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Patkar SS, Wang B, Mosquera AM, Kiick KL. Genetically Fusing Order-Promoting and Thermoresponsive Building Blocks to Design Hybrid Biomaterials. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202400582. [PMID: 38501912 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The unique biophysical and biochemical properties of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and their recombinant derivatives, intrinsically disordered protein polymers (IDPPs) offer opportunities for producing multistimuli-responsive materials; their sequence-encoded disorder and tendency for phase separation facilitate the development of multifunctional materials. This review highlights the strategies for enhancing the structural diversity of elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) and resilin-like polypeptides (RLPs), and their self-assembled structures via genetic fusion to ordered motifs such as helical or beta sheet domains. In particular, this review describes approaches that harness the synergistic interplay between order-promoting and thermoresponsive building blocks to design hybrid biomaterials, resulting in well-structured, stimuli-responsive supramolecular materials ordered on the nanoscale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai S Patkar
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, 19716, United States
- Eli Lilly and Company, 450 Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, United States
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, 19716, United States
| | - Ana Maria Mosquera
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, 19716, United States
| | - Kristi L Kiick
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, 19716, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, 19716, United States
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2
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Zhang Z, Ji J, Hossain MS, Bailey B, Nangia S, Mozhdehi D. Lipidation alters the phase-separation of resilin-like polypeptides. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:4007-4014. [PMID: 38690757 PMCID: PMC11095499 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00358f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Biology exploits biomacromolecular phase separation to form condensates, known as membraneless organelles. Despite significant advancements in deciphering sequence determinants for phase separation, modulating these features in vivo remains challenging. A promising approach inspired by biology is to use post-translational modifications (PTMs)-to modulate the amino acid physicochemistry instead of altering protein sequences-to control the formation and characteristics of condensates. However, despite the identification of more than 300 types of PTMs, the detailed understanding of how they influence the formation and material properties of protein condensates remains incomplete. In this study, we investigated how modification with myristoyl lipid alters the formation and characteristics of the resilin-like polypeptide (RLP) condensates, a prototypical disordered protein with upper critical solution temperature (UCST) phase behaviour. Using turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering, confocal and electron microscopy, we demonstrated that lipidation-in synergy with the sequence of the lipidation site-significantly influences RLPs' thermodynamic propensity for phase separation and their condensate properties. Molecular simulations suggested these effects result from an expanded hydrophobic region created by the interaction between the lipid and lipidation site rather than changes in peptide rigidity. These findings emphasize the role of "sequence context" in modifying the properties of PTMs, suggesting that variations in lipidation sequences could be strategically used to fine-tune the effect of these motifs. Our study advances understanding of lipidation's impact on UCST phase behaviour, relevant to proteins critical in biological processes and diseases, and opens avenues for designing lipidated resilins for biomedical applications like heat-mediated drug elution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA.
| | - Jingjing Ji
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA.
| | | | - Briah Bailey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA
| | - Shikha Nangia
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA.
| | - Davoud Mozhdehi
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA.
- BioInspired Syracuse: Institute for Material and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
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3
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Zhang Z, Lynch CJ, Huo Y, Chakraborty S, Cremer PS, Mozhdehi D. Modulating Phase Behavior in Fatty Acid-Modified Elastin-like Polypeptides (FAMEs): Insights into the Impact of Lipid Length on Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Phase Separation. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:5383-5392. [PMID: 38353994 PMCID: PMC10910508 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c12791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Although post-translational lipidation is prevalent in eukaryotes, its impact on the liquid-liquid phase separation of disordered proteins is still poorly understood. Here, we examined the thermodynamic phase boundaries and kinetics of aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) formation for a library of elastin-like polypeptides modified with saturated fatty acids of different chain lengths. By systematically altering the physicochemical properties of the attached lipids, we were able to correlate the molecular properties of lipids to changes in the thermodynamic phase boundaries and the kinetic stability of droplets formed by these proteins. We discovered that increasing the chain length lowers the phase separation temperature in a sigmoidal manner due to alterations in the unfavorable interactions between protein and water and changes in the entropy of phase separation. Our kinetic studies unveiled remarkable sensitivity to lipid length, which we propose is due to the temperature-dependent interactions between lipids and the protein. Strikingly, we found that the addition of just a single methylene group is sufficient to allow tuning of these interactions as a function of temperature, with proteins modified with C7-C9 lipids exhibiting non-Arrhenius dependence in their phase separation, a behavior that is absent for both shorter and longer fatty acids. This work advances our theoretical understanding of protein-lipid interactions and opens avenues for the rational design of lipidated proteins in biomedical paradigms, where precise control over the phase separation is pivotal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Zhang
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Christopher J. Lynch
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Ying Huo
- Department
of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Somya Chakraborty
- Fayetteville-Manlius
High School, Manlius, New York 13104, United States
| | - Paul S. Cremer
- Department
of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Davoud Mozhdehi
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
- BioInspired
Syracuse: Institute for Material and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
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Strader RL, Shmidov Y, Chilkoti A. Encoding Structure in Intrinsically Disordered Protein Biomaterials. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:302-311. [PMID: 38194282 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00624] [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: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
In nature, proteins range from those with highly ordered secondary and tertiary structures to those that completely lack a well-defined three-dimensional structure, termed intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). IDPs are generally characterized by one or more segments that have a compositional bias toward small hydrophilic amino acids and proline residues that promote structural disorder and are called intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). The combination of IDRs with ordered regions and the interactions between the two determine the phase behavior, structure, and function of IDPs. Nature also diversifies the structure of proteins and thereby their functions by hybridization of the proteins with other moieties such as glycans and lipids; for instance, post-translationally glycosylated and lipidated proteins are important cell membrane components. Additionally, diversity in protein structure and function is achieved in nature through cross-linking proteins within themselves or with other domains to create various topologies. For example, an essential characteristic of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is the cross-linking of its network components, including proteins such as collagen and elastin, as well as polysaccharides such as hyaluronic acid (HA). Inspired by nature, synthetic IDP (SynIDP)-based biomaterials can be designed by employing similar strategies with the goal of introducing structural diversity and hence unique physiochemical properties. This Account describes such materials produced over the past decade and following one or more of the following approaches: (1) incorporating highly ordered domains into SynIDPs, (2) conjugating SynIDPs to other moieties through either genetically encoded post-translational modification or chemical conjugation, and (3) engineering the topology of SynIDPs via chemical modification. These approaches introduce modifications to the primary structure of SynIDPs, which are then translated to unique three-dimensional secondary and tertiary structures. Beginning with completely disordered SynIDPs as the point of origin, structure may be introduced into SynIDPs by each of these three unique approaches individually along orthogonal axes or by combinations of the three, enabling bioinspired designs to theoretically span the entire range of three-dimensional structural possibilities. Furthermore, the resultant structures span a wide range of length scales, from nano- to meso- to micro- and even macrostructures. In this Account, emphasis is placed on the physiochemical properties and structural features of the described materials. Conjugates of SynIDPs to synthetic polymers and materials achieved by simple mixing of components are outside the scope of this Account. Related biomedical applications are described briefly. Finally, we note future directions for the design of functional SynIDP-based biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Strader
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Yulia Shmidov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Ashutosh Chilkoti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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Ji J, Hossain MS, Krueger EN, Zhang Z, Nangia S, Carpentier B, Martel M, Nangia S, Mozhdehi D. Lipidation Alters the Structure and Hydration of Myristoylated Intrinsically Disordered Proteins. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:1244-1257. [PMID: 36757021 PMCID: PMC10017028 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Lipidated proteins are an emerging class of hybrid biomaterials that can integrate the functional capabilities of proteins into precisely engineered nano-biomaterials with potential applications in biotechnology, nanoscience, and biomedical engineering. For instance, fatty-acid-modified elastin-like polypeptides (FAMEs) combine the hierarchical assembly of lipids with the thermoresponsive character of elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) to form nanocarriers with emergent temperature-dependent structural (shape or size) characteristics. Here, we report the biophysical underpinnings of thermoresponsive behavior of FAMEs using computational nanoscopy, spectroscopy, scattering, and microscopy. This integrated approach revealed that temperature and molecular syntax alter the structure, contact, and hydration of lipid, lipidation site, and protein, aligning with the changes in the nanomorphology of FAMEs. These findings enable a better understanding of the biophysical consequence of lipidation in biology and the rational design of the biomaterials and therapeutics that rival the exquisite hierarchy and capabilities of biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Ji
- Department
of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Md Shahadat Hossain
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Emily N. Krueger
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Shivangi Nangia
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut 06117, United States
| | - Britnie Carpentier
- Department
of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Mae Martel
- Department
of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Shikha Nangia
- Department
of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
- BioInspired
Syracuse: Institute for Material and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Davoud Mozhdehi
- Department
of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
- BioInspired
Syracuse: Institute for Material and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
- Department
of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
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Gueta O, Amiram M. Expanding the chemical repertoire of protein-based polymers for drug-delivery applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 190:114460. [PMID: 36030987 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Expanding the chemical repertoire of natural and artificial protein-based polymers (PBPs) can enable the production of sequence-defined, yet chemically diverse, biopolymers with customized or new properties that cannot be accessed in PBPs composed of only natural amino acids. Various approaches can enable the expansion of the chemical repertoire of PBPs, including chemical and enzymatic treatments or the incorporation of unnatural amino acids. These techniques are employed to install a wide variety of chemical groups-such as bio-orthogonally reactive, cross-linkable, post-translation modifications, and environmentally responsive groups-which, in turn, can facilitate the design of customized PBP-based drug-delivery systems with modified, fine-tuned, or entirely new properties and functions. Here, we detail the existing and emerging technologies for expanding the chemical repertoire of PBPs and review several chemical groups that either demonstrate or are anticipated to show potential in the design of PBP-based drug delivery systems. Finally, we provide our perspective on the remaining challenges and future directions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osher Gueta
- The Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Miriam Amiram
- The Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel.
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Li Y, Champion JA. Self-assembling nanocarriers from engineered proteins: Design, functionalization, and application for drug delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 189:114462. [PMID: 35934126 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembling proteins are valuable building blocks for constructing drug nanocarriers due to their self-assembly behavior, monodispersity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Genetic and chemical modifications allow for modular design of protein nanocarriers with effective drug encapsulation, targetability, stimuli responsiveness, and in vivo half-life. Protein nanocarriers have been developed to deliver various therapeutic molecules including small molecules, proteins, and nucleic acids with proven in vitro and in vivo efficacy. This article reviews recent advances in protein nanocarriers that are not derived from natural protein nanostructures, such as protein cages or virus like particles. The protein nanocarriers described here are self-assembled from rationally or de novo designed recombinant proteins, as well as recombinant proteins complexed with other biomolecules, presenting properties that are unique from those of natural protein carriers. Design, functionalization, and therapeutic application of protein nanocarriers will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yirui Li
- BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States; BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States.
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