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Majekodunmi T, Britton D, Montclare JK. Engineered Proteins and Materials Utilizing Residue-Specific Noncanonical Amino Acid Incorporation. Chem Rev 2024. [PMID: 39008623 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
The incorporation of noncanonical amino acids into proteins and protein-based materials has significantly expanded the repertoire of available protein structures and chemistries. Through residue-specific incorporation, protein properties can be globally modified, resulting in the creation of novel proteins and materials with diverse and tailored characteristics. In this review, we highlight recent advancements in residue-specific incorporation techniques as well as the applications of the engineered proteins and materials. Specifically, we discuss their utility in bio-orthogonal noncanonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT), fluorescent noncanonical amino acid tagging (FUNCAT), threonine-derived noncanonical amino acid tagging (THRONCAT), cross-linking, fluorination, and enzyme engineering. This review underscores the importance of noncanonical amino acid incorporation as a tool for the development of tailored protein properties to meet diverse research and industrial needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temiloluwa Majekodunmi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
| | - Dustin Britton
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
| | - Jin Kim Montclare
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10012, United States
- Department of Biomaterials, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, New York 10010, United States
- Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York 10016, United States
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2
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Ma B, Britt RD, Tao L. Radical SAM Enzyme PylB Generates a Lysyl Radical Intermediate in the Biosynthesis of Pyrrolysine by Using SAM as a Cofactor. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:6544-6556. [PMID: 38426740 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Pyrrolysine, the 22nd amino acid encoded by the natural genetic code, is essential for methanogenic archaea to catabolize methylamines into methane. The structure of pyrrolysine consists of a methylated pyrroline carboxylate that is linked to the ε-amino group of the l-lysine via an amide bond. The biosynthesis of pyrrolysine requires three enzymes: PylB, PylC, and PylD. PylB is a radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) enzyme and catalyzes the first biosynthetic step, the isomerization of l-lysine into methylornithine. PylC catalyzes an ATP-dependent ligation of methylornithine and a second l-lysine to form l-lysine-Nε-methylornithine. The last biosynthetic step is catalyzed by PylD via oxidation of the PylC product to form pyrrolysine. While enzymatic reactions of PylC and PylD have been well characterized by X-ray crystallography and in vitro studies, mechanistic understanding of PylB is still relatively limited. Here, we report the first in vitro activity of PylB to form methylornithine via the isomerization of l-lysine. We also identify a lysyl C4 radical intermediate that is trapped, with its electronic structure and geometric structure well characterized by EPR and ENDOR spectroscopy. In addition, we demonstrate that SAM functions as a catalytic cofactor in PylB catalysis rather than canonically as a cosubstrate. This work provides detailed mechanistic evidence for elucidating the carbon backbone rearrangement reaction catalyzed by PylB during the biosynthesis of pyrrolysine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baixu Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - R David Britt
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Lizhi Tao
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
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3
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Borton MA, Shaffer M, Hoyt DW, Jiang R, Ellenbogen JB, Purvine S, Nicora CD, Eder EK, Wong AR, Smulian AG, Lipton MS, Krzycki JA, Wrighton KC. Targeted curation of the gut microbial gene content modulating human cardiovascular disease. mBio 2023; 14:e0151123. [PMID: 37695138 PMCID: PMC10653893 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01511-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE One of the most-cited examples of the gut microbiome modulating human disease is the microbial metabolism of quaternary amines from protein-rich foods. By-products of this microbial processing promote atherosclerotic heart disease, a leading cause of human mortality globally. Our research addresses current knowledge gaps in our understanding of this microbial metabolism by holistically inventorying the microorganisms and expressed genes catalyzing critical atherosclerosis-promoting and -ameliorating reactions in the human gut. This led to the creation of an open-access resource, the Methylated Amine Gene Inventory of Catabolism database, the first systematic inventory of gut methylated amine metabolism. More importantly, using this resource we deliver here, we show for the first time that these gut microbial genes can predict human disease, paving the way for microbiota-inspired diagnostics and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikayla A. Borton
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Michael Shaffer
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - David W. Hoyt
- Environmental and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Ruisheng Jiang
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Samuel Purvine
- Environmental and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Carrie D. Nicora
- Environmental and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Elizabeth K. Eder
- Environmental and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Allison R. Wong
- Environmental and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - A. George Smulian
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Mary S. Lipton
- Environmental and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Joseph A. Krzycki
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Kelly C. Wrighton
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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4
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Castro TG, Melle-Franco M, Sousa CEA, Cavaco-Paulo A, Marcos JC. Non-Canonical Amino Acids as Building Blocks for Peptidomimetics: Structure, Function, and Applications. Biomolecules 2023; 13:981. [PMID: 37371561 DOI: 10.3390/biom13060981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This review provides a fresh overview of non-canonical amino acids and their applications in the design of peptidomimetics. Non-canonical amino acids appear widely distributed in nature and are known to enhance the stability of specific secondary structures and/or biological function. Contrary to the ubiquitous DNA-encoded amino acids, the structure and function of these residues are not fully understood. Here, results from experimental and molecular modelling approaches are gathered to classify several classes of non-canonical amino acids according to their ability to induce specific secondary structures yielding different biological functions and improved stability. Regarding side-chain modifications, symmetrical and asymmetrical α,α-dialkyl glycines, Cα to Cα cyclized amino acids, proline analogues, β-substituted amino acids, and α,β-dehydro amino acids are some of the non-canonical representatives addressed. Backbone modifications were also examined, especially those that result in retro-inverso peptidomimetics and depsipeptides. All this knowledge has an important application in the field of peptidomimetics, which is in continuous progress and promises to deliver new biologically active molecules and new materials in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarsila G Castro
- CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS-Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Manuel Melle-Franco
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Cristina E A Sousa
- BioMark Sensor Research-School of Engineering of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
| | - Artur Cavaco-Paulo
- CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS-Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - João C Marcos
- Centre of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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5
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Bednar RM, Karplus PA, Mehl RA. Site-specific dual encoding and labeling of proteins via genetic code expansion. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:343-361. [PMID: 36977415 PMCID: PMC10764108 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The ability to selectively modify proteins at two or more defined locations opens new avenues for manipulating, engineering, and studying living systems. As a chemical biology tool for the site-specific encoding of non-canonical amino acids into proteins in vivo, genetic code expansion (GCE) represents a powerful tool to achieve such modifications with minimal disruption to structure and function through a two-step "dual encoding and labeling" (DEAL) process. In this review, we summarize the state of the field of DEAL using GCE. In doing so, we describe the basic principles of GCE-based DEAL, catalog compatible encoding systems and reactions, explore demonstrated and potential applications, highlight emerging paradigms in DEAL methodologies, and propose novel solutions to current limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley M Bednar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97331-7305, USA; GCE4All Research Center, Oregon State University, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, OR 97331-7305, USA
| | - P Andrew Karplus
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97331-7305, USA; GCE4All Research Center, Oregon State University, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, OR 97331-7305, USA
| | - Ryan A Mehl
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97331-7305, USA; GCE4All Research Center, Oregon State University, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, OR 97331-7305, USA.
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6
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Bueno de Mesquita CP, Wu D, Tringe SG. Methyl-Based Methanogenesis: an Ecological and Genomic Review. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2023; 87:e0002422. [PMID: 36692297 PMCID: PMC10029344 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00024-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Methyl-based methanogenesis is one of three broad categories of archaeal anaerobic methanogenesis, including both the methyl dismutation (methylotrophic) pathway and the methyl-reducing (also known as hydrogen-dependent methylotrophic) pathway. Methyl-based methanogenesis is increasingly recognized as an important source of methane in a variety of environments. Here, we provide an overview of methyl-based methanogenesis research, including the conditions under which methyl-based methanogenesis can be a dominant source of methane emissions, experimental methods for distinguishing different pathways of methane production, molecular details of the biochemical pathways involved, and the genes and organisms involved in these processes. We also identify the current gaps in knowledge and present a genomic and metagenomic survey of methyl-based methanogenesis genes, highlighting the diversity of methyl-based methanogens at multiple taxonomic levels and the widespread distribution of known methyl-based methanogenesis genes and families across different environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dongying Wu
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Susannah G. Tringe
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
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7
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Update of the Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase/tRNA Pyl Pair and Derivatives for Genetic Code Expansion. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0038522. [PMID: 36695595 PMCID: PMC9945579 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00385-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The cotranslational incorporation of pyrrolysine (Pyl), the 22nd proteinogenic amino acid, into proteins in response to the UAG stop codon represents an outstanding example of natural genetic code expansion. Genetic encoding of Pyl is conducted by the pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) and its cognate tRNA, tRNAPyl. Owing to the high tolerance of PylRS toward diverse amino acid substrates and great orthogonality in various model organisms, the PylRS/tRNAPyl-derived pairs are ideal for genetic code expansion to insert noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins of interest. Since the discovery of cellular components involved in the biosynthesis and genetic encoding of Pyl, synthetic biologists have been enthusiastic about engineering PylRS/tRNAPyl-derived pairs to rewrite the genetic code of living cells. Recently, considerable progress has been made in understanding the molecular phylogeny, biochemical properties, and structural features of the PylRS/tRNAPyl pair, guiding its further engineering and optimization. In this review, we cover the basic and updated knowledge of the PylRS/tRNAPyl pair's unique characteristics that make it an outstanding tool for reprogramming the genetic code. In addition, we summarize the recent efforts to create efficient and (mutually) orthogonal PylRS/tRNAPyl-derived pairs for incorporation of diverse ncAAs by genome mining, rational design, and advanced directed evolution methods.
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8
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Li J, Kang PT, Jiang R, Lee JY, Soares JA, Krzycki JA, Chan MK. Insights into pyrrolysine function from structures of a trimethylamine methyltransferase and its corrinoid protein complex. Commun Biol 2023; 6:54. [PMID: 36646841 PMCID: PMC9842639 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04397-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The 22nd genetically encoded amino acid, pyrrolysine, plays a unique role in the key step in the growth of methanogens on mono-, di-, and tri-methylamines by activating the methyl group of these substrates for transfer to a corrinoid cofactor. Previous crystal structures of the Methanosarcina barkeri monomethylamine methyltransferase elucidated the structure of pyrrolysine and provide insight into its role in monomethylamine activation. Herein, we report the second structure of a pyrrolysine-containing protein, the M. barkeri trimethylamine methyltransferase MttB, and its structure bound to sulfite, a substrate analog of trimethylamine. We also report the structure of MttB in complex with its cognate corrinoid protein MttC, which specifically receives the methyl group from the pyrrolysine-activated trimethylamine substrate during methanogenesis. Together these structures provide key insights into the role of pyrrolysine in methyl group transfer from trimethylamine to the corrinoid cofactor in MttC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Li
- grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482School of Life Sciences, and Center of Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Patrick T. Kang
- grid.261103.70000 0004 0459 7529Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272 USA ,grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Ohio State University Biochemistry Program, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
| | - Ruisheng Jiang
- grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
| | - Jodie Y. Lee
- grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA ,grid.422834.b0000 0004 0387 4571TechLab, Inc., Blacksburg, VA 24060 USA
| | - Jitesh A. Soares
- grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA ,grid.286879.a0000 0001 1090 0879Division of Scientific Advancement, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC 20036 USA
| | - Joseph A. Krzycki
- grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Ohio State University Biochemistry Program, Columbus, OH 43210 USA ,grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
| | - Michael K. Chan
- grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482School of Life Sciences, and Center of Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China ,grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Ohio State University Biochemistry Program, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
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9
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Abstract
Natural enzymes catalyze biochemical transformations in superior catalytic efficiency and remarkable substrate specificity. The excellent catalytic repertoire of enzymes is attributed to the sophisticated chemical structures of their active sites, as a result of billions-of-years natural evolution. However, large-scale practical applications of natural enzymes are restricted due to their poor stability, difficulty in modification, and high costs of production. One viable solution is to fabricate supramolecular catalysts with enzyme-mimetic active sites. In this review, we introduce the principles and strategies of designing peptide-based artificial enzymes which display catalytic activities similar to those of natural enzymes, such as aldolases, laccases, peroxidases, and hydrolases (mainly the esterases and phosphatases). We also discuss some multifunctional enzyme-mimicking systems which are capable of catalyzing orthogonal or cascade reactions. We highlight the relationship between structures of enzyme-like active sites and the catalytic properties, as well as the significance of these studies from an evolutionary point of view.
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10
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Guo LT, Amikura K, Jiang HK, Mukai T, Fu X, Wang YS, O'Donoghue P, Söll D, Tharp JM. Ancestral Archaea Expanded the Genetic Code with Pyrrolysine. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102521. [PMID: 36152750 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) facilitates the co-translational installation of the 22nd amino acid pyrrolysine. Owing to its tolerance for diverse amino acid substrates, and its orthogonality in multiple organisms, PylRS has emerged as a major route to install noncanonical amino acids into proteins in living cells. Recently, a novel class of PylRS enzymes was identified in a subset of methanogenic archaea. Enzymes within this class (ΔPylSn) lack the N-terminal tRNA-binding domain that is widely conserved amongst PylRS enzymes, yet remain highly active and orthogonal in bacteria and eukaryotes. In this study, we use biochemical and in vivo UAG-readthrough assays to characterize the aminoacylation efficiency and substrate spectrum of a ΔPylSn class PylRS from the archaeon Ca. Methanomethylophilus alvus. We show that, compared to the full-length enzyme from Methanosarcina mazei, the Ca. M. alvus PylRS displays reduced aminoacylation efficiency, but an expanded amino acid substrate spectrum. To gain insight into the evolution of ΔPylSn enzymes, we performed molecular phylogeny using 156 PylRS and 105 tRNAPyl sequences from diverse anaerobic archaea and bacteria. This analysis suggests that the PylRS•tRNAPyl pair diverged before the evolution of the three domains of life, placing an early limit on the evolution of the Pyl-decoding trait. Furthermore, our results document the co-evolutionary history of PylRS and tRNAPyl and reveal the emergence of tRNAPyl sequences with unique A73 and U73 discriminator bases. The orthogonality of these tRNAPyl species with the more common G73-containing tRNAPyl will enable future efforts to engineer PylRS systems for further genetic code expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Tao Guo
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry
| | - Kazuaki Amikura
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry; Department of Interdisciplinary Space Science, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Han-Kai Jiang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry; Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Takahito Mukai
- Department of Life Science, College of Science, Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Xian Fu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yane-Shih Wang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry; Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Patrick O'Donoghue
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada; Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry; Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jeffery M Tharp
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry; Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
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11
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Meng K, Chung CZ, Söll D, Krahn N. Unconventional genetic code systems in archaea. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1007832. [PMID: 36160229 PMCID: PMC9499178 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1007832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Archaea constitute the third domain of life, distinct from bacteria and eukaryotes given their ability to tolerate extreme environments. To survive these harsh conditions, certain archaeal lineages possess unique genetic code systems to encode either selenocysteine or pyrrolysine, rare amino acids not found in all organisms. Furthermore, archaea utilize alternate tRNA-dependent pathways to biosynthesize and incorporate members of the 20 canonical amino acids. Recent discoveries of new archaeal species have revealed the co-occurrence of these genetic code systems within a single lineage. This review discusses the diverse genetic code systems of archaea, while detailing the associated biochemical elements and molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Meng
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Christina Z. Chung
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Natalie Krahn
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- *Correspondence: Natalie Krahn,
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12
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Zhang H, Gong X, Zhao Q, Mukai T, Vargas-Rodriguez O, Zhang H, Zhang Y, Wassel P, Amikura K, Maupin-Furlow J, Ren Y, Xu X, Wolf YI, Makarova K, Koonin E, Shen Y, Söll D, Fu X. The tRNA discriminator base defines the mutual orthogonality of two distinct pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNAPyl pairs in the same organism. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:4601-4615. [PMID: 35466371 PMCID: PMC9071458 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Site-specific incorporation of distinct non-canonical amino acids into proteins via genetic code expansion requires mutually orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pairs. Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS)/tRNAPyl pairs are ideal for genetic code expansion and have been extensively engineered for developing mutually orthogonal pairs. Here, we identify two novel wild-type PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs simultaneously present in the deep-rooted extremely halophilic euryarchaeal methanogen Candidatus Methanohalarchaeum thermophilum HMET1, and show that both pairs are functional in the model halophilic archaeon Haloferax volcanii. These pairs consist of two different PylRS enzymes and two distinct tRNAs with dissimilar discriminator bases. Surprisingly, these two PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs display mutual orthogonality enabled by two unique features, the A73 discriminator base of tRNAPyl2 and a shorter motif 2 loop in PylRS2. In vivo translation experiments show that tRNAPyl2 charging by PylRS2 is defined by the enzyme's shortened motif 2 loop. Finally, we demonstrate that the two HMET1 PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs can simultaneously decode UAG and UAA codons for incorporation of two distinct noncanonical amino acids into protein. This example of a single base change in a tRNA leading to additional coding capacity suggests that the growth of the genetic code is not yet limited by the number of identity elements fitting into the tRNA structure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Takahito Mukai
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Oscar Vargas-Rodriguez
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Huiming Zhang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yuxing Zhang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China,Sino-Danish College, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Paul Wassel
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Kazuaki Amikura
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Julie Maupin-Furlow
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA,Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Yan Ren
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Xun Xu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Yuri I Wolf
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Kira S Makarova
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Eugene V Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Yue Shen
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Yue Shen.
| | - Dieter Söll
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 203 4326200;
| | - Xian Fu
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Xian Fu.
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13
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Kivenson V, Paul BG, Valentine DL. An Ecological Basis for Dual Genetic Code Expansion in Marine Deltaproteobacteria. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:680620. [PMID: 34335502 PMCID: PMC8318568 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.680620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine benthic environments may be shaped by anthropogenic and other localized events, leading to changes in microbial community composition evident decades after a disturbance. Marine sediments in particular harbor exceptional taxonomic diversity and can shed light on distinctive evolutionary strategies. Genetic code expansion is a strategy that increases the structural and functional diversity of proteins in cells, by repurposing stop codons to encode non-canonical amino acids: pyrrolysine (Pyl) and selenocysteine (Sec). Here, we report both a study of the microbiome at a deep sea industrial waste dumpsite and an unanticipated discovery of codon reassignment in its most abundant member, with potential ramifications for interpreting microbial interactions with ocean-dumped wastes. The genomes of abundant Deltaproteobacteria from the sediments of a deep-ocean chemical waste dump site have undergone genetic code expansion. Pyl and Sec in these organisms appear to augment trimethylamine (TMA) and one-carbon metabolism, representing an increased metabolic versatility. The inferred metabolism of these sulfate-reducing bacteria places them in competition with methylotrophic methanogens for TMA, a contention further supported by earlier isotope tracer studies and reanalysis of metatranscriptomic studies. A survey of genomic data further reveals a broad geographic distribution of a niche group of similarly specialized Deltaproteobacteria, including at sulfidic sites in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Guaymas Basin, and North Sea, as well as in terrestrial and estuarine environments. These findings reveal an important biogeochemical role for specialized Deltaproteobacteria at the interface of the carbon, nitrogen, selenium, and sulfur cycles, with their niche adaptation and ecological success potentially augmented by genetic code expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Kivenson
- Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Marine Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Blair G. Paul
- Department of Earth Science and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - David L. Valentine
- Department of Earth Science and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
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Sun J, Evans PN, Gagen EJ, Woodcroft BJ, Hedlund BP, Woyke T, Hugenholtz P, Rinke C. Recoding of stop codons expands the metabolic potential of two novel Asgardarchaeota lineages. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2021; 1:30. [PMID: 36739331 PMCID: PMC9723677 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-021-00032-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Asgardarchaeota have been proposed as the closest living relatives to eukaryotes, and a total of 72 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) representing six primary lineages in this archaeal phylum have thus far been described. These organisms are predicted to be fermentative heterotrophs contributing to carbon cycling in sediment ecosystems. Here, we double the genomic catalogue of Asgardarchaeota by obtaining 71 MAGs from a range of habitats around the globe, including the deep subsurface, brackish shallow lakes, and geothermal spring sediments. Phylogenomic inferences followed by taxonomic rank normalisation confirmed previously established Asgardarchaeota classes and revealed four additional lineages, two of which were consistently recovered as monophyletic classes. We therefore propose the names Candidatus Sifarchaeia class nov. and Ca. Jordarchaeia class nov., derived from the gods Sif and Jord in Norse mythology. Metabolic inference suggests that both classes represent hetero-organotrophic acetogens, which also have the ability to utilise methyl groups such as methylated amines, with acetate as the probable end product in remnants of a methanogen-derived core metabolism. This inferred mode of energy conservation is predicted to be enhanced by genetic code expansions, i.e., stop codon recoding, allowing the incorporation of the rare 21st and 22nd amino acids selenocysteine (Sec) and pyrrolysine (Pyl). We found Sec recoding in Jordarchaeia and all other Asgardarchaeota classes, which likely benefit from increased catalytic activities of Sec-containing enzymes. Pyl recoding, on the other hand, is restricted to Sifarchaeia in the Asgardarchaeota, making it the first reported non-methanogenic archaeal lineage with an inferred complete Pyl machinery, likely providing members of this class with an efficient mechanism for methylamine utilisation. Furthermore, we identified enzymes for the biosynthesis of ester-type lipids, characteristic of bacteria and eukaryotes, in both newly described classes, supporting the hypothesis that mixed ether-ester lipids are a shared feature among Asgardarchaeota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiarui Sun
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul N Evans
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Emma J Gagen
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Ben J Woodcroft
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Australia
| | - Brian P Hedlund
- School of Life Sciences and Nevada Institute of Personalized Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Tanja Woyke
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Philip Hugenholtz
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Christian Rinke
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
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15
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Pang L, Weeks SD, Van Aerschot A. Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases as Valuable Targets for Antimicrobial Drug Discovery. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1750. [PMID: 33578647 PMCID: PMC7916415 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) catalyze the esterification of tRNA with a cognate amino acid and are essential enzymes in all three kingdoms of life. Due to their important role in the translation of the genetic code, aaRSs have been recognized as suitable targets for the development of small molecule anti-infectives. In this review, following a concise discussion of aaRS catalytic and proof-reading activities, the various inhibitory mechanisms of reported natural and synthetic aaRS inhibitors are discussed. Using the expanding repository of ligand-bound X-ray crystal structures, we classified these compounds based on their binding sites, focusing on their ability to compete with the association of one, or more of the canonical aaRS substrates. In parallel, we examined the determinants of species-selectivity and discuss potential resistance mechanisms of some of the inhibitor classes. Combined, this structural perspective highlights the opportunities for further exploration of the aaRS enzyme family as antimicrobial targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luping Pang
- KU Leuven, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, Herestraat 49–box 1041, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- KU Leuven, Biocrystallography, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Herestraat 49–box 822, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Arthur Van Aerschot
- KU Leuven, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, Herestraat 49–box 1041, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
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Abstract
Genetic code expansion is one of the most powerful technologies in protein engineering. In addition to the 20 canonical amino acids, the expanded genetic code is supplemented by unnatural amino acids, which have artificial side chains that can be introduced into target proteins in vitro and in vivo. A wide range of chemical groups have been incorporated co-translationally into proteins in single cells and multicellular organisms by using genetic code expansion. Incorporated unnatural amino acids have been used for novel structure-function relationship studies, bioorthogonal labelling of proteins in cellulo for microscopy and in vivo for tissue-specific proteomics, the introduction of post-translational modifications and optical control of protein function, to name a few examples. In this Minireview, the development of genetic code expansion technology is briefly introduced, then its applications in neurobiology are discussed, with a focus on studies using mammalian cells and mice as model organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Nikić‐Spiegel
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative NeuroscienceUniversity of TübingenOtfried-Müller-Strasse 2572076TübingenGermany
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17
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Abstract
Host-associated microbial communities have an important role in shaping the health and fitness of plants and animals. Most studies have focused on the bacterial, fungal or viral communities, but often the archaeal component has been neglected. The archaeal community, the so-called archaeome, is now increasingly recognized as an important component of host-associated microbiomes. It is composed of various lineages, including mainly Methanobacteriales and Methanomassiliicoccales (Euryarchaeota), as well as representatives of the Thaumarchaeota. Host-archaeome interactions have mostly been delineated from methanogenic archaea in the gastrointestinal tract, where they contribute to substantial methane production and are potentially also involved in disease-relevant processes. In this Review, we discuss the diversity and potential roles of the archaea associated with protists, plants and animals. We also present the current understanding of the archaeome in humans, the specific adaptations involved in interaction with the resident microbial community as well as with the host, and the roles of the archaeome in both health and disease.
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18
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Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been linked to animal-based diets, which are a major source of trimethylamine (TMA), a precursor of the proatherogenic compound trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). Human gut bacteria in the genus Bilophila have genomic signatures for genetic code expansion that could enable them to metabolize both TMA and its precursors without production of TMAO. We uncovered evidence that the Bilophila demethylation pathway is actively transcribed in gut microbiomes and that animal-based diets cause Bilophila to rapidly increase in abundance. CVD occurrence and Bilophila abundance in humans were significantly negatively correlated. These data lead us to propose that Bilophila, which is commonly regarded as a pathobiont, may play a role in mitigating cardiovascular disease. Human gut microbiomes have been shown to affect the development of a myriad of disease states, but mechanistic connections between diet, health, and microbiota have been challenging to establish. The hypothesis that Bilophila reduces cardiovascular disease by circumventing TMAO production offers a clearly defined mechanism with a potential human health impact, but investigations of Bilophila cell biology and ecology will be needed to fully evaluate these ideas.IMPORTANCE Links between trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) have focused attention on mechanisms by which animal-based diets have negative health consequences. In a meta-analysis of data from foundational gut microbiome studies, we found evidence that specialized bacteria have and express a metabolic pathway that circumvents TMAO production and is often misannotated because it relies on genetic code expansion. This naturally occurring mechanism for TMAO attenuation is negatively correlated with CVD. Ultimately, these findings point to new avenues of research that could increase microbiome-informed understanding of human health and hint at potential biomedical applications in which specialized bacteria are used to curtail CVD development.
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19
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Targeting interleukin-4 to the arthritic joint. J Control Release 2020; 326:172-180. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Abstract
Within the broad field of synthetic biology, genetic code expansion (GCE) techniques enable creation of proteins with an expanded set of amino acids. This may be invaluable for applications in therapeutics, bioremediation, and biocatalysis. Central to GCE are aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) as they link a non-canonical amino acid (ncAA) to their cognate tRNA, allowing ncAA incorporation into proteins on the ribosome. The ncAA-acylating aaRSs and their tRNAs should not cross-react with 20 natural aaRSs and tRNAs in the host, i.e., they need to function as an orthogonal translating system. All current orthogonal aaRS•tRNA pairs have been engineered from naturally occurring molecules to change the aaRS's amino acid specificity or assign the tRNA to a liberated codon of choice. Here we discuss the importance of orthogonality in GCE, laboratory techniques employed to create designer aaRSs and tRNAs, and provide an overview of orthogonal aaRS•tRNA pairs for GCE purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Krahn
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Jeffery M Tharp
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Ana Crnković
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.
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21
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Ros E, Torres AG, Ribas de Pouplana L. Learning from Nature to Expand the Genetic Code. Trends Biotechnol 2020; 39:460-473. [PMID: 32896440 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The genetic code is the manual that cells use to incorporate amino acids into proteins. It is possible to artificially expand this manual through cellular, molecular, and chemical manipulations to improve protein functionality. Strategies for in vivo genetic code expansion are under the same functional constraints as natural protein synthesis. Here, we review the approaches used to incorporate noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into designer proteins through the manipulation of the translation machinery and draw parallels between these methods and natural adaptations that improve translation in extant organisms. Following this logic, we propose new nature-inspired tactics to improve genetic code expansion (GCE) in synthetic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enric Ros
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08028, Spain
| | - Adrian Gabriel Torres
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08028, Spain
| | - Lluís Ribas de Pouplana
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08028, Spain; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08010, Spain.
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22
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Lühmann T, Gutmann M, Moscaroli A, Raschig M, Béhé M, Meinel L. Biodistribution of Site-Specific PEGylated Fibroblast Growth Factor-2. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2019; 6:425-432. [PMID: 33463203 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b01248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) is a small 18 kDa protein with clinical potential for ischemic heart disease, wound healing, and spinal cord injury. However, the therapeutic potential of systemic FGF-2 administration is challenged by its fast elimination. Therefore, we deployed genetic codon expansion to integrate an azide functionality to the FGF-2 N-terminus, which was site-directly decorated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) through bioorthogonal strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC). PEGylated FGF-2 was as bioactive as wild-type FGF-2 as demonstrated by cell proliferation and Erk phosphorylation of fibroblasts. The PEGylated FGF-2 conjugate was radiolabeled with [111In] Indium cation ([111In]In3+) to study its biodistribution through noninvasive imaging by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and by quantitative activity analysis of the respective organs in healthy mice. This study details the biodistribution pattern of site-specific PEGylated FGF-2 in tissues after intravenous (iv) administration compared to the unconjugated protein. Low accumulation of the PEGylated FGF-2 variant in the kidney and the liver was demonstrated, whereas specific uptake of PEGylated FGF-2 into the retina was significantly diminished. In conclusion, site-specific PEGylation of FGF-2 by SPAAC resulted in a superior outcome for the synthesis yield and in conjugates with excellent biological performances with a gain of half-life but reduced tissue access in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Lühmann
- Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Gutmann
- Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alessandra Moscaroli
- Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences ETH-PSI-USZ, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Martina Raschig
- Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Béhé
- Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences ETH-PSI-USZ, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Lorenz Meinel
- Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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23
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Holland SI, Edwards RJ, Ertan H, Wong YK, Russell TL, Deshpande NP, Manefield MJ, Lee M. Whole genome sequencing of a novel, dichloromethane-fermenting Peptococcaceae from an enrichment culture. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7775. [PMID: 31592187 PMCID: PMC6778437 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7775] [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: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria capable of dechlorinating the toxic environmental contaminant dichloromethane (DCM, CH2Cl2) are of great interest for potential bioremediation applications. A novel, strictly anaerobic, DCM-fermenting bacterium, "DCMF", was enriched from organochlorine-contaminated groundwater near Botany Bay, Australia. The enrichment culture was maintained in minimal, mineral salt medium amended with dichloromethane as the sole energy source. PacBio whole genome SMRTTM sequencing of DCMF allowed de novo, gap-free assembly despite the presence of cohabiting organisms in the culture. Illumina sequencing reads were utilised to correct minor indels. The single, circularised 6.44 Mb chromosome was annotated with the IMG pipeline and contains 5,773 predicted protein-coding genes. Based on 16S rRNA gene and predicted proteome phylogeny, the organism appears to be a novel member of the Peptococcaceae family. The DCMF genome is large in comparison to known DCM-fermenting bacteria. It includes an abundance of methyltransferases, which may provide clues to the basis of its DCM metabolism, as well as potential to metabolise additional methylated substrates such as quaternary amines. Full annotation has been provided in a custom genome browser and search tool, in addition to multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic trees for every predicted protein, http://www.slimsuite.unsw.edu.au/research/dcmf/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie I. Holland
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Richard J. Edwards
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Haluk Ertan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yie Kuan Wong
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tonia L. Russell
- Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nandan P. Deshpande
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael J. Manefield
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Matthew Lee
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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24
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Methanogens: pushing the boundaries of biology. Emerg Top Life Sci 2018; 2:629-646. [PMID: 33525834 PMCID: PMC7289024 DOI: 10.1042/etls20180031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Methanogens are anaerobic archaea that grow by producing methane gas. These microbes and their exotic metabolism have inspired decades of microbial physiology research that continues to push the boundary of what we know about how microbes conserve energy to grow. The study of methanogens has helped to elucidate the thermodynamic and bioenergetics basis of life, contributed our understanding of evolution and biodiversity, and has garnered an appreciation for the societal utility of studying trophic interactions between environmental microbes, as methanogens are important in microbial conversion of biogenic carbon into methane, a high-energy fuel. This review discusses the theoretical basis for energy conservation by methanogens and identifies gaps in methanogen biology that may be filled by undiscovered or yet-to-be engineered organisms.
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25
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Pyrrolysine in archaea: a 22nd amino acid encoded through a genetic code expansion. Emerg Top Life Sci 2018; 2:607-618. [PMID: 33525836 DOI: 10.1042/etls20180094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The 22nd amino acid discovered to be directly encoded, pyrrolysine, is specified by UAG. Until recently, pyrrolysine was only known to be present in archaea from a methanogenic lineage (Methanosarcinales), where it is important in enzymes catalysing anoxic methylamines metabolism, and a few anaerobic bacteria. Relatively new discoveries have revealed wider presence in archaea, deepened functional understanding, shown remarkable carbon source-dependent expression of expanded decoding and extended exploitation of the pyrrolysine machinery for synthetic code expansion. At the same time, other studies have shown the presence of pyrrolysine-containing archaea in the human gut and this has prompted health considerations. The article reviews our knowledge of this fascinating exception to the 'standard' genetic code.
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Archaea: Microbial Candidates in Next-generation Probiotics Development. J Clin Gastroenterol 2018; 52 Suppl 1, Proceedings from the 9th Probiotics, Prebiotics and New Foods, Nutraceuticals and Botanicals for Nutrition & Human and Microbiota Health Meeting, held in Rome, Italy from September 10 to 12, 2017:S71-S73. [PMID: 29668558 DOI: 10.1097/mcg.0000000000001043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Pharmabiotics and probiotics in current use or under development belong to 2 of 3 domains of life, Eukarya (eg, yeasts) and Bacteria (eg, lactobacilli). Archaea constitute a third domain of life, and are currently not used as probiotics, despite several interesting features. This includes the absence of known pathogens in humans, animals, or plants and the existence of some archaea closely associated to humans in various microbiomes. We promote the concept that some specific archaea that naturally thrive in the human gut are potential next-generation probiotics that can be rationally selected on the basis of their metabolic phenotype not being encountered in other human gut microbes, neither Bacteria nor Eukarya. The example of the possible bioremediation of the proatherogenic compound trimethylamine into methane by archaeal microbes is described.
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Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase with a Unique Architecture Enhances the Availability of Lysine Derivatives in Synthetic Genetic Codes. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23102460. [PMID: 30261594 PMCID: PMC6222415 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23102460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic code expansion has largely relied on two types of the tRNA—aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pairs. One involves pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS), which is used to incorporate various lysine derivatives into proteins. The widely used PylRS from Methanosarcinaceae comprises two distinct domains while the bacterial molecules consist of two separate polypeptides. The recently identified PylRS from Candidatus Methanomethylophilus alvus (CMaPylRS) is a single-domain, one-polypeptide enzyme that belongs to a third category. In the present study, we showed that the PylRS—tRNAPyl pair from C. M. alvus can incorporate lysine derivatives much more efficiently (up to 14-times) than Methanosarcinaceae PylRSs in Escherichia coli cell-based and cell-free systems. Then we investigated the tRNA and amino-acid recognition by CMaPylRS. The cognate tRNAPyl has two structural idiosyncrasies: no connecting nucleotide between the acceptor and D stems and an additional nucleotide in the anticodon stem and it was found that these features are hardly recognized by CMaPylRS. Lastly, the Tyr126Ala and Met129Leu substitutions at the amino-acid binding pocket were shown to allow CMaPylRS to recognize various derivatives of the bulky Nε-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-lysine (ZLys). With the high incorporation efficiency and the amenability to engineering, CMaPylRS would enhance the availability of lysine derivatives in expanded codes.
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28
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Fladischer P, Weingartner A, Blamauer J, Darnhofer B, Birner-Gruenberger R, Kardashliev T, Ruff AJ, Schwaneberg U, Wiltschi B. A Semi-Rationally Engineered Bacterial Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase Genetically Encodes Phenyl Azide Chemistry. Biotechnol J 2018; 14:e1800125. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201800125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patrik Fladischer
- Acib − Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology; Petersgasse 14 A-8010 Graz Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology; Graz University of Technology; Graz Austria
| | - Alexandra Weingartner
- Acib − Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology; Petersgasse 14 A-8010 Graz Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology; Graz University of Technology; Graz Austria
| | - Johannes Blamauer
- Acib − Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology; Petersgasse 14 A-8010 Graz Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology; Graz University of Technology; Graz Austria
| | - Barbara Darnhofer
- Acib − Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology; Petersgasse 14 A-8010 Graz Austria
- Research Unit Functional Proteomics and Metabolomic Pathways; Institute of Pathology; Medical University of Graz; Graz Austria
- Omics Center Graz; BioTechMed-Graz; Graz Austria
| | - Ruth Birner-Gruenberger
- Research Unit Functional Proteomics and Metabolomic Pathways; Institute of Pathology; Medical University of Graz; Graz Austria
- Omics Center Graz; BioTechMed-Graz; Graz Austria
| | | | - Anna Joelle Ruff
- Lehrstuhl für Biotechnologie; RWTH Aachen University; Aachen Germany
| | | | - Birgit Wiltschi
- Acib − Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology; Petersgasse 14 A-8010 Graz Austria
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29
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Wu F, Braun A, Lühmann T, Meinel L. Site-Specific Conjugated Insulin-like Growth Factor-I for Anabolic Therapy. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2018; 4:819-825. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b01016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wu
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Braun
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tessa Lühmann
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lorenz Meinel
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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Ferrer M, Sorokin DY, Wolf YI, Ciordia S, Mena MC, Bargiela R, Koonin EV, Makarova KS. Proteomic Analysis of Methanonatronarchaeum thermophilum AMET1, a Representative of a Putative New Class of Euryarchaeota, "Methanonatronarchaeia". Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:E28. [PMID: 29360740 PMCID: PMC5852551 DOI: 10.3390/genes9020028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The recently discovered Methanonatronarchaeia are extremely halophilic and moderately thermophilic methyl-reducing methanogens representing a novel class-level lineage in the phylum Euryarchaeota related to the class Halobacteria. Here we present a detailed analysis of 1D-nano liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry data obtained for "Methanonatronarchaeum thermophilum" AMET1 grown in different physiological conditions, including variation of the growth temperature and substrates. Analysis of these data allows us to refine the current understanding of the key biosynthetic pathways of this triple extremophilic methanogenic euryarchaeon and identify proteins that are likely to be involved in its response to growth condition changes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dimitry Y Sorokin
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Research Centre for Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect 60-let Octyabrya 7/2, 117312 Moscow, Russia.
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Yuri I Wolf
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA.
| | - Sergio Ciordia
- Proteomics Facility, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | - María C Mena
- Proteomics Facility, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Eugene V Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA.
| | - Kira S Makarova
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA.
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31
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Volkwein W, Maier C, Krafczyk R, Jung K, Lassak J. A Versatile Toolbox for the Control of Protein Levels Using N ε-Acetyl-l-lysine Dependent Amber Suppression. ACS Synth Biol 2017; 6:1892-1902. [PMID: 28594177 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The analysis of the function of essential genes in vivo depends on the ability to experimentally modulate levels of their protein products. Current methods to address this are based on transcriptional or post-transcriptional regulation of mRNAs, but approaches based on the exploitation of translation regulation have so far been neglected. Here we describe a toolbox, based on amber suppression in the presence of Nε-acetyl-l-lysine (AcK), for translational tuning of protein output. We chose the highly sensitive luminescence system LuxCDABE as a reporter and incorporated a UAG stop codon into the gene for the reductase subunit LuxC. The system was used to measure and compare the effects of AcK- and Nε-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-l-lysine (BocK) dependent amber suppression in Escherichia coli. We also demonstrate here that, in combination with transcriptional regulation, the system allows protein production to be either totally repressed or gradually adjusted. To identify sequence motifs that provide improved translational regulation, we varied the sequence context of the amber codon and found that insertion of two preceding prolines drastically decreases luminescence. In addition, using LacZ as a reporter, we demonstrated that a strain encoding a variant with a Pro-Pro amber motif can only grow on lactose when AcK is supplied, thus confirming the tight translational regulation of protein output. In parallel, we constructed an E. coli strain that carries an isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG)-inducible version of the AcK-tRNA synthetase (AcKRS) gene on the chromosome, thus preventing mischarging of noncognate substrates. Subsequently, a diaminopimelic acid auxotrophic mutant (ΔdapA) was generated demonstrating the potential of this strain in regulating essential gene products. Furthermore, we assembled a set of vectors based on the broad-host-range pBBR ori that enable the AcK-dependent amber suppression system to control protein output not only in E. coli, but also in Salmonella enterica and Vibrio cholerae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfram Volkwein
- Center for integrated Protein
Science Munich (CiPSM) at the Department of Biology I, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhaderner Strasse 2-4, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Christopher Maier
- Center for integrated Protein
Science Munich (CiPSM) at the Department of Biology I, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhaderner Strasse 2-4, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Ralph Krafczyk
- Center for integrated Protein
Science Munich (CiPSM) at the Department of Biology I, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhaderner Strasse 2-4, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Kirsten Jung
- Center for integrated Protein
Science Munich (CiPSM) at the Department of Biology I, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhaderner Strasse 2-4, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jürgen Lassak
- Center for integrated Protein
Science Munich (CiPSM) at the Department of Biology I, Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhaderner Strasse 2-4, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
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32
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Suzuki T, Miller C, Guo LT, Ho JML, Bryson DI, Wang YS, Liu DR, Söll D. Crystal structures reveal an elusive functional domain of pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase. Nat Chem Biol 2017; 13:1261-1266. [PMID: 29035363 PMCID: PMC5698177 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.2497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) is a major tool in genetic code expansion with non-canonical amino acids, yet understanding of its structure and activity is incomplete. Here we describe the crystal structure of the previously uncharacterized essential N-terminal domain of this unique enzyme in complex with tRNAPyl. This structure explains why PylRS remains orthogonal in a broad range of organisms, from bacteria to humans. The structure also illustrates why tRNAPyl recognition by PylRS is anticodon-independent; the anticodon does not contact the enzyme. Using standard microbiological culture equipment, we then established a new method for laboratory evolution – a non-continuous counterpart of the previously developed phage-assisted continuous evolution. With this method, we evolved novel PylRS variants with enhanced activity and amino acid specificity. We finally employed an evolved PylRS variant to determine its N-terminal domain structure and show how its mutations improve PylRS activity in the genetic encoding of a non-canonical amino acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tateki Suzuki
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Corwin Miller
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Li-Tao Guo
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Joanne M L Ho
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - David I Bryson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yane-Shih Wang
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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33
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Abstract
Pyrrolysine is the 22nd proteinogenic amino acid encoded into proteins in response to amber (TAG) codons in a small number of archaea and bacteria. The incorporation of pyrrolysine is facilitated by a specialized aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) and its cognate tRNA (tRNAPyl). The secondary structure of tRNAPyl contains several unique features not found in canonical tRNAs. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the PylRS/tRNAPyl pair from archaea is orthogonal in E. coli and eukaryotic hosts, which has led to the widespread use of this pair for the genetic incorporation of non-canonical amino acids. In this brief review we examine the work that has been done to elucidate the structure of tRNAPyl, its interaction with PylRS, and survey recent progress on the use of tRNAPyl as a tool for genetic code expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffery M Tharp
- a Department of Chemistry , Texas A&M University , College Station , TX , USA
| | - Andreas Ehnbom
- a Department of Chemistry , Texas A&M University , College Station , TX , USA
| | - Wenshe R Liu
- a Department of Chemistry , Texas A&M University , College Station , TX , USA
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34
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Guan Y, Haroon MF, Alam I, Ferry JG, Stingl U. Single-cell genomics reveals pyrrolysine-encoding potential in members of uncultivated archaeal candidate division MSBL1. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2017; 9:404-410. [PMID: 28493460 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Pyrrolysine (Pyl), the 22nd canonical amino acid, is only decoded and synthesized by a limited number of organisms in the domains Archaea and Bacteria. Pyl is encoded by the amber codon UAG, typically a stop codon. To date, all known Pyl-decoding archaea are able to carry out methylotrophic methanogenesis. The functionality of methylamine methyltransferases, an important component of corrinoid-dependent methyltransfer reactions, depends on the presence of Pyl. Here, we present a putative pyl gene cluster obtained from single-cell genomes of the archaeal Mediterranean Sea Brine Lakes group 1 (MSBL1) from the Red Sea. Functional annotation of the MSBL1 single cell amplified genomes (SAGs) also revealed a complete corrinoid-dependent methyl-transfer pathway suggesting that members of MSBL1 may possibly be capable of synthesizing Pyl and metabolizing methylated amines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Guan
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed F Haroon
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Intikhab Alam
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Computational Bioscience Research Center, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - James G Ferry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Ulrich Stingl
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Red Sea Research Center, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Department for Microbiology & Cell Science, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida/IFAS, Davie, FL, 33314, USA
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35
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Wandrey G, Wurzel J, Hoffmann K, Ladner T, Büchs J, Meinel L, Lühmann T. Probing unnatural amino acid integration into enhanced green fluorescent protein by genetic code expansion with a high-throughput screening platform. J Biol Eng 2016; 10:11. [PMID: 27733867 PMCID: PMC5045631 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-016-0031-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic code expansion has developed into an elegant tool to incorporate unnatural amino acids (uAA) at predefined sites in the protein backbone in response to an amber codon. However, recombinant production and yield of uAA comprising proteins are challenged due to the additional translation machinery required for uAA incorporation. RESULTS We developed a microtiter plate-based high-throughput monitoring system (HTMS) to study and optimize uAA integration in the model protein enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP). Two uAA, propargyl-L-lysine (Plk) and (S)-2-amino-6-((2-azidoethoxy) carbonylamino) hexanoic acid (Alk), were incorporated at the same site into eGFP co-expressing the native PylRS/tRNAPylCUA pair originating from Methanosarcina barkeri in E. coli. The site-specific uAA functionalization was confirmed by LC-MS/MS analysis. uAA-eGFP production and biomass growth in parallelized E. coli cultivations was correlated to (i) uAA concentration and the (ii) time of uAA addition to the expression medium as well as to induction parameters including the (iii) time and (iv) amount of IPTG supplementation. The online measurements of the HTMS were consolidated by end point-detection using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent procedures. CONCLUSION The developed HTMS is powerful tool for parallelized and rapid screening. In light of uAA integration, future applications may include parallelized screening of different PylRS/tRNAPylCUA pairs as well as further optimization of culture conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Wandrey
- AVT, Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Joel Wurzel
- Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, 97074 Germany
| | - Kyra Hoffmann
- AVT, Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Tobias Ladner
- AVT, Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Jochen Büchs
- AVT, Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Lorenz Meinel
- Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, 97074 Germany
| | - Tessa Lühmann
- Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, 97074 Germany
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36
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Daly RA, Borton MA, Wilkins MJ, Hoyt DW, Kountz DJ, Wolfe RA, Welch SA, Marcus DN, Trexler RV, MacRae JD, Krzycki JA, Cole DR, Mouser PJ, Wrighton KC. Microbial metabolisms in a 2.5-km-deep ecosystem created by hydraulic fracturing in shales. Nat Microbiol 2016; 1:16146. [PMID: 27595198 DOI: 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing is the industry standard for extracting hydrocarbons from shale formations. Attention has been paid to the economic benefits and environmental impacts of this process, yet the biogeochemical changes induced in the deep subsurface are poorly understood. Recent single-gene investigations revealed that halotolerant microbial communities were enriched after hydraulic fracturing. Here, the reconstruction of 31 unique genomes coupled to metabolite data from the Marcellus and Utica shales revealed that many of the persisting organisms play roles in methylamine cycling, ultimately supporting methanogenesis in the deep biosphere. Fermentation of injected chemical additives also sustains long-term microbial persistence, while thiosulfate reduction could produce sulfide, contributing to reservoir souring and infrastructure corrosion. Extensive links between viruses and microbial hosts demonstrate active viral predation, which may contribute to the release of labile cellular constituents into the extracellular environment. Our analyses show that hydraulic fracturing provides the organismal and chemical inputs for colonization and persistence in the deep terrestrial subsurface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Daly
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43214, USA
| | - Mikayla A Borton
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43214, USA
| | - Michael J Wilkins
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43214, USA.,School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43214, USA
| | - David W Hoyt
- EMSL, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, USA
| | - Duncan J Kountz
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43214, USA
| | - Richard A Wolfe
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43214, USA
| | - Susan A Welch
- School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43214, USA
| | - Daniel N Marcus
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43214, USA
| | - Ryan V Trexler
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43214, USA
| | - Jean D MacRae
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469, USA
| | - Joseph A Krzycki
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43214, USA
| | - David R Cole
- School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43214, USA
| | - Paula J Mouser
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43214, USA
| | - Kelly C Wrighton
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43214, USA
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37
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Wu WL, Lai SJ, Yang JT, Chern J, Liang SY, Chou CC, Kuo CH, Lai MC, Wu SH. Phosphoproteomic analysis of Methanohalophilus portucalensis FDF1(T) identified the role of protein phosphorylation in methanogenesis and osmoregulation. Sci Rep 2016; 6:29013. [PMID: 27357474 PMCID: PMC4928046 DOI: 10.1038/srep29013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Methanogens have gained much attention for their metabolic product, methane, which could be an energy substitute but also contributes to the greenhouse effect. One factor that controls methane emission, reversible protein phosphorylation, is a crucial signaling switch, and phosphoproteomics has become a powerful tool for large-scale surveying. Here, we conducted the first phosphorylation-mediated regulation study in halophilic Methanohalophilus portucalensis FDF1(T), a model strain for studying stress response mechanisms in osmoadaptation. A shotgun approach and MS-based analysis identified 149 unique phosphoproteins. Among them, 26% participated in methanogenesis and osmolytes biosynthesis pathways. Of note, we uncovered that protein phosphorylation might be a crucial factor to modulate the pyrrolysine (Pyl) incorporation and Pyl-mediated methylotrophic methanogenesis. Furthermore, heterologous expression of glycine sarcosine N-methyltransferase (GSMT) mutant derivatives in the osmosensitive Escherichia coli MKH13 revealed that the nonphosphorylated T68A mutant resulted in increased salt tolerance. In contrast, mimic phosphorylated mutant T68D proved defective in both enzymatic activity and salinity tolerance for growth. Our study provides new insights into phosphorylation modification as a crucial role of both methanogenesis and osmoadaptation in methanoarchaea, promoting biogas production or reducing future methane emission in response to global warming and climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Ling Wu
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Jung Lai
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Jhih-Tian Yang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Ph.D program in Microbial Genomics, National Chung Hsing University and Academia Sinica, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Jeffy Chern
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Suh-Yuen Liang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Core Facilities for Protein Structural Analysis, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Chi Chou
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Core Facilities for Protein Structural Analysis, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Horng Kuo
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Chin Lai
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
- Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Hsiung Wu
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
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38
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Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are modular enzymes globally conserved in the three kingdoms of life. All catalyze the same two-step reaction, i.e., the attachment of a proteinogenic amino acid on their cognate tRNAs, thereby mediating the correct expression of the genetic code. In addition, some aaRSs acquired other functions beyond this key role in translation. Genomics and X-ray crystallography have revealed great structural diversity in aaRSs (e.g., in oligomery and modularity, in ranking into two distinct groups each subdivided in 3 subgroups, by additional domains appended on the catalytic modules). AaRSs show huge structural plasticity related to function and limited idiosyncrasies that are kingdom or even species specific (e.g., the presence in many Bacteria of non discriminating aaRSs compensating for the absence of one or two specific aaRSs, notably AsnRS and/or GlnRS). Diversity, as well, occurs in the mechanisms of aaRS gene regulation that are not conserved in evolution, notably between distant groups such as Gram-positive and Gram-negative Bacteria. The review focuses on bacterial aaRSs (and their paralogs) and covers their structure, function, regulation, and evolution. Structure/function relationships are emphasized, notably the enzymology of tRNA aminoacylation and the editing mechanisms for correction of activation and charging errors. The huge amount of genomic and structural data that accumulated in last two decades is reviewed, showing how the field moved from essentially reductionist biology towards more global and integrated approaches. Likewise, the alternative functions of aaRSs and those of aaRS paralogs (e.g., during cell wall biogenesis and other metabolic processes in or outside protein synthesis) are reviewed. Since aaRS phylogenies present promiscuous bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryal features, similarities and differences in the properties of aaRSs from the three kingdoms of life are pinpointed throughout the review and distinctive characteristics of bacterium-like synthetases from organelles are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Giegé
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IBMC, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Mathias Springer
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Cité, UPR9073 CNRS, IBPC, 75005 Paris, France
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39
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Incorporation of non-canonical amino acids into proteins in yeast. Fungal Genet Biol 2016; 89:137-156. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2016.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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40
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Aliyu H, De Maayer P, Cowan D. The genome of the Antarctic polyextremophileNesterenkoniasp. AN1 reveals adaptive strategies for survival under multiple stress conditions. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2016; 92:fiw032. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
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41
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42
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Kröninger L, Berger S, Welte C, Deppenmeier U. Evidence for the involvement of two heterodisulfide reductases in the energy-conserving system ofMethanomassiliicoccus luminyensis. FEBS J 2015; 283:472-83. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.13594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lena Kröninger
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology; University of Bonn; Germany
| | - Stefanie Berger
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology; University of Bonn; Germany
| | - Cornelia Welte
- Department of Microbiology; Institute for Water and Wetland Research; Radboud University; Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Uwe Deppenmeier
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology; University of Bonn; Germany
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43
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Yamaguchi A, Matsuda T, Ohtake K, Yanagisawa T, Yokoyama S, Fujiwara Y, Watanabe T, Hohsaka T, Sakamoto K. Incorporation of a Doubly Functionalized Synthetic Amino Acid into Proteins for Creating Chemical and Light-Induced Conjugates. Bioconjug Chem 2015; 27:198-206. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.5b00602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Yamaguchi
- School
of Materials Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1292, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | - Yoshihisa Fujiwara
- Shinsei Chemical Company Ltd., 7-7-15 Saitoasagi, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0085, 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
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44
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Lühmann T, Jones G, Gutmann M, Rybak JC, Nickel J, Rubini M, Meinel L. Bio-orthogonal Immobilization of Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 for Spatial Controlled Cell Proliferation. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2015; 1:740-746. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.5b00236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Lühmann
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Wuerzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Gabriel Jones
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Wuerzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Gutmann
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Wuerzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Jens-Christoph Rybak
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Wuerzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Joachim Nickel
- Chair
of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Roentgenring 11, 97070 Wuerzburg Germany
- Translational
Center “Regenerative Therapies in Oncology and Musculoskeletal
Diseases” Wuerzburg, Branch of the Fraunhofer Institute Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Marina Rubini
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Lorenz Meinel
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Wuerzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
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Molecular methods for studying methanogens of the human gastrointestinal tract: current status and future directions. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 99:5801-15. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-6739-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Revised: 05/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Terasaka N, Iwane Y, Geiermann AS, Goto Y, Suga H. Recent developments of engineered translational machineries for the incorporation of non-canonical amino acids into polypeptides. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:6513-31. [PMID: 25803109 PMCID: PMC4394545 DOI: 10.3390/ijms16036513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Revised: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic code expansion and reprogramming methodologies allow us to incorporate non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) bearing various functional groups, such as fluorescent groups, bioorthogonal functional groups, and post-translational modifications, into a desired position or multiple positions in polypeptides both in vitro and in vivo. In order to efficiently incorporate a wide range of ncAAs, several methodologies have been developed, such as orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA-synthetase (AARS)–tRNA pairs, aminoacylation ribozymes, frame-shift suppression of quadruplet codons, and engineered ribosomes. More recently, it has been reported that an engineered translation system specifically utilizes an artificially built genetic code and functions orthogonally to naturally occurring counterpart. In this review we summarize recent advances in the field of ribosomal polypeptide synthesis containing ncAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naohiro Terasaka
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Yoshihiko Iwane
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Anna-Skrollan Geiermann
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Yuki Goto
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Hiroaki Suga
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
- Japan Science and Technology Agency, Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
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Mustoe AM, Liu X, Lin PJ, Al-Hashimi HM, Fierke CA, Brooks CL. Noncanonical secondary structure stabilizes mitochondrial tRNA(Ser(UCN)) by reducing the entropic cost of tertiary folding. J Am Chem Soc 2015; 137:3592-9. [PMID: 25705930 PMCID: PMC4399864 DOI: 10.1021/ja5130308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian mitochondrial tRNA(Ser(UCN)) (mt-tRNA(Ser)) and pyrrolysine tRNA (tRNA(Pyl)) fold to near-canonical three-dimensional structures despite having noncanonical secondary structures with shortened interhelical loops that disrupt the conserved tRNA tertiary interaction network. How these noncanonical tRNAs compensate for their loss of tertiary interactions remains unclear. Furthermore, in human mt-tRNA(Ser), lengthening the variable loop by the 7472insC mutation reduces mt-tRNA(Ser) concentration in vivo through poorly understood mechanisms and is strongly associated with diseases such as deafness and epilepsy. Using simulations of the TOPRNA coarse-grained model, we show that increased topological constraints encoded by the unique secondary structure of wild-type mt-tRNA(Ser) decrease the entropic cost of folding by ∼2.5 kcal/mol compared to canonical tRNA, offsetting its loss of tertiary interactions. Further simulations show that the pathogenic 7472insC mutation disrupts topological constraints and hence destabilizes the mutant mt-tRNA(Ser) by ∼0.6 kcal/mol relative to wild-type. UV melting experiments confirm that insertion mutations lower mt-tRNA(Ser) melting temperature by 6-9 °C and increase the folding free energy by 0.8-1.7 kcal/mol in a largely sequence- and salt-independent manner, in quantitative agreement with our simulation predictions. Our results show that topological constraints provide a quantitative framework for describing key aspects of RNA folding behavior and also provide the first evidence of a pathogenic mutation that is due to disruption of topological constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony M. Mustoe
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA
| | - Paul J. Lin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA
| | - Hashim M. Al-Hashimi
- Departments of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Carol A. Fierke
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA
| | - Charles L. Brooks
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA
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Wong TY, Schwartzbach SD. Protein Mis-Termination Initiates Genetic Diseases, Cancers, and Restricts Bacterial Genome Expansion. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART C, ENVIRONMENTAL CARCINOGENESIS & ECOTOXICOLOGY REVIEWS 2015; 33:255-285. [PMID: 26087060 DOI: 10.1080/10590501.2015.1053461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Protein termination is an important cellular process. Protein termination relies on the stop-codons in the mRNA interacting properly with the releasing factors on the ribosome. One third of inherited diseases, including cancers, are associated with the mutation of the stop-codons. Many pathogens and viruses are able to manipulate their stop-codons to express their virulence. The influence of stop-codons is not limited to the primary reading frame of the genes. Stop-codons in the second and third reading frames are referred as premature stop signals (PSC). Stop-codons and PSCs together are collectively referred as stop-signals. The ratios of the stop-signals (referred as translation stop-signals ratio or TSSR) of genetically related bacteria, despite their great differences in gene contents, are much alike. This nearly identical Genomic-TSSR value of genetically related bacteria may suggest that bacterial genome expansion is limited by their unique stop-signals bias. We review the protein termination process and the different types of stop-codon mutation in plants, animals, microbes, and viruses, with special emphasis on the role of PSCs in directing bacterial evolution in their natural environments. Knowing the limit of genomic boundary could facilitate the formulation of new strategies in controlling the spread of diseases and combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tit-Yee Wong
- a Department of Biological Sciences , University of Memphis , Memphis , Tennessee , USA
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Nizhnikov AA, Antonets KS, Inge-Vechtomov SG, Derkatch IL. Modulation of efficiency of translation termination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Prion 2014; 8:247-60. [PMID: 25486049 DOI: 10.4161/pri.29851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonsense suppression is a readthrough of premature termination codons. It typically occurs either due to the recognition of stop codons by tRNAs with mutant anticodons, or due to a decrease in the fidelity of translation termination. In the latter case, suppressors usually promote the readthrough of different types of nonsense codons and are thus called omnipotent nonsense suppressors. Omnipotent nonsense suppressors were identified in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in 1960s, and most of subsequent studies were performed in this model organism. Initially, omnipotent suppressors were localized by genetic analysis to different protein- and RNA-encoding genes, mostly the components of translational machinery. Later, nonsense suppression was found to be caused not only by genomic mutations, but also by epigenetic elements, prions. Prions are self-perpetuating protein conformations usually manifested by infectious protein aggregates. Modulation of translational accuracy by prions reflects changes in the activity of their structural proteins involved in different aspects of protein synthesis. Overall, nonsense suppression can be seen as a "phenotypic mirror" of events affecting the accuracy of the translational machine. However, the range of proteins participating in the modulation of translation termination fidelity is not fully elucidated. Recently, the list has been expanded significantly by findings that revealed a number of weak genetic and epigenetic nonsense suppressors, the effect of which can be detected only in specific genetic backgrounds. This review summarizes the data on the nonsense suppressors decreasing the fidelity of translation termination in S. cerevisiae, and discusses the functional significance of the modulation of translational accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton A Nizhnikov
- a Department of Genetics and Biotechnology ; St. Petersburg State University ; St. Petersburg , Russia
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A nonpyrrolysine member of the widely distributed trimethylamine methyltransferase family is a glycine betaine methyltransferase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:E4668-76. [PMID: 25313086 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1409642111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
COG5598 comprises a large number of proteins related to MttB, the trimethylamine:corrinoid methyltransferase. MttB has a genetically encoded pyrrolysine residue proposed essential for catalysis. MttB is the only known trimethylamine methyltransferase, yet the great majority of members of COG5598 lack pyrrolysine, leaving the activity of these proteins an open question. Here, we describe the function of one of the nonpyrrolysine members of this large protein family. Three nonpyrrolysine MttB homologs are encoded in Desulfitobacterium hafniense, a Gram-positive strict anaerobe present in both the environment and human intestine. D. hafniense was found capable of growth on glycine betaine with electron acceptors such as nitrate or fumarate, producing dimethylglycine and CO2 as products. Examination of the genome revealed genes for tetrahydrofolate-linked oxidation of a methyl group originating from a methylated corrinoid protein, but no obvious means to carry out corrinoid methylation with glycine betaine. DSY3156, encoding one of the nonpyrrolysine MttB homologs, was up-regulated during growth on glycine betaine. The recombinant DSY3156 protein converts glycine betaine and cob(I)alamin to dimethylglycine and methylcobalamin. To our knowledge, DSY3156 is the first glycine betaine:corrinoid methyltransferase described, and a designation of MtgB is proposed. In addition, DSY3157, an adjacently encoded protein, was shown to be a methylcobalamin:tetrahydrofolate methyltransferase and is designated MtgA. Homologs of MtgB are widely distributed, especially in marine bacterioplankton and nitrogen-fixing plant symbionts. They are also found in multiple members of the human microbiome, and may play a beneficial role in trimethylamine homeostasis, which in recent years has been directly tied to human cardiovascular health.
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