1
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Zemella A, Beer K, Ramm F, Wenzel D, Düx A, Merkel K, Calvignac-Spencer S, Stern D, Dorner MB, Dorner BG, Widulin N, Schnalke T, Walter C, Wolbert A, Schmid BG, Mankertz A, Santibanez S. Vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies bind to the H protein of a historical measles virus. Int J Med Microbiol 2024; 314:151607. [PMID: 38367508 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2024.151607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Measles is a highly contagious airborne viral disease. It can lead to serious complications and death and is preventable by vaccination. The live-attenuated measles vaccine (LAMV) derived from a measles virus (MV) isolated in 1954 has been in use globally for six decades and protects effectively by providing a durable humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Our study addresses the temporal stability of epitopes on the viral surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (H) which is the major target of MV-neutralizing antibodies. We investigated the binding of seven vaccine-induced MV-H-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to cell-free synthesized MV-H proteins derived from the H gene sequences obtained from a lung specimen of a fatal case of measles pneumonia in 1912 and an isolate from a current case. The binding of four out of seven mAbs to the H protein of both MV strains provides evidence of epitopes that are stable for more than 100 years. The binding of the universally neutralizing mAbs RKI-MV-12b and RKI-MV-34c to the H protein of the 1912 MV suggests the long-term stability of highly conserved epitopes on the MV surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Zemella
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Kerstin Beer
- WHO Measles/Rubella European RRL and NRC Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestr. 10, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Franziska Ramm
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Dana Wenzel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Ariane Düx
- Viral Evolution, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestr. 10, D-13353 Berlin, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for One Health, Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kevin Merkel
- Viral Evolution, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestr. 10, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastien Calvignac-Spencer
- Viral Evolution, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestr. 10, D-13353 Berlin, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for One Health, Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 17489 Greifswald, Germany; Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Daniel Stern
- Biological Toxins (ZBS3), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestr. 10, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin B Dorner
- Biological Toxins (ZBS3), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestr. 10, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Brigitte G Dorner
- Biological Toxins (ZBS3), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestr. 10, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Cornelia Walter
- WHO Measles/Rubella European RRL and NRC Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestr. 10, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anne Wolbert
- WHO Measles/Rubella European RRL and NRC Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestr. 10, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernhard G Schmid
- WHO Measles/Rubella European RRL and NRC Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestr. 10, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Annette Mankertz
- WHO Measles/Rubella European RRL and NRC Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestr. 10, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sabine Santibanez
- WHO Measles/Rubella European RRL and NRC Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestr. 10, D-13353 Berlin, Germany.
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2
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Goncharuk MV, Vasileva EV, Ananiev EA, Gorokhovatsky AY, Bocharov EV, Mineev KS, Goncharuk SA. Facade-Based Bicelles as a New Tool for Production of Active Membrane Proteins in a Cell-Free System. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14864. [PMID: 37834312 PMCID: PMC10573531 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Integral membrane proteins are important components of a cell. Their structural and functional studies require production of milligram amounts of proteins, which nowadays is not a routine process. Cell-free protein synthesis is a prospective approach to resolve this task. However, there are few known membrane mimetics that can be used to synthesize active membrane proteins in high amounts. Here, we present the application of commercially available "Facade" detergents for the production of active rhodopsin. We show that the yield of active protein in lipid bicelles containing Facade-EM, Facade-TEM, and Facade-EPC is several times higher than in the case of conventional bicelles with CHAPS and DHPC and is comparable to the yield in the presence of lipid-protein nanodiscs. Moreover, the effects of the lipid-to-detergent ratio, concentration of detergent in the feeding mixture, and lipid composition of the bicelles on the total, soluble, and active protein yields are discussed. We show that Facade-based bicelles represent a prospective membrane mimetic, available for the production of membrane proteins in a cell-free system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina V. Goncharuk
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia; (M.V.G.); (A.Y.G.); (E.V.B.)
| | - Ekaterina V. Vasileva
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia; (M.V.G.); (A.Y.G.); (E.V.B.)
| | - Egor A. Ananiev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia; (M.V.G.); (A.Y.G.); (E.V.B.)
| | - Andrey Y. Gorokhovatsky
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia; (M.V.G.); (A.Y.G.); (E.V.B.)
| | - Eduard V. Bocharov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia; (M.V.G.); (A.Y.G.); (E.V.B.)
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
| | - Konstantin S. Mineev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia; (M.V.G.); (A.Y.G.); (E.V.B.)
| | - Sergey A. Goncharuk
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia; (M.V.G.); (A.Y.G.); (E.V.B.)
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
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3
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Chung H, Kim J, Lee YJ, Choi KR, Jeong KJ, Kim GJ, Lee SY. Enhanced production of difficult-to-express proteins through knocking down rnpA gene expression. Biotechnol J 2023; 18:e2200641. [PMID: 37285237 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202200641] [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: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Escherichia coli has been employed as a workhorse for the efficient production of recombinant proteins. However, some proteins were found to be difficult to produce in E. coli. The stability of mRNA has been considered as one of the important factors affecting recombinant protein production. Here we report a generally applicable and simple strategy for enhancing mRNA stability, and consequently improving recombinant protein production in E. coli. RNase P, a ribozyme comprising an RNA subunit (RnpB) and a protein subunit (RnpA), is involved in tRNA maturation. Based on the finding that purified RnpA can digest rRNA and mRNA in vitro, it was reasoned that knocking down the level of RnpA might enhance recombinant protein production. For this, the synthetic small regulatory RNA-based knockdown system was applied to reduce the expression level of RnpA. The developed RnpA knockdown system allowed successful overexpression of 23 different recombinant proteins of various origins and sizes, including Cas9 protein, antibody fragment, and spider silk protein. Notably, a 284.9-kDa ultra-high molecular weight, highly repetitive glycine-rich spider silk protein, which is one of the most difficult proteins to produce, could be produced to 1.38 g L-1 , about two-fold higher than the highest value previously achieved, by a fed-batch culture of recombinant E. coli strain employing the RnpA knockdown system. The RnpA-knockdown strategy reported here will be generally useful for the production of recombinant proteins including those that have been difficult to produce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Chung
- Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), Institute for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- MedicosBiotech Inc, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyong Kim
- Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), Institute for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- MedicosBiotech Inc, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Jae Lee
- Protein Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), Institute for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Cell Factory Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Rok Choi
- Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), Institute for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Jun Jeong
- Protein Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), Institute for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Geun-Joong Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Yup Lee
- Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), Institute for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- MedicosBiotech Inc, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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4
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Petrovskaya LE, Lukashev EP, Lyukmanova EN, Shulepko MA, Kryukova EA, Ziganshin RH, Dolgikh DA, Maksimov EG, Rubin AB, Kirpichnikov MP, Lanyi JK, Balashov SP. Expression of Xanthorhodopsin in Escherichia coli. Protein J 2023:10.1007/s10930-023-10109-5. [DOI: 10.1007/s10930-023-10109-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
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5
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Koo CW, Hershewe JM, Jewett MC, Rosenzweig AC. Cell-Free Protein Synthesis of Particulate Methane Monooxygenase into Nanodiscs. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:4009-4017. [PMID: 36417751 PMCID: PMC9910172 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) is a multi-subunit membrane metalloenzyme used by methanotrophic bacteria to convert methane to methanol. A major hurdle to studying pMMO is the lack of a recombinant expression system, precluding investigation of individual residues by mutagenesis and hampering a complete understanding of its mechanism. Here, we developed an Escherichia coli lysate-based cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system that can be used to express pMMO in vitro in the presence of nanodiscs. We used a SUMO fusion construct to generate the native PmoB subunit and showed that the SUMO protease (Ulp1) cleaves the protein in the reaction mixture. Using an affinity tag to isolate the complete pMMO complex, we demonstrated that the complex forms without the need for exogenous translocon machinery or chaperones, confirmed by negative stain electron microscopy. This work demonstrates the potential for using CFPS to express multi-subunit membrane-bound metalloenzymes directly into lipid bilayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W. Koo
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Jasmine M. Hershewe
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Michael C. Jewett
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Amy C. Rosenzweig
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and of Chemistry and Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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6
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Kai L, Sonal, Heermann T, Schwille P. Reconstitution of a Reversible Membrane Switch via Prenylation by One-Pot Cell-Free Expression. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 12:108-119. [PMID: 36445320 PMCID: PMC9872162 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Reversible membrane targeting of proteins is one of the key regulators of cellular interaction networks, for example, for signaling and polarization. So-called "membrane switches" are thus highly attractive targets for the design of minimal cells but have so far been tricky to reconstitute in vitro. Here, we introduce cell-free prenylated protein synthesis (CFpPS), which enables the synthesis and membrane targeting of proteins in a single reaction mix including the prenylation machinery. CFpPS can confer membrane affinity to any protein via addition of a 4-peptide motif to its C-terminus and offers robust production of prenylated proteins not only in their soluble forms but also in the direct vicinity of biomimetic membranes. Thus, CFpPS enabled us to reconstitute the prenylated polarity hub Cdc42 and its regulatory protein in vitro, implementing a key membrane switch. We propose CFpPS to be a versatile and effective platform for engineering complex features, such as polarity induction, in synthetic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Kai
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max
Planck Institute of Biochemistry, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany,School
of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Shanghai Road 101, 221116 Xuzhou, P. R. China,. Phone: +86 15852001351
| | - Sonal
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max
Planck Institute of Biochemistry, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany,Biosciences
Division, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, U.K.
| | - Tamara Heermann
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max
Planck Institute of Biochemistry, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Petra Schwille
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max
Planck Institute of Biochemistry, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany,. Phone: +49 89 8578 2900
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7
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Bruni R. High-Throughput Cell-Free Screening of Eukaryotic Membrane Proteins in Lipidic Mimetics. Curr Protoc 2022; 2:e510. [PMID: 35926131 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Membrane proteins (MPs) carry out important functions in the metabolism of cells, such as the detection of extracellular activities and the transport of small molecules across the plasma and organelle membranes. Expression of MPs for biochemical, biophysical, and structural analysis is in most cases achieved by overexpression of the desired target in an appropriate host, such as a bacterium. However, overexpression of MPs is usually toxic to the host cells and can lead to aggregation of target protein and to resistance to detergent extraction. An alternative to cell-based MP expression is cell-free (CF), or in vitro, expression. CF expression of MPs has several advantages over cell-based methods, including lack of toxicity issues, no requirement for detergent extraction, and direct incorporation of target proteins in various lipidic mimetics. This article describes a high-throughput method for the expression and purification of eukaryotic membrane proteins used in the author's lab. Basic Protocol 1 describes the selection and cloning of target genes into appropriate vectors for CF expression. Basic Protocol 2 describes the assembly of CF reactions for high-throughput screening. Basic Protocol 3 outlines methods for purification and detection of target proteins. Support Protocols 1-6 describe various accessory procedures: amplification of target, treatment of vectors to prepare them for ligation-independent cloning, and the preparation of S30 extract, T7 RNA polymerase, liposomes, and nanodiscs. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Target selection, construct design, and cloning into pET-based expression vectors Support Protocol 1: Amplification of target DNA Support Protocol 2: Preparation of ligation-independent cloning (LIC)-compatible vectors Basic Protocol 2: Assembly of small-scale cell-free reactions for high-throughput screening Support Protocol 3: Preparation of Escherichia coli S30 extract Support Protocol 4: Preparation of T7 RNA polymerase Support Protocol 5: Preparation of liposomes Support Protocol 6: Preparation of nanodiscs Basic Protocol 3: Purification and detection of cell-free reaction products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Bruni
- Center on Membrane Protein Production and Analysis (COMPPÅ), New York Structural Biology Center, New York, New York
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8
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Ataka K, Baumann A, Chen JL, Redlich A, Heberle J, Schlesinger R. Monitoring the Progression of Cell-Free Expression of Microbial Rhodopsins by Surface Enhanced IR Spectroscopy: Resolving a Branch Point for Successful/Unsuccessful Folding. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:929285. [PMID: 35911953 PMCID: PMC9329800 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.929285] [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: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The translocon-unassisted folding process of transmembrane domains of the microbial rhodopsins sensory rhodopsin I (HsSRI) and II (HsSRII), channelrhodopsin II (CrChR2), and bacteriorhodopsin (HsBR) during cell-free expression has been investigated by Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy (SEIRAS). Up to now, only a limited number of rhodopsins have been expressed and folded into the functional holoprotein in cell free expression systems, while other microbial rhodopsins fail to properly bind the chromophore all-trans retinal as indicated by the missing visible absorption. SEIRAS experiments suggest that all investigated rhodopsins lead to the production of polypeptides, which are co-translationally inserted into a solid-supported lipid bilayer during the first hour after the in-vitro expression is initiated. Secondary structure analysis of the IR spectra revealed that the polypeptides form a comparable amount of α-helical structure during the initial phase of insertion into the lipid bilayer. As the process progressed (>1 h), only HsBR exhibited a further increase and association of α-helices to form a compact tertiary structure, while the helical contents of the other rhodopsins stagnated. This result suggests that the molecular reason for the unsuccessful cell-free expression of the two sensory rhodopsins and of CrChR2 is not due to the translation process, but rather to the folding process during the post-translational period. Taking our previous observation into account that HsBR fails to form a tertiary structure in the absence of its retinal, we infer that the chromophore retinal is an integral component of the compaction of the polypeptide into its tertiary structure and the formation of a fully functional protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi Ataka
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Kenichi Ataka, ; Ramona Schlesinger,
| | - Axel Baumann
- Department of Physics, Genetic Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jheng-Liang Chen
- Department of Physics, Genetic Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aoife Redlich
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joachim Heberle
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ramona Schlesinger
- Department of Physics, Genetic Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Kenichi Ataka, ; Ramona Schlesinger,
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9
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Harris NJ, Pellowe GA, Blackholly LR, Gulaidi-Breen S, Findlay HE, Booth PJ. Methods to study folding of alpha-helical membrane proteins in lipids. Open Biol 2022; 12:220054. [PMID: 35855589 PMCID: PMC9297032 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
How alpha-helical membrane proteins fold correctly in the highly hydrophobic membrane interior is not well understood. Their folding is known to be highly influenced by the lipids within the surrounding bilayer, but the majority of folding studies have focused on detergent-solubilized protein rather than protein in a lipid environment. There are different ways to study folding in lipid bilayers, and each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. This review will discuss folding methods which can be used to study alpha-helical membrane proteins in bicelles, liposomes, nanodiscs or native membranes. These folding methods include in vitro folding methods in liposomes such as denaturant unfolding studies, and single-molecule force spectroscopy studies in bicelles, liposomes and native membranes. This review will also discuss recent advances in co-translational folding studies, which use cell-free expression with liposomes or nanodiscs or are performed in vivo with native membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola J. Harris
- Department of Chemistry, King's College London, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, London, SE1 1DB, UK
| | - Grant A. Pellowe
- Department of Chemistry, King's College London, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, London, SE1 1DB, UK
| | - Laura R. Blackholly
- Department of Chemistry, King's College London, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, London, SE1 1DB, UK
| | | | - Heather E. Findlay
- Department of Chemistry, King's College London, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, London, SE1 1DB, UK,The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Paula J. Booth
- Department of Chemistry, King's College London, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, London, SE1 1DB, UK,The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
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10
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Ramm F, Dondapati SK, Trinh HA, Wenzel D, Walter RM, Zemella A, Kubick S. The Potential of Eukaryotic Cell-Free Systems as a Rapid Response to Novel Zoonotic Pathogens: Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Viral Proteins. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:896751. [PMID: 35519622 PMCID: PMC9061942 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.896751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has led to more than 445 million infections and the underlying disease, COVID-19, resulted in more than 6 million deaths worldwide. The scientific world is already predicting future zoonotic diseases. Hence, rapid response systems are needed to tackle future epidemics and pandemics. Here, we present the use of eukaryotic cell-free systems for the rapid response to novel zoonotic diseases represented by SARS-CoV-2. Non-structural, structural and accessory proteins encoded by SARS-CoV-2 were synthesized by cell-free protein synthesis in a fast and efficient manner. The inhibitory effect of the non-structural protein 1 on protein synthesis could be shown in vitro. Structural proteins were quantitatively detected by commercial antibodies, therefore facilitating cell-free systems for the validation of available antibodies. The cytotoxic envelope protein was characterized in electrophysiological planar lipid bilayer measurements. Hence, our study demonstrates the potential of eukaryotic cell-free systems as a rapid response mechanism for the synthesis, functional characterization and antibody validation against a viral pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Ramm
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Srujan K. Dondapati
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Hoai Anh Trinh
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dana Wenzel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Ruben M. Walter
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anne Zemella
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Joint Faculty of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus–Senftenberg, The Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, The University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
- *Correspondence: Stefan Kubick,
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11
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Bruni R, Laguerre A, Kaminska A, McSweeney S, Hendrickson WA, Liu Q. High-throughput cell-free screening of eukaryotic membrane protein expression in lipidic mimetics. Protein Sci 2022; 31:639-651. [PMID: 34910339 PMCID: PMC8862427 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Membrane proteins play essential roles in cellular function and metabolism. Nonetheless, biophysical and structural studies of membrane proteins are impeded by the difficulty of their expression in and purification from heterologous cell-based systems. As an alternative to these cell-based systems, cell-free protein synthesis has proven to be an exquisite method for screening membrane protein targets in a variety of lipidic mimetics. Here we report a high-throughput screening workflow and apply it to screen 61 eukaryotic membrane protein targets. For each target, we tested its expression in lipidic mimetics: two detergents, two liposomes, and two nanodiscs. We show that 35 membrane proteins (57%) can be expressed in a soluble fraction in at least one of the mimetics with the two detergents performing significantly better than nanodiscs and liposomes, in that order. Using the established cell-free workflow, we studied the production and biophysical assays for mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) complexes. Our studies show that the complexes produced in cell-free are functionally competent in complex formation and substrate binding. Our results highlight the utility of using cell-free systems for screening and production of eukaryotic membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Bruni
- Center on Membrane Protein Production and Analysis (COMPPÅ)New York Structural Biology CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Aisha Laguerre
- Center on Membrane Protein Production and Analysis (COMPPÅ)New York Structural Biology CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA,Present address:
Roche DiagnosticsSanta ClaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Anna‐Maria Kaminska
- Center on Membrane Protein Production and Analysis (COMPPÅ)New York Structural Biology CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA,Present address:
New York Blood CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Wayne A. Hendrickson
- Center on Membrane Protein Production and Analysis (COMPPÅ)New York Structural Biology CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiophysicsColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Qun Liu
- NSLS‐II, Brookhaven National LaboratoryUptonNew YorkUSA,Biology DepartmentBrookhaven National LaboratoryUptonNew YorkUSA
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12
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Nakai H, Isshiki K, Hattori M, Maehira H, Yamaguchi T, Masuda K, Shimizu Y, Watanabe T, Hohsaka T, Shihoya W, Nureki O, Kato Y, Watanabe H, Matsuura T. Cell-Free Synthesis of Human Endothelin Receptors and Its Application to Ribosome Display. Anal Chem 2022; 94:3831-3839. [PMID: 35188389 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c04714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Engineering G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) for improved stability or altered function is of great interest, as GPCRs consist of the largest protein family, are involved in many important signaling pathways, and thus, are one of the major drug targets. Here, we report the development of a high-throughput screening method for GPCRs using a reconstituted in vitro transcription-translation (IVTT) system. Human endothelin receptor type-B (ETBR), a class A GPCR that binds endothelin-1 (ET-1), a 21-residue peptide hormone, was synthesized in the presence of nanodisc (ND) composed of a phospholipid, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1'-rac-glycerol) (POPG). The ET-1 binding of ETBR was significantly reduced or was undetectable when other phospholipids were used for ND preparation. However, when functional ETBR purified from Sf9 cells was reconstituted into NDs, ET-1 binding was observed with two different phospholipids tested, including POPG. These results suggest that POPG likely supports the folding of ETBR into its functional form in the IVTT system. Using the same conditions as ETBR, whose three-dimensional structure has been solved, human endothelin receptor type-A (ETAR), whose three-dimensional structure remains unsolved, was also synthesized in its functional form. By adding POPG-ND to the IVTT system, both ETAR and ETBR were successfully subjected to ribosome display, a method of in vitro directed evolution that facilitates the screening of up to 1012 mutants. Finally, using a mock library, we showed that ribosome display can be applied for gene screening of ETBR, suggesting that high-throughput screening and directed evolution of GPCRs is possible in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Nakai
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kinuka Isshiki
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masato Hattori
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Maehira
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tatsumi Yamaguchi
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.,Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1-i7E-307, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Keiko Masuda
- Laboratory for Cell-Free Protein Synthesis, RIKEN Center for Biosystem Dynamics Research (BDR), 6-2-3, Furuedai, Suita, Osaka 565-0874, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Shimizu
- Laboratory for Cell-Free Protein Synthesis, RIKEN Center for Biosystem Dynamics Research (BDR), 6-2-3, Furuedai, Suita, Osaka 565-0874, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Watanabe
- School of Materials Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1292, Japan
| | - Takahiro Hohsaka
- School of Materials Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1292, Japan
| | - Wataru Shihoya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Osamu Nureki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Kato
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hajime Watanabe
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Matsuura
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.,Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1-i7E-307, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
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13
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Microbial protein cell factories fight back? Trends Biotechnol 2021; 40:576-590. [PMID: 34924209 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The biopharmaceutical market is growing faster than ever, with two production systems competing for market dominance: mammalian cells and microorganisms. In recent years, based on the rise of antibody-based therapies, new biotherapeutic approvals have favored mammalian hosts. However, not only has extensive research elevated our understanding of microbes to new levels, but emerging therapeutic molecules also facilitate their use; thus, is it time for microbes to fight back? In this review, we answer this timely question by cross-comparing four microbial production hosts and examining the innovations made to both their secretion and post-translational modification (PTM) capabilities. Furthermore, we discuss the impact of tools, such as omics and systems biology, as well as alternative production systems and emerging biotherapeutics.
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14
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Brookwell A, Oza JP, Caschera F. Biotechnology Applications of Cell-Free Expression Systems. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11121367. [PMID: 34947898 PMCID: PMC8705439 DOI: 10.3390/life11121367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free systems are a rapidly expanding platform technology with an important role in the engineering of biological systems. The key advantages that drive their broad adoption are increased efficiency, versatility, and low cost compared to in vivo systems. Traditionally, in vivo platforms have been used to synthesize novel and industrially relevant proteins and serve as a testbed for prototyping numerous biotechnologies such as genetic circuits and biosensors. Although in vivo platforms currently have many applications within biotechnology, they are hindered by time-constraining growth cycles, homeostatic considerations, and limited adaptability in production. Conversely, cell-free platforms are not hindered by constraints for supporting life and are therefore highly adaptable to a broad range of production and testing schemes. The advantages of cell-free platforms are being leveraged more commonly by the biotechnology community, and cell-free applications are expected to grow exponentially in the next decade. In this study, new and emerging applications of cell-free platforms, with a specific focus on cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS), will be examined. The current and near-future role of CFPS within metabolic engineering, prototyping, and biomanufacturing will be investigated as well as how the integration of machine learning is beneficial to these applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- August Brookwell
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, College of Science & Mathematics, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA;
| | - Javin P. Oza
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, College of Science & Mathematics, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA;
- Correspondence: (J.P.O.); (F.C.)
| | - Filippo Caschera
- Nuclera Nucleics Ltd., Cambridge CB4 0GD, UK
- Correspondence: (J.P.O.); (F.C.)
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15
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Yang C, Liu Y, Liu WQ, Wu C, Li J. Designing Modular Cell-free Systems for Tunable Biotransformation of l-phenylalanine to Aromatic Compounds. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:730663. [PMID: 34395411 PMCID: PMC8355704 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.730663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free systems have been used to synthesize chemicals by reconstitution of in vitro expressed enzymes. However, coexpression of multiple enzymes to reconstitute long enzymatic pathways is often problematic due to resource limitation/competition (e.g., energy) in the one-pot cell-free reactions. To address this limitation, here we aim to design a modular, cell-free platform to construct long biosynthetic pathways for tunable synthesis of value-added aromatic compounds, using (S)-1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol ((S)-PED) and 2-phenylethanol (2-PE) as models. Initially, all enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathways were individually expressed by an E. coli-based cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system and their catalytic activities were confirmed. Then, three sets of enzymes were coexpressed in three cell-free modules and each with the ability to complete a partial pathway. Finally, the full biosynthetic pathways were reconstituted by mixing two related modules to synthesize (S)-PED and 2-PE, respectively. After optimization, the final conversion rates for (S)-PED and 2-PE reached 100 and 82.5%, respectively, based on the starting substrate of l-phenylalanine. We anticipate that the modular cell-free approach will make a possible efficient and high-yielding biosynthesis of value-added chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Yang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yushi Liu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wan-Qiu Liu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Changzhu Wu
- Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS) and Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jian Li
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
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16
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Rauh O, Kukovetz K, Winterstein L, Introini B, Thiel G. Combining in vitro translation with nanodisc technology and functional reconstitution of channels in planar lipid bilayers. Methods Enzymol 2021; 652:293-318. [PMID: 34059286 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Experimental studies on membrane proteins have been recently enriched by two promising method developments: protocols for cell-free protein synthesis and the use of soluble nanoscale lipid bilayers, so called nanodiscs, as membrane mimics for keeping these proteins in a soluble form. Here, we show how the advantages of these techniques can be combined with the classical planar lipid bilayer method for a functional reconstitution of channel activity. The present data demonstrate that the combination of these methods offers a very rapid and reliable way of recording channel activity in different bilayer systems. This approach has additional advantages in that it strongly lowers the propensity of contamination from the expression system and allows the simultaneous reconstitution of thousands of channel proteins for macroscopic current measurements without compromising bilayer stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Rauh
- Membrane Biophysics and Center for Synthetic Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Kerri Kukovetz
- Membrane Biophysics and Center for Synthetic Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Laura Winterstein
- Membrane Biophysics and Center for Synthetic Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Bianca Introini
- Department of Biosciences and CNR IBF-Mi, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Gerhard Thiel
- Membrane Biophysics and Center for Synthetic Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.
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17
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Chiba CH, Knirsch MC, Azzoni AR, Moreira AR, Stephano MA. Cell-free protein synthesis: advances on production process for biopharmaceuticals and immunobiological products. Biotechniques 2021; 70:126-133. [PMID: 33467890 DOI: 10.2144/btn-2020-0155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Biopharmaceutical products are of great importance in the treatment or prevention of many diseases and represent a growing share of the global pharmaceutical market. The usual technology for protein synthesis (cell-based expression) faces certain obstacles, especially with 'difficult-to-express' proteins. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) can overcome the main bottlenecks of cell-based expression. This review aims to present recent advances in the production process of biologic products by CFPS. First, key aspects of CFPS systems are summarized. A description of several biologic products that have been successfully produced using the CFPS system is provided. Finally, the CFPS system's ability to scale up and scale down, its main limitations and its application for biologics production are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Hiromi Chiba
- Departamento de Tecnologia Bioquímico-Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcos Camargo Knirsch
- Departamento de Tecnologia Bioquímico-Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adriano Rodrigues Azzoni
- Departamento de Engenharia Química, Escola Politécnica, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonio R Moreira
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marco Antonio Stephano
- Departamento de Tecnologia Bioquímico-Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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18
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Abiko LA, Rogowski M, Gautier A, Schertler G, Grzesiek S. Efficient production of a functional G protein-coupled receptor in E. coli for structural studies. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR 2021; 75:25-38. [PMID: 33501610 PMCID: PMC7897205 DOI: 10.1007/s10858-020-00354-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are transmembrane signal transducers which regulate many key physiological process. Since their discovery, their analysis has been limited by difficulties in obtaining sufficient amounts of the receptors in high-quality, functional form from heterologous expression hosts. Albeit highly attractive because of its simplicity and the ease of isotope labeling for NMR studies, heterologous expression of functional GPCRs in E. coli has proven particularly challenging due to the absence of the more evolved protein expression and folding machinery of higher eukaryotic hosts. Here we first give an overview on the previous strategies for GPCR E. coli expression and then describe the development of an optimized robust protocol for the E. coli expression and purification of two mutants of the turkey β1-adrenergic receptor (β1AR) uniformly or selectively labeled in 15N or 2H,15N. These mutants had been previously optimized for thermal stability using insect cell expression and used successfully in crystallographic and NMR studies. The same sequences were then used for E. coli expression. Optimization of E. coli expression was achieved by a quantitative analysis of losses of receptor material at each step of the solubilization and purification procedure. Final yields are 0.2-0.3 mg receptor per liter culture. Whereas both expressed mutants are well folded and competent for orthosteric ligand binding, the less stable YY-β1AR mutant also comprises the two native tyrosines Y5.58 and Y7.53, which enable G protein binding. High-quality 1H-15N TROSY spectra were obtained for E. coli-expressed YY-β1AR in three different functional states (antagonist, agonist, and agonist + G protein-mimicking nanobody-bound), which are identical to spectra obtained of the same forms of the receptor expressed in insect cells. NdeI and AgeI restriction sites introduced into the expression plasmid allow for the easy replacement of the receptor gene by other GPCR genes of interest, and the provided quantitative workflow analysis may guide the respective adaptation of the purification protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layara Akemi Abiko
- Focal Area Structural Biology and Biophysics, Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Marco Rogowski
- Focal Area Structural Biology and Biophysics, Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Gautier
- Focal Area Structural Biology and Biophysics, Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
- Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| | | | - Stephan Grzesiek
- Focal Area Structural Biology and Biophysics, Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
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19
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Boyd MA, Kamat NP. Designing Artificial Cells towards a New Generation of Biosensors. Trends Biotechnol 2020; 39:927-939. [PMID: 33388162 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The combination of biological and synthetic materials has great potential to generate new types of biosensors. Toward this goal, recent advances in artificial cell development have demonstrated the capacity to detect a variety of analytes and environmental changes by encapsulating genetically encoded sensors within bilayer membranes, expanding the contexts within which biologically based sensing can operate. This chassis not only acts as a container for cell-free sensors, but can also play an active role in artificial cell sensing by serving as an additional gate mediating the transfer of environmental information. Here, we focus on recent progress toward stimuli-responsive artificial cells and discuss strategies for membrane functionalization in order to expand cell-free biosensing capabilities and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margrethe A Boyd
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Neha P Kamat
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
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20
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21
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Pacull EM, Sendker F, Bernhard F, Scheidt HA, Schmidt P, Huster D, Krug U. Integration of Cell-Free Expression and Solid-State NMR to Investigate the Dynamic Properties of Different Sites of the Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:562113. [PMID: 33324203 PMCID: PMC7723455 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.562113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-free expression represents an attractive method to produce large quantities of selectively labeled protein for NMR applications. Here, cell-free expression was used to label specific regions of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) with NMR-active isotopes. The GHSR is a member of the class A family of G protein-coupled receptors. A cell-free expression system was established to produce the GHSR in the precipitated form. The solubilized receptor was refolded in vitro and reconstituted into DMPC lipid membranes. Methionines, arginines, and histidines were chosen for 13C-labeling as they are representative for the transmembrane domains, the loops and flanking regions of the transmembrane α-helices, and the C-terminus of the receptor, respectively. The dynamics of the isotopically labeled residues was characterized by solid-state NMR measuring motionally averaged 1H-13C dipolar couplings, which were converted into molecular order parameters. Separated local field DIPSHIFT experiments under magic-angle spinning conditions using either varying cross polarization contact times or direct excitation provided order parameters for these residues showing that the C-terminus was the segment with the highest motional amplitude. The loop regions and helix ends as well as the transmembrane regions of the GHSR represent relatively rigid segments in the overall very flexible receptor molecule. Although no site resolution could be achieved in the experiments, the previously reported highly dynamic character of the receptor concluded from uniformly 13C labeled receptor samples could be further specified by this segmental labeling approach, leading to a more diversified understanding of the receptor dynamics under equilibrium conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emelyne M Pacull
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Franziska Sendker
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Frank Bernhard
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Holger A Scheidt
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Peter Schmidt
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniel Huster
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Krug
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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22
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Yue K, Jiang J, Zhang P, Kai L. Functional Analysis of Aquaporin Water Permeability Using an Escherichia coli-Based Cell-Free Protein Synthesis System. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:1000. [PMID: 32974321 PMCID: PMC7466572 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.01000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aquaporins are essential water channel proteins found in all kingdoms of life. Although the water permeability of aquaporins has been well characterized, sample preparation for aquaporin water permeability assays remains challenging and time-consuming. Besides the difficulty in overexpressing membrane proteins in a cell-based expression system, the unique requirement for homogeneity in aquaporin proteoliposome sample preparations for water transport assays further increases the complexity. In this study, a complementary Cell-free Protein Synthesis (CFPS) method is described in detail, providing three different strategies for the preparation of aquaporin proteoliposome samples. Aquaporin can be produced either as a pellet fraction and then resolubilized, or co-translationally as a detergent-soluble fraction. Furthermore, aquaporin can be directly incorporated into liposomes, which was included in the CFPS reactions. Although proteoliposomes tend to fuse during the incubation of the CFPS reactions, an additional treatment of the fused samples with detergent, followed by a detergent removal step, can re-form homogenously sized proteoliposomes suitable for functional analysis. Using this method, we successfully characterized aquaporins from both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. In particular, in the presence of liposomes, the developed CFPS expression system is a fast and convenient method for sample preparation for the functional analysis of aquaporins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Yue
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jihong Jiang
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Lei Kai
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
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23
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Kögler LM, Stichel J, Beck-Sickinger AG. Structural investigations of cell-free expressed G protein-coupled receptors. Biol Chem 2020; 401:97-116. [PMID: 31539345 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2019-0292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are of great pharmaceutical interest and about 35% of the commercial drugs target these proteins. Still there is huge potential left in finding molecules that target new GPCRs or that modulate GPCRs differentially. For a rational drug design, it is important to understand the structure, binding and activation of the protein of interest. Structural investigations of GPCRs remain challenging, although huge progress has been made in the last 20 years, especially in the generation of crystal structures of GPCRs. This is mostly caused by issues with the expression yield, purity or labeling. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is an efficient alternative for recombinant expression systems that can potentially address many of these problems. In this article the use of CFPS for structural investigations of GPCRs is reviewed. We compare different CFPS systems, including the cellular basis and reaction configurations, and strategies for an efficient solubilization. Next, we highlight recent advances in the structural investigation of cell-free expressed GPCRs, with special emphasis on the role of photo-crosslinking approaches to investigate ligand binding sites on GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Maria Kögler
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology, Leipzig University, Brüderstr. 34, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jan Stichel
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology, Leipzig University, Brüderstr. 34, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Annette G Beck-Sickinger
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology, Leipzig University, Brüderstr. 34, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
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24
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Zhang L, Liu WQ, Li J. Establishing a Eukaryotic Pichia pastoris Cell-Free Protein Synthesis System. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:536. [PMID: 32626695 PMCID: PMC7314905 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems have been used to synthesize proteins, prototype genetic elements, manufacture chemicals, and diagnose diseases. These exciting, novel applications lead to a new wave of interest in the development of new CFPS systems that are derived from prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. The eukaryotic Pichia pastoris is emerging as a robust chassis host for recombinant protein production. To expand the current CFPS repertoire, we report here the development and optimization of a eukaryotic CFPS system, which is derived from a protease-deficient strain P. pastoris SMD1163. By developing a simple crude extract preparation protocol and optimizing CFPS reaction conditions, we were able to achieve superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) yields of 50.16 ± 7.49 μg/ml in 5 h batch reactions. Our newly developed P. pastoris CFPS system fits to the range of the productivity achieved by other eukaryotic CFPS platforms, normally ranging from several to tens of micrograms protein per milliliter in batch mode reactions. Looking forward, we believe that our P. pastoris CFPS system will not only expand the CFPS toolbox for synthetic biology applications, but also provide a novel platform for cost-effective, high-yielding production of complex proteins that need post-translational modification and functionalization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jian Li
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
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25
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Abstract
Proteins are the main source of drug targets and some of them possess therapeutic potential themselves. Among them, membrane proteins constitute approximately 50% of the major drug targets. In the drug discovery pipeline, rapid methods for producing different classes of proteins in a simple manner with high quality are important for structural and functional analysis. Cell-free systems are emerging as an attractive alternative for the production of proteins due to their flexible nature without any cell membrane constraints. In a bioproduction context, open systems based on cell lysates derived from different sources, and with batch-to-batch consistency, have acted as a catalyst for cell-free synthesis of target proteins. Most importantly, proteins can be processed for downstream applications like purification and functional analysis without the necessity of transfection, selection, and expansion of clones. In the last 5 years, there has been an increased availability of new cell-free lysates derived from multiple organisms, and their use for the synthesis of a diverse range of proteins. Despite this progress, major challenges still exist in terms of scalability, cost effectiveness, protein folding, and functionality. In this review, we present an overview of different cell-free systems derived from diverse sources and their application in the production of a wide spectrum of proteins. Further, this article discusses some recent progress in cell-free systems derived from Chinese hamster ovary and Sf21 lysates containing endogenous translocationally active microsomes for the synthesis of membrane proteins. We particularly highlight the usage of internal ribosomal entry site sequences for more efficient protein production, and also the significance of site-specific incorporation of non-canonical amino acids for labeling applications and creation of antibody drug conjugates using cell-free systems. We also discuss strategies to overcome the major challenges involved in commercializing cell-free platforms from a laboratory level for future drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srujan Kumar Dondapati
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Marlitt Stech
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Anne Zemella
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Joint Faculty of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, The Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and the University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
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Laohakunakorn N, Grasemann L, Lavickova B, Michielin G, Shahein A, Swank Z, Maerkl SJ. Bottom-Up Construction of Complex Biomolecular Systems With Cell-Free Synthetic Biology. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:213. [PMID: 32266240 PMCID: PMC7105575 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free systems offer a promising approach to engineer biology since their open nature allows for well-controlled and characterized reaction conditions. In this review, we discuss the history and recent developments in engineering recombinant and crude extract systems, as well as breakthroughs in enabling technologies, that have facilitated increased throughput, compartmentalization, and spatial control of cell-free protein synthesis reactions. Combined with a deeper understanding of the cell-free systems themselves, these advances improve our ability to address a range of scientific questions. By mastering control of the cell-free platform, we will be in a position to construct increasingly complex biomolecular systems, and approach natural biological complexity in a bottom-up manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadanai Laohakunakorn
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Grasemann
- School of Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Barbora Lavickova
- School of Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Grégoire Michielin
- School of Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Amir Shahein
- School of Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Zoe Swank
- School of Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian J. Maerkl
- School of Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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27
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Escherichia coli Extract-Based Cell-Free Expression System as an Alternative for Difficult-to-Obtain Protein Biosynthesis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21030928. [PMID: 32023820 PMCID: PMC7037961 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Before utilization in biomedical diagnosis, therapeutic treatment, and biotechnology, the diverse variety of peptides and proteins must be preliminarily purified and thoroughly characterized. The recombinant DNA technology and heterologous protein expression have helped simplify the isolation of targeted polypeptides at high purity and their structure-function examinations. Recombinant protein expression in Escherichia coli, the most-established heterologous host organism, has been widely used to produce proteins of commercial and fundamental research interests. Nonetheless, many peptides/proteins are still difficult to express due to their ability to slow down cell growth or disrupt cellular metabolism. Besides, special modifications are often required for proper folding and activity of targeted proteins. The cell-free (CF) or in vitro recombinant protein synthesis system enables the production of such difficult-to-obtain molecules since it is possible to adjust reaction medium and there is no need to support cellular metabolism and viability. Here, we describe E. coli-based CF systems, the optimization steps done toward the development of highly productive and cost-effective CF methodology, and the modification of an in vitro approach required for difficult-to-obtain protein production.
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28
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Cai H, Yao H, Li T, Tang Y, Li D. High-level heterologous expression of the human transmembrane sterol Δ8,Δ7-isomerase in Pichia pastoris. Protein Expr Purif 2019; 164:105463. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2019.105463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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29
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Myshkin MY, Männikkö R, Krumkacheva OA, Kulbatskii DS, Chugunov AO, Berkut AA, Paramonov AS, Shulepko MA, Fedin MV, Hanna MG, Kullmann DM, Bagryanskaya EG, Arseniev AS, Kirpichnikov MP, Lyukmanova EN, Vassilevski AA, Shenkarev ZO. Cell-Free Expression of Sodium Channel Domains for Pharmacology Studies. Noncanonical Spider Toxin Binding Site in the Second Voltage-Sensing Domain of Human Na v1.4 Channel. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:953. [PMID: 31555136 PMCID: PMC6737007 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels are essential for the normal functioning of cardiovascular, muscular, and nervous systems. These channels have modular organization; the central pore domain allows current flow and provides ion selectivity, whereas four peripherally located voltage-sensing domains (VSDs-I/IV) are needed for voltage-dependent gating. Mutations in the S4 voltage-sensing segments of VSDs in the skeletal muscle channel NaV1.4 trigger leak (gating pore) currents and cause hypokalemic and normokalemic periodic paralyses. Previously, we have shown that the gating modifier toxin Hm-3 from the crab spider Heriaeus melloteei binds to the S3-S4 extracellular loop in VSD-I of NaV1.4 channel and inhibits gating pore currents through the channel with mutations in VSD-I. Here, we report that Hm-3 also inhibits gating pore currents through the same channel with the R675G mutation in VSD-II. To investigate the molecular basis of Hm-3 interaction with VSD-II, we produced the corresponding 554-696 fragment of NaV1.4 in a continuous exchange cell-free expression system based on the Escherichia coli S30 extract. We then performed a combined nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy study of isolated VSD-II in zwitterionic dodecylphosphocholine/lauryldimethylamine-N-oxide or dodecylphosphocholine micelles. To speed up the assignment of backbone resonances, five selectively 13C,15N-labeled VSD-II samples were produced in accordance with specially calculated combinatorial scheme. This labeling approach provides assignment for ∼50% of the backbone. Obtained NMR and electron paramagnetic resonance data revealed correct secondary structure, quasi-native VSD-II fold, and enhanced ps-ns timescale dynamics in the micelle-solubilized domain. We modeled the structure of the VSD-II/Hm-3 complex by protein-protein docking involving binding surfaces mapped by NMR. Hm-3 binds to VSDs I and II using different modes. In VSD-II, the protruding ß-hairpin of Hm-3 interacts with the S1-S2 extracellular loop, and the complex is stabilized by ionic interactions between the positively charged toxin residue K24 and the negatively charged channel residues E604 or D607. We suggest that Hm-3 binding to these charged groups inhibits voltage sensor transition to the activated state and blocks the depolarization-activated gating pore currents. Our results indicate that spider toxins represent a useful hit for periodic paralyses therapy development and may have multiple structurally different binding sites within one NaV molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Yu Myshkin
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Roope Männikkö
- MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Dmitrii S Kulbatskii
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anton O Chugunov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia.,International Laboratory for Supercomputer Atomistic Modelling and Multi-scale Analysis, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Antonina A Berkut
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander S Paramonov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail A Shulepko
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Matvey V Fedin
- International Tomography Center SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Michael G Hanna
- MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dimitri M Kullmann
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elena G Bagryanskaya
- N.N.Voroztsov Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexander S Arseniev
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Mikhail P Kirpichnikov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina N Lyukmanova
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Alexander A Vassilevski
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Zakhar O Shenkarev
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
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30
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Exploration of the Tolerance Ability of a Cell-Free Biosynthesis System to Toxic Substances. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2019; 189:1096-1107. [DOI: 10.1007/s12010-019-03039-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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31
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Pedro AQ, Queiroz JA, Passarinha LA. Smoothing membrane protein structure determination by initial upstream stage improvements. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:5483-5500. [PMID: 31127356 PMCID: PMC7079970 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-09873-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Membrane proteins (MP) constitute 20–30% of all proteins encoded by the genome of various organisms and perform a wide range of essential biological functions. However, despite they represent the largest class of protein drug targets, a relatively small number high-resolution 3D structures have been obtained yet. Membrane protein biogenesis is more complex than that of the soluble proteins and its recombinant biosynthesis has been a major drawback, thus delaying their further structural characterization. Indeed, the major limitation in structure determination of MP is the low yield achieved in recombinant expression, usually coupled to low functionality, pinpointing the optimization target in recombinant MP research. Recently, the growing attention that have been dedicated to the upstream stage of MP bioprocesses allowed great advances, permitting the evolution of the number of MP solved structures. In this review, we analyse and discuss effective solutions and technical advances at the level of the upstream stage using prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms foreseeing an increase in expression yields of correctly folded MP and that may facilitate the determination of their three-dimensional structure. A section on techniques used to protein quality control and further structure determination of MP is also included. Lastly, a critical assessment of major factors contributing for a good decision-making process related to the upstream stage of MP is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augusto Quaresma Pedro
- CICS-UBI - Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6201-001, Covilhã, Portugal
- CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João António Queiroz
- CICS-UBI - Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6201-001, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Luís António Passarinha
- CICS-UBI - Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6201-001, Covilhã, Portugal.
- UCIBIO@REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal.
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32
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Wiegand DJ, Lee HH, Ostrov N, Church GM. Cell-free Protein Expression Using the Rapidly Growing Bacterium Vibrio natriegens. J Vis Exp 2019:10.3791/59495. [PMID: 30933074 PMCID: PMC6512795 DOI: 10.3791/59495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The marine bacterium Vibrio natriegens has garnered considerable attention as an emerging microbial host for biotechnology due to its fast growth rate. A general protocol is described for the preparation of V. natriegens crude cell extracts using common laboratory equipment. This high yielding protocol has been specifically optimized for user accessibility and reduced cost. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) can be carried out in small scale 10 μL batch reactions in either a 96- or 384-well format and reproducibly yields concentrations of > 260 μg/mL super folder GFP (sfGFP) within 3 h. Overall, crude cell extract preparation and CFPS can be achieved in 1-2 full days by a single user. This protocol can be easily integrated into existing protein synthesis pipelines to facilitate advances in bio-production and synthetic biology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Wiegand
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering;
| | - Henry H Lee
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School
| | - Nili Ostrov
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School;
| | - George M Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering;
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33
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Diblock copolymers enhance folding of a mechanosensitive membrane protein during cell-free expression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:4031-4036. [PMID: 30760590 PMCID: PMC6410776 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1814775116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane protein folding is a critical step that underlies proper cellular function as well as the design of technologies like vesicle-based biosensors and artificial cells. Membrane composition is known to play a role in membrane protein folding; however, the specific mechanical properties of membranes that govern protein folding remain unclear. Using a highly elastic nonnatural amphiphile, we highlight the importance of a membrane mechanical property, membrane elasticity, on the spontaneous insertion and folding of a model α-helical membrane protein. Through this study, we gain a deeper understanding of cellular membrane protein folding and offer a potential approach to improve the production of membrane proteins through optimizing the mechanical properties of synthetic scaffolds present in cell-free reactions. The expression and integration of membrane proteins into vesicle membranes is a critical step in the design of cell-mimetic biosensors, bioreactors, and artificial cells. While membrane proteins have been integrated into a variety of nonnatural membranes, the effects of the chemical and physical properties of these vesicle membranes on protein behavior remain largely unknown. Nonnatural amphiphiles, such as diblock copolymers, provide an interface that can be synthetically controlled to better investigate this relationship. Here, we focus on the initial step in a membrane protein’s life cycle: expression and folding. We observe improvements in both the folding and overall production of a model mechanosensitive channel protein, the mechanosensitive channel of large conductance, during cell-free reactions when vesicles containing diblock copolymers are present. By systematically tuning the membrane composition of vesicles through incorporation of a poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(butadiene) diblock copolymer, we show that membrane protein folding and production can be improved over that observed in traditional lipid vesicles. We then reproduce this effect with an alternate membrane-elasticizing molecule, C12E8. Our results suggest that global membrane physical properties, specifically available membrane surface area and the membrane area expansion modulus, significantly influence the folding and yield of a membrane protein. Furthermore, our results set the stage for explorations into how nonnatural membrane amphiphiles can be used to both study and enhance the production of biological membrane proteins.
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34
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Kai L, Schwille P. Cell-Free Protein Synthesis and Its Perspectives for Assembling Cells from the Bottom-Up. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 3:e1800322. [PMID: 32648712 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201800322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The underlying idea of synthetic biology is that biological reactions/modules/systems can be precisely engineered and controlled toward desired products. Numerous efforts in the past decades in deciphering the complexity of biological systems in vivo have led to a variety of tools for synthetic biology, especially based on recombinant DNA. However, one generic limitation of all living systems is that the vast majority of energy input is dedicated to maintain the system as a whole, rather than the small part of interest. Cell-free synthetic biology is aiming at exactly this fundamental limitation, providing the next level of flexibility for engineering and designing biological systems in vitro. New technology has continuously inspired cell-free biology and extended its applications, including gene circuits, spatiotemporally controlled pathways, coactivated catalysts systems, and rationally designed multienzyme pathways, in particular, minimal cell construction. In the context of this special issue, discussing work being carried out in the "MaxSynBio" consortium, the advances in characterizing stochasticity and dynamics of cell-free protein synthesis within cell-sized compartments, as well as the molecular crowding effect, are discussed. The organization of spatial heterogeneity is the key prerequisite for achieving hierarchy and stepwise assembly of minimal cells from the bottom-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Kai
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Shanghai Road 101, 221116, Xuzhou, P. R. China.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, D-82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Petra Schwille
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, D-82152, Martinsried, Germany
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35
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Henrich E, Löhr F, Mezhyrova J, Laguerre A, Bernhard F, Dötsch V. Synthetic Biology-Based Solution NMR Studies on Membrane Proteins in Lipid Environments. Methods Enzymol 2018; 614:143-185. [PMID: 30611423 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2018.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Although membrane proteins are in the focus of biochemical research for many decades the general knowledge of this important class is far behind soluble proteins. Despite several recent technical developments, the most challenging feature still is the generation of high-quality samples in environments suitable for the selected application. Reconstitution of membrane proteins into lipid bilayers will generate the most native-like environment and is therefore commonly desired. However, it poses tremendous problems to solution-state NMR analysis due to the dramatic increase in particle size resulting in high rotational correlation times. Nevertheless, a few promising strategies for the solution NMR analysis of membrane inserted proteins are emerging and will be discussed in this chapter. We focus on the generation of membrane protein samples in nanodisc membranes by cell-free systems and will describe the characteristic advantages of that platform in providing tailored protein expression and folding environments. We indicate frequent problems that have to be overcome in cell-free synthesis, nanodisc preparation, and customization for samples dedicated for solution-state NMR. Detailed instructions for sample preparation are given, and solution NMR approaches suitable for membrane proteins in bilayers are compiled. We further discuss the current strategies applied for signal detection from such difficult samples and describe the type of information that can be extracted from the various experiments. In summary, a comprehensive guideline for the analysis of membrane proteins in native-like membrane environments by solution-state NMR techniques will be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Henrich
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Frank Löhr
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Julija Mezhyrova
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Aisha Laguerre
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Frank Bernhard
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Volker Dötsch
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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36
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37
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Henrich E, Löhr F, Pawlik G, Peetz O, Dötsch V, Morgner N, de Kroon AI, Bernhard F. Lipid Conversion by Cell-Free Synthesized Phospholipid Methyltransferase Opi3 in Defined Nanodisc Membranes Supports an in Trans Mechanism. Biochemistry 2018; 57:5780-5784. [PMID: 30226041 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Biomembranes composed of lipids and proteins play central roles in physiological processes, and the precise balance between different lipid species is crucial for maintaining membrane function. One pathway for the biosynthesis of the abundant lipid phosphatidylcholine in eukaryotes involves a membrane-integrated phospholipid methyltransferase named Opi3 in yeast. A still unanswered question is whether Opi3 can catalyze phosphatidylcholine synthesis in trans, at membrane contact sites. While evidence for this activity was obtained from studies with complex in vitro-reconstituted systems based on endoplasmic reticulum membranes, isolated and purified Opi3 could not be analyzed. We present new insights into Opi3 activity by characterizing the in vitro-synthesized enzyme in defined hydrophobic environments. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Opi3 was cell-free synthesized and either solubilized in detergent micelles or co-translationally inserted into preformed nanodisc membranes of different lipid compositions. While detergent-solubilized Opi3 was inactive, the enzyme inserted into nanodisc membranes showed activity and stayed monomeric as revealed by native mass spectrometry. The methylation of its lipid substrate dioleoylphosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine to phosphatidylcholine was monitored by one-dimensional 31P nuclear magnetic resonance. Phosphatidylcholine formation was observed not only in nanodiscs containing inserted Opi3 but also in nanodiscs devoid of the enzyme containing the lipid substrate. This result gives a clear indication for in trans catalysis by Opi3; i.e., it acts on the substrate in juxtaposed membranes, while in cis lipid conversion may also contribute. Our established system for the characterization of pure Opi3 in defined lipid environments may be applicable to other lipid biosynthetic enzymes and help in understanding the subcellular organization of lipid synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Henrich
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance , J.W.-Goethe-University , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Frank Löhr
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance , J.W.-Goethe-University , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Grzegorz Pawlik
- Membrane Biochemistry & Biophysics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Institute of Biomembranes , Utrecht University , 3584 CH Utrecht , The Netherlands
| | - Oliver Peetz
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry , J.W.-Goethe-University , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Volker Dötsch
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance , J.W.-Goethe-University , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Nina Morgner
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry , J.W.-Goethe-University , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Anton I de Kroon
- Membrane Biochemistry & Biophysics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Institute of Biomembranes , Utrecht University , 3584 CH Utrecht , The Netherlands
| | - Frank Bernhard
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance , J.W.-Goethe-University , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
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38
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Lipids modulate the insertion and folding of the nascent chains of alpha helical membrane proteins. Biochem Soc Trans 2018; 46:1355-1366. [PMID: 30190329 DOI: 10.1042/bst20170424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Membrane proteins must be inserted into a membrane and folded into their correct structure to function correctly. This insertion occurs during translation and synthesis by the ribosome for most α-helical membrane proteins. Precisely how this co-translational insertion and folding occurs, and the role played by the surrounding lipids, is still not understood. Most of the work on the influence of the lipid environment on folding and insertion has focussed on denatured, fully translated proteins, and thus does not replicate folding during unidirectional elongation of nascent chains that occurs in the cell. This review aims to highlight recent advances in elucidating lipid composition and bilayer properties optimal for insertion and folding of nascent chains in the membrane and in the assembly of oligomeric proteins.
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39
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Pick H, Alves AC, Vogel H. Single-Vesicle Assays Using Liposomes and Cell-Derived Vesicles: From Modeling Complex Membrane Processes to Synthetic Biology and Biomedical Applications. Chem Rev 2018; 118:8598-8654. [PMID: 30153012 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The plasma membrane is of central importance for defining the closed volume of cells in contradistinction to the extracellular environment. The plasma membrane not only serves as a boundary, but it also mediates the exchange of physical and chemical information between the cell and its environment in order to maintain intra- and intercellular functions. Artificial lipid- and cell-derived membrane vesicles have been used as closed-volume containers, representing the simplest cell model systems to study transmembrane processes and intracellular biochemistry. Classical examples are studies of membrane translocation processes in plasma membrane vesicles and proteoliposomes mediated by transport proteins and ion channels. Liposomes and native membrane vesicles are widely used as model membranes for investigating the binding and bilayer insertion of proteins, the structure and function of membrane proteins, the intramembrane composition and distribution of lipids and proteins, and the intermembrane interactions during exo- and endocytosis. In addition, natural cell-released microvesicles have gained importance for early detection of diseases and for their use as nanoreactors and minimal protocells. Yet, in most studies, ensembles of vesicles have been employed. More recently, new micro- and nanotechnological tools as well as novel developments in both optical and electron microscopy have allowed the isolation and investigation of individual (sub)micrometer-sized vesicles. Such single-vesicle experiments have revealed large heterogeneities in the structure and function of membrane components of single vesicles, which were hidden in ensemble studies. These results have opened enormous possibilities for bioanalysis and biotechnological applications involving unprecedented miniaturization at the nanometer and attoliter range. This review will cover important developments toward single-vesicle analysis and the central discoveries made in this exciting field of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Horst Pick
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering , Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) , CH-1015 Lausanne , Switzerland
| | - Ana Catarina Alves
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering , Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) , CH-1015 Lausanne , Switzerland
| | - Horst Vogel
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering , Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) , CH-1015 Lausanne , Switzerland
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40
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Lazarova M, Löhr F, Rues RB, Kleebach R, Dötsch V, Bernhard F. Precursor-Based Selective Methyl Labeling of Cell-Free Synthesized Proteins. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:2170-2178. [PMID: 29894149 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
NMR studies of large proteins are complicated by pronounced spectral overlap and large line width. Reducing complexity by [13C, 1H] selective labeling of l-Val, l-Leu, and/or l-Ile residues in combination with optional perdeuteration is therefore commonly approached by supplying labeled amino acid precursors into bacterial expression cultures, although often compromised by high label costs, precursor instability, and label scrambling. Cell-free expression combines efficient production of membrane proteins with significant advantages for protein labeling such as small reaction volumes, defined amino acid pools, and reliable label incorporation. While amino acid specific isotopic labeling of proteins is routine application, the amino acid methyl side-chain labeling was so far difficult as appropriately labeled amino acids are hardly available. On the basis of recent proteome analyses of cell-free lysates, we have developed a competitive strategy for efficient methyl labeling of proteins based on conversion of supplied precursors. Pathway complexity of methyl side-chain labeling was reduced by implementing the promiscuous aminotransferase IlvE catalyzing the selective l-Leu, l-Val, or l-Ile biosynthesis from specific ketoacid precursors. Precursor-based l-Leu and l-Val synthesis was demonstrated with the cell-free labeling of peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase cyclophilin D and of the proton pump proteorhodopsin. The strategy is fast and cost-effective and enables the straightforward methyl side-chain labeling of individual amino acid types. It can easily be applied to any cell-free synthesized protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariya Lazarova
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Frank Löhr
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ralf-Bernhardt Rues
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Robin Kleebach
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Volker Dötsch
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Frank Bernhard
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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41
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Valeur E, Jimonet P. New Modalities, Technologies, and Partnerships in Probe and Lead Generation: Enabling a Mode-of-Action Centric Paradigm. J Med Chem 2018; 61:9004-9029. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Valeur
- Medicinal Chemistry, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Patrick Jimonet
- External Innovation Drug Discovery, Global Business Development & Licensing, Sanofi, 13 quai Jules Guesde, 94400 Vitry-sur-Seine, France
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42
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Wang H, Li J, Jewett MC. Development of a Pseudomonas putida cell-free protein synthesis platform for rapid screening of gene regulatory elements. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2018; 3:ysy003. [PMID: 32995512 PMCID: PMC7445763 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysy003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems enable the production of protein without the use of living, intact cells. An emerging area of interest is to use CFPS systems to characterize individual elements for genetic programs [e.g. promoters, ribosome binding sites (RBS)]. To enable this research area, robust CFPS systems must be developed from new chassis organisms. One such chassis is the Gram-negative Pseudomonas bacteria, which have been studied extensively for their diverse metabolism with promises in the field of bioremediation and biosynthesis. Here, we report the development and optimization of a high-yielding (198 ± 5.9 µg/ml) batch CFPS system from Pseudomonas putida ATCC 12633. Importantly, both circular and linear DNA templates can be applied directly to the CFPS reaction to program protein synthesis. Therefore, it is possible to prepare hundreds or even thousands of DNA templates without time-consuming cloning work. This opens the possibility to rapidly assess and validate genetic part performance in vitro before performing experiments in cells. To validate the P. putida CFPS system as a platform for prototyping genetic parts, we designed and constructed a library consisting of 15 different RBSs upstream of the reporter protein sfGFP, which covered an order of magnitude range in expression. Looking forward, our P. putida CFPS platform will not only expand the protein synthesis toolkit for synthetic biology but also serve as a platform in expediting the screening and prototyping of gene regulatory elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.,Master of Biotechnology Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Jian Li
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Michael C Jewett
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.,Master of Biotechnology Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.,Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
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43
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Hoffmann B, Löhr F, Laguerre A, Bernhard F, Dötsch V. Protein labeling strategies for liquid-state NMR spectroscopy using cell-free synthesis. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY 2018; 105:1-22. [PMID: 29548364 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnmrs.2017.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Preparation of a protein sample for liquid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy analysis requires optimization of many parameters. This review describes labeling strategies for obtaining assignments of protein resonances. Particular emphasis is placed on the advantages of cell-free protein production, which enables exclusive labeling of the protein of interest, thereby simplifying downstream processing steps and increasing the availability of different labeling strategies for a target protein. Furthermore, proteins can be synthesized in milligram yields, and the open nature of the cell-free system allows the addition of stabilizers, scrambling inhibitors or hydrophobic solubilization environments directly during the protein synthesis, which is especially beneficial for membrane proteins. Selective amino acid labeling of the protein of interest, the possibility of addressing scrambling issues and avoiding the need for labile amino acid precursors have been key factors in enabling the introduction of new assignment strategies based on different labeling schemes as well as on new pulse sequences. Combinatorial selective labeling methods have been developed to reduce the number of protein samples necessary to achieve a complete backbone assignment. Furthermore, selective labeling helps to decrease spectral overlap and overcome size limitations for solution NMR analysis of larger complexes, oligomers, intrinsically disordered proteins and membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beate Hoffmann
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Frank Löhr
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Aisha Laguerre
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Frank Bernhard
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Volker Dötsch
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany.
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44
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Nomoto M, Tada Y. Cloning-free template DNA preparation for cell-free protein synthesis via two-step PCR using versatile primer designs with short 3'-UTR. Genes Cells 2017; 23:46-53. [PMID: 29235215 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems largely retain the endogenous translation machinery of the host organism, making them highly applicable for proteomics analysis of diverse biological processes. However, laborious and time-consuming cloning procedures hinder progress with CFPS systems. Herein, we report the development of a rapid and efficient two-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to prepare linear DNA templates for a wheat germ CFPS system. We developed a novel, effective short 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) sequence that facilitates translation. Application of the short 3'-UTR to two-step PCR enabled the generation of various transcription templates from the same plasmid, including fusion proteins with N- or C-terminal tags, and truncated proteins. Our method supports the cloning-free expression of target proteins using an mRNA pool from biological material. The established system is a highly versatile platform for in vitro protein synthesis using wheat germ CFPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mika Nomoto
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yasuomi Tada
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.,Center for Gene Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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45
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Foshag D, Henrich E, Hiller E, Schäfer M, Kerger C, Burger-Kentischer A, Diaz-Moreno I, García-Mauriño SM, Dötsch V, Rupp S, Bernhard F. The E. coli S30 lysate proteome: A prototype for cell-free protein production. N Biotechnol 2017; 40:245-260. [PMID: 28943390 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2017.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Protein production using processed cell lysates is a core technology in synthetic biology and these systems are excellent to produce difficult toxins or membrane proteins. However, the composition of the central lysate of cell-free systems is still a "black box". Escherichia coli lysates are most productive for cell-free expression, yielding several mgs of protein per ml of reaction. Their preparation implies proteome fractionation, resulting in strongly biased and yet unknown lysate compositions. Many metabolic pathways are expected to be truncated or completely removed. The lack of knowledge of basic cell-free lysate proteomes is a major bottleneck for directed lysate engineering approaches as well as for assay design using non-purified reaction mixtures. This study is starting to close this gap by providing a blueprint of the S30 lysate proteome derived from the commonly used E. coli strain A19. S30 lysates are frequently used for cell-free protein production and represent the basis of most commercial E. coli cell-free expression systems. A fraction of 821 proteins was identified as the core proteome in S30 lysates, representing approximately a quarter of the known E. coli proteome. Its classification into functional groups relevant for transcription/translation, folding, stability and metabolic processes will build the framework for tailored cell-free reactions. As an example, we show that SOS response induction during cultivation results in tuned S30 lysate with better folding capacity, and improved solubility and activity of synthesized proteins. The presented data and protocols can serve as a platform for the generation of customized cell-free systems and product analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Foshag
- Institute for Interfacial Process Engineering and Plasma Technology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Erik Henrich
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ekkehard Hiller
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Miriam Schäfer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Christian Kerger
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Irene Diaz-Moreno
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas (IIQ) - Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Isla de la Cartuja (cicCartuja), Universidad de Sevilla - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | - Sofía M García-Mauriño
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas (IIQ) - Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Isla de la Cartuja (cicCartuja), Universidad de Sevilla - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | - Volker Dötsch
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Steffen Rupp
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Frank Bernhard
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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46
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Thoring L, Dondapati SK, Stech M, Wüstenhagen DA, Kubick S. High-yield production of "difficult-to-express" proteins in a continuous exchange cell-free system based on CHO cell lysates. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11710. [PMID: 28916746 PMCID: PMC5601898 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12188-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) represents a promising technology for efficient protein production targeting especially so called "difficult-to-express" proteins whose synthesis is challenging in conventional in vivo protein production platforms. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are one of the most prominent and safety approved cell lines for industrial protein production. In this study we demonstrated the ability to produce high yields of various protein types including membrane proteins and single chain variable fragments (scFv) in a continuous exchange cell-free (CECF) system based on CHO cell lysate that contains endogenous microsomal structures. We showed significant improvement of protein yield compared to batch formatted reactions and proved biological activity of synthesized proteins using various analysis technologies. Optimized CECF reaction conditions led to membrane protein yields up to 980 µg/ml, which is the highest protein yield reached in a microsome containing eukaryotic cell-free system presented so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Thoring
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476, Potsdam, Germany
- Institute for Biotechnology, Technical University of Berlin (TUB), Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355, Berlin, Germany
| | - Srujan K Dondapati
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Marlitt Stech
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Doreen A Wüstenhagen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476, Potsdam, Germany.
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47
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Thoring L, Dondapati SK, Stech M, Wüstenhagen DA, Kubick S. High-yield production of "difficult-to-express" proteins in a continuous exchange cell-free system based on CHO cell lysates. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11710. [PMID: 28916746 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12188-12188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) represents a promising technology for efficient protein production targeting especially so called "difficult-to-express" proteins whose synthesis is challenging in conventional in vivo protein production platforms. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are one of the most prominent and safety approved cell lines for industrial protein production. In this study we demonstrated the ability to produce high yields of various protein types including membrane proteins and single chain variable fragments (scFv) in a continuous exchange cell-free (CECF) system based on CHO cell lysate that contains endogenous microsomal structures. We showed significant improvement of protein yield compared to batch formatted reactions and proved biological activity of synthesized proteins using various analysis technologies. Optimized CECF reaction conditions led to membrane protein yields up to 980 µg/ml, which is the highest protein yield reached in a microsome containing eukaryotic cell-free system presented so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Thoring
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476, Potsdam, Germany
- Institute for Biotechnology, Technical University of Berlin (TUB), Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355, Berlin, Germany
| | - Srujan K Dondapati
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Marlitt Stech
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Doreen A Wüstenhagen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476, Potsdam, Germany.
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48
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Harris NJ, Reading E, Ataka K, Grzegorzewski L, Charalambous K, Liu X, Schlesinger R, Heberle J, Booth PJ. Structure formation during translocon-unassisted co-translational membrane protein folding. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8021. [PMID: 28808343 PMCID: PMC5556060 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08522-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Correctly folded membrane proteins underlie a plethora of cellular processes, but little is known about how they fold. Knowledge of folding mechanisms centres on reversible folding of chemically denatured membrane proteins. However, this cannot replicate the unidirectional elongation of the protein chain during co-translational folding in the cell, where insertion is assisted by translocase apparatus. We show that a lipid membrane (devoid of translocase components) is sufficient for successful co-translational folding of two bacterial α-helical membrane proteins, DsbB and GlpG. Folding is spontaneous, thermodynamically driven, and the yield depends on lipid composition. Time-resolving structure formation during co-translational folding revealed different secondary and tertiary structure folding pathways for GlpG and DsbB that correlated with membrane interfacial and biological transmembrane amino acid hydrophobicity scales. Attempts to refold DsbB and GlpG from chemically denatured states into lipid membranes resulted in extensive aggregation. Co-translational insertion and folding is thus spontaneous and minimises aggregation whilst maximising correct folding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola J Harris
- Department of Chemistry, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Eamonn Reading
- Department of Chemistry, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Kenichi Ataka
- Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195, Dahlem, Germany
| | - Lucjan Grzegorzewski
- Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195, Dahlem, Germany
| | - Kalypso Charalambous
- Department of Chemistry, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Xia Liu
- School of Biochemistry, Medical Sciences, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ramona Schlesinger
- Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195, Dahlem, Germany
| | - Joachim Heberle
- Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195, Dahlem, Germany
| | - Paula J Booth
- Department of Chemistry, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, King's College London, London, UK.
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49
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Martin RW, Majewska NI, Chen CX, Albanetti TE, Jimenez RBC, Schmelzer AE, Jewett MC, Roy V. Development of a CHO-Based Cell-Free Platform for Synthesis of Active Monoclonal Antibodies. ACS Synth Biol 2017; 6:1370-1379. [PMID: 28350472 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells are routinely optimized to stably express monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) at high titers. At the early stages of lead isolation and optimization, hundreds of sequences for the target protein of interest are screened. Typically, cell-based transient expression technology platforms are used for expression screening, but these can be time- and resource-intensive. Here, we have developed a cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) platform utilizing a commercially available CHO extract for the rapid in vitro synthesis of active, aglycosylated mAbs. Specifically, we optimized reaction conditions to maximize protein yields, established an oxidizing environment to enable disulfide bond formation, and demonstrated the importance of temporal addition of heavy chain and light chain plasmids for intact mAb production. Using our optimized platform, we demonstrate for the first time to our knowledge the cell-free synthesis of biologically active, intact mAb at >100 mg/L using a eukaryotic-based extract. We then explored the utility of our system as a tool for ranking yields of candidate antibodies. Unlike stable or transient transfection-based screening, which requires a minimum of 7 days for setup and execution, results using our CHO-based CFPS platform are attained within 2 days and it is well-suited for automation. Further development would provide a tool for rapid, high-throughput prediction of mAb expression ranking to accelerate design-build-test cycles required for antibody expression and engineering. Looking forward, the CHO-based CFPS platform could facilitate the synthesis of toxic proteins as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rey W. Martin
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, ‡Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, and §Interdisciplinary
Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Cell Culture and Fermentation
Sciences and ⊥Analytical Sciences, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
- Member, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and ∇Member, Simpson
Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Natalia I. Majewska
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, ‡Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, and §Interdisciplinary
Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Cell Culture and Fermentation
Sciences and ⊥Analytical Sciences, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
- Member, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and ∇Member, Simpson
Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Cindy X. Chen
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, ‡Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, and §Interdisciplinary
Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Cell Culture and Fermentation
Sciences and ⊥Analytical Sciences, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
- Member, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and ∇Member, Simpson
Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Thomas E. Albanetti
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, ‡Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, and §Interdisciplinary
Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Cell Culture and Fermentation
Sciences and ⊥Analytical Sciences, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
- Member, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and ∇Member, Simpson
Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Rod Brian C. Jimenez
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, ‡Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, and §Interdisciplinary
Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Cell Culture and Fermentation
Sciences and ⊥Analytical Sciences, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
- Member, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and ∇Member, Simpson
Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Albert E. Schmelzer
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, ‡Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, and §Interdisciplinary
Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Cell Culture and Fermentation
Sciences and ⊥Analytical Sciences, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
- Member, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and ∇Member, Simpson
Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Michael C. Jewett
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, ‡Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, and §Interdisciplinary
Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Cell Culture and Fermentation
Sciences and ⊥Analytical Sciences, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
- Member, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and ∇Member, Simpson
Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Varnika Roy
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, ‡Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, and §Interdisciplinary
Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Cell Culture and Fermentation
Sciences and ⊥Analytical Sciences, MedImmune LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878, United States
- Member, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and ∇Member, Simpson
Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
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From Gene to Function: Cell-Free Electrophysiological and Optical Analysis of Ion Pumps in Nanodiscs. Biophys J 2017; 113:1331-1341. [PMID: 28450130 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanodiscs that hold a lipid bilayer surrounded by a boundary of scaffold proteins have emerged as a powerful tool for membrane protein solubilization and analysis. By combining nanodiscs and cell-free expression technologies, even completely detergent-free membrane protein characterization protocols can be designed. Nanodiscs are compatible with various techniques, and due to their bilayer environment and increased stability, they are often superior to detergent micelles or liposomes for membrane protein solubilization. However, transport assays in nanodiscs have not been conducted so far, due to limitations of the two-dimensional nature of nanodisc membranes that offers no compartmentalization. Here, we study Krokinobacter eikastus rhodopsin-2 (KR2), a microbial light-driven sodium or proton pump, with noncovalent mass-spectrometric, electrophysiological, and flash photolysis measurements after its cotranslational insertion into nanodiscs. We demonstrate the feasibility of adsorbing nanodiscs containing KR2 to an artificial bilayer. This allows us to record light-induced capacitive currents that reflect KR2's ion transport activity. The solid-supported membrane assay with nanodisc samples provides reliable control over the ionic condition and information of the relative ion activity of this promiscuous pump. Our strategy is complemented with flash photolysis data, where the lifetimes of different photointermediates were determined at different ionic conditions. The advantage of using identical samples to three complementary approaches allows for a comprehensive comparability. The cell-free synthesis in combination with nanodiscs provides a defined hydrophobic lipid environment minimizing the detergent dependence often seen in assays with membrane proteins. KR2 is a promising tool for optogenetics, thus directed engineering to modify ion selectivity can be highly beneficial. Our approach, using the fast generation of functional ion pumps incorporated into nanodiscs and their subsequent analysis by several biophysical techniques, can serve as a versatile screening and engineering platform. This may open new avenues for the study of ion pumps and similar electrogenic targets.
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