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Larmore M, Palomero OE, Kamat NP, DeCaen PG. A synthetic method to assay polycystin channel biophysics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.06.592666. [PMID: 38766162 PMCID: PMC11100589 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.06.592666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Ion channels are biological transistors that control ionic flux across cell membranes to regulate electrical transmission and signal transduction. They are found in all biological membranes and their conductive states are frequently disrupted in human diseases. Organelle ion channels are among the most resistant to functional and pharmacological interrogation. Traditional channel protein reconstitution methods rely upon exogenous expression and/or purification from endogenous cellular sources which are frequently contaminated by resident ionophores. Here we describe a fully synthetic method to assay the functional properties of the polycystin subfamily of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels that natively traffic to primary cilia and endoplasmic reticulum organelles. Using this method, we characterize their membrane integration, orientation and conductance while comparing these results to their endogenous channel properties. Outcomes define a novel synthetic approach that can be applied broadly to investigate other channels resistant to biophysical analysis and pharmacological characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Larmore
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Orhi Esarte Palomero
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Neha P Kamat
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Paul G DeCaen
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
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2
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Ramm F, Kaser D, König I, Fellendorf J, Wenzel D, Zemella A, Papatheodorou P, Barth H, Schmidt H. Synthesis of biologically active Shiga toxins in cell-free systems. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6043. [PMID: 38472311 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56190-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxins (Stx) produced by pathogenic bacteria can cause mild to severe diseases in humans. Thus, the analysis of such toxins is of utmost importance. As an AB5 toxin, Stx consist of a catalytic A-subunit acting as a ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) and a B-pentamer binding domain. In this study we synthesized the subunits and holotoxins from Stx and Stx2a using different cell-free systems, namely an E. coli- and CHO-based cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system. The functional activity of the protein toxins was analyzed in two ways. First, activity of the A-subunits was assessed using an in vitro protein inhibition assay. StxA produced in an E. coli cell-free system showed significant RIP activity at concentrations of 0.02 nM, whereas toxins synthesized in a CHO cell-free system revealed significant activity at concentrations of 0.2 nM. Cell-free synthesized StxA2a was compared to StxA2a expressed in E. coli cells. Cell-based StxA2a had to be added at concentrations of 20 to 200 nM to yield a significant RIP activity. Furthermore, holotoxin analysis on cultured HeLa cells using an O-propargyl-puromycin assay showed significant protein translation reduction at concentrations of 10 nM and 5 nM for cell-free synthesized toxins derived from E. coli and CHO systems, respectively. Overall, these results show that Stx can be synthesized using different cell-free systems while remaining functionally active. In addition, we were able to use CFPS to assess the activity of different Stx variants which can further be used for RIPs in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Ramm
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Danny Kaser
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
- Institute of Nutritional Science - Nutritional Toxicology, University of Potsdam, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14558, Nuthetal, Germany
| | - Irina König
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacology of Natural Products, Ulm University Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Juliane Fellendorf
- Department of Food Microbiology and Hygiene, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 28, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Dana Wenzel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Anne Zemella
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Panagiotis Papatheodorou
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacology of Natural Products, Ulm University Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Holger Barth
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacology of Natural Products, Ulm University Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Herbert Schmidt
- Department of Food Microbiology and Hygiene, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 28, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany.
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3
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Moser C, Muhle-Goll C. Cell-free protein production of a gamma secretase homolog. Protein Expr Purif 2024; 215:106407. [PMID: 38000778 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2023.106407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Cleavage of the transmembrane domain (TMD) of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) by γ-secretase, an intramembrane aspartyl protease, generates Aβ peptides of various lengths that form plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. Although the debate has not been finally resolved whether these plaques trigger the onset of Alzheimer's or are side products, disease-related mutations suggest their implication in the etiology of the dementia. These occur both in presenilin, the catalytic subunit of γ-secretase, and in the TMD of APP. Despite two seminal cryo-electron microscopy structures that show the complex of γ-secretase with its substrates APP and Notch, the mechanism of γ-secretase is not yet fully understood. Especially on which basis it selects its substrates is still an enigma. The presenilin homolog PSH from the archaeon Methanoculleus marisnigri JR1 (MCMJR1) is catalytically active without accessory proteins in contrast to γ-secretase making it an excellent model for studies of the basic cleavage process. We here focused on the cell-free expression of PSH screening a range of conditions. Cleavage assays to verify the activity show that not only the yield, but mainly the activity of the protease depends on the careful selection of expression conditions. Optimal results were found for a cell-free expression at relatively low temperature, 20 °C, employing cell lysates prepared from E. coli Rosetta cells. To speed up protein preparation for immediate functional assays, a crude purification protocol was developed. This allows to produce ready-made PSH in a fast and efficient manner in less than two days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Moser
- Institute for Biological Interfaces 4, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein- Leopoldshafen, Germany; Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Claudia Muhle-Goll
- Institute for Biological Interfaces 4, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein- Leopoldshafen, Germany; Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
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4
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Yue K, Chen J, Li Y, Kai L. Advancing synthetic biology through cell-free protein synthesis. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:2899-2908. [PMID: 37216017 PMCID: PMC10196276 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid development of synthetic biology has enabled the production of compounds with revolutionary improvements in biotechnology. DNA manipulation tools have expedited the engineering of cellular systems for this purpose. Nonetheless, the inherent constraints of cellular systems persist, imposing an upper limit on mass and energy conversion efficiencies. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) has demonstrated its potential to overcome these inherent constraints and has been instrumental in the further advancement of synthetic biology. Via the removal of the cell membranes and redundant parts of cells, CFPS has provided flexibility in directly dissecting and manipulating the Central Dogma with rapid feedback. This mini-review summarizes recent achievements of the CFPS technique and its application to a wide range of synthetic biology projects, such as minimal cell assembly, metabolic engineering, and recombinant protein production for therapeutics, as well as biosensor development for in vitro diagnostics. In addition, current challenges and future perspectives in developing a generalized cell-free synthetic biology are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Yue
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 22116, China
| | - Junyu Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 22116, China
| | - Yingqiu Li
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 22116, China
| | - Lei Kai
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 22116, China
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Cho S, Park TH. Advances in the Production of Olfactory Receptors for Industrial Use. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2200251. [PMID: 36593488 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
In biological olfactory systems, olfactory receptors (ORs) can recognize and discriminate between thousands of volatile organic compounds with very high sensitivity and specificity. The superior properties of ORs have led to the development of OR-based biosensors that have shown promising potential in many applications over the past two decades. In particular, newly designed technologies in gene synthesis, protein expression, solubilization, purification, and membrane mimetics for membrane proteins have greatly opened up the previously inaccessible industrial potential of ORs. In this review, gene design, expression and solubilization strategies, and purification and reconstitution methods available for modern industrial applications are examined, with a focus on ORs. The limitations of current OR production technology are also estimated, and future directions for further progress are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seongyeon Cho
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Tai Hyun Park
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
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Dmitrieva DA, Kotova TV, Safronova NA, Sadova AA, Dashevskii DE, Mishin AV. Protein Design Strategies for the Structural–Functional Studies of G Protein-Coupled Receptors. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2023; 88:S192-S226. [PMID: 37069121 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923140110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are an important family of membrane proteins responsible for many physiological functions in human body. High resolution GPCR structures are required to understand their molecular mechanisms and perform rational drug design, as GPCRs play a crucial role in a variety of diseases. That is difficult to obtain for the wild-type proteins because of their low stability. In this review, we discuss how this problem can be solved by using protein design strategies developed to obtain homogeneous stabilized GPCR samples for crystallization and cryoelectron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria A Dmitrieva
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Tatiana V Kotova
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Nadezda A Safronova
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Alexandra A Sadova
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Dmitrii E Dashevskii
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Alexey V Mishin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia.
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Koo CW, Hershewe JM, Jewett MC, Rosenzweig AC. Cell-Free Protein Synthesis of Particulate Methane Monooxygenase into Nanodiscs. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:4009-4017. [PMID: 36417751 PMCID: PMC9910172 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) is a multi-subunit membrane metalloenzyme used by methanotrophic bacteria to convert methane to methanol. A major hurdle to studying pMMO is the lack of a recombinant expression system, precluding investigation of individual residues by mutagenesis and hampering a complete understanding of its mechanism. Here, we developed an Escherichia coli lysate-based cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system that can be used to express pMMO in vitro in the presence of nanodiscs. We used a SUMO fusion construct to generate the native PmoB subunit and showed that the SUMO protease (Ulp1) cleaves the protein in the reaction mixture. Using an affinity tag to isolate the complete pMMO complex, we demonstrated that the complex forms without the need for exogenous translocon machinery or chaperones, confirmed by negative stain electron microscopy. This work demonstrates the potential for using CFPS to express multi-subunit membrane-bound metalloenzymes directly into lipid bilayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W. Koo
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Jasmine M. Hershewe
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Michael C. Jewett
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Amy C. Rosenzweig
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and of Chemistry and Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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8
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Galluccio M, Console L, Pochini L, Scalise M, Giangregorio N, Indiveri C. Strategies for Successful Over-Expression of Human Membrane Transport Systems Using Bacterial Hosts: Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073823. [PMID: 35409183 PMCID: PMC8998559 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ten percent of human genes encode for membrane transport systems, which are key components in maintaining cell homeostasis. They are involved in the transport of nutrients, catabolites, vitamins, and ions, allowing the absorption and distribution of these compounds to the various body regions. In addition, roughly 60% of FDA-approved drugs interact with membrane proteins, among which are transporters, often responsible for pharmacokinetics and side effects. Defects of membrane transport systems can cause diseases; however, knowledge of the structure/function relationships of transporters is still limited. Among the expression of hosts that produce human membrane transport systems, E. coli is one of the most favorable for its low cultivation costs, fast growth, handiness, and extensive knowledge of its genetics and molecular mechanisms. However, the expression in E. coli of human membrane proteins is often toxic due to the hydrophobicity of these proteins and the diversity in structure with respect to their bacterial counterparts. Moreover, differences in codon usage between humans and bacteria hamper translation. This review summarizes the many strategies exploited to achieve the expression of human transport systems in bacteria, providing a guide to help people who want to deal with this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Galluccio
- Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DiBEST), University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4c, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy; (M.G.); (L.C.); (L.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Lara Console
- Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DiBEST), University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4c, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy; (M.G.); (L.C.); (L.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Lorena Pochini
- Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DiBEST), University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4c, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy; (M.G.); (L.C.); (L.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Mariafrancesca Scalise
- Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DiBEST), University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4c, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy; (M.G.); (L.C.); (L.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Nicola Giangregorio
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnology (IBIOM), National Research Council (CNR), Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy;
| | - Cesare Indiveri
- Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DiBEST), University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4c, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy; (M.G.); (L.C.); (L.P.); (M.S.)
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnology (IBIOM), National Research Council (CNR), Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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9
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Rivera-de-Torre E, Rimbault C, Jenkins TP, Sørensen CV, Damsbo A, Saez NJ, Duhoo Y, Hackney CM, Ellgaard L, Laustsen AH. Strategies for Heterologous Expression, Synthesis, and Purification of Animal Venom Toxins. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:811905. [PMID: 35127675 PMCID: PMC8811309 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.811905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal venoms are complex mixtures containing peptides and proteins known as toxins, which are responsible for the deleterious effect of envenomations. Across the animal Kingdom, toxin diversity is enormous, and the ability to understand the biochemical mechanisms governing toxicity is not only relevant for the development of better envenomation therapies, but also for exploiting toxin bioactivities for therapeutic or biotechnological purposes. Most of toxinology research has relied on obtaining the toxins from crude venoms; however, some toxins are difficult to obtain because the venomous animal is endangered, does not thrive in captivity, produces only a small amount of venom, is difficult to milk, or only produces low amounts of the toxin of interest. Heterologous expression of toxins enables the production of sufficient amounts to unlock the biotechnological potential of these bioactive proteins. Moreover, heterologous expression ensures homogeneity, avoids cross-contamination with other venom components, and circumvents the use of crude venom. Heterologous expression is also not only restricted to natural toxins, but allows for the design of toxins with special properties or can take advantage of the increasing amount of transcriptomics and genomics data, enabling the expression of dormant toxin genes. The main challenge when producing toxins is obtaining properly folded proteins with a correct disulfide pattern that ensures the activity of the toxin of interest. This review presents the strategies that can be used to express toxins in bacteria, yeast, insect cells, or mammalian cells, as well as synthetic approaches that do not involve cells, such as cell-free biosynthesis and peptide synthesis. This is accompanied by an overview of the main advantages and drawbacks of these different systems for producing toxins, as well as a discussion of the biosafety considerations that need to be made when working with highly bioactive proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esperanza Rivera-de-Torre
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Esperanza Rivera-de-Torre, ; Andreas H. Laustsen,
| | - Charlotte Rimbault
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Timothy P. Jenkins
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Christoffer V. Sørensen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anna Damsbo
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Natalie J. Saez
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Yoan Duhoo
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Celeste Menuet Hackney
- Department of Biology, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars Ellgaard
- Department of Biology, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andreas H. Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Esperanza Rivera-de-Torre, ; Andreas H. Laustsen,
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Abstract
Hybrid membranes comprised of diblock copolymers, and phospholipids have gained interest due to their unique properties that result from blending natural and synthetic components. The integration of membrane proteins into these synthetic membranes is an important step towards creating biomembrane systems for uses such as artificial cellular systems, biosensors, and drug delivery vehicles. Here, we outline a technique to create hybrid membranes composed of phospholipids and diblock copolymers. Next, we describe how membrane proteins can be co-translationally integrated into hybrid lipid/polymer membranes using a cell-free reaction. We then outline a method to monitor insertion and folding of a membrane-embedded channel protein into the hybrid membrane using a fluorescent-protein reporter and dye release assay, respectively. This method is expected to be applicable for a wide range of membrane proteins that do not require chaperones for co-translational integration into vesicles and provides a generalized protocol for expressing a membrane protein into a membrane mimetic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda L Jacobs
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Neha P Kamat
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
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11
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Ramm F, Stech M, Zemella A, Frentzel H, Kubick S. The Pore-Forming Hemolysin BL Enterotoxin from Bacillus cereus: Subunit Interactions in Cell-Free Systems. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13110807. [PMID: 34822591 PMCID: PMC8623112 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13110807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The tripartite enterotoxin Hemolysin BL (Hbl) has been widely characterized as a hemolytic and cytotoxic virulence factor involved in foodborne diarrheal illness caused by Bacillus cereus. Previous studies have described the formation of the Hbl complex and aimed to identify the toxin’s mode of action. In this study, we analyzed the assembly of Hbl out of its three individual subunits L1, L2 and B in a soluble as well as a putative membrane bound composition using a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell-free system. Subunits were either coexpressed or synthesized individually in separate cell-free reactions and mixed together afterwards. Hemolytic activity of cell-free synthesized subunits was demonstrated on 5% sheep blood agar and identified both synthesis procedures, coexpression as well as individual synthesis of each subunit, as functional for the synthesis of an active Hbl complex. Hbl’s ability to perforate cell membranes was evaluated using a propidium iodide uptake assay. These data suggested that coexpressed Hbl subunits augmented cytotoxic activity with increasing concentrations. Further, a pre-pore-complex of L1-L2 showed cytotoxic effects suggesting the possibility of an interaction between the cell membrane and the pre-pore-complex. Overall, this study shows that cell-free protein synthesis is a fast and efficient way to study the assembly of multiple protein subunits in soluble as well as vesicular fractions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Ramm
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany; (F.R.); (M.S.); (A.Z.)
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Thielallee 63, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marlitt Stech
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany; (F.R.); (M.S.); (A.Z.)
| | - Anne Zemella
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany; (F.R.); (M.S.); (A.Z.)
| | - Hendrik Frentzel
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany; (F.R.); (M.S.); (A.Z.)
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Thielallee 63, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Joint Faculty of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus–Senftenberg, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and the University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-331-58-187-306; Fax: +49-331-58-187-199
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12
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Choi YR, Shim J, Park JH, Kim YS, Kim MJ. Discovery of Orphan Olfactory Receptor 6M1 as a New Anticancer Target in MCF-7 Cells by a Combination of Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based and Cell-Based Systems. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21103468. [PMID: 34065710 PMCID: PMC8156394 DOI: 10.3390/s21103468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Olfactory receptors (ORs) account for 49% of all G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which are important targets for drug discovery, and hence ORs may also be potential drug targets. Various ORs are expressed in breast cancer cells; however, most of them are orphan receptors, and thus, their functions are unknown. Herein, we present an experimental strategy using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) system and a cell-based assay that allowed the identification of orphan OR6M1 as a new anticancer target in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. After the construction of stable OR6M1-expressing cells, the SPR-based screening of 108 chemicals for ligand activity was performed against OR6M1-expressing whole cells (primary screening) or membrane fragments (secondary screening). As a result, anthraquinone (AQ) and rutin were discovered to be new OR6M1 ligands. Based on calcium imaging in OR6M1-expressing Hana3A cells, AQ and rutin were classified as an OR6M1 agonist and antagonist, respectively. Cell viability and live/dead assays showed that AQ induced the death of MCF-7 cells, which was inhibited by rutin. Therefore, OR6M1 may be considered an anticancer target, and AQ may be considered a chemotherapeutic agent. This combined method can be widely used to discover the ligands and functions of other orphan GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yae Rim Choi
- Research Group of Natural Materials and Metabolism, Korea Food Research Institute, Wanju 55365, Korea; (Y.R.C.); (J.S.)
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea;
| | - Jaewon Shim
- Research Group of Natural Materials and Metabolism, Korea Food Research Institute, Wanju 55365, Korea; (Y.R.C.); (J.S.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Collage of Medicine, Kosin University, Busan 49267, Korea
| | - Jae-Ho Park
- Research Group of Healthcare, Korea Food Research Institute, Wanju 55365, Korea;
| | - Young-Suk Kim
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea;
| | - Min Jung Kim
- Research Group of Natural Materials and Metabolism, Korea Food Research Institute, Wanju 55365, Korea; (Y.R.C.); (J.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-63-219-9380
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13
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Shelby M, Gilbile D, Grant T, Bauer W, Segelke B, He W, Evans A, Crespo N, Fischer P, Pakendorf T, Hennicke V, Hunter M, Batyuk A, Barthelmess M, Meents A, Kuhl T, Frank M, Coleman M. Crystallization of ApoA1 and ApoE4 nanolipoprotein particles and initial XFEL-based structural studies. CRYSTALS 2020; 10. [PMID: 35686136 PMCID: PMC9175823 DOI: 10.3390/cryst10100886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs), also called “nanodiscs”, are discoidal particles with a patch of lipid bilayer corralled by apolipoproteins. NLPs have long been of interest due to both their utility as membrane-model systems into which membrane proteins can be inserted and solubilized and their physiological role in lipid and cholesterol transport via HDL and LDL maturation, which are important for human health. Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) at X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) is a powerful approach for structural biology of membrane proteins, which are traditionally difficult to crystallize as large single crystals capable of producing high-quality diffraction suitable for structure determination. To facilitate understanding of the specific role of two apolipoprotein/lipid complexes, ApoA1 and ApoE4, in lipid binding and HDL/LDL particle maturation dynamics and develop new SFX methods involving NLP membrane protein encapsulation, we have prepared and crystallized homogeneous populations of ApoA1 and ApoE4 NLPs. Crystallization of empty NLPs yields semi-ordered objects that appear crystalline and give highly anisotropic and diffuse X-ray diffraction, similar in characteristics to fiber diffraction. Several unit cell parameters were approximately determined for both NLPs from these measurements. Thus, low-background, sample conservative methods of delivery are critical. Here we implemented a fixed target sample delivery scheme utilizing the Roadrunner fast-scanning system and ultra-thin polymer/graphene support films, providing a low-volume, low-background approach to membrane protein SFX. This study represents initial steps in obtaining structural information for ApoA1 and ApoE4 NLPs and developing this system as a supporting scaffold for future structural studies of membrane proteins crystalized in a native lipid environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- M.L. Shelby
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - D. Gilbile
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - T.D. Grant
- Department of Structural Biology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - W.J. Bauer
- Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - B. Segelke
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - W. He
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - A.C. Evans
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - N. Crespo
- Department of Structural Biology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - P. Fischer
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Hamburg, Germany
| | - T. Pakendorf
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Hamburg, Germany
| | - V. Hennicke
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Hamburg, Germany
| | - M.S. Hunter
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - A. Batyuk
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - M. Barthelmess
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Hamburg, Germany
| | - A. Meents
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Hamburg, Germany
| | - T.L. Kuhl
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - M. Frank
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel: +1-925-423-7687 or ; Tel: 1-925-423-5068
| | - M.A. Coleman
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel: +1-925-423-7687 or ; Tel: 1-925-423-5068
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14
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Danmaliki GI, Hwang PM. Solution NMR spectroscopy of membrane proteins. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2020; 1862:183356. [PMID: 32416193 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Integral membrane proteins (IMPs) perform unique and indispensable functions in the cell, making them attractive targets for fundamental research and drug discovery. Developments in protein production, isotope labeling, sample preparation, and pulse sequences have extended the utility of solution NMR spectroscopy for studying IMPs with multiple transmembrane segments. Here we review some recent applications of solution NMR for studying structure, dynamics, and interactions of polytopic IMPs, emphasizing strategies used to overcome common technical challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaddafi I Danmaliki
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Peter M Hwang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada.
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15
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Escherichia coli Extract-Based Cell-Free Expression System as an Alternative for Difficult-to-Obtain Protein Biosynthesis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21030928. [PMID: 32023820 PMCID: PMC7037961 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Before utilization in biomedical diagnosis, therapeutic treatment, and biotechnology, the diverse variety of peptides and proteins must be preliminarily purified and thoroughly characterized. The recombinant DNA technology and heterologous protein expression have helped simplify the isolation of targeted polypeptides at high purity and their structure-function examinations. Recombinant protein expression in Escherichia coli, the most-established heterologous host organism, has been widely used to produce proteins of commercial and fundamental research interests. Nonetheless, many peptides/proteins are still difficult to express due to their ability to slow down cell growth or disrupt cellular metabolism. Besides, special modifications are often required for proper folding and activity of targeted proteins. The cell-free (CF) or in vitro recombinant protein synthesis system enables the production of such difficult-to-obtain molecules since it is possible to adjust reaction medium and there is no need to support cellular metabolism and viability. Here, we describe E. coli-based CF systems, the optimization steps done toward the development of highly productive and cost-effective CF methodology, and the modification of an in vitro approach required for difficult-to-obtain protein production.
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16
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Myshkin MY, Männikkö R, Krumkacheva OA, Kulbatskii DS, Chugunov AO, Berkut AA, Paramonov AS, Shulepko MA, Fedin MV, Hanna MG, Kullmann DM, Bagryanskaya EG, Arseniev AS, Kirpichnikov MP, Lyukmanova EN, Vassilevski AA, Shenkarev ZO. Cell-Free Expression of Sodium Channel Domains for Pharmacology Studies. Noncanonical Spider Toxin Binding Site in the Second Voltage-Sensing Domain of Human Na v1.4 Channel. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:953. [PMID: 31555136 PMCID: PMC6737007 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels are essential for the normal functioning of cardiovascular, muscular, and nervous systems. These channels have modular organization; the central pore domain allows current flow and provides ion selectivity, whereas four peripherally located voltage-sensing domains (VSDs-I/IV) are needed for voltage-dependent gating. Mutations in the S4 voltage-sensing segments of VSDs in the skeletal muscle channel NaV1.4 trigger leak (gating pore) currents and cause hypokalemic and normokalemic periodic paralyses. Previously, we have shown that the gating modifier toxin Hm-3 from the crab spider Heriaeus melloteei binds to the S3-S4 extracellular loop in VSD-I of NaV1.4 channel and inhibits gating pore currents through the channel with mutations in VSD-I. Here, we report that Hm-3 also inhibits gating pore currents through the same channel with the R675G mutation in VSD-II. To investigate the molecular basis of Hm-3 interaction with VSD-II, we produced the corresponding 554-696 fragment of NaV1.4 in a continuous exchange cell-free expression system based on the Escherichia coli S30 extract. We then performed a combined nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy study of isolated VSD-II in zwitterionic dodecylphosphocholine/lauryldimethylamine-N-oxide or dodecylphosphocholine micelles. To speed up the assignment of backbone resonances, five selectively 13C,15N-labeled VSD-II samples were produced in accordance with specially calculated combinatorial scheme. This labeling approach provides assignment for ∼50% of the backbone. Obtained NMR and electron paramagnetic resonance data revealed correct secondary structure, quasi-native VSD-II fold, and enhanced ps-ns timescale dynamics in the micelle-solubilized domain. We modeled the structure of the VSD-II/Hm-3 complex by protein-protein docking involving binding surfaces mapped by NMR. Hm-3 binds to VSDs I and II using different modes. In VSD-II, the protruding ß-hairpin of Hm-3 interacts with the S1-S2 extracellular loop, and the complex is stabilized by ionic interactions between the positively charged toxin residue K24 and the negatively charged channel residues E604 or D607. We suggest that Hm-3 binding to these charged groups inhibits voltage sensor transition to the activated state and blocks the depolarization-activated gating pore currents. Our results indicate that spider toxins represent a useful hit for periodic paralyses therapy development and may have multiple structurally different binding sites within one NaV molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Yu Myshkin
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Roope Männikkö
- MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Dmitrii S Kulbatskii
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anton O Chugunov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia.,International Laboratory for Supercomputer Atomistic Modelling and Multi-scale Analysis, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Antonina A Berkut
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander S Paramonov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail A Shulepko
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Matvey V Fedin
- International Tomography Center SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Michael G Hanna
- MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dimitri M Kullmann
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elena G Bagryanskaya
- N.N.Voroztsov Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexander S Arseniev
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Mikhail P Kirpichnikov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina N Lyukmanova
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Alexander A Vassilevski
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Zakhar O Shenkarev
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
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17
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Moriizumi Y, Tabata KV, Miyoshi D, Noji H. Osmolyte-Enhanced Protein Synthesis Activity of a Reconstituted Translation System. ACS Synth Biol 2019; 8:557-567. [PMID: 30763512 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.8b00513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Molecular crowding is receiving great attention in cell-free synthetic biology because molecular crowding is a critical feature of natural cell discrimination from artificial cells. Further, it has significant and generic influences on biomolecular functions. Although there are reports on how the macromolecular crowder reagents affect cell-free systems such as transcription and translation, the second class of molecular crowder reagents with low molecular weight, osmolyte, was much less studied in cell-free systems. In the present study, we focused on trimethylamine- N-oxide (TMAO) and betaine, methylamine osmolytes, and investigated the effectiveness of these osmolytes on gene expression activity of reconstituted cell-free protein synthesis. The gene expression activity of the fluorescent proteins Venus and tdTomato and the enzymes β-galactosidase and dihydrofolate reductase were tested. At 37 °C, 0.4 M TMAO showed the highest enhancement of translational activity by a factor of 1.6-3.8, regardless of protein type. In contrast, betaine showed only a moderate effect that was limited to fluorescent proteins. Excess amounts of osmolytes suppressed gene expression activity. An mRNA-start assay and SDS-PAGE quantitative analysis provided firm evidence that TMAO enhances the translation process, instead of transcription, folding, or the maturation of fluorescent proteins. Interestingly, at 26 °C, TMAO and betaine showed the highest enhancement of protein synthesis activity at lower concentrations than at 37 °C. These findings provide implications on how osmolytes assist translation in natural cells. Further, they provide guidelines for modulation of protein synthesis activity in artificial cells through osmolyte addition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiki Moriizumi
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kazuhito V. Tabata
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Daisuke Miyoshi
- Department of Nanobiochemistry, Faculty of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST) and Frontier Institute for Biomolecular Engineering Research (FIBER), Konan University, 7-1-20 minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Noji
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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18
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Nandigama K, Lusvarghi S, Shukla S, Ambudkar SV. Large-scale purification of functional human P-glycoprotein (ABCB1). Protein Expr Purif 2019; 159:60-68. [PMID: 30851394 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Human P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an ATP-binding cassette transporter that has been implicated in altering the pharmacokinetics of anticancer drugs in normal tissues and development of multidrug resistance in tumor cells via drug efflux. There is still no definitive explanation of the mechanism by which P-gp effluxes drugs. One of the challenges of large-scale purification of membrane transporters is the selection of a suitable detergent for its optimal extraction from cell membranes. In addition, further steps of purification can often lead to inactivation and aggregation, decreasing the yield of purified protein. Here we report the large-scale purification of human P-gp expressed in High-Five insect cells using recombinant baculovirus. The purification strategies we present yield homogeneous functionally active wild type P-gp and its E556Q/E1201Q mutant, which is defective in carrying out ATP hydrolysis. Three detergents (1,2-diheptanoyol-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, dodecyl maltoside and n-octyl-β-d-glucopyranoside) were used to solubilize and purify P-gp from insect cell membranes. P-gp purification was performed first using immobilized metal affinity chromatography, then followed by a second step of either anion exchange chromatography or size exclusion chromatography to yield protein in concentrations of 2-12 mg/mL. Size exclusion chromatography was the preferred method, as it allows separation of monomeric transporters from aggregates. We show that the purified protein, when reconstituted in proteoliposomes and nanodiscs, exhibits both basal and substrate or inhibitor-modulated ATPase activity. This report thus provides a convenient and robust method to obtain large amounts of active homogeneously purified human P-gp that is suitable for biochemical, biophysical and structural characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishnamachary Nandigama
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Sabrina Lusvarghi
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Suneet Shukla
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Suresh V Ambudkar
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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19
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Diblock copolymers enhance folding of a mechanosensitive membrane protein during cell-free expression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:4031-4036. [PMID: 30760590 PMCID: PMC6410776 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1814775116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane protein folding is a critical step that underlies proper cellular function as well as the design of technologies like vesicle-based biosensors and artificial cells. Membrane composition is known to play a role in membrane protein folding; however, the specific mechanical properties of membranes that govern protein folding remain unclear. Using a highly elastic nonnatural amphiphile, we highlight the importance of a membrane mechanical property, membrane elasticity, on the spontaneous insertion and folding of a model α-helical membrane protein. Through this study, we gain a deeper understanding of cellular membrane protein folding and offer a potential approach to improve the production of membrane proteins through optimizing the mechanical properties of synthetic scaffolds present in cell-free reactions. The expression and integration of membrane proteins into vesicle membranes is a critical step in the design of cell-mimetic biosensors, bioreactors, and artificial cells. While membrane proteins have been integrated into a variety of nonnatural membranes, the effects of the chemical and physical properties of these vesicle membranes on protein behavior remain largely unknown. Nonnatural amphiphiles, such as diblock copolymers, provide an interface that can be synthetically controlled to better investigate this relationship. Here, we focus on the initial step in a membrane protein’s life cycle: expression and folding. We observe improvements in both the folding and overall production of a model mechanosensitive channel protein, the mechanosensitive channel of large conductance, during cell-free reactions when vesicles containing diblock copolymers are present. By systematically tuning the membrane composition of vesicles through incorporation of a poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(butadiene) diblock copolymer, we show that membrane protein folding and production can be improved over that observed in traditional lipid vesicles. We then reproduce this effect with an alternate membrane-elasticizing molecule, C12E8. Our results suggest that global membrane physical properties, specifically available membrane surface area and the membrane area expansion modulus, significantly influence the folding and yield of a membrane protein. Furthermore, our results set the stage for explorations into how nonnatural membrane amphiphiles can be used to both study and enhance the production of biological membrane proteins.
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20
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Bundy BC, Hunt JP, Jewett MC, Swartz JR, Wood DW, Frey DD, Rao G. Cell-free biomanufacturing. Curr Opin Chem Eng 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coche.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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21
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On-chip membrane protein cell-free expression enables development of a direct binding assay: A curious case of potassium channel KcsA-Kv1.3. Anal Biochem 2018; 556:70-77. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2018.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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22
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Jiang L, Zhao J, Lian J, Xu Z. Cell-free protein synthesis enabled rapid prototyping for metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2018; 3:90-96. [PMID: 29900421 PMCID: PMC5995451 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2018.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2017] [Revised: 02/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology have facilitated the manufacturing of many valuable-added compounds and commodity chemicals using microbial cell factories in the past decade. However, due to complexity of cellular metabolism, the optimization of metabolic pathways for maximal production represents a grand challenge and an unavoidable barrier for metabolic engineering. Recently, cell-free protein synthesis system (CFPS) has been emerging as an enabling alternative to address challenges in biomanufacturing. This review summarizes the recent progresses of CFPS in rapid prototyping of biosynthetic pathways and genetic circuits (biosensors) to speed up design-build-test (DBT) cycles of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Jiarun Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Jiazhang Lian
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Zhinan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
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23
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Expression, Purification and Characterization of the Human Cannabinoid 1 Receptor. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2935. [PMID: 29440756 PMCID: PMC5811539 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19749-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The human cannabinoid 1 receptor (hCB1) is involved in numerous physiological processes and therefore provides a wide scope of potential therapeutic opportunities to treat maladies such as obesity, cardio-metabolic disorders, substance abuse, neuropathic pain, and multiple sclerosis. Structure-based drug design using the current knowledge of the hCB1 receptor binding site is limited and requires purified active protein. Heterologous expression and purification of functional hCB1 has been the bottleneck for ligand binding structural studies using biophysical methods such as mass spectrometry, x-ray crystallography and NMR. We constructed several plasmids for in-cell or in vitro Escherichia coli (E. coli) based expression of truncated and stabilized hCB1 receptor (hΔCB1 and hΔCB1T4L) variants and evaluated their competency to bind the CP-55,940 ligand. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of in vitro expressed and purified hΔCB1T4Lhis6 variants, following trypsin digestion, generated ~80% of the receptor sequence coverage. Our data demonstrate the feasibility of a cell-free expression system as a promising part of the strategy for the elucidation of ligand binding sites of the hCB1 receptor using a "Ligand Assisted Protein Structure" (LAPS) approach.
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24
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Pandey A, Shin K, Patterson RE, Liu XQ, Rainey JK. Current strategies for protein production and purification enabling membrane protein structural biology. Biochem Cell Biol 2016; 94:507-527. [PMID: 27010607 PMCID: PMC5752365 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2015-0143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane proteins are still heavily under-represented in the protein data bank (PDB), owing to multiple bottlenecks. The typical low abundance of membrane proteins in their natural hosts makes it necessary to overexpress these proteins either in heterologous systems or through in vitro translation/cell-free expression. Heterologous expression of proteins, in turn, leads to multiple obstacles, owing to the unpredictability of compatibility of the target protein for expression in a given host. The highly hydrophobic and (or) amphipathic nature of membrane proteins also leads to challenges in producing a homogeneous, stable, and pure sample for structural studies. Circumventing these hurdles has become possible through the introduction of novel protein production protocols; efficient protein isolation and sample preparation methods; and, improvement in hardware and software for structural characterization. Combined, these advances have made the past 10-15 years very exciting and eventful for the field of membrane protein structural biology, with an exponential growth in the number of solved membrane protein structures. In this review, we focus on both the advances and diversity of protein production and purification methods that have allowed this growth in structural knowledge of membrane proteins through X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Pandey
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Kyungsoo Shin
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Robin E. Patterson
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Xiang-Qin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Jan K. Rainey
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
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Thoring L, Wüstenhagen DA, Borowiak M, Stech M, Sonnabend A, Kubick S. Cell-Free Systems Based on CHO Cell Lysates: Optimization Strategies, Synthesis of "Difficult-to-Express" Proteins and Future Perspectives. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0163670. [PMID: 27684475 PMCID: PMC5042383 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, biotechnological processes play a pivotal role in target protein production. In this context, Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells are one of the most prominent cell lines for the expression of recombinant proteins and revealed as a safe host for nearly 40 years. Nevertheless, the major bottleneck of common in vivo protein expression platforms becomes obvious when looking at the production of so called “difficult-to-express” proteins. This class of proteins comprises in particular several ion channels and multipass membrane proteins as well as cytotoxic proteins. To enhance the production of “difficult-to-express” proteins, alternative technologies were developed, mainly based on translationally active cell lysates. These so called “cell-free” protein synthesis systems enable an efficient production of different classes of proteins. Eukaryotic cell-free systems harboring endogenous microsomal structures for the synthesis of functional membrane proteins and posttranslationally modified proteins are of particular interest for future applications. Therefore, we present current developments in cell-free protein synthesis based on translationally active CHO cell extracts, underlining the high potential of this platform. We present novel results highlighting the optimization of protein yields, the synthesis of various “difficult-to-express” proteins and the cotranslational incorporation of non-standard amino acids, which was exemplarily demonstrated by residue specific labeling of the glycoprotein Erythropoietin and the multimeric membrane protein KCSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Thoring
- Department of Cell-free and Cell-based Bioproduction, Branch Bioanalysis and Bioprocesses, Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI-BB), Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Institute for Biotechnology, Technical University of Berlin (TUB), Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355, Berlin
| | - Doreen A. Wüstenhagen
- Department of Cell-free and Cell-based Bioproduction, Branch Bioanalysis and Bioprocesses, Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI-BB), Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Maria Borowiak
- Department of Cell-free and Cell-based Bioproduction, Branch Bioanalysis and Bioprocesses, Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI-BB), Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Marlitt Stech
- Department of Cell-free and Cell-based Bioproduction, Branch Bioanalysis and Bioprocesses, Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI-BB), Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Andrei Sonnabend
- Department of Cell-free and Cell-based Bioproduction, Branch Bioanalysis and Bioprocesses, Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI-BB), Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Institute for Biotechnology, Technical University of Berlin (TUB), Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355, Berlin
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Department of Cell-free and Cell-based Bioproduction, Branch Bioanalysis and Bioprocesses, Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI-BB), Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Coleman MA, Cappuccio JA, Blanchette CD, Gao T, Arroyo ES, Hinz AK, Bourguet FA, Segelke B, Hoeprich PD, Huser T, Laurence TA, Motin VL, Chromy BA. Expression and Association of the Yersinia pestis Translocon Proteins, YopB and YopD, Are Facilitated by Nanolipoprotein Particles. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150166. [PMID: 27015536 PMCID: PMC4807764 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Yersinia pestis enters host cells and evades host defenses, in part, through interactions between Yersinia pestis proteins and host membranes. One such interaction is through the type III secretion system, which uses a highly conserved and ordered complex for Yersinia pestis outer membrane effector protein translocation called the injectisome. The portion of the injectisome that interacts directly with host cell membranes is referred to as the translocon. The translocon is believed to form a pore allowing effector molecules to enter host cells. To facilitate mechanistic studies of the translocon, we have developed a cell-free approach for expressing translocon pore proteins as a complex supported in a bilayer membrane mimetic nano-scaffold known as a nanolipoprotein particle (NLP) Initial results show cell-free expression of Yersinia pestis outer membrane proteins YopB and YopD was enhanced in the presence of liposomes. However, these complexes tended to aggregate and precipitate. With the addition of co-expressed (NLP) forming components, the YopB and/or YopD complex was rendered soluble, increasing the yield of protein for biophysical studies. Biophysical methods such as Atomic Force Microscopy and Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy were used to confirm that the soluble YopB/D complex was associated with NLPs. An interaction between the YopB/D complex and NLP was validated by immunoprecipitation. The YopB/D translocon complex embedded in a NLP provides a platform for protein interaction studies between pathogen and host proteins. These studies will help elucidate the poorly understood mechanism which enables this pathogen to inject effector proteins into host cells, thus evading host defenses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A. Coleman
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States of America, 94550
- University of California Davis, NSF, Center for Biophotonics, Sacramento, CA, United States of America, 95817
- * E-mail: (MAC); (BAC)
| | - Jenny A. Cappuccio
- Humboldt State University, Department of Chemistry, Arcata, CA, United States of America, 95521
| | - Craig D. Blanchette
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States of America, 94550
| | - Tingjuan Gao
- University of California Davis, NSF, Center for Biophotonics, Sacramento, CA, United States of America, 95817
| | - Erin S. Arroyo
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States of America, 94550
| | - Angela K. Hinz
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States of America, 94550
| | - Feliza A. Bourguet
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States of America, 94550
| | - Brent Segelke
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States of America, 94550
| | - Paul D. Hoeprich
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States of America, 94550
| | - Thomas Huser
- University of California Davis, NSF, Center for Biophotonics, Sacramento, CA, United States of America, 95817
| | - Ted A. Laurence
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States of America, 94550
| | - Vladimir L. Motin
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States of America, 77555
| | - Brett A. Chromy
- University of California Davis, NSF, Center for Biophotonics, Sacramento, CA, United States of America, 95817
- * E-mail: (MAC); (BAC)
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The Art of Gene Redesign and Recombinant Protein Production: Approaches and Perspectives. TOPICS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/7355_2016_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Zemella A, Thoring L, Hoffmeister C, Kubick S. Cell-Free Protein Synthesis: Pros and Cons of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Systems. Chembiochem 2015; 16:2420-31. [PMID: 26478227 PMCID: PMC4676933 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201500340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
From its start as a small-scale in vitro system to study fundamental translation processes, cell-free protein synthesis quickly rose to become a potent platform for the high-yield production of proteins. In contrast to classical in vivo protein expression, cell-free systems do not need time-consuming cloning steps, and the open nature provides easy manipulation of reaction conditions as well as high-throughput potential. Especially for the synthesis of difficult to express proteins, such as toxic and transmembrane proteins, cell-free systems are of enormous interest. The modification of the genetic code to incorporate non-canonical amino acids into the target protein in particular provides enormous potential in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research and is in the focus of many cell-free projects. Many sophisticated cell-free systems for manifold applications have been established. This review describes the recent advances in cell-free protein synthesis and details the expanding applications in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Zemella
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses Potsdam-Golm (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Lena Thoring
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses Potsdam-Golm (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Christian Hoffmeister
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses Potsdam-Golm (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses Potsdam-Golm (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
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Soranzo T, Cortès S, Gilde F, Kreir M, Picart C, Lenormand JL. Functional characterization of p7 viroporin from hepatitis C virus produced in a cell-free expression system. Protein Expr Purif 2015; 118:83-91. [PMID: 26477501 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2015.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Revised: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Using a cell-free expression system we produced the p7 viroporin embedded into a lipid bilayer in a single-step manner. The protein quality was assessed using different methods. We examined the channel forming activity of p7 and verified its inhibition by 5-(N,N-Hexamethylene) amiloride (HMA). Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) experiments further showed that when p7 was inserted into synthetic liposomes, the protein displayed a native-like conformation similar to p7 obtained from other sources. Photoactivable amino acid analogs used for p7 protein synthesis enabled oligomerization state analysis in liposomes by cross-linking. Therefore, these findings emphasize the quality of the cell-free produced p7 proteoliposomes which can benefit the field of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) protein production and characterization and also provide tools for the development of new inhibitors to reinforce our therapeutic arsenal against HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Soranzo
- Synthelis SAS, 5 avenue du Grand Sablon, 38700, La Tronche, France; TheREx Laboratory, TIMC-IMAG, UMR 5525, CNRS /UJF, University Joseph Fourier, UFR de Médecine, 38706, La Tronche, France
| | - Sandra Cortès
- Synthelis SAS, 5 avenue du Grand Sablon, 38700, La Tronche, France
| | - Flora Gilde
- CNRS, UMR 5628 (LMGP), 3 parvis Louis Néel, 38016, Grenoble, France; University of Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institute of Technology, 38016, Grenoble, France
| | - Mohamed Kreir
- Nanion Technologies GmbH, Gabrielenstraβe 9, 80636, Munich, Germany
| | - Catherine Picart
- CNRS, UMR 5628 (LMGP), 3 parvis Louis Néel, 38016, Grenoble, France; University of Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institute of Technology, 38016, Grenoble, France
| | - Jean-Luc Lenormand
- TheREx Laboratory, TIMC-IMAG, UMR 5525, CNRS /UJF, University Joseph Fourier, UFR de Médecine, 38706, La Tronche, France.
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Kovácsová G, Gustavsson E, Wang J, Kreir M, Peuker S, Westenhoff S. Cell-free expression of a functional pore-only sodium channel. Protein Expr Purif 2015; 111:42-7. [PMID: 25770647 PMCID: PMC4430601 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2015.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Revised: 03/01/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium channels participate in the propagation of action potentials in excitable cells. Eukaryotic Navs are pseudo homotetrameric polypeptides, comprising four repeats of six transmembrane segments (S1-S6). The first four segments form the voltage-sensing domain and S5 and S6 create the pore domain with the selectivity filter. Prokaryotic Navs resemble these characteristics, but are truly tetrameric. They can typically be efficiently synthesized in bacteria, but production in vitro with cell-free synthesis has not been demonstrated. Here we report the cell-free expression and purification of a prokaryotic tetrameric pore-only sodium channel. We produced milligram quantities of the functional channel protein as characterized by size-exclusion chromatography, infrared spectroscopy and electrophysiological recordings. Cell-free expression enables advanced site-directed labelling, post-translational modifications, and special solubilization schemes. This enables next-generation biophysical experiments to study the principle of sodium ion selectivity and transport in sodium channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Kovácsová
- Department of Chemistry, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 462, SE-40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Emil Gustavsson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 462, SE-40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jiajun Wang
- Nanion Technologies GmbH, Gabrielenstraße 9, 80636 Munich, Germany
| | - Mohamed Kreir
- Nanion Technologies GmbH, Gabrielenstraße 9, 80636 Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Peuker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 462, SE-40530 Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Sebastian Westenhoff
- Department of Chemistry, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 462, SE-40530 Gothenburg, Sweden.
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31
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Folding membrane proteins in vitro: A table and some comments. Arch Biochem Biophys 2014; 564:314-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2014.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2014] [Revised: 06/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Abstract
Amphipols (APols) are short amphipathic polymers that can substitute for detergents at the transmembrane surface of membrane proteins (MPs) and, thereby, keep them soluble in detergent free aqueous solutions. APol-trapped MPs are, as a rule, more stable biochemically than their detergent-solubilized counterparts. APols have proven useful to produce MPs, most noticeably by assisting their folding from the denatured state obtained after solubilizing MP inclusion bodies in either SDS or urea. They facilitate the handling in aqueous solution of fragile MPs for the purpose of proteomics, structural and functional studies, and therapeutics. Because APols can be chemically labeled or functionalized, and they form very stable complexes with MPs, they can also be used to functionalize those indirectly, which opens onto many novel applications. Following a brief recall of the properties of APols and MP/APol complexes, an update is provided of recent progress in these various fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Zoonens
- Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie Moléculaire des Protéines Membranaires, UMR 7099, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique (FRC 550), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Université Paris-7, 13, rue Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Luc Popot
- Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie Moléculaire des Protéines Membranaires, UMR 7099, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique (FRC 550), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Université Paris-7, 13, rue Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, 75005 Paris, France
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33
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Lian Q, Cao H, Wang F. The Cost-Efficiency Realization in the Escherichia coli-Based Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Systems. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2014; 174:2351-67. [DOI: 10.1007/s12010-014-1143-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Saeki D, Sugiura S, Kanamori T, Sato S, Ichikawa S. Microcompartmentalized cell-free protein synthesis in semipermeable microcapsules composed of polyethylenimine-coated alginate. J Biosci Bioeng 2014; 118:199-204. [PMID: 24583122 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2014.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Revised: 01/08/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
We describe microcompartmentalized cell-free protein synthesis in semipermeable microcapsules prepared from water-in-oil-in-water droplets by a rupture-induced encapsulation method. An aqueous solution of template DNA coding for green fluorescent protein and enzymes for the cell-free protein synthesis was aliquoted into water-in-oil droplets using a microfluidic device, and the droplets were transformed into semipermeable microcapsules. Substrates for protein synthesis diffused into the microcapsules through their semipermeable polyion complex membranes composed of polyethylenimine-coated alginate. Cell-free protein synthesis was confirmed by detection of the fluorescence of the synthesized green fluorescence protein in the microcapsules. We also used this microcompartmentalized system to synthesize protein from a single molecule of template DNA encapsulated by limiting dilution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Saeki
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan; Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501, Japan
| | - Shinji Sugiura
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan.
| | - Toshiyuki Kanamori
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
| | - Seigo Sato
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan
| | - Sosaku Ichikawa
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan.
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35
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Quast RB, Claussnitzer I, Merk H, Kubick S, Gerrits M. Synthesis and site-directed fluorescence labeling of azido proteins using eukaryotic cell-free orthogonal translation systems. Anal Biochem 2014; 451:4-9. [PMID: 24491444 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2014.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2013] [Revised: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Eukaryotic cell-free systems based on wheat germ and Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells were equipped with an orthogonal amber suppressor tRNA-synthetase pair to synthesize proteins with a site-specifically incorporated p-azido-l-phenylalanine residue in order to provide their chemoselective fluorescence labeling with azide-reactive dyes by Staudinger ligation. The specificity of incorporation and bioorthogonality of labeling within complex reaction mixtures was shown by means of translation and fluorescence detection of two model proteins: β-glucuronidase and erythropoietin. The latter contained the azido amino acid in proximity to a signal peptide for membrane translocation into endogenous microsomal vesicles of the insect cell-based system. The results indicate a stoichiometric incorporation of the azido amino acid at the desired position within the proteins. Moreover, the compatibility of cotranslational protein translocation, including glycosylation and amber suppression-based incorporation of p-azido-l-phenylalanine within a cell-free system, is demonstrated. The presented approach should be particularly useful for providing eukaryotic and membrane-associated proteins for investigation by fluorescence-based techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert B Quast
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering (IBMT), Branch Potsdam-Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | | | | | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering (IBMT), Branch Potsdam-Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
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Site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids into proteins by cell-free protein synthesis. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1118:189-203. [PMID: 24395417 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-782-2_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) offers a fast and inexpensive means to incorporate unnatural amino acids (UAAs) site specifically into proteins. This enables engineering of proteins and allows production of protein-based probes for analysis of their interactions with other molecules. Using dialysis Escherichia coli CFPS system in combination with aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and suppressor tRNA evolved from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii high expression yield of proteins with site specifically incorporated UAAs can be achieved. Typically the target protein can be prepared at concentrations of about 1 mg/mL, which is generally sufficient for subsequent applications.
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Zhang X, Lian J, Kai L, Huang L, Cen P, Xu Z. Enhanced functional expression of aquaporin Z via fusion of in situ cleavable leader peptides in Escherichia coli cell-free system. Enzyme Microb Technol 2013; 55:26-30. [PMID: 24411442 DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2013.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Revised: 11/26/2013] [Accepted: 12/03/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Aquaporin Z (AqpZ) is a water channel protein from Escherichia coli and has attracted many attentions to develop the biomimetic water filtration technology. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system, one of the most complex multi-enzymatic systems, has the ability of producing the integral membrane protein in vitro. To enhance the synthesis of AqpZ in E. coli cell-free system, several natural leader peptides were respectively fused at the N-terminus and were verified to enhance the expression level significantly. Moreover, the supplementation of detergents or liposome could activate leader peptidase from the cell-free extract and provide hydrophobic environment for proper folding of AqpZ. Thus, the release of mature AqpZ via the in situ removal of leader peptide was achieved, with a specific water transport activity of (2.1 ± 0.1) × 10⁻¹⁴ cm³ s⁻¹ monomer⁻¹. Using this in situ removable leader peptide strategy, the transcription-translation, leader sequence cleavage and membrane protein folding were integrated into a simple process in the cell-free system, providing a convenient approach to enhance the expression of target proteins, especially those membrane proteins difficult to achieve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Zhang
- Institute of Biological Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Jiazhang Lian
- Institute of Biological Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Lei Kai
- Institute of Biological Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe-University of Frankfurt/Main, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, D-60438 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Lei Huang
- Institute of Biological Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Peilin Cen
- Institute of Biological Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Zhinan Xu
- Institute of Biological Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
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Structure determination of α-helical membrane proteins by solution-state NMR: emphasis on retinal proteins. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2013; 1837:578-88. [PMID: 23831435 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2013.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2013] [Accepted: 06/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The biochemical processes of living cells involve a numerous series of reactions that work with exceptional specificity and efficiency. The tight control of this intricate reaction network stems from the architecture of the proteins that drive the chemical reactions and mediate protein-protein interactions. Indeed, the structure of these proteins will determine both their function and interaction partners. A detailed understanding of the proximity and orientation of pivotal functional groups can reveal the molecular mechanistic basis for the activity of a protein. Together with X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy, NMR spectroscopy plays an important role in solving three-dimensional structures of proteins at atomic resolution. In the challenging field of membrane proteins, retinal-binding proteins are often employed as model systems and prototypes to develop biophysical techniques for the study of structural and functional mechanistic aspects. The recent determination of two 3D structures of seven-helical trans-membrane retinal proteins by solution-state NMR spectroscopy highlights the potential of solution NMR techniques in contributing to our understanding of membrane proteins. This review summarizes the multiple strategies available for expression of isotopically labeled membrane proteins. Different environments for mimicking lipid bilayers will be presented, along with the most important NMR methods and labeling schemes used to generate high-quality NMR spectra. The article concludes with an overview of types of conformational restraints used for generation of high-resolution structures of membrane proteins. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Retinal Proteins - You can teach an old dog new tricks.
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Basu D, Castellano JM, Thomas N, Mishra RK. Cell-free protein synthesis and purification of human dopamine D2 receptor long isoform. Biotechnol Prog 2013; 29:601-8. [PMID: 23424095 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.1706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2012] [Revised: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The human dopamine D2 receptor long isoform (D2L) has significant implications in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. Detailed structural knowledge of this receptor is limited owing to its highly hydrophobic nature, which leads to protein aggregation and host toxicity when expressed in cellular systems. The newly emerging field of cell-free protein expression presents numerous advantages to overcome these challenges. This system utilizes protein synthesis machinery and exogenous DNA to synthesize functional proteins outside of intact cells. This study utilizes two different cell-free systems for the synthesis of human dopamine D2L receptor. These include the Escherichia coli lysate-based system and the wheat-germ lysate-based system. The bacterial cell-free method used pET 100/D-TOPO vector to synthesize hexa-histidine-tagged D2L receptor using a dialysis bag system; the resulting protein was purified using nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid affinity resin. The wheat germ system used pEU-glutathione-S-transferase (GST) vector to synthesize GST-tagged D2L receptor using a bilayer translation method; the resulting protein was purified using a GST affinity resin. The presence and binding capacity of the synthesized D2L receptor was confirmed by immunoblotting and radioligand competition assays, respectively. Additionally, in-gel protein sequencing via Nano LC-MS/MS was used to confirm protein synthesis via the wheat germ system. The results showed both systems to synthesize microgram quantities of the receptor. Improved expression of this highly challenging protein can improve research and understanding of the human dopamine D2L receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipannita Basu
- Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8N 3Z5
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Müller-Lucks A, Gena P, Frascaria D, Altamura N, Svelto M, Beitz E, Calamita G. Preparative scale production and functional reconstitution of a human aquaglyceroporin (AQP3) using a cell free expression system. N Biotechnol 2013; 30:545-51. [PMID: 23541697 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2013.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2012] [Revised: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 03/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the selectivity of aquaporin (AQP) membrane channels and exploiting their biotechnological potential will require structural and functional studies of wild type and modified proteins; however, expression systems have not previously yielded AQPs in the necessary milligrams quantities. Cell free (CF) systems have emerged in recent years as fast, efficient and versatile technologies for the production of high quality membrane proteins. Here, we establish a convenient method to synthesize large amounts of functional human aquaglyceroporin 3 protein (AQP3), an AQP of physiological relevance conducting glycerol and some small neutral solutes besides water. Milligram amounts of AQP3 were produced as a histidine-tagged protein (hAQP3-6His) in an Escherichia coli extract-based CF system in the presence of the non-ionic detergent Brij-98. The recombinant AQP3 was purified by affinity chromatography, incorporated into liposomes and evaluated functionally by stopped-flow light scattering. Correct protein folding was indicated by the high glycerol and water permeability exhibited by the hAQP3-6His proteoliposomes as compared to empty control liposomes. Functionality of hAQP3-6His was further confirmed by the strong inhibition of the glycerol and water permeability by phloretin and HgCl2, respectively, two blockers of AQP3. Fast and convenient CF production of functional AQP3 may serve as basis for further structural/functional assessment of aquaglyceroporins and help boosting the AQP-based biomimetic technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Müller-Lucks
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medical Chemistry, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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41
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Shadiac N, Nagarajan Y, Waters S, Hrmova M. Close allies in membrane protein research: Cell-free synthesis and nanotechnology. Mol Membr Biol 2013; 30:229-45. [DOI: 10.3109/09687688.2012.762125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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42
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Kooijmans SAA, Vader P, van Dommelen SM, van Solinge WW, Schiffelers RM. Exosome mimetics: a novel class of drug delivery systems. Int J Nanomedicine 2012; 7:1525-41. [PMID: 22619510 PMCID: PMC3356169 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s29661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 219] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of extracellular phospholipid vesicles as conveyors of cellular information has created excitement in the field of drug delivery. Biological therapeutics, including short interfering RNA and recombinant proteins, are prone to degradation, have limited ability to cross biological membranes, and may elicit immune responses. Therefore, delivery systems for such drugs are under intensive investigation. Exploiting extracellular vesicles as carriers for biological therapeutics is a promising strategy to overcome these issues and to achieve efficient delivery to the cytosol of target cells. Exosomes are a well studied class of extracellular vesicles known to carry proteins and nucleic acids, making them especially suitable for such strategies. However, the considerable complexity and the related high chance of off-target effects of these carriers are major barriers for translation to the clinic. Given that it is well possible that not all components of exosomes are required for their proper functioning, an alternative strategy would be to mimic these vesicles synthetically. By assembly of liposomes harboring only crucial components of natural exosomes, functional exosome mimetics may be created. The low complexity and use of well characterized components strongly increase the pharmaceutical acceptability of such systems. However, exosomal components that would be required for the assembly of functional exosome mimetics remain to be identified. This review provides insights into the composition and functional properties of exosomes, and focuses on components which could be used to enhance the drug delivery properties of exosome mimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sander A A Kooijmans
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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43
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Uhlemann EME, Pierson HE, Fillingame RH, Dmitriev OY. Cell-free synthesis of membrane subunits of ATP synthase in phospholipid bicelles: NMR shows subunit a fold similar to the protein in the cell membrane. Protein Sci 2012; 21:279-88. [PMID: 22162071 DOI: 10.1002/pro.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2011] [Revised: 10/20/2011] [Accepted: 11/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
NMR structure determination of large membrane proteins is hampered by broad spectral lines, overlap, and ambiguity of signal assignment. Chemical shift and NOE assignment can be facilitated by amino acid selective isotope labeling in cell-free protein synthesis system. However, many biological detergents are incompatible with the cell-free synthesis, and membrane proteins often have to be synthesized in an insoluble form. We report cell-free synthesis of subunits a and c of the proton channel of Escherichia coli ATP synthase in a soluble form in a mixture of phosphatidylcholine derivatives. In comparison, subunit a was purified from the cell-free system and from the bacterial cell membranes. NMR spectra of both preparations were similar, indicating that our procedure for cell-free synthesis produces protein structurally similar to that prepared from the cell membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria E Uhlemann
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Saskatchewan, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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44
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Luo Z, Zhang S. Designer nanomaterials using chiral self-assembling peptide systems and their emerging benefit for society. Chem Soc Rev 2012; 41:4736-54. [DOI: 10.1039/c2cs15360b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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45
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Ge X, Xu J. Cell-free protein synthesis as a promising expression system for recombinant proteins. Methods Mol Biol 2012; 824:565-578. [PMID: 22160920 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-433-9_30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) has major advantages over traditional cell-based methods in the capability of high-throughput protein synthesis and special protein production. During recent decades, CFPS has become an alternative protein production platform for both fundamental and applied purposes. Using Renilla luciferase as model protein, we describe a typical process of CFPS in wheat germ extract system, including wheat germ extract preparation, expression vector construction, in vitro protein synthesis (transcription/translation), and target protein assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xumeng Ge
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, USA
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46
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Verardi R, Traaseth NJ, Masterson LR, Vostrikov VV, Veglia G. Isotope labeling for solution and solid-state NMR spectroscopy of membrane proteins. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2012; 992:35-62. [PMID: 23076578 PMCID: PMC3555569 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-4954-2_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
In this chapter, we summarize the isotopic labeling strategies used to obtain high-quality solution and solid-state NMR spectra of biological samples, with emphasis on integral membrane proteins (IMPs). While solution NMR is used to study IMPs under fast tumbling conditions, such as in the presence of detergent micelles or isotropic bicelles, solid-state NMR is used to study the structure and orientation of IMPs in lipid vesicles and bilayers. In spite of the tremendous progress in biomolecular NMR spectroscopy, the homogeneity and overall quality of the sample is still a substantial obstacle to overcome. Isotopic labeling is a major avenue to simplify overlapped spectra by either diluting the NMR active nuclei or allowing the resonances to be separated in multiple dimensions. In the following we will discuss isotopic labeling approaches that have been successfully used in the study of IMPs by solution and solid-state NMR spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaello Verardi
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | | | | | | | - Gianluigi Veglia
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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47
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Ge X, Luo D, Xu J. Cell-free protein expression under macromolecular crowding conditions. PLoS One 2011; 6:e28707. [PMID: 22174874 PMCID: PMC3234285 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2011] [Accepted: 11/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cell-free protein expression (CFPE) comprised of in vitro transcription and translation is currently manipulated in relatively dilute solutions, in which the macromolecular crowding effects present in living cells are largely ignored. This may not only affect the efficiency of protein synthesis in vitro, but also limit our understanding of the functions and interactions of biomolecules involved in this fundamental biological process. Methodology/Principal Findings Using cell-free synthesis of Renilla luciferase in wheat germ extract as a model system, we investigated the CFPE under macromolecular crowding environments emulated with three different crowding agents: PEG-8000, Ficoll-70 and Ficoll-400, which vary in chemical properties and molecular size. We found that transcription was substantially enhanced in the macromolecular crowding solutions; up to 4-fold increase in the mRNA production was detected in the presence of 20% (w/v) of Ficoll-70. In contrast, translation was generally inhibited by the addition of each of the three crowding agents. This might be due to PEG-induced protein precipitation and non-specific binding of translation factors to Ficoll molecules. We further explored a two-stage CFPE in which transcription and translation was carried out under high then low macromolecular crowding conditions, respectively. It produced 2.2-fold higher protein yield than the coupled CFPE control. The macromolecular crowding effects on CFPE were subsequently confirmed by cell-free synthesis of an approximately two-fold larger protein, Firefly luciferase, under macromolecular crowding environments. Conclusions/Significance Three macromolecular crowding agents used in this research had opposite effects on transcription and translation. The results of this study should aid researchers in their choice of macromolecular crowding agents and shows that two-stage CFPE is more efficient than coupled CFPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xumeng Ge
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute and College of Agriculture and Technology, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Jianfeng Xu
- Arkansas Biosciences Institute and College of Agriculture and Technology, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Guild K, Zhang Y, Stacy R, Mundt E, Benbow S, Green A, Myler PJ. Wheat germ cell-free expression system as a pathway to improve protein yield and solubility for the SSGCID pipeline. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2011; 67:1027-31. [PMID: 21904045 PMCID: PMC3169397 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309111032143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2011] [Accepted: 08/08/2011] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant expression of proteins of interest in Escherichia coli is an important tool in the determination of protein structure. However, lack of expression and insolubility remain significant challenges to the expression and crystallization of these proteins. The SSGCID program uses a wheat germ cell-free expression system as a rescue pathway for proteins that are either not expressed or insoluble when produced in E. coli. Testing indicates that the system is a valuable tool for these protein targets. Further increases in solubility were obtained by the addition of the NVoy polymer reagent to the reaction mixture. These data indicate that this eukaryotic cell-free expression system has a high success rate and that the addition of specific reagents can increase the yield of soluble protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Guild
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, USA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Peter J. Myler
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, USA
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Rath P, Demange P, Saurel O, Tropis M, Daffé M, Dötsch V, Ghazi A, Bernhard F, Milon A. Functional expression of the PorAH channel from Corynebacterium glutamicum in cell-free expression systems: implications for the role of the naturally occurring mycolic acid modification. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:32525-32. [PMID: 21799011 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.276956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
PorA and PorH are two small membrane proteins from the outer membrane of Corynebacterium glutamicum, which have been shown to form heteromeric ion channels and to be post-translationally modified by mycolic acids. Any structural details of the channel could not be analyzed so far due to tremendous difficulties in the production of sufficient amounts of protein samples. Cell-free (CF) expression is a new and remarkably successful strategy for the production of membrane proteins for which toxicity, membrane targeting, and degradation are key issues. In addition, reaction conditions can easily be modified to modulate the quality of synthesized protein samples. We developed an efficient CF expression strategy to produce the channel subunits devoid of post-translational modifications. (15)N-labeled PorA and PorH samples were furthermore characterized by NMR and gave well resolved spectra, opening the way for structural studies. The comparison of ion channel activities of CF-expressed proteins with channels isolated from C. glutamicum gave clear insights on the influence of the mycolic acid modification of the two subunits on their functional properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parthasarathi Rath
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CNRS UMR 5089, Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, 205 Route de Narbonne, Toulouse F-31077, Cedex 04, France
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50
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Lee S, Lassalle MW. Firm wheat-germ cell-free system with extended vector usage for high-throughput protein screening. J Biosci Bioeng 2011; 112:170-7. [PMID: 21601517 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2011.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2011] [Revised: 04/07/2011] [Accepted: 04/16/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The wheat germ cell-free system is composed out of five basic steps, growth of Escherichia coli harboring plasmid, first colony-PCR, second PCR, transcription, and translation. Improvements of culture medium, colony based PCR, and modifications within the split primer set of the second PCR amplify both DNA and RNA levels. This yields more than 5 times increase in protein amount for pEU-originated templates. Especially, for the low PCR-amplifiable vectors with pET-origin, it leads to 30 fold higher product amount in translation. This broadens the range of usable vectors, overcoming the existing cell-free system limitations for high-throughput protein screening. Noteworthily, the system successfully maintains translation by S-30 cell-free extract below 30 OD. In conclusion, this improved firm cell-free system reduces cost and enables robotic automation and high-throughput thermodynamic analysis, especially for proteins that are difficult to be expressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- SungGa Lee
- Senior Research Fellow Center, Ehime University, 3 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
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