1
|
Campos LA, Muñoz V. Targeting the protein folding transition state by mutation: Large scale (un)folding rate accelerations without altering native stability. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e5031. [PMID: 38864692 PMCID: PMC11168068 DOI: 10.1002/pro.5031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Proteins are constantly undergoing folding and unfolding transitions, with rates that determine their homeostasis in vivo and modulate their biological function. The ability to optimize these rates without affecting overall native stability is hence highly desirable for protein engineering and design. The great challenge is, however, that mutations generally affect folding and unfolding rates with inversely complementary fractions of the net free energy change they inflict on the native state. Here we address this challenge by targeting the folding transition state (FTS) of chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 (CI2), a very slow and stable two-state folding protein with an FTS known to be refractory to change by mutation. We first discovered that the CI2's FTS is energetically taxed by the desolvation of several, highly conserved, charges that form a buried salt bridge network in the native structure. Based on these findings, we designed a CI2 variant that bears just four mutations and aims to selectively stabilize the FTS. This variant has >250-fold faster rates in both directions and hence identical native stability, demonstrating the success of our FTS-centric design strategy. With an optimized FTS, CI2 also becomes 250-fold more sensitive to proteolytic degradation by its natural substrate chymotrypsin, and completely loses its activity as inhibitor. These results indicate that CI2 has been selected through evolution to have a very unstable FTS in order to attain the kinetic stability needed to effectively function as protease inhibitor. Moreover, the CI2 case showcases that protein (un)folding rates can critically pivot around a few key residues-interactions, which can strongly modify the general effects of known structural factors such as domain size and fold topology. From a practical standpoint, our results suggest that future efforts should perhaps focus on identifying such critical residues-interactions in proteins as best strategy to significantly improve our ability to predict and engineer protein (un)folding rates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luis A. Campos
- Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA Nanociencia)MadridSpain
- Unidad de Nanobiotecnología Asociada al Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Victor Muñoz
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of CaliforniaMercedCaliforniaUSA
- Center for Cellular and Biomolecular MachinesUniversity of CaliforniaMercedCaliforniaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gavrilov Y, Prestel A, Lindorff-Larsen K, Teilum K. Slow conformational changes in the rigid and highly stable chymotrypsin inhibitor 2. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4604. [PMID: 36807681 PMCID: PMC10031225 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4604] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Slow conformational changes are often directly linked to protein function. It is however less clear how such processes may perturb the overall folding stability of a protein. We previously found that the stabilizing double mutant L49I/I57V in the small protein chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 from barley led to distributed increased nanosecond and faster dynamics. Here we asked what effects the L49I and I57V substitutions, either individually or together, have on the slow conformational dynamics of CI2. We used 15 N CPMG spin relaxation dispersion experiments to measure the kinetics, thermodynamics and structural changes associated with slow conformational change in CI2. These changes result in an excited state that is populated to 4.3% at 1 °C. As the temperature is increased the population of the excited state decreases. Structural changes in the excited state are associated with residues that interact with water molecules that have well defined positions and are found at these positions in all crystal structures of CI2. The substitutions in CI2 have only little effect on the structure of the excited state whereas the stability of the excited state to some extent follows the stability of the main state. The minor state is thus most populated for the most stable CI2 variant and least populated for the least stable variant. We hypothesize that the interactions between the substituted residues and the well-ordered water molecules links subtle structural changes around the substituted residues to the region in the protein that experience slow conformational changes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yulian Gavrilov
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
- Present address: Division of Biophysical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Andreas Prestel
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Kresten Lindorff-Larsen
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Kaare Teilum
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Xie C, Chen Z, Chen K, Hu Y, Pan L. Regulating the Polymerization of DNA Structures via Allosteric Control of Monomers. ACS NANO 2023; 17:1505-1510. [PMID: 36633930 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c10456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Regulation of self-assembly is crucial in constructing structural biomaterials, such as tunable DNA nanostructures. Traditional tuning of self-assembled DNA nanostructures was mainly conducted by introducing external stimuli after the assembly process. Here, we explored the allosteric assembly of DNA structures via introducing external stimuli during the assembly process to produce structurally heterogeneous polymerization products. We demonstrated that ethidium bromide (EB), a DNA intercalator, could increase the left-handed out-of-plane chirality of curved DNA structures. Then, EB and double strands were introduced as competing stimuli to transform monomers into allosteric conformations, leading to three different polymerization products. The steric trap between different polymerization products promoted the polymerized structures to keep their geometric properties, like chirality, under varying intensity of external stimuli. Our strategy harnesses allosteric effects for assembly of DNA-based materials and is expected to expand the design space for advanced control in synthetic materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chun Xie
- Key Laboratory of Image Information Processing and Intelligent Control of Education Ministry of China, School of Artificial Intelligence and Automation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074 Hubei, China
| | - Zhekun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Image Information Processing and Intelligent Control of Education Ministry of China, School of Artificial Intelligence and Automation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074 Hubei, China
| | - Kuiting Chen
- Key Laboratory of Image Information Processing and Intelligent Control of Education Ministry of China, School of Artificial Intelligence and Automation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074 Hubei, China
| | - Yingxin Hu
- College of Information Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang, 050043 Hebei, China
| | - Linqiang Pan
- Key Laboratory of Image Information Processing and Intelligent Control of Education Ministry of China, School of Artificial Intelligence and Automation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074 Hubei, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kakkis A, Golub E, Choi TS, Tezcan FA. Redox- and metal-directed structural diversification in designed metalloprotein assemblies. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:6958-6961. [PMID: 35642584 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc02440c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Herein we describe a designed protein building block whose self-assembly behaviour is dually gated by the redox state of disulphide bonds and the identity of exogenous metal ions. This protein construct is shown - through extensive structural and biophysical characterization - to access five distinct oligomeric states, exemplifying how the complex interplay between hydrophobic, metal-ligand, and reversible covalent interactions could be harnessed to obtain multiple, responsive protein architectures from a single building block.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Albert Kakkis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Eyal Golub
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Tae Su Choi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - F Akif Tezcan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gonzalez NA, Li BA, McCully ME. The stability and dynamics of computationally designed proteins. Protein Eng Des Sel 2022; 35:6529794. [PMID: 35174855 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzac001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein stability, dynamics and function are intricately linked. Accordingly, protein designers leverage dynamics in their designs and gain insight to their successes and failures by analyzing their proteins' dynamics. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are a powerful computational tool for quantifying both local and global protein dynamics. This review highlights studies where MD simulations were applied to characterize the stability and dynamics of designed proteins and where dynamics were incorporated into computational protein design. First, we discuss the structural basis underlying the extreme stability and thermostability frequently observed in computationally designed proteins. Next, we discuss examples of designed proteins, where dynamics were not explicitly accounted for in the design process, whose coordinated motions or active site dynamics, as observed by MD simulation, enhanced or detracted from their function. Many protein functions depend on sizeable or subtle conformational changes, so we finally discuss the computational design of proteins to perform a specific function that requires consideration of motion by multi-state design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natali A Gonzalez
- Department of Biology, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053, USA
| | - Brigitte A Li
- Department of Biology, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053, USA
| | - Michelle E McCully
- Department of Biology, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Naganathan AN, Dani R, Gopi S, Aranganathan A, Narayan A. Folding Intermediates, Heterogeneous Native Ensembles and Protein Function. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167325. [PMID: 34695380 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Single domain proteins fold via diverse mechanisms emphasizing the intricate relationship between energetics and structure, which is a direct consequence of functional constraints and demands imposed at the level of sequence. On the other hand, elucidating the interplay between folding mechanisms and function is challenging in large proteins, given the inherent shortcomings in identifying metastable states experimentally and the sampling limitations associated with computational methods. Here, we show that free energy profiles and surfaces of large systems (>150 residues), as predicted by a statistical mechanical model, display a wide array of folding mechanisms with ubiquitous folding intermediates and heterogeneous native ensembles. Importantly, residues around the ligand binding or enzyme active site display a larger tendency to partially unfold and this manifests as intermediates or excited states along the folding coordinate in ligand binding domains, transcription repressors, and representative enzymes from all the six classes, including the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein and the protease Mpro. It thus appears that it is relatively easier to distill the imprints of function on the folding landscape of larger proteins as opposed to smaller systems. We discuss how an understanding of energetic-entropic features in ordered proteins can pinpoint specific avenues through which folding mechanisms, populations of partially structured states and function can be engineered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Athi N Naganathan
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India.
| | - Rahul Dani
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Soundhararajan Gopi
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India. https://twitter.com/Soundha
| | - Akashnathan Aranganathan
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Abhishek Narayan
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhu J, Avakyan N, Kakkis AA, Hoffnagle AM, Han K, Li Y, Zhang Z, Choi TS, Na Y, Yu CJ, Tezcan FA. Protein Assembly by Design. Chem Rev 2021; 121:13701-13796. [PMID: 34405992 PMCID: PMC9148388 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Proteins are nature's primary building blocks for the construction of sophisticated molecular machines and dynamic materials, ranging from protein complexes such as photosystem II and nitrogenase that drive biogeochemical cycles to cytoskeletal assemblies and muscle fibers for motion. Such natural systems have inspired extensive efforts in the rational design of artificial protein assemblies in the last two decades. As molecular building blocks, proteins are highly complex, in terms of both their three-dimensional structures and chemical compositions. To enable control over the self-assembly of such complex molecules, scientists have devised many creative strategies by combining tools and principles of experimental and computational biophysics, supramolecular chemistry, inorganic chemistry, materials science, and polymer chemistry, among others. Owing to these innovative strategies, what started as a purely structure-building exercise two decades ago has, in short order, led to artificial protein assemblies with unprecedented structures and functions and protein-based materials with unusual properties. Our goal in this review is to give an overview of this exciting and highly interdisciplinary area of research, first outlining the design strategies and tools that have been devised for controlling protein self-assembly, then describing the diverse structures of artificial protein assemblies, and finally highlighting the emergent properties and functions of these assemblies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Albert A. Kakkis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0340, United States
| | - Alexander M. Hoffnagle
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0340, United States
| | - Kenneth Han
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0340, United States
| | - Yiying Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0340, United States
| | - Zhiyin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0340, United States
| | - Tae Su Choi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0340, United States
| | - Youjeong Na
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0340, United States
| | - Chung-Jui Yu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0340, United States
| | - F. Akif Tezcan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0340, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Alberstein RG, Guo AB, Kortemme T. Design principles of protein switches. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2021; 72:71-78. [PMID: 34537489 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2021.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Protein switches perform essential roles in many biological processes and are exciting targets for de novo protein design, which aims to produce proteins of arbitrary shape and functionality. However, the biophysical requirements for switch function - multiple conformational states, fine-tuned energetics, and stimuli-responsiveness - pose a formidable challenge for design by computation (or intuition). A variety of methods have been developed toward tackling this challenge, usually taking inspiration from the wealth of sequence and structural information available for naturally occurring protein switches. More recently, modular switches have been designed computationally, and new methods have emerged for sampling unexplored structure space, providing promising new avenues toward the generation of purpose-built switches and de novo signaling systems for cellular engineering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert G Alberstein
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Amy B Guo
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; UC Berkeley-UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tanja Kortemme
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; UC Berkeley-UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Hamborg L, Granata D, Olsen JG, Roche JV, Pedersen LE, Nielsen AT, Lindorff-Larsen K, Teilum K. Synergistic stabilization of a double mutant in chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 from a library screen in E. coli. Commun Biol 2021; 4:980. [PMID: 34408246 PMCID: PMC8373930 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02490-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Most single point mutations destabilize folded proteins. Mutations that stabilize a protein typically only have a small effect and multiple mutations are often needed to substantially increase the stability. Multiple point mutations may act synergistically on the stability, and it is often not straightforward to predict their combined effect from the individual contributions. Here, we have applied an efficient in-cell assay in E. coli to select variants of the barley chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 with increased stability. We find two variants that are more than 3.8 kJ mol-1 more stable than the wild-type. In one case, the increased stability is the effect of the single substitution D55G. The other case is a double mutant, L49I/I57V, which is 5.1 kJ mol-1 more stable than the sum of the effects of the individual mutations. In addition to demonstrating the strength of our selection system for finding stabilizing mutations, our work also demonstrate how subtle conformational effects may modulate stability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Louise Hamborg
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory and the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Daniele Granata
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory and the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Johan G Olsen
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory and the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Jennifer Virginia Roche
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory and the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Lasse Ebdrup Pedersen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Alex Toftgaard Nielsen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kresten Lindorff-Larsen
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory and the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Kaare Teilum
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory and the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lee SJ, Kim Y, Kim TW, Yang C, Thamilselvan K, Jeong H, Hyun J, Ihee H. Reversible molecular motional switch based on circular photoactive protein oligomers exhibits unexpected photo-induced contraction. CELL REPORTS. PHYSICAL SCIENCE 2021; 2:100512. [PMID: 35509376 PMCID: PMC9062587 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2021.100512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Molecular switches alterable between two stable states by environmental stimuli, such as light and temperature, offer the potential for controlling biological functions. Here, we report a circular photoswitchable protein complex made of multiple protein molecules that can rapidly and reversibly switch with significant conformational changes. The structural and photochromic properties of photoactive yellow protein (PYP) are harnessed to construct circular oligomer PYPs (coPYPs) of desired sizes. Considering the light-induced N-terminal protrusion of monomer PYP, we expected coPYPs would expand upon irradiation, but time-resolved X-ray scattering data reveal that the late intermediate has a pronounced light-induced contraction motion. This work not only provides an approach to engineering a novel protein-based molecular switch based on circular oligomers of well-known protein units but also demonstrates the importance of characterizing the structural dynamics of designed molecular switches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sang Jin Lee
- Department of Chemistry and KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomaterials and Chemical Reactions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Youngmin Kim
- Department of Chemistry and KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomaterials and Chemical Reactions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Tae Wu Kim
- Department of Chemistry and KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomaterials and Chemical Reactions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheolhee Yang
- Department of Chemistry and KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomaterials and Chemical Reactions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Kamatchi Thamilselvan
- Department of Chemistry and KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomaterials and Chemical Reactions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeongseop Jeong
- Center for Research Equipment, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaekyung Hyun
- Center for Research Equipment, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28119, Republic of Korea
- Molecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Hyotcherl Ihee
- Department of Chemistry and KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomaterials and Chemical Reactions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Lead contact
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Oerlemans RAJF, Timmermans SBPE, van Hest JCM. Artificial Organelles: Towards Adding or Restoring Intracellular Activity. Chembiochem 2021; 22:2051-2078. [PMID: 33450141 PMCID: PMC8252369 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Compartmentalization is one of the main characteristics that define living systems. Creating a physically separated microenvironment allows nature a better control over biological processes, as is clearly specified by the role of organelles in living cells. Inspired by this phenomenon, researchers have developed a range of different approaches to create artificial organelles: compartments with catalytic activity that add new function to living cells. In this review we will discuss three complementary lines of investigation. First, orthogonal chemistry approaches are discussed, which are based on the incorporation of catalytically active transition metal-containing nanoparticles in living cells. The second approach involves the use of premade hybrid nanoreactors, which show transient function when taken up by living cells. The third approach utilizes mostly genetic engineering methods to create bio-based structures that can be ultimately integrated with the cell's genome to make them constitutively active. The current state of the art and the scope and limitations of the field will be highlighted with selected examples from the three approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roy A. J. F. Oerlemans
- Bio-Organic Chemistry Research GroupInstitute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyP.O. Box 513 (STO3.41)5600 MBEindhovenThe Netherlands
| | - Suzanne B. P. E. Timmermans
- Bio-Organic Chemistry Research GroupInstitute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyP.O. Box 513 (STO3.41)5600 MBEindhovenThe Netherlands
| | - Jan C. M. van Hest
- Bio-Organic Chemistry Research GroupInstitute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyP.O. Box 513 (STO3.41)5600 MBEindhovenThe Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Mateos B, Bernardo-Seisdedos G, Dietrich V, Zalba N, Ortega G, Peccati F, Jiménez-Osés G, Konrat R, Tollinger M, Millet O. Cosolute modulation of protein oligomerization reactions in the homeostatic timescale. Biophys J 2021; 120:2067-2077. [PMID: 33794151 PMCID: PMC8204390 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein oligomerization processes are widespread and of crucial importance to understand degenerative diseases and healthy regulatory pathways. One particular case is the homo-oligomerization of folded domains involving domain swapping, often found as a part of the protein homeostasis in the crowded cytosol, composed of a complex mixture of cosolutes. Here, we have investigated the effect of a plethora of cosolutes of very diverse nature on the kinetics of a protein dimerization by domain swapping. In the absence of cosolutes, our system exhibits slow interconversion rates, with the reaction reaching the equilibrium within the average protein homeostasis timescale (24-48 h). In the presence of crowders, though, the oligomerization reaction in the same time frame will, depending on the protein's initial oligomeric state, either reach a pure equilibrium state or get kinetically trapped into an apparent equilibrium. Specifically, when the reaction is initiated from a large excess of dimer, it becomes unsensitive to the effect of cosolutes and reaches the same equilibrium populations as in the absence of cosolute. Conversely, when the reaction starts from a large excess of monomer, the reaction during the homeostatic timescale occurs under kinetic control, and it is exquisitely sensitive to the presence and nature of the cosolute. In this scenario (the most habitual case in intracellular oligomerization processes), the effect of cosolutes on the intermediate conformation and diffusion-mediated encounters will dictate how the cellular milieu affects the domain-swapping reaction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Borja Mateos
- Precision Medicine and Metabolism Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, Spain; Department of Structural and Computational Biology, University of Vienna, Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter Campus 5, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ganeko Bernardo-Seisdedos
- Precision Medicine and Metabolism Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, Spain
| | - Valentin Dietrich
- Center of Molecular Biosciences and Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nicanor Zalba
- Precision Medicine and Metabolism Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, Spain
| | - Gabriel Ortega
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Francesca Peccati
- Computational Chemistry Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Jiménez-Osés
- Computational Chemistry Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, Spain
| | - Robert Konrat
- Department of Structural and Computational Biology, University of Vienna, Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter Campus 5, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Tollinger
- Center of Molecular Biosciences and Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Oscar Millet
- Precision Medicine and Metabolism Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Abian O, Ortega-Alarcon D, Jimenez-Alesanco A, Ceballos-Laita L, Vega S, Reyburn HT, Rizzuti B, Velazquez-Campoy A. Structural stability of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro and identification of quercetin as an inhibitor by experimental screening. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 164:1693-1703. [PMID: 32745548 PMCID: PMC7395220 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.07.235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The global health emergency generated by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has prompted the search for preventive and therapeutic treatments for its pathogen, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). There are many potential targets for drug discovery and development to tackle this disease. One of these targets is the main protease, Mpro or 3CLpro, which is highly conserved among coronaviruses. 3CLpro is an essential player in the viral replication cycle, processing the large viral polyproteins and rendering the individual proteins functional. We report a biophysical characterization of the structural stability and the catalytic activity of 3CLpro from SARS-CoV-2, from which a suitable experimental in vitro molecular screening procedure has been designed. By screening of a small chemical library consisting of about 150 compounds, the natural product quercetin was identified as reasonably potent inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro (Ki ~ 7 μM). Quercetin could be shown to interact with 3CLpro using biophysical techniques and bind to the active site in molecular simulations. Quercetin, with well-known pharmacokinetic and ADMET properties, can be considered as a good candidate for further optimization and development, or repositioned for COVID-19 therapeutic treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olga Abian
- Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón (IIS Aragon), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - David Ortega-Alarcon
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana Jimenez-Alesanco
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Laura Ceballos-Laita
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón (IIS Aragon), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sonia Vega
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Hugh T Reyburn
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB), CSIC, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Bruno Rizzuti
- CNR-NANOTEC, Licryl-UOS Cosenza and CEMIF.Cal, Department of Physics, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Adrian Velazquez-Campoy
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón (IIS Aragon), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Units IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, and GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Fundación ARAID, Gobierno de Aragón, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Ghanbarpour A, Santos EM, Pinger C, Assar Z, Hossaini Nasr S, Vasileiou C, Spence D, Borhan B, Geiger JH. Human Cellular Retinol Binding Protein II Forms a Domain-Swapped Trimer Representing a Novel Fold and a New Template for Protein Engineering. Chembiochem 2020; 21:3192-3196. [PMID: 32608180 PMCID: PMC8220890 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Domain-swapping is a mechanism for evolving new protein structure from extant scaffolds, and has been an efficient protein-engineering strategy for tailoring functional diversity. However, domain swapping can only be exploited if it can be controlled, especially in cases where various folds can coexist. Herein, we describe the structure of a domain-swapped trimer of the iLBP family member hCRBPII, and suggest a mechanism for domain-swapped trimerization. It is further shown that domain-swapped trimerization can be favored by strategic installation of a disulfide bond, thus demonstrating a strategy for fold control. We further show the domain-swapped trimer to be a useful protein design template by installing a high-affinity metal binding site through the introduction of a single mutation, taking advantage of its threefold symmetry. Together, these studies show how nature can promote oligomerization, stabilize a specific oligomer, and generate new function with minimal changes to the protein sequence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Ghanbarpour
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, 578 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Yale University Medical School, Department of Cell Biology, 333 S. Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Santos
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, 578 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Dow Performance Silicones, 2200W Salzburg Road, Midland, MI 48686, USA
| | - Cody Pinger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, 775 Woodlot Drive, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Zahra Assar
- Cayman Chemical, 1180 East Ellsworth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA
| | - Seyedmehdi Hossaini Nasr
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, 578 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Chrysoula Vasileiou
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, 578 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Dana Spence
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, 775 Woodlot Drive, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Babak Borhan
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, 578 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - James H Geiger
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, 578 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| |
Collapse
|