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Li W, Jacobsen MT, Park C, Jung JU, Lin NP, Huang PS, Lal RA, Chou DHC. A cysteine-specific solubilizing tag strategy enables efficient chemical protein synthesis of difficult targets. Chem Sci 2024; 15:3214-3222. [PMID: 38425513 PMCID: PMC10901488 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06032b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
We developed a new cysteine-specific solubilizing tag strategy via a cysteine-conjugated succinimide. This solubilizing tag remains stable under common native chemical ligation conditions and can be efficiently removed with palladium-based catalysts. Utilizing this approach, we synthesized two proteins containing notably difficult peptide segments: interleukin-2 (IL-2) and insulin. This IL-2 chemical synthesis represents the simplest and most efficient approach to date, which is enabled by the cysteine-specific solubilizing tag to synthesize and ligate long peptide segments. Additionally, we synthesized a T8P insulin variant, previously identified in an infant with neonatal diabetes. We show that T8P insulin exhibits reduced bioactivity (a 30-fold decrease compared to standard insulin), potentially contributing to the onset of diabetes in these patients. In summary, our work provides an efficient tool to synthesize challenging proteins and opens new avenues for exploring research directions in understanding their biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenchao Li
- División of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University Palo Alto CA 94305 USA
| | - Michael T Jacobsen
- División of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University Palo Alto CA 94305 USA
| | - Claire Park
- División of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University Palo Alto CA 94305 USA
| | - Jae Un Jung
- División of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University Palo Alto CA 94305 USA
| | - Nai-Pin Lin
- División of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University Palo Alto CA 94305 USA
| | - Po-Ssu Huang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University Palo Alto CA 94305 USA
| | - Rayhan A Lal
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University Palo Alto CA 94305 USA
| | - Danny Hung-Chieh Chou
- División of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University Palo Alto CA 94305 USA
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2
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Harrison K, Mackay AS, Kambanis L, Maxwell JWC, Payne RJ. Synthesis and applications of mirror-image proteins. Nat Rev Chem 2023; 7:383-404. [PMID: 37173596 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-023-00493-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The homochirality of biomolecules in nature, such as DNA, RNA, peptides and proteins, has played a critical role in establishing and sustaining life on Earth. This chiral bias has also given synthetic chemists the opportunity to generate molecules with inverted chirality, unlocking valuable new properties and applications. Advances in the field of chemical protein synthesis have underpinned the generation of numerous 'mirror-image' proteins (those comprised entirely of D-amino acids instead of canonical L-amino acids), which cannot be accessed using recombinant expression technologies. This Review seeks to highlight recent work on synthetic mirror-image proteins, with a focus on modern synthetic strategies that have been leveraged to access these complex biomolecules as well as their applications in protein crystallography, drug discovery and the creation of mirror-image life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katriona Harrison
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Angus S Mackay
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lucas Kambanis
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Joshua W C Maxwell
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Richard J Payne
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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3
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Loth K, Parisot N, Paquet F, Terrasson H, Sivignon C, Rahioui I, Ribeiro Lopes M, Gaget K, Duport G, Delmas AF, Aucagne V, Heddi A, Calevro F, da Silva P. Aphid BCR4 Structure and Activity Uncover a New Defensin Peptide Superfamily. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012480. [PMID: 36293341 PMCID: PMC9604261 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) are among the most detrimental insects for agricultural plants, and their management is a great challenge in agronomical research. A new class of proteins, called Bacteriocyte-specific Cysteine-Rich (BCR) peptides, provides an alternative to chemical insecticides for pest control. BCRs were initially identified in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum. They are small disulfide bond-rich proteins expressed exclusively in aphid bacteriocytes, the insect cells that host intracellular symbiotic bacteria. Here, we show that one of the A. pisum BCRs, BCR4, displays prominent insecticidal activity against the pea aphid, impairing insect survival and nymphal growth, providing evidence for its potential use as a new biopesticide. Our comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses indicate that BCRs are restricted to the aphid lineage. The 3D structure of BCR4 reveals that this peptide belongs to an as-yet-unknown structural class of peptides and defines a new superfamily of defensins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Loth
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, 45071 Orléans, France
- UFR Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Orléans, 45071 Orléans, France
| | - Nicolas Parisot
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Françoise Paquet
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, 45071 Orléans, France
| | - Hugo Terrasson
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | | | - Isabelle Rahioui
- Univ Lyon, INRAE, INSA Lyon, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | | | - Karen Gaget
- Univ Lyon, INRAE, INSA Lyon, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Gabrielle Duport
- Univ Lyon, INRAE, INSA Lyon, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Agnès F. Delmas
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, 45071 Orléans, France
| | - Vincent Aucagne
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, 45071 Orléans, France
| | - Abdelaziz Heddi
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Federica Calevro
- Univ Lyon, INRAE, INSA Lyon, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Pedro da Silva
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
- Correspondence:
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4
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Proteins through the eyes of an organic chemist. Tetrahedron 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2022.133022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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5
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Liu J, Wei T, Tan Y, Liu H, Li X. Enabling chemical protein (semi)synthesis via reducible solubilizing tags (RSTs). Chem Sci 2022; 13:1367-1374. [PMID: 35222920 PMCID: PMC8809390 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc06387a] [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: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The reducible solubilizing tag strategy served as a simple and powerful method for the chemical synthesis and semi-synthesis via Ser/Thr ligation and Cys/Pen ligation of extensive self-assembly peptides, membrane proteins with poor solubility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiamei Liu
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Lab of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tongyao Wei
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Lab of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yi Tan
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Lab of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Heng Liu
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Lab of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Xuechen Li
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Lab of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Jiang H, Chen W, Wang J, Zhang R. Selective N-terminal modification of peptides and proteins: Recent progresses and applications. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2021.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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7
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Giesler RJ, Spaltenstein P, Jacobsen MT, Xu W, Maqueda M, Kay MS. A glutamic acid-based traceless linker to address challenging chemical protein syntheses. Org Biomol Chem 2021; 19:8821-8829. [PMID: 34585207 PMCID: PMC8604549 DOI: 10.1039/d1ob01611c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Native chemical ligation (NCL) enables the total chemical synthesis of proteins. However, poor peptide segment solubility remains a frequently encountered challenge. Here we introduce a traceless linker that can be temporarily attached to Glu side chains to overcome this problem. This strategy employs a new tool, Fmoc-Glu(AlHx)-OH, which can be directly installed using standard Fmoc-based solid-phase peptide synthesis. The incorporated residue, Glu(AlHx), is stable to a wide range of chemical protein synthesis conditions and is removed through palladium-catalyzed transfer under aqueous conditions. General handling characteristics, such as efficient incorporation, stability and rapid removal were demonstrated through a model peptide modified with Glu(AlHx) and a Lys6 solubilizing tag. Glu(AlHx) was incorporated into a highly insoluble peptide segment during the total synthesis of the bacteriocin AS-48. This challenging peptide was successfully synthesized and folded, and it has comparable antimicrobial activity to the native AS-48. We anticipate widespread use of this easy-to-use, robust linker for the preparation of challenging synthetic peptides and proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley J Giesler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, 15 North Medical Drive East, Room 4100, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5650, USA.
| | - Paul Spaltenstein
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, 15 North Medical Drive East, Room 4100, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5650, USA.
| | - Michael T Jacobsen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Weiliang Xu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, 15 North Medical Drive East, Room 4100, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5650, USA.
| | - Mercedes Maqueda
- Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad de Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva, s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Michael S Kay
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, 15 North Medical Drive East, Room 4100, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5650, USA.
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Abboud SA, Amoura M, Madinier J, Renoux B, Papot S, Piller V, Aucagne V. Enzyme‐Cleavable Linkers for Protein Chemical Synthesis through Solid‐Phase Ligations. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202103768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Skander A. Abboud
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire CNRS UPR 4301 Rue Charles Sadron 45071 Orléans cedex 2 France
| | - Mehdi Amoura
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire CNRS UPR 4301 Rue Charles Sadron 45071 Orléans cedex 2 France
| | - Jean‐Baptiste Madinier
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire CNRS UPR 4301 Rue Charles Sadron 45071 Orléans cedex 2 France
| | - Brigitte Renoux
- Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers UMR-CNRS 7285 4 rue Michel Brunet 86073 Poitiers cedex 9 France
| | - Sébastien Papot
- Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers UMR-CNRS 7285 4 rue Michel Brunet 86073 Poitiers cedex 9 France
| | - Véronique Piller
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire CNRS UPR 4301 Rue Charles Sadron 45071 Orléans cedex 2 France
| | - Vincent Aucagne
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire CNRS UPR 4301 Rue Charles Sadron 45071 Orléans cedex 2 France
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9
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Abboud SA, Amoura M, Madinier JB, Renoux B, Papot S, Piller V, Aucagne V. Enzyme-Cleavable Linkers for Protein Chemical Synthesis through Solid-Phase Ligations. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:18612-18618. [PMID: 34097786 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202103768] [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: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The total synthesis of long proteins requires the assembly of multiple fragments through successive ligations. The need for intermediate purification steps is a strong limitation, particularly in terms of overall yield. One solution to this problem would be solid-supported chemical ligation (SPCL), for which a first peptide segment must be immobilized on a SPCL-compatible solid support through a linker that can be cleaved under very mild conditions to release the assembled protein. The cleavage of SPCL linkers has previously required chemical conditions sometimes incompatible with sensitive protein targets. Herein, we describe an alternative enzymatic approach to trigger cleavage under extremely mild and selective conditions. Optimization of the linker structure and use of a small enzyme able to diffuse into the solid support were key to the success of the strategy. We demonstrated its utility by the assembly of three peptide segments on the basis of native chemical ligation to afford a 15 kDa polypeptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Skander A Abboud
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, Rue Charles Sadron, 45071, Orléans cedex 2, France
| | - Mehdi Amoura
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, Rue Charles Sadron, 45071, Orléans cedex 2, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Madinier
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, Rue Charles Sadron, 45071, Orléans cedex 2, France
| | - Brigitte Renoux
- Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers, UMR-CNRS 7285, 4 rue Michel Brunet, 86073, Poitiers cedex 9, France
| | - Sébastien Papot
- Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers, UMR-CNRS 7285, 4 rue Michel Brunet, 86073, Poitiers cedex 9, France
| | - Véronique Piller
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, Rue Charles Sadron, 45071, Orléans cedex 2, France
| | - Vincent Aucagne
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, Rue Charles Sadron, 45071, Orléans cedex 2, France
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Kerdraon F, Bogard G, Snella B, Drobecq H, Pichavant M, Agouridas V, Melnyk O. Insights into the Mechanism and Catalysis of Peptide Thioester Synthesis by Alkylselenols Provide a New Tool for Chemical Protein Synthesis. Molecules 2021; 26:1386. [PMID: 33806630 PMCID: PMC7961367 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26051386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
While thiol-based catalysts are widely employed for chemical protein synthesis relying on peptide thioester chemistry, this is less true for selenol-based catalysts whose development is in its infancy. In this study, we compared different selenols derived from the selenocysteamine scaffold for their capacity to promote thiol-thioester exchanges in water at mildly acidic pH and the production of peptide thioesters from bis(2-sulfanylethyl)amido (SEA) peptides. The usefulness of a selected selenol compound is illustrated by the total synthesis of a biologically active human chemotactic protein, which plays an important role in innate and adaptive immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florent Kerdraon
- U1019-UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (F.K.); (G.B.); (B.S.); (H.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Gemma Bogard
- U1019-UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (F.K.); (G.B.); (B.S.); (H.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Benoît Snella
- U1019-UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (F.K.); (G.B.); (B.S.); (H.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Hervé Drobecq
- U1019-UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (F.K.); (G.B.); (B.S.); (H.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Muriel Pichavant
- U1019-UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (F.K.); (G.B.); (B.S.); (H.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Vangelis Agouridas
- U1019-UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (F.K.); (G.B.); (B.S.); (H.D.); (M.P.)
- Centrale Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Oleg Melnyk
- U1019-UMR 9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (F.K.); (G.B.); (B.S.); (H.D.); (M.P.)
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