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Escalona-Rodriguez FA, Cruz-Leal Y, La O-Bonet J, Pérez-Erviti JA, Valdés-Tresanco ME, Rivero-Hernández AL, Sifontes-Niebla M, Manso-Vargas A, Sánchez B, Alvarez C, Barbosa LRS, Itri R, Lanio ME. Unveiling Sticholysin II and plasmid DNA interaction: Implications for developing non-viral vectors. Toxicon 2024; 238:107571. [PMID: 38141971 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107571] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Non-viral gene delivery systems offer significant potential for gene therapy due to their versatility, safety, and cost advantages over viral vectors. However, their effectiveness can be hindered by the challenge of efficiently releasing the genetic cargo from endosomes to prevent degradation in lysosomes. To overcome this obstacle, functional components can be incorporated into these systems. Sticholysin II (StII) is one of the pore-forming proteins derived from the sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus, known for its high ability to permeabilize cellular and model membranes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the interaction between StII, and a model plasmid (pDNA) as an initial step towards designing an improved vector with enhanced endosomal escape capability. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) confirmed the formation of complexes between StII and pDNA. Computational predictions identified specific residues involved in the StII-DNA interaction interface, highlighting the importance of electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds in mediating the binding. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) of StII-pDNA complexes revealed the presence of nodular fiber and toroid shapes. These complexes were found to have a predominantly micrometer size, as confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. Despite increase in the overall charge, the complexes formed at the evaluated nitrogen-to-phosphorus (N/P) ratios still maintained a negative charge. Moreover, StII retained its pore-forming capacity regardless of its binding to the complexes. These findings suggest that the potential ability of StII to permeabilize endosomal membranes could be largely maintained when combined with nucleic acid delivery systems. Additionally, the still remaining negative charge of the complexes would enable the association of another positively charged component to compact pDNA. However, to minimize non-specific cytotoxic effects, it is advisable to explore methods to regulate the protein's activity in response to the microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe A Escalona-Rodriguez
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana (UH), 25th Street, Corner to J Street, Square of Revolution, Havana, 10400, Cuba; NanoCancer, Molecular Immunology Center (CIM), 216 Street, Corner to 15 Street, Playa, Havana, 11600, Cuba.
| | - Yoelys Cruz-Leal
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana (UH), 25th Street, Corner to J Street, Square of Revolution, Havana, 10400, Cuba.
| | - Javier La O-Bonet
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana (UH), 25th Street, Corner to J Street, Square of Revolution, Havana, 10400, Cuba; NanoCancer, Molecular Immunology Center (CIM), 216 Street, Corner to 15 Street, Playa, Havana, 11600, Cuba.
| | - Julio A Pérez-Erviti
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana (UH), 25th Street, Corner to J Street, Square of Revolution, Havana, 10400, Cuba.
| | - Mario Ernesto Valdés-Tresanco
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana (UH), 25th Street, Corner to J Street, Square of Revolution, Havana, 10400, Cuba.
| | - Ada L Rivero-Hernández
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana (UH), 25th Street, Corner to J Street, Square of Revolution, Havana, 10400, Cuba; NanoCancer, Molecular Immunology Center (CIM), 216 Street, Corner to 15 Street, Playa, Havana, 11600, Cuba.
| | - Maricary Sifontes-Niebla
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana (UH), 25th Street, Corner to J Street, Square of Revolution, Havana, 10400, Cuba; NanoCancer, Molecular Immunology Center (CIM), 216 Street, Corner to 15 Street, Playa, Havana, 11600, Cuba.
| | - Alexis Manso-Vargas
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Direction, Molecular Immunology Center (CIM), 216 Street, Corner to 15 Street, Playa, Havana, 11600, Cuba.
| | - Belinda Sánchez
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Direction, Molecular Immunology Center (CIM), 216 Street, Corner to 15 Street, Playa, Havana, 11600, Cuba.
| | - Carlos Alvarez
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana (UH), 25th Street, Corner to J Street, Square of Revolution, Havana, 10400, Cuba; NanoCancer, Molecular Immunology Center (CIM), 216 Street, Corner to 15 Street, Playa, Havana, 11600, Cuba.
| | - Leandro R S Barbosa
- Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-090, Brazil; Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, 13083-100, SP, Brazil.
| | - Rosangela Itri
- Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-090, Brazil.
| | - María E Lanio
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana (UH), 25th Street, Corner to J Street, Square of Revolution, Havana, 10400, Cuba; NanoCancer, Molecular Immunology Center (CIM), 216 Street, Corner to 15 Street, Playa, Havana, 11600, Cuba.
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Hervis YP, Valle A, Canet L, Rodríguez A, Lanio ME, Alvarez C, Steinhoff HJ, Pazos IF. Cys mutants as tools to study the oligomerization of the pore-forming toxin sticholysin I. Toxicon 2023; 222:106994. [PMID: 36529153 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.106994] [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: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Sticholysin I (StI) is a water-soluble protein with the ability to bind membranes where it oligomerizes and forms pores leading to cell death. Understanding the assembly property of this protein may be valuable for designing potential biotechnological tools, such as stable or structurally defined nanopores. In order to get insights into the stabilization of StI oligomers by disulfide bonds, we designed and characterized single and double cysteine mutants at the oligomerization interface. The oligomer formation was induced in the presence of lipid membranes and visualized by SDS-PAGE. The contribution of the oligomeric structures to the membrane binding and pore-forming capacities of StI was assessed. Single and double cysteine introduction at the protein-protein oligomerization interface does not considerably affect the conformation and function of the monomeric protein. In the presence of membranes, a cysteine double mutation at positions 15 and 59 favored formation of different size oligomers stabilized by disulfide bonds. The results of this work highlight the relevance of these positions (15 and 59) to be considered for developing biosensors based on nanopores from StI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yadira P Hervis
- Center for Protein Studies/Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, Havana, ZIP 10400, Cuba.
| | - Aisel Valle
- Center for Protein Studies/Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, Havana, ZIP 10400, Cuba.
| | - Liem Canet
- Center for Protein Studies/Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, Havana, ZIP 10400, Cuba.
| | | | - Maria E Lanio
- Center for Protein Studies/Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, Havana, ZIP 10400, Cuba.
| | - Carlos Alvarez
- Center for Protein Studies/Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, Havana, ZIP 10400, Cuba.
| | - Heinz J Steinhoff
- Department of Physics, University of Osnabrueck, Osnabrueck, 49069, Germany.
| | - Isabel F Pazos
- Center for Protein Studies/Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, Havana, ZIP 10400, Cuba.
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Kumar H, Jimah JR, Misal SA, Salinas ND, Fried M, Schlesinger PH, Tolia NH. Implications of conformational flexibility, lipid binding, and regulatory domains in cell traversal-protein CelTOS for apicomplexan migration. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102241. [PMID: 35809642 PMCID: PMC9400078 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria and other apicomplexan-caused diseases affect millions of humans, agricultural animals, and pets. Cell traversal is a common feature used by multiple apicomplexan parasites to migrate through host cells and can be exploited to develop therapeutics against these deadly parasites. Here, we provide insights into the mechanism of the Cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (CelTOS), a conserved cell-traversal protein in apicomplexan parasites and malaria vaccine candidate. CelTOS has previously been shown to form pores in cell membranes to enable traversal of parasites through cells. We establish roles for the distinct protein regions of Plasmodium vivax CelTOS and examine the mechanism of pore formation. We further demonstrate that CelTOS dimer dissociation is required for pore formation, as disulfide bridging between monomers inhibits pore formation, and this inhibition is rescued by disulfide-bridge reduction. We also show that a helix-destabilizing amino acid, Pro127, allows CelTOS to undergo significant conformational changes to assemble into pores. The flexible C terminus of CelTOS is a negative regulator that limits pore formation. Finally, we highlight that lipid binding is a prerequisite for pore assembly as mutation of a phospholipids-binding site in CelTOS resulted in loss of lipid binding and abrogated pore formation. These findings identify critical regions in CelTOS and will aid in understanding the egress mechanism of malaria and other apicomplexan parasites as well as have implications for studying the function of other essential pore-forming proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirdesh Kumar
- Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland
| | - John R Jimah
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Santosh A Misal
- Molecular Pathogenesis and Biomarkers Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nichole D Salinas
- Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Michal Fried
- Molecular Pathogenesis and Biomarkers Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Paul H Schlesinger
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington, University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, United States
| | - Niraj H Tolia
- Host-Pathogen Interactions and Structural Vaccinology Section, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland.
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Istvan P, Souza AA, Garay AV, Dos Santos DFK, de Oliveira GM, Santana RH, Lopes FAC, de Freitas SM, Barbosa JARG, Krüger RH. Structural and functional characterization of a novel lipolytic enzyme from a Brazilian Cerrado soil metagenomic library. Biotechnol Lett 2018; 40:1395-1406. [PMID: 30062528 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-018-2598-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To isolate putative lipase enzymes by screening a Cerrado soil metagenomic library with novel features. RESULTS Of 6720 clones evaluated, Clone W (10,000 bp) presented lipolytic activity and four predicted coding sequences, one of them LipW. Characterization of a predicted esterase/lipase, LipW, showed 28% sequence identity with an arylesterase from Pseudomonas fluorescens (pdb|3HEA) from protein database (PDB). Phylogenetic analysis showed LipW clustered with family V lipases; however, LipW was clustered in different subclade belonged to family V, suggesting a different subgroup of family V. In addition, LipW presented a difference in family V GH motif, a glycine replaced by a serine in GH motif. Estimated molecular weight and stokes radius values of LipW were 29,338.67-29,411.98 Da and 2.58-2.83 nm, respectively. Optimal enzyme activity was observed at pH 9.0-9.5 and at 40 °C. Circular dichroism analysis estimated secondary structures percentages as approximately 45% α-helix and 15% β-sheet, consistent with the 3D structure predicted by homology. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate the isolation of novel family V lipolytic enzyme with biotechnological applications from a metagenomic library.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Istvan
- Laboratório de Enzimologia, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto Central de Ciências Sul, Universidade de Brasília - UnB, Brasília, DF, 700910-900, Brazil
| | - Amanda Araújo Souza
- Laboratório de Biofísica, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Aisel Valle Garay
- Laboratório de Biofísica, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Debora Farage Knupp Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Enzimologia, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto Central de Ciências Sul, Universidade de Brasília - UnB, Brasília, DF, 700910-900, Brazil
| | - Gideane Mendes de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Biofísica, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | | | - Fabyano Alvares Cardoso Lopes
- Laboratório de Enzimologia, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto Central de Ciências Sul, Universidade de Brasília - UnB, Brasília, DF, 700910-900, Brazil
| | - Sonia Maria de Freitas
- Laboratório de Biofísica, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Henrique Krüger
- Laboratório de Enzimologia, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto Central de Ciências Sul, Universidade de Brasília - UnB, Brasília, DF, 700910-900, Brazil.
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