1
|
Gee M, Atai K, Coller HA, Yeates TO, Castells-Graells R. Designed fluorescent protein cages as fiducial markers for targeted cell imaging. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.28.582585. [PMID: 38464160 PMCID: PMC10925312 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.28.582585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Understanding how proteins function within their cellular environments is essential for cellular biology and biomedical research. However, current imaging techniques exhibit limitations, particularly in the study of small complexes and individual proteins within cells. Previously, protein cages have been employed as imaging scaffolds to study purified small proteins using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Here we demonstrate an approach to deliver designed protein cages - endowed with fluorescence and targeted binding properties - into cells, thereby serving as fiducial markers for cellular imaging. We used protein cages with anti-GFP DARPin domains to target a mitochondrial protein (MFN1) expressed in mammalian cells, which was genetically fused to GFP. We demonstrate that the protein cages can penetrate cells, are directed to specific subcellular locations, and are detectable with confocal microscopy. This innovation represents a milestone in developing tools for in-depth cellular exploration, especially in conjunction with methods such as cryo-correlative light and electron microscopy (cryo-CLEM).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Gee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
| | - Kaiser Atai
- Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
| | - Hilary A Coller
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
| | - Todd O Yeates
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Esquirol L, Newman J, Nebl T, Scott C, Vickers C, Sainsbury F, Peat TS. Characterization of novel mevalonate kinases from the tardigrade Ramazzottius varieornatus and the psychrophilic archaeon Methanococcoides burtonii. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2024; 80:203-215. [PMID: 38411551 PMCID: PMC10910542 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798324001360] [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: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Mevalonate kinase is central to the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway. Here, high-resolution X-ray crystal structures of two mevalonate kinases are presented: a eukaryotic protein from Ramazzottius varieornatus and an archaeal protein from Methanococcoides burtonii. Both enzymes possess the highly conserved motifs of the GHMP enzyme superfamily, with notable differences between the two enzymes in the N-terminal part of the structures. Biochemical characterization of the two enzymes revealed major differences in their sensitivity to geranyl pyrophosphate and farnesyl pyrophosphate, and in their thermal stabilities. This work adds to the understanding of the structural basis of enzyme inhibition and thermostability in mevalonate kinases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lygie Esquirol
- Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Janet Newman
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Tom Nebl
- Manufacturing, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Colin Scott
- Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Claudia Vickers
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
- Synbio Future Science Platform, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
| | - Frank Sainsbury
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
- Synbio Future Science Platform, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Thomas S. Peat
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Feng T, Liu J, Zhang X, Fan D, Bai Y. Protein engineering of multi-enzyme virus-like particle nanoreactors for enhanced chiral alcohol synthesis. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2023; 5:6606-6616. [PMID: 38024302 PMCID: PMC10662152 DOI: 10.1039/d3na00515a] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
In the past decade, virus-like particles (VLPs) that can encapsulate single or multiple enzymes have been studied extensively as typical nanoreactors for biocatalysis in vitro, yet their catalytic efficiencies are usually inadequate for real applications. These biocatalytic nanoreactors should be engineered like their free-enzyme counterparts to improve their catalytic performance for potential applications. Herein we engineer biocatalytic VLPs for the enhanced synthesis of chiral alcohols. Different methods including directed evolution were applied to the entire bacteriophage P22 VLPs (except the coat protein), which encapsulated a carbonyl reductase from Scheffersomyces stipitis (SsCR) and a glucose dehydrogenase from Bacillus megaterium (BmGDH) in their capsids. The best variant, namely M5, showed an enhanced turnover frequency (TOF, min-1) up to 15-fold toward the majority of tested aromatic prochiral ketones, and gave up to 99% enantiomeric excess in the synthesis of chiral alcohol pharmaceutical intermediates. A comparison with the mutations of the free-enzyme counterparts showed that the same amino acid mutations led to different changes in the catalytic efficiencies of free and confined enzymes. Finally, the engineered M5 nanoreactor showed improved efficiency in the scale-up synthesis of chiral alcohols. The conversions of three substrates catalyzed by M5 were all higher than those catalyzed by the wild-type nanoreactor, demonstrating that enzyme-encapsulating VLPs can evolve to enhance their catalytic performance for potential applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taotao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai 200237 China
| | - Jiaxu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai 200237 China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai 200237 China
| | - Daidi Fan
- Shaanxi R&D Centre of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University Xi'an Shaanxi 710069 China
| | - Yunpeng Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai 200237 China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cheah LC, Liu L, Plan MR, Peng B, Lu Z, Schenk G, Vickers CE, Sainsbury F. Product Profiles of Promiscuous Enzymes Can be Altered by Controlling In Vivo Spatial Organization. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2303415. [PMID: 37750486 PMCID: PMC10646250 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Enzyme spatial organization is an evolved mechanism for facilitating multi-step biocatalysis and can play an important role in the regulation of promiscuous enzymes. The latter function suggests that artificial spatial organization can be an untapped avenue for controlling the specificity of bioengineered metabolic pathways. A promiscuous terpene synthase (nerolidol synthase) is co-localized and spatially organized with the preceding enzyme (farnesyl diphosphate synthase) in a heterologous production pathway, via translational protein fusion and/or co-encapsulation in a self-assembling protein cage. Spatial organization enhances nerolidol production by ≈11- to ≈62-fold relative to unorganized enzymes. More interestingly, striking differences in the ratio of end products (nerolidol and linalool) are observed with each spatial organization approach. This demonstrates that artificial spatial organization approaches can be harnessed to modulate the product profiles of promiscuous enzymes in engineered pathways in vivo. This extends the application of spatial organization beyond situations where multiple enzymes compete for a single substrate to cases where there is competition among multiple substrates for a single enzyme.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Chen Cheah
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and NanotechnologyThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQLD4072Australia
- CSIRO Future Science Platform in Synthetic BiologyCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)Dutton ParkSt LuciaQLD4102Australia
- Present address:
Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness5 Portarlington RdEast GeelongVIC3219Australia
| | - Lian Liu
- Metabolomics Australia (Queensland Node)The University of QueenslandSt LuciaQLD4072Australia
| | - Manuel R. Plan
- Metabolomics Australia (Queensland Node)The University of QueenslandSt LuciaQLD4072Australia
| | - Bingyin Peng
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and NanotechnologyThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQLD4072Australia
- CSIRO Future Science Platform in Synthetic BiologyCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)Dutton ParkSt LuciaQLD4102Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic BiologyQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLD4000Australia
- School of Biological and Environmental ScienceQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLD4000Australia
| | - Zeyu Lu
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and NanotechnologyThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQLD4072Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic BiologyQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLD4000Australia
| | - Gerhard Schenk
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and NanotechnologyThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQLD4072Australia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular BiosciencesThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQLD4072Australia
| | - Claudia E. Vickers
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and NanotechnologyThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQLD4072Australia
- CSIRO Future Science Platform in Synthetic BiologyCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)Dutton ParkSt LuciaQLD4102Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic BiologyQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLD4000Australia
- School of Biological and Environmental ScienceQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLD4000Australia
- Centre for Cell Factories and BiopolymersGriffith Institute for Drug DiscoveryGriffith UniversityNathanQLD4111Australia
| | - Frank Sainsbury
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and NanotechnologyThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQLD4072Australia
- CSIRO Future Science Platform in Synthetic BiologyCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)Dutton ParkSt LuciaQLD4102Australia
- Centre for Cell Factories and BiopolymersGriffith Institute for Drug DiscoveryGriffith UniversityNathanQLD4111Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
McNeale D, Esquirol L, Okada S, Strampel S, Dashti N, Rehm B, Douglas T, Vickers C, Sainsbury F. Tunable In Vivo Colocalization of Enzymes within P22 Capsid-Based Nanoreactors. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:17705-17715. [PMID: 36995754 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c00971] [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: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from bacteriophage P22 have been explored as biomimetic catalytic compartments. In vivo colocalization of enzymes within P22 VLPs uses sequential fusion to the scaffold protein, resulting in equimolar concentrations of enzyme monomers. However, control over enzyme stoichiometry, which has been shown to influence pathway flux, is key to realizing the full potential of P22 VLPs as artificial metabolons. We present a tunable strategy for stoichiometric control over in vivo co-encapsulation of P22 cargo proteins, verified for fluorescent protein cargo by Förster resonance energy transfer. This was then applied to a two-enzyme reaction cascade. l-homoalanine, an unnatural amino acid and chiral precursor to several drugs, can be synthesized from the readily available l-threonine by the sequential activity of threonine dehydratase and glutamate dehydrogenase. We found that the loading density of both enzymes influences their activity, with higher activity found at lower loading density implying an impact of molecular crowding on enzyme activity. Conversely, increasing overall loading density by increasing the amount of threonine dehydratase can increase activity from the rate-limiting glutamate dehydrogenase. This work demonstrates the in vivo colocalization of multiple heterologous cargo proteins in a P22-based nanoreactor and shows that controlled stoichiometry of individual enzymes in an enzymatic cascade is required for the optimal design of nanoscale biocatalytic compartments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donna McNeale
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, QLD 4111, Australia
- CSIRO Future Science Platform in Synthetic Biology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Lygie Esquirol
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, QLD 4111, Australia
- CSIRO Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Black Mountain, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Shoko Okada
- CSIRO Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Black Mountain, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Shai Strampel
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Noor Dashti
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Bernd Rehm
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Trevor Douglas
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Claudia Vickers
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, QLD 4111, Australia
- CSIRO Future Science Platform in Synthetic Biology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
- School of Biological and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
| | - Frank Sainsbury
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, QLD 4111, Australia
- CSIRO Future Science Platform in Synthetic Biology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
McNeale D, Dashti N, Cheah LC, Sainsbury F. Protein cargo encapsulation by
virus‐like
particles: Strategies and applications. WIRES NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 15:e1869. [PMID: 36345849 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Viruses and the recombinant protein cages assembled from their structural proteins, known as virus-like particles (VLPs), have gained wide interest as tools in biotechnology and nanotechnology. Detailed structural information and their amenability to genetic and chemical modification make them attractive systems for further engineering. This review describes the range of non-enveloped viruses that have been co-opted for heterologous protein cargo encapsulation and the strategies that have been developed to drive encapsulation. Spherical capsids of a range of sizes have been used as platforms for protein cargo encapsulation. Various approaches, based on native and non-native interactions between the cargo proteins and inner surface of VLP capsids, have been devised to drive encapsulation. Here, we outline the evolution of these approaches, discussing their benefits and limitations. Like the viruses from which they are derived, VLPs are of interest in both biomedical and materials applications. The encapsulation of protein cargo inside VLPs leads to numerous uses in both fundamental and applied biocatalysis and biomedicine, some of which are discussed herein. The applied science of protein-encapsulating VLPs is emerging as a research field with great potential. Developments in loading control, higher order assembly, and capsid optimization are poised to realize this potential in the near future. This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus-Based Structures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donna McNeale
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery Griffith University Nathan Queensland Australia
| | - Noor Dashti
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology The University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia
| | - Li Chen Cheah
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology The University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia
| | - Frank Sainsbury
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery Griffith University Nathan Queensland Australia
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology The University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia
| |
Collapse
|