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Olvera-Lucio FH, Riveros-Rosas H, Quintero-Martínez A, Hernández-Santoyo A. Tandem-repeat lectins: structural and functional insights. Glycobiology 2024; 34:cwae041. [PMID: 38857376 PMCID: PMC11186620 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwae041] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Multivalency in lectins plays a pivotal role in influencing glycan cross-linking, thereby affecting lectin functionality. This multivalency can be achieved through oligomerization, the presence of tandemly repeated carbohydrate recognition domains, or a combination of both. Unlike lectins that rely on multiple factors for the oligomerization of identical monomers, tandem-repeat lectins inherently possess multivalency, independent of this complex process. The repeat domains, although not identical, display slightly distinct specificities within a predetermined geometry, enhancing specificity, affinity, avidity and even oligomerization. Despite the recognition of this structural characteristic in recently discovered lectins by numerous studies, a unified criterion to define tandem-repeat lectins is still necessary. We suggest defining them multivalent lectins with intrachain tandem repeats corresponding to carbohydrate recognition domains, independent of oligomerization. This systematic review examines the folding and phyletic diversity of tandem-repeat lectins and refers to relevant literature. Our study categorizes all lectins with tandemly repeated carbohydrate recognition domains into nine distinct folding classes associated with specific biological functions. Our findings provide a comprehensive description and analysis of tandem-repeat lectins in terms of their functions and structural features. Our exploration of phyletic and functional diversity has revealed previously undocumented tandem-repeat lectins. We propose research directions aimed at enhancing our understanding of the origins of tandem-repeat lectin and fostering the development of medical and biotechnological applications, notably in the design of artificial sugars and neolectins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco H Olvera-Lucio
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Coyoacán 04510, Mexico
| | - Héctor Riveros-Rosas
- Depto. Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Coyoacán 04510, Mexico
| | - Adrián Quintero-Martínez
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Coyoacán 04510, Mexico
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2
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Gerdol M, Nerelli DE, Martelossi N, Ogawa Y, Fujii Y, Pallavicini A, Ozeki Y. Taxonomic Distribution and Molecular Evolution of Mytilectins. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:614. [PMID: 38132935 PMCID: PMC10744619 DOI: 10.3390/md21120614] [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: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
R-type lectins are a widespread group of sugar-binding proteins found in nearly all domains of life, characterized by the presence of a carbohydrate-binding domain that adopts a β-trefoil fold. Mytilectins represent a recently described subgroup of β-trefoil lectins, which have been functionally characterized in a few mussel species (Mollusca, Bivalvia) and display attractive properties, which may fuel the development of artificial lectins with different biotechnological applications. The detection of different paralogous genes in mussels, together with the description of orthologous sequences in brachiopods, supports the formal description of mytilectins as a gene family. However, to date, an investigation of the taxonomic distribution of these lectins and their molecular diversification and evolution was still lacking. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the evolutionary history of mytilectins, revealing an ancient monophyletic evolutionary origin and a very broad but highly discontinuous taxonomic distribution, ranging from heteroscleromorphan sponges to ophiuroid and crinoid echinoderms. Moreover, the overwhelming majority of mytilectins display a chimera-like architecture, which combines the β-trefoil carbohydrate recognition domain with a C-terminal pore-forming domain, suggesting that the simpler structure of most functionally characterized mytilectins derives from a secondary domain loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Gerdol
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Daniela Eugenia Nerelli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Nicola Martelossi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Yukiko Ogawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, 2825-7 Huis Ten Bosch, Sasebo 859-3298, Japan
| | - Yuki Fujii
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, 2825-7 Huis Ten Bosch, Sasebo 859-3298, Japan
| | - Alberto Pallavicini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Yasuhiro Ozeki
- Graduate School of NanoBio Sciences, Yokohama City University, 22-2 Seto, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0027, Japan
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3
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Tomisch J, Busse V, Rosato F, Makshakova ON, Salavei P, Kittel AS, Gillon E, Lataster L, Imberty A, Meléndez AV, Römer W. A Shiga Toxin B-Subunit-Based Lectibody Boosts T Cell Cytotoxicity towards Gb3-Positive Cancer Cells. Cells 2023; 12:1896. [PMID: 37508560 PMCID: PMC10378424 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant glycosylation plays a crucial role in tumour progression and invasiveness. Tumour-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs) represent a valuable set of targets for immunotherapeutic approaches. The poor immunogenicity of glycan structures, however, requires a more effective and well-directed way of targeting TACAs on the surface of cancer cells than antibodies. The glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) is a well-established TACA present in a multitude of cancer types. Its overexpression has been linked to metastasis, invasiveness, and multidrug resistance. In the present study, we propose to use a dimeric fragment of the Shiga toxin B-subunit (StxB) to selectively target Gb3-positive cancer cells in a StxB-scFv UCHT1 lectibody. The lectibody, comprised of a lectin and the UCHT1 antibody fragment, was produced in E. coli and purified via Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. Specificity of the lectibody towards Gb3-positive cancer cell lines and specificity towards the CD3 receptor on T cells, was assessed using flow cytometry. We evaluated the efficacy of the lectibody in redirecting T cell cytotoxicity towards Gb3-overexpressing cancer cells in luciferase-based cytotoxicity in vitro assays. The StxB-scFv UCHT1 lectibody has proven specific for Gb3 and could induce the killing of up to 80% of Gb3-overexpressing cancer cells in haemorrhagic and solid tumours. The lectibody developed in this study, therefore, highlights the potential that lectibodies and lectins in general have for usage in immunotherapeutic approaches to boost the efficacy of established cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Tomisch
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Vincent Busse
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Francesca Rosato
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Olga N Makshakova
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Kazan Institute for Biochemistry and Biophysics, FRC Kazan Scientific Center of RAS, 420111 Kazan, Russia
| | - Pavel Salavei
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Core Facility Signalling Factory & Robotics, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anna-Sophia Kittel
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Emilie Gillon
- CNRS, CERMAV, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Levin Lataster
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anne Imberty
- CNRS, CERMAV, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Ana Valeria Meléndez
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Winfried Römer
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
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Tagami S. Why we are made of proteins and nucleic acids: Structural biology views on extraterrestrial life. Biophys Physicobiol 2023; 20:e200026. [PMID: 38496239 PMCID: PMC10941967 DOI: 10.2142/biophysico.bppb-v20.0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Is it a miracle that life exists on the Earth, or is it a common phenomenon in the universe? If extraterrestrial organisms exist, what are they like? To answer these questions, we must understand what kinds of molecules could evolve into life, or in other words, what properties are generally required to perform biological functions and store genetic information. This review summarizes recent findings on simple ancestral proteins, outlines the basic knowledge in textbooks, and discusses the generally required properties for biological molecules from structural biology viewpoints (e.g., restriction of shapes, and types of intra- and intermolecular interactions), leading to the conclusion that proteins and nucleic acids are at least one of the simplest (and perhaps very common) forms of catalytic and genetic biopolymers in the universe. This review article is an extended version of the Japanese article, On the Origin of Life: Coevolution between RNA and Peptide, published in SEIBUTSU BUTSURI Vol. 61, p. 232-235 (2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Tagami
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
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Saco A, Suárez H, Novoa B, Figueras A. A Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of the C-Type Lectin Gene Family Reveals Highly Expanded and Diversified Repertoires in Bivalves. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:md21040254. [PMID: 37103393 PMCID: PMC10140915 DOI: 10.3390/md21040254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
C-type lectins belong to a widely conserved family of lectins characterized in Metazoa. They show important functional diversity and immune implications, mainly as pathogen recognition receptors. In this work, C-type lectin-like proteins (CTLs) of a set of metazoan species were analyzed, revealing an important expansion in bivalve mollusks, which contrasted with the reduced repertoires of other mollusks, such as cephalopods. Orthology relationships demonstrated that these expanded repertoires consisted of CTL subfamilies conserved within Mollusca or Bivalvia and of lineage-specific subfamilies with orthology only between closely related species. Transcriptomic analyses revealed the importance of the bivalve subfamilies in mucosal immunity, as they were mainly expressed in the digestive gland and gills and modulated with specific stimuli. CTL domain-containing proteins that had additional domains (CTLDcps) were also studied, revealing interesting gene families with different conservation degrees of the CTL domain across orthologs from different taxa. Unique bivalve CTLDcps with specific domain architectures were revealed, corresponding to uncharacterized bivalve proteins with putative immune function according to their transcriptomic modulation, which could constitute interesting targets for functional characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaro Saco
- Institute of Marine Research IIM-CSIC, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Hugo Suárez
- Institute of Marine Research IIM-CSIC, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Beatriz Novoa
- Institute of Marine Research IIM-CSIC, 36208 Vigo, Spain
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Zhang W, Liu M, Wang Y, Wang X, Wang R, Li S, Yu L, Zhang F, Wang C. β-Sheet Assembly Translates Conservative Single-Site Mutation into a Perturbation in Macroscopic Structure. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:2370-2378. [PMID: 36897606 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c00311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Transferring structural information from amino acid sequence to macroscale assembly is a challenging approach for designing protein quaternary structure. However, the pathway by which the slight variations in sequence result in a global perturbation effect on the assembled structure is unknown. Herein, we design two synthetic peptides, QNL-His and QNL-Arg, with one amino acid substitution and use scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to image individual peptides in the assembled state. The submolecular resolution of STM enables us to determine the folding structure and β-sheet supramolecular organization of peptides. QNL-His and QNL-Arg differ in their β-strand length distribution in pleated β-sheet association. These structural variations lead to distinguishable outcomes in their β-sheet assembled fibrils and phase transitions. The comparison of QNL-His versus QNL-Arg structures and macroscopic properties unveils the role of assembly to amplify the structural variations associated with a single-site mutation from a single-molecule scale to a macroscopic scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
| | - Mingwei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
| | - Yang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
| | - Xin Wang
- Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, United States
| | - Ruonan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
| | - Shuyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
| | - Lanlan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
| | - Feiyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
- Institute for Advanced Materials, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P. R. China
| | - Chenxuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
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7
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Anderson DM, Jayanthi LP, Gosavi S, Meiering EM. Engineering the kinetic stability of a β-trefoil protein by tuning its topological complexity. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1021733. [PMID: 36845544 PMCID: PMC9945329 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1021733] [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: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Kinetic stability, defined as the rate of protein unfolding, is central to determining the functional lifetime of proteins, both in nature and in wide-ranging medical and biotechnological applications. Further, high kinetic stability is generally correlated with high resistance against chemical and thermal denaturation, as well as proteolytic degradation. Despite its significance, specific mechanisms governing kinetic stability remain largely unknown, and few studies address the rational design of kinetic stability. Here, we describe a method for designing protein kinetic stability that uses protein long-range order, absolute contact order, and simulated free energy barriers of unfolding to quantitatively analyze and predict unfolding kinetics. We analyze two β-trefoil proteins: hisactophilin, a quasi-three-fold symmetric natural protein with moderate stability, and ThreeFoil, a designed three-fold symmetric protein with extremely high kinetic stability. The quantitative analysis identifies marked differences in long-range interactions across the protein hydrophobic cores that partially account for the differences in kinetic stability. Swapping the core interactions of ThreeFoil into hisactophilin increases kinetic stability with close agreement between predicted and experimentally measured unfolding rates. These results demonstrate the predictive power of readily applied measures of protein topology for altering kinetic stability and recommend core engineering as a tractable target for rationally designing kinetic stability that may be widely applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lakshmi P. Jayanthi
- Simons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Shachi Gosavi
- Simons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Elizabeth M. Meiering
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada,*Correspondence: Elizabeth M. Meiering,
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8
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Filshtein AP, Chikalovets IV, Mizgina TO, Lukyanov PA, Hua KF, Chernikov OV. Spatial Structure of Lectin from the Mussel Mytilus trossulus: In-Sights from Molecular Modelling and Practical Proof. Mar Drugs 2022; 21:md21010010. [PMID: 36662183 PMCID: PMC9866010 DOI: 10.3390/md21010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Most proteins have the ability to self-associate into homooligomeric protein complexes, which consist of two or more identical subunits. Today, modern methods of molecular modeling are an integral part of the study of many biologically active molecules. In silico methods are widely used in structure establishing and function and activity prediction of lectins - carbohydrate-binding proteins. Here, we described by computer simulation the spatial organization of lectin isolated from the mantle of the mussel Mytilus trossulus (MTL). It was shown that the dimerization of MTL gives a total of six ligand binding sites that may be important for the manifestation its biological properties. The ability of MTL to form a dimeric and oligomeric structure was confirmed by dynamic light scattering and SDS-PAGE methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina P. Filshtein
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry FEB RAS, Vladivostok 690022, Russia
| | - Irina V. Chikalovets
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry FEB RAS, Vladivostok 690022, Russia
| | - Tatyana O. Mizgina
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry FEB RAS, Vladivostok 690022, Russia
| | - Pavel A. Lukyanov
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry FEB RAS, Vladivostok 690022, Russia
| | - Kuo-Feng Hua
- Department of Biotechnology and Animal Science, National Ilan University, Ilan 260007, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung 404327, Taiwan
| | - Oleg V. Chernikov
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry FEB RAS, Vladivostok 690022, Russia
- Correspondence:
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9
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Aguado R, Sanz-Novo M, Mata S, León I, Alonso JL. Unveiling the Shape of N-Acetylgalactosamine: A Cancer-Associated Sugar Derivative. J Phys Chem A 2022; 126:7621-7626. [PMID: 36099577 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c04595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In the present work, we report the first rotational study of N-acetylgalactosamine, a cancer-associated sugar derivative, by means of high-resolution rotational spectroscopy. Two different conformers have been conclusively characterized using broadband Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy coupled with a laser ablation vaporization system. Additionally, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the intramolecular interactions that govern these structures, which allowed us to both characterize the existence of intramolecular hydrogen bond networks that drive the intrinsic conformation panorama of N-acetylgalactosamine and further rationalize the biological role of this aminosugar derivative as part of the Tn antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Aguado
- Grupo de Espectroscopía Molecular (GEM), Edificio Quifima, Área de Química-Física, Laboratorios de Espectroscopía y Bioespectroscopía, Parque Científico UVa, Unidad Asociada CSIC, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid 47011, Spain
| | - M Sanz-Novo
- Grupo de Espectroscopía Molecular (GEM), Edificio Quifima, Área de Química-Física, Laboratorios de Espectroscopía y Bioespectroscopía, Parque Científico UVa, Unidad Asociada CSIC, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid 47011, Spain
| | - S Mata
- Grupo de Espectroscopía Molecular (GEM), Edificio Quifima, Área de Química-Física, Laboratorios de Espectroscopía y Bioespectroscopía, Parque Científico UVa, Unidad Asociada CSIC, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid 47011, Spain
| | - I León
- Grupo de Espectroscopía Molecular (GEM), Edificio Quifima, Área de Química-Física, Laboratorios de Espectroscopía y Bioespectroscopía, Parque Científico UVa, Unidad Asociada CSIC, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid 47011, Spain
| | - J L Alonso
- Grupo de Espectroscopía Molecular (GEM), Edificio Quifima, Área de Química-Física, Laboratorios de Espectroscopía y Bioespectroscopía, Parque Científico UVa, Unidad Asociada CSIC, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid 47011, Spain
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10
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The choanoflagellate pore-forming lectin SaroL-1 punches holes in cancer cells by targeting the tumor-related glycosphingolipid Gb3. Commun Biol 2022; 5:954. [PMID: 36097056 PMCID: PMC9468336 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03869-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Choanoflagellates are primitive protozoa used as models for animal evolution. They express a large variety of multi-domain proteins contributing to adhesion and cell communication, thereby providing a rich repertoire of molecules for biotechnology. Adhesion often involves proteins adopting a β-trefoil fold with carbohydrate-binding properties therefore classified as lectins. Sequence database screening with a dedicated method resulted in TrefLec, a database of 44714 β-trefoil candidate lectins across 4497 species. TrefLec was searched for original domain combinations, which led to single out SaroL-1 in the choanoflagellate Salpingoeca rosetta, that contains both β-trefoil and aerolysin-like pore-forming domains. Recombinant SaroL-1 is shown to bind galactose and derivatives, with a stronger affinity for cancer-related α-galactosylated epitopes such as the glycosphingolipid Gb3, when embedded in giant unilamellar vesicles or cell membranes. Crystal structures of complexes with Gb3 trisaccharide and GalNAc provided the basis for building a model of the oligomeric pore. Finally, recognition of the αGal epitope on glycolipids required for hemolysis of rabbit erythrocytes suggests that toxicity on cancer cells is achieved through carbohydrate-dependent pore-formation. A curated lectin database, structural characterization, and in vitro assays show that choanoflagellate lectin SaroL-1 binds to cancer-related α-galactosylated epitopes and can be toxic to cancer cells through a carbohydrate-dependent pore-formation mechanism.
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11
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Meléndez AV, Velasco Cárdenas RMH, Lagies S, Strietz J, Siukstaite L, Thomas OS, Tomisch J, Weber W, Kammerer B, Römer W, Minguet S. Novel lectin-based chimeric antigen receptors target Gb3-positive tumour cells. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:513. [PMID: 36097202 PMCID: PMC9468074 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04524-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The link between cancer and aberrant glycosylation has recently become evident. Glycans and their altered forms, known as tumour-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs), are diverse, complex and difficult to target therapeutically. Lectins are naturally occurring glycan-binding proteins that offer a unique opportunity to recognise TACAs. T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have proven to be a successful immunotherapy against leukaemias, but so far have shown limited success in solid tumours. We developed a panel of lectin-CARs that recognise the glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), which is overexpressed in various cancers, such as Burkitt's lymphoma, colorectal, breast and pancreatic. We have selected the following lectins: Shiga toxin's B-subunit from Shigella dysenteriae, LecA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the engineered lectin Mitsuba from Mytilus galloprovincialis as antigen-binding domains and fused them to a well-known second-generation CAR. The Gb3-binding lectin-CARs have demonstrated target-specific cytotoxicity against Burkitt's lymphoma-derived cell lines as well as solid tumour cells from colorectal and triple-negative breast cancer. Our findings reveal the big potential of lectin-based CARs as therapeutical applications to target Gb3 and other TACAs expressed in haematological malignancies and solid tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Valeria Meléndez
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- BIOSS, Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS, Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), University of Freiburg, Albertstraße 19a, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rubí M-H Velasco Cárdenas
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- BIOSS, Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS, Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon Lagies
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Albertstraße 21, 79102, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Lina Siukstaite
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- BIOSS, Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS, Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Oliver S Thomas
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- BIOSS, Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS, Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), University of Freiburg, Albertstraße 19a, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jana Tomisch
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- BIOSS, Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS, Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Wilfried Weber
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- BIOSS, Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS, Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), University of Freiburg, Albertstraße 19a, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Kammerer
- BIOSS, Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Albertstraße 21, 79102, Freiburg, Germany
- Centre for Integrative Signalling Analysis, University of Freiburg, Habsburgerstraße 49, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Winfried Römer
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
- BIOSS, Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
- CIBSS, Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), University of Freiburg, Albertstraße 19a, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
- Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Susana Minguet
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
- BIOSS, Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
- CIBSS, Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), University of Freiburg, Albertstraße 19a, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
- Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- Center of Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), University Clinics and Medical Faculty, Freiburg, Germany.
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12
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Blaber M. Variable and Conserved Regions of Secondary Structure in the β-Trefoil Fold: Structure Versus Function. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:889943. [PMID: 35517858 PMCID: PMC9062101 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.889943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
β-trefoil proteins exhibit an approximate C3 rotational symmetry. An analysis of the secondary structure for members of this diverse superfamily of proteins indicates that it is comprised of remarkably conserved β-strands and highly-divergent turn regions. A fundamental “minimal” architecture can be identified that is devoid of heterogenous and extended turn regions, and is conserved among all family members. Conversely, the different functional families of β-trefoils can potentially be identified by their unique turn patterns (or turn “signature”). Such analyses provide clues as to the evolution of the β-trefoil family, suggesting a folding/stability role for the β-strands and a functional role for turn regions. This viewpoint can also guide de novo protein design of β-trefoil proteins having novel functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Blaber
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States
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13
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Tenorio CA, Parker JB, Blaber M. Functionalization of a symmetric protein scaffold: Redundant folding nuclei and alternative oligomeric folding pathways. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4301. [PMID: 35481645 PMCID: PMC8996475 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Successful de novo protein design ideally targets specific folding kinetics, stability thermodynamics, and biochemical functionality, and the simultaneous achievement of all these criteria in a single step design is challenging. Protein design is potentially simplified by separating the problem into two steps: (a) an initial design of a protein "scaffold" having appropriate folding kinetics and stability thermodynamics, followed by (b) appropriate functional mutation-possibly involving insertion of a peptide functional "cassette." This stepwise approach can also separate the orthogonal effects of the "stability/function" and "foldability/function" tradeoffs commonly observed in protein design. If the scaffold is a protein architecture having an exact rotational symmetry, then there is the potential for redundant folding nuclei and multiple equivalent sites of functionalization; thereby enabling broader functional adaptation. We describe such a "scaffold" and functional "cassette" design strategy applied to a β-trefoil threefold symmetric architecture and a heparin ligand functionality. The results support the availability of redundant folding nuclei within this symmetric architecture, and also identify a minimal peptide cassette conferring heparin affinity. The results also identify an energy barrier of destabilization that switches the protein folding pathway from monomeric to trimeric, thereby identifying another potential advantage of symmetric protein architecture in de novo design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connie A. Tenorio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Florida State University Tallahassee Florida USA
| | - Joseph B. Parker
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Florida State University Tallahassee Florida USA
| | - Michael Blaber
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Florida State University Tallahassee Florida USA
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14
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Siukstaite L, Imberty A, Römer W. Structural Diversities of Lectins Binding to the Glycosphingolipid Gb3. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:704685. [PMID: 34381814 PMCID: PMC8350385 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.704685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycolipids are present on the surfaces of all living cells and thereby represent targets for many protein receptors, such as lectins. Understanding the interactions between lectins and glycolipids is essential for investigating the functions of lectins and the dynamics of glycolipids in living membranes. This review focuses on lectins binding to the glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), an attractive host cell receptor, particularly for pathogens and pathogenic products. Shiga toxin (Stx), from Shigella dysenteriae or Escherichia coli, which is one of the most virulent bacterial toxins, binds and clusters Gb3, leading to local negative membrane curvature and the formation of tubular plasma membrane invaginations as the initial step for clathrin-independent endocytosis. After internalization, it is embracing the retrograde transport pathway. In comparison, the homotetrameric lectin LecA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa can also bind to Gb3, triggering the so-called lipid zipper mechanism, which results in membrane engulfment of the bacterium as an important step for its cellular uptake. Notably, both lectins bind to Gb3 but induce distinct plasma membrane domains and exploit mainly different transport pathways. Not only, several other Gb3-binding lectins have been described from bacterial origins, such as the adhesins SadP (from Streptococcus suis) and PapG (from E. coli), but also from animal, fungal, or plant origins. The variety of amino acid sequences and folds demonstrates the structural versatilities of Gb3-binding lectins and asks the question of the evolution of specificity and carbohydrate recognition in different kingdoms of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Siukstaite
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anne Imberty
- CNRS, CERMAV, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Winfried Römer
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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15
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Fujii Y. [Cell Function Research of β-Trefoil Lectins from Mytilidae]. YAKUGAKU ZASSHI 2021; 141:481-488. [PMID: 33790114 DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.20-00215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Two novel β-trefoil lectins, MytiLec-1 and SeviL were found from mussels in the coast of Yokohama and Nagasaki. MytiLec-1 was purified from gill and mantle of Mytilus galloprovincialis. It was consisted of 149 amino acid residues and there was no similarity with any other proteins when it was discovered. We advocate for this "Mytilectin" as a new protein family because of their novelty of its primary structure and homologues were also found in other mussels. Glycan array analysis revealed that MytiLec-1 specifically bound to the Gb3 and Gb4 glycan which contained the α-galactoside. MytiLec-1 caused the apoptosis against the Burkitt's lymphoma cells through the interaction of Gb3 express in their cell surface. On the other hand, SeviL obtained from gill and mantle of Mytilisepta virgata showed the specific binding against GM1b, asialo GM1 and SSEA-4 which are known as glycosphingolipid glycan including the β-galactoside. In addition, SeviL was identified as R type lectin by confirmation of QXW motif within its primary structure. Messenger RNA of SeviL like R type lectins was also found among the musssels including Mytilus galloprovincialis. SeviL also showed the apoptosis against asialo GM1 expressing cells. To apply the anticancer lectin as a novel molecular target drug, primary structure of MytiLec-1 was analyzed to enhance the stabilization of confirmation by computational design technique. It was succeeded to produce a monomeric artificial β-trefoil lectin, Mitsuba-1 without losing the Gb3 binding ability. Comparison of biological function between Mitsuba-1 and MytiLec-1 is also described in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Fujii
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University
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16
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Blaber M. Cooperative hydrophobic core interactions in the β-trefoil architecture. Protein Sci 2021; 30:956-965. [PMID: 33686691 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Symmetric protein architectures have a compelling aesthetic that suggests a plausible evolutionary process (i.e., gene duplication/fusion) yielding complex architecture from a simpler structural motif. Furthermore, symmetry inspires a practical approach to computational protein design that substantially reduces the combinatorial explosion problem, and may provide practical solutions for structure optimization. Despite such broad relevance, the role of structural symmetry in the key area of hydrophobic core-packing cooperativity has not been adequately studied. In the present report, the threefold rotational symmetry intrinsic to the β-trefoil architecture is shown to form a geometric basis for highly-cooperative core-packing interactions that both stabilize the local repeating motif and promote oligomerization/long-range contacts in the folding process. Symmetry in the β-trefoil structure also permits tolerance towards mutational drift that involves a structural quasi-equivalence at several key core positions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Blaber
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
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17
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Vrancken JPM, Noguchi H, Zhang KYJ, Tame JRH, Voet ARD. The symmetric designer protein Pizza as a scaffold for metal coordination. Proteins 2021; 89:945-951. [PMID: 33713051 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Symmetric proteins are currently of interest as they allow creation of larger assemblies and facilitate the incorporation of metal ions in the larger complexes. Recently this was demonstrated by the biomineralization of the cadmium-chloride nanocrystal via the Pizza designer protein. However, the mechanism behind this formation remained unclear. Here, we set out to investigate the mechanism driving the formation of this nanocrystal via truncation, mutation, and circular permutations. In addition, the interaction of other biologically relevant metal ions with these symmetric proteins to form larger symmetric complexes was also studied. The formation of the initial nanocrystal is shown to originate from steric strain, where His 58 induces a different rotameric conformation on His 73, thereby distorting an otherwise perfect planar ring of alternating cadmium and chlorine ions, resulting in the smallest nanocrystal. Similar highly symmetric complexes were also observed for the other biological relevant metal ions. However, the flexibility of the coordinating histidine residues allows each metal ion to adopt its preferred geometry leading to either monomeric or dimeric β-propeller units, where the metal ions are located at the interface between both propeller units. These results demonstrate that symmetric proteins are not only interesting to generate larger assemblies, but are also the perfect scaffold to create more complex metal based assemblies. Such metal protein assemblies may then find applications in bionanotechnology or biocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen P M Vrancken
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hiroki Noguchi
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kam Y J Zhang
- Laboratory for Structural Bioinformatics, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Jeremy R H Tame
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Arnout R D Voet
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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18
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Vrancken JPM, Tame JRH, Voet ARD. Development and applications of artificial symmetrical proteins. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:3959-3968. [PMID: 33335692 PMCID: PMC7734218 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.10.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the determination of the first molecular models of proteins there has been interest in creating proteins artificially, but such methods have only become widely successful in the last decade. Gradual improvements over a long period of time have now yielded numerous examples of non-natural proteins, many of which are built from repeated elements. In this review we discuss the design of such symmetrical proteins and their various applications in chemistry and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen P M Vrancken
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200G, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeremy R H Tame
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Arnout R D Voet
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200G, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
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19
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Zhang W, Mo S, Liu M, Liu L, Yu L, Wang C. Rationally Designed Protein Building Blocks for Programmable Hierarchical Architectures. Front Chem 2020; 8:587975. [PMID: 33195088 PMCID: PMC7658299 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.587975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Diverse natural/artificial proteins have been used as building blocks to construct a variety of well-ordered nanoscale structures over the past couple of decades. Sophisticated protein self-assemblies have attracted great scientific interests due to their potential applications in disease diagnosis, illness treatment, biomechanics, bio-optics and bio-electronics, etc. This review outlines recent efforts directed to the creation of structurally defined protein assemblies including one-dimensional (1D) strings/rings/tubules, two-dimensional (2D) planar sheets and three-dimensional (3D) polyhedral scaffolds. We elucidate various innovative strategies for manipulating proteins to self-assemble into desired architectures. The emergent applications of protein assemblies as versatile platforms in medicine and material science with improved performances have also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shanshan Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Mingwei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Lanlan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chenxuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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20
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Blaber M. Conserved buried water molecules enable the β-trefoil architecture. Protein Sci 2020; 29:1794-1802. [PMID: 32542709 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Available high-resolution crystal structures for the family of β-trefoil proteins in the structural databank were queried for buried waters. Such waters were classified as either: (a) unique to a particular domain, family, or superfamily or (b) conserved among all β-trefoil folds. Three buried waters conserved among all β-trefoil folds were identified. These waters are related by the threefold rotational pseudosymmetry characteristic of this protein architecture (representing three instances of an identical structural environment within each repeating trefoil-fold motif). The structural properties of this buried water are remarkable and include: residing in a cavity space no larger than a single water molecule, exhibiting a positional uncertainty (i.e., normalized B-factor) substantially lower than the average Cα atom, providing essentially ideal H-bonding geometry with three solvent-inaccessible main chain groups, simultaneously serving as a bridging H-bond for three different β-strands at a point of secondary structure divergence, and orienting conserved hydrophobic side chains to form a nascent core-packing group. Other published work supports an interpretation that these interactions are key to the formation of an efficient folding nucleus and folded thermostability. The fundamental threefold symmetric structural element of the β-trefoil fold is therefore, surprisingly, a buried water molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Blaber
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
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21
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Khan F, Kurre D, Suguna K. Crystal structures of a β-trefoil lectin from Entamoeba histolytica in monomeric and a novel disulfide bond-mediated dimeric forms. Glycobiology 2020; 30:474-488. [DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwaa001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2018] [Revised: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstractβ-Trefoil lectins are galactose/N-acetyl galactosamine specific lectins, which are widely distributed across all kingdoms of life and are known to perform several important functions. However, there is no report available on the characterization of these lectins from protozoans. We have performed structural and biophysical studies on a β-trefoil lectin from Entamoeba histolytica (EntTref), which exists as a mixture of monomers and dimers in solution. Further, we have determined the affinities of EntTref for rhamnose, galactose and different galactose-linked sugars. We obtained the crystal structure of EntTref in a sugar-free form (EntTref_apo) and a rhamnose-bound form (EntTref_rham). A novel Cys residue-mediated dimerization was revealed in the crystal structure of EntTref_apo while the structure of EntTref_rham provided the structural basis for the recognition of rhamnose by a β-trefoil lectin for the first time. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only report of the structural, functional and biophysical characterization of a β-trefoil lectin from a protozoan source and the first report of Cys-mediated dimerization in this class of lectins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farha Khan
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, CV Raman Rd, 560012, India
| | - Devanshu Kurre
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, CV Raman Rd, 560012, India
| | - K Suguna
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, CV Raman Rd, 560012, India
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22
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Activity Dependence of a Novel Lectin Family on Structure and Carbohydrate-Binding Properties. Molecules 2019; 25:molecules25010150. [PMID: 31905927 PMCID: PMC6983116 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25010150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A GalNAc/Gal-specific lectins named CGL and MTL were isolated and characterized from the edible mussels Crenomytilus grayanus and Mytilus trossulus. Amino acid sequence analysis of these lectins showed that they, together with another lectin MytiLec-1, formed a novel lectin family, adopting β-trefoil fold. In this mini review we discuss the structure, oligomerization, and carbohydrate-binding properties of a novel lectin family. We describe also the antibacterial, antifungal, and antiproliferative activities of these lectins and report about dependence of activities on molecular properties. Summarizing, CGL, MTL, and MytiLec-1 could be involved in the immunity in mollusks and may become a basis for the elaboration of new diagnostic tools or treatments for a variety of cancers.
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23
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Notova S, Bonnardel F, Lisacek F, Varrot A, Imberty A. Structure and engineering of tandem repeat lectins. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2019; 62:39-47. [PMID: 31841833 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Through their ability to bind complex glycoconjugates, lectins have unique specificity and potential for biomedical and biotechnological applications. In particular, lectins with short repeated peptides forming carbohydrate-binding domains are not only of high interest for understanding protein evolution but can also be used as scaffold for engineering novel receptors. Synthetic glycobiology now provides the tools for engineering the specificity of lectins as well as their structure, multivalency and topologies. This review focuses on the structure and diversity of two families of tandem-repeat lectins, that is, β-trefoils and β-propellers, demonstrated as the most promising scaffold for engineering novel lectins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Notova
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - François Bonnardel
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, 38000 Grenoble, France; SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, CH-1227 Geneva, Switzerland; Computer Science Department, UniGe, CH-1227 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Frédérique Lisacek
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, CH-1227 Geneva, Switzerland; Computer Science Department, UniGe, CH-1227 Geneva, Switzerland; Section of Biology, UniGe, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Anne Imberty
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CERMAV, 38000 Grenoble, France.
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24
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Hasan I, Asaduzzaman AKM, Swarna RR, Fujii Y, Ozeki Y, Uddin MB, Kabir SR. MytiLec-1 Shows Glycan-Dependent Toxicity against Brine Shrimp Artemia and Induces Apoptotic Death of Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Cells In Vivo. Mar Drugs 2019; 17:md17090502. [PMID: 31466257 PMCID: PMC6780975 DOI: 10.3390/md17090502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
MytiLec-1, a 17 kDa lectin with β-trefoil folding that was isolated from the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) bound to the disaccharide melibiose, Galα(1,6) Glc, and the trisaccharide globotriose, Galα(1,4) Galβ(1,4) Glc. Toxicity of the lectin was found to be low with an LC50 value of 384.53 μg/mL, determined using the Artemia nauplii lethality assay. A fluorescence assay was carried out to evaluate the glycan-dependent binding of MytiLec-1 to Artemia nauplii. The lectin strongly agglutinated Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells cultured in vivo in Swiss albino mice. When injected intraperitoneally to the mice at doses of 1.0 mg/kg/day and 2.0 mg/kg/day for five consecutive days, MytiLec-1 inhibited 27.62% and 48.57% of cancer cell growth, respectively. Antiproliferative activity of the lectin against U937 and HeLa cells was studied by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in vitro in RPMI-1640 medium. MytiLec-1 internalized into U937 cells and 50 μg/mL of the lectin inhibited their growth of to 62.70% whereas 53.59% cell growth inhibition was observed against EAC cells when incubated for 24 h. Cell morphological study and expression of apoptosis-related genes (p53, Bax, Bcl-X, and NF-κB) showed that the lectin possibly triggered apoptosis in these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imtiaj Hasan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh.
| | - A K M Asaduzzaman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Rubaiya Rafique Swarna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Yuki Fujii
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Nagasaki International University, 2825-7 Huis Ten Bosch, Sasebo, Nagasaki 859-3298, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Ozeki
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, School of Sciences, Yokohama City University, 22-2 Seto, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0027, Japan
| | - Md Belal Uddin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Syed Rashel Kabir
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh.
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25
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Fernández Robledo JA, Yadavalli R, Allam B, Pales Espinosa E, Gerdol M, Greco S, Stevick RJ, Gómez-Chiarri M, Zhang Y, Heil CA, Tracy AN, Bishop-Bailey D, Metzger MJ. From the raw bar to the bench: Bivalves as models for human health. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 92:260-282. [PMID: 30503358 PMCID: PMC6511260 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2018.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Bivalves, from raw oysters to steamed clams, are popular choices among seafood lovers and once limited to the coastal areas. The rapid growth of the aquaculture industry and improvement in the preservation and transport of seafood have enabled them to be readily available anywhere in the world. Over the years, oysters, mussels, scallops, and clams have been the focus of research for improving the production, managing resources, and investigating basic biological and ecological questions. During this decade, an impressive amount of information using high-throughput genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic technologies has been produced in various classes of the Mollusca group, and it is anticipated that basic and applied research will significantly benefit from this resource. One aspect that is also taking momentum is the use of bivalves as a model system for human health. In this review, we highlight some of the aspects of the biology of bivalves that have direct implications in human health including the shell formation, stem cells and cell differentiation, the ability to fight opportunistic and specific pathogens in the absence of adaptive immunity, as source of alternative drugs, mucosal immunity and, microbiome turnover, toxicology, and cancer research. There is still a long way to go; however, the next time you order a dozen oysters at your favorite raw bar, think about a tasty model organism that will not only please your palate but also help unlock multiple aspects of molluscan biology and improve human health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bassem Allam
- Stony Brook University, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | | | - Marco Gerdol
- University of Trieste, Department of Life Sciences, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Samuele Greco
- University of Trieste, Department of Life Sciences, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Rebecca J Stevick
- University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA
| | - Marta Gómez-Chiarri
- University of Rhode Island, Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Ying Zhang
- University of Rhode Island, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Cynthia A Heil
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME, 04544, USA
| | - Adrienne N Tracy
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME, 04544, USA; Colby College, Waterville, 4,000 Mayflower Hill Dr, ME, 04901, USA
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26
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Hasan I, Gerdol M, Fujii Y, Ozeki Y. Functional Characterization of OXYL, A SghC1qDC LacNAc-specific Lectin from The Crinoid Feather Star Anneissia Japonica. Mar Drugs 2019; 17:md17020136. [PMID: 30823584 PMCID: PMC6409975 DOI: 10.3390/md17020136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We identified a lectin (carbohydrate-binding protein) belonging to the complement 1q(C1q) family in the feather star Anneissia japonica (a crinoid pertaining to the phylum Echinodermata). The combination of Edman degradation and bioinformatics sequence analysis characterized the primary structure of this novel lectin, named OXYL, as a secreted 158 amino acid-long globular head (sgh)C1q domain containing (C1qDC) protein. Comparative genomics analyses revealed that OXYL pertains to a family of intronless genes found with several paralogous copies in different crinoid species. Immunohistochemistry assays identified the tissues surrounding coelomic cavities and the arms as the main sites of production of OXYL. Glycan array confirmed that this lectin could quantitatively bind to type-2 N-acetyllactosamine (LacNAc: Galβ1-4GlcNAc), but not to type-1 LacNAc (Galβ1-3GlcNAc). Although OXYL displayed agglutinating activity towards Pseudomonas aeruginosa, it had no effect on bacterial growth. On the other hand, it showed a significant anti-biofilm activity. We provide evidence that OXYL can adhere to the surface of human cancer cell lines BT-474, MCF-7, and T47D, with no cytotoxic effect. In BT-474 cells, OXYL led to a moderate activation of the p38 kinase in the MAPK signaling pathway, without affecting the activity of caspase-3. Bacterial agglutination, anti-biofilm activity, cell adhesion, and p38 activation were all suppressed by co-presence of LacNAc. This is the first report on a type-2 LacNAc-specific lectin characterized by a C1q structural fold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imtiaj Hasan
- Graduate School of NanoBio Sciences, Yokohama City University, 22-2 Seto, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0027, Japan.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh.
| | - Marco Gerdol
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Yuki Fujii
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, 2825-7 Huis Ten Bosch, Sasebo, Nagasaki 859-3298, Japan.
| | - Yasuhiro Ozeki
- Graduate School of NanoBio Sciences, Yokohama City University, 22-2 Seto, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0027, Japan.
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27
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Noguchi H, Addy C, Simoncini D, Wouters S, Mylemans B, Van Meervelt L, Schiex T, Zhang KYJ, Tame JRH, Voet ARD. Computational design of symmetrical eight-bladed β-propeller proteins. IUCRJ 2019; 6:46-55. [PMID: 30713702 PMCID: PMC6327176 DOI: 10.1107/s205225251801480x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
β-Propeller proteins form one of the largest families of protein structures, with a pseudo-symmetrical fold made up of subdomains called blades. They are not only abundant but are also involved in a wide variety of cellular processes, often by acting as a platform for the assembly of protein complexes. WD40 proteins are a subfamily of propeller proteins with no intrinsic enzymatic activity, but their stable, modular architecture and versatile surface have allowed evolution to adapt them to many vital roles. By computationally reverse-engineering the duplication, fusion and diversification events in the evolutionary history of a WD40 protein, a perfectly symmetrical homologue called Tako8 was made. If two or four blades of Tako8 are expressed as single polypeptides, they do not self-assemble to complete the eight-bladed architecture, which may be owing to the closely spaced negative charges inside the ring. A different computational approach was employed to redesign Tako8 to create Ika8, a fourfold-symmetrical protein in which neighbouring blades carry compensating charges. Ika2 and Ika4, carrying two or four blades per subunit, respectively, were found to assemble spontaneously into a complete eight-bladed ring in solution. These artificial eight-bladed rings may find applications in bionanotechnology and as models to study the folding and evolution of WD40 proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Noguchi
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200G, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christine Addy
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - David Simoncini
- MIAT, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Staf Wouters
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200G, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bram Mylemans
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200G, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Luc Van Meervelt
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Architecture, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas Schiex
- MIAT, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Kam Y. J. Zhang
- Laboratory for Structural Bioinformatics, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Jeremy R. H. Tame
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Arnout R. D. Voet
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200G, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
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28
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Fujii Y, Gerdol M, Hasan I, Koide Y, Matsuzaki R, Ikeda M, Rajia S, Ogawa Y, Kawsar SMA, Ozeki Y. Phylogeny and Properties of a Novel Lectin Family with β-Trefoil Folding in Mussels. TRENDS GLYCOSCI GLYC 2018. [DOI: 10.4052/tigg.1717.1e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Fujii
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University
| | - Marco Gerdol
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
| | - Imtiaj Hasan
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Yokohama City University
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi
| | - Yasuhiro Koide
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Yokohama City University
| | - Risa Matsuzaki
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Yokohama City University
| | - Mayu Ikeda
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Yokohama City University
| | - Sultana Rajia
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Yokohama City University
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Varendra University
| | - Yukiko Ogawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University
| | - S. M. Abe Kawsar
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Yokohama City University
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Chittagong
| | - Yasuhiro Ozeki
- Department of Life and Environmental System Science, Yokohama City University
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29
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Alva V, Lupas AN. From ancestral peptides to designed proteins. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2017; 48:103-109. [PMID: 29195087 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2017.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The diversity of modern proteins arose through the combinatorial shuffling and differentiation of a limited number of autonomously folding domain prototypes, but the origin of these prototypes themselves has long remained poorly understood. In recent years, the proposal that they originated by repetition, accretion, and recombination from an ancestral set of peptides, which evolved as cofactors of RNA-based replication and catalysis, has gained wide acceptance, supported by the systematic identification of such ancestral peptides and the experimental recapitulation of the mechanisms by which they could have yielded the first folded proteins. Inspired by this evolutionary process, protein engineers have seized on design from pre-optimized peptide components as a powerful approach to generating proteins with novel topology and functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikram Alva
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andrei N Lupas
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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