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Röcker A, Roan NR, Yadav JK, Fändrich M, Münch J. Structure, function and antagonism of semen amyloids. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018; 54:7557-7569. [PMID: 29873340 DOI: 10.1039/c8cc01491d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are linear polypeptide aggregates with a cross-β structure. These fibrils are best known for their association with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, but they may also be used by living organisms as functional units, e.g. in the synthesis of melanin or in the formation of bacterial biofilms. About a decade ago, in a search for semen factors that modulate infection by HIV-1 (a sexually transmitted virus and the causative agent of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)), it was demonstrated that semen harbors amyloid fibrils capable of markedly increasing HIV infection rates. This discovery not only created novel opportunities to prevent sexual HIV-1 transmission but also stimulated research to unravel the natural role of these factors. We discuss here the identification of these intriguing structures, their molecular properties, and their effects on both sexually transmitted diseases and reproductive health. Moreover, we review strategies to antagonize semen amyloid to prevent sexual transmission of viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Röcker
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
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Liu H, Ren C, Zhu B, Wang L, Liu W, Shi J, Lin J, Xia X, Zeng F, Chen J, Jiang X. High-Efficient Transfection of Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Single-Cell Plating and Starvation. Stem Cells Dev 2016; 25:477-91. [PMID: 26772602 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2015.0301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, the low efficiency of small interfering RNA (siRNA) or plasmid DNA (pDNA) transfection is a critical issue in genetic manipulation of human embryonic stem (hES) cells. Development of an efficient transfection method for delivery of siRNAs and plasmids into hES cells becomes more and more imperative. In this study, we tried to modify the traditional transfection protocol by introducing two crucial processes, single-cell plating and starvation, to increase the transfection efficiency in hES cells. Furthermore, we comparatively examined the transfection efficiency of some commercially available siRNA or pDNA transfection reagents in hES cells. Our results showed that the new developed method markedly enhanced the transfection efficiency without influencing the proliferation and pluripotency of hES cells. Lipofectamine RNAiMAX exhibited much higher siRNA transfection efficiency than the other reagents, and FuGENE HD was identified as the best suitable reagent for efficient pDNA transfection of hES cells among the tested reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Liu
- 1 Key Laboratory for Carcinogenesis of Chinese Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University , Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Caiping Ren
- 1 Key Laboratory for Carcinogenesis of Chinese Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University , Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Zhu
- 1 Key Laboratory for Carcinogenesis of Chinese Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University , Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Wang
- 1 Key Laboratory for Carcinogenesis of Chinese Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University , Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Weidong Liu
- 1 Key Laboratory for Carcinogenesis of Chinese Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University , Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Shi
- 1 Key Laboratory for Carcinogenesis of Chinese Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University , Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianxing Lin
- 1 Key Laboratory for Carcinogenesis of Chinese Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University , Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaomeng Xia
- 2 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Zeng
- 3 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiawen Chen
- 1 Key Laboratory for Carcinogenesis of Chinese Ministry of Health, Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University , Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingjun Jiang
- 4 Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha, People's Republic of China
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Meier C, Weil T, Kirchhoff F, Münch J. Peptide nanofibrils as enhancers of retroviral gene transfer. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2014; 6:438-51. [PMID: 24865496 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2014] [Revised: 04/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are polypeptide-based polymers that are typically associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. More recently, it has become clear that amyloid fibrils also fulfill functional roles in hormone storage and biosynthesis. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that semen contains abundant levels of polycationic amyloid fibrils. The natural role of these seminal amyloids remains elusive. Strikingly, however, they drastically enhance HIV-1 infection and may be exploited by the virus to increase its sexual transmission rate. Their strong activity in enhancing HIV-1 infection suggests that seminal amyloid might also promote transduction by retroviral vectors. Indeed, SEVI (semen-derived enhancer of virus infection), the best characterized seminal amyloid, boosts retroviral gene transfer more efficiently than conventional additives. However, the use of SEVI as laboratory tool for efficient retroviral gene transfer is limited because the polypeptide monomers are relatively expensive to produce. Furthermore, standardized production of SEVI fibrils with similar high activities is difficult to achieve because of the stochastic nature of the amyloid assembly process. These obstacles can be overcome by recently identified smaller peptides that spontaneously self-assemble into nanofibrils. These nanofibrils increase retroviral gene transfer even more efficiently than SEVI, are easy to produce and to handle, and seem to be safe as assessed in an ex vivo gene transfer study. Furthermore, peptide-based nanofibrils allow to concentrate viral particles by low-speed centrifugation. Specific adaption and customization of self-assembling peptides might lead to novel nanofibrils with versatile biological functions, e.g., targeted retroviral gene transfer or drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Meier
- Department of Organic Chemistry III, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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Schwanke K, Merkert S, Kempf H, Hartung S, Jara-Avaca M, Templin C, Göhring G, Haverich A, Martin U, Zweigerdt R. Fast and efficient multitransgenic modification of human pluripotent stem cells. Hum Gene Ther Methods 2014; 25:136-53. [PMID: 24483184 DOI: 10.1089/hgtb.2012.248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) represent a prime cell source for pharmacological research and regenerative therapies because of their extensive expansion potential and their ability to differentiate into essentially all somatic lineages in vitro. Improved methods to stably introduce multiple transgenes into hPSCs will promote, for example, their preclinical testing by facilitating lineage differentiation and purification in vitro and the subsequent in vivo monitoring of respective progenies after their transplantation into relevant animal models. To date, the establishment of stable transgenic hPSC lines is still laborious and time-consuming. Current limitations include the low transfection efficiency of hPSCs via nonviral methods, the inefficient recovery of genetically engineered clones, and the silencing of transgene expression. Here we describe a fast, electroporation-based method for the generation of multitransgenic hPSC lines by overcoming the need for any preadaptation of conventional hPSC cultures to feeder-free conditions before genetic manipulation. We further show that the selection for a single antibiotic resistance marker encoded on one plasmid allowed for the stable genomic (co-)integration of up to two additional, independent expression plasmids. The method thereby enables the straightforward, nonviral generation of valuable multitransgenic hPSC lines in a single step. Practical applicability of the method is demonstrated for antibiotic-based lineage enrichment in vitro and for sodium iodide symporter transgene-based in situ cell imaging after intramyocardial cell infusion into explanted pig hearts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Schwanke
- 1 Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO) , Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation, and Vascular Surgery, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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Zhang L, Jiang C, Zhang H, Gong X, Yang L, Miao L, Shi Y, Zhang Y, Kong W, Zhang C, Shan Y. A novel modified peptide derived from membrane-proximal external region of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope significantly enhances retrovirus infection. J Pept Sci 2013; 20:46-54. [PMID: 24254845 DOI: 10.1002/psc.2587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2013] [Revised: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Efficient gene transfer is a critical goal in retroviral transduction. Several peptides capable of forming amyloid fibrils, such as the 39-residue semen-derived infection-enhancing peptide (SEVI), have demonstrated the ability to boost retroviral gene delivery. Here, a 13-residue peptide P13 (Ac-(671) NWFDITNWLWYIK(683)) derived from the membrane-proximal external region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp41 transmembrane protein, together with its 16-residue peptide derivative (P16) were found to enhance HIV-1 infection significantly. Both peptides, P13 and P16, could form amyloid fibril structures to potently enhance HIV-1 infectivity. Further investigations showed that both aromatic Trp residues and cationic Lys residues contributed to the enhancement of HIV-1 infection by these two active peptides. P16 could more effectively augment HIV-1 YU-2 infection than SEVI, implying its potential applications as a tool in the lab to improve gene transfer rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lishuang Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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Segura MM, Mangion M, Gaillet B, Garnier A. New developments in lentiviral vector design, production and purification. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2013; 13:987-1011. [PMID: 23590247 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2013.779249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Lentiviruses are a very potent class of viral vectors for which there is presently a rapidly growing interest for a number of gene therapy. However, their construction, production and purification need to be performed according to state-of-the-art techniques in order to obtain sufficient quantities of high purity material of any usefulness and safety. AREAS COVERED The recent advances in the field of recombinant lentivirus vector design, production and purification will be reviewed with an eye toward its utilization for gene therapy. Such a review should be helpful for the potential user of this technology. EXPERT OPINION The principal hurdles toward the use of recombinant lentivirus as a gene therapy vector are the low titer at which it is produced as well as the difficulty to purify it at an acceptable level without degrading it. The recent advances in the bioproduction of this vector suggest these issues are about to be resolved, making the retrovirus gene therapy a mature technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Mercedes Segura
- Chemical Engineering Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès (08193), Barcelona, Spain
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Yolamanova M, Meier C, Shaytan AK, Vas V, Bertoncini CW, Arnold F, Zirafi O, Usmani SM, Müller JA, Sauter D, Goffinet C, Palesch D, Walther P, Roan NR, Geiger H, Lunov O, Simmet T, Bohne J, Schrezenmeier H, Schwarz K, Ständker L, Forssmann WG, Salvatella X, Khalatur PG, Khokhlov AR, Knowles TPJ, Weil T, Kirchhoff F, Münch J. Peptide nanofibrils boost retroviral gene transfer and provide a rapid means for concentrating viruses. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2013; 8:130-6. [PMID: 23334171 DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2012.248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Inefficient gene transfer and low virion concentrations are common limitations of retroviral transduction. We and others have previously shown that peptides derived from human semen form amyloid fibrils that boost retroviral gene delivery by promoting virion attachment to the target cells. However, application of these natural fibril-forming peptides is limited by moderate efficiencies, the high costs of peptide synthesis, and variability in fibril size and formation kinetics. Here, we report the development of nanofibrils that self-assemble in aqueous solution from a 12-residue peptide, termed enhancing factor C (EF-C). These artificial nanofibrils enhance retroviral gene transfer substantially more efficiently than semen-derived fibrils or other transduction enhancers. Moreover, EF-C nanofibrils allow the concentration of retroviral vectors by conventional low-speed centrifugation, and are safe and effective, as assessed in an ex vivo gene transfer study. Our results show that EF-C fibrils comprise a highly versatile, convenient and broadly applicable nanomaterial that holds the potential to significantly facilitate retroviral gene transfer in basic research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maral Yolamanova
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 89081 Ulm, Germany
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