1
|
Jann C, Giofré S, Bhattacharjee R, Lemke EA. Cracking the Code: Reprogramming the Genetic Script in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes to Harness the Power of Noncanonical Amino Acids. Chem Rev 2024; 124:10281-10362. [PMID: 39120726 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Over 500 natural and synthetic amino acids have been genetically encoded in the last two decades. Incorporating these noncanonical amino acids into proteins enables many powerful applications, ranging from basic research to biotechnology, materials science, and medicine. However, major challenges remain to unleash the full potential of genetic code expansion across disciplines. Here, we provide an overview of diverse genetic code expansion methodologies and systems and their final applications in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, represented by Escherichia coli and mammalian cells as the main workhorse model systems. We highlight the power of how new technologies can be first established in simple and then transferred to more complex systems. For example, whole-genome engineering provides an excellent platform in bacteria for enabling transcript-specific genetic code expansion without off-targets in the transcriptome. In contrast, the complexity of a eukaryotic cell poses challenges that require entirely new approaches, such as striving toward establishing novel base pairs or generating orthogonally translating organelles within living cells. We connect the milestones in expanding the genetic code of living cells for encoding novel chemical functionalities to the most recent scientific discoveries, from optimizing the physicochemical properties of noncanonical amino acids to the technological advancements for their in vivo incorporation. This journey offers a glimpse into the promising developments in the years to come.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cosimo Jann
- Biocenter, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- IMB Postdoc Programme (IPPro), 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sabrina Giofré
- Biocenter, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- IMB Postdoc Programme (IPPro), 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Rajanya Bhattacharjee
- Biocenter, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- IMB International PhD Programme (IPP), 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Edward A Lemke
- Biocenter, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128 Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rodríguez-Robles E, Müller D, Künzl T, Nemat SJ, Edelmann MP, Srivastava P, Louis D, Groaz E, Tiefenbacher K, Roberts TM, Herdewijn P, Marlière P, Panke S. Rational design of a bacterial import system for new-to-nature molecules. Metab Eng 2024; 85:26-34. [PMID: 38802041 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2024.05.005] [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: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Integration of novel compounds into biological processes holds significant potential for modifying or expanding existing cellular functions. However, the cellular uptake of these compounds is often hindered by selectively permeable membranes. We present a novel bacterial transport system that has been rationally designed to address this challenge. Our approach utilizes a highly promiscuous sulfonate membrane transporter, which allows the passage of cargo molecules attached as amides to a sulfobutanoate transport vector molecule into the cytoplasm of the cell. These cargoes can then be unloaded from the sulfobutanoyl amides using an engineered variant of the enzyme γ-glutamyl transferase, which hydrolyzes the amide bond and releases the cargo molecule within the cell. Here, we provide evidence for the broad substrate specificity of both components of the system by evaluating a panel of structurally diverse sulfobutanoyl amides. Furthermore, we successfully implement the synthetic uptake system in vivo and showcase its functionality by importing an impermeant non-canonical amino acid.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Rodríguez-Robles
- Bioprocess Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - David Müller
- Bioprocess Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tilmann Künzl
- Bioprocess Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Suren J Nemat
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Peter Edelmann
- Bioprocess Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Puneet Srivastava
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Elisabetta Groaz
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Tania Michelle Roberts
- Bioprocess Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Piet Herdewijn
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Sven Panke
- Bioprocess Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Milagros S, de Erenchun PRR, Guembe M, Carte B, Méndez M, Uribarri A, Aldabe R. The infectivity of AAV9 is influenced by the specific location and extent of chemically modified capsid residues. J Biol Eng 2024; 18:34. [PMID: 38745236 PMCID: PMC11092203 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-024-00430-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several treatments for genetic diseases utilizing recombinant adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) have recently gained approval. However, the development of a greater number of therapeutic AAVs is constrained by certain limitations. While extensive efforts have concentrated on screening AAV genetic libraries, an alternative strategy involves modifying the AAV capsid by attaching various moieties. The capsid of AAV plays a pivotal role in transducing target cells and evading immune responses, making modifications a key avenue for engineering improved variants. RESULTS In our study, we replaced specific AAV9 capsid residues with an unnatural amino acid bearing a bioorthogonal group, identifying four positions with no adverse impact on production. Utilizing click chemistry, we attached varying proportions of Cy5.5 to these positions, allowing us to assess the impact of these modifications on AAV9 infectivity in cultured cells. Our findings reveal that both the position and degree of capsid modification significantly affect AAV transduction. While higher amounts of attached molecules lead to an increased number of AAV genomes within cells, this does not positively impact transgene expression. Conversely, a negative impact on transgene expression is observed when the AAV capsid is highly modified, with the degree of this effect associated with the modified residue. CONCLUSION Careful control of both the degree and specific position of capsid modifications is crucial for optimizing transduction efficiency and minimizing undesired effects on transgene expression. These results underscore the importance of precision in AAV capsid modification to achieve optimal transduction efficiency while mitigating potential drawbacks on transgene expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Milagros
- DNA and RNA Medicine Division, CIMA Universidad de Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Maite Guembe
- DNA and RNA Medicine Division, CIMA Universidad de Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Carte
- DNA and RNA Medicine Division, CIMA Universidad de Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Miriam Méndez
- DNA and RNA Medicine Division, CIMA Universidad de Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ander Uribarri
- DNA and RNA Medicine Division, CIMA Universidad de Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Rafael Aldabe
- DNA and RNA Medicine Division, CIMA Universidad de Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Qin B, Wang Q, Wang Y, Han F, Wang H, Jiang S, Yu H. Enzymatic Synthesis of TNA Protects DNA Nanostructures. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202317334. [PMID: 38323479 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202317334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Xeno-nucleic acids (XNAs) are synthetic genetic polymers with improved biological stabilities and offer powerful molecular tools such as aptamers and catalysts. However, XNA application has been hindered by a very limited repertoire of tool enzymes, particularly those that enable de novo XNA synthesis. Here we report that terminal deoxynucleotide transferase (TdT) catalyzes untemplated threose nucleic acid (TNA) synthesis at the 3' terminus of DNA oligonucleotide, resulting in DNA-TNA chimera resistant to exonuclease digestion. Moreover, TdT-catalyzed TNA extension supports one-pot batch preparation of biostable chimeric oligonucleotides, which can be used directly as staple strands during self-assembly of DNA origami nanostructures (DONs). Such TNA-protected DONs show enhanced biological stability in the presence of exonuclease I, DNase I and fetal bovine serum. This work not only expands the available enzyme toolbox for XNA synthesis and manipulation, but also provides a promising approach to fabricate DONs with improved stability under the physiological condition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bohe Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| | - Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| | - Yuang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| | - Feng Han
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| | - Haiyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| | - Shuoxing Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| | - Hanyang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang J, Yu H. Threose nucleic acid as a primitive genetic polymer and a contemporary molecular tool. Bioorg Chem 2024; 143:107049. [PMID: 38150936 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.107049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acids serve a dual role as both genetic materials in living organisms and versatile molecular tools for various applications. Threose nuclei acid (TNA) stands out as a synthetic genetic polymer, holding potential as a primitive genetic material and as a contemporary molecular tool. In this review, we aim to provide an extensive overview of TNA research progress in these two key aspects. We begin with a retrospect of the initial discovery of TNA, followed by an in-depth look at the structural features of TNA duplex and experimental assessment of TNA as a possible RNA progenitor during early evolution of life on Earth. In the subsequent section, we delve into the recent development of TNA molecular tools such as aptamers, catalysts and antisense oligonucleotides. We emphasize the practical application of functional TNA molecules in the realms of targeted protein degradation and selective gene silencing. Our review culminates with a discussion of future research directions and the technical challenges that remain to be addressed in the field of TNA research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Hanyang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sabat N, Stämpfli A, Flamme M, Hanlon S, Bisagni S, Sladojevich F, Püntener K, Hollenstein M. Artificial nucleotide codons for enzymatic DNA synthesis. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:14547-14550. [PMID: 37987464 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc04933g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we report the high-yielding solid-phase synthesis of unmodified and chemically modified trinucleotide triphosphates (dN3TPs). These synthetic codons can be used for enzymatic DNA synthesis provided their scaffold is stabilized with phosphorothioate units. Enzymatic synthesis with three rather than one letter nucleotides will be useful to produce xenonucleic acids (XNAs) and for in vitro selection of modified functional nucleic acids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nazarii Sabat
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3523, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Laboratory for Bioorganic Chemistry of Nucleic Acids, 28, rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
| | - Andreas Stämpfli
- Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marie Flamme
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3523, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Laboratory for Bioorganic Chemistry of Nucleic Acids, 28, rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
| | - Steven Hanlon
- Pharmaceutical Division, Synthetic Molecules Technical Development, Process Chemistry & Catalysis, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel 4070, Switzerland
| | - Serena Bisagni
- Pharmaceutical Division, Synthetic Molecules Technical Development, Process Chemistry & Catalysis, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel 4070, Switzerland
| | - Filippo Sladojevich
- Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kurt Püntener
- Pharmaceutical Division, Synthetic Molecules Technical Development, Process Chemistry & Catalysis, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel 4070, Switzerland
| | - Marcel Hollenstein
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3523, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Laboratory for Bioorganic Chemistry of Nucleic Acids, 28, rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
| |
Collapse
|