1
|
Tumas S, Meldgaard TS, Vaaben TH, Suarez Hernandez S, Rasmussen AT, Vazquez-Uribe R, Hadrup SR, Sommer MOA. Engineered E. coli Nissle 1917 for delivery of bioactive IL-2 for cancer immunotherapy. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12506. [PMID: 37532747 PMCID: PMC10397246 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39365-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study we performed a step-wise optimization of biologically active IL-2 for delivery using E. coli Nissle 1917. Engineering of the strain was coupled with an in vitro cell assay to measure the biological activity of microbially produced IL-2 (mi-IL2). Next, we assessed the immune modulatory potential of mi-IL2 using a 3D tumor spheroid model demonstrating a strong effect on immune cell activation. Finally, we evaluated the anticancer properties of the engineered strain in a murine CT26 tumor model. The engineered strain was injected intravenously and selectively colonized tumors. The treatment was well-tolerated, and tumors of treated mice showed a modest reduction in tumor growth rate, as well as significantly elevated levels of IL-2 in the tumor. This work demonstrates a workflow for researchers interested in engineering E. coli Nissle for a new class of microbial therapy against cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarunas Tumas
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Troels Holger Vaaben
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | | | - Ruben Vazquez-Uribe
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sine Reker Hadrup
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Morten O A Sommer
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Koch NG, Baumann T, Budisa N. Efficient Unnatural Protein Production by Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase With Genetically Fused Solubility Tags. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:807438. [PMID: 35284428 PMCID: PMC8905625 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.807438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Introducing non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) by engineered orthogonal pairs of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and tRNAs has proven to be a highly useful tool for the expansion of the genetic code. Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) from methanogenic archaeal and bacterial species is particularly attractive due to its natural orthogonal reactivity in bacterial and eukaryotic cells. However, the scope of such a reprogrammed translation is often limited, due to low yields of chemically modified target protein. This can be the result of substrate specificity engineering, which decreases the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase stability and reduces the abundance of active enzyme. We show that the solubility and folding of these engineered enzymes can become a bottleneck for the production of ncAA-containing proteins in vivo. Solubility tags derived from various species provide a strategy to remedy this issue. We find the N-terminal fusion of the small metal binding protein from Nitrosomonas europaea to the PylRS sequence to improve enzyme solubility and to boost orthogonal translation efficiency. Our strategy enhances the production of site-specifically labelled proteins with a variety of engineered PylRS variants by 200–540%, and further allows triple labeling. Even the wild-type enzyme gains up to 245% efficiency for established ncAA substrates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaj G Koch
- Biokatalyse, Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Bioanalytik, Institut für Biotechnologie, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Baumann
- Biokatalyse, Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Biokatalyse, Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Chemical Synthetic Biology, Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rudometov AP, Chikaev AN, Rudometova NB, Antonets DV, Lomzov AA, Kaplina ON, Ilyichev AA, Karpenko LI. Artificial Anti-HIV-1 Immunogen Comprising Epitopes of Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies 2F5, 10E8, and a Peptide Mimic of VRC01 Discontinuous Epitope. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:vaccines7030083. [PMID: 31390770 PMCID: PMC6789618 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7030083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The construction of artificial proteins using conservative B-cell and T-cell epitopes is believed to be a promising approach for a vaccine design against diverse viral infections. This article describes the development of an artificial HIV-1 immunogen using a polyepitope immunogen design strategy. We developed a recombinant protein, referred to as nTBI, that contains epitopes recognized by broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibodies (bNAbs) combined with Th-epitopes. This is a modified version of a previously designed artificial protein, TBI (T- and B-cell epitopes containing Immunogen), carrying four T- and five B-cell epitopes from HIV-1 Env and Gag proteins. To engineer the nTBI molecule, three B-cell epitopes of the TBI protein were replaced with the epitopes recognized by broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibodies 10E8, 2F5, and a linear peptide mimic of VRC01 epitope. We showed that immunization of rabbits with the nTBI protein elicited antibodies that recognize HIV-1 proteins and were able to neutralize Env-pseudotyped SF162.LS HIV-1 strain (tier 1). Competition assay revealed that immunization of rabbits with nTBI induced mainly 10E8-like antibodies. Our findings support the use of nTBI protein as an immunogen with predefined favorable antigenic properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrey P Rudometov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region 630559, Russia.
| | - Anton N Chikaev
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 8/2 Lavrentiev Avenue Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.
| | - Nadezhda B Rudometova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region 630559, Russia
| | - Denis V Antonets
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region 630559, Russia
| | - Alexander A Lomzov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 8 Lavrentiev Avenue, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Olga N Kaplina
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region 630559, Russia
| | - Alexander A Ilyichev
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region 630559, Russia
| | - Larisa I Karpenko
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region 630559, Russia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Paraskevopoulou V, Falcone FH. Polyionic Tags as Enhancers of Protein Solubility in Recombinant Protein Expression. Microorganisms 2018; 6:microorganisms6020047. [PMID: 29882886 PMCID: PMC6027335 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms6020047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the introduction of recombinant protein expression in the second half of the 1970s, the growth of the biopharmaceutical field has been rapid and protein therapeutics has come to the foreground. Biophysical and structural characterisation of recombinant proteins is the essential prerequisite for their successful development and commercialisation as therapeutics. Despite the challenges, including low protein solubility and inclusion body formation, prokaryotic host systems and particularly Escherichia coli, remain the system of choice for the initial attempt of production of previously unexpressed proteins. Several different approaches have been adopted, including optimisation of growth conditions, expression in the periplasmic space of the bacterial host or co-expression of molecular chaperones, to assist correct protein folding. A very commonly employed approach is also the use of protein fusion tags that enhance protein solubility. Here, a range of experimentally tested peptide tags, which present specific advantages compared to protein fusion tags and the concluding remarks of these experiments are reviewed. Finally, a concept to design solubility-enhancing peptide tags based on a protein’s pI is suggested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki Paraskevopoulou
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Franco H Falcone
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Evaluation of rice tetraticopeptide domain-containing thioredoxin as a novel solubility-enhancing fusion tag in Escherichia coli. J Biosci Bioeng 2018; 125:160-167. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2017.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
|
6
|
Assessment of the Fusion Tags on Increasing Soluble Production of the Active TEV Protease Variant and Other Target Proteins in E. coli. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2016; 182:769-781. [DOI: 10.1007/s12010-016-2360-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
7
|
Slivac I, Guay D, Mangion M, Champeil J, Gaillet B. Non-viral nucleic acid delivery methods. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2016; 17:105-118. [PMID: 27740858 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2017.1248941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Delivery of nucleic acid-based molecules in human cells is a highly studied approach for the treatment of several disorders including monogenic diseases and cancers. Non-viral vectors for DNA and RNA transfer, although in general less efficient than virus-based systems, are particularly well adapted mostly due to the absence of biosafety concerns. Non-viral methods could be classified in two main groups: physical and vector-assisted delivery systems. Both groups comprise several different methods, none of them universally applicable. The choice of the optimal method depends on the predefined objectives and the features of targeted micro-environment. Areas covered: In this review, the authors discuss non-viral techniques and present recent therapeutic achievements in ex vivo and in vivo nucleic acid delivery by most commonly used techniques while emphasizing the role of 'biological particles', namely peptide transduction domains, virus like particles, gesicles and exosomes. Expert opinion: The number of available non-viral transfection techniques used for human therapy increased rapidly, followed by still moderate success in efficacy. The prospects are to be found in design of multifunctional hybrid systems that reflect the viral efficiency. In this respect, biological particles are very promising.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Igor Slivac
- a Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - David Guay
- b Feldan Therapeutics, Rideau , Quebec , Canada
| | - Mathias Mangion
- c Chemical engineering Department , Université Laval , Québec , Canada
| | - Juliette Champeil
- c Chemical engineering Department , Université Laval , Québec , Canada
| | - Bruno Gaillet
- c Chemical engineering Department , Université Laval , Québec , Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Costa S, Almeida A, Castro A, Domingues L. Fusion tags for protein solubility, purification and immunogenicity in Escherichia coli: the novel Fh8 system. Front Microbiol 2014. [PMID: 24600443 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00063.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteins are now widely produced in diverse microbial cell factories. The Escherichia coli is still the dominant host for recombinant protein production but, as a bacterial cell, it also has its issues: the aggregation of foreign proteins into insoluble inclusion bodies is perhaps the main limiting factor of the E. coli expression system. Conversely, E. coli benefits of cost, ease of use and scale make it essential to design new approaches directed for improved recombinant protein production in this host cell. With the aid of genetic and protein engineering novel tailored-made strategies can be designed to suit user or process requirements. Gene fusion technology has been widely used for the improvement of soluble protein production and/or purification in E. coli, and for increasing peptide's immunogenicity as well. New fusion partners are constantly emerging and complementing the traditional solutions, as for instance, the Fh8 fusion tag that has been recently studied and ranked among the best solubility enhancer partners. In this review, we provide an overview of current strategies to improve recombinant protein production in E. coli, including the key factors for successful protein production, highlighting soluble protein production, and a comprehensive summary of the latest available and traditionally used gene fusion technologies. A special emphasis is given to the recently discovered Fh8 fusion system that can be used for soluble protein production, purification, and immunogenicity in E. coli. The number of existing fusion tags will probably increase in the next few years, and efforts should be taken to better understand how fusion tags act in E. coli. This knowledge will undoubtedly drive the development of new tailored-made tools for protein production in this bacterial system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Costa
- Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho Braga, Portugal ; Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge Porto, Portugal
| | - André Almeida
- Hitag Biotechnology, Lad., Biocant, Parque Technologico de Cantanhede Cantanhede, Portugal
| | - António Castro
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge Porto, Portugal
| | - Lucília Domingues
- Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Costa S, Almeida A, Castro A, Domingues L. Fusion tags for protein solubility, purification and immunogenicity in Escherichia coli: the novel Fh8 system. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:63. [PMID: 24600443 PMCID: PMC3928792 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2013] [Accepted: 01/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteins are now widely produced in diverse microbial cell factories. The Escherichia coli is still the dominant host for recombinant protein production but, as a bacterial cell, it also has its issues: the aggregation of foreign proteins into insoluble inclusion bodies is perhaps the main limiting factor of the E. coli expression system. Conversely, E. coli benefits of cost, ease of use and scale make it essential to design new approaches directed for improved recombinant protein production in this host cell. With the aid of genetic and protein engineering novel tailored-made strategies can be designed to suit user or process requirements. Gene fusion technology has been widely used for the improvement of soluble protein production and/or purification in E. coli, and for increasing peptide's immunogenicity as well. New fusion partners are constantly emerging and complementing the traditional solutions, as for instance, the Fh8 fusion tag that has been recently studied and ranked among the best solubility enhancer partners. In this review, we provide an overview of current strategies to improve recombinant protein production in E. coli, including the key factors for successful protein production, highlighting soluble protein production, and a comprehensive summary of the latest available and traditionally used gene fusion technologies. A special emphasis is given to the recently discovered Fh8 fusion system that can be used for soluble protein production, purification, and immunogenicity in E. coli. The number of existing fusion tags will probably increase in the next few years, and efforts should be taken to better understand how fusion tags act in E. coli. This knowledge will undoubtedly drive the development of new tailored-made tools for protein production in this bacterial system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Costa
- Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho Braga, Portugal ; Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge Porto, Portugal
| | - André Almeida
- Hitag Biotechnology, Lad., Biocant, Parque Technologico de Cantanhede Cantanhede, Portugal
| | - António Castro
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge Porto, Portugal
| | - Lucília Domingues
- Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Achmon Y, Ben-Barak Zelas Z, Fishman A. Cloning Rosa hybrid phenylacetaldehyde synthase for the production of 2-phenylethanol in a whole cell Escherichia coli system. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2013; 98:3603-11. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-013-5269-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Revised: 09/12/2013] [Accepted: 09/14/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
|