1
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Zhang L, Tan L, Liu M, Chen Y, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Zhao G. Quantitative measurement of cell-surface displayed proteins based on split-GFP assembly. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:108. [PMID: 38609965 PMCID: PMC11015686 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02386-1] [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: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microbial cell surface display technology allows immobilizing proteins on the cell surface by fusing them to anchoring motifs, thereby endowing the cells with diverse functionalities. However, the assessment of successful protein display and the quantification of displayed proteins remain challenging. The green fluorescent protein (GFP) can be split into two non-fluorescent fragments, while they spontaneously assemble and emit fluorescence when brought together through complementation. Based on split-GFP assembly, we aim to: (1) confirm the success display of passenger proteins, (2) quantify the number of passenger proteins displayed on individual cells. RESULTS In this study, we propose two innovative methods based on split-green fluorescent protein (split-GFP), named GFP1-10/GFP11 and GFP1-9/GFP10-11 assembly, for the purpose of confirming successful display and quantifying the number of proteins displayed on individual cells. We evaluated the display efficiency of SUMO and ubiquitin using different anchor proteins to demonstrate the feasibility of the two split-GFP assembly systems. To measure the display efficiency of functional proteins, laccase expression was measured using the split-GFP assembly system by co-displaying GFP11 or GFP10-11 tags, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides two split-GFP based methods that enable qualitative and quantitative analyses of individual cell display efficiency with a simple workflow, thus facilitating further comprehensive investigations into microbial cell surface display technology. Both split-GFP assembly systems offer a one-step procedure with minimal cost, simplifying the fluorescence analysis of surface-displaying cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhang
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410083, PR China
| | - Ling Tan
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Meizi Liu
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Yunhong Chen
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Yu Yang
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410083, PR China.
| | - Yanfei Zhang
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China.
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China.
| | - Guoping Zhao
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
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2
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Gercke D, Lenz F, Jose J. Split-GFP complementation at the bacterial cell surface for antibody-free labeling and quantification of heterologous protein display. Enzyme Microb Technol 2024; 174:110391. [PMID: 38176324 DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2023.110391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The split-GFP system is a versatile tool with numerous applications, but it has been underutilized for the labeling of heterologous surface-displayed proteins. By inserting the 16 amino acid sequence of the GFP11-tag between a protein of interest and an autotransporter protein, it is possible to present a protein at the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria and to fluorescently label it by complementation with externally added GFP1-10. The labeled cells could be clearly discerned from cells without the protein of interest using flow cytometry and the insertion of the GFP11-tag caused no significant alteration of the catalytic activity for the tested model enzyme CsBglA. Furthermore, the amount of the protein of interest on the cells could be quantified by comparing the green fluorescence resulting from the complementation to that of standards with known concentrations. This allows a precise characterization of whole-cell biocatalysts, which is difficult with existing methods. The split-GFP complementation approach was shown to be specific, in a similar manner as commercial antibodies. It is cost-efficient, minimizes the possibility of adverse effects on protein expression or solubility, and can be performed at high throughput.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Gercke
- Universität Münster, Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, PharmaCampus, Corrensstrasse 48, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Florian Lenz
- Universität Münster, Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, PharmaCampus, Corrensstrasse 48, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Joachim Jose
- Universität Münster, Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, PharmaCampus, Corrensstrasse 48, 48149 Münster, Germany.
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3
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Velappan N, Ferrara F, D’Angelo S, Close D, Naranjo L, Bolding MR, Mozden SC, Troup CB, McCullough DK, Gomez A, Kedge M, Bradbury ARM. Direct selection of functional fluorescent-protein antibody fusions by yeast display. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280930. [PMID: 36827414 PMCID: PMC9956592 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibodies are important reagents for research, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Many examples of chimeric proteins combining the specific target recognition of antibodies with complementing functionalities such as fluorescence, toxicity or enzymatic activity have been described. However, antibodies selected solely on the basis of their binding specificities are not necessarily ideal candidates for the construction of chimeras. Here, we describe a high throughput method based on yeast display to directly select antibodies most suitable for conversion to fluorescent chimera. A library of scFv binders was converted to a fluorescent chimeric form, by cloning thermal green protein into the linker between VH and VL, and directly selecting for both binding and fluorescent functionality. This allowed us to directly identify antibodies functional in the single chain TGP format, that manifest higher protein expression, easier protein purification, and one-step binding assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nileena Velappan
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States of America
| | | | - Sara D’Angelo
- Specifica Inc., Santa Fe, NM, United States of America
| | - Devin Close
- Arup Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America
| | | | - Madeline R. Bolding
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States of America
| | - Sarah C. Mozden
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States of America
| | | | - Donna K. McCullough
- Microbiology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States of America
| | - Analyssa Gomez
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States of America
| | - Marijo Kedge
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States of America
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4
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Chen YL, Xie XX, Zhong N, Sun LC, Lin D, Zhang LJ, Weng L, Jin T, Cao MJ. Research Progresses and Applications of Fluorescent Protein Antibodies: A Review Focusing on Nanobodies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:4307. [PMID: 36901737 PMCID: PMC10002328 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of fluorescent proteins (FPs), their rich fluorescence spectra and photochemical properties have promoted widespread biological research applications. FPs can be classified into green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its derivates, red fluorescent protein (RFP) and its derivates, and near-infrared FPs. With the continuous development of FPs, antibodies targeting FPs have emerged. The antibody, a class of immunoglobulin, is the main component of humoral immunity that explicitly recognizes and binds antigens. Monoclonal antibody, originating from a single B cell, has been widely applied in immunoassay, in vitro diagnostics, and drug development. The nanobody is a new type of antibody entirely composed of the variable domain of a heavy-chain antibody. Compared with conventional antibodies, these small and stable nanobodies can be expressed and functional in living cells. In addition, they can easily access grooves, seams, or hidden antigenic epitopes on the surface of the target. This review provides an overview of various FPs, the research progress of their antibodies, particularly nanobodies, and advanced applications of nanobodies targeting FPs. This review will be helpful for further research on nanobodies targeting FPs, making FPs more valuable in biological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Lei Chen
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Xin-Xin Xie
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Ning Zhong
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Le-Chang Sun
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Duanquan Lin
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Ling-Jing Zhang
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Ling Weng
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Tengchuan Jin
- Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230007, China
| | - Min-Jie Cao
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
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5
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Bali K, Mohamed Z, Scheeder A, Pappa AM, Daniel S, Kaminski CF, Owens RM, Mela I. Nanoscale Features of Tunable Bacterial Outer Membrane Models Revealed by Correlative Microscopy. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:8773-8782. [PMID: 35748045 PMCID: PMC9330759 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The rise of antibiotic resistance is a growing worldwide human health issue, with major socioeconomic implications. An understanding of the interactions occurring at the bacterial membrane is crucial for the generation of new antibiotics. Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) made from reconstituted lipid vesicles have been used to mimic these membranes, but their utility has been restricted by the simplistic nature of these systems. A breakthrough in the field has come with the use of outer membrane vesicles derived from Gram-negative bacteria to form SLBs, thus providing a more physiologically relevant system. These complex bilayer systems hold promise but have not yet been fully characterized in terms of their composition, ratio of natural to synthetic components, and membrane protein content. Here, we use correlative atomic force microscopy (AFM) with structured illumination microscopy (SIM) for the accurate mapping of complex lipid bilayers that consist of a synthetic fraction and a fraction of lipids derived from Escherichia coli outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). We exploit the high resolution and molecular specificity that SIM can offer to identify areas of interest in these bilayers and the enhanced resolution that AFM provides to create detailed topography maps of the bilayers. We are thus able to understand the way in which the two different lipid fractions (natural and synthetic) mix within the bilayers, and we can quantify the amount of bacterial membrane incorporated into the bilayer. We prove the system's tunability by generating bilayers made using OMVs engineered to contain a green fluorescent protein (GFP) binding nanobody fused with the porin OmpA. We are able to directly visualize protein-protein interactions between GFP and the nanobody complex. Our work sets the foundation for accurately understanding the composition and properties of OMV-derived SLBs to generate a high-resolution platform for investigating bacterial membrane interactions for the development of next-generation antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karan Bali
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, U.K.
| | - Zeinab Mohamed
- School
of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Anna Scheeder
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, U.K.
| | - Anna-Maria Pappa
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Khalifa University
of Science and Technology, Abu
Dhabi 127788, United Arab
Emirates
| | - Susan Daniel
- School
of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
- School
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Clemens F. Kaminski
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, U.K.
| | - Róisín M. Owens
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, U.K.
| | - Ioanna Mela
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, U.K.
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6
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Meltzer M, Eliash N, Azoulay Z, Hadad U, Papo N. In vitro inhibition of cancer angiogenesis and migration by a nanobody that targets the orphan receptor Tie1. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:312. [PMID: 35604495 PMCID: PMC11072481 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04336-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The human signaling molecules Tie1 and Tie2 receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) play important pathophysiological roles in many diseases, including different cancers. The activity of Tie1 is mediated mainly through the downstream angiopoietin-1 (Ang1)-dependent activation of Tie2, rendering both Tie 1 and the Tie1/Tie2/Ang1 axis attractive putative targets for therapeutic intervention. However, the development of inhibitors that target Tie1 and an understanding of their effect on Tie2 and on the Tie1/Tie2/Ang1 axis remain unfulfilled tasks, due, largely, to the facts that Tie1 is an orphan receptor and is difficult to produce and use in the quantities required for immune antibody library screens. In a search for a selective inhibitor of this orphan receptor, we sought to exploit the advantages (e.g., small size that allows binding to hidden epitopes) of non-immune nanobodies and to simultaneously overcome their limitations (i.e., low expression and stability). We thus performed expression, stability, and affinity screens of yeast-surface-displayed naïve and predesigned synthetic (non-immune) nanobody libraries against the Tie1 extracellular domain. The screens yielded a nanobody with high expression and good affinity and specificity for Tie1, thereby yielding preferential binding for Tie1 over Tie2. The stability, selectivity, potency, and therapeutic potential of this synthetic nanobody were profiled using in vitro and cell-based assays. The nanobody triggered Tie1-dependent inhibition of RTK (Tie2, Akt, and Fak) phosphorylation and angiogenesis in endothelial cells, as well as suppression of human glioblastoma cell viability and migration. This study opens the way to developing nanobodies as therapeutics for different cancers associated with Tie1 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- May Meltzer
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 1 Ben-Gurion Avenue, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Noam Eliash
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 1 Ben-Gurion Avenue, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ziv Azoulay
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 1 Ben-Gurion Avenue, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Uzi Hadad
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Niv Papo
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 1 Ben-Gurion Avenue, 8410501, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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7
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Heyde SAH, Arnling Bååth J, Westh P, Nørholm MHH, Jensen K. Surface display as a functional screening platform for detecting enzymes active on PET. Microb Cell Fact 2021; 20:93. [PMID: 33933097 PMCID: PMC8088578 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-021-01582-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is the world’s most abundant polyester plastic, and its ongoing accumulation in nature is causing a global environmental problem. Currently, the main recycling processes utilize thermomechanical or chemical means, resulting in the deterioration of the mechanical properties of PET. Consequently, polluting de novo synthesis remains preferred, creating the need for more efficient and bio-sustainable ways to hydrolyze the polymer. Recently, a PETase enzyme from the bacterium Ideonella sakaiensis was shown to facilitate PET biodegradation, albeit at slow rate. Engineering of more efficient PETases is required for industrial relevance, but progress is currently hampered by the dependency on intracellular expression in Escherichia coli. To create a more efficient screening platform in E. coli, we explore different surface display anchors for fast and easy assaying of PETase activity. We show that PETases can be functionally displayed on the bacterial cell surface, enabling screening of enzyme activity on PET microparticles – both while anchored to the cell and following solubilization of the enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia A H Heyde
- Novozymes A/S, Biologiens Vej 2, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.,Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jenny Arnling Bååth
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter Westh
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Morten H H Nørholm
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kenneth Jensen
- Novozymes A/S, Biologiens Vej 2, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
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8
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Hernández-Rollán C, Falkenberg KB, Rennig M, Bertelsen AB, Ipsen JØ, Brander S, Daley DO, Johansen KS, Nørholm MHH. LyGo: A Platform for Rapid Screening of Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenase Production. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:897-906. [PMID: 33797234 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Environmentally friendly sources of energy and chemicals are essential constituents of a sustainable society. An important step toward this goal is the utilization of biomass to supply building blocks for future biorefineries. Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are enzymes that play a critical role in breaking the chemical bonds in the most abundant polymers found in recalcitrant biomass, such as cellulose and chitin. To use them in industrial processes they need to be produced in high titers in cell factories. Predicting optimal strategies for producing LPMOs is often nontrivial, and methods allowing for screening several strategies simultaneously are therefore needed. Here, we present a standardized platform for cloning LPMOs. The platform allows users to combine gene fragments with 14 different expression vectors in a simple 15 min reaction, thus enabling rapid exploration of several gene contexts, hosts, and expression strategies in parallel. The open-source LyGo platform is accompanied by easy-to-follow online protocols for both cloning and expression. As a demonstration of its utility, we explore different strategies for expressing several different LPMOs in Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Komagataella phaffii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Hernández-Rollán
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Kristoffer B. Falkenberg
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Maja Rennig
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
- Mycropt ApS, Kongens Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Andreas B. Bertelsen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Johan Ø. Ipsen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, 1871, Denmark
| | - Søren Brander
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, 1958, Denmark
| | - Daniel O. Daley
- Mycropt ApS, Kongens Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
- Center for Biomembrane Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 10691, Sweden
| | - Katja S. Johansen
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, 1958, Denmark
| | - Morten H. H. Nørholm
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
- Mycropt ApS, Kongens Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
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9
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Cheloha RW, Harmand TJ, Wijne C, Schwartz TU, Ploegh HL. Exploring cellular biochemistry with nanobodies. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:15307-15327. [PMID: 32868455 PMCID: PMC7650250 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.012960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Reagents that bind tightly and specifically to biomolecules of interest remain essential in the exploration of biology and in their ultimate application to medicine. Besides ligands for receptors of known specificity, agents commonly used for this purpose are monoclonal antibodies derived from mice, rabbits, and other animals. However, such antibodies can be expensive to produce, challenging to engineer, and are not necessarily stable in the context of the cellular cytoplasm, a reducing environment. Heavy chain-only antibodies, discovered in camelids, have been truncated to yield single-domain antibody fragments (VHHs or nanobodies) that overcome many of these shortcomings. Whereas they are known as crystallization chaperones for membrane proteins or as simple alternatives to conventional antibodies, nanobodies have been applied in settings where the use of standard antibodies or their derivatives would be impractical or impossible. We review recent examples in which the unique properties of nanobodies have been combined with complementary methods, such as chemical functionalization, to provide tools with unique and useful properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross W Cheloha
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thibault J Harmand
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Charlotte Wijne
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas U Schwartz
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hidde L Ploegh
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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10
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de Beer MA, Giepmans BNG. Nanobody-Based Probes for Subcellular Protein Identification and Visualization. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:573278. [PMID: 33240044 PMCID: PMC7667270 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.573278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how building blocks of life contribute to physiology is greatly aided by protein identification and cellular localization. The two main labeling approaches developed over the past decades are labeling with antibodies such as immunoglobulin G (IgGs) or use of genetically encoded tags such as fluorescent proteins. However, IgGs are large proteins (150 kDa), which limits penetration depth and uncertainty of target position caused by up to ∼25 nm distance of the label created by the chosen targeting approach. Additionally, IgGs cannot be easily recombinantly modulated and engineered as part of fusion proteins because they consist of multiple independent translated chains. In the last decade single domain antigen binding proteins are being explored in bioscience as a tool in revealing molecular identity and localization to overcome limitations by IgGs. These nanobodies have several potential benefits over routine applications. Because of their small size (15 kDa), nanobodies better penetrate during labeling procedures and improve resolution. Moreover, nanobodies cDNA can easily be fused with other cDNA. Multidomain proteins can thus be easily engineered consisting of domains for targeting (nanobodies) and visualization by fluorescence microscopy (fluorescent proteins) or electron microscopy (based on certain enzymes). Additional modules for e.g., purification are also easily added. These nanobody-based probes can be applied in cells for live-cell endogenous protein detection or may be purified prior to use on molecules, cells or tissues. Here, we present the current state of nanobody-based probes and their implementation in microscopy, including pitfalls and potential future opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marit A de Beer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Ben N G Giepmans
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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11
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Csibra E, Renders M, Pinheiro VB. Bacterial Cell Display as a Robust and Versatile Platform for Engineering Low-Affinity Ligands and Enzymes. Chembiochem 2020; 21:2844-2853. [PMID: 32413179 PMCID: PMC7586821 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Directed evolution has been remarkably successful at expanding the chemical and functional boundaries of biology. That progress is heavily dependent on the robustness and flexibility of the available selection platforms, given the significant cost to (re)develop a given platform to target a new desired function. Bacterial cell display has a significant track record as a viable strategy for the engineering of mesophilic enzymes, as enzyme activity can be probed directly and free from interference from the cellular milieu, but its adoption has lagged behind other display-based methods. Herein, we report the development of SNAP as a quantitative reporter for bacterial cell display, which enables fast troubleshooting and the systematic development of the display-based selection platform, thus improving its robustness. In addition, we demonstrate that even weak interactions between displayed proteins and nucleic acids can be harnessed for the specific labelling of bacterial cells, allowing functional characterisation of DNA binding proteins and enzymes, thus making it a highly flexible platform for these biochemical functions. Together, this establishes bacterial display as a robust and flexible platform, ideally suited for the systematic engineering of ligands and enzymes needed for XNA molecular biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eszter Csibra
- University College LondonDepartment of Structural and Molecular BiologyGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTUK
- Current address: Imperial College LondonExhibition RoadLondonSW7 2AZUK
| | - Marleen Renders
- Rega Institute for Medical ResearchKU LeuvenHerestraat, 49 box 10413000LeuvenBelgium
- Current address: Touchlight Genetics Ltd. Morelands & Riverdale BuildingsLower Sunbury RoadHamptonTW12 2ERUK
| | - Vitor B. Pinheiro
- University College LondonDepartment of Structural and Molecular BiologyGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTUK
- Rega Institute for Medical ResearchKU LeuvenHerestraat, 49 box 10413000LeuvenBelgium
- Institute of Structural and Molecular BiologyBirkbeck CollegeUniversity of LondonMalet StreetLondonWC1E 7HXUK
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Torres-Bañaga R, Mares-Alejandre RE, Terán-Ramírez C, Estrada-González AL, Muñoz-Muñoz PLA, Meléndez-López SG, Rivero IA, Ramos-Ibarra MA. Functional Display of an Amoebic Chitinase in Escherichia coli Expressing the Catalytic Domain of EhCHT1 on the Bacterial Cell Surface. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2020; 192:1255-1269. [PMID: 32715415 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-020-03389-5] [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: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Poor solubility is the main drawback of the direct industrial exploitation of chitin, the second most abundant biopolymer after cellulose. Chemical methods are conventional to solubilize chitin from natural sources. Enzymatic hydrolysis of soluble chitinous substrates is a promising approach to obtain value-added by-products, such as N-acetylglucosamine units or low molecular weight chito-oligomers. Protein display on the bacterial membrane remains attractive to produce active enzymes anchored to a biological surface. The Lpp-OmpA system, a gene fusion of the Lpp signal sequence with the OmpA transmembrane region, represents the traditional system for targeting enzymes to the E. coli surface. EhCHT1, the amoebic chitinase, exhibits an efficient endochitinolytic activity and significant biochemical features, such as stability over a wide range of pH values. Using an extended Lpp-OmpA system as a protein carrier, we engineered E. coli to express the catalytic domain of EhCHT1 on the surface and assess the endochitinase activity as a trait. Engineered bacteria showed a consistent hydrolytic rate over a typical substrate, suggesting that the displayed enzyme has operational stability. This study supports the potential of biomembrane-associated biocatalysts as a reliable technology for the hydrolysis of soluble chitinous substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Torres-Bañaga
- Grupo de Investigación en Biotecnología y Biociencias, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Calzada Universidad 14418, 22390, Tijuana, BCN, Mexico
| | - Rosa E Mares-Alejandre
- Grupo de Investigación en Biotecnología y Biociencias, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Calzada Universidad 14418, 22390, Tijuana, BCN, Mexico
| | - Celina Terán-Ramírez
- Grupo de Investigación en Biotecnología y Biociencias, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Calzada Universidad 14418, 22390, Tijuana, BCN, Mexico
| | - Ana L Estrada-González
- Grupo de Investigación en Biotecnología y Biociencias, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Calzada Universidad 14418, 22390, Tijuana, BCN, Mexico
| | - Patricia L A Muñoz-Muñoz
- Grupo de Investigación en Biotecnología y Biociencias, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Calzada Universidad 14418, 22390, Tijuana, BCN, Mexico
| | - Samuel G Meléndez-López
- Grupo de Investigación en Biotecnología y Biociencias, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Calzada Universidad 14418, 22390, Tijuana, BCN, Mexico
| | - Ignacio A Rivero
- Centro de Graduados e Investigación en Química, Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana, Boulevard Industrial S/N, 22510, Tijuana, BCN, Mexico
| | - Marco A Ramos-Ibarra
- Grupo de Investigación en Biotecnología y Biociencias, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Calzada Universidad 14418, 22390, Tijuana, BCN, Mexico.
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Uchański T, Zögg T, Yin J, Yuan D, Wohlkönig A, Fischer B, Rosenbaum DM, Kobilka BK, Pardon E, Steyaert J. An improved yeast surface display platform for the screening of nanobody immune libraries. Sci Rep 2019; 9:382. [PMID: 30674983 PMCID: PMC6344588 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37212-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusions to the C-terminal end of the Aga2p mating adhesion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been used in many studies for the selection of affinity reagents by yeast display followed by flow cytometric analysis. Here we present an improved yeast display system for the screening of Nanobody immune libraries where we fused the Nanobody to the N-terminal end of Aga2p to avoid steric hindrance between the fused Nanobody and the antigen. Moreover, the display level of a cloned Nanobody on the surface of an individual yeast cell can be monitored through a covalent fluorophore that is attached in a single enzymatic step to an orthogonal acyl carrier protein (ACP). Additionally, the displayed Nanobody can be easily released from the yeast surface and immobilised on solid surfaces for rapid analysis. To prove the generic nature of this novel Nanobody discovery platform, we conveniently selected Nanobodies against three different antigens, including two membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Uchański
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Thomas Zögg
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jie Yin
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, 75390, USA
| | - Daopeng Yuan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Alexandre Wohlkönig
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Baptiste Fischer
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Daniel M Rosenbaum
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, 75390, USA
| | - Brian K Kobilka
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, 94305, USA
| | - Els Pardon
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jan Steyaert
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium.
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Veugelen S, Dewilde M, De Strooper B, Chávez-Gutiérrez L. Screening and Characterization Strategies for Nanobodies Targeting Membrane Proteins. Methods Enzymol 2016; 584:59-97. [PMID: 28065273 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2016.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The study of membrane protein function and structure requires their successful detection, expression, solubilization, and/or reconstitution, which poses a challenging task and relies on the availability of suitable tools. Several research groups have successfully applied Nanobodies in the purification, as well as the functional and structural characterization of membrane proteins. Nanobodies are small, single-chain antibody fragments originating from camelids presenting on average a longer CDR3 which enables them to bind in cavities and clefts (such as active and allosteric sites). Notably, Nanobodies generally bind conformational epitopes making them very interesting tools to stabilize, dissect, and characterize specific protein conformations. In the clinic, several Nanobodies are under evaluation either as potential drug candidates or as diagnostic tools. In recent years, we have successfully generated high-affinity, conformation-sensitive anti-γ-secretase Nanobodies. γ-Secretase is a multimeric membrane protease involved in processing of the amyloid precursor protein with high clinical relevance as mutations in its catalytic subunit (Presenilin) cause early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Advancing our knowledge on the mechanisms governing γ-secretase intramembrane proteolysis through various strategies may lead to novel therapeutic avenues for Alzheimer's disease. In this chapter, we present the strategies we have developed and applied for the screening and characterization of anti-γ-secretase Nanobodies. These protocols could be of help in the generation of Nanobodies targeting other membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Veugelen
- University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for Brain and Disease, Leuven, Belgium
| | - M Dewilde
- University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for Brain and Disease, Leuven, Belgium
| | - B De Strooper
- University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for Brain and Disease, Leuven, Belgium; UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - L Chávez-Gutiérrez
- University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for Brain and Disease, Leuven, Belgium.
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