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Ndochinwa OG, Wang QY, Amadi OC, Nwagu TN, Nnamchi CI, Okeke ES, Moneke AN. Current status and emerging frontiers in enzyme engineering: An industrial perspective. Heliyon 2024; 10:e32673. [PMID: 38912509 PMCID: PMC11193041 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32673] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein engineering mechanisms can be an efficient approach to enhance the biochemical properties of various biocatalysts. Immobilization of biocatalysts and the introduction of new-to-nature chemical reactivities are also possible through the same mechanism. Discovering new protocols that enhance the catalytic active protein that possesses novelty in terms of being stable, active, and, stereoselectivity with functions could be identified as essential areas in terms of concurrent bioorganic chemistry (synergistic relationship between organic chemistry and biochemistry in the context of enzyme engineering). However, with our current level of knowledge about protein folding and its correlation with protein conformation and activities, it is almost impossible to design proteins with specific biological and physical properties. Hence, contemporary protein engineering typically involves reprogramming existing enzymes by mutagenesis to generate new phenotypes with desired properties. These processes ensure that limitations of naturally occurring enzymes are not encountered. For example, researchers have engineered cellulases and hemicellulases to withstand harsh conditions encountered during biomass pretreatment, such as high temperatures and acidic environments. By enhancing the activity and robustness of these enzymes, biofuel production becomes more economically viable and environmentally sustainable. Recent trends in enzyme engineering have enabled the development of tailored biocatalysts for pharmaceutical applications. For instance, researchers have engineered enzymes such as cytochrome P450s and amine oxidases to catalyze challenging reactions involved in drug synthesis. In addition to conventional methods, there has been an increasing application of machine learning techniques to identify patterns in data. These patterns are then used to predict protein structures, enhance enzyme solubility, stability, and function, forecast substrate specificity, and assist in rational protein design. In this review, we discussed recent trends in enzyme engineering to optimize the biochemical properties of various biocatalysts. Using examples relevant to biotechnology in engineering enzymes, we try to expatiate the significance of enzyme engineering with how these methods could be applied to optimize the biochemical properties of a naturally occurring enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obinna Giles Ndochinwa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Qing-Yan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biomass Enzyme Technology, National Engineering Research Center for Non-Food Biorefinery, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Oyetugo Chioma Amadi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Tochukwu Nwamaka Nwagu
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | | | - Emmanuel Sunday Okeke
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences & Natural Science Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, 410001, Nigeria
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, School of the Environment and Safety, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd., 212013, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Anene Nwabu Moneke
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
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2
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O’Shea JM, Doerner P, Richardson A, Wood CW. Computational design of Periplasmic binding protein biosensors guided by molecular dynamics. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1012212. [PMID: 38885277 PMCID: PMC11213343 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Periplasmic binding proteins (PBPs) are bacterial proteins commonly used as scaffolds for substrate-detecting biosensors. In these biosensors, effector proteins (for example fluorescent proteins) are inserted into a PBP such that the effector protein's output changes upon PBP-substate binding. The insertion site is often determined by comparison of PBP apo/holo crystal structures, but random insertion libraries have shown that this can miss the best sites. Here, we present a PBP biosensor design method based on residue contact analysis from molecular dynamics. This computational method identifies the best previously known insertion sites in the maltose binding PBP, and suggests further previously unknown sites. We experimentally characterise fluorescent protein insertions at these new sites, finding they too give functional biosensors. Furthermore, our method is sufficiently flexible to both suggest insertion sites compatible with a variety of effector proteins, and be applied to binding proteins beyond PBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack M. O’Shea
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA), Garching, Germany
| | - Peter Doerner
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Annis Richardson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher W. Wood
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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3
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Campbell E, Luxton T, Kohl D, Goodchild SA, Walti C, Jeuken LJC. Chimeric Protein Switch Biosensors. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 187:1-35. [PMID: 38273207 DOI: 10.1007/10_2023_241] [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: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Rapid detection of protein and small-molecule analytes is a valuable technique across multiple disciplines, but most in vitro testing of biological or environmental samples requires long, laborious processes and trained personnel in laboratory settings, leading to long wait times for results and high expenses. Fusion of recognition with reporter elements has been introduced to detection methods such as enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA), with enzyme-conjugated secondary antibodies removing one of the many incubation and wash steps. Chimeric protein switch biosensors go further and provide a platform for homogenous mix-and-read assays where long wash and incubation steps are eradicated from the process. Chimeric protein switch biosensors consist of an enzyme switch (the reporter) coupled to a recognition element, where binding of the analyte results in switching the activity of the reporter enzyme on or off. Several chimeric protein switch biosensors have successfully been developed for analytes ranging from small molecule drugs to large protein biomarkers. There are two main formats of chimeric protein switch biosensor developed, one-component and multi-component, and these formats exhibit unique advantages and disadvantages. Genetically fusing a recognition protein to the enzyme switch has many advantages in the production and performance of the biosensor. A range of immune and synthetic binding proteins have been developed as alternatives to antibodies, including antibody mimetics or antibody fragments. These are mainly small, easily manipulated proteins and can be genetically fused to a reporter for recombinant expression or manipulated to allow chemical fusion. Here, aspects of chimeric protein switch biosensors will be reviewed with a comparison of different classes of recognition elements and switching mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Campbell
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Timothy Luxton
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Declan Kohl
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Christoph Walti
- School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Lars J C Jeuken
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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4
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Guo Z, Smutok O, Ayva CE, Walden P, Parker J, Whitfield J, Vickers CE, Ungerer JPJ, Katz E, Alexandrov K. Development of epistatic YES and AND protein logic gates and their assembly into signalling cascades. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 18:1327-1334. [PMID: 37500780 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01450-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The construction and assembly of artificial allosteric protein switches into information and energy processing networks connected to both biological and non-biological systems is a central goal of synthetic biology and bionanotechnology. However, designing protein switches with the desired input, output and performance parameters is challenging. Here we use a range of reporter proteins to demonstrate that their chimeras with duplicated receptor domains produce YES gate protein switches with large (up to 9,000-fold) dynamic ranges and fast (minutes) response rates. In such switches, the epistatic interactions between largely independent synthetic allosteric sites result in an OFF state with minimal background noise. We used YES gate protein switches based on β-lactamase to develop quantitative biosensors of therapeutic drugs and protein biomarkers. Furthermore, we demonstrated the reconfiguration of YES gate switches into AND gate switches controlled by two different inputs, and their assembly into signalling networks regulated at multiple nodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Guo
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Oleh Smutok
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
| | - Cagla Ergun Ayva
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Patricia Walden
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jake Parker
- Yakka Bio, Canberra, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jason Whitfield
- UNSW Founders, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Claudia E Vickers
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jacobus P J Ungerer
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Pathology Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Evgeny Katz
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA
| | - Kirill Alexandrov
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- CSIRO-QUT Synthetic Biology Alliance, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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5
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Mathony J, Aschenbrenner S, Becker P, Niopek D. Dissecting the Determinants of Domain Insertion Tolerance and Allostery in Proteins. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2303496. [PMID: 37562980 PMCID: PMC10558690 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Domain insertion engineering is a promising approach to recombine the functions of evolutionarily unrelated proteins. Insertion of light-switchable receptor domains into a selected effector protein, for instance, can yield allosteric effectors with light-dependent activity. However, the parameters that determine domain insertion tolerance and allostery are poorly understood. Here, an unbiased screen is used to systematically assess the domain insertion permissibility of several evolutionary unrelated proteins. Training machine learning models on the resulting data allow to dissect features informative for domain insertion tolerance and revealed sequence conservation statistics as the strongest indicators of suitable insertion sites. Finally, extending the experimental pipeline toward the identification of switchable hybrids results in opto-chemogenetic derivatives of the transcription factor AraC that function as single-protein Boolean logic gates. The study reveals determinants of domain insertion tolerance and yielded multimodally switchable proteins with unique functional properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Mathony
- Center for Synthetic BiologyTechnical University of Darmstadt64287DarmstadtGermany
- Department of BiologyTechnical University of Darmstadt64287DarmstadtGermany
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology (IPMB)Faculty of Engineering SciencesHeidelberg University69120HeidelbergGermany
| | - Sabine Aschenbrenner
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology (IPMB)Faculty of Engineering SciencesHeidelberg University69120HeidelbergGermany
| | - Philipp Becker
- Center for Synthetic BiologyTechnical University of Darmstadt64287DarmstadtGermany
- Department of BiologyTechnical University of Darmstadt64287DarmstadtGermany
- Department of Biotechnology and BiomedicineTechnical University of DenmarkKongens Lyngby2800Denmark
| | - Dominik Niopek
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology (IPMB)Faculty of Engineering SciencesHeidelberg University69120HeidelbergGermany
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6
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Miton CM, Tokuriki N. Insertions and Deletions (Indels): A Missing Piece of the Protein Engineering Jigsaw. Biochemistry 2023; 62:148-157. [PMID: 35830609 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Over the years, protein engineers have studied nature and borrowed its tricks to accelerate protein evolution in the test tube. While there have been considerable advances, our ability to generate new proteins in the laboratory is seemingly limited. One explanation for these shortcomings may be that insertions and deletions (indels), which frequently arise in nature, are largely overlooked during protein engineering campaigns. The profound effect of indels on protein structures, by way of drastic backbone alterations, could be perceived as "saltation" events that bring about significant phenotypic changes in a single mutational step. Should we leverage these effects to accelerate protein engineering and gain access to unexplored regions of adaptive landscapes? In this Perspective, we describe the role played by indels in the functional diversification of proteins in nature and discuss their untapped potential for protein engineering, despite their often-destabilizing nature. We hope to spark a renewed interest in indels, emphasizing that their wider study and use may prove insightful and shape the future of protein engineering by unlocking unique functional changes that substitutions alone could never achieve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte M Miton
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4 BC, Canada
| | - Nobuhiko Tokuriki
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4 BC, Canada
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7
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Wu CC, Huang SJ, Fu TY, Lin FL, Wang XY, Tan KT. Small-Molecule Modulated Affinity-Tunable Semisynthetic Protein Switches. ACS Sens 2022; 7:2691-2700. [PMID: 36084142 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c01211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Engineered protein switches have been widely applied in cell-based protein sensors and point-of-care diagnosis for the rapid and simple analysis of a wide variety of proteins, metabolites, nucleic acids, and enzymatic activities. Currently, these protein switches are based on two main types of switching mechanisms to transduce the target binding event to a quantitative signal, through a change in the optical properties of fluorescent molecules and the activation of enzymatic activities. In this paper, we introduce a new affinity-tunable protein switch strategy in which the binding of a small-molecule target with the protein activates the streptavidin-biotin interaction to generate a readout signal. In the absence of a target, the biotinylated protein switch forms a closed conformation where the biotin is positioned in close proximity to the protein, imposing a large steric hindrance to prevent the effective binding with streptavidin. In the presence of the target molecule, this steric hindrance is removed, thereby exposing the biotin for streptavidin binding to produce strong fluorescent signals. With this modular sensing concept, various sulfonamide, methotrexate, and trimethoprim drugs can be selectively detected on the cell surface of native and genetically engineered cells using different fluorescent dyes and detection techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Chi Wu
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Section 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shao-Jie Huang
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Section 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Tsung-Yu Fu
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Section 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Fang-Ling Lin
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Section 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Xin-You Wang
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Section 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Kui-Thong Tan
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Section 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Section 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Department of Medicinal and Applied Chemistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan, Republic of China
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8
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Li J, Wang JL, Zhang WL, Tu Z, Cai XF, Wang YW, Gan CY, Deng HJ, Cui J, Shu ZC, Long QX, Chen J, Tang N, Hu X, Huang AL, Hu JL. Protein sensors combining both on-and-off model for antibody homogeneous assay. Biosens Bioelectron 2022; 209:114226. [PMID: 35413624 PMCID: PMC8968183 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.114226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Protein sensors based on allosteric enzymes responding to target binding with rapid changes in enzymatic activity are potential tools for homogeneous assays. However, a high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) is difficult to achieve in their construction. A high S/N is critical to discriminate signals from the background, a phenomenon that might largely vary among serum samples from different individuals. Herein, based on the modularized luciferase NanoLuc, we designed a novel biosensor called NanoSwitch. This sensor allows direct detection of antibodies in 1 μl serum in 45 min without washing steps. In the detection of Flag and HA antibodies, NanoSwitches respond to antibodies with S/N ratios of 33-fold and 42-fold, respectively. Further, we constructed a NanoSwitch for detecting SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, which showed over 200-fold S/N in serum samples. High S/N was achieved by a new working model, combining the turn-off of the sensor with human serum albumin and turn-on with a specific antibody. Also, we constructed NanoSwitches for detecting antibodies against the core protein of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and gp41 of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Interestingly, these sensors demonstrated a high S/N and good performance in the assays of clinical samples; this was partly attributed to the combination of off-and-on models. In summary, we provide a novel type of protein sensor and a working model that potentially guides new sensor design with better performance.
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9
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Jackson C, Anderson A, Alexandrov K. The present and the future of protein biosensor engineering. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2022; 75:102424. [PMID: 35870398 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2022.102424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Protein biosensors play increasingly important roles in cell and neurobiology and have the potential to revolutionise the way clinical and industrial analytics are performed. The gradual transition from multicomponent biosensors to fully integrated single chain allosteric biosensors has brought the field closer to commercial applications. We evaluate various approaches for converting constitutively active protein reporter domains into analyte operated switches. We discuss the paucity of the natural receptors that undergo conformational changes sufficiently large to control the activity of allosteric reporter domains. This problem can be overcome by constructing artificial versions of such receptors. The design path to such receptors involves the construction of Chemically Induced Dimerisation systems (CIDs) that can be configured to operate single and two-component biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Jackson
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Alisha Anderson
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Black Mountain, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Kirill Alexandrov
- CSIRO-QUT Synthetic Biology Alliance, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia; Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia.
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10
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Abstract
Regulatory processes in biology can be re-conceptualized in terms of logic gates, analogous to those in computer science. Frequently, biological systems need to respond to multiple, sometimes conflicting, inputs to provide the correct output. The language of logic gates can then be used to model complex signal transduction and metabolic processes. Advances in synthetic biology in turn can be used to construct new logic gates, which find a variety of biotechnology applications including in the production of high value chemicals, biosensing, and drug delivery. In this review, we focus on advances in the construction of logic gates that take advantage of biological catalysts, including both protein-based and nucleic acid-based enzymes. These catalyst-based biomolecular logic gates can read a variety of molecular inputs and provide chemical, optical, and electrical outputs, allowing them to interface with other types of biomolecular logic gates or even extend to inorganic systems. Continued advances in molecular modeling and engineering will facilitate the construction of new logic gates, further expanding the utility of biomolecular computing.
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11
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Savino S, Desmet T, Franceus J. Insertions and deletions in protein evolution and engineering. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 60:108010. [PMID: 35738511 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.108010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Protein evolution or engineering studies are traditionally focused on amino acid substitutions and the way these contribute to fitness. Meanwhile, the insertion and deletion of amino acids is often overlooked, despite being one of the most common sources of genetic variation. Recent methodological advances and successful engineering stories have demonstrated that the time is ripe for greater emphasis on these mutations and their understudied effects. This review highlights the evolutionary importance and biotechnological relevance of insertions and deletions (indels). We provide a comprehensive overview of approaches that can be employed to include indels in random, (semi)-rational or computational protein engineering pipelines. Furthermore, we discuss the tolerance to indels at the structural level, address how domain indels can link the function of unrelated proteins, and feature studies that illustrate the surprising and intriguing potential of frameshift mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Savino
- Centre for Synthetic Biology (CSB), Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tom Desmet
- Centre for Synthetic Biology (CSB), Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jorick Franceus
- Centre for Synthetic Biology (CSB), Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium..
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12
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Kretschmer S, Kortemme T. Advances in the Computational Design of Small-Molecule-Controlled Protein-Based Circuits for Synthetic Biology. PROCEEDINGS OF THE IEEE. INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS 2022; 110:659-674. [PMID: 36531560 PMCID: PMC9754107 DOI: 10.1109/jproc.2022.3157898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology approaches living systems with an engineering perspective and promises to deliver solutions to global challenges in healthcare and sustainability. A critical component is the design of biomolecular circuits with programmable input-output behaviors. Such circuits typically rely on a sensor module that recognizes molecular inputs, which is coupled to a functional output via protein-level circuits or regulating the expression of a target gene. While gene expression outputs can be customized relatively easily by exchanging the target genes, sensing new inputs is a major limitation. There is a limited repertoire of sensors found in nature, and there are often difficulties with interfacing them with engineered circuits. Computational protein design could be a key enabling technology to address these challenges, as it allows for the engineering of modular and tunable sensors that can be tailored to the circuit's application. In this article, we review recent computational approaches to design protein-based sensors for small-molecule inputs with particular focus on those based on the widely used Rosetta software suite. Furthermore, we review mechanisms that have been harnessed to couple ligand inputs to functional outputs. Based on recent literature, we illustrate how the combination of protein design and synthetic biology enables new sensors for diverse applications ranging from biomedicine to metabolic engineering. We conclude with a perspective on how strategies to address frontiers in protein design and cellular circuit design may enable the next generation of sense-response networks, which may increasingly be assembled from de novo components to display diverse and engineerable input-output behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Kretschmer
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA, and affiliated with the California Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) at UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Tanja Kortemme
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA, and affiliated with the California Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) at UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
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13
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McLure RJ, Radford SE, Brockwell DJ. High-throughput directed evolution: a golden era for protein science. TRENDS IN CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trechm.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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14
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Kell DB, Laubscher GJ, Pretorius E. A central role for amyloid fibrin microclots in long COVID/PASC: origins and therapeutic implications. Biochem J 2022; 479:537-559. [PMID: 35195253 PMCID: PMC8883497 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Post-acute sequelae of COVID (PASC), usually referred to as 'Long COVID' (a phenotype of COVID-19), is a relatively frequent consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, in which symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, 'brain fog', tissue damage, inflammation, and coagulopathies (dysfunctions of the blood coagulation system) persist long after the initial infection. It bears similarities to other post-viral syndromes, and to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Many regulatory health bodies still do not recognize this syndrome as a separate disease entity, and refer to it under the broad terminology of 'COVID', although its demographics are quite different from those of acute COVID-19. A few years ago, we discovered that fibrinogen in blood can clot into an anomalous 'amyloid' form of fibrin that (like other β-rich amyloids and prions) is relatively resistant to proteolysis (fibrinolysis). The result, as is strongly manifested in platelet-poor plasma (PPP) of individuals with Long COVID, is extensive fibrin amyloid microclots that can persist, can entrap other proteins, and that may lead to the production of various autoantibodies. These microclots are more-or-less easily measured in PPP with the stain thioflavin T and a simple fluorescence microscope. Although the symptoms of Long COVID are multifarious, we here argue that the ability of these fibrin amyloid microclots (fibrinaloids) to block up capillaries, and thus to limit the passage of red blood cells and hence O2 exchange, can actually underpin the majority of these symptoms. Consistent with this, in a preliminary report, it has been shown that suitable and closely monitored 'triple' anticoagulant therapy that leads to the removal of the microclots also removes the other symptoms. Fibrin amyloid microclots represent a novel and potentially important target for both the understanding and treatment of Long COVID and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas B. Kell
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 200, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch Private Bag X1 Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | | | - Etheresia Pretorius
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch Private Bag X1 Matieland, 7602, South Africa
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15
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Guo Z, Parakra RD, Xiong Y, Johnston WA, Walden P, Edwardraja S, Moradi SV, Ungerer JPJ, Ai HW, Phillips JJ, Alexandrov K. Engineering and exploiting synthetic allostery of NanoLuc luciferase. Nat Commun 2022; 13:789. [PMID: 35145068 PMCID: PMC8831504 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28425-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Allostery enables proteins to interconvert different biochemical signals and form complex metabolic and signaling networks. We hypothesize that circular permutation of proteins increases the probability of functional coupling of new N- and C- termini with the protein's active center through increased local structural disorder. To test this we construct a synthetically allosteric version of circular permutated NanoLuc luciferase that can be activated through ligand-induced intramolecular non-covalent cyclisation. This switch module is tolerant of the structure of binding domains and their ligands, and can be used to create biosensors of proteins and small molecules. The developed biosensors covers a range of emission wavelengths and displays sensitivity as low as 50pM and dynamic range as high as 16-fold and could quantify their cognate ligand in human fluids. We apply hydrogen exchange kinetic mass spectroscopy to analyze time resolved structural changes in the developed biosensors and observe ligand-mediated folding of newly created termini.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Guo
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
| | - Rinky D Parakra
- Living Systems Institute, Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Ying Xiong
- Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, 1340 Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Wayne A Johnston
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
| | - Patricia Walden
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
| | - Selvakumar Edwardraja
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Shayli Varasteh Moradi
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
| | - Jacobus P J Ungerer
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Pathology Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Hui-Wang Ai
- Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, 1340 Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Jonathan J Phillips
- Living Systems Institute, Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK.
- Alan Turing Institute, British Library 96, Euston road, London, NW1 2DB, UK.
| | - Kirill Alexandrov
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Sydney, Australia.
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia.
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia.
- Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia.
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16
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Lin TN, Lin SC. Metal chelate-epoxy bifunctional membranes for selective adsorption and covalent immobilization of a His-tagged protein. J Biosci Bioeng 2021; 133:258-264. [PMID: 34930669 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The preparation and application of metal chelate-epoxy bifunctional membranes for the selective adsorption and covalent immobilization of His-tagged protein switch RG13 were shown in this study. By controlling the concentration of iminodiacetic acid (IDA) and reaction time during the conjugation of IDA on to the epichlorohydrin-activated regenerated cellulose membrane, 5 metal chelate-epoxy bifunctional membranes, with degrees of IDA conjugation in the range of 20%-81%, were prepared. The bifunctional membrane with an IDA conjugation degree of 30%, designated as BFM30, exhibited a sound adsorption capacity of 0.203 mg/cm2 with a relatively high content of epoxy groups for covalent immobilization, were selected. The concomitant selective adsorption and covalent immobilization of the His-tagged RG13 with BFM30 were carried out by 2-h incubation for protein adsorption and subsequent 16-h incubation for covalent immobilization after the removal of undesired proteins with wash buffer, giving an immobilization yield of 63% and a global activity yield 40%. The RG13 immobilized on the metal chelate-epoxy bifunctional membrane exhibited superior operational stability in a repeated batch process, retaining 94% of its initial activity after 20 cycles. The employment of the bifunctional membranes could significant facilitate enzyme immobilization processes by eliminating the need for prior protein purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Ning Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, 145 Xinda Road, South District, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Sung-Chyr Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, 145 Xinda Road, South District, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
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17
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McCormick JW, Russo MA, Thompson S, Blevins A, Reynolds KA. Structurally distributed surface sites tune allosteric regulation. eLife 2021; 10:68346. [PMID: 34132193 PMCID: PMC8324303 DOI: 10.7554/elife.68346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Our ability to rationally optimize allosteric regulation is limited by incomplete knowledge of the mutations that tune allostery. Are these mutations few or abundant, structurally localized or distributed? To examine this, we conducted saturation mutagenesis of a synthetic allosteric switch in which Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is regulated by a blue-light sensitive LOV2 domain. Using a high-throughput assay wherein DHFR catalytic activity is coupled to E. coli growth, we assessed the impact of 1548 viable DHFR single mutations on allostery. Despite most mutations being deleterious to activity, fewer than 5% of mutations had a statistically significant influence on allostery. Most allostery disrupting mutations were proximal to the LOV2 insertion site. In contrast, allostery enhancing mutations were structurally distributed and enriched on the protein surface. Combining several allostery enhancing mutations yielded near-additive improvements to dynamic range. Our results indicate a path toward optimizing allosteric function through variation at surface sites. Many proteins exhibit a property called ‘allostery’. In allostery, an input signal at a specific site of a protein – such as a molecule binding, or the protein absorbing a photon of light – leads to a change in output at another site far away. For example, the protein might catalyze a chemical reaction faster or bind to another molecule more tightly in the presence of the input signal. This protein ‘remote control’ allows cells to sense and respond to changes in their environment. An ability to rapidly engineer new allosteric mechanisms into proteins is much sought after because this would provide an approach for building biosensors and other useful tools. One common approach to engineering new allosteric regulation is to combine a ‘sensor’ or input region from one protein with an ‘output’ region or domain from another. When researchers engineer allostery using this approach of combining input and output domains from different proteins, the difference in the output when the input is ‘on’ versus ‘off’ is often small, a situation called ‘modest allostery’. McCormick et al. wanted to know how to optimize this domain combination approach to increase the difference in output between the ‘on’ and ‘off’ states. More specifically, McCormick et al. wanted to find out whether swapping out or mutating specific amino acids (each of the individual building blocks that make up a protein) enhances or disrupts allostery. They also wanted to know if there are many possible mutations that change the effectiveness of allostery, or if this property is controlled by just a few amino acids. Finally, McCormick et al. questioned where in a protein most of these allostery-tuning mutations were located. To answer these questions, McCormick et al. engineered a new allosteric protein by inserting a light-sensing domain (input) into a protein involved in metabolism (a metabolic enzyme that produces a biomolecule called a tetrahydrofolate) to yield a light-controlled enzyme. Next, they introduced mutations into both the ‘input’ and ‘output’ domains to see where they had a greater effect on allostery. After filtering out mutations that destroyed the function of the output domain, McCormick et al. found that only about 5% of mutations to the ‘output’ domain altered the allosteric response of their engineered enzyme. In fact, most mutations that disrupted allostery were found near the site where the ‘input’ domain was inserted, while mutations that enhanced allostery were sprinkled throughout the enzyme, often on its protein surface. This was surprising in light of the commonly-held assumption that mutations on protein surfaces have little impact on the activity of the ‘output’ domain. Overall, the effect of individual mutations on allostery was small, but McCormick et al. found that these mutations can sometimes be combined to yield larger effects. McCormick et al.’s results suggest a new approach for optimizing engineered allosteric proteins: by introducing mutations on the protein surface. It also opens up new questions: mechanically, how do surface sites affect allostery? In the future, it will be important to characterize how combinations of mutations can optimize allosteric regulation, and to determine what evolutionary trajectories to high performance allosteric ‘switches’ look like.
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Affiliation(s)
- James W McCormick
- The Green Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Marielle Ax Russo
- The Green Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Samuel Thompson
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, United States
| | - Aubrie Blevins
- The Green Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Kimberly A Reynolds
- The Green Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
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18
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Castle SD, Grierson CS, Gorochowski TE. Towards an engineering theory of evolution. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3326. [PMID: 34099656 PMCID: PMC8185075 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23573-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological technologies are fundamentally unlike any other because biology evolves. Bioengineering therefore requires novel design methodologies with evolution at their core. Knowledge about evolution is currently applied to the design of biosystems ad hoc. Unless we have an engineering theory of evolution, we will neither be able to meet evolution's potential as an engineering tool, nor understand or limit its unintended consequences for our biological designs. Here, we propose the evotype as a helpful concept for engineering the evolutionary potential of biosystems, or other self-adaptive technologies, potentially beyond the realm of biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeon D Castle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Claire S Grierson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- BrisSynBio, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Thomas E Gorochowski
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- BrisSynBio, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
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19
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Ludwig SG, Kiyohara CL, Carlucci LA, Kisiela D, Sokurenko EV, Thomas WE. FimH as a scaffold for regulated molecular recognition. J Biol Eng 2021; 15:3. [PMID: 33436006 PMCID: PMC7805223 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-020-00253-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recognition proteins are critical in many biotechnology applications and would be even more useful if their binding could be regulated. The current gold standard for recognition molecules, antibodies, lacks convenient regulation. Alternative scaffolds can be used to build recognition proteins with new functionalities, including regulated recognition molecules. Here we test the use of the bacterial adhesin FimH as a scaffold for regulated molecular recognition. FimH binds to its native small molecule target mannose in a conformation-dependent manner that can be regulated by two types of noncompetitive regulation: allosteric and parasteric. Results We demonstrate that conformational regulation of FimH can be maintained even after reengineering the binding site to recognize the non-mannosylated targets nickel or Penta-His antibody, resulting in an up to 7-fold difference in KD between the two conformations. Moreover, both the allosteric and parasteric regulatory mechanisms native to FimH can be used to regulate binding to its new target. In one mutant, addition of the native ligand mannose parasterically improves the mutant’s affinity for Penta-His 4-fold, even as their epitopes overlap. In another mutant, the allosteric antibody mab21 reduces the mutant’s affinity for Penta-His 7-fold. The advantage of noncompetitive regulation is further illustrated by the ability of this allosteric regulator to induce 98% detachment of Penta-His, even with modest differences in affinity. Conclusions This illustrates the potential of FimH, with its deeply studied conformation-dependent binding, as a scaffold for conformationally regulated binding via multiple mechanisms. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13036-020-00253-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Gupta Ludwig
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, 3720 15th Ave NE. Foege N430P, Box 355061, Seattle, USA
| | - Casey L Kiyohara
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, 3720 15th Ave NE. Foege N430P, Box 355061, Seattle, USA
| | - Laura A Carlucci
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, 3720 15th Ave NE. Foege N430P, Box 355061, Seattle, USA
| | - Dagmara Kisiela
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, 3720 15th Ave NE. Foege N430P, Box 355061, Seattle, USA.,Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, HSB room J267a, Box 357735, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Evgeni V Sokurenko
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, 3720 15th Ave NE. Foege N430P, Box 355061, Seattle, USA.,Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, HSB room J267a, Box 357735, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Wendy Evelyn Thomas
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, 3720 15th Ave NE. Foege N430P, Box 355061, Seattle, USA.
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20
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You CX, Huang PH, Lin SC. Concomitant selective adsorption and covalent immobilization of a His-tagged protein switch with silica-based metal chelate-epoxy bifunctional adsorbents. Process Biochem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2020.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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21
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Abstract
Linker engineering constitutes a critical, yet frequently underestimated aspect in the construction of synthetic protein switches and sensors. Notably, systematic strategies to engineer linkers by predictive means remain largely elusive to date. This is primarily due to our insufficient understanding how the biophysical properties that underlie linker functions mediate the conformational transitions in artificially engineered protein switches and sensors. The construction of synthetic protein switches and sensors therefore heavily relies on experimental trial-and-error. Yet, methods for effectively generating linker diversity at the genetic level are scarce. Addressing this technical shortcoming, iterative functional linker cloning (iFLinkC) enables the combinatorial assembly of linker elements with functional domains from sequence verified repositories that are developed and stored in-house. The assembly process is highly scalable and given its recursive nature generates linker diversity in a combinatorial and exponential fashion based on a limited number of linker elements.
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22
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Zemerov SD, Roose BW, Farenhem KL, Zhao Z, Stringer MA, Goldman AR, Speicher DW, Dmochowski IJ. 129Xe NMR-Protein Sensor Reveals Cellular Ribose Concentration. Anal Chem 2020; 92:12817-12824. [PMID: 32897053 PMCID: PMC7649717 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c00967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulation of cellular ribose uptake can be indicative of metabolic abnormalities or tumorigenesis. However, analytical methods are currently limited for quantifying ribose concentration in complex biological samples. Here, we utilize the highly specific recognition of ribose by ribose-binding protein (RBP) to develop a single-protein ribose sensor detectable via a sensitive NMR technique known as hyperpolarized 129Xe chemical exchange saturation transfer (hyper-CEST). We demonstrate that RBP, with a tunable ribose-binding site and further engineered to bind xenon, enables the quantitation of ribose over a wide concentration range (nM to mM). Ribose binding induces the RBP "closed" conformation, which slows Xe exchange to a rate detectable by hyper-CEST. Such detection is remarkably specific for ribose, with the minimal background signal from endogenous sugars of similar size and structure, for example, glucose or ribose-6-phosphate. Ribose concentration was measured for mammalian cell lysate and serum, which led to estimates of low-mM ribose in a HeLa cell line. This highlights the potential for using genetically encoded periplasmic binding proteins such as RBP to measure metabolites in different biological fluids, tissues, and physiologic states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge D. Zemerov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Benjamin W. Roose
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kelsey L. Farenhem
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Zhuangyu Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Madison A. Stringer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Aaron R. Goldman
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, The Wistar Institute,
Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - David W. Speicher
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, The Wistar Institute,
Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, The Wistar
Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ivan J. Dmochowski
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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23
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Abstract
Engineered biocircuits designed with biological components have the capacity to expand and augment living functions. Here we demonstrate that proteases can be integrated into digital or analog biocircuits to process biological information. We first construct peptide-caged liposomes that treat protease activity as two-valued (i.e., signal is 0 or 1) operations to construct the biological equivalent of Boolean logic gates, comparators and analog-to-digital converters. We use these modules to assemble a cell-free biocircuit that can combine with bacteria-containing blood, quantify bacteria burden, and then calculate and unlock a selective drug dose. By contrast, we treat protease activity as multi-valued (i.e., signal is between 0 and 1) by controlling the degree to which a pool of enzymes is shared between two target substrates. We perform operations on these analog values by manipulating substrate concentrations and combine these operations to solve the mathematical problem Learning Parity with Noise (LPN). These results show that protease activity can be used to process biological information by binary Boolean logic, or as multi-valued analog signals under conditions where substrate resources are shared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Alexander Holt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech College of Engineering and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Gabriel A Kwong
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech College of Engineering and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Parker H. Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Integrated Cancer Research Center, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- The Georgia Immunoengineering Consortium, Emory University and Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
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24
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Leveraging nature's biomolecular designs in next-generation protein sequencing reagent development. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:7261-7271. [PMID: 32617618 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10745-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Next-generation approaches for protein sequencing are now emerging that could have the potential to revolutionize the field in proteomics. One such sequencing method involves fluorescence-based imaging of immobilized peptides in which the N-terminal amino acid of a polypeptide is readout sequentially by a series of fluorescently labeled biomolecules. When selectively bound to a specific N-terminal amino acid, the NAAB (N-terminal amino acid binder) affinity reagent identifies the amino acid through its associated fluorescence tag. A key technical challenge in implementing this fluoro-sequencing approach is the need to develop NAAB affinity reagents with the high affinity and selectivity for specific N-terminal amino acids required for this biotechnology application. One approach to develop such a NAAB affinity reagent is to leverage naturally occurring biomolecules that bind amino acids and/or peptides. Here, we describe several candidate biomolecules that could be considered for this purpose and discuss the potential for developability of each. Key points • Next-generation sequencing methods are emerging that could revolutionize proteomics. • Sequential readout of N-terminal amino acids by fluorescent-tagged affinity reagents. • Native peptide/amino acid binders can be engineered into affinity reagents. • Protein size and structure contribute to feasibility of reagent developability.
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25
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Edwardraja S, Guo Z, Whitfield J, Lantadilla IR, Johnston WA, Walden P, Vickers CE, Alexandrov K. Caged Activators of Artificial Allosteric Protein Biosensors. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1306-1314. [PMID: 32339455 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.9b00500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The ability of proteins to interconvert unrelated biochemical inputs and outputs underlays most energy and information processing in biology. A common conversion mechanism involves a conformational change of a protein receptor in response to a ligand binding or a covalent modification, leading to allosteric activity modulation of the effector domain. Designing such systems rationally is a central goal of synthetic biology and protein engineering. A two-component sensory system based on the scaffolding of modules in the presence of an analyte is one of the most generalizable biosensor architectures. An inherent problem of such systems is dependence of the response on the absolute and relative concentrations of the components. Here we use the example of two-component sensory systems based on calmodulin-operated synthetic switches to analyze and address this issue. We constructed "caged" versions of the activating domain thereby creating a thermodynamic barrier for spontaneous activation of the system. We demonstrate that the caged biosensor architectures could operate at concentrations spanning 3 orders of magnitude and are applicable to electrochemical, luminescent, and fluorescent two-component biosensors. We analyzed the activation kinetics of the caged biosensors and determined that the core allosteric switch is likely to be the rate limiting component of the system. These findings provide guidance for predictable engineering of robust sensory systems with inputs and outputs of choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selvakumar Edwardraja
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Zhong Guo
- CSIRO-QUT Synthetic Biology Alliance, ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Institute for Future Environments, School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Jason Whitfield
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | | | - Wayne A. Johnston
- CSIRO-QUT Synthetic Biology Alliance, ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Institute for Future Environments, School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Patricia Walden
- CSIRO-QUT Synthetic Biology Alliance, ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Institute for Future Environments, School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Claudia E. Vickers
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Kirill Alexandrov
- CSIRO-QUT Synthetic Biology Alliance, ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Institute for Future Environments, School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
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26
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Ghanbarpour A, Pinger C, Esmatpour Salmani R, Assar Z, Santos EM, Nosrati M, Pawlowski K, Spence D, Vasileiou C, Jin X, Borhan B, Geiger JH. Engineering the hCRBPII Domain-Swapped Dimer into a New Class of Protein Switches. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:17125-17132. [PMID: 31557439 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b04664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Protein conformational switches or allosteric proteins play a key role in the regulation of many essential biological pathways. Nonetheless, the implementation of protein conformational switches in protein design applications has proven challenging, with only a few known examples that are not derivatives of naturally occurring allosteric systems. We have discovered that the domain-swapped (DS) dimer of hCRBPII undergoes a large and robust conformational change upon retinal binding, making it a potentially powerful template for the design of protein conformational switches. Atomic resolution structures of the apo- and holo-forms illuminate a simple, mechanical movement involving sterically driven torsion angle flipping of two residues that drive the motion. We further demonstrate that the conformational "readout" can be altered by addition of cross-domain disulfide bonds, also visualized at atomic resolution. Finally, as a proof of principle, we have created an allosteric metal binding site in the DS dimer, where ligand binding results in a reversible 5-fold loss of metal binding affinity. The high resolution structure of the metal-bound variant illustrates a well-formed metal binding site at the interface of the two domains of the DS dimer and confirms the design strategy for allosteric regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Ghanbarpour
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Cody Pinger
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Rahele Esmatpour Salmani
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Zahra Assar
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Elizabeth M Santos
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Meisam Nosrati
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Kathryn Pawlowski
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Dana Spence
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Chrysoula Vasileiou
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Xiangshu Jin
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Babak Borhan
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - James H Geiger
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
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27
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Wu B, Atkinson JT, Kahanda D, Bennett GN, Silberg JJ. Combinatorial design of chemical‐dependent protein switches for controlling intracellular electron transfer. AIChE J 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/aic.16796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bingyan Wu
- Biochemistry & Cell Biology Graduate Program Rice University Houston Texas
- Department of Biosciences Rice University Houston Texas
| | - Joshua T. Atkinson
- Department of Biosciences Rice University Houston Texas
- Systems, Synthetic, & Physical Biology Graduate Program Rice University Houston Texas
| | | | - George N. Bennett
- Department of Biosciences Rice University Houston Texas
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Rice University Houston Texas
| | - Jonathan J. Silberg
- Department of Biosciences Rice University Houston Texas
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Rice University Houston Texas
- Department of Bioengineering Rice University Houston Texas
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28
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Atkinson JT, Jones AM, Zhou Q, Silberg JJ. Circular permutation profiling by deep sequencing libraries created using transposon mutagenesis. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:e76. [PMID: 29912470 PMCID: PMC6061844 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Deep mutational scanning has been used to create high-resolution DNA sequence maps that illustrate the functional consequences of large numbers of point mutations. However, this approach has not yet been applied to libraries of genes created by random circular permutation, an engineering strategy that is used to create open reading frames that express proteins with altered contact order. We describe a new method, termed circular permutation profiling with DNA sequencing (CPP-seq), which combines a one-step transposon mutagenesis protocol for creating libraries with a functional selection, deep sequencing and computational analysis to obtain unbiased insight into a protein's tolerance to circular permutation. Application of this method to an adenylate kinase revealed that CPP-seq creates two types of vectors encoding each circularly permuted gene, which differ in their ability to express proteins. Functional selection of this library revealed that >65% of the sampled vectors that express proteins are enriched relative to those that cannot translate proteins. Mapping enriched sequences onto structure revealed that the mobile AMP binding and rigid core domains display greater tolerance to backbone fragmentation than the mobile lid domain, illustrating how CPP-seq can be used to relate a protein's biophysical characteristics to the retention of activity upon permutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua T Atkinson
- Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Graduate Program, Rice University, 6100 Main MS-180, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Alicia M Jones
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, MS-140, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Quan Zhou
- Department of Statistics, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Jonathan J Silberg
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, MS-140, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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29
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Galstyan V, Funk L, Einav T, Phillips R. Combinatorial Control through Allostery. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:2792-2800. [PMID: 30768906 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b12517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Many instances of cellular signaling and transcriptional regulation involve switch-like molecular responses to the presence or absence of input ligands. To understand how these responses come about and how they can be harnessed, we develop a statistical mechanical model to characterize the types of Boolean logic that can arise from allosteric molecules following the Monod-Wyman-Changeux (MWC) model. Building upon previous work, we show how an allosteric molecule regulated by two inputs can elicit AND, OR, NAND, and NOR responses but is unable to realize XOR or XNOR gates. Next, we demonstrate the ability of an MWC molecule to perform ratiometric sensing-a response behavior where activity depends monotonically on the ratio of ligand concentrations. We then extend our analysis to more general schemes of combinatorial control involving either additional binding sites for the two ligands or an additional third ligand and show how these additions can cause a switch in the logic behavior of the molecule. Overall, our results demonstrate the wide variety of control schemes that biological systems can implement using simple mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luke Funk
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge , Massachusetts 02139 , United States
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30
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Ligand-induced conformational switch in an artificial bidomain protein scaffold. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1178. [PMID: 30718544 PMCID: PMC6362204 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37256-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial proteins binding any predefined “target” protein can now be efficiently generated using combinatorial libraries based on robust protein scaffolds. αRep is such a family of artificial proteins, based on an α-solenoid protein repeat scaffold. The low aggregation propensity of the specific “binders” generated from this library opens new protein engineering opportunities such as the creation of biosensors within multidomain constructions. Here, we have explored the properties of two new types of artificial bidomain proteins based on αRep structures. Their structural and functional properties are characterized in detail using biophysical methods. The results clearly show that both bidomain proteins adopt a closed bivalve shell-like conformation, in the ligand free form. However, the presence of ligands induces a conformational transition, and the proteins adopt an open form in which each domain can bind its cognate protein partner. The open/closed equilibria alter the affinities of each domain and induce new cooperative effects. The binding-induced relative domain motion was monitored by FRET. Crystal structures of the chimeric proteins indicate that the conformation of each constituting domain is conserved but that their mutual interactions explain the emergent properties of these artificial bidomain proteins. The ligand-induced structural transition observed in these bidomain proteins should be transferable to other αRep proteins with different specificity and could provide the basis of a new generic biosensor design.
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31
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Coyote-Maestas W, He Y, Myers CL, Schmidt D. Domain insertion permissibility-guided engineering of allostery in ion channels. Nat Commun 2019; 10:290. [PMID: 30655517 PMCID: PMC6336875 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08171-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Allostery is a fundamental principle of protein regulation that remains hard to engineer, particularly in membrane proteins such as ion channels. Here we use human Inward Rectifier K+ Channel Kir2.1 to map site-specific permissibility to the insertion of domains with different biophysical properties. We find that permissibility is best explained by dynamic protein properties, such as conformational flexibility. Several regions in Kir2.1 that are equivalent to those regulated in homologs, such as G-protein-gated inward rectifier K+ channels (GIRK), have differential permissibility; that is, for these sites permissibility depends on the structural properties of the inserted domain. Our data and the well-established link between protein dynamics and allostery led us to propose that differential permissibility is a metric of latent allosteric capacity in Kir2.1. In support of this notion, inserting light-switchable domains into sites with predicted latent allosteric capacity renders Kir2.1 activity sensitive to light. Allostery is a fundamental principle of protein regulation that remains challenging to engineer. Here authors screen human Inward Rectifier K + Channel Kir2.1 for permissibility to domain insertions and propose that differential permissibility is a metric of latent allosteric capacity in Kir2.1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willow Coyote-Maestas
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455, MN, USA
| | - Yungui He
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology & Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455, MN, USA
| | - Chad L Myers
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455, MN, USA
| | - Daniel Schmidt
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology & Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455, MN, USA.
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32
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Converting a Periplasmic Binding Protein into a Synthetic Biosensing Switch through Domain Insertion. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:4798793. [PMID: 30719443 PMCID: PMC6335823 DOI: 10.1155/2019/4798793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
All biosensing platforms rest on two pillars: specific biochemical recognition of a particular analyte and transduction of that recognition into a readily detectable signal. Most existing biosensing technologies utilize proteins that passively bind to their analytes and therefore require wasteful washing steps, specialized reagents, and expensive instruments for detection. To overcome these limitations, protein engineering strategies have been applied to develop new classes of protein-based sensor/actuators, known as protein switches, responding to small molecules. Protein switches change their active state (output) in response to a binding event or physical signal (input) and therefore show a tremendous potential to work as a biosensor. Synthetic protein switches can be created by the fusion between two genes, one coding for a sensor protein (input domain) and the other coding for an actuator protein (output domain) by domain insertion. The binding of a signal molecule to the engineered protein will switch the protein function from an “off” to an “on” state (or vice versa) as desired. The molecular switch could, for example, sense the presence of a metabolite, pollutant, or a biomarker and trigger a cellular response. The potential sensing and response capabilities are enormous; however, the recognition repertoire of natural switches is limited. Thereby, bioengineers have been struggling to expand the toolkit of molecular switches recognition repertoire utilizing periplasmic binding proteins (PBPs) as protein-sensing components. PBPs are a superfamily of bacterial proteins that provide interesting features to engineer biosensors, for instance, immense ligand-binding diversity and high affinity, and undergo large conformational changes in response to ligand binding. The development of these protein switches has yielded insights into the design of protein-based biosensors, particularly in the area of allosteric domain fusions. Here, recent protein engineering approaches for expanding the versatility of protein switches are reviewed, with an emphasis on studies that used PBPs to generate novel switches through protein domain insertion.
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33
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Atkinson JT, Wu B, Segatori L, Silberg JJ. Overcoming component limitations in synthetic biology through transposon-mediated protein engineering. Methods Enzymol 2019; 621:191-212. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2019.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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34
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Gorman SD, D'Amico RN, Winston DS, Boehr DD. Engineering Allostery into Proteins. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1163:359-384. [PMID: 31707711 PMCID: PMC7508002 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-8719-7_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Our ability to engineer protein structure and function has grown dramatically over recent years. Perhaps the next level in protein design is to develop proteins whose function can be regulated in response to various stimuli, including ligand binding, pH changes, and light. Endeavors toward these goals have tested and expanded on our understanding of protein function and allosteric regulation. In this chapter, we provide examples from different methods for developing new allosterically regulated proteins. These methods range from whole insertion of regulatory domains into new host proteins, to covalent attachment of photoswitches to generate light-responsive proteins, and to targeted changes to specific amino acid residues, especially to residues identified to be important for relaying allosteric information across the protein framework. Many of the examples we discuss have already found practical use in medical and biotechnology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott D Gorman
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca N D'Amico
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Dennis S Winston
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - David D Boehr
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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35
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Atkinson JT, Campbell IJ, Thomas EE, Bonitatibus SC, Elliott SJ, Bennett GN, Silberg JJ. Metalloprotein switches that display chemical-dependent electron transfer in cells. Nat Chem Biol 2018; 15:189-195. [PMID: 30559426 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-018-0192-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Biological electron transfer is challenging to directly regulate using environmental conditions. To enable dynamic, protein-level control over energy flow in metabolic systems for synthetic biology and bioelectronics, we created ferredoxin logic gates that utilize transcriptional and post-translational inputs to control energy flow through a synthetic electron transfer pathway that is required for bacterial growth. These logic gates were created by subjecting a thermostable, plant-type ferredoxin to backbone fission and fusing the resulting fragments to a pair of proteins that self-associate, a pair of proteins whose association is stabilized by a small molecule, and to the termini of a ligand-binding domain. We show that the latter domain insertion design strategy yields an allosteric ferredoxin switch that acquires an oxygen-tolerant [2Fe-2S] cluster and can use different chemicals, including a therapeutic drug and an environmental pollutant, to control the production of a reduced metabolite in Escherichia coli and cell lysates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua T Atkinson
- Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Graduate Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ian J Campbell
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Graduate Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Emily E Thomas
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology Graduate Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Sean J Elliott
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - George N Bennett
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jonathan J Silberg
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA. .,Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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36
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Brandsen BM, Mattheisen JM, Noel T, Fields S. A Biosensor Strategy for E. coli Based on Ligand-Dependent Stabilization. ACS Synth Biol 2018; 7:1990-1999. [PMID: 30064218 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.8b00052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The engineering of microorganisms to monitor environmental chemicals or to produce desirable bioproducts is often reliant on the availability of a suitable biosensor. However, the conversion of a ligand-binding protein into a biosensor has been difficult. Here, we report a general strategy for generating biosensors in Escherichia coli that act by ligand-dependent stabilization of a transcriptional activator and mediate ligand concentration-dependent expression of a reporter gene. We constructed such a biosensor by using the lac repressor, LacI, as the ligand-binding domain and fusing it to the Zif268 DNA-binding domain and RNA polymerase omega subunit transcription-activating domain. Using error-prone PCR mutagenesis of lacI and selection, we identified a biosensor with multiple mutations, only one of which was essential for biosensor behavior. By tuning parameters of the assay, we obtained a response dependent on the ligand isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) of up to a 7-fold increase in the growth rate of E. coli. The single destabilizing mutation combined with a lacI mutation that expands ligand specificity to d-fucose generated a biosensor with improved response both to d-fucose and to IPTG. However, a mutation equivalent to the one that destabilized LacI in either of two structurally similar periplasmic binding proteins did not confer ligand-dependent stabilization. Finally, we demonstrated the generality of this method by using mutagenesis and selection to engineer another ligand-binding domain, MphR, to function as a biosensor. This strategy may allow many natural proteins that recognize and bind to ligands to be converted into biosensors.
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37
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Construction of Allosteric Protein Switches by Alternate Frame Folding and Intermolecular Fragment Exchange. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1596:27-41. [PMID: 28293878 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6940-1_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Alternate frame folding (AFF) and protein/fragment exchange (FREX) are related technologies for engineering allosteric conformational changes into proteins that have no pre-existing allosteric properties. One of their chief purposes is to turn an ordinary protein into a biomolecular switch capable of transforming an input event into an optical or functional readout. Here, we present a guide for converting an arbitrary binding protein into a fluorescent biosensor with Förster resonance energy transfer output. Because the AFF and FREX mechanisms are founded on general principles of protein structure and stability rather than a property that is idiosyncratic to the target protein, the basic design steps-choice of permutation/cleavage sites, molecular biology, and construct optimization-remain the same for any target protein. We highlight effective strategies as well as common pitfalls based on our experience with multiple AFF and FREX constructs.
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38
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Abdallah W, Solanki K, Banta S. Insertion of a Calcium-Responsive β-Roll Domain into a Thermostable Alcohol Dehydrogenase Enables Tunable Control over Cofactor Selectivity. ACS Catal 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.7b03809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Walaa Abdallah
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Kusum Solanki
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Scott Banta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
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39
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Blacklock KM, Yang L, Mulligan VK, Khare SD. A computational method for the design of nested proteins by loop-directed domain insertion. Proteins 2018; 86:354-369. [PMID: 29250820 DOI: 10.1002/prot.25445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The computational design of novel nested proteins-in which the primary structure of one protein domain (insert) is flanked by the primary structure segments of another (parent)-would enable the generation of multifunctional proteins. Here we present a new algorithm, called Loop-Directed Domain Insertion (LooDo), implemented within the Rosetta software suite, for the purpose of designing nested protein domain combinations connected by flexible linker regions. Conformational space for the insert domain is sampled using large libraries of linker fragments for linker-to-parent domain superimposition followed by insert-to-linker superimposition. The relative positioning of the two domains (treated as rigid bodies) is sampled efficiently by a grid-based, mutual placement compatibility search. The conformations of the loop residues, and the identities of loop as well as interface residues, are simultaneously optimized using a generalized kinematic loop closure algorithm and Rosetta EnzymeDesign, respectively, to minimize interface energy. The algorithm was found to consistently sample near-native conformations and interface sequences for a benchmark set of structurally similar but functionally divergent domain-inserted enzymes from the α/β hydrolase superfamily, and discriminates well between native and nonnative conformations and sequences, although loop conformations tended to deviate from the native conformations. Furthermore, in cross-domain placement tests, native insert-parent domain combinations were ranked as the best-scoring structures compared to nonnative domain combinations. This algorithm should be broadly applicable to the design of multi-domain protein complexes with any combination of inserted or tandem domain connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M Blacklock
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.,Center for Integrative Proteomics Research, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Lu Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.,Center for Integrative Proteomics Research, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Vikram K Mulligan
- Institute for Protein Design and Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Sagar D Khare
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.,Center for Integrative Proteomics Research, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey
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40
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Affiliation(s)
- Srivatsan Raman
- Department of Biochemistry
and Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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41
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Higgins SA, Savage DF. Protein Science by DNA Sequencing: How Advances in Molecular Biology Are Accelerating Biochemistry. Biochemistry 2017; 57:38-46. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sean A. Higgins
- Department
of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - David F. Savage
- Department
of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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42
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Roose BW, Zemerov SD, Dmochowski IJ. Nanomolar small-molecule detection using a genetically encoded 129Xe NMR contrast agent. Chem Sci 2017; 8:7631-7636. [PMID: 29568427 PMCID: PMC5849143 DOI: 10.1039/c7sc03601a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetically encoded magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents enable non-invasive detection of specific biomarkers in vivo.
Genetically encoded magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents enable non-invasive detection of specific biomarkers in vivo. Here, we employed the hyper-CEST 129Xe NMR technique to quantify maltose (32 nM to 1 mM) through its modulation of conformational change and xenon exchange in maltose binding protein (MBP). Remarkably, no hyper-CEST signal was observed for MBP in the absence of maltose, making MBP an ultrasensitive “smart” contrast agent. The resonance frequency of 129Xe bound to MBP was greatly downfield-shifted (Δδ = 95 ppm) from the 129Xe(aq) peak, which facilitated detection in E. coli as well as multiplexing with TEM-1 β-lactamase. Finally, a Val to Ala mutation at the MBP–Xe binding site yielded 34% more contrast than WT, with 129Xe resonance frequency shifted 59 ppm upfield from WT. We conclude that engineered MBPs constitute a new class of genetically encoded, analyte-sensitive molecular imaging agents detectable by 129Xe NMR/MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- B W Roose
- Department of Chemistry , University of Pennsylvania , 231 South 34th St. , Philadelphia , PA 19104-6323 , USA .
| | - S D Zemerov
- Department of Chemistry , University of Pennsylvania , 231 South 34th St. , Philadelphia , PA 19104-6323 , USA .
| | - I J Dmochowski
- Department of Chemistry , University of Pennsylvania , 231 South 34th St. , Philadelphia , PA 19104-6323 , USA .
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43
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Fu J, Larini L, Cooper AJ, Whittaker JW, Ahmed A, Dong J, Lee M, Zhang T. Computational and experimental analysis of short peptide motifs for enzyme inhibition. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182847. [PMID: 28809952 PMCID: PMC5557489 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The metabolism of living systems involves many enzymes that play key roles as catalysts and are essential to biological function. Searching ligands with the ability to modulate enzyme activities is central to diagnosis and therapeutics. Peptides represent a promising class of potential enzyme modulators due to the large chemical diversity, and well-established methods for library synthesis. Peptides and their derivatives are found to play critical roles in modulating enzymes and mediating cellular uptakes, which are increasingly valuable in therapeutics. We present a methodology that uses molecular dynamics (MD) and point-variant screening to identify short peptide motifs that are critical for inhibiting β-galactosidase (β-Gal). MD was used to simulate the conformations of peptides and to suggest short motifs that were most populated in simulated conformations. The function of the simulated motifs was further validated by the experimental point-variant screening as critical segments for inhibiting the enzyme. Based on the validated motifs, we eventually identified a 7-mer short peptide for inhibiting an enzyme with low μM IC50. The advantage of our methodology is the relatively simplified simulation that is informative enough to identify the critical sequence of a peptide inhibitor, with a precision comparable to truncation and alanine scanning experiments. Our combined experimental and computational approach does not rely on a detailed understanding of mechanistic and structural details. The MD simulation suggests the populated motifs that are consistent with the results of the experimental alanine and truncation scanning. This approach appears to be applicable to both natural and artificial peptides. With more discovered short motifs in the future, they could be exploited for modulating biocatalysis, and developing new medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinglin Fu
- Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JF); (LL)
| | - Luca Larini
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Physics, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JF); (LL)
| | - Anthony J. Cooper
- Department of Physics, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - John W. Whittaker
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Physics, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Azka Ahmed
- Department of Physics, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Junhao Dong
- Department of Physics, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Minyoung Lee
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Physics, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University-Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
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44
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Chen X, Gao C, Guo L, Hu G, Luo Q, Liu J, Nielsen J, Chen J, Liu L. DCEO Biotechnology: Tools To Design, Construct, Evaluate, and Optimize the Metabolic Pathway for Biosynthesis of Chemicals. Chem Rev 2017; 118:4-72. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiulai Chen
- State
Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Key
Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Cong Gao
- State
Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Key
Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Liang Guo
- State
Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Key
Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Guipeng Hu
- State
Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Key
Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Qiuling Luo
- State
Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Key
Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Jia Liu
- State
Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Key
Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Jens Nielsen
- Department
of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg SE-412 96, Sweden
- Novo
Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, DK2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jian Chen
- State
Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Key
Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Liming Liu
- State
Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Department
of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg SE-412 96, Sweden
- Key
Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
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45
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Yachnin BJ, Khare SD. Engineering carboxypeptidase G2 circular permutations for the design of an autoinhibited enzyme. Protein Eng Des Sel 2017; 30:321-331. [PMID: 28160000 PMCID: PMC6283397 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzx005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Revised: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Carboxypeptidase G2 (CPG2) is an Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved enzyme drug used to treat methotrexate (MTX) toxicity in cancer patients receiving MTX treatment. It has also been used in directed enzyme-prodrug chemotherapy, but this strategy has been hampered by off-site activation of the prodrug by the circulating enzyme. The development of a tumor protease activatable CPG2, which could be achieved using a circular permutation of CPG2 fused to an inactivating 'prodomain', would aid in these applications. We report the development of a protease accessibility-based screen to identify candidate sites for circular permutation in proximity of the CPG2 active site. The resulting six circular permutants showed similar expression, structure, thermal stability, and, in four cases, activity levels compared to the wild-type enzyme. We rationalize these results based on structural models of the permutants obtained using the Rosetta software. We developed a cell growth-based selection system, and demonstrated that when fused to periplasm-directing signal peptides, one of our circular permutants confers MTX resistance in Escherichia coli with equal efficiency as the wild-type enzyme. As the permutants have similar properties to wild-type CPG2, these enzymes are promising starting points for the development of autoinhibited, protease-activatable zymogen forms of CPG2 for use in therapeutic contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brahm J. Yachnin
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology and the Center for Integrative Proteomics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Sagar D. Khare
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology and the Center for Integrative Proteomics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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Creation of Antigen-Dependent β-Lactamase Fusion Protein Tethered by Circularly Permuted Antibody Variable Domains. Methods Mol Biol 2017. [PMID: 28293886 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6940-1_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Antibody-based molecular switches that are able to recognize a range of exogenous antigens can be highly useful as a versatile biosensor. However, regulating the catalytic activity of enzymes by antibodies is still hard to achieve. Here, we describe a design method of unique antibody variable region Fv introduced with two circular permutations, called Clampbody. By tethering the Clampbody to a circularly permuted TEM-1 β-lactamase (BLA), we successfully constructed a genetically encoded molecular switch Cbody-cpBLA that shows antigen-dependent catalytic activity.
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Kaschner M, Schillinger O, Fettweiss T, Nutschel C, Krause F, Fulton A, Strodel B, Stadler A, Jaeger KE, Krauss U. A combination of mutational and computational scanning guides the design of an artificial ligand-binding controlled lipase. Sci Rep 2017; 7:42592. [PMID: 28218303 PMCID: PMC5316958 DOI: 10.1038/srep42592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Allostery, i.e. the control of enzyme activity by a small molecule at a location distant from the enzyme’s active site, represents a mechanism essential for sustaining life. The rational design of allostery is a non-trivial task but can be achieved by fusion of a sensory domain, which responds to environmental stimuli with a change in its structure. Hereby, the site of domain fusion is difficult to predict. We here explore the possibility to rationally engineer allostery into the naturally not allosterically regulated Bacillus subtilis lipase A, by fusion of the citrate-binding sensor-domain of the CitA sensory-kinase of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The site of domain fusion was rationally determined based on whole-protein site-saturation mutagenesis data, complemented by computational evolutionary-coupling analyses. Functional assays, combined with biochemical and biophysical studies suggest a mechanism for control, similar but distinct to the one of the parent CitA protein, with citrate acting as an indirect modulator of Triton-X100 inhibition of the fusion protein. Our study demonstrates that the introduction of ligand-dependent regulatory control by domain fusion is surprisingly facile, suggesting that the catalytic mechanism of some enzymes may be evolutionary optimized in a way that it can easily be perturbed by small conformational changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Kaschner
- Institut für Molekulare Enzymtechnologie, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Oliver Schillinger
- Institute of Complex Systems ICS-6: Structural Biochemistry, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Timo Fettweiss
- Institut für Molekulare Enzymtechnologie, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Christina Nutschel
- Institut für Molekulare Enzymtechnologie, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Frank Krause
- Nanolytics, Gesellschaft für Kolloidanalytik GmbH, Am Mühlenberg 11, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Alexander Fulton
- Institut für Molekulare Enzymtechnologie, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Birgit Strodel
- Institute of Complex Systems ICS-6: Structural Biochemistry, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Andreas Stadler
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science JCNS and Institute for Complex Systems ICS, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Karl-Erich Jaeger
- Institut für Molekulare Enzymtechnologie, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany.,Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Ulrich Krauss
- Institut für Molekulare Enzymtechnologie, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
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48
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Shelat NY, Parhi S, Ostermeier M. Development of a cancer-marker activated enzymatic switch from the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase. Protein Eng Des Sel 2017; 30:95-103. [PMID: 27986921 PMCID: PMC6080848 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzw067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Revised: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Discovery of new cancer biomarkers and advances in targeted gene delivery mechanisms have made gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) an attractive method for treating cancer. Recent focus has been placed on increasing target specificity of gene delivery systems and reducing toxicity in non-cancer cells in order to make GDEPT viable. To help address this challenge, we have developed an enzymatic switch that confers higher prodrug toxicity in the presence of a cancer marker. The enzymatic switch was derived from the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) fused to the CH1 domain of the p300 protein. The CH1 domain binds to the C-terminal transactivation domain (C-TAD) of the cancer marker hypoxia inducible factor 1α. The switch was developed using a directed evolution approach that evaluated a large library of HSV-TK/CH1 fusions using a negative selection for azidothymidine (AZT) toxicity and a positive selection for dT phosphorylation. The identified switch, dubbed TICKLE (Trigger-Induced Cell-Killing Lethal-Enzyme), confers a 4-fold increase in AZT toxicity in the presence of C-TAD. The broad substrate specificity exhibited by HSV-TK makes TICKLE an appealing prospect for testing in medical imaging and cancer therapy, while establishing a foundation for further engineering of nucleoside kinase protein switches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirav Y Shelat
- Chemical Biology Interface Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Sidhartha Parhi
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Marc Ostermeier
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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Goh HC, Ghadessy FJ, Nirantar S. Protein and Protease Sensing by Allosteric Derepression. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1596:167-177. [PMID: 28293887 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6940-1_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Peptide motifs are crucial mediators of protein-protein interactions as well as sites of specific protease activity. The detection and characterization of these events is therefore indispensable for a detailed understanding of cellular regulation. Here, we present versatile and modular sensors that allow the user to detect protease activity and protein-peptide interactions, as well as to screen for inhibitors using chromogenic, fluorescent, or luminescent output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chin Goh
- p53 Laboratory, A*STAR Agency for Science, Technology and Research, #06-04/05 Neuros, 138648, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Farid J Ghadessy
- p53 Laboratory, A*STAR Agency for Science, Technology and Research, #06-04/05 Neuros, 138648, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Saurabh Nirantar
- p53 Laboratory, A*STAR Agency for Science, Technology and Research, #06-04/05 Neuros, 138648, Singapore, Singapore
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Abstract
Synthetic protein switches with tailored response functions are finding increasing applications as tools in basic research and biotechnology. With a number of successful design strategies emerging, the construction of synthetic protein switches still frequently necessitates an integrated approach that combines detailed biochemical and biophysical characterization in combination with high-throughput screening to construct tailored synthetic protein switches. This is increasingly complemented by computational strategies that aim to reduce the need for costly empirical optimization and thus facilitate the protein design process. Successful computational design approaches range from analyzing phylogenetic data to infer useful structural, biophysical, and biochemical information to modeling the structure and function of proteins ab initio. The following chapter provides an overview over the theoretical considerations and experimental approaches that have been successful applied in the construction of synthetic protein switches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Stein
- Fachbereich Biologie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany.
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