1
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Anastassov S, Filo M, Khammash M. Inteins: A Swiss army knife for synthetic biology. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 73:108349. [PMID: 38552727 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Inteins are proteins found in nature that execute protein splicing. Among them, split inteins stand out for their versatility and adaptability, presenting creative solutions for addressing intricate challenges in various biological applications. Their exquisite attributes, including compactness, reliability, orthogonality, low toxicity, and irreversibility, make them of interest to various fields including synthetic biology, biotechnology and biomedicine. In this review, we delve into the inherent challenges of using inteins, present approaches for overcoming these challenges, and detail their reliable use for specific cellular tasks. We will discuss the use of conditional inteins in areas like cancer therapy, drug screening, patterning, infection treatment, diagnostics and biocontainment. Additionally, we will underscore the potential of inteins in executing basic logical operations with practical implications. We conclude by showcasing their potential in crafting complex genetic circuits for performing computations and feedback control that achieves robust perfect adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav Anastassov
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel 4056, Switzerland
| | - Maurice Filo
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel 4056, Switzerland
| | - Mustafa Khammash
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel 4056, Switzerland.
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2
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Yang T, Nakanishi H, Itaka K. Development of a new caged intein for multi-input conditional translation of synthetic mRNA. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9988. [PMID: 38693346 PMCID: PMC11063168 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60809-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
mRNA medicines can be used to express therapeutic proteins, but the production of such proteins in non-target cells has a risk of adverse effects. To accurately distinguish between therapeutic target and nontarget cells, it is desirable to utilize multiple proteins expressed in each cell as indicators. To achieve such multi-input translational regulation of mRNA medicines, in this study, we engineered Rhodothermus marinus (Rma) DnaB intein to develop "caged Rma DnaB intein" that enables conditional reconstitution of full-length translational regulator protein from split fragments. By combining the caged Rma DnaB intein, the split translational regulator protein, and target protein-binding domains, we succeeded in target protein-dependent translational repression of mRNA in human cells. In addition, the caged Rma intein showed orthogonality to the previously reported Nostoc punctiforme (Npu) DnaE-based caged intein. Finally, by combining these two orthogonal caged inteins, we developed an mRNA-based logic gate that regulates translation based on the expression of multiple intracellular proteins. This study provides important information to develop safer mRNA medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Yang
- Department of Biofunction Research, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, 101-0062, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Nakanishi
- Department of Biofunction Research, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, 101-0062, Japan.
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Keiji Itaka
- Department of Biofunction Research, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, 101-0062, Japan.
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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3
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Gao Y, Wang L, Wang B. Customizing cellular signal processing by synthetic multi-level regulatory circuits. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8415. [PMID: 38110405 PMCID: PMC10728147 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44256-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
As synthetic biology permeates society, the signal processing circuits in engineered living systems must be customized to meet practical demands. Towards this mission, novel regulatory mechanisms and genetic circuits with unprecedented complexity have been implemented over the past decade. These regulatory mechanisms, such as transcription and translation control, could be integrated into hybrid circuits termed "multi-level circuits". The multi-level circuit design will tremendously benefit the current genetic circuit design paradigm, from modifying basic circuit dynamics to facilitating real-world applications, unleashing our capabilities to customize cellular signal processing and address global challenges through synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanli Gao
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering & ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, UK
| | - Lei Wang
- Center of Synthetic Biology and Integrated Bioengineering & School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310030, China.
| | - Baojun Wang
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering & ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Research Center for Biological Computation, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, 311100, China.
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4
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Milito A, Aschern M, McQuillan JL, Yang JS. Challenges and advances towards the rational design of microalgal synthetic promoters in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:3833-3850. [PMID: 37025006 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae hold enormous potential to provide a safe and sustainable source of high-value compounds, acting as carbon-fixing biofactories that could help to mitigate rapidly progressing climate change. Bioengineering microalgal strains will be key to optimizing and modifying their metabolic outputs, and to render them competitive with established industrial biotechnology hosts, such as bacteria or yeast. To achieve this, precise and tuneable control over transgene expression will be essential, which would require the development and rational design of synthetic promoters as a key strategy. Among green microalgae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii represents the reference species for bioengineering and synthetic biology; however, the repertoire of functional synthetic promoters for this species, and for microalgae generally, is limited in comparison to other commercial chassis, emphasizing the need to expand the current microalgal gene expression toolbox. Here, we discuss state-of-the-art promoter analyses, and highlight areas of research required to advance synthetic promoter development in C. reinhardtii. In particular, we exemplify high-throughput studies performed in other model systems that could be applicable to microalgae, and propose novel approaches to interrogating algal promoters. We lastly outline the major limitations hindering microalgal promoter development, while providing novel suggestions and perspectives for how to overcome them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonsina Milito
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Moritz Aschern
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josie L McQuillan
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK
| | - Jae-Seong Yang
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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5
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Yuan G, Lu H, De K, Hassan MM, Liu Y, Islam MT, Muchero W, Tuskan GA, Yang X. Split selectable marker systems utilizing inteins facilitate gene stacking in plants. Commun Biol 2023; 6:567. [PMID: 37237044 PMCID: PMC10219933 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04950-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to stack multiple genes in plants is of great importance in the development of crops with desirable traits but can be challenging due to limited selectable marker options. Here we establish split selectable marker systems using protein splicing elements called "inteins" for Agrobacterium-mediated co-transformation in plants. First, we show that such a split selectable marker system can be used effectively in plants to reconstitute a visible marker, RUBY, from two non-functional fragments through tobacco leaf infiltration. Next, to determine the general applicability of our split selectable marker systems, we demonstrate the utility of these systems in the model plants Arabidopsis and poplar by successfully stacking two reporters eYGFPuv and RUBY, using split Kanamycin or Hygromycin resistance markers. In conclusion, this method enables robust plant co-transformation, providing a valuable tool for the simultaneous insertion of multiple genes into both herbaceous and woody plants efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoliang Yuan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
- Chemical and Biological Process Development Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Haiwei Lu
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
- Department of Academic Education, Central Community College-Hastings, Hastings, NE, 68902, USA
| | - Kuntal De
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Md Mahmudul Hassan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali, 8602, Bangladesh
| | - Yang Liu
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Md Torikul Islam
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Wellington Muchero
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Gerald A Tuskan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA.
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA.
| | - Xiaohan Yang
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA.
- The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA.
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6
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Anastassov S, Filo M, Chang CH, Khammash M. A cybergenetic framework for engineering intein-mediated integral feedback control systems. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1337. [PMID: 36906662 PMCID: PMC10008564 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36863-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of biological systems to tightly regulate targeted variables, despite external and internal disturbances, is known as Robust Perfect Adaptation (RPA). Achieved frequently through biomolecular integral feedback controllers at the cellular level, RPA has important implications for biotechnology and its various applications. In this study, we identify inteins as a versatile class of genetic components suitable for implementing these controllers and present a systematic approach for their design. We develop a theoretical foundation for screening intein-based RPA-achieving controllers and a simplified approach for modeling them. We then genetically engineer and test intein-based controllers using commonly used transcription factors in mammalian cells and demonstrate their exceptional adaptation properties over a wide dynamic range. The small size, flexibility, and applicability of inteins across life forms allow us to create a diversity of genetic RPA-achieving integral feedback control systems that can be used in various applications, including metabolic engineering and cell-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav Anastassov
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, 4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maurice Filo
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, 4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ching-Hsiang Chang
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, 4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mustafa Khammash
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, 4058, Basel, Switzerland.
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7
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Rapid clonal identification of biallelic CRISPR/Cas9 knock-ins using SNEAK PEEC. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1719. [PMID: 36720908 PMCID: PMC9889345 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28732-8] [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: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the challenges faced by current CRISPR/Cas9 editing strategies is the difficulty in rapidly selecting clonal populations of biallelically edited cells. Here we present Surface engiNeered fluorEscence Assisted Kit with Protein Epitope Enhanced Capture (SNEAK PEEC), a platform that combines human genome editing with cell-surface display, which enables the direct identification of biallelically edited clones with minimal screening.
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8
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Tikhonov AS, Mintaev RR, Glazkova DV, Bogoslovskaya EV, Shipulin GA. HIV Restriction Factor APOBEC3G and Prospects for Its Use in Gene Therapy for HIV. Mol Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893322040112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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9
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Yuan G, Lu H, De K, Hassan MM, Liu Y, Li Y, Muchero W, Abraham PE, Tuskan GA, Yang X. An Intein-Mediated Split-nCas9 System for Base Editing in Plants. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:2513-2517. [PMID: 35767601 PMCID: PMC9295155 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00507] [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: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Virus-assisted delivery of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) system represents a promising approach for editing plant genomes. Among the CRISPR/Cas systems, CRISPR/Cas9 is most widely used; however, to pack the relatively large size of the CRISPR/Cas9 system into viral vectors with confined packaging capacity is challenging. To address this technical challenge, we developed a strategy based on split inteins that splits the required CRISPR/Cas9 components across a dual-vector system. The CRISPR/Cas reassembles into an active form following co-infection to achieve targeted genome editing in plant cells. An intein-mediated split system was adapted and optimized in plant cells by a successful demonstration of split-eYGFPuv expression. Using a plant-based biosensor, we demonstrated for the first time that the split-nCas9 can induce efficient base editing in plant cells. We identified several split sites for future biodesign strategies. Overall, this strategy provides new opportunities to bridge different CRISPR/Cas9 tools including base editor, prime editor, and CRISPR activation with virus-mediated gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoliang Yuan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States.,The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Haiwei Lu
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Kuntal De
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Md Mahmudul Hassan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States.,The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States.,Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh
| | - Yang Liu
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Wellington Muchero
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States.,The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Paul E Abraham
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Gerald A Tuskan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States.,The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Xiaohan Yang
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States.,The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
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10
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Kempton HR, Love KS, Guo LY, Qi LS. Scalable biological signal recording in mammalian cells using Cas12a base editors. Nat Chem Biol 2022; 18:742-750. [PMID: 35637351 PMCID: PMC9246900 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-022-01034-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Biological signal recording enables the study of molecular inputs experienced throughout cellular history. However, current methods are limited in their ability to scale up beyond a single signal in mammalian contexts. Here, we develop an approach using a hyper-efficient dCas12a base editor for multi-signal parallel recording in human cells. We link signals of interest to expression of guide RNAs to catalyze specific nucleotide conversions as a permanent record, enabled by Cas12's guide-processing abilities. We show this approach is plug-and-play with diverse biologically relevant inputs and extend it for more sophisticated applications, including recording of time-delimited events and history of chimeric antigen receptor T cells' antigen exposure. We also demonstrate efficient recording of up to four signals in parallel on an endogenous safe-harbor locus. This work provides a versatile platform for scalable recording of signals of interest for a variety of biological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah R Kempton
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kasey S Love
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lucie Y Guo
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lei S Qi
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg BioHub, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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11
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Horikawa M, Sabe H, Onodera Y. Strategies for all-at-once and stepwise selection of cells with multiple genetic manipulations. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 582:93-99. [PMID: 34695756 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The genetic manipulation of cells followed by their selection is indispensable for cell biological research. Although antibiotics-resistant genes are commonly used as selection markers, optimization of the condition for each selective agent is required. Here we utilized split-inteins and the drug-selectable marker puromycin N-acetyltransferase (PAC) to develop a system that enables the selection of cells simultaneously or sequentially transfected with multiple genetic constructs, using only puromycin. The active PAC enzyme was reconstituted by intein-mediated trans-splicing at several inherent or engineered serine/cysteine residues. Multiple splitting and reconstitution of active PAC was readily achieved by selecting optimum division sites based on the cellular tolerance to various puromycin concentrations. To achieve the stepwise selection method, PAC-intein fragments were transduced into cells using a virus-like particle (VLP) composed of HIV-1 gag-pol and VSV-G. The PAC-intein-VLP successfully conferred sufficient PAC activity for puromycin selection, which was quickly diminished in the absence of the VLP. Our findings demonstrate a versatile strategy for establishing markers for all-at-once or stepwise selection of multiple genetic manipulations, which will be useful in many fields of biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Horikawa
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Mecidine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
| | - Hisataka Sabe
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Mecidine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Onodera
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Mecidine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan; Global Center for Biomedical Science and Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan.
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12
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Abstract
Intervening proteins, or inteins, are mobile genetic elements that are translated within host polypeptides and removed at the protein level by splicing. In protein splicing, a self-mediated reaction removes the intein, leaving a peptide bond in place. While protein splicing can proceed in the absence of external cofactors, several examples of conditional protein splicing (CPS) have emerged. In CPS, the rate and accuracy of splicing are highly dependent on environmental conditions. Because the activity of the intein-containing host protein is compromised prior to splicing and inteins are highly abundant in the microbial world, CPS represents an emerging form of posttranslational regulation that is potentially widespread in microbes. Reactive chlorine species (RCS) are highly potent oxidants encountered by bacteria in a variety of natural environments, including within cells of the mammalian innate immune system. Here, we demonstrate that two naturally occurring RCS, namely, hypochlorous acid (the active compound in bleach) and N-chlorotaurine, can reversibly block splicing of DnaB inteins from Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium smegmatis in vitro. Further, using a reporter that monitors DnaB intein activity within M. smegmatis, we show that DnaB protein splicing is inhibited by RCS in the native host. DnaB, an essential replicative helicase, is the most common intein-housing protein in bacteria. These results add to the growing list of environmental conditions that are relevant to the survival of the intein-containing host and influence protein splicing, as well as suggesting a novel mycobacterial response to RCS. We propose a model in which DnaB splicing, and therefore replication, is paused when these mycobacteria encounter RCS. IMPORTANCE Inteins are both widespread and abundant in microbes, including within several bacterial and fungal pathogens. Inteins are domains translated within host proteins and removed at the protein level by splicing. Traditionally considered molecular parasites, some inteins have emerged in recent years as adaptive posttranslational regulatory elements. Several studies have demonstrated CPS, in which the rate and accuracy of protein splicing, and thus host protein functions, are responsive to environmental conditions relevant to the intein-containing organism. In this work, we demonstrate that two naturally occurring RCS, including the active compound in household bleach, reversibly inhibit protein splicing of Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium smegmatis DnaB inteins. In addition to describing a new physiologically relevant condition that can temporarily inhibit protein splicing, this study suggests a novel stress response in Mycobacterium, a bacterial genus of tremendous importance to humans.
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13
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Palanisamy N, Ballestin JB, Di Ventura B. Expanding the SiMPl Plasmid Toolbox for Use with Spectinomycin/Streptomycin. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:14148-14153. [PMID: 34124437 PMCID: PMC8190784 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c00649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We recently developed the SiMPl plasmid toolbox, which is constituted by pairs of plasmids, generically indicated as pSiMPlx_N and pSiMPlx_C, which can be stably maintained in Escherichia coli with a single antibiotic x. The method exploits the split intein gp41-1 to reconstitute the enzyme conferring resistance toward the antibiotic x, whereby each enzyme fragment is expressed from one of the plasmids in the pair. pSiMPl plasmids are currently available for use with ampicillin, kanamycin, chloramphenicol, hygromycin, and puromycin. Here, we introduce another pair for use with spectinomycin/streptomycin, broadening the application spectrum of the SiMPl toolbox. To find functional splice sites in aminoglycoside adenylyltransferase, we apply a streamlined strategy looking exclusively at the flexibility of native cysteine and serine residues, which we first validated splitting the enzymes conferring resistance toward ampicillin, kanamycin, chloramphenicol, and hygromycin. This strategy could be used in the future to split other enzymes conferring resistance toward antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navaneethan Palanisamy
- Signalling
Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University
of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße
18, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Institute
of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University
of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jara Ballestin Ballestin
- Signalling
Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University
of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße
18, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Institute
of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University
of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Barbara Di Ventura
- Signalling
Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University
of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße
18, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Institute
of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University
of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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14
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Haellman V, Strittmatter T, Bertschi A, Stücheli P, Fussenegger M. A versatile plasmid architecture for mammalian synthetic biology (VAMSyB). Metab Eng 2021; 66:41-50. [PMID: 33857582 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2021.04.003] [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: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Current molecular cloning strategies generally lack inter-compatibility, are not strictly modular, or are not applicable to engineer multi-gene expression vectors for transient and stable integration. A standardized molecular cloning platform would advance research, for example, by promoting exchange of vectors between groups. Here, we present a versatile plasmid architecture for mammalian synthetic biology, which we designate VAMSyB, consisting of a three-tier vector family. Tier-1 is designed for easy engineering of fusion constructs, as well as easy swapping of genes and modules to tune the functionality of the vector. Tier-2 is designed for transient multi-gene expression, and is constructed by directly transferring the engineered expression cassettes from tier-1 vectors. Tier-3 enables stable integration into a mammalian host cell through viral transduction, transposons, or homology-directed recombination via CRISPR. This VAMSyB architecture is expected to have broad applicability in the field of mammalian synthetic biology. The VAMSyB collection of plasmids will be available through Addgene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Haellman
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Strittmatter
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Adrian Bertschi
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Stücheli
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Fussenegger
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058, Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058, Basel, Switzerland.
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15
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Ho TYH, Shao A, Lu Z, Savilahti H, Menolascina F, Wang L, Dalchau N, Wang B. A systematic approach to inserting split inteins for Boolean logic gate engineering and basal activity reduction. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2200. [PMID: 33850130 PMCID: PMC8044194 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22404-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Split inteins are powerful tools for seamless ligation of synthetic split proteins. Yet, their use remains limited because the already intricate split site identification problem is often complicated by the requirement of extein junction sequences. To address this, we augment a mini-Mu transposon-based screening approach and devise the intein-assisted bisection mapping (IBM) method. IBM robustly reveals clusters of split sites on five proteins, converting them into AND or NAND logic gates. We further show that the use of inteins expands functional sequence space for splitting a protein. We also demonstrate the utility of our approach over rational inference of split sites from secondary structure alignment of homologous proteins, and that basal activities of highly active proteins can be mitigated by splitting them. Our work offers a generalizable and systematic route towards creating split protein-intein fusions for synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor Y H Ho
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Hangzhou Innovation Centre, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Alexander Shao
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Microsoft Research, Cambridge, UK
| | - Zeyu Lu
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Filippo Menolascina
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Baojun Wang
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. .,Hangzhou Innovation Centre, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. .,College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. .,ZJU-UoE Joint Research Centre for Engineering Biology, Zhejiang University, Haining, China.
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16
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Sun T, Kwok WC, Chua KJ, Lo TM, Potter J, Yew WS, Chesnut JD, Hwang IY, Chang MW. Development of a Proline-Based Selection System for Reliable Genetic Engineering in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1864-1872. [PMID: 32470293 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the superior host cell culture models used for the bioproduction of therapeutic proteins. One of the prerequisites for bioproduction using CHO cell lines is the need to generate stable CHO cell lines with optimal expression output. Antibiotic selection is commonly employed to isolate and select CHO cell lines with stable expression, despite its potential negative impact on cellular metabolism and expression level. Herein, we present a novel proline-based selection system for the isolation of stable CHO cell lines. The system exploits a dysfunctional proline metabolism pathway in CHO cells by using a pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase gene as a selection marker, enabling selection to be made using proline-free media. The selection system was demonstrated by expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) and a monoclonal antibody. When GFP was expressed, more than 90% of stable transfectants were enriched within 2 weeks of the selection period. When a monoclonal antibody was expressed, we achieved comparable titers (3.35 ± 0.47 μg/mL) with G418 and Zeocin-based selections (1.65 ± 0.46 and 2.25 ± 0.07 μg/mL, respectively). We further developed a proline-based coselection by using S. cerevisiae PRO1 and PRO2 genes as markers, which enables the generation of 99.5% double-transgenic cells. The proline-based selection expands available selection tools and provides an alternative to antibiotic-based selections in CHO cell line development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Sun
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Wee Chiew Kwok
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Koon Jiew Chua
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Tat-Ming Lo
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Jason Potter
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, 5781 Van Allen Way, Carlsbad, California 92008, United States
| | - Wen Shan Yew
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Jonathan D. Chesnut
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, 5781 Van Allen Way, Carlsbad, California 92008, United States
| | - In Young Hwang
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Matthew Wook Chang
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
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17
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Khoo KK, Galleano I, Gasparri F, Wieneke R, Harms H, Poulsen MH, Chua HC, Wulf M, Tampé R, Pless SA. Chemical modification of proteins by insertion of synthetic peptides using tandem protein trans-splicing. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2284. [PMID: 32385250 PMCID: PMC7210297 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16208-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Manipulation of proteins by chemical modification is a powerful way to decipher their function. However, most ribosome-dependent and semi-synthetic methods have limitations in the number and type of modifications that can be introduced, especially in live cells. Here, we present an approach to incorporate single or multiple post-translational modifications or non-canonical amino acids into proteins expressed in eukaryotic cells. We insert synthetic peptides into GFP, NaV1.5 and P2X2 receptors via tandem protein trans-splicing using two orthogonal split intein pairs and validate our approach by investigating protein function. We anticipate the approach will overcome some drawbacks of existing protein enigineering methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- K K Khoo
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 160, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - I Galleano
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 160, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - F Gasparri
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 160, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - R Wieneke
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Strasse 9, 60438, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - H Harms
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 160, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M H Poulsen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 160, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - H C Chua
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 160, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M Wulf
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 160, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - R Tampé
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Strasse 9, 60438, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - S A Pless
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 160, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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