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Wang B, Hu S, Teng Y, Chen J, Wang H, Xu Y, Wang K, Xu J, Cheng Y, Gao X. Current advance of nanotechnology in diagnosis and treatment for malignant tumors. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:200. [PMID: 39128942 PMCID: PMC11323968 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01889-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: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains a significant risk to human health. Nanomedicine is a new multidisciplinary field that is garnering a lot of interest and investigation. Nanomedicine shows great potential for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Specifically engineered nanoparticles can be employed as contrast agents in cancer diagnostics to enable high sensitivity and high-resolution tumor detection by imaging examinations. Novel approaches for tumor labeling and detection are also made possible by the use of nanoprobes and nanobiosensors. The achievement of targeted medication delivery in cancer therapy can be accomplished through the rational design and manufacture of nanodrug carriers. Nanoparticles have the capability to effectively transport medications or gene fragments to tumor tissues via passive or active targeting processes, thus enhancing treatment outcomes while minimizing harm to healthy tissues. Simultaneously, nanoparticles can be employed in the context of radiation sensitization and photothermal therapy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of malignant tumors. This review presents a literature overview and summary of how nanotechnology is used in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors. According to oncological diseases originating from different systems of the body and combining the pathophysiological features of cancers at different sites, we review the most recent developments in nanotechnology applications. Finally, we briefly discuss the prospects and challenges of nanotechnology in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilan Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, Children's Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
| | - Shiqi Hu
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Development and Related Diseases of Women and Children Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
| | - Yan Teng
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, P.R. China
| | - Junli Chen
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Haoyuan Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yezhen Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Kaiyu Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jianguo Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yongzhong Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Xiang Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Furukawa H, Nakamura S, Mizuta R, Sakamoto K, Inaba H, Sawada SI, Sasaki Y, Akiyoshi K, Matsuura K. Enveloped Viral Replica Equipped with Spike Protein Derived from SARS-CoV-2. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:2029-2037. [PMID: 38885191 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic viral nanostructures are useful as materials for analyzing the biological behavior of natural viruses and as vaccine materials. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an enveloped virus embedding a spike (S) protein involved in host cell infection. Although nanomaterials modified with an S protein without an envelope membrane have been developed, they are considered unsuitable for stability and functionality. We previously constructed an enveloped viral replica complexed with a cationic lipid bilayer and an anionic artificial viral capsid self-assembled from β-annulus peptides. In this study, we report the first example of an enveloped viral replica equipped with an S protein derived from SARS-CoV-2. Interestingly, even the S protein equipped on the enveloped viral replica bound strongly to the free angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor as well as ACE2 localized on the cell membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroto Furukawa
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8552, Japan
| | - Sosuke Nakamura
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8552, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Mizuta
- Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Kentarou Sakamoto
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8552, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Inaba
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8552, Japan
- Centre for Research on Green Sustainable Chemistry, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8552, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichi Sawada
- Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
- Synergy Institute for Futuristic Mucosal Vaccine Research and Development, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Sasaki
- Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Kazunari Akiyoshi
- Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Kazunori Matsuura
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8552, Japan
- Centre for Research on Green Sustainable Chemistry, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8552, Japan
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Garmeh Motlagh F, Azimzadeh Irani M, Masoomi Nomandan SZ, Assadizadeh M. Computational design and investigation of the monomeric spike SARS-CoV-2-ferritin nanocage vaccine stability and interactions. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1403635. [PMID: 38933369 PMCID: PMC11199398 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1403635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak, several solutions have been proposed to manage the disease. The most viable option for controlling this virus is to produce effective vaccines. Most of the current SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have focused on the infusion spike protein. Spike exists as a trimer and plays a vital role in infecting host cells by binding to the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor through its Receptor Binding Domain (RBD). Ferritin protein, a naturally occurring iron-storage protein, has gained attention for vaccine production due to its self-assembling property, non-toxic nature, and biocompatibility. Ferritin nanocages have recently been employed in the development of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccination eliciting not only long-term protective memory cells but also a sustained antibody response. In this study, a combination of in silico investigations including molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and immune simulations were carried out to computationally model the monomeric spike protein on the ferritin nanocage as well as to evaluate its stability and interactions for the first time. The structural dynamics of the modeled complex demonstrated noticeable stability. In particular, the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) and ferritin within the monomeric spike-ferritin complex illustrated significant stability. The lack of alterations in the secondary structure further supported the overall steadiness of the complex. The decline in the distance between ferritin and spike suggests a strong interaction over time. The cross-correlation matrices revealed that the monomeric spike and ferritin move towards each other supporting the stable interaction between spike and ferritin. Further, the orientation of monomeric spike protein within the ferritin unit facilitated the exposure of critical epitopes, specifically upward active Receptor Binding Domain (RBD), enabling effective interactions with the ACE2 receptor. The immune simulations of the model indicated high-level stimulations of both cellular and humoral immunity in the human body. It was also found that the employed model is effective regardless of the mutated spikes in different variants. These findings shed light on the current status of the SARS-CoV-2-ferritin nanoparticle vaccines and could be used as a framework for other similar vaccine designs.
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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).
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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
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Furukawa H, Kimura Y, Inaba H, Matsuura K. A supramolecular system mimicking the infection process of an enveloped virus through membrane fusion. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19934. [PMID: 37968508 PMCID: PMC10651892 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47347-7] [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: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane fusion is an essential step for the entry of enveloped viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus and influenza virus, into the host cell, often triggered by the binding of membrane proteins on the viral envelope to host cell membrane. Recently, external stimuli was shown to trigger membrane fusion in an artificial system. Direct observation of artificial membrane fusion using a giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV), which is similar in size to a cell, is useful as a biological model system. However, there are no model systems for studying membrane fusion of enveloped viruses with host cells. Here, we report a supramolecular model system for viral entry into a GUV or cell through membrane fusion. The system was constructed by complexing a cationic lipid bilayer on an anionic artificial viral capsid, self-assembled from viral β-annulus peptides. We demonstrate that the cationic enveloped artificial viral capsid electrostatically interacts with the anionic GUV or cell, and the capsid enters the GUV or cell through membrane fusion. The model system established in this study will be important for analyzing membrane fusion during infection of a natural virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroto Furukawa
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori, 680-8552, Japan
| | - Yuuna Kimura
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori, 680-8552, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Inaba
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori, 680-8552, Japan
- Center for Research on Green Sustainable Chemistry, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori, 680-8552, Japan
| | - Kazunori Matsuura
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori, 680-8552, Japan.
- Center for Research on Green Sustainable Chemistry, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori, 680-8552, Japan.
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Huang Q, Yang Y, Qian J. Structure-directed growth and morphology of multifunctional metal-organic frameworks. Coord Chem Rev 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2023.215101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
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Wu D, Chen Q, Chen X, Han F, Chen Z, Wang Y. The blood-brain barrier: structure, regulation, and drug delivery. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:217. [PMID: 37231000 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01481-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 144.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a natural protective membrane that prevents central nervous system (CNS) from toxins and pathogens in blood. However, the presence of BBB complicates the pharmacotherapy for CNS disorders as the most chemical drugs and biopharmaceuticals have been impeded to enter the brain. Insufficient drug delivery into the brain leads to low therapeutic efficacy as well as aggravated side effects due to the accumulation in other organs and tissues. Recent breakthrough in materials science and nanotechnology provides a library of advanced materials with customized structure and property serving as a powerful toolkit for targeted drug delivery. In-depth research in the field of anatomical and pathological study on brain and BBB further facilitates the development of brain-targeted strategies for enhanced BBB crossing. In this review, the physiological structure and different cells contributing to this barrier are summarized. Various emerging strategies for permeability regulation and BBB crossing including passive transcytosis, intranasal administration, ligands conjugation, membrane coating, stimuli-triggered BBB disruption, and other strategies to overcome BBB obstacle are highlighted. Versatile drug delivery systems ranging from organic, inorganic, and biologics-derived materials with their synthesis procedures and unique physio-chemical properties are summarized and analyzed. This review aims to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive guideline for researchers in diverse fields, offering perspectives on further development of brain-targeted drug delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310053, Hangzhou, China.
- Zhejiang Rehabilitation Medical Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310053, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Qi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310053, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojie Chen
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310053, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Han
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular & Cerebrovascular Medicine, Drug Target and Drug Discovery Center, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310053, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Yi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310053, Hangzhou, China.
- Zhejiang Rehabilitation Medical Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310053, Hangzhou, China.
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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.
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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
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Kwon S, Giessen TW. Engineered Protein Nanocages for Concurrent RNA and Protein Packaging In Vivo. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:3504-3515. [PMID: 36170610 PMCID: PMC9944510 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Protein nanocages have emerged as an important engineering platform for biotechnological and biomedical applications. Among naturally occurring protein cages, encapsulin nanocompartments have recently gained prominence due to their favorable physico-chemical properties, ease of shell modification, and highly efficient and selective intrinsic protein packaging capabilities. Here, we expand encapsulin function by designing and characterizing encapsulins for concurrent RNA and protein encapsulation in vivo. Our strategy is based on modifying encapsulin shells with nucleic acid-binding peptides without disrupting the native protein packaging mechanism. We show that our engineered encapsulins reliably self-assemble in vivo, are capable of efficient size-selective in vivo RNA packaging, can simultaneously load multiple functional RNAs, and can be used for concurrent in vivo packaging of RNA and protein. Our engineered encapsulation platform has potential for codelivery of therapeutic RNAs and proteins to elicit synergistic effects and as a modular tool for other biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seokmu Kwon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Tobias W. Giessen
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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Li Y, Champion JA. Self-assembling nanocarriers from engineered proteins: Design, functionalization, and application for drug delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 189:114462. [PMID: 35934126 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembling proteins are valuable building blocks for constructing drug nanocarriers due to their self-assembly behavior, monodispersity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Genetic and chemical modifications allow for modular design of protein nanocarriers with effective drug encapsulation, targetability, stimuli responsiveness, and in vivo half-life. Protein nanocarriers have been developed to deliver various therapeutic molecules including small molecules, proteins, and nucleic acids with proven in vitro and in vivo efficacy. This article reviews recent advances in protein nanocarriers that are not derived from natural protein nanostructures, such as protein cages or virus like particles. The protein nanocarriers described here are self-assembled from rationally or de novo designed recombinant proteins, as well as recombinant proteins complexed with other biomolecules, presenting properties that are unique from those of natural protein carriers. Design, functionalization, and therapeutic application of protein nanocarriers will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yirui Li
- BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States; BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States.
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11
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González-Gamboa I, Caparco AA, McCaskill JM, Steinmetz NF. Bioconjugation Strategies for Tobacco Mild Green Mosaic Virus. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200323. [PMID: 35835718 PMCID: PMC9624232 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200323] [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: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV) is a plant virus closely related to Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), sharing many of its structural and chemical features. These rod-shaped viruses, comprised of 2130 identical coat protein subunits, have been utilized as nanotechnological platforms for a myriad of applications, ranging from drug delivery to precision agriculture. This versatility for functionalization is due to their chemically active external and internal surfaces. While both viruses are similar, they do exhibit some key differences in their surface chemistry, suggesting the reactive residue distribution on TMGMV should not overlap with TMV. In this work, we focused on the establishment and refinement of chemical bioconjugation strategies to load molecules into or onto TMGMV for targeted delivery. A combination of NHS, EDC, and diazo coupling reactions in combination with click chemistry were used to modify the N-terminus, glutamic/aspartic acid residues, and tyrosines in TMGMV. We report loading with over 600 moieties per TMGMV via diazo-coupling, which is a >3-fold increase compared to previous studies. We also report that cargo can be loaded to the solvent-exposed N-terminus and carboxylates on the exterior/interior surfaces. Mass spectrometry revealed the most reactive sites to be Y12 and Y72, both tyrosine side chains are located on the exterior surface. For the carboxylates, interior E106 (66.53 %) was the most reactive for EDC-propargylamine coupled reactions, with the exterior E145 accounting for >15 % reactivity, overturning previous assumptions that only interior glutamic acid residues are accessible. A deeper understanding of the chemical properties of TMGMV further enables its functionalization and use as a multifunctional nanocarrier platform for applications in medicine and precision farming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivonne González-Gamboa
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Adam A Caparco
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Justin M McCaskill
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nicole F Steinmetz
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Institute for Materials Discovery and Design, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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Masoomi Nomandan SZ, Azimzadeh Irani M, Hosseini SM. In silico design of refined ferritin-SARS-CoV-2 glyco-RBD nanoparticle vaccine. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:976490. [PMID: 36148012 PMCID: PMC9486171 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.976490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
With the onset of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, all attention was drawn to finding solutions to cure the coronavirus disease. Among all vaccination strategies, the nanoparticle vaccine has been shown to stimulate the immune system and provide optimal immunity to the virus in a single dose. Ferritin is a reliable self-assembled nanoparticle platform for vaccine production that has already been used in experimental studies. Furthermore, glycosylation plays a crucial role in the design of antibodies and vaccines and is an essential element in developing effective subunit vaccines. In this computational study, ferritin nanoparticles and glycosylation, which are two unique facets of vaccine design, were used to model improved nanoparticle vaccines for the first time. In this regard, molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulation were carried out to construct three atomistic models of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor binding domain (RBD)-ferritin nanoparticle vaccine, including unglycosylated, glycosylated, and modified with additional O-glycans at the ferritin–RBD interface. It was shown that the ferritin–RBD complex becomes more stable when glycans are added to the ferritin–RBD interface and optimal performance of this nanoparticle can be achieved. If validated experimentally, these findings could improve the design of nanoparticles against all microbial infections.
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Alvisi N, Zheng C, Lokker M, Boekestein V, de Haas R, Albada B, de Vries R. Design of Polypeptides Self-Assembling into Antifouling Coatings: Exploiting Multivalency. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:3507-3516. [PMID: 35952369 PMCID: PMC9472226 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We propose to exploit multivalent binding of solid-binding peptides (SBPs) for the physical attachment of antifouling polypeptide brushes on solid surfaces. Using a silica-binding peptide as a model SBP, we find that both tandem-repeated SBPs and SBPs repeated in branched architectures implemented via a multimerization domain work very well to improve the binding strength of polypeptide brushes, as compared to earlier designs with a single SBP. At the same time, for many of the designed sequences, either the solubility or the yield of recombinant production is low. For a single design, with the domain structure B-M-E, both solubility and yield of recombinant production were high. In this design, B is a silica-binding peptide, M is a highly thermostable, de novo-designed trimerization domain, and E is a hydrophilic elastin-like polypeptide. We show that the B-M-E triblock polypeptide rapidly assembles into highly stable polypeptide brushes on silica surfaces, with excellent antifouling properties against high concentrations of serum albumin. Given that SBPs attaching to a wide range of materials have been identified, the B-M-E triblock design provides a template for the development of polypeptides for coating many other materials such as metals or plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Alvisi
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Chuanbao Zheng
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Meike Lokker
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Victor Boekestein
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Robbert de Haas
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bauke Albada
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Renko de Vries
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
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14
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Miller JE, Srinivasan Y, Dharmaraj NP, Liu A, Nguyen PL, Taylor SD, Yeates TO. Designing Protease-Triggered Protein Cages. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:12681-12689. [PMID: 35802879 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c02165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Proteins that self-assemble into enclosed polyhedral cages, both naturally and by design, are garnering attention for their prospective utility in the fields of medicine and biotechnology. Notably, their potential for encapsulation and surface display are attractive for experiments that require protection and targeted delivery of cargo. The ability to control their opening or disassembly would greatly advance the development of protein nanocages into widespread molecular tools. Toward the development of protein cages that disassemble in a systematic manner and in response to biologically relevant stimuli, here we demonstrate a modular protein cage system that is opened by highly sequence-specific proteases, based on sequence insertions at strategically chosen loop positions in the protein cage subunits. We probed the generality of the approach in the context of protein cages built using the two prevailing methods of construction: genetic fusion between oligomeric components and (non-covalent) computational interface design between oligomeric components. Our results suggest that the former type of cage may be more amenable than the latter for endowing proteolytically controlled disassembly. We show that a successfully designed cage system, based on oligomeric fusion, is modular with regard to its triggering protease. One version of the cage is targeted by an asparagine protease implicated in cancer and Alzheimer's disease, whereas the second version is responsive to the blood-clotting protease, thrombin. The approach demonstrated here should guide future efforts to develop therapeutic vectors to treat disease states where protease induction or mis-regulation occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin E Miller
- UCLA Molecular Biology Institute, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095-1570, United States.,UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095-1570, United States
| | - Yashes Srinivasan
- UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Nithin P Dharmaraj
- UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Andrew Liu
- UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Phillip L Nguyen
- UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Scott D Taylor
- UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Todd O Yeates
- UCLA Molecular Biology Institute, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095-1570, United States.,UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095-1570, United States.,UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
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15
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Tsidilkovski L, Mohajerani F, Hagan MF. Microcompartment assembly around multicomponent fluid cargoes. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:245104. [PMID: 35778087 PMCID: PMC9249432 DOI: 10.1063/5.0089556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This article describes dynamical simulations of the assembly of an icosahedral protein shell around a bicomponent fluid cargo. Our simulations are motivated by bacterial microcompartments, which are protein shells found in bacteria that assemble around a complex of enzymes and other components involved in certain metabolic processes. The simulations demonstrate that the relative interaction strengths among the different cargo species play a key role in determining the amount of each species that is encapsulated, their spatial organization, and the nature of the shell assembly pathways. However, the shell protein–shell protein and shell protein–cargo component interactions that help drive assembly and encapsulation also influence cargo composition within certain parameter regimes. These behaviors are governed by a combination of thermodynamic and kinetic effects. In addition to elucidating how natural microcompartments encapsulate multiple components involved within reaction cascades, these results have implications for efforts in synthetic biology to colocalize alternative sets of molecules within microcompartments to accelerate specific reactions. More broadly, the results suggest that coupling between self-assembly and multicomponent liquid–liquid phase separation may play a role in the organization of the cellular cytoplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lev Tsidilkovski
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02453, USA
| | - Farzaneh Mohajerani
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02453, USA
| | - Michael F Hagan
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02453, USA
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16
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Uchida M, Brunk NE, Hewagama ND, Lee B, Prevelige PE, Jadhao V, Douglas T. Multilayered Ordered Protein Arrays Self-Assembled from a Mixed Population of Virus-like Particles. ACS NANO 2022; 16:7662-7673. [PMID: 35549153 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c11272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Biology shows many examples of spatially controlled assembly of cells and biomacromolecules into hierarchically organized structures, to which many of the complex biological functions are attributed. While such biological structures have inspired the design of synthetic materials, it is still a great challenge to control the spatial arrangement of individual building blocks when assembling multiple types of components into bulk materials. Here, we report self-assembly of multilayered, ordered protein arrays from mixed populations of virus-like particles (VLPs). We systematically tuned the magnitude of the surface charge of the VLPs via mutagenesis to prepare four different types of VLPs for mixing. A mixture of up to four types of VLPs selectively assembled into higher-order structures in the presence of oppositely charged dendrimers during a gradual lowering of the ionic strength of the solution. The assembly resulted in the formation of three-dimensional ordered VLP arrays with up to four distinct layers including a central core, with each layer comprising a single type of VLP. A coarse-grained computational model was developed and simulated using molecular dynamics to probe the formation of the multilayered, core-shell structure. Our findings establish a simple and versatile bottom-up strategy to synthesize multilayered, ordered materials by controlling the spatial arrangement of multiple types of nanoscale building blocks in a one-pot fabrication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Uchida
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fresno, 2555 E. San Ramon Avenue, Fresno, California 93740, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Nicholas E Brunk
- Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, 700 N. Woodlawn Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47408, United States
- Wolfram Research, 100 Trade Center Drive, Champaign, Illinois 61820, United States
- VeriSIM Life Inc., 1 Sansome Street, Suite 3500, San Francisco, California 94104, United States
| | - Nathasha D Hewagama
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Byeongdu Lee
- X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Peter E Prevelige
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, United States
| | - Vikram Jadhao
- Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, 700 N. Woodlawn Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47408, United States
| | - Trevor Douglas
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
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17
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Edwardson TGW, Levasseur MD, Tetter S, Steinauer A, Hori M, Hilvert D. Protein Cages: From Fundamentals to Advanced Applications. Chem Rev 2022; 122:9145-9197. [PMID: 35394752 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Proteins that self-assemble into polyhedral shell-like structures are useful molecular containers both in nature and in the laboratory. Here we review efforts to repurpose diverse protein cages, including viral capsids, ferritins, bacterial microcompartments, and designed capsules, as vaccines, drug delivery vehicles, targeted imaging agents, nanoreactors, templates for controlled materials synthesis, building blocks for higher-order architectures, and more. A deep understanding of the principles underlying the construction, function, and evolution of natural systems has been key to tailoring selective cargo encapsulation and interactions with both biological systems and synthetic materials through protein engineering and directed evolution. The ability to adapt and design increasingly sophisticated capsid structures and functions stands to benefit the fields of catalysis, materials science, and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stephan Tetter
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Angela Steinauer
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mao Hori
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Donald Hilvert
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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18
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Wang H, Liu N, Yang F, Hu N, Wang M, Cui M, Bruns N, Guan X. Bioengineered Protein Nanocage by Small Heat Shock Proteins Delivering mTERT siRNA for Enhanced Colorectal Cancer Suppression. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:1330-1340. [PMID: 35234441 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c01221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The efficient delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) for target gene silencing holds great promise for cancer therapy. Protein nanocages have attracted considerable attention as ideal drug delivery systems because of their material-derived advantages and unique structural properties. However, most studies about siRNA delivery have not indicated the real role of protein nanocages in inhibiting tumor growth in vivo. Herein, we fabricated an efficient siRNA delivery system using a small heat shock protein (Hsp) nanocage decorated with Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) and the transactivator of transcription (Tat) peptide. Hsp-Tat-RGD NC showed good cellular uptake and lysosomal escape in colorectal cancer cells. In addition, the nanocage could efficiently transfect siRNA into the cytoplasmic area of CT26 cells. Hsp-Tat-RGD NC delivering telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)-targeting siRNA could significantly downregulate TERT protein expression and trigger tumor cell apoptosis in vitro. More importantly, Hsp-Tat-RGD/siTERT complexes nearly completely inhibited the tumor growth after five times of treatment in mice bearing CT26 xenograft. Our results demonstrate the great potential of the Tat/RGD-decorated Hsp nanocage as a promising siRNA delivery platform for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- Medical College, Taizhou University, 1139 Shifu Avenue, Taizhou 318000, P. R. China.,College of Medical Technology, Beihua University, 3999 East Binjiang Road, Jilin 132013, P. R. China
| | - Ning Liu
- College of Medical Technology, Beihua University, 3999 East Binjiang Road, Jilin 132013, P. R. China
| | - Fuxu Yang
- Medical College, Taizhou University, 1139 Shifu Avenue, Taizhou 318000, P. R. China.,College of Medical Technology, Beihua University, 3999 East Binjiang Road, Jilin 132013, P. R. China
| | - Nannan Hu
- Medical College, Taizhou University, 1139 Shifu Avenue, Taizhou 318000, P. R. China.,College of Medical Technology, Beihua University, 3999 East Binjiang Road, Jilin 132013, P. R. China
| | - Mingyue Wang
- College of Medical Technology, Beihua University, 3999 East Binjiang Road, Jilin 132013, P. R. China
| | - Meiying Cui
- College of Medical Technology, Beihua University, 3999 East Binjiang Road, Jilin 132013, P. R. China
| | - Nico Bruns
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G1 1XL, U.K
| | - Xingang Guan
- Medical College, Taizhou University, 1139 Shifu Avenue, Taizhou 318000, P. R. China.,College of Medical Technology, Beihua University, 3999 East Binjiang Road, Jilin 132013, P. R. China
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19
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Villegas JA, Sinha NJ, Teramoto N, Von Bargen CD, Pochan DJ, Saven JG. Computational Design of Single-Peptide Nanocages with Nanoparticle Templating. Molecules 2022; 27:1237. [PMID: 35209027 PMCID: PMC8874777 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27041237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein complexes perform a diversity of functions in natural biological systems. While computational protein design has enabled the development of symmetric protein complexes with spherical shapes and hollow interiors, the individual subunits often comprise large proteins. Peptides have also been applied to self-assembly, and it is of interest to explore such short sequences as building blocks of large, designed complexes. Coiled-coil peptides are promising subunits as they have a symmetric structure that can undergo further assembly. Here, an α-helical 29-residue peptide that forms a tetrameric coiled coil was computationally designed to assemble into a spherical cage that is approximately 9 nm in diameter and presents an interior cavity. The assembly comprises 48 copies of the designed peptide sequence. The design strategy allowed breaking the side chain conformational symmetry within the peptide dimer that formed the building block (asymmetric unit) of the cage. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques showed that one of the seven designed peptide candidates assembled into individual nanocages of the size and shape. The stability of assembled nanocages was found to be sensitive to the assembly pathway and final solution conditions (pH and ionic strength). The nanocages templated the growth of size-specific Au nanoparticles. The computational design serves to illustrate the possibility of designing target assemblies with pre-determined specific dimensions using short, modular coiled-coil forming peptide sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A. Villegas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (J.A.V.); (C.D.V.B.)
| | - Nairiti J. Sinha
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA; (N.J.S.); (N.T.)
| | - Naozumi Teramoto
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA; (N.J.S.); (N.T.)
| | - Christopher D. Von Bargen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (J.A.V.); (C.D.V.B.)
| | - Darrin J. Pochan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA; (N.J.S.); (N.T.)
| | - Jeffery G. Saven
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (J.A.V.); (C.D.V.B.)
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20
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Li H, Zhang K, Binzel DW, Shlyakhtenko LS, Lyubchenko YL, Chiu W, Guo P. RNA nanotechnology to build a dodecahedral genome of single-stranded RNA virus. RNA Biol 2021; 18:2390-2400. [PMID: 33845711 PMCID: PMC8632126 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2021.1915620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The quest for artificial RNA viral complexes with authentic structure while being non-replicative is on its way for the development of viral vaccines. RNA viruses contain capsid proteins that interact with the genome during morphogenesis. The sequence and properties of the protein and genome determine the structure of the virus. For example, the Pariacoto virus ssRNA genome assembles into a dodecahedron. Virus-inspired nanotechnology has progressed remarkably due to the unique structural and functional properties of viruses, which can inspire the design of novel nanomaterials. RNA is a programmable biopolymer able to self-assemble sophisticated 3D structures with rich functionalities. RNA dodecahedrons mimicking the Pariacoto virus quasi-icosahedral genome structures were constructed from both native and 2'-F modified RNA oligos. The RNA dodecahedron easily self-assembled using the stable pRNA three-way junction of bacteriophage phi29 as building blocks. The RNA dodecahedron cage was further characterized by cryo-electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, confirming the spontaneous and homogenous formation of the RNA cage. The reported RNA dodecahedron cage will likely provide further studies on the mechanisms of interaction of the capsid protein with the viral genome while providing a template for further construction of the viral RNA scaffold to add capsid proteins for the assembly of the viral nucleocapsid as a model. Understanding the self-assembly and RNA folding of this RNA cage may offer new insights into the 3D organization of viral RNA genomes. The reported RNA cage also has the potential to be explored as a novel virus-inspired nanocarrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Center for RNA Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kaiming Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering and James H. Clark Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Daniel W. Binzel
- Center for RNA Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Lyudmila S. Shlyakhtenko
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Yuri L. Lyubchenko
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Wah Chiu
- Department of Bioengineering and James H. Clark Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Division of CryoEM and Bioimaging, SSRL, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Peixuan Guo
- Center for RNA Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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21
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Jones JA, Cristie-David AS, Andreas MP, Giessen TW. Triggered Reversible Disassembly of an Engineered Protein Nanocage*. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:25034-25041. [PMID: 34532937 PMCID: PMC8578439 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202110318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Protein nanocages play crucial roles in sub-cellular compartmentalization and spatial control in all domains of life and have been used as biomolecular tools for applications in biocatalysis, drug delivery, and bionanotechnology. The ability to control their assembly state under physiological conditions would further expand their practical utility. To gain such control, we introduced a peptide capable of triggering conformational change at a key structural position in the largest known encapsulin nanocompartment. We report the structure of the resulting engineered nanocage and demonstrate its ability to disassemble and reassemble on demand under physiological conditions. We demonstrate its capacity for in vivo encapsulation of proteins of choice while also demonstrating in vitro cargo loading capabilities. Our results represent a functionally robust addition to the nanocage toolbox and a novel approach for controlling protein nanocage disassembly and reassembly under mild conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse A Jones
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, 1150 W. Medical Center Dr., MSRB2, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5622, USA
| | - Ajitha S Cristie-David
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, 1150 W. Medical Center Dr., MSRB2, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5622, USA
| | - Michael P Andreas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, 1150 W. Medical Center Dr., MSRB2, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5622, USA
| | - Tobias W Giessen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, 1150 W. Medical Center Dr., MSRB2, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5622, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, 1150 W. Medical Center Dr., MSRB2, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5622, USA
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22
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Jones JA, Cristie‐David AS, Andreas MP, Giessen TW. Triggered Reversible Disassembly of an Engineered Protein Nanocage**. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202110318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jesse A. Jones
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 1150 W. Medical Center Dr., MSRB2 Ann Arbor MI 48109-5622 USA
| | - Ajitha S. Cristie‐David
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 1150 W. Medical Center Dr., MSRB2 Ann Arbor MI 48109-5622 USA
| | - Michael P. Andreas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 1150 W. Medical Center Dr., MSRB2 Ann Arbor MI 48109-5622 USA
| | - Tobias W. Giessen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 1150 W. Medical Center Dr., MSRB2 Ann Arbor MI 48109-5622 USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 1150 W. Medical Center Dr., MSRB2 Ann Arbor MI 48109-5622 USA
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23
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Beh CY, Prajnamitra RP, Chen LL, Hsieh PCH. Advances in Biomimetic Nanoparticles for Targeted Cancer Therapy and Diagnosis. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26165052. [PMID: 34443638 PMCID: PMC8401254 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26165052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomimetic nanoparticles have recently emerged as a novel drug delivery platform to improve drug biocompatibility and specificity at the desired disease site, especially the tumour microenvironment. Conventional nanoparticles often encounter rapid clearance by the immune system and have poor drug-targeting effects. The rapid development of nanotechnology provides an opportunity to integrate different types of biomaterials onto the surface of nanoparticles, which enables them to mimic the natural biological features and functions of the cells. This mimicry strategy favours the escape of biomimetic nanoparticles from clearance by the immune system and reduces potential toxic side effects. Despite the rapid development in this field, not much has progressed to the clinical stage. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop biomimetic-based nanomedicine to produce a highly specific and effective drug delivery system, especially for malignant tumours, which can be used for clinical purposes. Here, the recent developments for various types of biomimetic nanoparticles are discussed, along with their applications for cancer imaging and treatments.
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24
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Kumar M, Markiewicz-Mizera J, Janna Olmos JD, Wilk P, Grudnik P, Biela AP, Jemioła-Rzemińska M, Górecki A, Chakraborti S, Heddle JG. A single residue can modulate nanocage assembly in salt dependent ferritin. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:11932-11942. [PMID: 34195748 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr01632f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Cage forming proteins have numerous potential applications in biomedicine and biotechnology, where the iron storage ferritin is a widely used example. However, controlling ferritin cage assembly/disassembly remains challenging, typically requiring extreme conditions incompatible with many desirable cargoes, particularly for more fragile biopharmaceuticals. Recently, a ferritin from the hyperthermophile bacterium Thermotoga maritima (TmFtn) has been shown to have reversible assembly under mild conditions, offering greater potential biocompatibility in terms of cargo access and encapsulation. Like Archeoglobus fulgidus ferritin (AfFtn), TmFtn forms 24mer cages mediated by metal ions (Mg2+). We have solved the crystal structure of the wild type TmFtn and several mutants displaying different assembly/disassembly properties. These data combined with other biophysical studies allow us to suggest candidate interfacial amino acids crucial in controlling assembly. This work deepens our understanding of how these ferritin complexes assemble and is a useful step towards production of triggerable ferritins in which these properties can be finely designed and controlled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantu Kumar
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, 30-392 Krakow, Poland.
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25
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Subramanian RH, Zhu J, Bailey JB, Chiong JA, Li Y, Golub E, Tezcan FA. Design of metal-mediated protein assemblies via hydroxamic acid functionalities. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:3264-3297. [PMID: 34050338 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-021-00535-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The self-assembly of proteins into sophisticated multicomponent assemblies is a hallmark of all living systems and has spawned extensive efforts in the construction of novel synthetic protein architectures with emergent functional properties. Protein assemblies in nature are formed via selective association of multiple protein surfaces through intricate noncovalent protein-protein interactions, a challenging task to accurately replicate in the de novo design of multiprotein systems. In this protocol, we describe the application of metal-coordinating hydroxamate (HA) motifs to direct the metal-mediated assembly of polyhedral protein architectures and 3D crystalline protein-metal-organic frameworks (protein-MOFs). This strategy has been implemented using an asymmetric cytochrome cb562 monomer through selective, concurrent association of Fe3+ and Zn2+ ions to form polyhedral cages. Furthermore, the use of ditopic HA linkers as bridging ligands with metal-binding protein nodes has allowed the construction of crystalline 3D protein-MOF lattices. The protocol is divided into two major sections: (1) the development of a Cys-reactive HA molecule for protein derivatization and self-assembly of protein-HA conjugates into polyhedral cages and (2) the synthesis of ditopic HA bridging ligands for the construction of ferritin-based protein-MOFs using symmetric metal-binding protein nodes. Protein cages are analyzed using analytical ultracentrifugation, transmission electron microscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. HA-mediated protein-MOFs are formed in sitting-drop vapor diffusion crystallization trays and are probed via single-crystal X-ray diffraction and multi-crystal small-angle X-ray scattering measurements. Ligand synthesis, construction of HA-mediated assemblies, and post-assembly analysis as described in this protocol can be performed by a graduate-level researcher within 6 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohit H Subramanian
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jie Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jake B Bailey
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jerika A Chiong
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yiying Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Eyal Golub
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - F Akif Tezcan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. .,Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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26
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Tetter S, Terasaka N, Steinauer A, Bingham RJ, Clark S, Scott AJP, Patel N, Leibundgut M, Wroblewski E, Ban N, Stockley PG, Twarock R, Hilvert D. Evolution of a virus-like architecture and packaging mechanism in a repurposed bacterial protein. Science 2021; 372:1220-1224. [PMID: 34112695 DOI: 10.1126/science.abg2822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Viruses are ubiquitous pathogens of global impact. Prompted by the hypothesis that their earliest progenitors recruited host proteins for virion formation, we have used stringent laboratory evolution to convert a bacterial enzyme that lacks affinity for nucleic acids into an artificial nucleocapsid that efficiently packages and protects multiple copies of its own encoding messenger RNA. Revealing remarkable convergence on the molecular hallmarks of natural viruses, the accompanying changes reorganized the protein building blocks into an interlaced 240-subunit icosahedral capsid that is impermeable to nucleases, and emergence of a robust RNA stem-loop packaging cassette ensured high encapsidation yields and specificity. In addition to evincing a plausible evolutionary pathway for primordial viruses, these findings highlight practical strategies for developing nonviral carriers for diverse vaccine and delivery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Tetter
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Naohiro Terasaka
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Angela Steinauer
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Richard J Bingham
- Departments of Mathematics and Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Sam Clark
- Departments of Mathematics and Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Andrew J P Scott
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Nikesh Patel
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Marc Leibundgut
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Emma Wroblewski
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Nenad Ban
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Peter G Stockley
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Reidun Twarock
- Departments of Mathematics and Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Donald Hilvert
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
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27
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Selivanovitch E, LaFrance B, Douglas T. Molecular exclusion limits for diffusion across a porous capsid. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2903. [PMID: 34006828 PMCID: PMC8131759 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23200-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular communication across physical barriers requires pores to connect the environments on either side and discriminate between the diffusants. Here we use porous virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from bacteriophage P22 to investigate the range of molecule sizes able to gain access to its interior. Although there are cryo-EM models of the VLP, they may not accurately depict the parameters of the molecules able to pass across the pores due to the dynamic nature of the P22 particles in the solution. After encapsulating the enzyme AdhD within the P22 VLPs, we use a redox reaction involving PAMAM dendrimer modified NADH/NAD+ to examine the size and charge limitations of molecules entering P22. Utilizing the three different accessible morphologies of the P22 particles, we determine the effective pore sizes of each and demonstrate that negatively charged substrates diffuse across more readily when compared to those that are neutral, despite the negatively charge exterior of the particles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin LaFrance
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Trevor Douglas
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
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28
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Factors deciding the assembly and thermostability of the DmrB cage. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 182:959-967. [PMID: 33872614 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Dihydromethanopterin reductase (DmrB), is a naturally occurring cage protein found in various archaeal and a few bacterial species. It exists as 24mer with cubic geometry where 8 trimeric subunits are present at the corners of each cube. Each trimer is made up of three monomeric units and six FMN, where two molecules of FMN are present at the interface of each monomer. DmrB is involved in the conversion of dihydromethanopterin to tetrahydromethanopterin using FMN as a redox equivalent. In the present study, we have used spectroscopic and biochemical techniques along with complementary bio-informatic work to understand the assembly principles of the DmrB. Our results show a concentration dependant self-assembly of DmrB which is mediated by ionic interactions. The co-factor FMN stabilizes and preserves the secondary and quaternary structure of DmrB against thermal insult, indicating that the higher order assembly of DmrB is very thermostable. Our work provides an interesting piece of information regarding the role of the co-factors in the thermostability of these classes of cage proteins. The understanding of the assembly and disassembly of this thermostable cage would enable the downstream usage of this system in various nano-biotechnological applications.
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29
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Kalathiya U, Padariya M, Fahraeus R, Chakraborti S, Hupp TR. Multivalent Display of SARS-CoV-2 Spike (RBD Domain) of COVID-19 to Nanomaterial, Protein Ferritin Nanocages. Biomolecules 2021; 11:297. [PMID: 33671255 PMCID: PMC7923090 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19, has a devastating effect on our society, both in terms of quality of life and death rates; hence, there is an urgent need for developing safe and effective therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2. The most promising strategy to fight against this deadly virus is to develop an effective vaccine. Internalization of SARS-CoV-2 into the human host cell mainly occurs through the binding of the coronavirus spike protein (a trimeric surface glycoprotein) to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. The spike-ACE2 protein-protein interaction is mediated through the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein. Mutations in the spike RBD can significantly alter interactions with the ACE2 host receptor. Due to its important role in virus transmission, the spike RBD is considered to be one of the key molecular targets for vaccine development. In this study, a spike RBD-based subunit vaccine was designed by utilizing a ferritin protein nanocage as a scaffold. Several fusion protein constructs were designed in silico by connecting the spike RBD via a synthetic linker (different sizes) to different ferritin subunits (H-ferritin and L-ferritin). The stability and the dynamics of the engineered nanocage constructs were tested by extensive molecular dynamics simulation (MDS). Based on our MDS analysis, a five amino acid-based short linker (S-Linker) was the most effective for displaying the spike RBD over the surface of ferritin. The behavior of the spike RBD binding regions from the designed chimeric nanocages with the ACE2 receptor was highlighted. These data propose an effective multivalent synthetic nanocage, which might form the basis for new vaccine therapeutics designed against viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umesh Kalathiya
- University of Gdansk, International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science, ul. Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland; (M.P.); (R.F.)
| | - Monikaben Padariya
- University of Gdansk, International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science, ul. Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland; (M.P.); (R.F.)
| | - Robin Fahraeus
- University of Gdansk, International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science, ul. Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland; (M.P.); (R.F.)
| | | | - Ted R. Hupp
- University of Gdansk, International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science, ul. Kładki 24, 80-822 Gdansk, Poland; (M.P.); (R.F.)
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland EH4 2XR, UK
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30
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Wang J, Li Y, Nie G. Multifunctional biomolecule nanostructures for cancer therapy. NATURE REVIEWS. MATERIALS 2021; 6:766-783. [PMID: 34026278 PMCID: PMC8132739 DOI: 10.1038/s41578-021-00315-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecule-based nanostructures are inherently multifunctional and harbour diverse biological activities, which can be explored for cancer nanomedicine. The supramolecular properties of biomolecules can be precisely programmed for the design of smart drug delivery vehicles, enabling efficient transport in vivo, targeted drug delivery and combinatorial therapy within a single design. In this Review, we discuss biomolecule-based nanostructures, including polysaccharides, nucleic acids, peptides and proteins, and highlight their enormous design space for multifunctional nanomedicines. We identify key challenges in cancer nanomedicine that can be addressed by biomolecule-based nanostructures and survey the distinct biological activities, programmability and in vivo behaviour of biomolecule-based nanostructures. Finally, we discuss challenges in the rational design, characterization and fabrication of biomolecule-based nanostructures, and identify obstacles that need to be overcome to enable clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, China, Beijing, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yiye Li
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, China, Beijing, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guangjun Nie
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials & Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, China, Beijing, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- GBA Research Innovation Institute for Nanotechnology, Guangdong, China
- Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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31
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Edwardson TGW, Tetter S, Hilvert D. Two-tier supramolecular encapsulation of small molecules in a protein cage. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5410. [PMID: 33106476 PMCID: PMC7588467 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19112-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Expanding protein design to include other molecular building blocks has the potential to increase structural complexity and practical utility. Nature often employs hybrid systems, such as clathrin-coated vesicles, lipid droplets, and lipoproteins, which combine biopolymers and lipids to transport a broader range of cargo molecules. To recapitulate the structure and function of such composite compartments, we devised a supramolecular strategy that enables porous protein cages to encapsulate poorly water-soluble small molecule cargo through templated formation of a hydrophobic surfactant-based core. These lipoprotein-like complexes protect their cargo from sequestration by serum proteins and enhance the cellular uptake of fluorescent probes and cytotoxic drugs. This design concept could be applied to other protein cages, surfactant mixtures, and cargo molecules to generate unique hybrid architectures and functional capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephan Tetter
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Donald Hilvert
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
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32
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Qiao C, Zhang R, Wang Y, Jia Q, Wang X, Yang Z, Xue T, Ji R, Cui X, Wang Z. Rabies Virus‐Inspired Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for Targeted Imaging and Chemotherapy of Glioma. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202007474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqiang Qiao
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Ruili Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Yongdong Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Qian Jia
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Xiaofei Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Zuo Yang
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Tengfei Xue
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Renchuan Ji
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Xiufang Cui
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Zhongliang Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
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33
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Qiao C, Zhang R, Wang Y, Jia Q, Wang X, Yang Z, Xue T, Ji R, Cui X, Wang Z. Rabies Virus‐Inspired Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for Targeted Imaging and Chemotherapy of Glioma. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:16982-16988. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202007474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqiang Qiao
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Ruili Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Yongdong Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Qian Jia
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Xiaofei Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Zuo Yang
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Tengfei Xue
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Renchuan Ji
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Xiufang Cui
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
| | - Zhongliang Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular & Neuroimaging Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xidian University Xi'an Shaanxi 710126 China
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34
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Synthetic biology for protein-based materials. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 65:197-204. [PMID: 32492515 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2020.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant protein polymers that mimic the structures and functions of natural proteins and those tailor-designed with new properties provide a family of uniquely tunable and functional materials. However, the diversity of genetically engineered protein polymers is still limited. As a powerful engine for the creation of new biological devices and systems, synthetic biology is promising to tackle the challenges that exist in conventional studies on protein polymers. Here we review the advances in design and biosynthesis of advanced protein materials by synthetic biology approaches. In particular, we highlight their roles in expanding the variety of designer protein polymers and creating programmable materials with live cells.
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35
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Wang D, Chen L, Wang M, Cui M, Huang L, Xia W, Guan X. Delivering Proapoptotic Peptide by HSP Nanocage for Cancer Therapy. MACROMOL CHEM PHYS 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/macp.202000003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dongmei Wang
- College of Medical TechnologyBeihua University Jilin 132013 P. R. China
| | - Li Chen
- College of Medical TechnologyBeihua University Jilin 132013 P. R. China
| | - Mingyue Wang
- College of Medical TechnologyBeihua University Jilin 132013 P. R. China
| | - Meiying Cui
- College of Medical TechnologyBeihua University Jilin 132013 P. R. China
| | - Lili Huang
- College of Medical TechnologyBeihua University Jilin 132013 P. R. China
| | - Wei Xia
- College of Medical TechnologyBeihua University Jilin 132013 P. R. China
| | - Xingang Guan
- College of Medical TechnologyBeihua University Jilin 132013 P. R. China
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36
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Li F, Wang D, Zhou J, Men D, Zhan XE. Design and biosynthesis of functional protein nanostructures. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2020; 63:1142-1158. [PMID: 32253589 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-019-1641-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Proteins are one of the major classes of biomolecules that execute biological functions for maintenance of life. Various kinds of nanostructures self-assembled from proteins have been created in nature over millions of years of evolution, including protein nanowires, layers and nanocages. These protein nanostructures can be reconstructed and equipped with desired new functions. Learning from and manipulating the self-assembly of protein nanostructures not only help to deepen our understanding of the nature of life but also offer new routes to fabricate novel nanomaterials for diverse applications. This review summarizes the recent research progress in this field, focusing on the characteristics, functionalization strategies, and applications of protein nanostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Dianbing Wang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Juan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Dong Men
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xian-En Zhan
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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37
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Abstract
The use of proteins and peptides as nanoscale components to generate new-to-nature physical entities holds great promise in biocatalysis, therapeutic or diagnostic delivery, and materials templating. The majority of functionalized particles have been based on existing structures found in nature. Developing biomimetic particles in this way takes advantage of highly evolved platforms for organization or encapsulation of functional moieties, offering significant advantages in stoichiometry, multivalency, and sequestration. However, novel assembly paradigms for the modular construction of macromolecular structures are now greatly expanding the functional diversity of protein-based nanoparticles in health and manufacturing. In the February issue of ACS Nano, Kepiro et al. demonstrate the refinement of this concept, engineering the capacity for self-assembly such that it is integral to pore-forming peptide motifs, resulting in superior antibiotic activity of the self-assembled particle. Nature encodes multiple functions in proteins with exquisite efficiency, and emulating this multiplicity may be the ultimate goal of biomimetic nanotechnologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Sainsbury
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
- Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
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38
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Himiyama T, Nakamura T. Disassembly of the ring-type decameric structure of peroxiredoxin from Aeropyrum pernix K1 by amino acid mutation. Protein Sci 2020; 29:1138-1147. [PMID: 32022337 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The quaternary structure of peroxiredoxin from Aeropyrum pernix K1 (ApPrx) is a decamer, in which five homodimers are assembled in a pentagonal ring through hydrophobic interactions. In this study, we determined the amino acid (AA) residues of ApPrx crucial for forming the decamer using AA mutations. The ApPrx0Cys mutant, wherein all cysteine residues were mutated to serine, was prepared as a model protein to remove the influence of the redox states of the cysteines on its assembling behavior. The boundary between each homodimer of ApPrx0Cys contains characteristic aromatic AA residues forming hydrophobic interactions: F46, F80, W88, W210, and W211. We found that a single mutation of F46, F80, or W210 to alanine completely disassembled the ApPrx0Cys decamer to homodimers, which was clarified by gel-filtration chromatography and dynamic light scattering measurements. F46A, F80A, and W210A mutants lacked only one aromatic ring compared with ApPrx0Cys, indicating that the assembly is very sensitive to the surface structure of the protein. X-ray structures revealed two mechanisms of disassembly of the ApPrx decamer: loss of hydrophobicity between homodimers and flip of the arm domain. The AA residues targeted in this study are well conserved in ring-type Prx proteins, suggesting the importance of these residues in the assembly. This study demonstrates the sensitivity and modifiability of peroxiredoxin assembly by a simple AA mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoki Himiyama
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ikeda, Japan.,DBT-AIST International Laboratory for Advanced Biomedicine (DAILAB), Ikeda, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Nakamura
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ikeda, Japan.,DBT-AIST International Laboratory for Advanced Biomedicine (DAILAB), Ikeda, Japan
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39
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Abstract
Proteins are molecular machines whose function depends on their ability to achieve complex folds with precisely defined structural and dynamic properties. The rational design of proteins from first-principles, or de novo, was once considered to be impossible, but today proteins with a variety of folds and functions have been realized. We review the evolution of the field from its earliest days, placing particular emphasis on how this endeavor has illuminated our understanding of the principles underlying the folding and function of natural proteins, and is informing the design of macromolecules with unprecedented structures and properties. An initial set of milestones in de novo protein design focused on the construction of sequences that folded in water and membranes to adopt folded conformations. The first proteins were designed from first-principles using very simple physical models. As computers became more powerful, the use of the rotamer approximation allowed one to discover amino acid sequences that stabilize the desired fold. As the crystallographic database of protein structures expanded in subsequent years, it became possible to construct proteins by assembling short backbone fragments that frequently recur in Nature. The second set of milestones in de novo design involves the discovery of complex functions. Proteins have been designed to bind a variety of metals, porphyrins, and other cofactors. The design of proteins that catalyze hydrolysis and oxygen-dependent reactions has progressed significantly. However, de novo design of catalysts for energetically demanding reactions, or even proteins that bind with high affinity and specificity to highly functionalized complex polar molecules remains an importnant challenge that is now being achieved. Finally, the protein design contributed significantly to our understanding of membrane protein folding and transport of ions across membranes. The area of membrane protein design, or more generally of biomimetic polymers that function in mixed or non-aqueous environments, is now becoming increasingly possible.
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Sumito N, Koeda S, Umezawa N, Inoue Y, Tsukiji S, Higuchi T, Mizuno T. Development of Cell-Penetration PG-Surfactants and Its Application in External Peptide Delivery to Cytosol. Bioconjug Chem 2020; 31:821-833. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Natsumi Sumito
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
| | - Shuhei Koeda
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
| | - Naoki Umezawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Yasumichi Inoue
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Shinya Tsukiji
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
- Department of Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
- Frontier Research Institute for Materials Science (FRIMS), Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho,
Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
| | - Tsunehiko Higuchi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Toshihisa Mizuno
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
- Department of Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
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Huang HC, Hsiao PY. Scaling Behaviors of a Polymer Ejected from a Cavity through a Small Pore. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2019; 123:267801. [PMID: 31951464 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.123.267801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Langevin dynamics simulations are performed to investigate ejection dynamics of spherically confined flexible polymers through a pore. By varying the chain length N and the initial volume fraction ϕ_{0} of the monomers, two scaling behaviors for the ejection velocity v on the monomer number m in the cavity are obtained: v∼m^{1.25}ϕ_{0}^{1.25}/N^{1.6} for large m and v∼m^{-1.4} as m is small. A robust scaling theory is developed by dividing the process into the confined and the nonconfined stages, and the dynamical equation is derived via the study of energy dissipation. After trimming the prior stage related to the escape of the head monomer across the pore, the evolution of m is shown to be well described by the scaling theory. The ejection time exhibits two proper scaling behaviors: N^{(2/3ν)+y_{1}}ϕ_{0}^{-(2/3ν)} and N^{2+y_{2}} under the large and small ϕ_{0} or N conditions, respectively, where y_{1}=1/3, y_{2}=1-ν, and ν is the Flory exponent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Chun Huang
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013 Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Pai-Yi Hsiao
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013 Taiwan, Republic of China
- Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013 Taiwan, Republic of China
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Measurements of the self-assembly kinetics of individual viral capsids around their RNA genome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:22485-22490. [PMID: 31570619 PMCID: PMC6842639 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1909223116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-assembly is a process in which functional nanoscale structures build themselves, driven by Brownian motion and interactions between components. The term was originally coined to describe the formation of a viral capsid, the protein shell that protects the genome of a virus. Despite decades of study, how capsids self-assemble has remained a mystery, because there were no methods to measure the assembly kinetics of individual capsids. We surmount this obstacle using a sensitive microscopy technique based on laser interferometry. The measurements show that a small nucleus of proteins must form on the viral RNA before the capsid assembles. These results might help researchers design strategies to stop the assembly of pathogenic viruses or to build synthetic nanostructures. Self-assembly is widely used by biological systems to build functional nanostructures, such as the protein capsids of RNA viruses. But because assembly is a collective phenomenon involving many weakly interacting subunits and a broad range of timescales, measurements of the assembly pathways have been elusive. We use interferometric scattering microscopy to measure the assembly kinetics of individual MS2 bacteriophage capsids around MS2 RNA. By recording how many coat proteins bind to each of many individual RNA strands, we find that assembly proceeds by nucleation followed by monotonic growth. Our measurements reveal the assembly pathways in quantitative detail and also show their failure modes. We use these results to critically examine models of the assembly process.
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