach toward novel functional WW domains based on coiled-coil-mediated reconstitution of split WW domains is presented. As such, an ATP-binding WW domain was found from a 4-by-6 library of N- and C-terminal WW domain fragments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermann Neitz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Niels Benjamin Paul
- Institute of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstr. 2, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Florian R. Häge
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Christina Lindner
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Roman Graebner
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Michael Kovermann
- Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, Konstanz 78457, Germany
| | - Franziska Thomas
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
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23
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O'Neill S, Knaus UG. Bioluminescence-Based Complementation Assay to Correlate Conformational Changes in Membrane-Bound Complexes with Enzymatic Function. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2525:123-137. [PMID: 35836064 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2473-9_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The proteomics field has undergone tremendous development with the introduction of many innovative methods for the identification and characterization of protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Sensitive and quantitative protein association-based techniques represent a versatile tool to probe the architecture of receptor complexes and receptor-ligand interactions and expand the drug discovery toolbox by facilitating high-throughput screening (HTS) approaches. These novel methodologies will be highly enabling for interrogation of structural determinants required for the activity of multimeric membrane-bound enzymes with unresolved crystal structure and for HTS assay development focused on unique characteristics of complex assembly instead of common catalytic features, thereby increasing specificity. We describe here an example of a binary luciferase reporter assay (NanoBiT®) to quantitatively assess the heterodimerization of the catalytically active NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) enzyme complex. The catalytic subunit NOX4 requires association with the protein p22phox for stabilization and enzymatic activity, but the precise manner by which these two membrane-bound proteins interact to facilitate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation is currently unknown. The NanoBiT complementation reporter quantitatively determined the accurate, reduced, or failed complex assembly, which can then be confirmed by determining H2O2 release, protein expression, and heterodimer trafficking. Multimeric complex formation differs between NOX enzyme isoforms, facilitating isoform-specific, PPI-based drug screening in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon O'Neill
- Conway Institute, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Legend Biotech, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ulla G Knaus
- Conway Institute, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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24
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Lin X, Fonseca MAS, Breunig JJ, Corona RI, Lawrenson K. In vivo discovery of RNA proximal proteins via proximity-dependent biotinylation. RNA Biol 2021; 18:2203-2217. [PMID: 34006179 PMCID: PMC8648264 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2021.1917215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA molecules function as messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that encode proteins and noncoding transcripts that serve as adaptor molecules, structural components, and regulators of genome organization and gene expression. Their function and regulation are largely mediated by RNA binding proteins (RBPs). Here we present RNA proximity labelling (RPL), an RNA-centric method comprising the endonuclease-deficient Type VI CRISPR-Cas protein dCas13b fused to engineered ascorbate peroxidase APEX2. RPL discovers target RNA proximal proteins in vivo via proximity-based biotinylation. RPL applied to U1 identified proteins involved in both U1 canonical and noncanonical functions. Profiling of poly(A) tail proximal proteins uncovered expected categories of RBPs and provided additional evidence for 5'-3' proximity and unexplored subcellular localizations of poly(A)+ RNA. Our results suggest that RPL allows rapid identification of target RNA binding proteins in native cellular contexts, and is expected to pave the way for discovery of novel RNA-protein interactions important for health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianzhi Lin
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Women’s Cancer Research Program at Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Marcos A. S. Fonseca
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Women’s Cancer Research Program at Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Joshua J. Breunig
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rosario I. Corona
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Women’s Cancer Research Program at Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kate Lawrenson
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Women’s Cancer Research Program at Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Center for Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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25
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Courtney TM, Darrah KE, Horst TJ, Tsang M, Deiters A. Blue Light Activated Rapamycin for Optical Control of Protein Dimerization in Cells and Zebrafish Embryos. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:2434-2443. [PMID: 34609839 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Rapamycin-induced dimerization of FKBP and FRB is the most commonly utilized chemically induced protein dimerization system. It has been extensively used to conditionally control protein localization, split-enzyme activity, and protein-protein interactions in general by simply fusing FKBP and FRB to proteins of interest. We have developed a new aminonitrobiphenylethyl caging group and applied it to the generation of a caged rapamycin analog that can be photoactivated using blue light. Importantly, the caged rapamycin analog shows minimal background activity with regard to protein dimerization and can be directly interfaced with a wide range of established (and often commercially available) FKBP/FRB systems. We have successfully demonstrated its applicability to the optical control of enzymatic function, protein stability, and protein subcellular localization. Further, we also showcased its applicability toward optical regulation of cell signaling, specifically mTOR signaling, in cells and aquatic embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor M. Courtney
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Kristie E. Darrah
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Trevor J. Horst
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Michael Tsang
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Alexander Deiters
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
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26
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Shimojo M, Ono M, Takuwa H, Mimura K, Nagai Y, Fujinaga M, Kikuchi T, Okada M, Seki C, Tokunaga M, Maeda J, Takado Y, Takahashi M, Minamihisamatsu T, Zhang M, Tomita Y, Suzuki N, Maximov A, Suhara T, Minamimoto T, Sahara N, Higuchi M. A genetically targeted reporter for PET imaging of deep neuronal circuits in mammalian brains. EMBO J 2021; 40:e107757. [PMID: 34636430 PMCID: PMC8591537 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021107757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) allows biomolecular tracking but PET monitoring of brain networks has been hampered by a lack of suitable reporters. Here, we take advantage of bacterial dihydrofolate reductase, ecDHFR, and its unique antagonist, TMP, to facilitate in vivo imaging in the brain. Peripheral administration of radiofluorinated and fluorescent TMP analogs enabled PET and intravital microscopy, respectively, of neuronal ecDHFR expression in mice. This technique can be used to the visualize neuronal circuit activity elicited by chemogenetic manipulation in the mouse hippocampus. Notably, ecDHFR-PET allows mapping of neuronal projections in non-human primate brains, demonstrating the applicability of ecDHFR-based tracking technologies for network monitoring. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of TMP analogs for PET studies of turnover and self-assembly of proteins tagged with ecDHFR mutants. These results establish opportunities for a broad spectrum of previously unattainable PET analyses of mammalian brain circuits at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masafumi Shimojo
- Department of Functional Brain ImagingNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Maiko Ono
- Department of Functional Brain ImagingNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Hiroyuki Takuwa
- Department of Functional Brain ImagingNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Koki Mimura
- Department of Functional Brain ImagingNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Yuji Nagai
- Department of Functional Brain ImagingNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Masayuki Fujinaga
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals DevelopmentNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Tatsuya Kikuchi
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals DevelopmentNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Maki Okada
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals DevelopmentNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Chie Seki
- Department of Functional Brain ImagingNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Masaki Tokunaga
- Department of Functional Brain ImagingNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Jun Maeda
- Department of Functional Brain ImagingNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Yuhei Takado
- Department of Functional Brain ImagingNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Manami Takahashi
- Department of Functional Brain ImagingNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Takeharu Minamihisamatsu
- Department of Functional Brain ImagingNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Ming‐Rong Zhang
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals DevelopmentNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Yutaka Tomita
- Department of NeurologyKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Norihiro Suzuki
- Department of NeurologyKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Anton Maximov
- Department of NeuroscienceThe Scripps Research InstituteLa JollaCAUSA
| | - Tetsuya Suhara
- Department of Functional Brain ImagingNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Takafumi Minamimoto
- Department of Functional Brain ImagingNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Naruhiko Sahara
- Department of Functional Brain ImagingNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
| | - Makoto Higuchi
- Department of Functional Brain ImagingNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyChibaJapan
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27
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Kim SJ, Dixon AS, Owen SC. Split-enzyme immunoassay to monitor EGFR-HER2 heterodimerization on cell surfaces. Acta Biomater 2021; 135:225-233. [PMID: 34496282 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.08.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Over 30,000 protein-protein interactions with pathological implications have been identified; yet, discovering and investigating drugs that target these specific interactions is greatly limited by the inability to monitor native protein-protein interactions (PPIs) efficiently. The two most frequently used tools to monitor PPIs, resonance-energy transfer (RET) assays and protein complementation assays (PCA), face significant limitations. RET assays have a narrow working range of 10 to 50 Å, while PCA require permanent attachment of a reporter probe to a protein of interest by chemical conjugation or genetic engineering. We developed a non-invasive assay platform to measure PPIs without modifications to the proteins of interest and is functional at a greater working range than RET assays. We demonstrate our approach by monitoring the EGFR-HER2 heterodimerization on relevant cell surfaces, utilizing various EGFR- and HER2-specific binders (e.g., Fab, DARPin, and VHH) fused with small fragments of a tri-part split-luciferase derived from NanoLuc®. Following independent binding of the binder fusions to their respective targets, the dimerization of EGFR and HER2 induces complementation of the luciferase fragments into a functional native structure, producing glow-type luminescence. We have confirmed the functionality of the platform to monitor EGFR-HER2 dimerization induction and inhibition. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: We describe a platform technology for rapid monitoring of protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Our approach is uses a luciferase split into three parts - two short peptide "tags" and a large third fragment. Each of the short peptides can be fused to antibodies which bind to domains of a target antigens which orients the two tags and facilitates refolding of an active enzyme. To our knowledge this is the first example of a split-enzyme used to monitor PPIs without requiring any modification of the target proteins. We demonstrate our approach on the important PPI of HER2 and EGFR. Significantly, we quantify stimulation and inhibition of these partners, opening the possibility of using our approach to assess potential drugs without engineering cells.
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28
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Kimmel J, Kehrer J, Frischknecht F, Spielmann T. Proximity-dependent biotinylation approaches to study apicomplexan biology. Mol Microbiol 2021; 117:553-568. [PMID: 34587292 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In the last 10 years, proximity-dependent biotinylation (PDB) techniques greatly expanded the ability to study protein environments in the living cell that range from specific protein complexes to entire compartments. This is achieved by using enzymes such as BirA* and APEX that are fused to proteins of interest and biotinylate proteins in their proximity. PDB techniques are now also increasingly used in apicomplexan parasites. In this review, we first give an overview of the main PDB approaches and how they compare with other techniques that address similar questions. PDB is particularly valuable to detect weak or transient protein associations under physiological conditions and to study cellular structures that are difficult to purify or have a poorly understood protein composition. We also highlight new developments such as novel smaller or faster-acting enzyme variants and conditional PDB approaches, providing improvements in both temporal and spatial resolution which may offer broader application possibilities useful in apicomplexan research. In the second part, we review work using PDB techniques in apicomplexan parasites and how this expanded our knowledge about these medically important parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Kimmel
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jessica Kehrer
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Center for Infectious Disease Research, DZIF, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Center for Infectious Disease Research, DZIF, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tobias Spielmann
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
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29
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Cevheroğlu O, Murat M, Mingu-Akmete S, Son ÇD. Ste2p Under the Microscope: the Investigation of Oligomeric States of a Yeast G Protein-Coupled Receptor. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:9526-9536. [PMID: 34433281 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c05872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Oligomerization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) may play important roles in maturation, internalization, signaling, and pharmacology of these receptors. However, the nature and extent of their oligomerization is still under debate. In our study, Ste2p, a yeast mating pheromone GPCR, was tagged with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), mCherry, and with split florescent protein fragments at the receptor C-terminus. The Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique was used to detect receptors' oligomerization by calculating the energy transfer from EGFP to mCherry. Stimulation of Ste2p oligomers with the receptor ligand did not result in any significant change on observed FRET values. The bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay was combined with FRET to further investigate the tetrameric complexes of Ste2p. Our results suggest that in its quiescent (nonligand-activated) state, Ste2p is found at least as a tetrameric complex on the plasma membrane. Intriguingly, receptor tetramers in their active form showed a significant increase in FRET. This study provides a direct in vivo visualization of Ste2p tetramers and the pheromone effect on the extent of the receptor oligomerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orkun Cevheroğlu
- Stem Cell Institute, Ankara University, Cankaya, 06520 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Merve Murat
- Stem Cell Institute, Ankara University, Cankaya, 06520 Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Cankaya, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sara Mingu-Akmete
- Stem Cell Institute, Ankara University, Cankaya, 06520 Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Cankaya, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Çağdaş D Son
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Cankaya, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
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30
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Keeble AH, Yadav VK, Ferla MP, Bauer CC, Chuntharpursat-Bon E, Huang J, Bon RS, Howarth M. DogCatcher allows loop-friendly protein-protein ligation. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 29:339-350.e10. [PMID: 34324879 PMCID: PMC8878318 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
There are many efficient ways to connect proteins at termini. However, connecting at a loop is difficult because of lower flexibility and variable environment. Here, we have developed DogCatcher, a protein that forms a spontaneous isopeptide bond with DogTag peptide. DogTag/DogCatcher was generated initially by splitting a Streptococcus pneumoniae adhesin. We optimized DogTag/DogCatcher through rational design and evolution, increasing reaction rate by 250-fold and establishing millimolar solubility of DogCatcher. When fused to a protein terminus, DogTag/DogCatcher reacts slower than SpyTag003/SpyCatcher003. However, inserted in loops of a fluorescent protein or enzyme, DogTag reacts much faster than SpyTag003. Like many membrane proteins, the ion channel TRPC5 has no surface-exposed termini. DogTag in a TRPC5 extracellular loop allowed normal calcium flux and specific covalent labeling on cells in 1 min. DogTag/DogCatcher reacts under diverse conditions, at nanomolar concentrations, and to 98% conversion. Loop-friendly ligation should expand the toolbox for creating protein architectures. Spontaneous transamidation at internal sites harnessing a DogTag/DogCatcher pair DogCatcher is designed and bred for high solubility and rapid reaction Within protein loops DogTag can clamp on its partner faster than SpyTag003 Fast and faithful fluorescent labeling of an ion channel at the cell surface via DogTag
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony H Keeble
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Vikash K Yadav
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Matteo P Ferla
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Claudia C Bauer
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Eulashini Chuntharpursat-Bon
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Jin Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Robin S Bon
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Mark Howarth
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
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31
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Tang S, Wang W, Zhang X. Direct visualization and profiling of protein misfolding and aggregation in live cells. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2021; 64:116-123. [PMID: 34246835 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Over the past few years, research tools have been developed to monitor the multistep protein aggregation process in live cells, a process that has been associated with a growing number of human diseases. Herein, we describe recent advances in methods that can either survey the distribution of aggregation at the level of the cellular proteome using mass spectroscopy or discern the multistep aggregation process of specific proteins of interest via fluorescence signals. Future development and application of such technologies are expected to provide insights on mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases rooted in protein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sicheng Tang
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, United States.
| | - Wenting Wang
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, United States
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, United States; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, United States.
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32
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Toudji-Zouaz A, Bertrand V, Barrière A. Imaging of native transcription and transcriptional dynamics in vivo using a tagged Argonaute protein. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:e86. [PMID: 34107044 PMCID: PMC8421136 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
A flexible method to image unmodified transcripts and transcription in vivo would be a valuable tool to understand the regulation and dynamics of transcription. Here, we present a novel approach to follow native transcription, with fluorescence microscopy, in live C. elegans. By using the fluorescently tagged Argonaute protein NRDE-3, programmed by exposure to defined dsRNA to bind to nascent transcripts of the gene of interest, we demonstrate transcript labelling of multiple genes, at the transcription site and in the cytoplasm. This flexible approach does not require genetic manipulation, and can be easily scaled up by relying on whole-genome dsRNA libraries. We apply this method to image the transcriptional dynamics of the heat-shock inducible gene hsp-4 (a member of the hsp70 family), as well as two transcription factors: ttx-3 (a LHX2/9 orthologue) in embryos, and hlh-1 (a MyoD orthologue) in larvae, respectively involved in neuronal and muscle development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amel Toudji-Zouaz
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Vincent Bertrand
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Antoine Barrière
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
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33
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Kim SJ, Dixon AS, Adamovich PC, Robinson PD, Owen SC. Homogeneous Immunoassay Using a Tri-Part Split-Luciferase for Rapid Quantification of Anti-TNF Therapeutic Antibodies. ACS Sens 2021; 6:1807-1814. [PMID: 34010570 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.0c02642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Anti-TNF therapeutics bind and sequester tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to prevent downstream signaling and are clinically important in the treatment of several autoimmune diseases. Effective treatment with these drugs requires frequent therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). Current analytical methods, including reporter gene assay (RGA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and mobility shift assay (MSA), can be technically rigorous, slow, and expensive. These qualities prevent the implementation of point-of-care testing and ultimately limit the frequency and utility of monitoring. An assay simple enough to be performed in the clinic would enable increased TDM frequency, more accurate dosing, and improved patient outcomes. Toward this end, we developed a homogeneous immunoassay based on a tri-part split-luciferase system for "add-and-read" detection of anti-TNF therapeutics. In our platform, two small fragments of the split-luciferase, called β9 and β10, are each fused to a different interacting protein. The binding of each of these proteins to anti-TNF antibodies forces the split-luciferase components into proximity where they reform the active luciferase. We identified the fusion proteins, β9-protein A (β9-A) and β10-TNF, as promising binding pairs. We systematically adjusted assay conditions to optimize the signal/background (S/B) ratio, limit of detection (LOD), and percent recovery. The assay has a large dynamic range (0.5-32 μg/mL) and is sensitive enough to monitor both subtherapeutic and supratherapeutic serum concentrations of anti-TNF antibodies, as demonstrated in clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun Jin Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Andrew S. Dixon
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - P. Chad Adamovich
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Parker D. Robinson
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Shawn C. Owen
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
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34
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Yang J, Ding S. Engineering L7Ae for RNA-Only Delivery Kill Switch Targeting CMS2 Type Colorectal Cancer Cells. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:1095-1105. [PMID: 33939419 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The lack of specific-targeting therapy to precisely identify and kill malignant cells while sparing others is a great challenge in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. In the era of molecular classification of tumors, CRC has been grouped into four Consensus Molecular Subtypes. Accounting for 37% of all types, the CMS2 group (canonical type) shows distinguishing features: WNT and MYC signaling activation. In this study, we designed an RNA-only delivery kill switch to specifically eliminate CMS2 type CRC cells. The sensing and logic processing functions are integrated by the newly engineered L7Ae, which can not only detect the stability of β-catenin protein and the presence of cytoplasm located Myc/Myc-nick, but also do logic computation. The circuit specifically eliminated HCT-116 cells while sparing other kinds of cells, showing a proof-of-principle approach to precisely target CMS2 type CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiong Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Helicobacter pylori Infection and Upper Gastrointestinal Diseases, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Shigang Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Helicobacter pylori Infection and Upper Gastrointestinal Diseases, Beijing 100191, China
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35
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Park HJ, Kim Y, Yoo TH. One-pot colorimetric detection of molecules based on proximity proteolysis reaction. Biosens Bioelectron 2021; 188:113349. [PMID: 34030090 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Various types of molecules serve as biomarkers of diseases, and numerous methods have been reported to detect and quantify them. Recently, research efforts have been made to develop point-of-care (POC) tests, which contribute to early diagnoses of diseases, particularly in resource-limited settings. An assay performed in a homogeneous phase is an obvious route to develop these methods. Here, simple homogeneous methods based on proximity proteolysis reactions (PPR) are reported to detect biological molecules. A typical PPR system has been designed such that the proteolysis reaction between protease and zymogen is enhanced in the presence of a target analyte. The activated zymogen generates a color signal by hydrolyzing a chromophore. A protease and zymogen are linked to target binders using specific hybridization between complementary single-stranded DNAs, and several molecules, including proteins, antibodies, aptamers, and small molecules, are used as target binders. The developed assay methods successfully detected several kinds of analytes at subnanomolar concentrations with the one-step procedure and color signal. The modular design of the PPR-based assay will enable the development of simple POC diagnostics for various biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon Ji Park
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, 206 World Cup-ro, Yengtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, South Korea
| | - Yuseon Kim
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, 206 World Cup-ro, Yengtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, South Korea
| | - Tae Hyeon Yoo
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, 206 World Cup-ro, Yengtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, South Korea; Department of Applied Chemistry and Biological Engineering, Ajou University, 206 World Cup-ro, Yengtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, South Korea.
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36
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Yoshikawa M, Yoshii T, Ikuta M, Tsukiji S. Synthetic Protein Condensates That Inducibly Recruit and Release Protein Activity in Living Cells. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:6434-6446. [PMID: 33890764 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c12375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Compartmentation of proteins into biomolecular condensates or membraneless organelles formed by phase separation is an emerging principle for the regulation of cellular processes. Creating synthetic condensates that accommodate specific intracellular proteins on demand would have various applications in chemical biology, cell engineering, and synthetic biology. Here, we report the construction of synthetic protein condensates capable of recruiting and/or releasing proteins of interest in living mammalian cells in response to a small molecule or light. By a modular combination of a tandem fusion of two oligomeric proteins, which forms phase-separated synthetic protein condensates in cells, with a chemically induced dimerization tool, we first created a chemogenetic protein condensate system that can rapidly recruit target proteins from the cytoplasm to the condensates by addition of a small-molecule dimerizer. We next coupled the protein-recruiting condensate system with an engineered proximity-dependent protease, which gave a second protein condensate system wherein target proteins previously expressed inside the condensates are released into the cytoplasm by small-molecule-triggered protease recruitment. Furthermore, an optogenetic condensate system that allows reversible release and sequestration of protein activity in a repeatable manner using light was constructed successfully. These condensate systems were applicable to control protein activity and cellular processes such as membrane ruffling and ERK signaling in a time scale of minutes. This proof-of-principle work provides a new platform for chemogenetic and optogenetic control of protein activity in mammalian cells and represents a step toward tailor-made engineering of synthetic protein condensate-based soft materials with various functionalities for biological and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaru Yoshikawa
- Department of Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan
| | - Tatsuyuki Yoshii
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan.,PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Masahiro Ikuta
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan
| | - Shinya Tsukiji
- Department of Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan.,Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan
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37
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Ho TYH, Shao A, Lu Z, Savilahti H, Menolascina F, Wang L, Dalchau N, Wang B. A systematic approach to inserting split inteins for Boolean logic gate engineering and basal activity reduction. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2200. [PMID: 33850130 PMCID: PMC8044194 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22404-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Split inteins are powerful tools for seamless ligation of synthetic split proteins. Yet, their use remains limited because the already intricate split site identification problem is often complicated by the requirement of extein junction sequences. To address this, we augment a mini-Mu transposon-based screening approach and devise the intein-assisted bisection mapping (IBM) method. IBM robustly reveals clusters of split sites on five proteins, converting them into AND or NAND logic gates. We further show that the use of inteins expands functional sequence space for splitting a protein. We also demonstrate the utility of our approach over rational inference of split sites from secondary structure alignment of homologous proteins, and that basal activities of highly active proteins can be mitigated by splitting them. Our work offers a generalizable and systematic route towards creating split protein-intein fusions for synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor Y H Ho
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Hangzhou Innovation Centre, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Alexander Shao
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Microsoft Research, Cambridge, UK
| | - Zeyu Lu
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Filippo Menolascina
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Baojun Wang
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. .,Hangzhou Innovation Centre, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. .,College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. .,ZJU-UoE Joint Research Centre for Engineering Biology, Zhejiang University, Haining, China.
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38
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Singha M, Spitalny L, Nguyen K, Vandewalle A, Spitale RC. Chemical methods for measuring RNA expression with metabolic labeling. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2021; 12:e1650. [PMID: 33738981 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Tracking the expression of RNA in a cell-specific manner is a major challenge in basic and disease research. Herein we outline the current state of employing chemical approaches for cell-specific RNA expression studies. We define the utility of metabolic labels for tracking RNA synthesis, the approaches for characterizing metabolic incorporation and enrichment of labeled RNAs, and finally outline how these approaches have been used to study biological systems by providing mechanistic insights into transcriptional dynamics. Further efforts on this front will be the continued development of novel chemical handles for RNA enrichment and profiling as well as innovative approaches to control cell-specific incorporation of chemically modified metabolic probes. These advancements in RNA metabolic labeling techniques permit sensitive detection of RNA expression dynamics within relatively small subsets of cells in living tissues and organisms that are critical to performing complex developmental and pathological processes. This article is categorized under: RNA Methods > RNA Analyses in Cells RNA Evolution and Genomics > Ribonomics RNA Structure and Dynamics > RNA Structure, Dynamics and Chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Singha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Leslie Spitalny
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Kim Nguyen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Abigail Vandewalle
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Robert C Spitale
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.,Department of Developmental and Cellular Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
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39
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Zhou L, Zhang L, Yang L, Ni W, Li Y, Wu Y. Tandem reassembly of split luciferase-DNA chimeras for bioluminescent detection of attomolar circulating microRNAs using a smartphone. Biosens Bioelectron 2021; 173:112824. [PMID: 33229132 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2020.112824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Detection of dysregulated circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in human biofluids is a fundamental ability to determine tumor occurrence and metastasis in a minimally invasive fashion. However, the requirements for sophisticated instruments and professional personnel impede the translation of miRNA tests into routine clinical diagnostics, especially for resource-limited regions. Herein, we developed a DNA-guided bioluminescence strategy for the detection of circulating miRNAs. In this strategy, a pair of split luciferase-DNA chimeras was constructed and integrated into the miRNA-triggered rolling circle amplification (RCA) process. The tandem reassembly of split luciferase-DNA chimeras on the RCA products elicited a turn-on bioluminescence response with ultrahigh signal-to-background (S/B) ratio. This strategy enabled smartphone-based assays for different miRNAs with attomolar sensitivity and single-base specificity, as demonstrated here for miR-21. miR-148b, and cel-miR-39. Further application of our approach to the clinical serum samples realized identification of dysregulated miR-21 and miR-148b in the lung cancer patients, showing a satisfactory agreement with the control assays performed with quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Therefore, the developed method possesses the benefits of high performance and reliability, offering a potential tool for implementing miRNA-based diagnosis in point-of-care (POC) settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanlan Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, 430074, PR China
| | - Linling Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, 430074, PR China
| | - Liu Yang
- Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hubei Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, PR China
| | - Wei Ni
- Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hubei Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, PR China.
| | - Yong Li
- College of Life Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, 430074, PR China.
| | - Yunhua Wu
- College of Life Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, 430074, PR China.
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40
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Dolberg TB, Meger AT, Boucher JD, Corcoran WK, Schauer EE, Prybutok AN, Raman S, Leonard JN. Computation-guided optimization of split protein systems. Nat Chem Biol 2021; 17:531-539. [PMID: 33526893 PMCID: PMC8084939 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-020-00729-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Splitting bioactive proteins into conditionally reconstituting fragments is a powerful strategy for building tools to study and control biological systems. However, split proteins often exhibit a high propensity to reconstitute even without the conditional trigger, limiting their utility. Current approaches for tuning reconstitution propensity are laborious, context-specific, or often ineffective. Here, we report a computational design strategy grounded in fundamental protein biophysics to guide experimental evaluation of a sparse set of mutants to identify an optimal functional window. We hypothesized that testing a limited set of mutants would direct subsequent mutagenesis efforts by predicting desirable mutant combinations from a vast mutational landscape. This strategy varies the degree of interfacial destabilization while preserving stability and catalytic activity. We validate our method by solving two distinct split protein design challenges, generating both design and mechanistic insights. This new technology will streamline the generation and use of split protein systems for diverse applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor B Dolberg
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Anthony T Meger
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jonathan D Boucher
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - William K Corcoran
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Elizabeth E Schauer
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Alexis N Prybutok
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Srivatsan Raman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. .,Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. .,Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. .,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Joshua N Leonard
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA. .,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA. .,Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA. .,Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA. .,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
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41
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Yudenko A, Smolentseva A, Maslov I, Semenov O, Goncharov IM, Nazarenko VV, Maliar NL, Borshchevskiy V, Gordeliy V, Remeeva A, Gushchin I. Rational Design of a Split Flavin-Based Fluorescent Reporter. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:72-83. [PMID: 33325704 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Protein-fragment complementation assays are used ubiquitously for probing protein-protein interactions. Most commonly, the reporter protein is split in two parts, which are then fused to the proteins of interest and can reassemble and provide a readout if the proteins of interest interact with each other. The currently known split fluorescent proteins either can be used only in aerobic conditions and assemble irreversibly, or require addition of exogenous chromophores, which complicates the design of experiments. In recent years, light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) domains of several photoreceptor proteins have been developed into flavin-based fluorescent proteins (FbFPs) that, under some circumstances, can outperform commonly used fluorescent proteins such as GFP. Here, we show that CagFbFP, a small thermostable FbFP based on a LOV domain-containing protein from Chloroflexus aggregans, can serve as a split fluorescent reporter. We use the available genetic and structural information to identify three loops between the conserved secondary structure elements, Aβ-Bβ, Eα-Fα, and Hβ-Iβ, that tolerate insertion of flexible poly-Gly/Ser segments and eventually splitting. We demonstrate that the designed split pairs, when fused to interacting proteins, are fluorescent in vivo in E. coli and human cells and have low background fluorescence. Our results enable probing protein-protein interactions in anaerobic conditions without using exogenous fluorophores and provide a basis for further development of LOV and PAS (Per-Arnt-Sim) domain-based fluorescent reporters and optogenetic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Yudenko
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
| | - Anastasia Smolentseva
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
| | - Ivan Maslov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
| | - Oleg Semenov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
| | - Ivan M. Goncharov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
| | - Vera V. Nazarenko
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
| | - Nina L. Maliar
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
| | - Valentin Borshchevskiy
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
| | - Valentin Gordeliy
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
- Institut de Biologie Structurale J.-P. Ebel, Université Grenoble Alpes-CEA-CNRS, 38044 Grenoble, France
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- JuStruct: Jülich Center for Structural Biology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Alina Remeeva
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
| | - Ivan Gushchin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
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42
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Shaaya M, Fauser J, Karginov AV. Optogenetics: The Art of Illuminating Complex Signaling Pathways. Physiology (Bethesda) 2021; 36:52-60. [PMID: 33325819 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00022.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dissection of cell signaling requires tools that can mimic spatiotemporal dynamics of individual pathways in living cells. Optogenetic methods enable manipulation of signaling processes with precise timing and local control. In this review, we describe recent optogenetic approaches for regulation of cell signaling, highlight their advantages and limitations, and discuss examples of their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Shaaya
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jordan Fauser
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Andrei V Karginov
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.,University of Illinois Cancer Center, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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43
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RNA-Centric Methods: Toward the Interactome of Specific RNA Transcripts. Trends Biotechnol 2020; 39:890-900. [PMID: 33353763 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
RNA-protein interactions play an important role in numerous cellular processes in health and disease. In recent years, the global RNA-bound proteome has been extensively studied, uncovering many previously unknown RNA-binding proteins. However, little is known about which particular proteins bind to which specific RNA transcript. In this review, we provide an overview of methods to identify RNA-protein interactions, with a particular focus on strategies that provide insights into the interactome of specific RNA transcripts. Finally, we discuss challenges and future directions, including the potential of CRISPR-RNA targeting systems to investigate endogenous RNA-protein interactions.
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44
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Dai Y, Wu Y, Liu G, Gooding JJ. CRISPR Mediated Biosensing Toward Understanding Cellular Biology and Point‐of‐Care Diagnosis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202005398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Dai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Duke University Durham North Carolina 27708 USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio 44106 USA
| | - Yanfang Wu
- School of Chemistry Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, and ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology The University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Guozhen Liu
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering The University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
| | - J. Justin Gooding
- School of Chemistry Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, and ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology The University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
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45
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Dai Y, Wu Y, Liu G, Gooding JJ. CRISPR Mediated Biosensing Toward Understanding Cellular Biology and Point-of-Care Diagnosis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:20754-20766. [PMID: 32521081 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202005398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in CRISPR based biotechnologies have greatly expanded our capabilities to repurpose CRISPR for the development of biomolecular sensors for diagnosing diseases and understanding cellular pathways. The key attribute that allows CRISPR to be widely utilized is the programmable and highly selective mechanism. In this Minireview, we first illustrate the molecular principle of CRISPR functioning process from sensing to actuating. Next, the CRISPR based biosensing strategies for nucleic acids, proteins and small molecules are summarized. We highlight some of recent advances in applications for in vitro detection of biomolecules and in vivo imaging of cellular networks. Finally, the challenges with, and exciting prospects of, CRISPR based biosensing developments are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Dai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 27708, USA.,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, USA
| | - Yanfang Wu
- School of Chemistry, Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, and ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Guozhen Liu
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - J Justin Gooding
- School of Chemistry, Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, and ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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46
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In Vitro Assays: Friends or Foes of Cell-Penetrating Peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21134719. [PMID: 32630650 PMCID: PMC7369778 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell membrane is a complex and highly regulated system that is composed of lipid bilayer and proteins. One of the main functions of the cell membrane is the regulation of cell entry. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are defined as peptides that can cross the plasma membrane and deliver their cargo inside the cell. The uptake of a peptide is determined by its sequence and biophysicochemical properties. At the same time, the uptake mechanism and efficiency are shown to be dependent on local peptide concentration, cell membrane lipid composition, characteristics of the cargo, and experimental methodology, suggesting that a highly efficient CPP in one system might not be as productive in another. To better understand the dependence of CPPs on the experimental system, we present a review of the in vitro assays that have been employed in the literature to evaluate CPPs and CPP-cargos. Our comprehensive review suggests that utilization of orthogonal assays will be more effective for deciphering the true ability of CPPs to translocate through the membrane and enter the cell cytoplasm.
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47
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Zhang N, Liu J, Liu Y, Wu WH, Fang J, Da XD, Wang S, Zhang WB. NMR Spectroscopic Studies Reveal the Critical Role of the Isopeptide Bond in Forming the Otherwise Unstable SpyTag-SpyCatcher Mutant Complexes. Biochemistry 2020; 59:2226-2236. [PMID: 32469203 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The interplay between protein folding and chemical reaction has been an intriguing subject. In this contribution, we report the study of SpyTag and SpyCatcher reactive mutants using a combination of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, circular dichroism, and NMR spectroscopy. It was found that the wild-type SpyCatcher is well-folded in solution and docks with SpyTag to form an intermediate that promotes isopeptide bond formation. By contrast, the double mutant SpyCatcherVA is disordered in solution yet remains reactive toward SpyTag, forming a well-folded covalent complex. Control experiments using the catalytically inactive mutants further reveal the critical role of the isopeptide bond in stabilizing the otherwise loose SpyTag-SpyCatcherVA complex, amplifying the effect of the minute sequence disparity. We believe that the synergy between protein folding and isopeptide bonding is an effective way to enhance protein stability and engineer protein-protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
| | - Jing Liu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China.,Beijing NMR Center, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
| | - Yajie Liu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Hao Wu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
| | - Jing Fang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Di Da
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
| | - Shenlin Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China.,Beijing NMR Center, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Bin Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
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48
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Samavarchi-Tehrani P, Samson R, Gingras AC. Proximity Dependent Biotinylation: Key Enzymes and Adaptation to Proteomics Approaches. Mol Cell Proteomics 2020; 19:757-773. [PMID: 32127388 PMCID: PMC7196579 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.r120.001941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of protein subcellular distribution, their assembly into complexes and the set of proteins with which they interact with is essential to our understanding of fundamental biological processes. Complementary to traditional assays, proximity-dependent biotinylation (PDB) approaches coupled with mass spectrometry (such as BioID or APEX) have emerged as powerful techniques to study proximal protein interactions and the subcellular proteome in the context of living cells and organisms. Since their introduction in 2012, PDB approaches have been used in an increasing number of studies and the enzymes themselves have been subjected to intensive optimization. How these enzymes have been optimized and considerations for their use in proteomics experiments are important questions. Here, we review the structural diversity and mechanisms of the two main classes of PDB enzymes: the biotin protein ligases (BioID) and the peroxidases (APEX). We describe the engineering of these enzymes for PDB and review emerging applications, including the development of PDB for coincidence detection (split-PDB). Lastly, we briefly review enzyme selection and experimental design guidelines and reflect on the labeling chemistries and their implication for data interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Reuben Samson
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Anne-Claude Gingras
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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49
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Debiais M, Lelievre A, Smietana M, Müller S. Splitting aptamers and nucleic acid enzymes for the development of advanced biosensors. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:3400-3422. [PMID: 32112111 PMCID: PMC7144939 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In analogy to split-protein systems, which rely on the appropriate fragmentation of protein domains, split aptamers made of two or more short nucleic acid strands have emerged as novel tools in biosensor set-ups. The concept relies on dissecting an aptamer into a series of two or more independent fragments, able to assemble in the presence of a specific target. The stability of the assembled structure can further be enhanced by functionalities that upon folding would lead to covalent end-joining of the fragments. To date, only a few aptamers have been split successfully, and application of split aptamers in biosensing approaches remains as promising as it is challenging. Further improving the stability of split aptamer target complexes and with that the sensitivity as well as efficient working modes are important tasks. Here we review functional nucleic acid assemblies that are derived from aptamers and ribozymes/DNAzymes. We focus on the thrombin, the adenosine/ATP and the cocaine split aptamers as the three most studied DNA split systems and on split DNAzyme assemblies. Furthermore, we extend the subject into split light up RNA aptamers used as mimics of the green fluorescent protein (GFP), and split ribozymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mégane Debiais
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENCSM, Montpellier, France
| | - Amandine Lelievre
- University Greifswald, Institute for Biochemistry, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Michael Smietana
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENCSM, Montpellier, France
| | - Sabine Müller
- University Greifswald, Institute for Biochemistry, Greifswald, Germany
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50
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Huang X, Jiang C, Yu L, Yang A. Current and Emerging Approaches for Studying Inter-Organelle Membrane Contact Sites. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:195. [PMID: 32292782 PMCID: PMC7118198 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Inter-organelle membrane contact sites (MCSs) are classically defined as areas of close proximity between heterologous membranes and established by specific proteins (termed tethers). The interest on MCSs has rapidly increased in the last years, since MCSs play a crucial role in the transfer of cellular components between different organelles and have been involved in important cellular functions such as apoptosis, organelle division and biogenesis, and cell growth. Recently, an unprecedented depth and breadth in insights into the details of MCSs have been uncovered. On one hand, extensive MCSs (organelles interactome) are revealed by comprehensive analysis of organelle network with high temporal-spatial resolution at the system level. On the other hand, more and more tethers involving in MCSs are identified and further works are focusing on addressing the role of these tethers in regulating the function of MCSs at the molecular level. These enormous progresses largely depend on the powerful approaches, including several different types of microscopies and various biochemical techniques. These approaches have greatly accelerated recent advances in MCSs at the system and molecular level. In this review, we summarize the current and emerging approaches for studying MCSs, such as various microscopies, proximity-driven fluorescent signal generation and proximity-dependent biotinylation. In addition, we highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the techniques to provide a general guidance for the study of MCSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chen Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lihua Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Aimin Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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