1
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Purwani NN, Rozeboom HJ, Willers VP, Wijma HJ, Fraaije MW. Discovery of a new class of bacterial heme-containing CC cleaving oxygenases. N Biotechnol 2024; 83:82-90. [PMID: 39053683 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2024.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Previously, some bacteria were shown to harbour enzymes capable of catalysing the oxidative cleavage of the double bond of t-anethole and related compounds. The cofactor dependence of these enzymes remained enigmatic due to a lack of biochemical information. We report on catalytic and structural details of a representative of this group of oxidative enzymes: t-anethole oxygenase from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (TAOSm). The bacterial enzyme could be recombinantly expressed and purified, enabling a detailed biochemical study that has settled the dispute on its cofactor dependence. We have established that TAOSm contains a tightly bound b-type heme and merely depends on dioxygen for catalysis. It was found to accept t-anethole, isoeugenol and O-methyl isoeugenol as substrates, all being converted into the corresponding aromatic aldehydes without the need of any cofactor regeneration. The elucidated crystal structure of TAOSm has revealed that it contains a unique active site architecture that is conserved for this distinct class of heme-containing bacterial oxygenases. Similar to other hemoproteins, TAOSm has a histidine (His121) as proximal ligand. Yet, unique for TAOs, an arginine (Arg89) is located at the distal axial position. Site directed mutagenesis confirmed crucial roles for these heme-liganding residues and other residues that form the substrate binding pocket. In conclusion, the results reported here reveal a new class of bacterial heme-containing oxygenases that can be used for the cleavage of alkene double bonds, analogous to ozonolysis in organic chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni Nyoman Purwani
- Molecular Enzymology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen 9747AG, the Netherlands; Department of Health, Faculty of Vocational Studies, Kampus B Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, East Java 60286, Indonesia
| | - Henriette J Rozeboom
- Molecular Enzymology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen 9747AG, the Netherlands
| | - Vivian P Willers
- Molecular Enzymology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen 9747AG, the Netherlands
| | - Hein J Wijma
- Molecular Enzymology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen 9747AG, the Netherlands
| | - Marco W Fraaije
- Molecular Enzymology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen 9747AG, the Netherlands.
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2
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Pan X, Heacock ML, Abdulaziz EN, Violante S, Zuckerman AL, Shrestha N, Yao C, Goodman RP, Cross JR, Cracan V. A genetically encoded tool to increase cellular NADH/NAD + ratio in living cells. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:594-604. [PMID: 37884806 PMCID: PMC11045668 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01460-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Impaired redox metabolism is a key contributor to the etiology of many diseases, including primary mitochondrial disorders, cancer, neurodegeneration and aging. However, mechanistic studies of redox imbalance remain challenging due to limited strategies that can perturb redox metabolism in various cellular or organismal backgrounds. Most studies involving impaired redox metabolism have focused on oxidative stress; consequently, less is known about the settings where there is an overabundance of NADH reducing equivalents, termed reductive stress. Here we introduce a soluble transhydrogenase from Escherichia coli (EcSTH) as a novel genetically encoded tool to promote reductive stress in living cells. When expressed in mammalian cells, EcSTH, and a mitochondrially targeted version (mitoEcSTH), robustly elevated the NADH/NAD+ ratio in a compartment-specific manner. Using this tool, we determined that metabolic and transcriptomic signatures of the NADH reductive stress are cellular background specific. Collectively, our novel genetically encoded tool represents an orthogonal strategy to promote reductive stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxiu Pan
- Laboratory of Redox Biology and Metabolism, Scintillon Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mina L Heacock
- Laboratory of Redox Biology and Metabolism, Scintillon Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
- Calibr, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Evana N Abdulaziz
- Laboratory of Redox Biology and Metabolism, Scintillon Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
- Process Development Associate, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Sara Violante
- Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Cancer Metabolism Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Austin L Zuckerman
- Laboratory of Redox Biology and Metabolism, Scintillon Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
- Program in Mathematics and Science Education, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- Program in Mathematics and Science Education, San Diego State University, San Diego, USA
| | - Nirajan Shrestha
- Liver Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Canglin Yao
- Laboratory of Redox Biology and Metabolism, Scintillon Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Russell P Goodman
- Liver Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Justin R Cross
- Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Cancer Metabolism Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Valentin Cracan
- Laboratory of Redox Biology and Metabolism, Scintillon Institute, San Diego, CA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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3
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Morini L, Sakai A, Vibhute MA, Koch Z, Voss M, Schoenmakers LLJ, Huck WTS. Leveraging Active Learning to Establish Efficient In Vitro Transcription and Translation from Bacterial Chromosomal DNA. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:19227-19235. [PMID: 38708277 PMCID: PMC11064174 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c00111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Gene expression is a fundamental aspect in the construction of a minimal synthetic cell, and the use of chromosomes will be crucial for the integration and regulation of complex modules. Expression from chromosomes in vitro transcription and translation (IVTT) systems presents limitations, as their large size and low concentration make them far less suitable for standard IVTT reactions. Here, we addressed these challenges by optimizing lysate-based IVTT systems at low template concentrations. We then applied an active learning tool to adapt IVTT to chromosomes as template DNA. Further insights into the dynamic data set led us to adjust the previous protocol for chromosome isolation and revealed unforeseen trends pointing at limiting transcription kinetics in our system. The resulting IVTT conditions allowed a high template DNA efficiency for the chromosomes. In conclusion, our system shows a protein-to-chromosome ratio that moves closer to in vivo biology and represents an advancement toward chromosome-based synthetic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Morini
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Andrei Sakai
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Mahesh A. Vibhute
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Zef Koch
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
- HAN
University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen 6503GL, The Netherlands
| | - Margo Voss
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Ludo L. J. Schoenmakers
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
- Konrad
Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
| | - Wilhelm T. S. Huck
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
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4
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Ghosh S, Baltussen MG, Ivanov NM, Haije R, Jakštaitė M, Zhou T, Huck WTS. Exploring Emergent Properties in Enzymatic Reaction Networks: Design and Control of Dynamic Functional Systems. Chem Rev 2024; 124:2553-2582. [PMID: 38476077 PMCID: PMC10941194 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The intricate and complex features of enzymatic reaction networks (ERNs) play a key role in the emergence and sustenance of life. Constructing such networks in vitro enables stepwise build up in complexity and introduces the opportunity to control enzymatic activity using physicochemical stimuli. Rational design and modulation of network motifs enable the engineering of artificial systems with emergent functionalities. Such functional systems are useful for a variety of reasons such as creating new-to-nature dynamic materials, producing value-added chemicals, constructing metabolic modules for synthetic cells, and even enabling molecular computation. In this review, we offer insights into the chemical characteristics of ERNs while also delving into their potential applications and associated challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souvik Ghosh
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mathieu G. Baltussen
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nikita M. Ivanov
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rianne Haije
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Miglė Jakštaitė
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tao Zhou
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wilhelm T. S. Huck
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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5
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Yang D, Xu Y, Mo L, Shi M, Wu N, Lu L, Xue F, Xu Q, Zhang C. Enhancing l-Malic Acid Production in Aspergillus niger via Natural Activation of sthA Gene Expression. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:4869-4879. [PMID: 38407053 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c09321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The efficient production of l-malic acid using Aspergillus niger requires overcoming challenges in synthesis efficiency and excessive byproduct buildup. This study addresses these hurdles, improving the activity of NADH-dependent malate dehydrogenase (Mdh) in the early stages of the fermentation process. By employing a constitutive promoter to express the Escherichia coli sthA responsible for the transfer of reducing equivalents between NAD(H) and NADP(H) in A. niger, the l-malic acid production was significantly elevated. However, this resulted in conidiation defects of A. niger, limiting industrial viability. To mitigate this, we discovered and utilized the PmfsA promoter, enabling the specific expression of sthA during the fermentation stage. This conditional expression strain showed similar phenotypes to its parent strain while exhibiting exceptional performance in a 5 L fermenter. Notably, it achieved a 65.5% increase in productivity, reduced fermentation cycle by 1.5 days, and lowered succinic acid by 76.2%. This work marks a promising advancement in industrial l-malic acid synthesis via biological fermentation, showcasing the potential of synthetic biology in A. niger for broader applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongdong Yang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yingyan Xu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Li Mo
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Man Shi
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Na Wu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ling Lu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Feng Xue
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Qing Xu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
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6
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Yang J, Liu Y, Zhong D, Xu L, Gao H, Keasling JD, Luo X, Chou HH. Combinatorial optimization and spatial remodeling of CYPs to control product profile. Metab Eng 2023; 80:119-129. [PMID: 37703999 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2023.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Activating inert substrates is a challenge in nature and synthetic chemistry, but essential for creating functionally active molecules. In this work, we used a combinatorial optimization approach to assemble cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs) and reductases (CPRs) to achieve a target product profile. By creating 110 CYP-CPR pairs and iteratively screening different pairing libraries, we demonstrated a framework for establishing a CYP network that catalyzes six oxidation reactions at three different positions of a chemical scaffold. Target product titer was improved by remodeling endoplasmic reticulum (ER) size and spatially controlling the CYPs' configuration on the ER. Out of 47 potential products that could be synthesized, 86% of the products synthesized by the optimized network was our target compound quillaic acid (QA), the aglycone backbone of many pharmaceutically important saponins, and fermentation achieved QA titer 2.23 g/L.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiazeng Yang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for the Intelligent Microbial Manufacturing of Medicines, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 518055, China
| | - Yuguang Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 518055, China
| | - Dacai Zhong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 518055, China
| | - Linlin Xu
- Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 518055, China
| | - Haixin Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 518055, China
| | - Jay D Keasling
- Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 518055, China; Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering & Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Xiaozhou Luo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for the Intelligent Microbial Manufacturing of Medicines, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 518055, China
| | - Howard H Chou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for the Intelligent Microbial Manufacturing of Medicines, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 518055, China.
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7
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Tian J, Boggs DG, Donnan PH, Barroso GT, Garcia AA, Dowling DP, Buss JA, Bridwell-Rabb J. The NADH recycling enzymes TsaC and TsaD regenerate reducing equivalents for Rieske oxygenase chemistry. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105222. [PMID: 37673337 PMCID: PMC10579966 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Many microorganisms use both biological and nonbiological molecules as sources of carbon and energy. This resourcefulness means that some microorganisms have mechanisms to assimilate pollutants found in the environment. One such organism is Comamonas testosteroni, which metabolizes 4-methylbenzenesulfonate and 4-methylbenzoate using the TsaMBCD pathway. TsaM is a Rieske oxygenase, which in concert with the reductase TsaB consumes a molar equivalent of NADH. Following this step, the annotated short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase and aldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes TsaC and TsaD each regenerate a molar equivalent of NADH. This co-occurrence ameliorates the need for stoichiometric addition of reducing equivalents and thus represents an attractive strategy for integration of Rieske oxygenase chemistry into biocatalytic applications. Therefore, in this work, to overcome the lack of information regarding NADH recycling enzymes that function in partnership with Rieske non-heme iron oxygenases (Rieske oxygenases), we solved the X-ray crystal structure of TsaC to a resolution of 2.18 Å. Using this structure, a series of substrate analog and protein variant combination reactions, and differential scanning fluorimetry experiments, we identified active site features involved in binding NAD+ and controlling substrate specificity. Further in vitro enzyme cascade experiments demonstrated the efficient TsaC- and TsaD-mediated regeneration of NADH to support Rieske oxygenase chemistry. Finally, through in-depth bioinformatic analyses, we illustrate the widespread co-occurrence of Rieske oxygenases with TsaC-like enzymes. This work thus demonstrates the utility of these NADH recycling enzymes and identifies a library of short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase enzyme prospects that can be used in Rieske oxygenase pathways for in situ regeneration of NADH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Tian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - David G Boggs
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Patrick H Donnan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Gage T Barroso
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Daniel P Dowling
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joshua A Buss
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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8
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Partipilo M, Whittaker JJ, Pontillo N, Coenradij J, Herrmann A, Guskov A, Slotboom DJ. Biochemical and structural insight into the chemical resistance and cofactor specificity of the formate dehydrogenase from Starkeya novella. FEBS J 2023; 290:4238-4255. [PMID: 37213112 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Formate dehydrogenases (Fdhs) mediate the oxidation of formate to carbon dioxide and concomitant reduction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ ). The low cost of the substrate formate and importance of the product NADH as a cellular source of reducing power make this reaction attractive for biotechnological applications. However, the majority of Fdhs are sensitive to inactivation by thiol-modifying reagents. In this study, we report a chemically resistant Fdh (FdhSNO ) from the soil bacterium Starkeya novella strictly specific for NAD+ . We present its recombinant overproduction, purification and biochemical characterization. The mechanistic basis of chemical resistance was found to be a valine in position 255 (rather than a cysteine as in other Fdhs) preventing the inactivation by thiol-modifying compounds. To further improve the usefulness of FdhSNO as for generating reducing power, we rationally engineered the protein to reduce the coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+ ) with better catalytic efficiency than NAD+ . The single mutation D221Q enabled the reduction of NADP+ with a catalytic efficiency kCAT /KM of 0.4 s-1 ·mm-1 at 200 mm formate, while a quadruple mutant (A198G/D221Q/H379K/S380V) resulted in a fivefold increase in catalytic efficiency for NADP+ compared with the single mutant. We determined the cofactor-bound structure of the quadruple mutant to gain mechanistic evidence behind the improved specificity for NADP+ . Our efforts to unravel the key residues for the chemical resistance and cofactor specificity of FdhSNO may lead to wider use of this enzymatic group in a more sustainable (bio)manufacture of value-added chemicals, as for instance the biosynthesis of chiral compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Partipilo
- Department of Biochemistry, Groningen Institute of Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jacob J Whittaker
- Department of Biochemistry, Groningen Institute of Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nicola Pontillo
- Department of Biochemistry, Groningen Institute of Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
- Polymer Chemistry and Bioengineering, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jelmer Coenradij
- Department of Biochemistry, Groningen Institute of Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas Herrmann
- Polymer Chemistry and Bioengineering, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, Groningen, The Netherlands
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
| | - Albert Guskov
- Department of Biochemistry, Groningen Institute of Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk Jan Slotboom
- Department of Biochemistry, Groningen Institute of Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
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9
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Tan Z, Li J, Hou J, Gonzalez R. Designing artificial pathways for improving chemical production. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 64:108119. [PMID: 36764336 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic engineering exploits manipulation of catalytic and regulatory elements to improve a specific function of the host cell, often the synthesis of interesting chemicals. Although naturally occurring pathways are significant resources for metabolic engineering, these pathways are frequently inefficient and suffer from a series of inherent drawbacks. Designing artificial pathways in a rational manner provides a promising alternative for chemicals production. However, the entry barrier of designing artificial pathway is relatively high, which requires researchers a comprehensive and deep understanding of physical, chemical and biological principles. On the other hand, the designed artificial pathways frequently suffer from low efficiencies, which impair their further applications in host cells. Here, we illustrate the concept and basic workflow of retrobiosynthesis in designing artificial pathways, as well as the most currently used methods including the knowledge- and computer-based approaches. Then, we discuss how to obtain desired enzymes for novel biochemistries, and how to trim the initially designed artificial pathways for further improving their functionalities. Finally, we summarize the current applications of artificial pathways from feedstocks utilization to various products synthesis, as well as our future perspectives on designing artificial pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaigao Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; Department of Bioengineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; Department of Bioengineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ramon Gonzalez
- Department of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
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10
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Bailoni E, Partipilo M, Coenradij J, Grundel DAJ, Slotboom DJ, Poolman B. Minimal Out-of-Equilibrium Metabolism for Synthetic Cells: A Membrane Perspective. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:922-946. [PMID: 37027340 PMCID: PMC10127287 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Life-like systems need to maintain a basal metabolism, which includes importing a variety of building blocks required for macromolecule synthesis, exporting dead-end products, and recycling cofactors and metabolic intermediates, while maintaining steady internal physical and chemical conditions (physicochemical homeostasis). A compartment, such as a unilamellar vesicle, functionalized with membrane-embedded transport proteins and metabolic enzymes encapsulated in the lumen meets these requirements. Here, we identify four modules designed for a minimal metabolism in a synthetic cell with a lipid bilayer boundary: energy provision and conversion, physicochemical homeostasis, metabolite transport, and membrane expansion. We review design strategies that can be used to fulfill these functions with a focus on the lipid and membrane protein composition of a cell. We compare our bottom-up design with the equivalent essential modules of JCVI-syn3a, a top-down genome-minimized living cell with a size comparable to that of large unilamellar vesicles. Finally, we discuss the bottlenecks related to the insertion of a complex mixture of membrane proteins into lipid bilayers and provide a semiquantitative estimate of the relative surface area and lipid-to-protein mass ratios (i.e., the minimal number of membrane proteins) that are required for the construction of a synthetic cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Bailoni
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Systems Biology, Groningen Biomolecular
Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Michele Partipilo
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Systems Biology, Groningen Biomolecular
Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jelmer Coenradij
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Systems Biology, Groningen Biomolecular
Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Douwe A. J. Grundel
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Systems Biology, Groningen Biomolecular
Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk J. Slotboom
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Systems Biology, Groningen Biomolecular
Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bert Poolman
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Systems Biology, Groningen Biomolecular
Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University
of Groningen, Nijenborgh
4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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Partipilo M, Claassens NJ, Slotboom DJ. A Hitchhiker's Guide to Supplying Enzymatic Reducing Power into Synthetic Cells. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:947-962. [PMID: 37052416 PMCID: PMC10127272 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00070] [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: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
The construction from scratch of synthetic cells by assembling molecular building blocks is unquestionably an ambitious goal from a scientific and technological point of view. To realize functional life-like systems, minimal enzymatic modules are required to sustain the processes underlying the out-of-equilibrium thermodynamic status hallmarking life, including the essential supply of energy in the form of electrons. The nicotinamide cofactors NAD(H) and NADP(H) are the main electron carriers fueling reductive redox reactions of the metabolic network of living cells. One way to ensure the continuous availability of reduced nicotinamide cofactors in a synthetic cell is to build a minimal enzymatic module that can oxidize an external electron donor and reduce NAD(P)+. In the diverse world of metabolism there is a plethora of potential electron donors and enzymes known from living organisms to provide reducing power to NAD(P)+ coenzymes. This perspective proposes guidelines to enable the reduction of nicotinamide cofactors enclosed in phospholipid vesicles, while avoiding high burdens of or cross-talk with other encapsulated metabolic modules. By determining key requirements, such as the feasibility of the reaction and transport of the electron donor into the cell-like compartment, we select a shortlist of potentially suitable electron donors. We review the most convenient proteins for the use of these reducing agents, highlighting their main biochemical and structural features. Noting that specificity toward either NAD(H) or NADP(H) imposes a limitation common to most of the analyzed enzymes, we discuss the need for specific enzymes─transhydrogenases─to overcome this potential bottleneck.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Partipilo
- Department
of Biochemistry, Groningen Institute of Biomolecular Sciences &
Biotechnology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nico J. Claassens
- Laboratory
of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk Jan Slotboom
- Department
of Biochemistry, Groningen Institute of Biomolecular Sciences &
Biotechnology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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12
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Partipilo M, Yang G, Mascotti ML, Wijma HJ, Slotboom DJ, Fraaije MW. A conserved sequence motif in the E. coli soluble FAD-containing pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase is important for reaction efficiency. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102304. [PMID: 35933012 PMCID: PMC9460512 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Soluble pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenases (STHs) are flavoenzymes involved in the redox homeostasis of the essential cofactors NAD(H) and NADP(H). They catalyze the reversible transfer of reducing equivalents between the two nicotinamide cofactors. The soluble transhydrogenase from Escherichia coli (SthA) has found wide use in both in vivo and in vitro applications to steer reducing equivalents toward NADPH-requiring reactions. However, mechanistic insight into SthA function is still lacking. In this work, we present a biochemical characterization of SthA, focusing for the first time on the reactivity of the flavoenzyme with molecular oxygen. We report on oxidase activity of SthA that takes place both during transhydrogenation and in the absence of an oxidized nicotinamide cofactor as an electron acceptor. We find that this reaction produces the reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion. Furthermore, we explore the evolutionary significance of the well-conserved CXXXXT motif that distinguishes STHs from the related family of flavoprotein disulfide reductases in which a CXXXXC motif is conserved. Our mutational analysis revealed the cysteine and threonine combination in SthA leads to better coupling efficiency of transhydrogenation and reduced reactive oxygen species release compared to enzyme variants with mutated motifs. These results expand our mechanistic understanding of SthA by highlighting reactivity with molecular oxygen and the importance of the evolutionarily conserved sequence motif.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Partipilo
- Membrane Enzymology Group, Groningen Institute of Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Guang Yang
- Molecular Enzymology Group, Groningen Institute of Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Laura Mascotti
- Molecular Enzymology Group, Groningen Institute of Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands; IMIBIO-SL CONICET, Facultad de Química Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Ejercito de los Andes 950, D5700HHW, San Luis, Argentina
| | - Hein J Wijma
- Molecular Enzymology Group, Groningen Institute of Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk Jan Slotboom
- Membrane Enzymology Group, Groningen Institute of Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Marco W Fraaije
- Molecular Enzymology Group, Groningen Institute of Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
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13
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Bian K, Yang W, Xu Y, Zeng W, Wang H, Liang H, Cui T, Wang Z, Zhang B. Specific-Tuning Band Structure in Hetero-Semiconductor Nanorods to Match with Reduction of Oxygen Molecules for Low-Intensity Yet Highly Effective Sonodynamic/Hole Therapy of Tumors. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2202921. [PMID: 35801484 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202202921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Sonosensitizers-assisted sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has been emerging as a promising treatment for cancers, and yet few specific regulations of band structure of sonosensitizers have been reported in relation to oxygen in tissues. Herein, by a gradient doping technique to modulate the band structure of hetero-semiconductor nanorods, it is found that the reduction potential of band-edge is very critical to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production under low-intensity ultrasound (US) irradiation and particularly, when aligned with the reduction of oxygen, ROS generation is found to be most significantly enhanced. Withal, US-generated oxidation holes are found to be effective in consuming overexpressed glutathione in tumor lesions, which amplifies cellular oxidative stress and finally induces tumor cell death. Moreover, the intrinsic fluorescence property of semiconductors provides imaging capability to illumine tumor area and guide the SDT process. This study demonstrates that the reduction potential state of sonosensitizers is of crucial importance in ROS generation and the proposed reduction potential-tailored hetero-semiconductor nanorods materialize low-intensity US irradiation yet highly effective SDT and synergetic hole therapy of tumors with imaging guidance and reduced radiation injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Bian
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
- The Institute for Biomedical Engineering & Nano Science, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Weitao Yang
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
- The Institute for Biomedical Engineering & Nano Science, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
- The Institute for Biomedical Engineering & Nano Science, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Weiwei Zeng
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
- The Institute for Biomedical Engineering & Nano Science, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
- The Institute for Biomedical Engineering & Nano Science, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Hongying Liang
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
- The Institute for Biomedical Engineering & Nano Science, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Tianming Cui
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
- The Institute for Biomedical Engineering & Nano Science, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Zhuo Wang
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
- The Institute for Biomedical Engineering & Nano Science, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Bingbo Zhang
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China
- The Institute for Biomedical Engineering & Nano Science, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
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14
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Bailoni E, Poolman B. ATP Recycling Fuels Sustainable Glycerol 3-Phosphate Formation in Synthetic Cells Fed by Dynamic Dialysis. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:2348-2360. [PMID: 35377147 PMCID: PMC9295154 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
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The bottom-up construction
of an autonomously growing, self-reproducing
cell represents a great challenge for synthetic biology. Synthetic
cellular systems are envisioned as out-of-equilibrium enzymatic networks
encompassed by a selectively open phospholipid bilayer allowing for
protein-mediated communication; internal metabolite recycling is another
key aspect of a sustainable metabolism. Importantly, gaining tight
control over the external medium is essential to avoid thermodynamic
equilibrium due to nutrient depletion or waste buildup in a closed
compartment (e.g., a test tube). Implementing a sustainable
strategy for phospholipid biosynthesis is key to expanding the cellular
boundaries. However, phospholipid biosynthesis is currently limited
by substrate availability, e.g., of glycerol 3-phosphate,
the essential core of phospholipid headgroups. Here, we reconstitute
an enzymatic network for sustainable glycerol 3-phosphate synthesis
inside large unilamellar vesicles. We exploit the Escherichia
coli glycerol kinase GlpK to synthesize glycerol 3-phosphate
from externally supplied glycerol. We fuel phospholipid headgroup
formation by sustainable l-arginine breakdown. In addition,
we design and characterize a dynamic dialysis setup optimized for
synthetic cells, which is used to control the external medium composition
and to achieve sustainable glycerol 3-phosphate synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Bailoni
- Department of Biochemistry, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute & Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bert Poolman
- Department of Biochemistry, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute & Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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