1
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Zhou J, Huang M. Navigating the landscape of enzyme design: from molecular simulations to machine learning. Chem Soc Rev 2024. [PMID: 38990263 DOI: 10.1039/d4cs00196f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Global environmental issues and sustainable development call for new technologies for fine chemical synthesis and waste valorization. Biocatalysis has attracted great attention as the alternative to the traditional organic synthesis. However, it is challenging to navigate the vast sequence space to identify those proteins with admirable biocatalytic functions. The recent development of deep-learning based structure prediction methods such as AlphaFold2 reinforced by different computational simulations or multiscale calculations has largely expanded the 3D structure databases and enabled structure-based design. While structure-based approaches shed light on site-specific enzyme engineering, they are not suitable for large-scale screening of potential biocatalysts. Effective utilization of big data using machine learning techniques opens up a new era for accelerated predictions. Here, we review the approaches and applications of structure-based and machine-learning guided enzyme design. We also provide our view on the challenges and perspectives on effectively employing enzyme design approaches integrating traditional molecular simulations and machine learning, and the importance of database construction and algorithm development in attaining predictive ML models to explore the sequence fitness landscape for the design of admirable biocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AG, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | - Meilan Huang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AG, Northern Ireland, UK.
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2
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Li R, Wu Z, Liu X, Chen H, Li X, Fan D, Wu Z. Increasing Multienzyme Cascade Efficiency and Stability of MOF via Partitioning Immobilization. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:33235-33245. [PMID: 38885355 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c07487] [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: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Enhancing the stability of multienzyme cascade reactions in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is a challenging task in the fields of biotechnology and chemistry. However, addressing this challenge could yield far-reaching benefits across the application range in the biomedical, food, and environmental sectors. In this study, multienzyme partitioning immobilization that sequentially immobilizes cascade enzymes with hierarchical MOFs is proposed to reduce substrate diffusion resistance. Conversion results of ginsenosides indicate that this strategy improves the cascade efficiency up to 1.26 times. The substrate diffusion model is used to investigate the dual-interenzyme mass transfer behavior of substrates in the restricted domain space and evaluate the substrate channeling effect under partitioning immobilization. Molecular docking and kinetic simulations reveal that the MOFs effectively limit the conformational changes of cascade enzymes at high temperatures and in organic solvents while maintaining a large pocket of active centers. This phenomenon increased efficient substrate docking to the enzyme molecules, further optimizing cascade efficiency. The results of the immobilization of GOX and horseradish peroxidase as model enzymes indicate that the partitioned MOF immobilization strategy could be used for universal adaptation of cascade enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runze Li
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Key Laboratory of Textile Chemical Engineering Auxiliaries, Engineering Research Center of Biological Resources Development and Pollution Control Universities of Shaanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Textile Dyeing Wastewater Treatment Universities of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an Polytechnic University, Xi'an 710048, P. R. China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shihezi University/State Key Laboratory Incubation Base for Green Processing of Chemical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, P. R. China
| | - Zheng Wu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Key Laboratory of Textile Chemical Engineering Auxiliaries, Engineering Research Center of Biological Resources Development and Pollution Control Universities of Shaanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Textile Dyeing Wastewater Treatment Universities of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an Polytechnic University, Xi'an 710048, P. R. China
| | - Xiaochen Liu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Key Laboratory of Textile Chemical Engineering Auxiliaries, Engineering Research Center of Biological Resources Development and Pollution Control Universities of Shaanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Textile Dyeing Wastewater Treatment Universities of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an Polytechnic University, Xi'an 710048, P. R. China
| | - Hongxiu Chen
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Key Laboratory of Textile Chemical Engineering Auxiliaries, Engineering Research Center of Biological Resources Development and Pollution Control Universities of Shaanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Textile Dyeing Wastewater Treatment Universities of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an Polytechnic University, Xi'an 710048, P. R. China
| | - Xue Li
- School of Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, P. R. China
| | - Daidi Fan
- School of Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, P. R. China
| | - Zhansheng Wu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Key Laboratory of Textile Chemical Engineering Auxiliaries, Engineering Research Center of Biological Resources Development and Pollution Control Universities of Shaanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Textile Dyeing Wastewater Treatment Universities of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an Polytechnic University, Xi'an 710048, P. R. China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shihezi University/State Key Laboratory Incubation Base for Green Processing of Chemical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, P. R. China
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3
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Zhou Z, Zhang L, Yu Y, Wu B, Li M, Hong L, Tan P. Enhancing efficiency of protein language models with minimal wet-lab data through few-shot learning. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5566. [PMID: 38956442 PMCID: PMC11219809 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49798-6] [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: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Accurately modeling the protein fitness landscapes holds great importance for protein engineering. Pre-trained protein language models have achieved state-of-the-art performance in predicting protein fitness without wet-lab experimental data, but their accuracy and interpretability remain limited. On the other hand, traditional supervised deep learning models require abundant labeled training examples for performance improvements, posing a practical barrier. In this work, we introduce FSFP, a training strategy that can effectively optimize protein language models under extreme data scarcity for fitness prediction. By combining meta-transfer learning, learning to rank, and parameter-efficient fine-tuning, FSFP can significantly boost the performance of various protein language models using merely tens of labeled single-site mutants from the target protein. In silico benchmarks across 87 deep mutational scanning datasets demonstrate FSFP's superiority over both unsupervised and supervised baselines. Furthermore, we successfully apply FSFP to engineer the Phi29 DNA polymerase through wet-lab experiments, achieving a 25% increase in the positive rate. These results underscore the potential of our approach in aiding AI-guided protein engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi Zhou
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Shanghai National Center for Applied Mathematics (SJTU Center) & Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yuanxi Yu
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Banghao Wu
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Mingchen Li
- Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Shanghai, 200232, China
- School of Information Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Liang Hong
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Shanghai National Center for Applied Mathematics (SJTU Center) & Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Shanghai, 200232, China.
- Zhang Jiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Pan Tan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Shanghai National Center for Applied Mathematics (SJTU Center) & Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Shanghai, 200232, China.
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4
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Nestl BM, Nebel BA, Resch V, Schürmann M, Tischler D. The Development and Opportunities of Predictive Biotechnology. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300863. [PMID: 38713151 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300863] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Recent advances in bioeconomy allow a holistic view of existing and new process chains and enable novel production routines continuously advanced by academia and industry. All this progress benefits from a growing number of prediction tools that have found their way into the field. For example, automated genome annotations, tools for building model structures of proteins, and structural protein prediction methods such as AlphaFold2TM or RoseTTAFold have gained popularity in recent years. Recently, it has become apparent that more and more AI-based tools are being developed and used for biocatalysis and biotechnology. This is an excellent opportunity for academia and industry to accelerate advancements in the field further. Biotechnology, as a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field, stands to benefit greatly from these developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina M Nestl
- Joint working group on biotransformations of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology VAAM, the Society for Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology DECHEMA, Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25, 60486, Frankfurt, Germany
- Innophore GmbH, Am Eisernen Tor 3, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Bernd A Nebel
- Innophore GmbH, Am Eisernen Tor 3, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Verena Resch
- Innophore GmbH, Am Eisernen Tor 3, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Martin Schürmann
- Joint working group on biotransformations of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology VAAM, the Society for Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology DECHEMA, Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25, 60486, Frankfurt, Germany
- InnoSyn B. V., Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD, Geleen, The Netherlands
- SynSilico B. V., Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD, Geleen, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk Tischler
- Joint working group on biotransformations of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology VAAM, the Society for Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology DECHEMA, Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25, 60486, Frankfurt, Germany
- Microbial Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany
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5
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Guan A, He Z, Wang X, Jia ZJ, Qin J. Engineering the next-generation synthetic cell factory driven by protein engineering. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 73:108366. [PMID: 38663492 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108366] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic cell factory offers substantial advantages in economically efficient production of biofuels, chemicals, and pharmaceutical compounds. However, to create a high-performance synthetic cell factory, precise regulation of cellular material and energy flux is essential. In this context, protein components including enzymes, transcription factor-based biosensors and transporters play pivotal roles. Protein engineering aims to create novel protein variants with desired properties by modifying or designing protein sequences. This review focuses on summarizing the latest advancements of protein engineering in optimizing various aspects of synthetic cell factory, including: enhancing enzyme activity to eliminate production bottlenecks, altering enzyme selectivity to steer metabolic pathways towards desired products, modifying enzyme promiscuity to explore innovative routes, and improving the efficiency of transporters. Furthermore, the utilization of protein engineering to modify protein-based biosensors accelerates evolutionary process and optimizes the regulation of metabolic pathways. The remaining challenges and future opportunities in this field are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ailin Guan
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Zixi He
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Xin Wang
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Jia
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jiufu Qin
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
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6
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Harding-Larsen D, Madsen CD, Teze D, Kittilä T, Langhorn MR, Gharabli H, Hobusch M, Otalvaro FM, Kırtel O, Bidart GN, Mazurenko S, Travnik E, Welner DH. GASP: A Pan-Specific Predictor of Family 1 Glycosyltransferase Acceptor Specificity Enabled by a Pipeline for Substrate Feature Generation and Large-Scale Experimental Screening. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:27278-27288. [PMID: 38947828 PMCID: PMC11209901 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c01583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Glycosylation represents a major chemical challenge; while it is one of the most common reactions in Nature, conventional chemistry struggles with stereochemistry, regioselectivity, and solubility issues. In contrast, family 1 glycosyltransferase (GT1) enzymes can glycosylate virtually any given nucleophilic group with perfect control over stereochemistry and regioselectivity. However, the appropriate catalyst for a given reaction needs to be identified among the tens of thousands of available sequences. Here, we present the glycosyltransferase acceptor specificity predictor (GASP) model, a data-driven approach to the identification of reactive GT1:acceptor pairs. We trained a random forest-based acceptor predictor on literature data and validated it on independent in-house generated data on 1001 GT1:acceptor pairs, obtaining an AUROC of 0.79 and a balanced accuracy of 72%. The performance was stable even in the case of completely new GT1s and acceptors not present in the training data set, highlighting the pan-specificity of GASP. Moreover, the model is capable of parsing all known GT1 sequences, as well as all chemicals, the latter through a pipeline for the generation of 153 chemical features for a given molecule taking the CID or SMILES as input (freely available at https://github.com/degnbol/GASP). To investigate the power of GASP, the model prediction probability scores were compared to GT1 substrate conversion yields from a newly published data set, with the top 50% of GASP predictions corresponding to reactions with >50% synthetic yields. The model was also tested in two comparative case studies: glycosylation of the antihelminth drug niclosamide and the plant defensive compound DIBOA. In the first study, the model achieved an 83% hit rate, outperforming a hit rate of 53% from a random selection assay. In the second case study, the hit rate of GASP was 50%, and while being lower than the hit rate of 83% using expert-selected enzymes, it provides a reasonable performance for the cases when an expert opinion is unavailable. The hierarchal importance of the generated chemical features was investigated by negative feature selection, revealing properties related to cyclization and atom hybridization status to be the most important characteristics for accurate prediction. Our study provides a GT1:acceptor predictor which can be trained on other data sets enabled by the automated feature generation pipelines. We also release the new in-house generated data set used for testing of GASP to facilitate the future development of GT1 activity predictors and their robust benchmarking.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Harding-Larsen
- DTU
Biosustain, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 220, Lyngby, Denmark 2800
| | - Christian Degnbol Madsen
- DTU
Biosustain, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 220, Lyngby, Denmark 2800
- The
University of Melbourne Faculty of Science, Melbourne Integrative
Genomics, University of Melbourne, Building 184, Royal Parade, Parkville
3010, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - David Teze
- DTU
Biosustain, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 220, Lyngby, Denmark 2800
| | - Tiia Kittilä
- DTU
Biosustain, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 220, Lyngby, Denmark 2800
| | | | - Hani Gharabli
- DTU
Biosustain, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 220, Lyngby, Denmark 2800
| | - Mandy Hobusch
- DTU
Biosustain, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 220, Lyngby, Denmark 2800
| | - Felipe Mejia Otalvaro
- DTU
Biosustain, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 220, Lyngby, Denmark 2800
| | - Onur Kırtel
- DTU
Biosustain, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 220, Lyngby, Denmark 2800
| | - Gonzalo Nahuel Bidart
- DTU
Biosustain, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 220, Lyngby, Denmark 2800
| | - Stanislav Mazurenko
- Department
of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masarykova Univerzita, Kamenice 5/A4, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic
- International
Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s
University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, Brno 656
91, Czech Republic
| | - Evelyn Travnik
- DTU
Biosustain, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 220, Lyngby, Denmark 2800
| | - Ditte Hededam Welner
- DTU
Biosustain, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 220, Lyngby, Denmark 2800
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7
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Norton-Baker B, Denton MCR, Murphy NP, Fram B, Lim S, Erickson E, Gauthier NP, Beckham GT. Enabling high-throughput enzyme discovery and engineering with a low-cost, robot-assisted pipeline. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14449. [PMID: 38914665 PMCID: PMC11196671 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64938-0] [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: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
As genomic databases expand and artificial intelligence tools advance, there is a growing demand for efficient characterization of large numbers of proteins. To this end, here we describe a generalizable pipeline for high-throughput protein purification using small-scale expression in E. coli and an affordable liquid-handling robot. This low-cost platform enables the purification of 96 proteins in parallel with minimal waste and is scalable for processing hundreds of proteins weekly per user. We demonstrate the performance of this method with the expression and purification of the leading poly(ethylene terephthalate) hydrolases reported in the literature. Replicate experiments demonstrated reproducibility and enzyme purity and yields (up to 400 µg) sufficient for comprehensive analyses of both thermostability and activity, generating a standardized benchmark dataset for comparing these plastic-degrading enzymes. The cost-effectiveness and ease of implementation of this platform render it broadly applicable to diverse protein characterization challenges in the biological sciences.
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Grants
- DE-SC0022024 U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), Genomic Science Program
- DE-SC0022024 U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), Genomic Science Program
- DE-SC0022024 U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), Genomic Science Program
- DE-SC0022024 U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), Genomic Science Program
- DE-SC0022024 U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), Genomic Science Program
- DE-AC36-08GO28308 Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO)
- DE-AC36-08GO28308 Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO)
- DE-AC36-08GO28308 Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO)
- DE-AC36-08GO28308 Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO)
- U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)
- Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE) Consortium
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenna Norton-Baker
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA
- BOTTLE Consortium, Golden, CO, USA
- Agile BioFoundry, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Mackenzie C R Denton
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA
- BOTTLE Consortium, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Natasha P Murphy
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA
- BOTTLE Consortium, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Benjamin Fram
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samuel Lim
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erika Erickson
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA
- BOTTLE Consortium, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Nicholas P Gauthier
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Gregg T Beckham
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA.
- BOTTLE Consortium, Golden, CO, USA.
- Agile BioFoundry, Emeryville, CA, USA.
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8
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Mao M, Ahrens L, Luka J, Contreras F, Kurkina T, Bienstein M, Sárria Pereira de Passos M, Schirinzi G, Mehn D, Valsesia A, Desmet C, Serra MÁ, Gilliland D, Schwaneberg U. Material-specific binding peptides empower sustainable innovations in plant health, biocatalysis, medicine and microplastic quantification. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:6445-6510. [PMID: 38747901 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00991a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Material-binding peptides (MBPs) have emerged as a diverse and innovation-enabling class of peptides in applications such as plant-/human health, immobilization of catalysts, bioactive coatings, accelerated polymer degradation and analytics for micro-/nanoplastics quantification. Progress has been fuelled by recent advancements in protein engineering methodologies and advances in computational and analytical methodologies, which allow the design of, for instance, material-specific MBPs with fine-tuned binding strength for numerous demands in material science applications. A genetic or chemical conjugation of second (biological, chemical or physical property-changing) functionality to MBPs empowers the design of advanced (hybrid) materials, bioactive coatings and analytical tools. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview comprising naturally occurring MBPs and their function in nature, binding properties of short man-made MBPs (<20 amino acids) mainly obtained from phage-display libraries, and medium-sized binding peptides (20-100 amino acids) that have been reported to bind to metals, polymers or other industrially produced materials. The goal of this review is to provide an in-depth understanding of molecular interactions between materials and material-specific binding peptides, and thereby empower the use of MBPs in material science applications. Protein engineering methodologies and selected examples to tailor MBPs toward applications in agriculture with a focus on plant health, biocatalysis, medicine and environmental monitoring serve as examples of the transformative power of MBPs for various industrial applications. An emphasis will be given to MBPs' role in detecting and quantifying microplastics in high throughput, distinguishing microplastics from other environmental particles, and thereby assisting to close an analytical gap in food safety and monitoring of environmental plastic pollution. In essence, this review aims to provide an overview among researchers from diverse disciplines in respect to material-(specific) binding of MBPs, protein engineering methodologies to tailor their properties to application demands, re-engineering for material science applications using MBPs, and thereby inspire researchers to employ MBPs in their research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maochao Mao
- Lehrstuhl für Biotechnologie, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 3, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Leon Ahrens
- Lehrstuhl für Biotechnologie, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 3, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Julian Luka
- Lehrstuhl für Biotechnologie, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 3, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Francisca Contreras
- Lehrstuhl für Biotechnologie, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 3, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Tetiana Kurkina
- Lehrstuhl für Biotechnologie, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 3, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Marian Bienstein
- Lehrstuhl für Biotechnologie, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 3, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | | | | | - Dora Mehn
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Andrea Valsesia
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Cloé Desmet
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | | | | | - Ulrich Schwaneberg
- Lehrstuhl für Biotechnologie, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 3, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
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9
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Eggerichs D, Weindorf N, Weddeling HG, Van der Linden IM, Tischler D. Substrate scope expansion of 4-phenol oxidases by rational enzyme selection and sequence-function relations. Commun Chem 2024; 7:123. [PMID: 38831005 PMCID: PMC11148156 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01207-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Enzymes are natures' catalysts and will have a lasting impact on (organic) synthesis as they possess unchallenged regio- and stereo selectivity. On the downside, this high selectivity limits enzymes' substrate range and hampers their universal application. Therefore, substrate scope expansion of enzyme families by either modification of known biocatalysts or identification of new members is a key challenge in enzyme-driven catalysis. Here, we present a streamlined approach to rationally select enzymes with proposed functionalities from the ever-increasing amount of available sequence data. In a case study on 4-phenol oxidoreductases, eight enzymes of the oxidase branch were selected from 292 sequences on basis of the properties of first shell residues of the catalytic pocket, guided by the computational tool A2CA. Correlations between these residues and enzyme activity yielded robust sequence-function relations, which were exploited by site-saturation mutagenesis. Application of a peroxidase-independent oxidase screening resulted in 16 active enzyme variants which were up to 90-times more active than respective wildtype enzymes and up to 6-times more active than the best performing natural variants. The results were supported by kinetic experiments and structural models. The newly introduced amino acids confirmed the correlation studies which overall highlights the successful logic of the presented approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Eggerichs
- Microbial Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Nils Weindorf
- Microbial Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Heiner G Weddeling
- Microbial Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Inja M Van der Linden
- Microbial Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Dirk Tischler
- Microbial Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany.
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10
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Aguilera-Puga MDC, Plisson F. Structure-aware machine learning strategies for antimicrobial peptide discovery. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11995. [PMID: 38796582 PMCID: PMC11127937 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62419-y] [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: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Machine learning models are revolutionizing our approaches to discovering and designing bioactive peptides. These models often need protein structure awareness, as they heavily rely on sequential data. The models excel at identifying sequences of a particular biological nature or activity, but they frequently fail to comprehend their intricate mechanism(s) of action. To solve two problems at once, we studied the mechanisms of action and structural landscape of antimicrobial peptides as (i) membrane-disrupting peptides, (ii) membrane-penetrating peptides, and (iii) protein-binding peptides. By analyzing critical features such as dipeptides and physicochemical descriptors, we developed models with high accuracy (86-88%) in predicting these categories. However, our initial models (1.0 and 2.0) exhibited a bias towards α-helical and coiled structures, influencing predictions. To address this structural bias, we implemented subset selection and data reduction strategies. The former gave three structure-specific models for peptides likely to fold into α-helices (models 1.1 and 2.1), coils (1.3 and 2.3), or mixed structures (1.4 and 2.4). The latter depleted over-represented structures, leading to structure-agnostic predictors 1.5 and 2.5. Additionally, our research highlights the sensitivity of important features to different structure classes across models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana D C Aguilera-Puga
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV-IPN), Irapuato Unit, 36824, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Fabien Plisson
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV-IPN), Irapuato Unit, 36824, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
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11
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Michael R, Kæstel-Hansen J, Mørch Groth P, Bartels S, Salomon J, Tian P, Hatzakis NS, Boomsma W. A systematic analysis of regression models for protein engineering. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1012061. [PMID: 38701099 PMCID: PMC11095727 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012061] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
To optimize proteins for particular traits holds great promise for industrial and pharmaceutical purposes. Machine Learning is increasingly applied in this field to predict properties of proteins, thereby guiding the experimental optimization process. A natural question is: How much progress are we making with such predictions, and how important is the choice of regressor and representation? In this paper, we demonstrate that different assessment criteria for regressor performance can lead to dramatically different conclusions, depending on the choice of metric, and how one defines generalization. We highlight the fundamental issues of sample bias in typical regression scenarios and how this can lead to misleading conclusions about regressor performance. Finally, we make the case for the importance of calibrated uncertainty in this domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Michael
- Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Peter Mørch Groth
- Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Enzyme Research, Novozymes A/S, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Simon Bartels
- Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Pengfei Tian
- Enzyme Research, Novozymes A/S, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nikos S. Hatzakis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Wouter Boomsma
- Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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12
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Orsi E, Schada von Borzyskowski L, Noack S, Nikel PI, Lindner SN. Automated in vivo enzyme engineering accelerates biocatalyst optimization. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3447. [PMID: 38658554 PMCID: PMC11043082 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46574-4] [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: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Achieving cost-competitive bio-based processes requires development of stable and selective biocatalysts. Their realization through in vitro enzyme characterization and engineering is mostly low throughput and labor-intensive. Therefore, strategies for increasing throughput while diminishing manual labor are gaining momentum, such as in vivo screening and evolution campaigns. Computational tools like machine learning further support enzyme engineering efforts by widening the explorable design space. Here, we propose an integrated solution to enzyme engineering challenges whereby ML-guided, automated workflows (including library generation, implementation of hypermutation systems, adapted laboratory evolution, and in vivo growth-coupled selection) could be realized to accelerate pipelines towards superior biocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Orsi
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Stephan Noack
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Pablo I Nikel
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Steffen N Lindner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany.
- Department of Biochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
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13
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Qiao S, Cheng Z, Li F. Chemoenzymatic synthesis of macrocyclic peptides and polyketides via thioesterase-catalyzed macrocyclization. Beilstein J Org Chem 2024; 20:721-733. [PMID: 38590533 PMCID: PMC10999997 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.20.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemoenzymatic strategies that combine synthetic and enzymatic transformations offer efficient approaches to yield target molecules, which have been increasingly employed in the synthesis of bioactive natural products. In the biosynthesis of macrocyclic nonribosomal peptides, polyketides, and their hybrids, thioesterase (TE) domains play a significant role in late-stage macrocyclization. These domains can accept mimics of native substrates in vitro and exhibit potential for use in total synthesis. This review summarizes the recent advances of TE domains in the chemoenzymatic synthesis for these natural products that aim to address the common issues in classical synthetic approaches and increase synthetic efficiencies, which have the potential to facilitate further pharmaceutical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senze Qiao
- Department of Natural Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Zhongyu Cheng
- Department of Natural Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Fuzhuo Li
- Department of Natural Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery (Ministry of Education), State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
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14
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Capponi S, Wang S. AI in cellular engineering and reprogramming. Biophys J 2024:S0006-3495(24)00245-5. [PMID: 38576162 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
During the last decade, artificial intelligence (AI) has increasingly been applied in biophysics and related fields, including cellular engineering and reprogramming, offering novel approaches to understand, manipulate, and control cellular function. The potential of AI lies in its ability to analyze complex datasets and generate predictive models. AI algorithms can process large amounts of data from single-cell genomics and multiomic technologies, allowing researchers to gain mechanistic insights into the control of cell identity and function. By integrating and interpreting these complex datasets, AI can help identify key molecular events and regulatory pathways involved in cellular reprogramming. This knowledge can inform the design of precision engineering strategies, such as the development of new transcription factor and signaling molecule cocktails, to manipulate cell identity and drive authentic cell fate across lineage boundaries. Furthermore, when used in combination with computational methods, AI can accelerate and improve the analysis and understanding of the intricate relationships between genes, proteins, and cellular processes. In this review article, we explore the current state of AI applications in biophysics with a specific focus on cellular engineering and reprogramming. Then, we showcase a couple of recent applications where we combined machine learning with experimental and computational techniques. Finally, we briefly discuss the challenges and prospects of AI in cellular engineering and reprogramming, emphasizing the potential of these technologies to revolutionize our ability to engineer cells for a variety of applications, from disease modeling and drug discovery to regenerative medicine and biomanufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Capponi
- IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, California; Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, California.
| | - Shangying Wang
- Bay Area Institute of Science, Altos Labs, Redwood City, California.
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15
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Thorpe T, Marshall JR, Turner NJ. Multifunctional Biocatalysts for Organic Synthesis. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:7876-7884. [PMID: 38489244 PMCID: PMC10979396 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c09542] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Biocatalysis is becoming an indispensable tool in organic synthesis due to high enzymatic catalytic efficiency as well as exquisite chemo- and stereoselectivity. Some biocatalysts display great promiscuity including a broad substrate scope as well as the ability to catalyze more than one type of transformation. These promiscuous activities have been applied individually to efficiently access numerous valuable target molecules. However, systems in which enzymes possessing multiple different catalytic activities are applied in the synthesis are less well developed. Such multifunctional biocatalysts (MFBs) would simplify chemical synthesis by reducing the number of operational steps and enzyme count, as well as simplifying the sequence space that needs to be engineered to develop an efficient biocatalyst. In this Perspective, we highlight recently reported MFBs focusing on their synthetic utility and mechanism. We also offer insight into their origin as well as comment on potential strategies for their discovery and engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas
W. Thorpe
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Manchester,
Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, M1
7DN
| | - James R. Marshall
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Manchester,
Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, M1
7DN
| | - Nicholas J. Turner
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Manchester,
Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, M1
7DN
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16
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Spalletta A, Joly N, Martin P. Latest Trends in Lipase-Catalyzed Synthesis of Ester Carbohydrate Surfactants: From Key Parameters to Opportunities and Future Development. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3727. [PMID: 38612540 PMCID: PMC11012184 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073727] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Carbohydrate-based surfactants are amphiphilic compounds containing hydrophilic moieties linked to hydrophobic aglycones. More specifically, carbohydrate esters are biosourced and biocompatible surfactants derived from inexpensive renewable raw materials (sugars and fatty acids). Their unique properties allow them to be used in various areas, such as the cosmetic, food, and medicine industries. These multi-applications have created a worldwide market for biobased surfactants and consequently expectations for their production. Biobased surfactants can be obtained from various processes, such as chemical synthesis or microorganism culture and surfactant purification. In accordance with the need for more sustainable and greener processes, the synthesis of these molecules by enzymatic pathways is an opportunity. This work presents a state-of-the-art lipase action mode, with a focus on the active sites of these proteins, and then on four essential parameters for optimizing the reaction: type of lipase, reaction medium, temperature, and ratio of substrates. Finally, this review discusses the latest trends and recent developments, showing the unlimited potential for optimization of such enzymatic syntheses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicolas Joly
- Unité Transformations & Agroressources, ULR7519, Université d’Artois-UniLaSalle, F-62408 Béthune, France; (A.S.); (P.M.)
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17
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Sun R, Zheng P, Chen P, Wu D, Zheng J, Liu X, Hu Y. Enhancing the Catalytic Efficiency of D-lactonohydrolase through the Synergy of Tunnel Engineering, Evolutionary Analysis, and Force-Field Calculations. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202304164. [PMID: 38217521 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202304164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Computational design advances enzyme evolution and their use in biocatalysis in a faster and more efficient manner. In this study, a synergistic approach integrating tunnel engineering, evolutionary analysis, and force-field calculations has been employed to enhance the catalytic activity of D-lactonohydrolase (D-Lac), which is a pivotal enzyme involved in the resolution of racemic pantolactone during the production of vitamin B5. The best mutant, N96S/A271E/F274Y/F308G (M3), was obtained and its catalytic efficiency (kcat/KM) was nearly 23-fold higher than that of the wild-type. The M3 whole-cell converted 20 % of DL-pantolactone into D-pantoic acid (D-PA, >99 % e.e.) with a conversion rate of 47 % and space-time yield of 107.1 g L-1 h-1, demonstrating its great potential for industrial-scale D-pantothenic acid production. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed that the reduction in the steric hindrance within the substrate tunnel and conformational reconstruction of the distal loop resulted in a more favourable"catalytic" conformation, making it easier for the substrate and enzyme to enter their pre-reaction state. This study illustrates the potential of the distal residue on the pivotal loop at the entrance of the D-Lac substrate tunnel as a novel modification hotspot capable of reshaping energy patterns and consequently influencing the enzymatic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruobin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, P. R. China
| | - Pu Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, P. R. China
| | - Pengcheng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, P. R. China
| | - Dan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, P. R. China
| | - Jiangmei Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, P. R. China
| | - Xueyu Liu
- Hangzhou Xinfu Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 311301, P. R. China
| | - Yunxiang Hu
- Hangzhou Xinfu Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 311301, P. R. China
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18
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Chen S, Prado-Morales C, Sánchez-deAlcázar D, Sánchez S. Enzymatic micro/nanomotors in biomedicine: from single motors to swarms. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:2711-2719. [PMID: 38239179 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb02457a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Micro/nanomotors (MNMs) have evolved from single self-propelled entities to versatile systems capable of performing one or multiple biomedical tasks. When single MNMs self-assemble into coordinated swarms, either under external control or triggered by chemical reactions, they offer advantages that individual MNMs cannot achieve. These benefits include intelligent multitasking and adaptability to changes in the surrounding environment. Here, we provide our perspective on the evolution of MNMs, beginning with the development of enzymatic MNMs since the first theoretical model was proposed in 2005. These enzymatic MNMs hold immense promise in biomedicine due to their advantages in biocompatibility and fuel availability. Subsequently, we introduce the design and application of single motors in biomedicine, followed by the control of MNM swarms and their biomedical applications. In the end, we propose viable solutions for advancing the development of MNM swarms and anticipate valuable insights into the creation of more intelligent and controllable MNM swarms for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqin Chen
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri I Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Carles Prado-Morales
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri I Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Daniel Sánchez-deAlcázar
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri I Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Samuel Sánchez
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri I Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Psg. Lluís Companys, 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain
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19
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Liu E, Mercado MIV, Segato F, Wilkins MR. A green pathway for lignin valorization: Enzymatic lignin depolymerization in biocompatible ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents. Enzyme Microb Technol 2024; 174:110392. [PMID: 38171172 DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2023.110392] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Lignin depolymerization, which enables the breakdown of a complex and heterogeneous aromatic polymer into relatively uniform derivatives, serves as a critical process in valorization of lignin. Enzymatic lignin depolymerization has become a promising biological strategy to overcome the heterogeneity of lignin, due to its mild reaction conditions and high specificity. However, the low solubility of lignin compounds in aqueous environments prevents efficient lignin depolymerization by lignin-degrading enzymes. The employment of biocompatible ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) in lignin fractionation has created a promising pathway to enzymatically depolymerize lignin within these green solvents to increase lignin solubility. In this review, recent research progress on enzymatic lignin depolymerization, particularly in a consolidated process involving ILs/DESs is summarized. In addition, the interactions between lignin-degrading enzymes and solvent systems are explored, and potential protein engineering methodology to improve the performance of lignin-degrading enzymes is discussed. Consolidation of enzymatic lignin depolymerization and biocompatible ILs/DESs paves a sustainable, efficient, and synergistic way to convert lignin into value-added products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enshi Liu
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | | | - Fernando Segato
- Department of Biotechnology, University of São Paulo, Lorena, SP, Brazil
| | - Mark R Wilkins
- Carl and Melinda Helwig Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
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20
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Zhuang J, Midgley AC, Wei Y, Liu Q, Kong D, Huang X. Machine-Learning-Assisted Nanozyme Design: Lessons from Materials and Engineered Enzymes. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2210848. [PMID: 36701424 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202210848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Nanozymes are nanomaterials that exhibit enzyme-like biomimicry. In combination with intrinsic characteristics of nanomaterials, nanozymes have broad applicability in materials science, chemical engineering, bioengineering, biochemistry, and disease theranostics. Recently, the heterogeneity of published results has highlighted the complexity and diversity of nanozymes in terms of consistency of catalytic capacity. Machine learning (ML) shows promising potential for discovering new materials, yet it remains challenging for the design of new nanozymes based on ML approaches. Alternatively, ML is employed to promote optimization of intelligent design and application of catalytic materials and engineered enzymes. Incorporation of the successful ML algorithms used in the intelligent design of catalytic materials and engineered enzymes can concomitantly facilitate the guided development of next-generation nanozymes with desirable properties. Here, recent progress in ML, its utilization in the design of catalytic materials and enzymes, and how emergent ML applications serve as promising strategies to circumvent challenges associated with time-expensive and laborious testing in nanozyme research and development are summarized. The potential applications of successful examples of ML-aided catalytic materials and engineered enzymes in nanozyme design are also highlighted, with special focus on the unified aims in enhancing design and recapitulation of substrate selectivity and catalytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhuang
- School of Medicine, and State, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Adam C Midgley
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, and Frontiers, Science Center for Cell Responses, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Yonghua Wei
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, and Frontiers, Science Center for Cell Responses, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Qiqi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, and Frontiers, Science Center for Cell Responses, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Deling Kong
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, and Frontiers, Science Center for Cell Responses, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Xinglu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, and Frontiers, Science Center for Cell Responses, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
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21
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Honda Malca S, Duss N, Meierhofer J, Patsch D, Niklaus M, Reiter S, Hanlon SP, Wetzl D, Kuhn B, Iding H, Buller R. Effective engineering of a ketoreductase for the biocatalytic synthesis of an ipatasertib precursor. Commun Chem 2024; 7:46. [PMID: 38418529 PMCID: PMC10902378 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01130-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Semi-rational enzyme engineering is a powerful method to develop industrial biocatalysts. Profiting from advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics, semi-rational approaches can effectively accelerate enzyme engineering campaigns. Here, we present the optimization of a ketoreductase from Sporidiobolus salmonicolor for the chemo-enzymatic synthesis of ipatasertib, a potent protein kinase B inhibitor. Harnessing the power of mutational scanning and structure-guided rational design, we created a 10-amino acid substituted variant exhibiting a 64-fold higher apparent kcat and improved robustness under process conditions compared to the wild-type enzyme. In addition, the benefit of algorithm-aided enzyme engineering was studied to derive correlations in protein sequence-function data, and it was found that the applied Gaussian processes allowed us to reduce enzyme library size. The final scalable and high performing biocatalytic process yielded the alcohol intermediate with ≥ 98% conversion and a diastereomeric excess of 99.7% (R,R-trans) from 100 g L-1 ketone after 30 h. Modelling and kinetic studies shed light on the mechanistic factors governing the improved reaction outcome, with mutations T134V, A238K, M242W and Q245S exerting the most beneficial effect on reduction activity towards the target ketone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumire Honda Malca
- Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Nadine Duss
- Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Jasmin Meierhofer
- Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
- Analytical Research and Development, MSD Werthenstein BioPharma GmbH, Industrie Nord 1, 6105 Schachen, Switzerland
| | - David Patsch
- Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Michael Niklaus
- Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Reiter
- Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
- Manufacturing Science and Technology, Fisher Clinical Services GmbH, Biotech Innovation Park, 2543 Lengnau, Switzerland
| | - Steven Paul Hanlon
- Process Chemistry and Catalysis, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dennis Wetzl
- Process Chemistry and Catalysis, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
- Nonclinical Drug Development, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Birkendorfer Strasse 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Bernd Kuhn
- Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hans Iding
- Process Chemistry and Catalysis, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca Buller
- Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Einsiedlerstrasse 31, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland.
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22
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Nam K, Shao Y, Major DT, Wolf-Watz M. Perspectives on Computational Enzyme Modeling: From Mechanisms to Design and Drug Development. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:7393-7412. [PMID: 38405524 PMCID: PMC10883025 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Understanding enzyme mechanisms is essential for unraveling the complex molecular machinery of life. In this review, we survey the field of computational enzymology, highlighting key principles governing enzyme mechanisms and discussing ongoing challenges and promising advances. Over the years, computer simulations have become indispensable in the study of enzyme mechanisms, with the integration of experimental and computational exploration now established as a holistic approach to gain deep insights into enzymatic catalysis. Numerous studies have demonstrated the power of computer simulations in characterizing reaction pathways, transition states, substrate selectivity, product distribution, and dynamic conformational changes for various enzymes. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain in investigating the mechanisms of complex multistep reactions, large-scale conformational changes, and allosteric regulation. Beyond mechanistic studies, computational enzyme modeling has emerged as an essential tool for computer-aided enzyme design and the rational discovery of covalent drugs for targeted therapies. Overall, enzyme design/engineering and covalent drug development can greatly benefit from our understanding of the detailed mechanisms of enzymes, such as protein dynamics, entropy contributions, and allostery, as revealed by computational studies. Such a convergence of different research approaches is expected to continue, creating synergies in enzyme research. This review, by outlining the ever-expanding field of enzyme research, aims to provide guidance for future research directions and facilitate new developments in this important and evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwangho Nam
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, United States
| | - Yihan Shao
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-5251, United States
| | - Dan T. Major
- Department
of Chemistry and Institute for Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
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23
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Liu J, Li Y, Wang P, Zhang Y, Tian Z. High-efficiency removal of pyrethroids using a redesigned odorant binding protein. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132856. [PMID: 37913660 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Pyrethroids are ubiquitously present in environmental media and threaten both the ecosystem and human health. To explore effective ways to remove pyrethroids from the environment, an odorant binding protein (OBP) with affinity for various pyrethroids was investigated. Initially, the target OBP, Spodoptera littoralis pheromone binding protein 1 (SlitPBP1), underwent redesign to enhance its affinity for pyrethroids. The modified SlitPBP1E97ND106E demonstrated a substantially increased affinity for deltamethrin (DeltaM), with a dissociation constant of 0.77 ± 0.17 μM. The affinity of SlitPBP1E97ND106E for other pyrethroids also increased to varying extents. Consequently, SlitPBP1E97ND106E displayed a markedly enhanced capability to adsorb and remove pyrethroids. When exposed to free SlitPBP1E97ND106E in solution, the reduction in DeltaM surged from 16.78 ± 0.32% to 97.51 ± 0.56%. SlitPBP1E97ND106E was immobilized by coupling the protein to Ni2+-NTA agarose resin. Liquid chromatography results attested to the superior efficacy of immobilized SlitPBP1E97ND106E in removing pyrethroids, especially DeltaM. No significant differences in pyrethroid removal were detected across various water samples. Our findings introduce a potent tool for pyrethroid removal. A wider range of OBPs can similarly be optimized and applied to remove organic pollutants, including but not limited to pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources & Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yifan Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources & Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Pei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources & Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yalin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources & Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Zhen Tian
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources & Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
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24
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Casadevall G, Casadevall J, Duran C, Osuna S. The shortest path method (SPM) webserver for computational enzyme design. Protein Eng Des Sel 2024; 37:gzae005. [PMID: 38431867 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzae005] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
SPMweb is the online webserver of the Shortest Path Map (SPM) tool for identifying the key conformationally-relevant positions of a given enzyme structure and dynamics. The server is built on top of the DynaComm.py code and enables the calculation and visualization of the SPM pathways. SPMweb is easy-to-use as it only requires three input files: the three-dimensional structure of the protein of interest, and the two matrices (distance and correlation) previously computed from a Molecular Dynamics simulation. We provide in this publication information on how to generate the files for SPM construction even for non-expert users and discuss the most relevant parameters that can be modified. The tool is extremely fast (it takes less than one minute per job), thus allowing the rapid identification of distal positions connected to the active site pocket of the enzyme. SPM applications expand from computational enzyme design, especially if combined with other tools to identify the preferred substitution at the identified position, but also to rationalizing allosteric regulation, and even cryptic pocket identification for drug discovery. The simple user interface and setup make the SPM tool accessible to the whole scientific community. SPMweb is freely available for academia at http://spmosuna.com/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillem Casadevall
- Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi and Departament de Química, Universitat de Girona, c/Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, Girona 17003, Spain
| | | | - Cristina Duran
- Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi and Departament de Química, Universitat de Girona, c/Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, Girona 17003, Spain
| | - Sílvia Osuna
- Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi and Departament de Química, Universitat de Girona, c/Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, Girona 17003, Spain
- ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona 08010, Spain
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25
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Shi L, Zhu L. Recent Advances and Challenges in Enzymatic Depolymerization and Recycling of PET Wastes. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300578. [PMID: 37960968 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is one of the most commonly used plastics in daily life and various industries. Enzymatic depolymerization and recycling of post-consumer PET (pc-PET) provides a promising strategy for the sustainable circular economy of polymers. Great protein engineering efforts have been devoted to improving the depolymerization performance of PET hydrolytic enzymes (PHEs). In this review, we first discuss the mechanisms and challenges of enzymatic PET depolymerization. Subsequently, we summarize the state-of-the-art engineering of PHEs including rational design, machine learning, and directed evolution for improved depolymerization performance, and highlight the advances in screening methods of PHEs. We further discuss several factors that affect the enzymatic depolymerization efficiency. We conclude with our perspective on the opportunities and challenges in bio-recycling and bio-upcycling of PET wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Shi
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Leilei Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, Tianjin, 300308, China
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26
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Guan A, Hou Y, Yang R, Qin J. Enzyme engineering for functional lipids synthesis: recent advance and perspective. BIORESOUR BIOPROCESS 2024; 11:1. [PMID: 38647956 PMCID: PMC10992173 DOI: 10.1186/s40643-023-00723-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Functional lipids, primarily derived through the modification of natural lipids by various processes, are widely acknowledged for their potential to impart health benefits. In contrast to chemical methods for lipid modification, enzymatic catalysis offers distinct advantages, including high selectivity, mild operating conditions, and reduced byproduct formation. Nevertheless, enzymes face challenges in industrial applications, such as low activity, stability, and undesired selectivity. To address these challenges, protein engineering techniques have been implemented to enhance enzyme performance in functional lipid synthesis. This article aims to review recent advances in protein engineering, encompassing approaches from directed evolution to rational design, with the goal of improving the properties of lipid-modifying enzymes. Furthermore, the article explores the future prospects and challenges associated with enzyme-catalyzed functional lipid synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ailin Guan
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Yue Hou
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Run Yang
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Jiufu Qin
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China.
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27
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Zhong Y, Li Y, Chen Q, Ji S, Xu M, Liu Y, Wu X, Li S, Li K, Lu B. Catalytic efficiency and thermal stability promotion of the cassava linamarase with multiple mutations for better cyanogenic glycoside degradation. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:126677. [PMID: 37717874 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126677] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
In our previous study, we found that cassava cyanogenic glycosides had an acute health risk. Therefore, to solve this problem, the improvement of specific degradation of cyanogenic glycosides of cassava linamarase during processing is the key. In this study, the catalytic activity and thermal stability of enzymes were screened before investigating the degradation efficiency of cyanogenic glycosides with a cassava linamarase mutant K263P-T53F-S366R-V335C-F339C (CASmut) -controlled technique. The CASmut was obtained with the optimum temperature of 45 °C, which was improved by 10 °C. The specific activity of CASmut was 85.1 ± 4.6 U/mg, which was 2.02 times higher than that of the wild type. Molecular dynamics simulation analysis and flexible docking showed there were more hydrogen bonding interactions at the pocket, and the aliphatic glycoside of the linamarin was partially surrounded by hydrophobic residues. The optimum conditions of degradation reactions was screened with CASmut addition of 47 mg/L at 45 °C, pH 6.0. The CASmut combined with ultrasonication improved the degradation from 478.2 ± 10.4 mg/kg to 86.7 ± 7.4 mg/kg. Those results indicating the great potential of CASmut in applying in the cassava food or cyanogenic food. However, challenges in terms of the catalytic mechanism research is worthy of being noticed in further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongheng Zhong
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation and Health Benefit of Agro-Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety Risk Assessment of Agro-Products Storage and Preservation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ye Li
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation and Health Benefit of Agro-Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety Risk Assessment of Agro-Products Storage and Preservation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qi Chen
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation and Health Benefit of Agro-Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety Risk Assessment of Agro-Products Storage and Preservation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shengyang Ji
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation and Health Benefit of Agro-Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety Risk Assessment of Agro-Products Storage and Preservation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Minhao Xu
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation and Health Benefit of Agro-Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety Risk Assessment of Agro-Products Storage and Preservation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yuqi Liu
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation and Health Benefit of Agro-Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety Risk Assessment of Agro-Products Storage and Preservation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaodan Wu
- Analysis Center of Agrobiology and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shimin Li
- Analysis Center of Agrobiology and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Kaimian Li
- Tropical Crop Germplasm Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Danzhou 571737, China
| | - Baiyi Lu
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation and Health Benefit of Agro-Products of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety Risk Assessment of Agro-Products Storage and Preservation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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28
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Xi C, Diao J, Moon TS. Advances in ligand-specific biosensing for structurally similar molecules. Cell Syst 2023; 14:1024-1043. [PMID: 38128482 PMCID: PMC10751988 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2023.10.009] [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: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The specificity of biological systems makes it possible to develop biosensors targeting specific metabolites, toxins, and pollutants in complex medical or environmental samples without interference from structurally similar compounds. For the last two decades, great efforts have been devoted to creating proteins or nucleic acids with novel properties through synthetic biology strategies. Beyond augmenting biocatalytic activity, expanding target substrate scopes, and enhancing enzymes' enantioselectivity and stability, an increasing research area is the enhancement of molecular specificity for genetically encoded biosensors. Here, we summarize recent advances in the development of highly specific biosensor systems and their essential applications. First, we describe the rational design principles required to create libraries containing potential mutants with less promiscuity or better specificity. Next, we review the emerging high-throughput screening techniques to engineer biosensing specificity for the desired target. Finally, we examine the computer-aided evaluation and prediction methods to facilitate the construction of ligand-specific biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenggang Xi
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jinjin Diao
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tae Seok Moon
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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29
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Li G, Jia L, Wang K, Sun T, Huang J. Prediction of Thermostability of Enzymes Based on the Amino Acid Index (AAindex) Database and Machine Learning. Molecules 2023; 28:8097. [PMID: 38138586 PMCID: PMC10746113 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28248097] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The combination of wet-lab experimental data on multi-site combinatorial mutations and machine learning is an innovative method in protein engineering. In this study, we used an innovative sequence-activity relationship (innov'SAR) methodology based on novel descriptors and digital signal processing (DSP) to construct a predictive model. In this paper, 21 experimental (R)-selective amine transaminases from Aspergillus terreus (AT-ATA) were used as an input to predict higher thermostability mutants than those predicted using the existing data. We successfully improved the coefficient of determination (R2) of the model from 0.66 to 0.92. In addition, root-mean-squared deviation (RMSD), root-mean-squared fluctuation (RMSF), solvent accessible surface area (SASA), hydrogen bonds, and the radius of gyration were estimated based on molecular dynamics simulations, and the differences between the predicted mutants and the wild-type (WT) were analyzed. The successful application of the innov'SAR algorithm in improving the thermostability of AT-ATA may help in directed evolutionary screening and open up new avenues for protein engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaolin Li
- School of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China;
| | - Lili Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311400, China;
| | - Kang Wang
- Department of Physics, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China;
| | - Tingting Sun
- Department of Physics, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China;
| | - Jun Huang
- School of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China;
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30
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Wang MQ, You ZN, Yang BY, Xia ZW, Chen Q, Pan J, Li CX, Xu JH. Machine-Learning-Guided Engineering of an NADH-Dependent 7β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase for Economic Synthesis of Ursodeoxycholic Acid. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:19672-19681. [PMID: 38016669 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c06339] [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: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Enzymatic synthesis of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) catalyzed by an NADH-dependent 7β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (7β-HSDH) is more economic compared with an NADPH-dependent 7β-HSDH when considering the much higher cost of NADP+/NADPH than that of NAD+/NADH. However, the poor catalytic performance of NADH-dependent 7β-HSDH significantly limits its practical applications. Herein, machine-learning-guided protein engineering was performed on an NADH-dependent Rt7β-HSDHM0 from Ruminococcus torques. We combined random forest, Gaussian Naïve Bayes classifier, and Gaussian process regression with limited experimental data, resulting in the best variant Rt7β-HSDHM3 (R40I/R41K/F94Y/S196A/Y253F) with improvements in specific activity and half-life (40 °C) by 4.1-fold and 8.3-fold, respectively. The preparative biotransformation using a "two stage in one pot" sequential process coupled with Rt7β-HSDHM3 exhibited a space-time yield (STY) of 192 g L-1 d-1, which is so far the highest productivity for the biosynthesis of UDCA from chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) with NAD+ as a cofactor. More importantly, the cost of raw materials for the enzymatic production of UDCA employing Rt7β-HSDHM3 decreased by 22% in contrast to that of Rt7β-HSDHM0, indicating the tremendous potential of the variant Rt7β-HSDHM3 for more efficient and economic production of UDCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mu-Qiang Wang
- Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Synthetic Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Zhi-Neng You
- Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Synthetic Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Bing-Yi Yang
- Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Synthetic Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Zi-Wei Xia
- Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Synthetic Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Qi Chen
- Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Synthetic Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Jiang Pan
- Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Synthetic Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Chun-Xiu Li
- Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Synthetic Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Jian-He Xu
- Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Synthetic Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
- Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
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31
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Barghout RA, Xu Z, Betala S, Mahadevan R. Advances in generative modeling methods and datasets to design novel enzymes for renewable chemicals and fuels. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 84:103007. [PMID: 37931573 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.103007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Biotechnology has revolutionized the development of sustainable energy sources by harnessing biomass as a feedstock for energy production. However, challenges such as recalcitrant feedstocks and inefficient metabolic pathways hinder the large-scale integration of renewable energy systems. Enzyme engineering has emerged as a powerful tool to address these challenges by enhancing enzyme activity, specificity, and stability. Generative machine learning (ML) models have shown great promise in accelerating protein design, allowing for the generation of novel protein sequences with desired properties by navigating vast spaces. This review paper aims to summarize the state of the art in generative models for protein design and how they can be applied to bioenergy applications, including the underlying architectures and training strategies. Additionally, it highlights the importance of high-quality datasets for training and evaluating generative models, organizes available datasets for generative protein design, and discusses the potential of applying generative models to strain design for bioenergy production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana A Barghout
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College St, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Zhiqing Xu
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College St, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Siddharth Betala
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Radhakrishnan Mahadevan
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College St, Toronto, ON, Canada
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32
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Xie WJ, Warshel A. Harnessing generative AI to decode enzyme catalysis and evolution for enhanced engineering. Natl Sci Rev 2023; 10:nwad331. [PMID: 38299119 PMCID: PMC10829072 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Enzymes, as paramount protein catalysts, occupy a central role in fostering remarkable progress across numerous fields. However, the intricacy of sequence-function relationships continues to obscure our grasp of enzyme behaviors and curtails our capabilities in rational enzyme engineering. Generative artificial intelligence (AI), known for its proficiency in handling intricate data distributions, holds the potential to offer novel perspectives in enzyme research. Generative models could discern elusive patterns within the vast sequence space and uncover new functional enzyme sequences. This review highlights the recent advancements in employing generative AI for enzyme sequence analysis. We delve into the impact of generative AI in predicting mutation effects on enzyme fitness, catalytic activity and stability, rationalizing the laboratory evolution of de novo enzymes, and decoding protein sequence semantics and their application in enzyme engineering. Notably, the prediction of catalytic activity and stability of enzymes using natural protein sequences serves as a vital link, indicating how enzyme catalysis shapes enzyme evolution. Overall, we foresee that the integration of generative AI into enzyme studies will remarkably enhance our knowledge of enzymes and expedite the creation of superior biocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Jun Xie
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Arieh Warshel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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33
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Hwang HG, Ye DY, Jung GY. Biosensor-guided discovery and engineering of metabolic enzymes. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 69:108251. [PMID: 37690614 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108251] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
A variety of chemicals have been produced through metabolic engineering approaches, and enhancing biosynthesis performance can be achieved by using enzymes with high catalytic efficiency. Accordingly, a number of efforts have been made to discover enzymes in nature for various applications. In addition, enzyme engineering approaches have been attempted to suit specific industrial purposes. However, a significant challenge in enzyme discovery and engineering is the efficient screening of enzymes with the desired phenotype from extensive enzyme libraries. To overcome this bottleneck, genetically encoded biosensors have been developed to specifically detect target molecules produced by enzyme activity at the intracellular level. Especially, the biosensors facilitate high-throughput screening (HTS) of targeted enzymes, expanding enzyme discovery and engineering strategies with advances in systems and synthetic biology. This review examines biosensor-guided HTS systems and highlights studies that have utilized these tools to discover enzymes in diverse areas and engineer enzymes to enhance their properties, such as catalytic efficiency, specificity, and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Gyu Hwang
- Institute of Environmental and Energy Technology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Yeol Ye
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyoo Yeol Jung
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea; School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea.
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34
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Lu H, Xue M, Nie X, Luo H, Tan Z, Yang X, Shi H, Li X, Wang T. Glycoside hydrolases in the biodegradation of lignocellulosic biomass. 3 Biotech 2023; 13:402. [PMID: 37982085 PMCID: PMC10654287 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03819-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Lignocellulose is a plentiful and intricate biomass substance made up of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Cellulose and hemicellulose are polysaccharides characterized by different compositions and degrees of polymerization. As renewable resources, their applications are eco-friendly and can help reduce reliance on petrochemical resources. This review aims to illustrate cellulose, hemicellulose, and their structures and hydrolytic enzymes. To obtain desirable enzyme sources for the high hydrolysis of lignocellulose, highly stable, efficient and thermophilic enzyme sources, and new technologies, such as rational design and machine learning, have been introduced in detail. Generally, the efficient biodegradation of abundant natural biomass into fermentable sugars or other intermediates has great potential in practical applications. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03819-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglin Lu
- Faculty of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003 China
| | - Maoyuan Xue
- Faculty of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003 China
| | - Xinling Nie
- Faculty of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003 China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and Utilization of Agro-Forest Biomass, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037 China
| | - Hongzheng Luo
- Faculty of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003 China
| | - Zhongbiao Tan
- Faculty of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003 China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Department of Poultry Science, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
| | - Hao Shi
- Faculty of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003 China
| | - Xun Li
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for the Chemistry and Utilization of Agro-Forest Biomass, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037 China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA
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35
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Xie WJ, Liu D, Wang X, Zhang A, Wei Q, Nandi A, Dong S, Warshel A. Enhancing luciferase activity and stability through generative modeling of natural enzyme sequences. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2312848120. [PMID: 37983512 PMCID: PMC10691223 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312848120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The availability of natural protein sequences synergized with generative AI provides new paradigms to engineer enzymes. Although active enzyme variants with numerous mutations have been designed using generative models, their performance often falls short of their wild type counterparts. Additionally, in practical applications, choosing fewer mutations that can rival the efficacy of extensive sequence alterations is usually more advantageous. Pinpointing beneficial single mutations continues to be a formidable task. In this study, using the generative maximum entropy model to analyze Renilla luciferase (RLuc) homologs, and in conjunction with biochemistry experiments, we demonstrated that natural evolutionary information could be used to predictively improve enzyme activity and stability by engineering the active center and protein scaffold, respectively. The success rate to improve either luciferase activity or stability of designed single mutants is ~50%. This finding highlights nature's ingenious approach to evolving proficient enzymes, wherein diverse evolutionary pressures are preferentially applied to distinct regions of the enzyme, ultimately culminating in an overall high performance. We also reveal an evolutionary preference in RLuc toward emitting blue light that holds advantages in terms of water penetration compared to other light spectra. Taken together, our approach facilitates navigation through enzyme sequence space and offers effective strategies for computer-aided rational enzyme engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Jun Xie
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
| | - Dangliang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100191, China
| | - Xiaoya Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100191, China
| | - Aoxuan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
| | - Qijia Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100191, China
| | - Ashim Nandi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
| | - Suwei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100191, China
| | - Arieh Warshel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
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36
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Michailidou F. Engineering of Therapeutic and Detoxifying Enzymes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202308814. [PMID: 37433049 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202308814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic enzymes present excellent opportunities for the treatment of human disease, modulation of metabolic pathways and system detoxification. However, current use of enzyme therapy in the clinic is limited as naturally occurring enzymes are seldom optimal for such applications and require substantial improvement by protein engineering. Engineering strategies such as design and directed evolution that have been successfully implemented for industrial biocatalysis can significantly advance the field of therapeutic enzymes, leading to biocatalysts with new-to-nature therapeutic activities, high selectivity, and suitability for medical applications. This minireview highlights case studies of how state-of-the-art and emerging methods in protein engineering are explored for the generation of therapeutic enzymes and discusses gaps and future opportunities in the field of enzyme therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freideriki Michailidou
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 9, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
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37
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Kouba P, Kohout P, Haddadi F, Bushuiev A, Samusevich R, Sedlar J, Damborsky J, Pluskal T, Sivic J, Mazurenko S. Machine Learning-Guided Protein Engineering. ACS Catal 2023; 13:13863-13895. [PMID: 37942269 PMCID: PMC10629210 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c02743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Recent progress in engineering highly promising biocatalysts has increasingly involved machine learning methods. These methods leverage existing experimental and simulation data to aid in the discovery and annotation of promising enzymes, as well as in suggesting beneficial mutations for improving known targets. The field of machine learning for protein engineering is gathering steam, driven by recent success stories and notable progress in other areas. It already encompasses ambitious tasks such as understanding and predicting protein structure and function, catalytic efficiency, enantioselectivity, protein dynamics, stability, solubility, aggregation, and more. Nonetheless, the field is still evolving, with many challenges to overcome and questions to address. In this Perspective, we provide an overview of ongoing trends in this domain, highlight recent case studies, and examine the current limitations of machine learning-based methods. We emphasize the crucial importance of thorough experimental validation of emerging models before their use for rational protein design. We present our opinions on the fundamental problems and outline the potential directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Kouba
- Loschmidt
Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty
of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech
Republic
- Czech Institute
of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Jugoslavskych partyzanu 1580/3, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Faculty of
Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical
University in Prague, Technicka 2, 166 27 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Kohout
- Loschmidt
Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty
of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech
Republic
- International
Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s
University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Faraneh Haddadi
- Loschmidt
Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty
of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech
Republic
- International
Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s
University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Anton Bushuiev
- Czech Institute
of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Jugoslavskych partyzanu 1580/3, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Raman Samusevich
- Czech Institute
of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Jugoslavskych partyzanu 1580/3, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nám. 2, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Sedlar
- Czech Institute
of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Jugoslavskych partyzanu 1580/3, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Damborsky
- Loschmidt
Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty
of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech
Republic
- International
Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s
University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Pluskal
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nám. 2, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Sivic
- Czech Institute
of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Jugoslavskych partyzanu 1580/3, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Stanislav Mazurenko
- Loschmidt
Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty
of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech
Republic
- International
Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s
University Hospital Brno, Pekarska 53, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
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38
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Markus B, C GC, Andreas K, Arkadij K, Stefan L, Gustav O, Elina S, Radka S. Accelerating Biocatalysis Discovery with Machine Learning: A Paradigm Shift in Enzyme Engineering, Discovery, and Design. ACS Catal 2023; 13:14454-14469. [PMID: 37942268 PMCID: PMC10629211 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c03417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Emerging computational tools promise to revolutionize protein engineering for biocatalytic applications and accelerate the development timelines previously needed to optimize an enzyme to its more efficient variant. For over a decade, the benefits of predictive algorithms have helped scientists and engineers navigate the complexity of functional protein sequence space. More recently, spurred by dramatic advances in underlying computational tools, the promise of faster, cheaper, and more accurate enzyme identification, characterization, and engineering has catapulted terms such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to the must-have vocabulary in the field. This Perspective aims to showcase the current status of applications in pharmaceutical industry and also to discuss and celebrate the innovative approaches in protein science by highlighting their potential in selected recent developments and offering thoughts on future opportunities for biocatalysis. It also critically assesses the technology's limitations, unanswered questions, and unmet challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Braun Markus
- Department
of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/2, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Gruber Christian C
- Enzyme
and Drug Discovery, Innophore. 1700 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California 94111, United States
| | - Krassnigg Andreas
- Enzyme
and Drug Discovery, Innophore. 1700 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California 94111, United States
| | - Kummer Arkadij
- Moderna,
Inc., 200 Technology
Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Lutz Stefan
- Codexis
Inc., 200 Penobscot Drive, Redwood City, California 94063, United States
| | - Oberdorfer Gustav
- Department
of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/2, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Siirola Elina
- Novartis
Institute for Biomedical Research, Global Discovery Chemistry, Basel CH-4108, Switzerland
| | - Snajdrova Radka
- Novartis
Institute for Biomedical Research, Global Discovery Chemistry, Basel CH-4108, Switzerland
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39
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Madubuike H, Ferry N. Enhanced Activity and Stability of an Acetyl Xylan Esterase in Hydrophilic Alcohols through Site-Directed Mutagenesis. Molecules 2023; 28:7393. [PMID: 37959811 PMCID: PMC10647838 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28217393] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Current demands for the development of suitable biocatalysts showing high process performance is stimulated by the need to replace current chemical synthesis with cleaner alternatives. A drawback to the use of biocatalysts for unique applications is their low performance in industrial conditions. Hence, enzymes with improved performance are needed to achieve innovative and sustainable biocatalysis. In this study, we report the improved performance of an engineered acetyl xylan esterase (BaAXE) in a hydrophilic organic solvent. The structure of BaAXE was partitioned into a substrate-binding region and a solvent-affecting region. Using a rational design approach, charged residues were introduced at protein surfaces in the solvent-affecting region. Two sites present in the solvent-affecting region, A12D and Q143E, were selected for site-directed mutagenesis, which generated the mutants MUT12, MUT143 and MUT12-143. The mutants MUT12 and MUT143 reported lower Km (0.29 mM and 0.27 mM, respectively) compared to the wildtype (0.41 mM). The performance of the mutants in organic solvents was assessed after enzyme incubation in various strengths of alcohols. The mutants showed improved activity and stability compared to the wild type in low strengths of ethanol and methanol. However, the activity of MUT143 was lost in 40% methanol while MUT12 and MUT12-143 retained over 70% residual activity in this environment. Computational analysis links the improved performance of MUT12 and MUT12-143 to novel intermolecular interactions that are absent in MUT143. This work supports the rationale for protein engineering to augment the characteristics of wild-type proteins and provides more insight into the role of charged residues in conferring stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Madubuike
- School of Science Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK
| | - Natalie Ferry
- School of Science Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK
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40
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Gao L, Yu Z, Wang S, Hou Y, Zhang S, Zhou C, Wu X. A new paradigm in lignocellulolytic enzyme cocktail optimization: Free from expert-level prior knowledge and experimental datasets. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 388:129758. [PMID: 37717701 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Effectively pairing diverse lignocellulolytic enzyme cocktails with intricately structured lignocellulosic substrates is an enduring challenge for science and technology. To date, extensive trial-and-error remains the primary approach and no deep-learning methods were developed to address it due to limited experimental data and incomplete expert-level knowledge of enzyme-cocktail-substrate structure-dynamics-function relationships. Here, a novel model is developed to tackle this issue in efficient, cost-effective, and high-throughput manners. It needs no pre-labeled datasets, instead utilizing simple features, eliminating the reliance on expert-level prior knowledge of reaction mechanisms. Experimentally optimal combinations were found within predicted ranges of tailor-made combinations with precision of 91.98%, covering 80.00% of overall top-100. Practical tests demonstrated its effectiveness in narrowing down potential optimal combinations, speeding up targeted screening, and enabling efficient degradation of lignocellulosic biomass. The method has good applications in artificial proteins biosynthesis from low-value lignocellulosic straw, providing alternative solutions for biomass biorefining challenges in complex enzyme-cocktail-substrate interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Gao
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Zhuohang Yu
- School of Engineering, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan 671003, China
| | - Shengjie Wang
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Yuejie Hou
- School of Engineering, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan 671003, China
| | - Shouchang Zhang
- School of Engineering, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan 671003, China
| | - Chichun Zhou
- School of Engineering, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan 671003, China.
| | - Xin Wu
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China.
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41
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Capponi S, Daniels KG. Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to advance cell therapy. Immunol Rev 2023; 320:147-165. [PMID: 37415280 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Cell therapies are powerful technologies in which human cells are reprogrammed for therapeutic applications such as killing cancer cells or replacing defective cells. The technologies underlying cell therapies are increasing in effectiveness and complexity, making rational engineering of cell therapies more difficult. Creating the next generation of cell therapies will require improved experimental approaches and predictive models. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methods have revolutionized several fields in biology including genome annotation, protein structure prediction, and enzyme design. In this review, we discuss the potential of combining experimental library screens and AI to build predictive models for the development of modular cell therapy technologies. Advances in DNA synthesis and high-throughput screening techniques enable the construction and screening of libraries of modular cell therapy constructs. AI and ML models trained on this screening data can accelerate the development of cell therapies by generating predictive models, design rules, and improved designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Capponi
- Department of Functional Genomics and Cellular Engineering, IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, California, USA
- Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kyle G Daniels
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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42
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Zhong W, Li H, Wang Y. Design and Construction of Artificial Biological Systems for One-Carbon Utilization. BIODESIGN RESEARCH 2023; 5:0021. [PMID: 37915992 PMCID: PMC10616972 DOI: 10.34133/bdr.0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The third-generation (3G) biorefinery aims to use microbial cell factories or enzymatic systems to synthesize value-added chemicals from one-carbon (C1) sources, such as CO2, formate, and methanol, fueled by renewable energies like light and electricity. This promising technology represents an important step toward sustainable development, which can help address some of the most pressing environmental challenges faced by modern society. However, to establish processes competitive with the petroleum industry, it is crucial to determine the most viable pathways for C1 utilization and productivity and yield of the target products. In this review, we discuss the progresses that have been made in constructing artificial biological systems for 3G biorefineries in the last 10 years. Specifically, we highlight the representative works on the engineering of artificial autotrophic microorganisms, tandem enzymatic systems, and chemo-bio hybrid systems for C1 utilization. We also prospect the revolutionary impact of these developments on biotechnology. By harnessing the power of 3G biorefinery, scientists are establishing a new frontier that could potentially revolutionize our approach to industrial production and pave the way for a more sustainable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhong
- Westlake Center of Synthetic Biology and Integrated Bioengineering, School of Engineering,
Westlake University, Hangzhou 310000, PR China
| | - Hailong Li
- Westlake Center of Synthetic Biology and Integrated Bioengineering, School of Engineering,
Westlake University, Hangzhou 310000, PR China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering,
Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310000, PR China
| | - Yajie Wang
- Westlake Center of Synthetic Biology and Integrated Bioengineering, School of Engineering,
Westlake University, Hangzhou 310000, PR China
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43
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Song P, Zhang X, Wang S, Xu W, Wei F. Advances in the synthesis of β-alanine. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1283129. [PMID: 37954018 PMCID: PMC10639138 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1283129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
β-Alanine is the only naturally occurring β-type amino acid in nature, and it is also one of the very promising three-carbon platform compounds that can be applied in cosmetics and food additives and as a precursor in the chemical, pharmaceutical and material fields, with very broad market prospects. β-Alanine can be synthesized through chemical and biological methods. The chemical synthesis method is relatively well developed, but the reaction conditions are extreme, requiring high temperature and pressure and strongly acidic and alkaline conditions; moreover, there are many byproducts that require high energy consumption. Biological methods have the advantages of product specificity, mild conditions, and simple processes, making them more promising production methods for β-alanine. This paper provides a systematic review of the chemical and biological synthesis pathways, synthesis mechanisms, key synthetic enzymes and factors influencing β-alanine, with a view to providing a reference for the development of a highly efficient and green production process for β-alanine and its industrialization, as well as providing a basis for further innovations in the synthesis of β-alanine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Song
- College of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
- Shandong Aobo Biotech Co, Ltd., Liaocheng, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
| | - Shuhua Wang
- Shandong Aobo Biotech Co, Ltd., Liaocheng, China
| | - Wei Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
| | - Feng Wei
- College of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
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44
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Ge F, Chen G, Qian M, Xu C, Liu J, Cao J, Li X, Hu D, Xu Y, Xin Y, Wang D, Zhou J, Shi H, Tan Z. Artificial Intelligence Aided Lipase Production and Engineering for Enzymatic Performance Improvement. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:14911-14930. [PMID: 37800676 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c05029] [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: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
With the development of artificial intelligence (AI), tailoring methods for enzyme engineering have been widely expanded. Additional protocols based on optimized network models have been used to predict and optimize lipase production as well as properties, namely, catalytic activity, stability, and substrate specificity. Here, different network models and algorithms for the prediction and reforming of lipase, focusing on its modification methods and cases based on AI, are reviewed in terms of both their advantages and disadvantages. Different neural networks coupled with various algorithms are usually applied to predict the maximum yield of lipase by optimizing the external cultivations for lipase production, while one part is used to predict the molecule variations affecting the properties of lipase. However, few studies have directly utilized AI to engineer lipase by affecting the structure of the enzyme, and a set of research gaps needs to be explored. Additionally, future perspectives of AI application in enzymes, including lipase engineering, are deduced to help the redesign of enzymes and the reform of new functional biocatalysts. This review provides a new horizon for developing effective and innovative AI tools for lipase production and engineering and facilitating lipase applications in the food industry and biomass conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiyin Ge
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an 223003, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Chen
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an 223003, People's Republic of China
| | - Minjing Qian
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an 223003, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Xu
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an 223003, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiao Liu
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an 223003, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaqi Cao
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an 223003, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinchao Li
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an 223003, People's Republic of China
| | - Die Hu
- School of Pharmacy & School of Biological and Food Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangsen Xu
- Dongtai Hanfangyuan Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Yancheng 224241, People's Republic of China
| | - Ya Xin
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an 223003, People's Republic of China
| | - Dianlong Wang
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an 223003, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Zhou
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an 223003, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Shi
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an 223003, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongbiao Tan
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai'an 223003, People's Republic of China
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45
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Xie WJ, Warshel A. Harnessing Generative AI to Decode Enzyme Catalysis and Evolution for Enhanced Engineering. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.10.561808. [PMID: 37873334 PMCID: PMC10592750 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.10.561808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Enzymes, as paramount protein catalysts, occupy a central role in fostering remarkable progress across numerous fields. However, the intricacy of sequence-function relationships continues to obscure our grasp of enzyme behaviors and curtails our capabilities in rational enzyme engineering. Generative artificial intelligence (AI), known for its proficiency in handling intricate data distributions, holds the potential to offer novel perspectives in enzyme research. By applying generative models, we could discern elusive patterns within the vast sequence space and uncover new functional enzyme sequences. This review highlights the recent advancements in employing generative AI for enzyme sequence analysis. We delve into the impact of generative AI in predicting mutation effects on enzyme fitness, activity, and stability, rationalizing the laboratory evolution of de novo enzymes, decoding protein sequence semantics, and its applications in enzyme engineering. Notably, the prediction of enzyme activity and stability using natural enzyme sequences serves as a vital link, indicating how enzyme catalysis shapes enzyme evolution. Overall, we foresee that the integration of generative AI into enzyme studies will remarkably enhance our knowledge of enzymes and expedite the creation of superior biocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Jun Xie
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Departmet of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Arieh Warshel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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46
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Xie WJ, Liu D, Wang X, Zhang A, Wei Q, Nandi A, Dong S, Warshel A. Enhancing Luciferase Activity and Stability through Generative Modeling of Natural Enzyme Sequences. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.18.558367. [PMID: 37786693 PMCID: PMC10541610 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.18.558367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
The availability of natural protein sequences synergized with generative artificial intelligence (AI) provides new paradigms to create enzymes. Although active enzyme variants with numerous mutations have been produced using generative models, their performance often falls short compared to their wild-type counterparts. Additionally, in practical applications, choosing fewer mutations that can rival the efficacy of extensive sequence alterations is usually more advantageous. Pinpointing beneficial single mutations continues to be a formidable task. In this study, using the generative maximum entropy model to analyze Renilla luciferase homologs, and in conjunction with biochemistry experiments, we demonstrated that natural evolutionary information could be used to predictively improve enzyme activity and stability by engineering the active center and protein scaffold, respectively. The success rate of designed single mutants is ~50% to improve either luciferase activity or stability. These finding highlights nature's ingenious approach to evolving proficient enzymes, wherein diverse evolutionary pressures are preferentially applied to distinct regions of the enzyme, ultimately culminating in an overall high performance. We also reveal an evolutionary preference in Renilla luciferase towards emitting blue light that holds advantages in terms of water penetration compared to other light spectrum. Taken together, our approach facilitates navigation through enzyme sequence space and offers effective strategies for computer-aided rational enzyme engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Jun Xie
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Departmet of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Dangliang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoya Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Aoxuan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Qijia Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ashim Nandi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Suwei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Chemical Biology Center, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Arieh Warshel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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47
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Michailidou F. The Scent of Change: Sustainable Fragrances Through Industrial Biotechnology. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300309. [PMID: 37668275 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300309] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Current environmental and safety considerations urge innovation to address the need for sustainable high-value chemicals that are embraced by consumers. This review discusses the concept of sustainable fragrances, as high-value, everyday and everywhere chemicals. Current and emerging technologies represent an opportunity to produce fragrances in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Biotechnology, including fermentation, biocatalysis, and genetic engineering, has the potential to reduce the environmental footprint of fragrance production while maintaining quality and consistency. Computational and in silico methods, including machine learning (ML), are also likely to augment the capabilities of sustainable fragrance production. Continued innovation and collaboration will be crucial to the future of sustainable fragrances, with a focus on developing novel sustainable ingredients, as well as ethical sourcing practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freideriki Michailidou
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 9, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
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48
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Hsu YP, Nourzaie O, Tocher AE, Nerella K, Ermakov G, Jung J, Fowler A, Wu P, Ayesa U, Willingham A, Beaumont M, Ingale S. Site-Specific Antibody Conjugation Using Modified Bisected N-Glycans: Method Development and Potential toward Tunable Effector Function. Bioconjug Chem 2023; 34:1633-1644. [PMID: 37620302 PMCID: PMC10516122 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00302] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have garnered worldwide attention for disease treatment, as they possess high target specificity, a long half-life, and outstanding potency to kill or modulate the functions of targets. FDA approval of multiple ADCs for cancer therapy has generated a strong desire for novel conjugation strategies with high biocompatibility and controllable bioproperties. Herein, we present a bisecting glycan-bridged conjugation strategy that enables site-specific conjugation without the need for the oligosaccharide synthesis and genetic engineering of antibodies. Application of this method is demonstrated by conjugation of anti-HER2 human and mouse IgGs with a cytotoxic drug, monomethyl auristatin E. The glycan bridge showed outstanding stability, and the resulting ADCs eliminated HER2-expressing cancer cells effectively. Moreover, our strategy preserves the feasibility of glycan structure remodeling to fine-tune the immunogenicity and pharmacokinetic properties of ADCs through glycoengineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Pang Hsu
- MRL,
Merck & Co., Inc., 320 Bent St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
| | - Omar Nourzaie
- MRL,
Merck & Co., Inc., 213 E. Grand Ave., South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Ariel E. Tocher
- MRL,
Merck & Co., Inc., 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Kavitha Nerella
- MRL,
Merck & Co., Inc., 320 Bent St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
| | - Grigori Ermakov
- MRL,
Merck & Co., Inc., 213 E. Grand Ave., South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Jiwon Jung
- MRL,
Merck & Co., Inc., 213 E. Grand Ave., South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Alexandra Fowler
- MRL,
Merck & Co., Inc., 320 Bent St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
| | - Peidong Wu
- MRL,
Merck & Co., Inc., 320 Bent St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
| | - Umme Ayesa
- MRL, Merck
& Co., Inc., 90 E.
Scott Ave., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Aarron Willingham
- MRL,
Merck & Co., Inc., 213 E. Grand Ave., South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Maribel Beaumont
- MRL,
Merck & Co., Inc., 213 E. Grand Ave., South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Sampat Ingale
- MRL,
Merck & Co., Inc., 320 Bent St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
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49
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Qiu Y, Wei GW. Artificial intelligence-aided protein engineering: from topological data analysis to deep protein language models. Brief Bioinform 2023; 24:bbad289. [PMID: 37580175 PMCID: PMC10516362 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein engineering is an emerging field in biotechnology that has the potential to revolutionize various areas, such as antibody design, drug discovery, food security, ecology, and more. However, the mutational space involved is too vast to be handled through experimental means alone. Leveraging accumulative protein databases, machine learning (ML) models, particularly those based on natural language processing (NLP), have considerably expedited protein engineering. Moreover, advances in topological data analysis (TDA) and artificial intelligence-based protein structure prediction, such as AlphaFold2, have made more powerful structure-based ML-assisted protein engineering strategies possible. This review aims to offer a comprehensive, systematic, and indispensable set of methodological components, including TDA and NLP, for protein engineering and to facilitate their future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchi Qiu
- Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 48824 MI, USA
| | - Guo-Wei Wei
- Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 48824 MI, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 48824 MI, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 48824 MI, USA
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50
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Nordquist E, Zhang G, Barethiya S, Ji N, White KM, Han L, Jia Z, Shi J, Cui J, Chen J. Incorporating physics to overcome data scarcity in predictive modeling of protein function: A case study of BK channels. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011460. [PMID: 37713443 PMCID: PMC10529646 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011460] [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: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Machine learning has played transformative roles in numerous chemical and biophysical problems such as protein folding where large amount of data exists. Nonetheless, many important problems remain challenging for data-driven machine learning approaches due to the limitation of data scarcity. One approach to overcome data scarcity is to incorporate physical principles such as through molecular modeling and simulation. Here, we focus on the big potassium (BK) channels that play important roles in cardiovascular and neural systems. Many mutants of BK channel are associated with various neurological and cardiovascular diseases, but the molecular effects are unknown. The voltage gating properties of BK channels have been characterized for 473 site-specific mutations experimentally over the last three decades; yet, these functional data by themselves remain far too sparse to derive a predictive model of BK channel voltage gating. Using physics-based modeling, we quantify the energetic effects of all single mutations on both open and closed states of the channel. Together with dynamic properties derived from atomistic simulations, these physical descriptors allow the training of random forest models that could reproduce unseen experimentally measured shifts in gating voltage, ∆V1/2, with a RMSE ~ 32 mV and correlation coefficient of R ~ 0.7. Importantly, the model appears capable of uncovering nontrivial physical principles underlying the gating of the channel, including a central role of hydrophobic gating. The model was further evaluated using four novel mutations of L235 and V236 on the S5 helix, mutations of which are predicted to have opposing effects on V1/2 and suggest a key role of S5 in mediating voltage sensor-pore coupling. The measured ∆V1/2 agree quantitatively with prediction for all four mutations, with a high correlation of R = 0.92 and RMSE = 18 mV. Therefore, the model can capture nontrivial voltage gating properties in regions where few mutations are known. The success of predictive modeling of BK voltage gating demonstrates the potential of combining physics and statistical learning for overcoming data scarcity in nontrivial protein function prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Nordquist
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Guohui Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Shrishti Barethiya
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Nathan Ji
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kelli M. White
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Lu Han
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Zhiguang Jia
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jingyi Shi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jianmin Cui
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Disorders, Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jianhan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
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