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Addressing Critical Issues Related to Storage and Stability of the Vault Nanoparticle Expressed and Purified from Komagataella phaffi. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044214. [PMID: 36835627 PMCID: PMC9959619 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044214] [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: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The vault nanoparticle is a eukaryotic assembly consisting of 78 copies of the 99-kDa major vault protein. They generate two cup-shaped symmetrical halves, which in vivo enclose protein and RNA molecules. Overall, this assembly is mainly involved in pro-survival and cytoprotective functions. It also holds a remarkable biotechnological potential for drug/gene delivery, thanks to its huge internal cavity and the absence of toxicity/immunogenicity. The available purification protocols are complex, partly because they use higher eukaryotes as expression systems. Here, we report a simplified procedure that combines human vault expression in the yeast Komagataella phaffii, as described in a recent report, and a purification process we have developed. This consists of RNase pretreatment followed by size-exclusion chromatography, which is far simpler than any other reported to date. Protein identity and purity was confirmed by SDS-PAGE, Western blot and transmission electron microscopy. We also found that the protein displayed a significant propensity to aggregate. We thus investigated this phenomenon and the related structural changes by Fourier-transform spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering, which led us to determine the most suitable storage conditions. In particular, the addition of either trehalose or Tween-20 ensured the best preservation of the protein in native, soluble form.
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Liu Q, Shaukat A, Kyllönen D, Kostiainen MA. Polyelectrolyte Encapsulation and Confinement within Protein Cage-Inspired Nanocompartments. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1551. [PMID: 34683843 PMCID: PMC8537137 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein cages are nanocompartments with a well-defined structure and monodisperse size. They are composed of several individual subunits and can be categorized as viral and non-viral protein cages. Native viral cages often exhibit a cationic interior, which binds the anionic nucleic acid genome through electrostatic interactions leading to efficient encapsulation. Non-viral cages can carry various cargo, ranging from small molecules to inorganic nanoparticles. Both cage types can be functionalized at targeted locations through genetic engineering or chemical modification to entrap materials through interactions that are inaccessible to wild-type cages. Moreover, the limited number of constitutional subunits ease the modification efforts, because a single modification on the subunit can lead to multiple functional sites on the cage surface. Increasing efforts have also been dedicated to the assembly of protein cage-mimicking structures or templated protein coatings. This review focuses on native and modified protein cages that have been used to encapsulate and package polyelectrolyte cargos and on the electrostatic interactions that are the driving force for the assembly of such structures. Selective encapsulation can protect the payload from the surroundings, shield the potential toxicity or even enhance the intended performance of the payload, which is appealing in drug or gene delivery and imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Liu
- Biohybrid Materials, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland; (Q.L.); (A.S.); (D.K.)
| | - Ahmed Shaukat
- Biohybrid Materials, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland; (Q.L.); (A.S.); (D.K.)
| | - Daniella Kyllönen
- Biohybrid Materials, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland; (Q.L.); (A.S.); (D.K.)
| | - Mauri A. Kostiainen
- Biohybrid Materials, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland; (Q.L.); (A.S.); (D.K.)
- HYBER Center, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland
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Frascotti G, Galbiati E, Mazzucchelli M, Pozzi M, Salvioni L, Vertemara J, Tortora P. The Vault Nanoparticle: A Gigantic Ribonucleoprotein Assembly Involved in Diverse Physiological and Pathological Phenomena and an Ideal Nanovector for Drug Delivery and Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040707. [PMID: 33572350 PMCID: PMC7916137 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In recent decades, a molecular complex referred to as vault nanoparticle has attracted much attention by the scientific community, due to its unique properties. At the molecular scale, it is a huge assembly consisting of 78 97-kDa polypeptide chains enclosing an internal cavity, wherein enzymes involved in DNA integrity maintenance and some small noncoding RNAs are accommodated. Basically, two reasons justify this interest. On the one hand, this complex represents an ideal tool for the targeted delivery of drugs, provided it is suitably engineered, either chemically or genetically; on the other hand, it has been shown to be involved in several cellular pathways and mechanisms that most often result in multidrug resistance. It is therefore expected that a better understanding of the physiological roles of this ribonucleoproteic complex may help develop new therapeutic strategies capable of coping with cancer progression. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the current knowledge. Abstract The vault nanoparticle is a eukaryotic ribonucleoprotein complex consisting of 78 individual 97 kDa-“major vault protein” (MVP) molecules that form two symmetrical, cup-shaped, hollow halves. It has a huge size (72.5 × 41 × 41 nm) and an internal cavity, wherein the vault poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (vPARP), telomerase-associated protein-1 (TEP1), and some small untranslated RNAs are accommodated. Plenty of literature reports on the biological role(s) of this nanocomplex, as well as its involvement in diseases, mostly oncological ones. Nevertheless, much has still to be understood as to how vault participates in normal and pathological mechanisms. In this comprehensive review, current understanding of its biological roles is discussed. By different mechanisms, vault’s individual components are involved in major cellular phenomena, which result in protection against cellular stresses, such as DNA-damaging agents, irradiation, hypoxia, hyperosmotic, and oxidative conditions. These diverse cellular functions are accomplished by different mechanisms, mainly gene expression reprogramming, activation of proliferative/prosurvival signaling pathways, export from the nucleus of DNA-damaging drugs, and import of specific proteins. The cellular functions of this nanocomplex may also result in the onset of pathological conditions, mainly (but not exclusively) tumor proliferation and multidrug resistance. The current understanding of its biological roles in physiological and pathological processes should also provide new hints to extend the scope of its exploitation as a nanocarrier for drug delivery.
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Chakraborti S, Lin TY, Glatt S, Heddle JG. Enzyme encapsulation by protein cages. RSC Adv 2020; 10:13293-13301. [PMID: 35492120 PMCID: PMC9051456 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra10983h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein cages are hollow protein shells with a nanometric cavity that can be filled with useful materials. The encapsulating nature of the cages means that they are particularly attractive for loading with biological macromolecules, affording the guests protection in conditions where they may be degraded. Given the importance of proteins in both industrial and all cellular processes, encapsulation of functional protein cargoes, particularly enzymes, are of high interest both for in vivo diagnostic and therapeutic use as well as for ex vivo applications. Increasing knowledge of protein cage structures at high resolution along with recent advances in producing artificial protein cages means that they can now be designed with various attachment chemistries on their internal surfaces - a useful tool for cargo capture. Here we review the different available attachment strategies that have recently been successfully demonstrated for enzyme encapsulation in protein cages and consider their future potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumyananda Chakraborti
- Bionanoscience and Biochemistry Laboratory, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University Krakow 30-387 Poland
| | - Ting-Yu Lin
- Max Planck Research Group, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University Krakow 30-387 Poland
| | - Sebastian Glatt
- Max Planck Research Group, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University Krakow 30-387 Poland
| | - Jonathan G Heddle
- Bionanoscience and Biochemistry Laboratory, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University Krakow 30-387 Poland
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5
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Galbiati E, Avvakumova S, La Rocca A, Pozzi M, Messali S, Magnaghi P, Colombo M, Prosperi D, Tortora P. A fast and straightforward procedure for vault nanoparticle purification and the characterization of its endocytic uptake. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2018; 1862:2254-2260. [PMID: 30036602 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vaults are eukaryotic ribonucleoprotein particles composed of up 78 copies of the 97 kDa major vault protein that assembles into a barrel-like, "nanocapsule" enclosing poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, telomerase-associated protein-1 and small untranslated RNAs. Overall, the molecular mass of vault particles amounts to about 13 MDa. Although it has been implicated in several cellular functions, its physiological roles remain poorly understood. Also, the possibility to exploit it as a nanovector for drug delivery is currently being explored in several laboratories. METHODS Using the baculovirus expression system, vaults were expressed and purified by a dialysis step using a 1 MDa molecular weight cutoff membrane and a subsequent size exclusion chromatography. Purity was assessed by SDS-PAGE, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Particle's endocytic uptake was monitored by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. RESULTS The purification protocol here reported is far simpler and faster than those currently available and lead to the production of authentic vault. We then demonstrated its clathrin-mediated endocytic uptake by normal fibroblast and glioblastoma, but not carcinoma cell lines. In contrast, no significant caveolin-mediated endocytosis was detected. CONCLUSIONS These results provide the first evidence for an intrinsic propensity of the vault complex to undergo endocytic uptake cultured eukaryotic cells. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE The newly developed purification procedure will greatly facilitate any investigation based on the use of the vault particle as a natural nanocarrier. Its clathrin-mediated endocytic uptake observed in normal and in some tumor cell lines sheds light on its physiological role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Galbiati
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, I-20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Svetlana Avvakumova
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, I-20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandra La Rocca
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, I-20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Pozzi
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, I-20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Messali
- Oncology, Nerviano Medical Sciences, Viale Pasteur 10, Milano, 20014, Nerviano, Italy
| | - Paola Magnaghi
- Oncology, Nerviano Medical Sciences, Viale Pasteur 10, Milano, 20014, Nerviano, Italy
| | - Miriam Colombo
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, I-20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Davide Prosperi
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, I-20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Paolo Tortora
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, I-20126 Milano, Italy.
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Abstract
Within the materials science community, proteins with cage-like architectures are being developed as versatile nanoscale platforms for use in protein nanotechnology. Much effort has been focused on the functionalization of protein cages with biological and non-biological moieties to bring about new properties of not only individual protein cages, but collective bulk-scale assemblies of protein cages. In this review, we report on the current understanding of protein cage assembly, both of the cages themselves from individual subunits, and the assembly of the individual protein cages into higher order structures. We start by discussing the key properties of natural protein cages (for example: size, shape and structure) followed by a review of some of the mechanisms of protein cage assembly and the factors that influence it. We then explore the current approaches for functionalizing protein cages, on the interior or exterior surfaces of the capsids. Lastly, we explore the emerging area of higher order assemblies created from individual protein cages and their potential for new and exciting collective properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- William M Aumiller
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA.
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7
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Benner NL, Zang X, Buehler DC, Kickhoefer VA, Rome ME, Rome LH, Wender PA. Vault Nanoparticles: Chemical Modifications for Imaging and Enhanced Delivery. ACS NANO 2017; 11:872-881. [PMID: 28029784 PMCID: PMC5372831 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6b07440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Vault nanoparticles represent promising vehicles for drug and probe delivery. Innately found within human cells, vaults are stable, biocompatible nanocapsules possessing an internal volume that can encapsulate hundreds to thousands of molecules. They can also be targeted. Unlike most nanoparticles, vaults are nonimmunogenic and monodispersed and can be rapidly produced in insect cells. Efforts to create vaults with modified properties have been, to date, almost entirely limited to recombinant bioengineering approaches. Here we report a systematic chemical study of covalent vault modifications, directed at tuning vault properties for research and clinical applications, such as imaging, targeted delivery, and enhanced cellular uptake. As supra-macromolecular structures, vaults contain thousands of derivatizable amino acid side chains. This study is focused on establishing the comparative selectivity and efficiency of chemically modifying vault lysine and cysteine residues, using Michael additions, nucleophilic substitutions, and disulfide exchange reactions. We also report a strategy that converts the more abundant vault lysine residues to readily functionalizable thiol terminated side chains through treatment with 2-iminothiolane (Traut's reagent). These studies provide a method to doubly modify vaults with cell penetrating peptides and imaging agents, allowing for in vitro studies on their enhanced uptake into cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy L. Benner
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Xiaoyu Zang
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Daniel C. Buehler
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Valerie A. Kickhoefer
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Michael E. Rome
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Leonard H. Rome
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Paul A. Wender
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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8
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Maassen SJ, van der Ham AM, Cornelissen JJLM. Combining Protein Cages and Polymers: from Understanding Self-Assembly to Functional Materials. ACS Macro Lett 2016; 5:987-994. [PMID: 35607217 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.6b00509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Protein cages, such as viruses, are well-defined biological nanostructures which are highly symmetrical and monodisperse. They are found in various shapes and sizes and can encapsulate or template non-native materials. Furthermore, the proteins can be chemically or genetically modified giving them new properties. For these reasons, these protein structures have received increasing attention in the field of polymer-protein hybrid materials over the past years, however, advances are still to be made. This Viewpoint highlights the different ways polymers and protein cages or their subunits have been combined to understand self-assembly and create functional materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stan J. Maassen
- Laboratory for Biomolecular
Nanotechnology, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, P.O. Box 207, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Anne M. van der Ham
- Laboratory for Biomolecular
Nanotechnology, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, P.O. Box 207, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen J. L. M. Cornelissen
- Laboratory for Biomolecular
Nanotechnology, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, P.O. Box 207, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
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9
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Rother M, Nussbaumer MG, Renggli K, Bruns N. Protein cages and synthetic polymers: a fruitful symbiosis for drug delivery applications, bionanotechnology and materials science. Chem Soc Rev 2016; 45:6213-6249. [DOI: 10.1039/c6cs00177g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Protein cages have become essential tools in bionanotechnology due to their well-defined, monodisperse, capsule-like structure. Combining them with synthetic polymers greatly expands their application, giving rise to novel nanomaterials fore.g.drug-delivery, sensing, electronic devices and for uses as nanoreactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Rother
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Basel
- CH-4056 Basel
- Switzerland
| | - Martin G. Nussbaumer
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering
- Harvard University
- Cambridge
- USA
| | - Kasper Renggli
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering
- ETH Zürich
- 4058 Basel
- Switzerland
| | - Nico Bruns
- Adolphe Merkle Institute
- University of Fribourg
- CH-1700 Fribourg
- Switzerland
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10
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Daly TK, Sutherland-Smith AJ, Penny D. In silico resurrection of the major vault protein suggests it is ancestral in modern eukaryotes. Genome Biol Evol 2013; 5:1567-83. [PMID: 23887922 PMCID: PMC3762200 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evt113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaults are very large oligomeric ribonucleoproteins conserved among a variety of species. The rat vault 3D structure shows an ovoid oligomeric particle, consisting of 78 major vault protein monomers, each of approximately 861 amino acids. Vaults are probably the largest ribonucleoprotein structures in eukaryote cells, being approximately 70 nm in length with a diameter of 40 nm—the size of three ribosomes and with a lumen capacity of 50 million Å3. We use both protein sequences and inferred ancestral sequences for in silico virtual resurrection of tertiary and quaternary structures to search for vaults in a wide variety of eukaryotes. We find that the vault’s phylogenetic distribution is widespread in eukaryotes, but is apparently absent in some notable model organisms. Our conclusion from the distribution of vaults is that they were present in the last eukaryote common ancestor but they have apparently been lost from a number of groups including fungi, insects, and probably plants. Our approach of inferring ancestral 3D and quaternary structures is expected to be useful generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni K Daly
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
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11
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Yang J, Srinivasan A, Sun Y, Mrazek J, Shu Z, Kickhoefer VA, Rome LH. Vault nanoparticles engineered with the protein transduction domain, TAT48, enhances cellular uptake. Integr Biol (Camb) 2013; 5:151-8. [PMID: 22785558 DOI: 10.1039/c2ib20119d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Vaults are naturally-occurring ribonucleoprotein particles found in nearly all eukaryotic cells. They were named for their morphological resemblance to the vaulted ceilings of gothic cathedrals. These ubiquitous nanoparticles are quite abundant with 10(4)-10(6) copies found in the cytoplasm depending on cell type. The structural shell of the particle can self-assemble from 78 copies of a single protein, the major vault protein. This finding has allowed vaults to be bioengineered, resulting in a variety of new functions and capabilities directed toward overcoming many limitations posed by current gene and drug delivery systems. In this study, we demonstrate that recombinant vaults, with the addition of a cell penetration peptide, TAT, can be rapidly delivered to cells in vitro with significantly elevated binding and uptake efficiency. This TAT-vault nanoparticle could be a valuable tool for improving the retention and penetration of therapeutic drugs at tumor sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Yang
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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12
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Rome LH, Kickhoefer VA. Development of the vault particle as a platform technology. ACS NANO 2013; 7:889-902. [PMID: 23267674 DOI: 10.1021/nn3052082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Vaults are naturally occurring nanoparticles found widely in eukaryotes. The particles can be produced in large quantities and are assembled in situ from multiple copies of the single structural protein following expression. Using molecular engineering, recombinant vaults can be functionally modified and targeted, and their contents can be controlled by packaging. Here, we review the development of engineered vaults as a platform for a wide variety of therapeutic applications and we examine future directions for this unique nanoparticle system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard H Rome
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
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13
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Matsumoto NM, Prabhakaran P, Rome LH, Maynard HD. Smart vaults: thermally-responsive protein nanocapsules. ACS NANO 2013; 7:867-74. [PMID: 23259767 PMCID: PMC3991814 DOI: 10.1021/nn3053457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic modification of a recombinant protein cage called a vault with stimuli-responsive smart polymers provides access to a new class of biohybrid materials; the polymer nanocapsules retain the structure of the protein cage and exhibit the responsive nature of the polymer. Vaults are naturally occurring ubiquitous ribonucleoprotein particles 41 × 41 × 72.5 nm composed of a protein shell enclosing multiple copies of two proteins and multiple copies of one or more small untranslated RNAs. Recombinant vaults are structurally identical but lack the vault content. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAAm), a polymer responsive to heat, was conjugated to recombinant vaults that were composed of ~78 copies of the major vault protein (MVP) modified to contain a cysteine rich region at the N-terminus (CP-MVP). The polymer was synthesized using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization to have a dansyl group at the alpha end and modified to have a thiol-reactive pyridyl disulfide at the omega end, which readily coupled to CP-MVP vaults. The resulting vault nanocapsules underwent reversible aggregation upon heating above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the polymer as determined by electron microscopy (EM), dynamic light scattering experiments, and UV-vis turbidity analysis. The vault structure remained entirely intact throughout the phase transition; suggesting its use in a myriad of biomedical and biotechnology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M Matsumoto
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and California Nanosystems Institute, 607 Charles E. Young Drive East, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569, USA
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14
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Yang J, Nagasawa DT, Spasic M, Amolis M, Choy W, Garcia HM, Prins RM, Liau LM, Yang I. Endogenous Vaults and Bioengineered Vault Nanoparticles for Treatment of Glioblastomas. Neurosurg Clin N Am 2012; 23:451-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nec.2012.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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15
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Casañas A, Guerra P, Fita I, Verdaguer N. Vault particles: a new generation of delivery nanodevices. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2012; 23:972-7. [PMID: 22677067 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2012.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2012] [Accepted: 05/16/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Vault particles possess many attributes that can be exploited in nanobiotechnology, particularly in the creation of drug delivery nanodevices. These include self-assembly, 100 nm size range, a dynamic structure that may be controlled for manipulation of drug release kinetics and natural presence in humans ensuring biocompatibility. The flexibility and the adaptability of this system have been greatly enhanced by the emerging atomic-level information and improved comprehension of vault structure and dynamics. It seems likely that this information will allow their specific tailoring to the individual requirements of each drug and target tissue. These properties provide vaults with an enormous potential as a versatile delivery platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnau Casañas
- Institut de Biología Molecular de Barcelona, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri i Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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16
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Brasch M, Cornelissen JJLM. Relative size selection of a conjugated polyelectrolyte in virus-like protein structures. Chem Commun (Camb) 2011; 48:1446-8. [PMID: 22121498 DOI: 10.1039/c1cc13185k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
A conjugated polyelectrolyte poly[(2-methoxy-5-propyloxy sulfonate)-phenyl-ene vinylene] (MPS-PPV) drives the assembly of virus capsid proteins to form single virus-like particles (VLPs) and aggregates with more than two VLPs, with a relative selection of high molecular weight polymer in the latter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Brasch
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Nanotechnology, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, PO Box 207, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
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17
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Han M, Kickhoefer VA, Nemerow GR, Rome LH. Targeted vault nanoparticles engineered with an endosomolytic peptide deliver biomolecules to the cytoplasm. ACS NANO 2011; 5:6128-37. [PMID: 21740042 PMCID: PMC3163598 DOI: 10.1021/nn2014613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Vault nanoparticles were engineered to enhance their escape from the endosomal compartment by fusing a membrane lytic peptide derived from adenovirus protein VI (pVI) to the N-terminus of the major vault protein to form pVI-vaults. We demonstrate that these pVI-vaults disrupt the endosomal membrane using three different experimental protocols including (1) enhancement of DNA transfection, (2) co-delivery of a cytosolic ribotoxin, and (3) direct visualization by fluorescence. Furthermore, direct targeting of vaults to specific cell surface epidermal growth factor receptors led to enhanced cellular uptake and efficient delivery of vaults to the cytoplasm. This process was monitored with fluorescent vaults, and morphological changes in the endosomal compartment were observed. By combining targeting and endosomal escape into a single recombinant vault, high levels of transfection efficiency were achieved using low numbers of vault particles. These results demonstrate that engineered vaults are effective, efficient, and nontoxic nanoparticles for targeted delivery of biomaterials to the cell cytoplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muri Han
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Valerie A. Kickhoefer
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Glen R. Nemerow
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037
| | - Leonard H. Rome
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095
- California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095
- Address correspondence to
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Bode SA, Minten IJ, Nolte RJM, Cornelissen JJLM. Reactions inside nanoscale protein cages. NANOSCALE 2011; 3:2376-2389. [PMID: 21461437 DOI: 10.1039/c0nr01013h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Chemical reactions are traditionally carried out in bulk solution, but in nature confined spaces, like cell organelles, are used to obtain control in time and space of conversion. One way of studying these reactions in confinement is the development and use of small reaction vessels dispersed in solution, such as vesicles and micelles. The utilization of protein cages as reaction vessels is a relatively new field and very promising as these capsules are inherently monodisperse, in that way providing uniform reaction conditions, and are readily accessible to both chemical and genetic modifications. In this review, we aim to give an overview of the different kinds of nanoscale protein cages that have been employed as confined reaction spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia A Bode
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Buehler DC, Toso DB, Kickhoefer VA, Zhou ZH, Rome LH. Vaults engineered for hydrophobic drug delivery. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2011; 7:1432-1439. [PMID: 21506266 PMCID: PMC4182016 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201002274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The vault nanoparticle is one of the largest known ribonucleoprotein complexes in the sub-100 nm range. Highly conserved and almost ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotes, vaults form a large nanocapsule with a barrel-shaped morphology surrounding a large hollow interior. These properties make vaults an ideal candidate for development into a drug delivery vehicle. In this study, the first example of using vaults towards this goal is reported. Recombinant vaults are engineered to encapsulate the highly insoluble and toxic hydrophobic compound all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) using a vault-binding lipoprotein complex that forms a lipid bilayer nanodisk. These recombinant vaults offer protection to the encapsulated ATRA from external elements. Furthermore, a cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) reconstruction shows the vault-binding lipoprotein complex sequestered within the vault lumen. Finally, these ATRA-loaded vaults show enhanced cytotoxicity against the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. The ability to package therapeutic compounds into the vault is an important achievement toward their development into a viable and versatile platform for drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C. Buehler
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, 615 Charles E. Young Dr. South, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Daniel B. Toso
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, and Biomedical Engineering Program, 609 Charles E. Young Dr. South, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Valerie A. Kickhoefer
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, 615 Charles E. Young Dr. South, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Z. Hong Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, and Biomedical Engineering Program, 609 Charles E. Young Dr. South, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA; California Nanosystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Leonard H. Rome
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, 615 Charles E. Young Dr. South, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; California Nanosystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
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20
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Yang J, Kickhoefer VA, Ng BC, Gopal A, Bentolila LA, John S, Tolbert SH, Rome LH. Vaults are dynamically unconstrained cytoplasmic nanoparticles capable of half vault exchange. ACS NANO 2010; 4:7229-7240. [PMID: 21121616 PMCID: PMC3020078 DOI: 10.1021/nn102051r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Vaults are naturally occurring ribonucleoprotein particles with an enormous interior volume, large enough to encapsulate hundreds of proteins. They are highly conserved and are present in nearly all eukaryotic cells ranging from 10(4) to 10(7) particles per cell. Recombinant vaults can be produced in vitro and engineered to allow cell targeting and protein packaging. These nanometer-sized particles have many desirable characteristics that may give them advantages for use as drug delivery vehicles. Using photoactivatable green fluorescent protein (PAGFP) labeled vaults, we demonstrate that the particles rapidly diffuse throughout the cytoplasm following single pixel photoactivation in live cells. Their in vivo movement remained relatively unchanged despite exposure to a variety of cellular stresses, suggesting that vaults are largely unconstrained in the cytoplasm. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was observed from polyethylene glycol (PEG) fused hybrid cells that expressed either CFP or YFP labeled vaults, indicating that vaults can exchange major vault protein (MVP) subunits in vivo. Investigation into the mechanism of this exchange in vitro using recombinant vaults demonstrated that they were capable of rapidly separating at the particle waist and reassembling back into whole vaults, supporting a half vault exchange mechanism. This data suggests a means whereby vaults can functionally interact with their cellular environment and deliver materials packaged within their interior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Yang
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA 90095
| | - Valerie A. Kickhoefer
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA 90095
| | - Benny C. Ng
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA 90095
| | - Ajaykumar Gopal
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA 90095
| | - Laurent A. Bentolila
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA 90095
- California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA 90095
| | - Scott John
- Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Laboratories, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA 90095
| | - Sarah H. Tolbert
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA 90095
- California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA 90095
| | - Leonard H. Rome
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA 90095
- California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA 90095
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21
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Xia Y, Ramgopal Y, Li H, Shang L, Srinivas P, Kickhoefer VA, Rome LH, Preiser PR, Boey F, Zhang H, Venkatraman SS. Immobilization of recombinant vault nanoparticles on solid substrates. ACS NANO 2010; 4:1417-24. [PMID: 20146454 DOI: 10.1021/nn901167s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Native vaults are nanoscale particles found abundantly in the cytoplasm of most eukaryotic cells. They have a capsule-like structure with a thin shell surrounding a "hollow" interior compartment. Recombinant vault particles were found to self-assemble following expression of the major vault protein (MVP) in a baculovirus expression system, and these particles are virtually identical to native vaults. Such particles have been recently studied as potential delivery vehicles. In this study, we focus on immobilization of vault particles on a solid substrate, such as glass, as a first step to study their interactions with cells. To this end, we first engineered the recombinant vaults by fusing two different tags to the C-terminus of MVP, a 3 amino acid RGD peptide and a 12 amino acid RGD-strep-tag peptide. We have demonstrated two strategies for immobilizing vaults on solid substrates. The barrel-and-cap structure of vault particles was observed for the first time, by atomic force microscopy (AFM), in a dry condition. This work proved the feasibility of immobilizing vault nanoparticles on a material surface, and the possibility of using vault nanoparticles as localized and sustainable drug carriers as well as a biocompatible surface moiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Xia
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798
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Goldsmith LE, Pupols M, Kickhoefer VA, Rome LH, Monbouquette HG. Utilization of a protein "shuttle" to load vault nanocapsules with gold probes and proteins. ACS NANO 2009; 3:3175-3183. [PMID: 19775119 DOI: 10.1021/nn900555d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Vaults are large protein nanocapsules that may be useful as drug delivery vehicles due to their normal presence in humans, their large interior volume, their simple structural composition consisting of multiple copies of one protein, and a recombinant production system that also provides a means to tailor their structure. However, for vaults to be effective in such applications, efficient means to load the interiors of the capsules must be demonstrated. Here we describe the use of a domain derived from a vault lumen-associated protein as a carrier to target both gold nanoclusters and heterologous His-tagged proteins to specific binding sites on the vault interior wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa E Goldsmith
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, California 90095, USA
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Kickhoefer VA, Han M, Raval-Fernandes S, Poderycki MJ, Moniz RJ, Vaccari D, Silvestry M, Stewart PL, Kelly KA, Rome LH. Targeting vault nanoparticles to specific cell surface receptors. ACS NANO 2009; 3:27-36. [PMID: 19206245 PMCID: PMC2641028 DOI: 10.1021/nn800638x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
As a naturally occurring nanocapsule abundantly expressed in nearly all-eukaryotic cells, the barrel-shaped vault particle is perhaps an ideal structure to engineer for targeting to specific cell types. Recombinant vault particles self-assemble from 96 copies of the major vault protein (MVP), have dimensions of 72.5 x 41 nm, and have a hollow interior large enough to encapsulate hundreds of proteins. In this study, three different tags were engineered onto the C-terminus of MVP: an 11 amino acid epitope tag, a 33 amino acid IgG-binding peptide, and the 55 amino acid epidermal growth factor (EGF). These modified vaults were produced using a baculovirus expression system. Our studies demonstrate that recombinant vaults assembled from MVPs containing C-terminal peptide extensions display these tags at the top and bottom of the vault on the outside of the particle and can be used to specifically bind the modified vaults to epithelial cancer cells (A431) via the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), either directly (EGF modified vaults) or as mediated by a monoclonal antibody (anti-EGFR) bound to recombinant vaults containing the IgG-binding peptide. The ability to target vaults to specific cells represents an essential advance toward using recombinant vaults as delivery vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie A Kickhoefer
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095-1737, USA
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Ng BC, Yu M, Gopal A, Rome LH, Monbouquette HG, Tolbert SH. Encapsulation of semiconducting polymers in vault protein cages. NANO LETTERS 2008; 8:3503-9. [PMID: 18803422 PMCID: PMC3046045 DOI: 10.1021/nl080537r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate that a semiconducting polymer [poly(2-methoxy-5-propyloxy sulfonate phenylene vinylene), MPS-PPV] can be encapsulated inside recombinant, self-assembling protein nanocapsules called "vaults". Polymer incorporation into these nanosized protein cages, found naturally at approximately 10,000 copies per human cell, was confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering. Although vault cellular functions and gating mechanisms remain unknown, their large internal volume and natural prevalence within the human body suggests they could be used as carriers for therapeutics and medical imaging reagents. This study provides the groundwork for the use of vaults in encapsulation and delivery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benny C. Ng
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Marcella Yu
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1592, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Ajaykumar Gopal
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569, USA
| | - Leonard H. Rome
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1737, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Harold G. Monbouquette
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1592, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Sarah H. Tolbert
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095
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