1
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Behlendorf C, Diwo M, Neumann-Schaal M, Fuchs M, Körner D, Jänsch L, Faber F, Blankenfeldt W. Formation of the pyruvoyl-dependent proline reductase Prd from Clostridioides difficile requires the maturation enzyme PrdH. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae249. [PMID: 38979079 PMCID: PMC11229817 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Stickland fermentation, the coupled oxidation and reduction of amino acid pairs, is a major pathway for obtaining energy in the nosocomial bacterium Clostridioides difficile. D-proline is the preferred substrate for the reductive path, making it not only a key component of the general metabolism but also impacting on the expression of the clostridial toxins TcdA and TcdB. D-proline reduction is catalyzed by the proline reductase Prd, which belongs to the pyruvoyl-dependent enzymes. These enzymes are translated as inactive proenzymes and require subsequent processing to install the covalently bound pyruvate. Whereas pyruvoyl formation by intramolecular serinolysis has been studied in unrelated enzymes, details about pyruvoyl generation by cysteinolysis as in Prd are lacking. Here, we show that Prd maturation requires a small dimeric protein that we have named PrdH. PrdH (CD630_32430) is co-encoded with the PrdA and PrdB subunits of Prd and also found in species producing similar reductases. By producing stable variants of PrdA and PrdB, we demonstrate that PrdH-mediated cleavage and pyruvoyl formation in the PrdA subunit requires PrdB, which can be harnessed to produce active recombinant Prd for subsequent analyses. We further created PrdA- and PrdH-mutants to get insight into the interaction of the components and into the processing reaction itself. Finally, we show that deletion of prdH renders C. difficile insensitive to proline concentrations in culture media, suggesting that this processing factor is essential for proline utilization. Due to the link between Stickland fermentation and pathogenesis, we suggest PrdH may be an attractive target for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Behlendorf
- Department Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Maurice Diwo
- Department Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Meina Neumann-Schaal
- Leibniz-Institut DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Manuela Fuchs
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg (JMU), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Körner
- Cellular Proteomics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Lothar Jänsch
- Cellular Proteomics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Franziska Faber
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg (JMU), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Wulf Blankenfeldt
- Department Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
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2
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Gou Y, Li D, Zhao M, Li M, Zhang J, Zhou Y, Xiao F, Liu G, Ding H, Sun C, Ye C, Dong C, Gao J, Gao D, Bao Z, Huang L, Xu Z, Lian J. Intein-mediated temperature control for complete biosynthesis of sanguinarine and its halogenated derivatives in yeast. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5238. [PMID: 38898098 PMCID: PMC11186835 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49554-w] [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: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
While sanguinarine has gained recognition for antimicrobial and antineoplastic activities, its complex conjugated structure and low abundance in plants impede broad applications. Here, we demonstrate the complete biosynthesis of sanguinarine and halogenated derivatives using highly engineered yeast strains. To overcome sanguinarine cytotoxicity, we establish a splicing intein-mediated temperature-responsive gene expression system (SIMTeGES), a simple strategy that decouples cell growth from product synthesis without sacrificing protein activity. To debottleneck sanguinarine biosynthesis, we identify two reticuline oxidases and facilitated functional expression of flavoproteins and cytochrome P450 enzymes via protein molecular engineering. After comprehensive metabolic engineering, we report the production of sanguinarine at a titer of 448.64 mg L-1. Additionally, our engineered strain enables the biosynthesis of fluorinated sanguinarine, showcasing the biotransformation of halogenated derivatives through more than 15 biocatalytic steps. This work serves as a blueprint for utilizing yeast as a scalable platform for biomanufacturing diverse benzylisoquinoline alkaloids and derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanwei Gou
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dongfang Li
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Minghui Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mengxin Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiaojiao Zhang
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yilian Zhou
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Xiao
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Gaofei Liu
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haote Ding
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chenfan Sun
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Cuifang Ye
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chang Dong
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jucan Gao
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Di Gao
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zehua Bao
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhinan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiazhang Lian
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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3
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Iwaï H, Beyer HM, Johansson JEM, Li M, Wlodawer A. The three-dimensional structure of the Vint domain from Tetrahymena thermophila suggests a ligand-regulated cleavage mechanism by the HINT fold. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:864-874. [PMID: 38351630 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14817] [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: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Vint proteins have been identified in unicellular metazoans as a novel hedgehog-related gene family, merging the von Willebrand factor type A domain and the Hedgehog/INTein (HINT) domains. We present the first three-dimensional structure of the Vint domain from Tetrahymena thermophila corresponding to the auto-processing domain of hedgehog proteins, shedding light on the unique features, including an adduct recognition region (ARR). Our results suggest a potential binding between the ARR and sulfated glycosaminoglycans like heparin sulfate. Moreover, we uncover a possible regulatory role of the ARR in the auto-processing by Vint domains, expanding our understanding of the HINT domain evolution and their use in biotechnological applications. Vint domains might have played a crucial role in the transition from unicellular to multicellular organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideo Iwaï
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannes M Beyer
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Mi Li
- Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, MD, USA
| | - Alexander Wlodawer
- Center for Structural Biology, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
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4
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Cai J, Zang L, Wu X, Liang Z, Zheng K, Zhao L, Li H. The construction of long-acting exendin-4 analog and its hypoglycemic effect in diabetic mice. Protein Expr Purif 2024; 213:106373. [PMID: 37730142 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2023.106373] [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: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Exendin-4 is a glucagon-like polypeptide-1 (GLP-1) analog derived from lizard venom, but its short half-life affects drug administration compliance. An anti-HSA nanobody with a smaller size to guide the peptide coupling to Human Serum Albumin(HSA) in vivo may be a feasible strategy for constructing inexpensive, long-acting exendin-4 analogs. For this purpose, a fusion protein (exendin-4-(G4S)3-sdAbHSA), in which a humanized anti-HSA nanobody to the C-terminal of exendin-4 through the (Gly4Ser)3 flexible joint, was constructed. The target gene was designed according to the preferred codons and cloned into expression vector pET21b of Escherichia coli. The fusion protein could be efficiently expressed as a soluble protein, and purified to a purity over 98% by two steps of chromatography columns. In the streptozotocin-induced mouse diabetes model, the purified product had similar hypoglycemic activity as exendin-4, but dropped to the lowest value from 1 to 2 h to more than 8-10 h. The results show that this construction form does not interfere with the binding of exendin-4 to GLP-1 receptor, and can significantly prolong its half-life in vivo. This study has important reference value for constructing long-acting exendin-4 analogs and establishing efficient and green production process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingmin Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Candidate Drug Research, School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Linquan Zang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xueman Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Candidate Drug Research, School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zhiwen Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Candidate Drug Research, School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Ke Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Candidate Drug Research, School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Lin Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Candidate Drug Research, School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Huangjin Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Candidate Drug Research, School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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5
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Ariagno TM, Smetana JS, Lennon CW. An artificially split class 3 intein. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2023; 2023:10.17912/micropub.biology.000977. [PMID: 37811346 PMCID: PMC10559147 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Inteins excise themselves from precursor polypeptides through protein splicing, joining N- and C-exteins with a peptide bond. Split inteins are expressed as separate polypeptides that undergo protein trans splicing (PTS). Here, we demonstrate PTS can be achieved using an artificially split class 3 intein. Because class 3 inteins use an internal initiating nucleophile near the C-extein junction, rather than the first residue of the intein, both catalytic nucleophiles are present on a single polypeptide. This results in a compact arrangement of catalytic nucleophiles for PTS compared to the standard arrangement for split class 1 inteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tia M. Ariagno
- Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky, United States
| | - John S. Smetana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky, United States
| | - Christopher W. Lennon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky, United States
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6
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Park J, Pho T, Champion JA. Chemical and biological conjugation strategies for the development of multivalent protein vaccine nanoparticles. Biopolymers 2023; 114:e23563. [PMID: 37490564 PMCID: PMC10528127 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
The development of subunit vaccine platforms has been of considerable interest due to their good safety profile and ability to be adapted to new antigens, compared to other vaccine typess. Nevertheless, subunit vaccines often lack sufficient immunogenicity to fully protect against infectious diseases. A wide variety of subunit vaccines have been developed to enhance antigen immunogenicity by increasing antigen multivalency, as well as stability and delivery properties, via presentation of antigens on protein nanoparticles. Increasing multivalency can be an effective approach to provide a potent humoral immune response by more strongly engaging and clustering B cell receptors (BCRs) to induce activation, as well as increased uptake by antigen presenting cells and their subsequent T cell activation. Proper orientation of antigen on protein nanoparticles is also considered a crucial factor for enhanced BCR engagement and subsequent immune responses. Therefore, various strategies have been reported to decorate highly repetitive surfaces of protein nanoparticle scaffolds with multiple copies of antigens, arrange antigens in proper orientation, or combinations thereof. In this review, we describe different chemical bioconjugation methods, approaches for genetic fusion of recombinant antigens, biological affinity tags, and enzymatic conjugation methods to effectively present antigens on the surface of protein nanoparticle vaccine scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeyoung Park
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332-2000, USA
| | - Thomas Pho
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332-2000, USA
- BioEngineering Program
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332-2000, USA
- BioEngineering Program
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7
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Boral S, Sen S, Kushwaha T, Inampudi KK, De S. Extein residues regulate the catalytic function of Spl DnaX intein enzyme by restricting the near-attack conformations of the active-site residues. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4699. [PMID: 37313648 PMCID: PMC10288555 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4699] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Intein enzymes catalyze the splicing of their flanking polypeptide chains and have found tremendous biotechnological applications. Their terminal residues form the catalytic core and participate in the splicing reaction. Hence, the neighboring N- and C-terminal extein residues influence the catalytic rate. As these extein residues vary depending on the substrate identity, we tested the influence of 20 amino acids at these sites in the Spl DnaX intein and observed significant variation of spliced product as well as N- and C-terminus cleavage product formation. We investigated the dependence of these reactions on the extein residues by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on eight extein variants, and found that the conformational sampling of the active-site residues of the intein enzyme differed among these extein variants. We found that the extein variants that sample higher population of near-attack conformers (NACs) of the active-site residues undergo higher product formation in our activity assays. Ground state conformers that closely resemble the transition state are referred to as NACs. Very good correlation was observed between the NAC populations from the MD simulations of eight extein variants and the corresponding product formation from our activity assays. Furthermore, this molecular detail enabled us to elucidate the mechanistic roles of several conserved active-site residues in the splicing reaction. Overall, this study shows that the catalytic power of Spl DnaX intein enzyme, and most likely other inteins, depends on the efficiency of formation of NACs in the ground state, which is further modulated by the extein residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumendu Boral
- School of BioscienceIndian Institute of Technology KharagpurKharagpurIndia
| | - Srijon Sen
- School of BioscienceIndian Institute of Technology KharagpurKharagpurIndia
| | - Tushar Kushwaha
- Department of BiophysicsAll India Institute of Medical SciencesNew DelhiIndia
| | - Krishna K. Inampudi
- Department of BiophysicsAll India Institute of Medical SciencesNew DelhiIndia
| | - Soumya De
- School of BioscienceIndian Institute of Technology KharagpurKharagpurIndia
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8
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Wu T, Song Z, Huang H, Jakos T, Jiang H, Xie Y, Zhu J. Construction and evaluation of GPC3-targeted immunotoxins as a novel therapeutic modality for hepatocellular carcinoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 113:109393. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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9
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Lin Z, Jing Y, Huang Y, Yang S, Chen S, Ou Y, Pistolozzi M, Yang X. A cleavable self-aggregating tag scheme for the expression and purification of disulfide bonded proteins and peptides. Chem Eng Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2022.118052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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10
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Ichikawa S, Flaxman HA, Xu W, Vallavoju N, Lloyd HC, Wang B, Shen D, Pratt MR, Woo CM. The E3 ligase adapter cereblon targets the C-terminal cyclic imide degron. Nature 2022; 610:775-782. [PMID: 36261529 PMCID: PMC10316063 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05333-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The ubiquitin E3 ligase substrate adapter cereblon (CRBN) is a target of thalidomide and lenalidomide1, therapeutic agents used in the treatment of haematopoietic malignancies2-4 and as ligands for targeted protein degradation5-7. These agents are proposed to mimic a naturally occurring degron; however, the structural motif recognized by the thalidomide-binding domain of CRBN remains unknown. Here we report that C-terminal cyclic imides, post-translational modifications that arise from intramolecular cyclization of glutamine or asparagine residues, are physiological degrons on substrates for CRBN. Dipeptides bearing the C-terminal cyclic imide degron substitute for thalidomide when embedded within bifunctional chemical degraders. Addition of the degron to the C terminus of proteins induces CRBN-dependent ubiquitination and degradation in vitro and in cells. C-terminal cyclic imides form adventitiously on physiologically relevant timescales throughout the human proteome to afford a degron that is endogenously recognized and removed by CRBN. The discovery of the C-terminal cyclic imide degron defines a regulatory process that may affect the physiological function and therapeutic engagement of CRBN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saki Ichikawa
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hope A Flaxman
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Wenqing Xu
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nandini Vallavoju
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hannah C Lloyd
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Binyou Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dacheng Shen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Matthew R Pratt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christina M Woo
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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11
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Abstract
Paleoproteomics, the study of ancient proteins, is a rapidly growing field at the intersection of molecular biology, paleontology, archaeology, paleoecology, and history. Paleoproteomics research leverages the longevity and diversity of proteins to explore fundamental questions about the past. While its origins predate the characterization of DNA, it was only with the advent of soft ionization mass spectrometry that the study of ancient proteins became truly feasible. Technological gains over the past 20 years have allowed increasing opportunities to better understand preservation, degradation, and recovery of the rich bioarchive of ancient proteins found in the archaeological and paleontological records. Growing from a handful of studies in the 1990s on individual highly abundant ancient proteins, paleoproteomics today is an expanding field with diverse applications ranging from the taxonomic identification of highly fragmented bones and shells and the phylogenetic resolution of extinct species to the exploration of past cuisines from dental calculus and pottery food crusts and the characterization of past diseases. More broadly, these studies have opened new doors in understanding past human-animal interactions, the reconstruction of past environments and environmental changes, the expansion of the hominin fossil record through large scale screening of nondiagnostic bone fragments, and the phylogenetic resolution of the vertebrate fossil record. Even with these advances, much of the ancient proteomic record still remains unexplored. Here we provide an overview of the history of the field, a summary of the major methods and applications currently in use, and a critical evaluation of current challenges. We conclude by looking to the future, for which innovative solutions and emerging technology will play an important role in enabling us to access the still unexplored "dark" proteome, allowing for a fuller understanding of the role ancient proteins can play in the interpretation of the past.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Warinner
- Department
of Anthropology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Kristine Korzow Richter
- Department
of Anthropology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Matthew J. Collins
- Department
of Archaeology, Cambridge University, Cambridge CB2 3DZ, United Kingdom
- Section
for Evolutionary Genomics, Globe Institute,
University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1350, Denmark
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12
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Ting TY, Baharin A, Ramzi AB, Ng CL, Goh HH. Neprosin belongs to a new family of glutamic peptidase based on in silico evidence. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2022; 183:23-35. [PMID: 35537348 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2022.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Neprosin was first discovered in the insectivorous tropical pitcher plants of Nepenthes species as a novel protease with prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) activity. Neprosin has two uncharacterized domains of neprosin activation peptide and neprosin. A previous study has shown neprosin activity in hydrolyzing proline-rich gliadin, a gluten component that triggers celiac disease. In this study, we performed in silico structure-function analysis to investigate the catalytic mechanism of neprosin. Neprosin sequences lack the catalytic triad and motifs of PEP family S9. Protein structures of neprosins from Nepenthes × ventrata (NvNpr) and N. rafflesiana (NrNpr1) were generated by ab initio methods and comparatively assessed to obtain high-quality models. Structural alignment of models to experimental structures in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) found a high structural similarity to glutamic peptidases. Further investigations reveal other resemblances to the glutamic peptidases with low optimum pH that activates the enzyme via autoproteolysis for maturation. Two highly conserved glutamic acid residues, which are stable according to the molecular dynamics simulation, can be found at the active site of the substrate cleft. Protein docking demonstrated that mature neprosins bind well with potent antigen αI-gliadin at the putative active site. Taken together, neprosins represent a new glutamic peptidase family, with a putative catalytic dyad of two glutamic acids. This study illustrates a hypothetical enzymatic mechanism of the neprosin family and demonstrates the useful application of an accurate ab initio protein structure prediction in the structure-function study of a novel protein family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiew-Yik Ting
- Institute of Systems Biology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Anis Baharin
- Institute of Systems Biology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ahmad Bazli Ramzi
- Institute of Systems Biology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Chyan-Leong Ng
- Institute of Systems Biology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hoe-Han Goh
- Institute of Systems Biology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
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13
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Kang C, Shrestha KL, Kwon S, Park S, Kim J, Kwon Y. Intein-Mediated Protein Engineering for Cell-Based Biosensors. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12050283. [PMID: 35624584 PMCID: PMC9138240 DOI: 10.3390/bios12050283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Cell-based sensors provide a flexible platform for screening biologically active targets and for monitoring their interactions in live cells. Their applicability extends across a vast array of biological research and clinical applications. Particularly, cell-based sensors are becoming a potent tool in drug discovery and cell-signaling studies by allowing function-based screening of targets in biologically relevant environments and enabling the in vivo visualization of cellular signals in real-time with an outstanding spatiotemporal resolution. In this review, we aim to provide a clear view of current cell-based sensor technologies, their limitations, and how the recent improvements were using intein-mediated protein engineering. We first discuss the characteristics of cell-based sensors and present several representative examples with a focus on their design strategies, which differentiate cell-based sensors from in vitro analytical biosensors. We then describe the application of intein-mediated protein engineering technology for cell-based sensor fabrication. Finally, we explain the characteristics of intein-mediated reactions and present examples of how the intein-mediated reactions are used to improve existing methods and develop new approaches in sensor cell fabrication to address the limitations of current technologies.
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14
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Arumugam K, Sellappan M, Anand D, Anand S, Radhakrishnan SV. A Text Mining and Machine Learning Protocol for Extracting Posttranslational Modifications of Proteins from PubMed: A Special Focus on Glycosylation, Acetylation, Methylation, Hydroxylation, and Ubiquitination. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2496:179-202. [PMID: 35713865 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2305-3_10] [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] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of proteins impart a significant role in human cellular functions ranging from localization to signal transduction. Hundreds of PTMs act in a human cell. Among them, only the selected PTMs are well established and documented. PubMed includes thousands of papers on the selected PTMs, and it is a challenge for the biomedical researchers to assimilate useful information manually. Alternatively, text mining approaches and machine learning algorithm automatically extract the relevant information from PubMed. Protein phosphorylation is a well-established PTM and several research works are under way. Many existing systems are there for protein phosphorylation information extraction. A recent approach uses a hybrid approach using text mining and machine learning to extract protein phosphorylation information from PubMed. Some of the other common PTMs that exhibit similar features in terms of entities that are involved in PTM process, that is, the substrate, the enzymes, and the amino acid residues, are glycosylation, acetylation, methylation, hydroxylation, and ubiquitination. This has motivated us to repurpose and extend the text mining protocol and machine learning information extraction methodology developed for protein phosphorylation to these PTMs. In this chapter, the chemistry behind each of the PTMs is briefly outlined and the text mining protocol and machine learning algorithm adaption is explained for the same.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishnamurthy Arumugam
- Department of Management Studies, Coimbatore Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India.
| | - Malathi Sellappan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, PSG College of Pharmacy, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Dheepa Anand
- Department of Pharmacology, Cheran College of Pharmacy, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Sadhanha Anand
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India
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15
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Nanda A, Nasker SS, Kushwaha AK, Ojha DK, Dearden AK, Nayak SK, Nayak S. Gold Nanoparticles Augment N-Terminal Cleavage and Splicing Reactions in Mycobacterium tuberculosis SufB. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:773303. [PMID: 35004641 PMCID: PMC8735848 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.773303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein splicing is a self-catalyzed event where the intervening sequence intein cleaves off, joining the flanking exteins together to generate a functional protein. Attempts have been made to regulate the splicing rate through variations in temperature, pH, and metals. Although metal-regulated protein splicing has been more captivating to researchers, metals were shown to only inhibit splicing reactions that confine their application. This is the first study to show the effect of nanoparticles (NPs) on protein splicing. We found that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of various sizes can increase the splicing efficiency by more than 50% and the N-terminal cleavage efficiency by more than 45% in Mycobacterium tuberculosis SufB precursor protein. This study provides an effective strategy for engineering splicing-enhanced intein platforms. UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed AuNP interaction with the native protein. Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) analysis suggested a significant reduction in the energy barrier at the N-terminal cleavage site in the presence of gold atom, strengthening our experimental evidence on heightened the N-terminal cleavage reaction. The encouraging observation of enhanced N-terminal cleavage and splicing reaction can have potential implementations from developing a rapid drug delivery system to designing a contemporary protein purification system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananya Nanda
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Sourya Subhra Nasker
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Anoop K. Kushwaha
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Deepak Kumar Ojha
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Albert K. Dearden
- Departments of Physics and Astronomy, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Saroj K. Nayak
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Sasmita Nayak
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
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16
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Abstract
Intervening proteins, or inteins, are mobile genetic elements that are translated within host polypeptides and removed at the protein level by splicing. In protein splicing, a self-mediated reaction removes the intein, leaving a peptide bond in place. While protein splicing can proceed in the absence of external cofactors, several examples of conditional protein splicing (CPS) have emerged. In CPS, the rate and accuracy of splicing are highly dependent on environmental conditions. Because the activity of the intein-containing host protein is compromised prior to splicing and inteins are highly abundant in the microbial world, CPS represents an emerging form of posttranslational regulation that is potentially widespread in microbes. Reactive chlorine species (RCS) are highly potent oxidants encountered by bacteria in a variety of natural environments, including within cells of the mammalian innate immune system. Here, we demonstrate that two naturally occurring RCS, namely, hypochlorous acid (the active compound in bleach) and N-chlorotaurine, can reversibly block splicing of DnaB inteins from Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium smegmatis in vitro. Further, using a reporter that monitors DnaB intein activity within M. smegmatis, we show that DnaB protein splicing is inhibited by RCS in the native host. DnaB, an essential replicative helicase, is the most common intein-housing protein in bacteria. These results add to the growing list of environmental conditions that are relevant to the survival of the intein-containing host and influence protein splicing, as well as suggesting a novel mycobacterial response to RCS. We propose a model in which DnaB splicing, and therefore replication, is paused when these mycobacteria encounter RCS. IMPORTANCE Inteins are both widespread and abundant in microbes, including within several bacterial and fungal pathogens. Inteins are domains translated within host proteins and removed at the protein level by splicing. Traditionally considered molecular parasites, some inteins have emerged in recent years as adaptive posttranslational regulatory elements. Several studies have demonstrated CPS, in which the rate and accuracy of protein splicing, and thus host protein functions, are responsive to environmental conditions relevant to the intein-containing organism. In this work, we demonstrate that two naturally occurring RCS, including the active compound in household bleach, reversibly inhibit protein splicing of Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium smegmatis DnaB inteins. In addition to describing a new physiologically relevant condition that can temporarily inhibit protein splicing, this study suggests a novel stress response in Mycobacterium, a bacterial genus of tremendous importance to humans.
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Mini-Intein Structures from Extremophiles Suggest a Strategy for Finding Novel Robust Inteins. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9061226. [PMID: 34198729 PMCID: PMC8229266 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Inteins are prevalent among extremophiles. Mini-inteins with robust splicing properties are of particular interest for biotechnological applications due to their small size. However, biochemical and structural characterization has still been limited to a small number of inteins, and only a few serve as widely used tools in protein engineering. We determined the crystal structure of a naturally occurring Pol-II mini-intein from Pyrococcus horikoshii and compared all three mini-inteins found in the genome of P. horikoshii. Despite their similar sizes, the comparison revealed distinct differences in the insertions and deletions, implying specific evolutionary pathways from distinct ancestral origins. Our studies suggest that sporadically distributed mini-inteins might be more promising for further protein engineering applications than highly conserved mini-inteins. Structural investigations of additional inteins could guide the shortest path to finding novel robust mini-inteins suitable for various protein engineering purposes.
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Molloy EM, Dell M, Hänsch VG, Dunbar KL, Feldmann R, Oberheide A, Seyfarth L, Kumpfmüller J, Horch T, Arndt H, Hertweck C. Enzyme‐Primed Native Chemical Ligation Produces Autoinducing Cyclopeptides in Clostridia. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202016378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn M. Molloy
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology HKI Beutenbergstr. 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Maria Dell
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology HKI Beutenbergstr. 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Veit G. Hänsch
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology HKI Beutenbergstr. 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Kyle L. Dunbar
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology HKI Beutenbergstr. 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Romy Feldmann
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology HKI Beutenbergstr. 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Ansgar Oberheide
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry Friedrich Schiller University Jena Humboldtstr. 10 07743 Jena Germany
| | - Lydia Seyfarth
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry Friedrich Schiller University Jena Humboldtstr. 10 07743 Jena Germany
| | - Jana Kumpfmüller
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology HKI Beutenbergstr. 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Therese Horch
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology HKI Beutenbergstr. 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Hans‐Dieter Arndt
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry Friedrich Schiller University Jena Humboldtstr. 10 07743 Jena Germany
| | - Christian Hertweck
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology HKI Beutenbergstr. 11a 07745 Jena Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences Friedrich Schiller University Jena 07743 Jena Germany
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19
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Molloy EM, Dell M, Hänsch VG, Dunbar KL, Feldmann R, Oberheide A, Seyfarth L, Kumpfmüller J, Horch T, Arndt HD, Hertweck C. Enzyme-Primed Native Chemical Ligation Produces Autoinducing Cyclopeptides in Clostridia. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:10670-10679. [PMID: 33625794 PMCID: PMC8251862 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202016378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Clostridia coordinate many important processes such as toxin production, infection, and survival by density‐dependent communication (quorum sensing) using autoinducing peptides (AIPs). Although clostridial AIPs have been proposed to be (thio)lactone‐containing peptides, their true structures remain elusive. Here, we report the genome‐guided discovery of an AIP that controls endospore formation in Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum. Through a combination of chemical synthesis and chemical complementation assays with a mutant strain, we reveal that the genuine chemical mediator is a homodetic cyclopeptide (cAIP). Kinetic analyses indicate that the mature cAIP is produced via a cryptic thiolactone intermediate that undergoes a rapid S→N acyl shift, in a manner similar to intramolecular native chemical ligation (NCL). Finally, by implementing a chemical probe in a targeted screen, we show that this novel enzyme‐primed, intramolecular NCL is a widespread feature of clostridial AIP biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn M Molloy
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology, HKI, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Maria Dell
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology, HKI, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Veit G Hänsch
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology, HKI, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Kyle L Dunbar
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology, HKI, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Romy Feldmann
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology, HKI, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Ansgar Oberheide
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstr. 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Lydia Seyfarth
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstr. 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Jana Kumpfmüller
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology, HKI, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Therese Horch
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology, HKI, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Hans-Dieter Arndt
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstr. 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Hertweck
- Dept. of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology, HKI, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany.,Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany
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20
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Panda S, Nanda A, Nasker SS, Sen D, Mehra A, Nayak S. Metal effect on intein splicing: A review. Biochimie 2021; 185:53-67. [PMID: 33727137 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Inteins are intervening polypeptides that interrupt the functional domains of several important proteins across the three domains of life. Inteins excise themselves from the precursor protein, ligating concomitant extein residues in a process called protein splicing. Post-translational auto-removal of inteins remain critical for the generation of active proteins. The perspective of inteins in science is a robust field of research, however fundamental studies centralized upon splicing regulatory mechanism are imperative for addressing more intricate issues. Controlled engineering of intein splicing has many applications; intein inhibition can facilitate novel drug design, while activation of intein splicing is exploited in protein purification. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the past and recent advances in the splicing regulation via metal-intein interaction. We compare the behavior of different metal ions on diverse intein systems. Though metals such as Zn, Cu, Pt, Cd, Co, Ni exhibit intein inhibitory effect heterogeneously on different inteins, divalent metal ions such as Ca and Mg fail to do so. The observed diversity in the metal-intein interaction arises mostly due to intein polymorphism and variations in atomic structure of metals. A mechanistic understanding of intein regulation by metals in native as well as synthetically engineered intein systems may yield potent intein inhibitors via direct or indirect approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunita Panda
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India
| | - Ananya Nanda
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India
| | - Sourya Subhra Nasker
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India
| | - Debjani Sen
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India
| | - Ashwaria Mehra
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India
| | - Sasmita Nayak
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India.
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21
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Massoud TF, Paulmurugan R. Molecular Imaging of Protein–Protein Interactions and Protein Folding. Mol Imaging 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-816386-3.00071-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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22
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Boral S, Maiti S, Basak AJ, Lee W, De S. Structural, Dynamic, and Functional Characterization of a DnaX Mini-intein Derived from Spirulina platensis Provides Important Insights into Intein-Mediated Catalysis of Protein Splicing. Biochemistry 2020; 59:4711-4724. [PMID: 33289560 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Protein splicing is a self-catalyzed post-translational modification in which the intein enzyme excises itself from a precursor protein and ligates the flanking sequences to produce a mature protein. We report the solution structure of a 136-residue DnaX mini-intein enzyme derived from the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis. This sequence adopts a well-defined globular structure and forms a horseshoe-shaped fold commonly found in the HINT (hedgehog intein) topology. Backbone dynamics and hydrogen exchange experiments revealed conserved motions on various time scales, which is proposed to be a characteristic of the intein fold. Interestingly, several dynamic motions were found in symmetrically equivalent positions within the protein structure, which might be a consequence of the symmetrical intein fold. In cell splicing activity showed that Spl DnaX mini-intein is a highly active enzyme. The precursor protein was not detected at any timepoint of the assay. Apart from the splicing reaction, catalytic cleavage at the N- and C-termini of the precursor protein was also observed. To determine the roles of the catalytic residues in splicing and cleavage reactions, all combinations of alanine mutations of these residues were generated and functionally characterized. This in-depth analysis revealed cooperativity between these catalytic residues, which suppresses the N- and C-terminal cleavage reactions and enhances the yield of the spliced product. Overall, this study provides a thorough structural, dynamic, and functional characterization of a new intein sequence and adds to the collection of these unique enzymes that have found tremendous applications in biochemistry and biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumendu Boral
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Snigdha Maiti
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Aditya J Basak
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Woonghee Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado 80217, United States
| | - Soumya De
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
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Inteins in Science: Evolution to Application. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8122004. [PMID: 33339089 PMCID: PMC7765530 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8122004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Inteins are mobile genetic elements that apply standard enzymatic strategies to excise themselves post-translationally from the precursor protein via protein splicing. Since their discovery in the 1990s, recent advances in intein technology allow for them to be implemented as a modern biotechnological contrivance. Radical improvement in the structure and catalytic framework of cis- and trans-splicing inteins devised the development of engineered inteins that contribute to various efficient downstream techniques. Previous literature indicates that implementation of intein-mediated splicing has been extended to in vivo systems. Besides, the homing endonuclease domain also acts as a versatile biotechnological tool involving genetic manipulation and control of monogenic diseases. This review orients the understanding of inteins by sequentially studying the distribution and evolution pattern of intein, thereby highlighting a role in genetic mobility. Further, we include an in-depth summary of specific applications branching from protein purification using self-cleaving tags to protein modification, post-translational processing and labelling, followed by the development of intein-based biosensors. These engineered inteins offer a disruptive approach towards research avenues like biomaterial construction, metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. Therefore, this linear perspective allows for a more comprehensive understanding of intein function and its diverse applications.
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Beyer HM, Virtanen SI, Aranko AS, Mikula KM, Lountos GT, Wlodawer A, Ollila OHS, Iwaï H. The Convergence of the Hedgehog/Intein Fold in Different Protein Splicing Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218367. [PMID: 33171880 PMCID: PMC7664689 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein splicing catalyzed by inteins utilizes many different combinations of amino-acid types at active sites. Inteins have been classified into three classes based on their characteristic sequences. We investigated the structural basis of the protein splicing mechanism of class 3 inteins by determining crystal structures of variants of a class 3 intein from Mycobacterium chimaera and molecular dynamics simulations, which suggested that the class 3 intein utilizes a different splicing mechanism from that of class 1 and 2 inteins. The class 3 intein uses a bond cleavage strategy reminiscent of proteases but share the same Hedgehog/INTein (HINT) fold of other intein classes. Engineering of class 3 inteins from a class 1 intein indicated that a class 3 intein would unlikely evolve directly from a class 1 or 2 intein. The HINT fold appears as structural and functional solution for trans-peptidyl and trans-esterification reactions commonly exploited by diverse mechanisms using different combinations of amino-acid types for the active-site residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes M. Beyer
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (H.M.B.); (S.I.V.); (A.S.A.); (K.M.M.); (O.H.S.O.)
| | - Salla I. Virtanen
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (H.M.B.); (S.I.V.); (A.S.A.); (K.M.M.); (O.H.S.O.)
| | - A. Sesilja Aranko
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (H.M.B.); (S.I.V.); (A.S.A.); (K.M.M.); (O.H.S.O.)
| | - Kornelia M. Mikula
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (H.M.B.); (S.I.V.); (A.S.A.); (K.M.M.); (O.H.S.O.)
| | - George T. Lountos
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA;
| | - Alexander Wlodawer
- Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA;
| | - O. H. Samuli Ollila
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (H.M.B.); (S.I.V.); (A.S.A.); (K.M.M.); (O.H.S.O.)
| | - Hideo Iwaï
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland; (H.M.B.); (S.I.V.); (A.S.A.); (K.M.M.); (O.H.S.O.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +358-2941-59752
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Xia HF, Zhou TJ, Du YX, Wang YJ, Shi CH, Wood DW. Improved protein purification system based on C-terminal cleavage of Npu DnaE split intein. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 2020; 43:1931-1941. [PMID: 32447513 DOI: 10.1007/s00449-020-02382-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
A purification system was constructed with the N-segment of the Npu DnaE split intein as an affinity ligand immobilized onto an epoxy-activated medium and the C-segment used as the cleavable tag fusing target protein. The affinity properties of C-tagged proteins adsorbed on IN affinity chromatography medium were studied with GFP as a model target protein. The saturated adsorption capacity and dynamic adsorption capacity reached 51.9-21.0 mg mL-1, respectively. With this system, two model proteins, GFP and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), has been successfully taglessly purified with regulation of Zn2+ and DTT. The yield, purification factor and purity of purified tagless GFP reached 39, 11.7 and 97%, respectively; while these values for purified tagless ADH were 38.2, 6.8 and 91%, respectively. These results showed that the system for Npu DnaE split intein-mediated affinity adsorption and in situ cleavage is a potential platform for recombinant protein production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Feng Xia
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China. .,National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Ting-Jun Zhou
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Ye-Xing Du
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Yu-Jun Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Chang-Hua Shi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - David W Wood
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
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26
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Recombinant chimeric enzymes for lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis. Enzyme Microb Technol 2020; 140:109647. [DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2020.109647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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27
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Oeemig JS, Beyer HM, Aranko AS, Mutanen J, Iwaï H. Substrate specificities of inteins investigated by QuickDrop-cassette mutagenesis. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:3338-3355. [PMID: 32805768 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Inteins catalyze self-excision from host precursor proteins while concomitantly ligating the flanking substrates (exteins) with a peptide bond. Noncatalytic extein residues near the splice junctions, such as the residues at the -1 and +2 positions, often strongly influence the protein-splicing efficiency. The substrate specificities of inteins have not been studied for many inteins. We developed a convenient mutagenesis platform termed "QuickDrop"-cassette mutagenesis for investigating the influences of 20 amino acid types at the -1 and +2 positions of different inteins. We elucidated 17 different profiles of the 20 amino acid dependencies across different inteins. The substrate specificities will accelerate our understanding of the structure-function relationship at the splicing junctions for broader applications of inteins in biotechnology and molecular biosciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesper S Oeemig
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannes M Beyer
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - A Sesilja Aranko
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Justus Mutanen
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hideo Iwaï
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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28
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Beyer HM, Mikula KM, Li M, Wlodawer A, Iwaï H. The crystal structure of the naturally split gp41-1 intein guides the engineering of orthogonal split inteins from cis-splicing inteins. FEBS J 2020; 287:1886-1898. [PMID: 31665813 PMCID: PMC7190452 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Protein trans-splicing catalyzed by split inteins has increasingly become useful as a protein engineering tool. We solved the 1.0 Å-resolution crystal structure of a fused variant from the naturally split gp41-1 intein, previously identified from environmental metagenomic sequence data. The structure of the 125-residue gp41-1 intein revealed a compact pseudo-C2-symmetry commonly found in the Hedgehog/Intein superfamily with extensive charge-charge interactions between the split N- and C-terminal intein fragments that are common among naturally occurring split inteins. We successfully created orthogonal split inteins by engineering a similar charge network into the same region of a cis-splicing intein. This strategy could be applicable for creating novel natural-like split inteins from other, more prevalent cis-splicing inteins. DATABASE: Structural data are available in the RCSB Protein Data Bank under the accession number 6QAZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes Michael Beyer
- Research Program in Structural Biology and Biophysics, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kornelia Malgorzata Mikula
- Research Program in Structural Biology and Biophysics, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mi Li
- Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Alexander Wlodawer
- Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Hideo Iwaï
- Research Program in Structural Biology and Biophysics, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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29
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Berckman EA, Hartzell EJ, Mitkas AA, Sun Q, Chen W. Biological Assembly of Modular Protein Building Blocks as Sensing, Delivery, and Therapeutic Agents. Annu Rev Chem Biomol Eng 2020; 11:35-62. [PMID: 32155350 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-101519-121526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Nature has evolved a wide range of strategies to create self-assembled protein nanostructures with structurally defined architectures that serve a myriad of highly specialized biological functions. With the advent of biological tools for site-specific protein modifications and de novo protein design, a wide range of customized protein nanocarriers have been created using both natural and synthetic biological building blocks to mimic these native designs for targeted biomedical applications. In this review, different design frameworks and synthetic decoration strategies for achieving these functional protein nanostructures are summarized. Key attributes of these designer protein nanostructures, their unique functions, and their impact on biosensing and therapeutic applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Berckman
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA; .,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - Emily J Hartzell
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA;
| | - Alexander A Mitkas
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA;
| | - Qing Sun
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Wilfred Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA;
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30
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Smith CJ, Wagner AG, Stagnitta RT, Xu Z, Pezzullo JL, Giner JL, Xie J, Covey DF, Wang C, Callahan BP. Subverting Hedgehog Protein Autoprocessing by Chemical Induction of Paracatalysis. Biochemistry 2020; 59:736-741. [PMID: 32013401 PMCID: PMC7031038 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Hedgehog proteins, a family of vital cell signaling factors, are expressed in precursor form, which requires specialized autoprocessing, called cholesterolysis, for full biological activity. Cholesterolysis occurs in cis through the action of the precursor's C-terminal enzymatic domain, HhC. In this work, we describe HhC activator compounds (HACs), a novel class of noncovalent modulators that induce autoprocessing infidelity, diminishing native cholesterolysis in favor of precursor autoproteolysis, an otherwise minor and apparently nonphysiological side reaction. HAC-induced autoproteolysis generates hedgehog protein that is cholesterol free and hence signaling deficient. The most effective HAC has an AC50 of 9 μM, accelerates HhC autoproteolytic activity by 225-fold, and functions in the presence and absence of cholesterol, the native substrate. HACs join a rare class of "antagonists" that suppress native enzymatic activity by subverting mechanistic fidelity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl J Smith
- Department of Chemistry , Binghamton University, State University of New York , 4400 Vestal Parkway East , Binghamton , New York 13902 , United States
| | - Andrew G Wagner
- Department of Chemistry , Binghamton University, State University of New York , 4400 Vestal Parkway East , Binghamton , New York 13902 , United States
| | - Robert T Stagnitta
- Department of Chemistry , Binghamton University, State University of New York , 4400 Vestal Parkway East , Binghamton , New York 13902 , United States
| | - Zihan Xu
- Department of Chemistry , Binghamton University, State University of New York , 4400 Vestal Parkway East , Binghamton , New York 13902 , United States
| | - John L Pezzullo
- Department of Chemistry , State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry , Syracuse , New York 13210 , United States
| | - José-Luis Giner
- Department of Chemistry , State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry , Syracuse , New York 13210 , United States
| | - Jian Xie
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies , Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute , 110 8th Street , Troy , New York 12180 , United States
| | - Douglas F Covey
- Department of Developmental Biology , Taylor Family Institute for Innovative Psychiatric Research , 660 South Euclid Avenue , St. Louis , Missouri 63110 , United States
| | - Chunyu Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies , Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute , 110 8th Street , Troy , New York 12180 , United States
| | - Brian P Callahan
- Department of Chemistry , Binghamton University, State University of New York , 4400 Vestal Parkway East , Binghamton , New York 13902 , United States
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31
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Bahrami A, Najafi A, Hashemi M, Miraie-Ashtiani SR. PSSP: Protein splice site prediction algorithm using Bayesian approach. J Bioinform Comput Biol 2020; 17:1950034. [PMID: 32019415 DOI: 10.1142/s0219720019500343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to introduce an algorithm and identify intein motif and blocks involved in protein splicing, and explore the underlying methods in the development of detection of protein motifs. Inteins are mobile protein splicing elements capable of self-splicing post-translationally. They exist in viruses and bacteriophage, notwithstanding this broad phylogenetic distribution, all inteins apportion common structural features. A method was developed to predict intein in a raw sequence, using a ranking and scoring scheme based on amino acid θ value tables. This method aided in the identification and assessment of patterns characterizing the intein sequences. New intein conserved properties are revealed and the known ones are described and localized. We have computed the θ value of each amino acid at block A positions +1 to +13, block B positions l+13 to l+26 and block G positions -7 to +1 for the three categories. The consensus amino acids thus found are listed at the end of each row. We gave statistics for the distance between the blocks, block A to B, block B to F, and block F to G with the average being 66.1, 294, and 10.2 amino acids, respectively. The actual blocks A, B, and G of the one intein found in vacuolar membrane ATPase subunit, a precursor protein, are ranked 1. The results indicate all of the block sequences that are found in nine proteins are ranked at top of the list. The intein sequence is used to search the databases for intein-like proteins. Understanding the functional, structural, and dynamical aspects of inteins is important for intein engineering and the betterment of intein database.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abolfazl Bahrami
- Department of Animal Science, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Ali Najafi
- Molecular Biology Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Hashemi
- Department of Animal Science, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Seyed Reza Miraie-Ashtiani
- Department of Animal Science, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran
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32
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Schütz S, Sprangers R. Methyl TROSY spectroscopy: A versatile NMR approach to study challenging biological systems. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY 2020; 116:56-84. [PMID: 32130959 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnmrs.2019.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
A major goal in structural biology is to unravel how molecular machines function in detail. To that end, solution-state NMR spectroscopy is ideally suited as it is able to study biological assemblies in a near natural environment. Based on methyl TROSY methods, it is now possible to record high-quality data on complexes that are far over 100 kDa in molecular weight. In this review, we discuss the theoretical background of methyl TROSY spectroscopy, the information that can be extracted from methyl TROSY spectra and approaches that can be used to assign methyl resonances in large complexes. In addition, we touch upon insights that have been obtained for a number of challenging biological systems, including the 20S proteasome, the RNA exosome, molecular chaperones and G-protein-coupled receptors. We anticipate that methyl TROSY methods will be increasingly important in modern structural biology approaches, where information regarding static structures is complemented with insights into conformational changes and dynamic intermolecular interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Schütz
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Remco Sprangers
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
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33
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Zhang M, Zhang Y, Wu B, Peng Y, Simair AA, Siegel GW, Lu C, Chen T. Intein-mediated recombinant expression of monomeric B22Asp desB30 insulin. BMC Biotechnol 2020; 20:3. [PMID: 31918694 PMCID: PMC6953245 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-020-0598-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insulin controls hyperglycemia caused by diabetes, and virtually all treatments require exogenous insulin. However, the product's extensive post-translational modifications have hindered the manufacture of recombinant insulin. RESULT Here we report a novel production method for a monomeric B22Asp desB30 insulin analog (B22D desB30 insulin). Its precursor, DPIP, is fused to an N-terminal chitin-binding domain and intein self-cleavage tag. The fusion protein is expressed and purified from E. coli and immobilized on chitin resins. DPIP is then released using an optimized pH shift and converted to mature insulin via trypsin digest. The resulting product appears monomeric, > 90% pure and devoid of any exogenous enzyme. CONCLUSION Thus, biologically active insulin analog can be efficiently produced in bacteria and potentially applicable in the treatment of human diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minmin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 2999 North Ren Min Rd, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Yunlong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 2999 North Ren Min Rd, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Bingnan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 2999 North Ren Min Rd, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Yanhao Peng
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 2999 North Ren Min Rd, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Altaf Ahmed Simair
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 2999 North Ren Min Rd, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Geoffery W Siegel
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Musculoskeletal Oncology Division, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 10, USA
| | - Changrui Lu
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 2999 North Ren Min Rd, Shanghai, 201620, China.
| | - Ting Chen
- Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 2999 North Ren Min Rd, Shanghai, 201620, China.
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34
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Romero-Casañas A, Gordo V, Castro J, Ribó M. Protein Splicing: From the Foundations to the Development of Biotechnological Applications. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2133:15-29. [PMID: 32144661 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0434-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Expressed protein ligation is a simple and powerful method in protein engineering to introduce sequences of unnatural amino acids, posttranslational modifications, and biophysical probes into proteins of any size. This methodology has been developed based on the knowledge obtained from protein splicing. Protein splicing is a multistep biochemical reaction that includes the concomitant cleavage and formation of peptide bonds carried out by self-processing domains named inteins. The natural substrates of protein splicing are essential proteins found in intein-containing organisms; inteins are also functional in nonnative frameworks and can be used to alter nearly any protein's primary amino acid sequence. Accordingly, different reactivity features of inteins have been largely exploited to manipulate proteins in countless methods encompassing fields from biochemical research to the development of biotechnological applications including the study of disease progression and validation of potential drug candidates. Here, we review almost three decades of research to uncover the chemical and biochemical enigmas of protein splicing and the development of inteins as potent protein engineering tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Romero-Casañas
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria de Proteïnes, Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Verónica Gordo
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria de Proteïnes, Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Jessica Castro
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria de Proteïnes, Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Marc Ribó
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria de Proteïnes, Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain.
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35
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Callahan N, Tullman J, Kelman Z, Marino J. Strategies for Development of a Next-Generation Protein Sequencing Platform. Trends Biochem Sci 2019; 45:76-89. [PMID: 31676211 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2019.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Proteomic analysis can be a critical bottleneck in cellular characterization. The current paradigm relies primarily on mass spectrometry of peptides and affinity reagents (i.e., antibodies), both of which require a priori knowledge of the sample. An unbiased protein sequencing method, with a dynamic range that covers the full range of protein concentrations in proteomes, would revolutionize the field of proteomics, allowing a more facile characterization of novel gene products and subcellular complexes. To this end, several new platforms based on single-molecule protein-sequencing approaches have been proposed. This review summarizes four of these approaches, highlighting advantages, limitations, and challenges for each method towards advancing as a core technology for next-generation protein sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Callahan
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
| | - Jennifer Tullman
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Zvi Kelman
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; Biomolecular Labeling Laboratory, Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - John Marino
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
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36
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Lin Z, Zhao Q, Wang X, Zhou B, Xing L, Wang J, Pistolozzi M, Zhao L, Wang T. Engineered pH‐inducible intein
Mtu
ΔI‐CM variants with markedly reduced premature cleavage activity. AIChE J 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/aic.16806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhanglin Lin
- School of Biology and Biological EngineeringSouth China University of Technology Guangzhou China
- Department of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua University Beijing China
| | - Qing Zhao
- Department of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua University Beijing China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua University Beijing China
| | - Bihong Zhou
- Department of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua University Beijing China
| | - Lei Xing
- Department of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua University Beijing China
| | - Jiangyun Wang
- Institute of BiophysicsChinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Marco Pistolozzi
- School of Biology and Biological EngineeringSouth China University of Technology Guangzhou China
| | - Lei Zhao
- School of Biology and Biological EngineeringSouth China University of Technology Guangzhou China
| | - Tingting Wang
- School of Biology and Biological EngineeringSouth China University of Technology Guangzhou China
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37
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Crystal structures of CDC21-1 inteins from hyperthermophilic archaea reveal the selection mechanism for the highly conserved homing endonuclease insertion site. Extremophiles 2019; 23:669-679. [PMID: 31363851 PMCID: PMC6801210 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-019-01117-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Self-splicing inteins are mobile genetic elements invading host genes via nested homing endonuclease (HEN) domains. All HEN domains residing within inteins are inserted at a highly conserved insertion site. A purifying selection mechanism directing the location of the HEN insertion site has not yet been identified. In this work, we solved the three-dimensional crystal structures of two inteins inserted in the cell division control protein 21 of the hyperthermophilic archaea Pyrococcus abyssi and Pyrococcus horikoshii. A comparison between the structures provides the structural basis for the thermo-stabilization mechanism of inteins that have lost the HEN domain during evolution. The presence of an entire extein domain in the intein structure from Pyrococcus horikoshii suggests the selection mechanism for the highly conserved HEN insertion point.
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38
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Zhang J, Chen L, Zhang J, Wang Y. Drug Inducible CRISPR/Cas Systems. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2019; 17:1171-1177. [PMID: 31462973 PMCID: PMC6709367 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2019.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) systems have been employed as a powerful versatile technology for programmable gene editing, transcriptional modulation, epigenetic modulation, and genome labeling, etc. Yet better control of their activity is important to accomplish greater precision and to reduce undesired outcomes such as off-target events. The use of small molecules to control CRISPR/Cas activity represents a promising direction. Here, we provide an updated review on multiple drug inducible CRISPR/Cas systems and discuss their distinct properties. We arbitrarily divided the emerging drug inducible CRISPR/Cas systems into two categories based on whether at transcription or protein level does chemical control occurs. The first category includes Tet-On/Off system and Cre-dependent system. The second category includes chemically induced proximity systems, intein splicing system, 4-Hydroxytamoxifen-Estrogen Receptor based nuclear localization systems, allosterically regulated Cas9 system, and destabilizing domain mediated protein degradation systems. Finally, the advantages and limitations of each system were summarized.
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Key Words
- 4-OHT, 4-Hydroxytamoxifen
- ABA, abscisic acid
- ADs, activation domains
- CIP, chemically induced proximity
- CRISPR, clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats
- Cas, CRISPR-associated protein
- CrRNA, CRISPR RNA
- DD, destabilizing domain
- DHFR, dihydrofolate reductase
- ER, Estrogen Receptor
- FKBP, FK506-binding protein
- FRB, FKBP-rapamycin-binding domain
- GA, gibberellin
- HIT, Hybrid drug Inducible CRISPR/Cas9 Technologies
- Hsp90, heat shock protein 90
- LBD, ligand binding domain
- LSL, loxP-stop-loxP
- MST, multiplex single transcript
- NES, nuclear export sequence
- NLS, nuclear localization sequence
- Ptet, tetO-containing promoter
- Sa, Staphylococcus areus
- Sp, Streptococcus pyogenes
- TMP, trimethoprim
- TRE, tetracycline response element
- TRE3G, Tet-On 3G protein
- TetO, tet operator
- TetR, Tet repressor protein
- VPR, VP64-P65-Rta
- arC9, allosterically regulated Cas9
- dCas9, dead Cas9
- dCpf1, dead Cpf1
- dLbCpf1, Lachnospiraceae bacterium dCpf1
- dox, doxycycline
- iPSCs, induced pluripotent stem cells
- rtTA, reverse-tTA
- sgRNA, single guide RNA
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingfang Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Li Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ju Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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39
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Beyer HM, Iwaï H. Off-Pathway-Sensitive Protein-Splicing Screening Based on a Toxin/Antitoxin System. Chembiochem 2019; 20:1933-1938. [PMID: 30963690 PMCID: PMC6771659 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Protein‐splicing domains are frequently used engineering tools that find application in the in vivo and in vitro ligation of protein domains. Directed evolution is among the most promising technologies used to advance this technology. However, the available screening systems for protein‐splicing activity are associated with bottlenecks such as the selection of pseudo‐positive clones arising from off‐pathway reaction products or fragment complementation. Herein, we report a stringent screening method for protein‐splicing activity in cis and trans, that exclusively selects productively splicing domains. By fusing splicing domains to an intrinsically disordered region of the antidote from the Escherichia coli CcdA/CcdB type II toxin/antitoxin system, we linked protein splicing to cell survival. The screen allows selecting novel cis‐ and trans‐splicing inteins catalyzing productive highly efficient protein splicing, for example, from directed‐evolution approaches or the natural intein sequence space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes M Beyer
- Research Program in Structural Biology and Biophysics, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 1, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hideo Iwaï
- Research Program in Structural Biology and Biophysics, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 1, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
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40
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Gamage DG, Gunaratne A, Periyannan GR, Russell TG. Applicability of Instability Index for In vitro Protein Stability Prediction. Protein Pept Lett 2019; 26:339-347. [DOI: 10.2174/0929866526666190228144219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background:
The dipeptide composition-based Instability Index (II) is one of the protein
primary structure-dependent methods available for in vivo protein stability predictions. As per this
method, proteins with II value below 40 are stable proteins. Intracellular protein stability principles
guided the original development of the II method. However, the use of the II method for in vitro
protein stability predictions raises questions about the validity of applying the II method under
experimental conditions that are different from the in vivo setting.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to experimentally test the validity of the use of II as an in vitro
protein stability predictor.
Methods:
A representative protein CCM (CCM - Caulobacter crescentus metalloprotein) that
rapidly degrades under in vitro conditions was used to probe the dipeptide sequence-dependent
degradation properties of CCM by generating CCM mutants to represent stable and unstable II
values. A comparative degradation analysis was carried out under in vitro conditions using wildtype
CCM, CCM mutants and two other candidate proteins: metallo-β-lactamase L1 and α -S1-
casein representing stable, borderline stable/unstable, and unstable proteins as per the II predictions.
The effect of temperature and a protein stabilizing agent on CCM degradation was also tested.
Results:
Data support the dipeptide composition-dependent protein stability/instability in wt-CCM
and mutants as predicted by the II method under in vitro conditions. However, the II failed to
accurately represent the stability of other tested proteins. Data indicate the influence of protein
environmental factors on the autoproteolysis of proteins.
Conclusion:
Broader application of the II method for the prediction of protein stability under in
vitro conditions is questionable as the stability of the protein may be dependent not only on the
intrinsic nature of the protein but also on the conditions of the protein milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilani G. Gamage
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL, United States
| | - Ajith Gunaratne
- Department of Mathematics, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL, United States
| | - Gopal R. Periyannan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL, United States
| | - Timothy G. Russell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL, United States
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41
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Fast Amide Bond Cleavage Assisted by a Secondary Amino and a Carboxyl Group-A Model for yet Unknown Peptidases? Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24030572. [PMID: 30764512 PMCID: PMC6384577 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24030572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Unconstrained amides that undergo fast hydrolysis under mild conditions are valuable sources of information about how amide bonds may be activated in enzymatic transformations. We report a compound possessing an unconstrained amide bond surrounded by an amino and a carboxyl group, each mounted in close proximity on a bicyclic scaffold. Fast amide hydrolysis of this model compound was found to depend on the presence of both the amino and carboxyl functions, and to involve a proton transfer in the rate-limiting step. Possible mechanisms for the hydrolytic cleavage and their relevance to peptide bond cleavage catalyzed by natural enzymes are discussed. Experimental observations suggest that the most probable mechanisms of the model compound hydrolysis might include a twisted amide intermediate and a rate-determining proton transfer.
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42
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Reduction of non-specific toxicity of immunotoxin by intein mediated reconstitution on target cells. Int Immunopharmacol 2019; 66:288-295. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2018.11.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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43
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Böcker JK, Dörner W, Mootz HD. Rational design of an improved photo-activatable intein for the production of head-to-tail cyclized peptides. Biol Chem 2018; 400:417-427. [DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2018-0367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Head-to-tail cyclization of genetically encoded peptides and proteins can be achieved with the split intein circular ligation of peptides and proteins (SICLOPPS) method by inserting the desired polypeptide between the C- and N-terminal fragments of a split intein. To prevent the intramolecular protein splicing reaction from spontaneously occurring upon folding of the intein domain, we have previously rendered this process light-dependent in a photo-controllable variant of the M86 intein, using genetically encoded ortho-nitrobenzyltyrosine at a structurally important position. Here, we report improvements on this photo-intein with regard to expression yields and rate of cyclic peptide formation. The temporally defined photo-activation of the purified stable intein precursor enabled a kinetic analysis that identified the final resolution of the branched intermediate as the rate-determining individual reaction of the three steps catalyzed by the intein. With this knowledge, we prepared an R143H mutant with a block F histidine residue. This histidine is conserved in most inteins and helps catalyze the third step of succinimide formation. The engineered intein formed the cyclic peptide product up to 3-fold faster within the first 15 min after irradiation, underlining the potential of protein splicing pathway engineering. The broader utility of the intein was also shown by formation of the 14-mer sunflower trypsin inhibitor 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana K. Böcker
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Institute of Biochemistry , University of Münster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , D-48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Wolfgang Dörner
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Institute of Biochemistry , University of Münster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , D-48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Henning D. Mootz
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Institute of Biochemistry , University of Münster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , D-48149 Münster , Germany
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44
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Pearson CS, Nemati R, Liu B, Zhang J, Scalabrin M, Li Z, Li H, Fabris D, Belfort M, Belfort G. Structure of an engineered intein reveals thiazoline ring and provides mechanistic insight. Biotechnol Bioeng 2018; 116:709-721. [PMID: 30450538 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We have engineered an intein which spontaneously and reversibly forms a thiazoline ring at the native N-terminal Lys-Cys splice junction. We identified conditions to stablize the thiazoline ring and provided the first crystallographic evidence, at 1.54 Å resolution, for its existence at an intein active site. The finding bolsters evidence for a tetrahedral oxythiazolidine splicing intermediate. In addition, the pivotal mutation maps to a highly conserved B-block threonine, which is now seen to play a causative role not only in ground-state destabilization of the scissile N-terminal peptide bond, but also in steering the tetrahedral intermediate toward thioester formation, giving new insight into the splicing mechanism. We demonstrated the stability of the thiazoline ring at neutral pH as well as sensitivity to hydrolytic ring opening under acidic conditions. A pH cycling strategy to control N-terminal cleavage is proposed, which may be of interest for biotechnological applications requiring a splicing activity switch, such as for protein recovery in bioprocessing.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Seth Pearson
- Howard P Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
| | - Reza Nemati
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York, Albany, New York
| | - Binbin Liu
- Laboratory of Computational & Structural Biology, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
| | - Jing Zhang
- Laboratory of Computational & Structural Biology, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
| | - Matteo Scalabrin
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York, Albany, New York
| | - Zhong Li
- Laboratory of Computational & Structural Biology, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
| | - Hongmin Li
- Laboratory of Computational & Structural Biology, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York
| | - Dan Fabris
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York, Albany, New York
| | - Marlene Belfort
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York.,Department of Biological Sciences, Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York
| | - Georges Belfort
- Howard P Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
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45
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Matern JCJ, Friedel K, Binschik J, Becher KS, Yilmaz Z, Mootz HD. Altered Coordination of Individual Catalytic Steps in Different and Evolved Inteins Reveals Kinetic Plasticity of the Protein Splicing Pathway. J Am Chem Soc 2018; 140:11267-11275. [PMID: 30111090 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b04794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Protein splicing performed by inteins provides powerful opportunities to manipulate protein structure and function, however, detailed mechanistic knowledge of the multistep pathway to help engineering optimized inteins remains scarce. A typical intein has to coordinate three steps to maximize the product yield of ligated exteins. We have revealed a new type of coordination in the Ssp DnaB intein, in which the initial N- S acyl shift appears rate-limiting and acts as an up-regulation switch to dramatically accelerate the last step of succinimide formation, which is thus coupled to the first step. The structure-activity relationship at the N-terminal scissile bond was studied with atomic precision using a semisynthetic split intein. We show that the removal of the extein acyl group from the α-amino moiety of the intein's first residue is strictly required and sufficient for the up-regulation switch. Even an acetyl group as the smallest possible extein moiety completely blocked the switch. Furthermore, we investigated the M86 intein, a mutant with faster splicing kinetics previously obtained by laboratory evolution of the Ssp DnaB intein, and the individual impact of its eight mutations. The succinimide formation was decoupled from the first step in the M86 intein, but the acquired H143R mutation acts as a brake to prevent premature C-terminal cleavage and thereby maximizes splicing yields. Together, these results revealed a high degree of plasticity in the kinetic coordination of the splicing pathway. Furthermore, our study led to the rational design of improved M86 mutants with the highest yielding trans-splicing and fastest trans-cleavage activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian C J Matern
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Kristina Friedel
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Jens Binschik
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Kira-Sophie Becher
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Zahide Yilmaz
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Henning D Mootz
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Muenster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 , 48149 Münster , Germany
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46
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Mo Q, Li Y, Wang J, Shi G. Identification of mutations restricting autocatalytic activation of bacterial L-aspartate α-decarboxylase. Amino Acids 2018; 50:1433-1440. [PMID: 30073608 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-018-2620-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial L-aspartate α-decarboxylase (PanD) specifically catalyzes the decarboxylation of L-aspartic acid to β-alanine. It is translated as an inactive pro-protein, then processed by self-cleavage to form two small subunits with catalytic activity. There is a significant difference in the efficiency of this process among the reported PanDs, while the structural basis remains unclear. More PanDs with known sequences and characterized properties are needed to shed light on the molecular basis of the self-cleavage process. In this study, PanD genes from 33 selected origins were synthesized and expressed; using purified recombinant enzymes, their self-processing properties were characterized and classified. Three classes of PanDs were acquired based on their self-cleavage efficiency. Combined with the phylogenetic analysis and structure comparison, sited-directed mutagenesis was performed to investigate the effects of four mutants on self-processing. In comparison with the wild-type (96.4%), the self-cleavage efficiencies of mutants V23E, I26C, T27A, and E56S were decreased to 90.5, 83.6, 74.4 and 81.2%, respectively. The results indicated that residues of V23, I26, T27 and E56 were critical to the self-cleavage processing of PanDs. This work provided further understanding to the self-cleavage processing of PanDs, which may contribute to protein engineering of the enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Mo
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.,School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Youran Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.,School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Junhua Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.,School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guiyang Shi
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China. .,School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.
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47
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Pande S, Bizilj W, Guo HC. Biochemical and structural insights into an allelic variant causing the lysosomal storage disorder - aspartylglucosaminuria. FEBS Lett 2018; 592:2550-2561. [PMID: 29993127 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by defects of the hydrolase glycosylasparaginase (GA). Previously, we showed that a Canadian AGU mutation disrupts an obligatory intramolecular autoprocessing with the enzyme trapped as an inactive precursor. Here, we report biochemical and structural characterizations of a model enzyme corresponding to a Finnish AGU allele, the T234I variant. Unlike the Canadian counterpart, the Finnish variant is capable of a slow autoprocessing to generate detectible hydrolyzation activity of the natural substrate of GA. We have determined a 1.6 Å-resolution structure of the Finnish AGU model and built an enzyme-substrate complex to provide a structural basis for analyzing the negative effects of the point mutation on KM and kcat of the mature enzyme. ENZYME Glycosylasparaginase or aspartylglucosaminidase, EC3.5.1.26.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suchita Pande
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA, USA
| | - William Bizilj
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Hwai-Chen Guo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA, USA
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48
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Xu Y, Zhang L, Ma B, Hu L, Lu H, Dou T, Chen J, Zhu J. Intermolecular disulfide bonds between unpaired cysteines retard the C-terminal trans-cleavage of Npu DnaE. Enzyme Microb Technol 2018; 118:6-12. [PMID: 30143201 DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2018.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Npu DnaE is a naturally occurred split intein possessing robust trans-splicing activity and could be engineered to perform rapid C-terminal cleavage module by a single mutation D118G. Unfortunately, however, for this modified selfcleaving module, reducing agents were needed to trigger the rapid cleavage, which prevents the utilization in purification of disulfide bonds containing recombinant proteins. In this study, we demonstrated that the unpaired cysteine residues in Npu DnaE tend to form disulfide bonds, and contributed to the reduction of the cleavage under non-reducing conditions. This redox trap can be disrupted by site-directed mutation of these unpaired cysteines. The results further indicated that the position 28 and 59 may play certain roles in the correct folding of the active conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanran Xu
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Buyong Ma
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Lifu Hu
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Huili Lu
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Tonglu Dou
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Junsheng Chen
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Jianwei Zhu
- Engineering Research Center of Cell and Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Jecho Laboratories, Inc., Frederick, MD, USA.
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49
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Gordo V, Aparicio D, Pérez-Luque R, Benito A, Vilanova M, Usón I, Fita I, Ribó M. Structural Insights into Subunits Assembly and the Oxyester Splicing Mechanism of Neq pol Split Intein. Cell Chem Biol 2018; 25:871-879.e2. [PMID: 29754955 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2018.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Split inteins are expressed as two separated subunits (N-intein and C-intein) fused to the corresponding exteins. The specific association of both intein subunits precedes protein splicing, which results in excision of the intein subunits and in ligation, by a peptide bond, of the concomitant exteins. Catalytically active intein precursors are typically too reactive for crystallization or even isolation. Neq pol is the trans-intein of the B-type DNA polymerase I split gene from hyperthermophile Nanoarchaeum equitans. We have determined the crystal structures of both the isolated NeqN and the complex of NeqN and NeqC subunits carrying the wild-type sequences, including the essential catalytic residues Ser1 and Thr+1, in addition to seven and three residues of the N- and C-exteins, respectively. These structures provide detailed information on the unique oxyester chemistry of the splicing mechanism of Neq pol and of the extensive rearrangements that occur in NeqN during the association step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Gordo
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria de Proteïnes, Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, C/ Maria Aurèlia Capmany 40, 17003 Girona, Spain; IdIBGi Hospital Universitari Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain
| | - David Aparicio
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC), Parc Cientific de Barcelona, Baldiri i Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosa Pérez-Luque
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC), Parc Cientific de Barcelona, Baldiri i Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni Benito
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria de Proteïnes, Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, C/ Maria Aurèlia Capmany 40, 17003 Girona, Spain; IdIBGi Hospital Universitari Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain
| | - Maria Vilanova
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria de Proteïnes, Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, C/ Maria Aurèlia Capmany 40, 17003 Girona, Spain; IdIBGi Hospital Universitari Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain
| | - Isabel Usón
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC), Parc Cientific de Barcelona, Baldiri i Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; ICREA Lluís Companys 23, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Fita
- Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC), Parc Cientific de Barcelona, Baldiri i Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marc Ribó
- Laboratori d'Enginyeria de Proteïnes, Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, C/ Maria Aurèlia Capmany 40, 17003 Girona, Spain; IdIBGi Hospital Universitari Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain.
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50
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Pavankumar TL. Inteins: Localized Distribution, Gene Regulation, and Protein Engineering for Biological Applications. Microorganisms 2018; 6:E19. [PMID: 29495613 PMCID: PMC5874633 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms6010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 02/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Inteins are self-splicing polypeptides with an ability to excise themselves from flanking host protein regions with remarkable precision; in the process, they ligate flanked host protein fragments. Inteins are distributed sporadically across all three domains of life (bacteria, archaea, and unicellular eukaryotes). However, their apparent localized distribution in DNA replication, repair, and recombination proteins (the 3Rs), particularly in bacteria and archaea, is enigmatic. Our understanding of the localized distribution of inteins in the 3Rs, and their possible regulatory role in such distribution, is still only partial. Nevertheless, understanding the chemistry of post-translational self-splicing of inteins has opened up opportunities for protein chemists to modify, manipulate, and bioengineer proteins. Protein-splicing technology is adapted to a wide range of applications, starting with untagged protein purification, site-specific protein labeling, protein biotinylation, isotope incorporation, peptide cyclization, as an antimicrobial target, and so on. This review is focused on the chemistry of splicing; the localized distribution of inteins, particularly in the 3Rs and their possible role in regulating host protein function; and finally, the use of protein-splicing technology in various protein engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theetha L Pavankumar
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Briggs Hall, One Shields Ave, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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