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Hu X, Xu Y, Yi J, Wang C, Zhu Z, Yue T, Zhang H, Wang X, Wu F, Xue L, Bai L, Liu H, Chen Q. Using Protein Design and Directed Evolution to Monomerize a Bright Near-Infrared Fluorescent Protein. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:1177-1190. [PMID: 38552148 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
The small ultrared fluorescent protein (smURFP) is a bright near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent protein (FP) that forms a dimer and binds its fluorescence chromophore, biliverdin, at its dimer interface. To engineer a monomeric NIR FP based on smURFP potentially more suitable for bioimaging, we employed protein design to extend the protein backbone with a new segment of two helices that shield the original dimer interface while covering the biliverdin binding pocket in place of the second chain in the original dimer. We experimentally characterized 13 designs and obtained a monomeric protein with a weak fluorescence. We enhanced the fluorescence of this designed protein through two rounds of directed evolution and obtained designed monomeric smURFP (DMsmURFP), a bright, stable, and monomeric NIR FP with a molecular weight of 19.6 kDa. We determined the crystal structures of DMsmURFP both in the apo state and in complex with biliverdin, which confirmed the designed structure. The use of DMsmURFP in in vivo imaging of mammalian systems was demonstrated. The backbone design-based strategy used here can also be applied to monomerize other naturally multimeric proteins with intersubunit functional sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuhong Hu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Junxi Yi
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Chenchen Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Zhongliang Zhu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Ting Yue
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Haiyan Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Fan Wu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Lin Xue
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
- Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Li Bai
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
- Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Haiyan Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
- Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
- School of Data Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Quan Chen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences at the Microscale, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
- Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
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2
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Lemon CM. Diversifying the functions of heme proteins with non-porphyrin cofactors. J Inorg Biochem 2023; 246:112282. [PMID: 37320889 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Heme proteins perform diverse biochemical functions using a single iron porphyrin cofactor. This versatility makes them attractive platforms for the development of new functional proteins. While directed evolution and metal substitution have expanded the properties, reactivity, and applications of heme proteins, the incorporation of porphyrin analogs remains an underexplored approach. This review discusses the replacement of heme with non-porphyrin cofactors, such as porphycene, corrole, tetradehydrocorrin, phthalocyanine, and salophen, and the attendant properties of these conjugates. While structurally similar, each ligand exhibits distinct optical and redox properties, as well as unique chemical reactivity. These hybrids serve as model systems to elucidate the effects of the protein environment on the electronic structure, redox potentials, optical properties, or other features of the porphyrin analog. Protein encapsulation can confer distinct chemical reactivity or selectivity of artificial metalloenzymes that cannot be achieved with the small molecule catalyst alone. Additionally, these conjugates can interfere with heme acquisition and uptake in pathogenic bacteria, providing an inroad to innovative antibiotic strategies. Together, these examples illustrate the diverse functionality that can be achieved by cofactor substitution. The further expansion of this approach will access unexplored chemical space, enabling the development of superior catalysts and the creation of heme proteins with emergent properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Lemon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, PO Box 173400, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States.
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3
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Jung W, Lee DY, Moon E, Jon S. Nanoparticles derived from naturally occurring metal chelators for theranostic applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 191:114620. [PMID: 36379406 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Metals are indispensable for the activities of all living things, from single-celled organisms to higher organisms, including humans. Beyond their intrinsic quality as metal ions, metals help creatures to maintain requisite biological processes by forming coordination complexes with endogenous ligands that are broadly distributed in nature. These types of naturally occurring chelating reactions are found through the kingdoms of life, including bacteria, plants and animals. Mimicking these naturally occurring coordination complexes with intrinsic biocompatibility may offer an opportunity to develop nanomedicine toward clinical applications. Herein, we introduce representative examples of naturally occurring coordination complexes in a selection of model organisms and highlight such bio-inspired metal-chelating nanomaterials for theranostic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonsik Jung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; Center for Precision Bio-Nanomedicine, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Yun Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea; Translational Biomedical Research Group, Biomedical Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Science, Asan Medical Center, 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea.
| | - Eugene Moon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; Center for Precision Bio-Nanomedicine, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangyong Jon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; Center for Precision Bio-Nanomedicine, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
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Minić S, Annighöfer B, Hélary A, Sago L, Cornu D, Brûlet A, Combet S. Structure of proteins under pressure: covalent binding effects of biliverdin on β-lactoglobulin. Biophys J 2022; 121:2514-2525. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Lemon CM, Nissley AJ, Latorraca NR, Wittenborn EC, Marletta MA. Corrole–protein interactions in H-NOX and HasA. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:571-581. [PMID: 35656484 PMCID: PMC9092467 DOI: 10.1039/d2cb00004k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutagenesis was utilised to reveal corrole–protein interactions in H-NOX and HasA. The key interaction is a hydrogen bond between the PO unit of the corrole and a protonated histidine residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Lemon
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Miller Institute for Basic Research in Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Amos J. Nissley
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Naomi R. Latorraca
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Miller Institute for Basic Research in Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Elizabeth C. Wittenborn
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Michael A. Marletta
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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Ghosh S, Mondal S, Yadav K, Aggarwal S, Schaefer WF, Narayana C, Subramanian R. Modulation of biliverdin dynamics and spectral properties by Sandercyanin. RSC Adv 2022; 12:20296-20304. [PMID: 35919616 PMCID: PMC9277520 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra02880h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Biliverdin IX-alpha (BV), a tetrapyrrole, is found ubiquitously in most living organisms. It functions as a metabolite, pigment, and signaling compound. While BV is known to bind to diverse protein families such as heme-metabolizing enzymes and phytochromes, not many BV-bound lipocalins (ubiquitous, small lipid-binding proteins) have been studied. The molecular basis of binding and conformational selectivity of BV in lipocalins remains unexplained. Sandercyanin (SFP)–BV complex is a blue lipocalin protein present in the mucus of the Canadian walleye (Stizostedion vitreum). In this study, we present the structures and binding modes of BV to SFP. Using a combination of designed site-directed mutations, X-ray crystallography, UV/VIS, and resonance Raman spectroscopy, we have identified multiple conformations of BV that are stabilized in the binding pocket of SFP. In complex with the protein, these conformers generate varied spectroscopic signatures both in their absorption and fluorescence spectra. We show that despite no covalent anchor, structural heterogeneity of the chromophore is primarily driven by the D-ring pyrrole of BV. Our work shows how conformational promiscuity of BV is correlated to the rearrangement of amino acids in the protein matrix leading to modulation of spectral properties. Biliverdin IX-alpha undergoes rotation around the D-ring pyrrole and displays a broad far-red absorbance on binding to monomeric Sandercyanin variant (orange) compared to the wild-type tetrameric protein (cyan).![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Swagatha Ghosh
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, 560065, India
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 9C, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sayan Mondal
- Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Keerti Yadav
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, 560065, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal University, Madhav Nagar, 576104, India
| | - Shantanu Aggarwal
- Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Wayne F. Schaefer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Washington County, West Bend, WI 53095, USA
| | - Chandrabhas Narayana
- Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Ramaswamy Subramanian
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, 560065, India
- Department of Biological Sciences, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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Lemon CM, Marletta MA. Designer Heme Proteins: Achieving Novel Function with Abiological Heme Analogues. Acc Chem Res 2021; 54:4565-4575. [PMID: 34890183 PMCID: PMC8754152 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.1c00588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Heme proteins have proven to be a convenient platform for the development of designer proteins with novel functionalities. This is achieved by substituting the native iron porphyrin cofactor with a heme analogue that possesses the desired properties. Replacing the iron center of the porphyrin with another metal provides one inroad to novel protein function. A less explored approach is substitution of the porphyrin cofactor with an alternative tetrapyrrole macrocycle or a related ligand. In general, these ligands exhibit chemical properties and reactivity that are distinct from those of porphyrins. While these techniques have most prominently been utilized to develop artificial metalloenzymes, there are many other applications of this methodology to problems in biochemistry, health, and medicine. Incorporation of synthetic cofactors into protein environments represents a facile way to impart water solubility and biocompatibility. It circumvents the laborious synthesis of water-soluble cofactors, which often introduces substantial charge that leads to undesired bioaccumulation. To this end, the incorporation of unnatural cofactors in heme proteins has enabled the development of designer proteins as optical oxygen sensors, MRI contrast agents, spectroscopic probes, tools to interrogate protein function, antibiotics, and fluorescent proteins.Incorporation of an artificial cofactor is frequently accomplished by denaturing the holoprotein with removal of the heme; the refolded apoprotein is then reconstituted with the artificial cofactor. This process often results in substantial protein loss and does not necessarily guarantee that the refolded protein adopts the native structure. To circumvent these issues, our laboratory has pioneered the use of the RP523 strain of E. coli to incorporate artificial cofactors into heme proteins using expression-based methods. This strain lacks the ability to biosynthesize heme, and the bacterial cell wall is permeable to heme and related molecules. In this way, heme analogues supplemented in the growth medium are incorporated into heme proteins. This approach can also be leveraged for the direct expression of the apoprotein for subsequent reconstitution.These methodologies have been exploited to incorporate non-native cofactors into heme proteins that are resistant to harsh environmental conditions: the heme nitric oxide/oxygen binding protein (H-NOX) from Caldanaerobacter subterraneus (Cs) and the heme acquisition system protein A (HasA) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa). The exceptional stability of these proteins makes them ideal scaffolds for biomedical applications. Optical oxygen sensing has been accomplished using a phosphorescent ruthenium porphyrin as the artificial heme cofactor. Paramagnetic manganese and gadolinium porphyrins yield high-relaxivity, protein-based MRI contrast agents. A fluorescent phosphorus corrole serves as a heme analogue to produce fluorescent proteins. Iron complexes of nonporphyrin cofactors bound to HasA inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Moreover, HasA can deliver a gallium phthalocyanine into the bacterial cytosol to serve as a sensitizer for photochemical sterilization. Together, these examples illustrate the potential for designer heme proteins to address burgeoning problems in the areas of health and medicine. The concepts and methodologies presented in this Account can be extended to the development of next-generation biomedical sensing and imaging agents to identify and quantify clinically relevant metabolites and other key disease biomarkers.
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Zahradník J, Dey D, Marciano S, Kolářová L, Charendoff CI, Subtil A, Schreiber G. A Protein-Engineered, Enhanced Yeast Display Platform for Rapid Evolution of Challenging Targets. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:3445-3460. [PMID: 34809429 PMCID: PMC8689690 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Here, we enhanced the popular yeast display method by multiple rounds of DNA and protein engineering. We introduced surface exposure-tailored reporters, eUnaG2 and DnbALFA, creating a new platform of C and N terminal fusion vectors. The optimization of eUnaG2 resulted in five times brighter fluorescence and 10 °C increased thermostability than UnaG. The optimized DnbALFA has 10-fold the level of expression of the starting protein. Following this, different plasmids were developed to create a complex platform allowing a broad range of protein expression organizations and labeling strategies. Our platform showed up to five times better separation between nonexpressing and expressing cells compared with traditional pCTcon2 and c-myc labeling, allowing for fewer rounds of selection and achieving higher binding affinities. Testing 16 different proteins, the enhanced system showed consistently stronger expression signals over c-myc labeling. In addition to gains in simplicity, speed, and cost-effectiveness, new applications were introduced to monitor protein surface exposure and protein retention in the secretion pathway that enabled successful protein engineering of hard-to-express proteins. As an example, we show how we optimized the WD40 domain of the ATG16L1 protein for yeast surface and soluble bacterial expression, starting from a nonexpressing protein. As a second example, we show how using the here-presented enhanced yeast display method we rapidly selected high-affinity binders toward two protein targets, demonstrating the simplicity of generating new protein-protein interactions. While the methodological changes are incremental, it results in a qualitative enhancement in the applicability of yeast display for many applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Zahradník
- Weizmann
Institute of Science, Herzl St. 234, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Debabrata Dey
- Weizmann
Institute of Science, Herzl St. 234, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Shir Marciano
- Weizmann
Institute of Science, Herzl St. 234, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Lucie Kolářová
- Institute
of Biotechnology, CAS v.v.i., Prumyslova 595, Vestec 252 50 Prague region, Czech Republic
| | - Chloé I. Charendoff
- Institut
Pasteur, Unité de Biologie cellulaire de l’infection
microbienne, 25 rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Agathe Subtil
- Institut
Pasteur, Unité de Biologie cellulaire de l’infection
microbienne, 25 rue du Dr Roux, Paris 75015, France
| | - Gideon Schreiber
- Weizmann
Institute of Science, Herzl St. 234, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
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ElGamacy M, Hernandez Alvarez B. Expanding the versatility of natural and de novo designed coiled coils and helical bundles. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2021; 68:224-234. [PMID: 33964630 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2021.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Natural helical bundles (HBs) constitute a ubiquitous class of protein folds built of two or more longitudinally arranged α-helices. They adopt topologies that include symmetric, highly regular assemblies all the way to asymmetric, loosely packed domains. The diverse functional spectrum of HBs ranges from structural scaffolds to complex and dynamic effectors as molecular motors, signaling and sensing molecules, enzymes, and molecular switches. Symmetric HBs, particularly coiled coils, offer simple model systems providing an ideal entry point for protein folding and design studies. Herein, we review recent progress unveiling new structural features and functional mechanisms in natural HBs and cover staggering advances in the de novo design of HBs, giving rise to exotic structures and the creation of novel functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad ElGamacy
- Systems Biology of Development Group, Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck Society, Max-Planck-Ring 9, Tübingen, 72076, Germany; Division of Translational Oncology, Department of Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 10, Tübingen, 72076, Germany; Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Birte Hernandez Alvarez
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen, 72076, Germany.
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Puzorjov A, McCormick AJ. Phycobiliproteins from extreme environments and their potential applications. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:3827-3842. [PMID: 32188986 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The light-harvesting phycobilisome complex is an important component of photosynthesis in cyanobacteria and red algae. Phycobilisomes are composed of phycobiliproteins, including the blue phycobiliprotein phycocyanin, that are considered high-value products with applications in several industries. Remarkably, several cyanobacteria and red algal species retain the capacity to harvest light and photosynthesise under highly selective environments such as hot springs, and flourish in extremes of pH and elevated temperatures. These thermophilic organisms produce thermostable phycobiliproteins, which have superior qualities much needed for wider adoption of these natural pigment-proteins in the food, textile, and other industries. Here we review the available literature on the thermostability of phycobilisome components from thermophilic species and discuss how a better appreciation of phycobiliproteins from extreme environments will benefit our fundamental understanding of photosynthetic adaptation and could provide a sustainable resource for several industrial processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Puzorjov
- SynthSys and Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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11
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Towards functional de novo designed proteins. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2019; 52:102-111. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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