Biotinylated non-ionic amphipols for GPCR ligands screening

We present herein the synthesis of biotin-functionalized polymers (BNAPols) that have been developed for the fixation of membrane proteins (MPs) onto surfaces. BNAPols were synthesized by free-radical polymerization of a tris(hydroxymethyl)acrylamidomethane (THAM)-derived amphiphilic monomer in the presence of a thiol-based transfer agent with an azido group. Then a Huisgen-cycloaddition reaction was performed with Biotin-(PEG)₈-alkyne that resulted in formation of the biotinylated polymers. The designed structure of BNAPols was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy, and a HABA/avidin assay was used for estimating the percentage of biotin grafted on the polymer end chain. The colloidal characterization of these biotin-functionalized polymers was done using both dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques. BNAPols were used to stabilize a model G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), the human Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor (GHSR), out of its membrane environment. Subsequent immobilization of the BNAPols:GHSR complex onto a streptavidin-coated surface allowed screening of ligands based on their ability to bind the immobilized receptor. This opens the way to the use of biotinylated NAPols to immobilize functional, unmodified, membrane proteins, providing original sensor devices for multiple applications including innovative ligand screening assays.

Non-ionic amphiphilic homopolymers: synthesis, solution properties, and biochemical validation

A novel type of nonionic amphipols for handling membrane proteins in detergent-free aqueous solutions has been obtained through free-radical homo-telomerization of an acrylamide-based monomer comprising a C(11) alkyl chain and two glucose moieties, using a thiol as transfer reagent. By controlling the thiol/monomer ratio, the number-average molecular weight of the polymers was varied from 8 to 63 kDa. Homopolymeric nonionic amphipols were found to be highly soluble in water and to self-organize, within a large concentration range, into small, compact particles of ~6 nm diameter with a narrow size distribution, regardless of the molecular weight of the polymer. They proved able to trap and stabilize two test membrane proteins, bacteriorhodopsin from Halobium salinarum and the outer membrane protein X of Escherichia coli, under the form of small and well-defined complexes, whose size, composition, and shape were studied by aqueous size-exclusion chromatography, analytical ultracentrifugation, and small-angle neutron scattering. As shown in a companion paper, nonionic amphipols can be used for membrane protein folding, cell-free synthesis, and solution NMR studies (Bazzacco et al. 2012, Biochemistry, DOI: 10.1021/bi201862v).

Synthesis of tris-hydroxymethyl-based nitrone derivatives with highly reactive nitronyl carbon

A novel series of α-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone derivatives, bearing a hydrophobic chain on the aromatic ring and three hydroxyl functions on the tert-butyl group, was synthesized through a short and convenient synthetic route based on a one-pot reduction/condensation of tris(hydroxymethyl)nitromethane with a benzaldehyde derivative. Because of the presence of hydroxyl functions on the tert-butyl group, an intramolecular Forrester-Hepburn reaction leading to the formation of an oxazolidine-N-oxyl compound was observed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The mechanism of cyclization was further studied by computational methods showing that intramolecular hydrogen bonding and high positive charge on the nitronyl carbon could facilitate the nucleophilic addition of a hydroxyl group onto the nitronyl carbon. At high nitrone concentrations, a second paramagnetic species, very likely formed by intermolecular nucleophilic addition of two nitrone molecules, was also observed but to a lesser extent. In addition, theoretical data confirmed that the intramolecular reaction is much more favored than the intermolecular one. These nitrones were also found to efficiently trap carbon-centered radicals, but complex spectra were observed due to the presence of oxazolidine-N-oxyl derivatives.