1
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Koch NG, Budisa N. Evolution of Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase: From Methanogenesis to Genetic Code Expansion. Chem Rev 2024. [PMID: 38953775 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Over 20 years ago, the pyrrolysine encoding translation system was discovered in specific archaea. Our Review provides an overview of how the once obscure pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) tRNA pair, originally responsible for accurately translating enzymes crucial in methanogenic metabolic pathways, laid the foundation for the burgeoning field of genetic code expansion. Our primary focus is the discussion of how to successfully engineer the PylRS to recognize new substrates and exhibit higher in vivo activity. We have compiled a comprehensive list of ncAAs incorporable with the PylRS system. Additionally, we also summarize recent successful applications of the PylRS system in creating innovative therapeutic solutions, such as new antibody-drug conjugates, advancements in vaccine modalities, and the potential production of new antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaj G Koch
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Biocatalysis Group, Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
- Chemical Synthetic Biology Chair, Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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2
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Schiefelbein K, Lang J, Schuster M, Grigglestone CE, Striga R, Bigler L, Schuman MC, Zerbe O, Li Y, Hartrampf N. Merging Flow Synthesis and Enzymatic Maturation to Expand the Chemical Space of Lasso Peptides. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:17261-17269. [PMID: 38759637 PMCID: PMC11212047 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c03898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Many peptidic natural products, such as lasso peptides, cyclic peptides, and cyclotides, are conformationally constrained and show biological stability, making them attractive scaffolds for drug development. Although many peptides can be synthesized and modified through chemical methods, knot-like lasso peptides such as microcin J25 (MccJ25) and their analogues remain elusive. As the chemical space of MccJ25 analogues accessible through purely biological methods is also limited, we proposed a hybrid approach: flow-based chemical synthesis of non-natural precursor peptides, followed by in vitro transformation with recombinant maturation enzymes, to yield a more diverse array of lasso peptides. Herein, we established the rapid, flow-based synthesis of chemically modified MccJ25 precursor peptides (57 amino acids). Heterologous expression of enzymes McjB and McjC was extensively optimized to improve yields and facilitate the synthesis of multiple analogues of MccJ25, including the incorporation of non-canonical tyrosine and histidine derivatives into the lasso scaffold. Finally, using our chemoenzymatic strategy, we produced a biologically active analogue containing three d-amino acids in the loop region and incorporated backbone N-methylations. Our method provides rapid access to chemically modified lasso peptides that could be used to investigate structure-activity relationships, epitope grafting, and the improvement of therapeutic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Schiefelbein
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jakob Lang
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department
of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Schuster
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Claire E. Grigglestone
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Robin Striga
- Laboratory
Molecules of Communication and Adaptation of Microorganisms (MCAM).
UMR7245, CNRS-Muséum National d’Histoire
Naturelle (MNHN), Alliance Sorbonne Université, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Laurent Bigler
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Meredith C. Schuman
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department
of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Zerbe
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yanyan Li
- Laboratory
Molecules of Communication and Adaptation of Microorganisms (MCAM).
UMR7245, CNRS-Muséum National d’Histoire
Naturelle (MNHN), Alliance Sorbonne Université, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Nina Hartrampf
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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3
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Enninful GN, Kuppusamy R, Tiburu EK, Kumar N, Willcox MDP. Non-canonical amino acid bioincorporation into antimicrobial peptides and its challenges. J Pept Sci 2024; 30:e3560. [PMID: 38262069 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3560] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
The rise of antimicrobial resistance and multi-drug resistant pathogens has necessitated explorations for novel antibiotic agents as the discovery of conventional antibiotics is becoming economically less viable and technically more challenging for biopharma. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a promising alternative because of their particular mode of action, broad spectrum and difficulty that microbes have in becoming resistant to them. The AMPs bacitracin, gramicidin, polymyxins and daptomycin are currently used clinically. However, their susceptibility to proteolytic degradation, toxicity profile, and complexities in large-scale manufacture have hindered their development. To improve their proteolytic stability, methods such as integrating non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) into their peptide sequence have been adopted, which also improves their potency and spectrum of action. The benefits of ncAA incorporation have been made possible by solid-phase peptide synthesis. However, this method is not always suitable for commercial production of AMPs because of poor yield, scale-up difficulties, and its non-'green' nature. Bioincorporation of ncAA as a method of integration is an emerging field geared towards tackling the challenges of solid-phase synthesis as a green, cheaper, and scalable alternative for commercialisation of AMPs. This review focusses on the bioincorporation of ncAAs; some challenges associated with the methods are outlined, and notes are given on how to overcome these challenges. The review focusses particularly on addressing two key challenges: AMP cytotoxicity towards microbial cell factories and the uptake of ncAAs that are unfavourable to them. Overcoming these challenges will draw us closer to a greater yield and an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach to make AMPs more druggable.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rajesh Kuppusamy
- University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Naresh Kumar
- University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark D P Willcox
- University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
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4
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Neale Q, Prefontaine A, Battellino T, Mizero B, Yeung D, Spicer V, Budisa N, Perreault H, Zahedi RP, Krokhin OV. Compendium of Chromatographic Behavior of Post-translationally and Chemically Modified Peptides in Bottom-Up Proteomic Experiments. Anal Chem 2023; 95:14634-14642. [PMID: 37739932 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
We have systematically evaluated the chromatographic behavior of post-translationally/chemically modified peptides using data spanning over 70 of the most relevant modifications. These retention properties were measured for standard bottom-up proteomic settings (fully porous C18 separation media, 0.1% formic acid as ion-pairing modifier) using collections of modified/nonmodified peptide pairs. These pairs were generated by spontaneous degradation, chemical or enzymatic treatment, analysis of synthetic peptides, or the cotranslational incorporation of noncanonical proline analogues. In addition, these measurements were validated using external data acquired for synthetic peptides and enzymatically induced citrullination. Working in units of hydrophobicity index (HI, % ACN) and evaluating the average retention shifts (ΔHI) represent the simplest approach to describe the effect of modifications from a didactic point of view. Plotting HI values for modified (y-axis) vs nonmodified (x-axis) counterparts generates unique slope and intercept values for each modification defined by the chemistry of the modifying moiety: its hydrophobicity, size, pKa of ionizable groups, and position of the altered residue. These composition-dependent correlations can be used for coarse incorporation of PTMs into models for prediction of peptide retention. More accurate predictions would require the development of specific sequence-dependent algorithms to predict ΔHI values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quinn Neale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, 360 Parker Building, Winnipeg R3T 2N2, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Alexandre Prefontaine
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, 360 Parker Building, Winnipeg R3T 2N2, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Taylor Battellino
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, 360 Parker Building, Winnipeg R3T 2N2, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Benilde Mizero
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, 360 Parker Building, Winnipeg R3T 2N2, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Darien Yeung
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, 336 Basic Medical Sciences Building, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg R3E 0J9, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Victor Spicer
- Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology, University of Manitoba, 799 JBRC, 715 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg R3E 3P4, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, 360 Parker Building, Winnipeg R3T 2N2, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Helene Perreault
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, 360 Parker Building, Winnipeg R3T 2N2, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Rene P Zahedi
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, 336 Basic Medical Sciences Building, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg R3E 0J9, Manitoba, Canada
- Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology, University of Manitoba, 799 JBRC, 715 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg R3E 3P4, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, 799 JBRC, 715 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg R3E 3P4, Manitoba, Canada
- CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg R3E 0 V9, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Oleg V Krokhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, 336 Basic Medical Sciences Building, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg R3E 0J9, Manitoba, Canada
- Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology, University of Manitoba, 799 JBRC, 715 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg R3E 3P4, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, 799 JBRC, 715 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg R3E 3P4, Manitoba, Canada
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5
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Chen L, Xin X, Zhang Y, Li S, Zhao X, Li S, Xu Z. Advances in Biosynthesis of Non-Canonical Amino Acids (ncAAs) and the Methods of ncAAs Incorporation into Proteins. Molecules 2023; 28:6745. [PMID: 37764520 PMCID: PMC10534643 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28186745] [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: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The functional pool of canonical amino acids (cAAs) has been enriched through the emergence of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs). NcAAs play a crucial role in the production of various pharmaceuticals. The biosynthesis of ncAAs has emerged as an alternative to traditional chemical synthesis due to its environmental friendliness and high efficiency. The breakthrough genetic code expansion (GCE) technique developed in recent years has allowed the incorporation of ncAAs into target proteins, giving them special functions and biological activities. The biosynthesis of ncAAs and their incorporation into target proteins within a single microbe has become an enticing application of such molecules. Based on that, in this study, we first review the biosynthesis methods for ncAAs and analyze the difficulties related to biosynthesis. We then summarize the GCE methods and analyze their advantages and disadvantages. Further, we review the application progress of ncAAs and anticipate the challenges and future development directions of ncAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Chen
- College of Bioengineering, Beijing Polytechnic, Beijing 100176, China; (X.X.); (Y.Z.); (S.L.); (X.Z.); (S.L.); (Z.X.)
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6
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Goettig P, Koch NG, Budisa N. Non-Canonical Amino Acids in Analyses of Protease Structure and Function. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14035. [PMID: 37762340 PMCID: PMC10531186 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
All known organisms encode 20 canonical amino acids by base triplets in the genetic code. The cellular translational machinery produces proteins consisting mainly of these amino acids. Several hundred natural amino acids serve important functions in metabolism, as scaffold molecules, and in signal transduction. New side chains are generated mainly by post-translational modifications, while others have altered backbones, such as the β- or γ-amino acids, or they undergo stereochemical inversion, e.g., in the case of D-amino acids. In addition, the number of non-canonical amino acids has further increased by chemical syntheses. Since many of these non-canonical amino acids confer resistance to proteolytic degradation, they are potential protease inhibitors and tools for specificity profiling studies in substrate optimization and enzyme inhibition. Other applications include in vitro and in vivo studies of enzyme kinetics, molecular interactions and bioimaging, to name a few. Amino acids with bio-orthogonal labels are particularly attractive, enabling various cross-link and click reactions for structure-functional studies. Here, we cover the latest developments in protease research with non-canonical amino acids, which opens up a great potential, e.g., for novel prodrugs activated by proteases or for other pharmaceutical compounds, some of which have already reached the clinical trial stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Goettig
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Paracelsus Medical University, Strubergasse 21, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Nikolaj G. Koch
- Biocatalysis Group, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany;
- Bioanalytics Group, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Bioanalytics Group, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany;
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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7
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Incorporation of Non-Canonical Amino Acids into Antimicrobial Peptides: Advances, Challenges, and Perspectives. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0161722. [PMID: 36416555 PMCID: PMC9746297 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01617-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a global health concern and calls for the development of novel antibiotic agents. Antimicrobial peptides seem to be promising candidates due to their diverse sources, mechanisms of action, and physicochemical characteristics, as well as the relatively low emergence of resistance. The incorporation of noncanonical amino acids into antimicrobial peptides could effectively improve their physicochemical and pharmacological diversity. Recently, various antimicrobial peptides variants with improved or novel properties have been produced by the incorporation of single and multiple distinct noncanonical amino acids. In this review, we summarize strategies for the incorporation of noncanonical amino acids into antimicrobial peptides, as well as their features and suitabilities. Recent applications of noncanonical amino acid incorporation into antimicrobial peptides are also presented. Finally, we discuss the related challenges and prospects.
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8
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Koch NG, Baumann T, Nickling JH, Dziegielewski A, Budisa N. Engineered bacterial host for genetic encoding of physiologically stable protein nitration. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:992748. [PMID: 36353730 PMCID: PMC9638147 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.992748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Across scales, many biological phenomena, such as protein folding or bioadhesion and cohesion, rely on synergistic effects of different amino acid side chains at multiple positions in the protein sequence. These are often fine-tuned by post-translational modifications that introduce additional chemical properties. Several PTMs can now be genetically encoded and precisely installed at single and multiple sites by genetic code expansion. Protein nitration is a PTM of particular interest because it has been associated with several diseases. However, even when these nitro groups are directly incorporated into proteins, they are often physiologically reduced during or shortly after protein production. We have solved this problem by using an engineered Escherichia coli host strain. Six genes that are associated with nitroreductase activity were removed from the genome in a simple and robust manner. The result is a bacterial expression host that can stably produce proteins and peptides containing nitro groups, especially when these are amenable to modification. To demonstrate the applicability of this strain, we used this host for several applications. One of these was the multisite incorporation of a photocaged 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine derivative into Elastin-Like Polypeptides. For this non-canonical amino acid and several other photocaged ncAAs, the nitro group is critical for photocleavability. Accordingly, our approach also enhances the production of biomolecules containing photocaged tyrosine in the form of ortho-nitrobenzyl-tyrosine. We envision our engineered host as an efficient tool for the production of custom designed proteins, peptides or biomaterials for various applications ranging from research in cell biology to large-scale production in biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaj G. Koch
- Bioanalytics Group, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Biocatalysis Group, Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Baumann
- Biocatalysis Group, Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jessica H. Nickling
- Biocatalysis Group, Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Dziegielewski
- Biocatalysis Group, Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Biocatalysis Group, Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Chemical Synthetic Biology Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- *Correspondence: Nediljko Budisa,
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9
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Tseng HW, Moldenhauer M, Friedrich T, Maksimov EG, Budisa N. Probing the spectral signatures of orange carotenoid protein by orthogonal translation with aromatic non-canonical amino acids. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 607:96-102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.03.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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10
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Lee YCJ, Shirkey JD, Park J, Bisht K, Cowan AJ. An Overview of Antiviral Peptides and Rational Biodesign Considerations. BIODESIGN RESEARCH 2022; 2022:9898241. [PMID: 37850133 PMCID: PMC10521750 DOI: 10.34133/2022/9898241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral diseases have contributed significantly to worldwide morbidity and mortality throughout history. Despite the existence of therapeutic treatments for many viral infections, antiviral resistance and the threat posed by novel viruses highlight the need for an increased number of effective therapeutics. In addition to small molecule drugs and biologics, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent an emerging class of potential antiviral therapeutics. While AMPs have traditionally been regarded in the context of their antibacterial activities, many AMPs are now known to be antiviral. These antiviral peptides (AVPs) have been shown to target and perturb viral membrane envelopes and inhibit various stages of the viral life cycle, from preattachment inhibition through viral release from infected host cells. Rational design of AMPs has also proven effective in identifying highly active and specific peptides and can aid in the discovery of lead peptides with high therapeutic selectivity. In this review, we highlight AVPs with strong antiviral activity largely curated from a publicly available AMP database. We then compile the sequences present in our AVP database to generate structural predictions of generic AVP motifs. Finally, we cover the rational design approaches available for AVPs taking into account approaches currently used for the rational design of AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Chiang J. Lee
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - Jaden D. Shirkey
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - Jongbeom Park
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - Karishma Bisht
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - Alexis J. Cowan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
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11
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Holden JK, Pavlovicz R, Gobbi A, Song Y, Cunningham CN. Computational Site Saturation Mutagenesis of Canonical and Non-Canonical Amino Acids to Probe Protein-Peptide Interactions. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:848689. [PMID: 35495632 PMCID: PMC9047896 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.848689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Technologies for discovering peptides as potential therapeutics have rapidly advanced in recent years with significant interest from both academic and pharmaceutical labs. These advancements in turn drive the need for new computational tools to design peptides for purposes of advancing lead molecules into the clinic. Here we report the development and application of a new automated tool, AutoRotLib, for parameterizing a diverse set of non-canonical amino acids (NCAAs), N-methyl, or peptoid residues for use with the computational design program Rosetta. In addition, we developed a protocol for designing thioether-cyclized macrocycles within Rosetta, due to their common application in mRNA display using the RaPID platform. To evaluate the utility of these new computational tools, we screened a library of canonical and NCAAs on both a linear peptide and a thioether macrocycle, allowing us to quickly identify mutations that affect peptide binding and subsequently measure our results against previously published data. We anticipate in silico screening of peptides against a diverse chemical space will be a fundamental component for peptide design and optimization, as more amino acids can be explored in a single in silico screen than an in vitro screen. As such, these tools will enable maturation of peptide affinity for protein targets of interest and optimization of peptide pharmacokinetics for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey K. Holden
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - Alberto Gobbi
- Department of Discovery Chemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Yifan Song
- Cyrus Biotechnology, Seattle, WA, United States
- *Correspondence: Christian N. Cunningham, ; Yifan Song,
| | - Christian N. Cunningham
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Christian N. Cunningham, ; Yifan Song,
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12
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Yin X, Zeng Y, Chen J, Liu L, Gao Z. Combined active pocket and hinge region engineering to develop an NADPH-dependent phenylglycine dehydrogenase. Bioorg Chem 2022; 120:105601. [PMID: 35033816 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.105601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
NADPH-dependent amino acid dehydrogenases (AADHs) are favorable enzymes to construct artificial biosynthetic pathways in whole-cell for high-value noncanonical amino acids (NcAAs) production. Glutamate dehydrogenases (GluDHs) represent attractive candidates for the development of novel NADPH-dependent AADHs. Here, we report the development of a novel NADPH-dependent phenylglycine dehydrogenase by combining active pocket engineering and hinge region engineering of a GluDH from Pseudomonas putida (PpGluDH). The active pocket of PpGluDH was firstly tailored to optimize its binding mode with bulky substrate α-oxobenzeneacetic acid (α-OA), and then, the hinge region was further engineered to tune the protein conformational dynamics, which finally resulted in a mutant M3 (T196A/T121I/L123D) with a 103-fold increase of catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) toward α-OA. The M3 mutant exhibited high catalytic performance in both in vitro biocatalysis preparation and in vivo biosynthesis of l-phenylglycine, indicating its promising practical applications. Our results demonstrated that co-engineering of the active pocket and hinge region is an effective strategy for developing novel NADPH-dependent AADHs from GluDHs for NcAAs production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjian Yin
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519080, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519080, China
| | - Yujing Zeng
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519080, China
| | - Jun Chen
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519080, China
| | - Lan Liu
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519080, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519080, China
| | - Zhizeng Gao
- School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519080, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519080, China.
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13
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McAvoy AC, Garg N. Molecular networking-based strategies in mass spectrometry coupled with in silico dereplication of peptidic natural products and gene cluster analysis. Methods Enzymol 2022; 663:273-302. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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14
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Natural and Synthetic Halogenated Amino Acids-Structural and Bioactive Features in Antimicrobial Peptides and Peptidomimetics. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26237401. [PMID: 34885985 PMCID: PMC8659048 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26237401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The 3D structure and surface characteristics of proteins and peptides are crucial for interactions with receptors or ligands and can be modified to some extent to modulate their biological roles and pharmacological activities. The introduction of halogen atoms on the side-chains of amino acids is a powerful tool for effecting this type of tuning, influencing both the physico-chemical and structural properties of the modified polypeptides, helping to first dissect and then rationally modify features that affect their mode of action. This review provides examples of the influence of different types of halogenation in amino acids that replace native residues in proteins and peptides. Examples of synthetic strategies for obtaining halogenated amino acids are also provided, focusing on some representative compounds and their biological effects. The role of halogenation in native and designed antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and their mimetics is then discussed. These are in the spotlight for the development of new antimicrobial drugs to counter the rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. AMPs represent an interesting model to study the role that natural halogenation has on their mode of action and also to understand how artificially halogenated residues can be used to rationally modify and optimize AMPs for pharmaceutical purposes.
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15
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Ho JML, Miller CA, Smith KA, Mattia JR, Bennett MR. Improved pyrrolysine biosynthesis through phage assisted non-continuous directed evolution of the complete pathway. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3914. [PMID: 34168131 PMCID: PMC8225853 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24183-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyrrolysine (Pyl, O) exists in nature as the 22nd proteinogenic amino acid. Despite being a fundamental building block of proteins, studies of Pyl have been hindered by the difficulty and inefficiency of both its chemical and biological syntheses. Here, we improve Pyl biosynthesis via rational engineering and directed evolution of the entire biosynthetic pathway. To accommodate toxicity of Pyl biosynthetic genes in Escherichia coli, we also develop Alternating Phage Assisted Non-Continuous Evolution (Alt-PANCE) that alternates mutagenic and selective phage growths. The evolved pathway provides 32-fold improved yield of Pyl-containing reporter protein compared to the rationally engineered ancestor. Evolved PylB mutants are present at up to 4.5-fold elevated levels inside cells, and show up to 2.2-fold increased protease resistance. This study demonstrates that Alt-PANCE provides a general approach for evolving proteins exhibiting toxic side effects, and further provides an improved pathway capable of producing substantially greater quantities of Pyl-proteins in E. coli. Pyrrolysine (Pyl) exists in nature as the 22nd proteinogenic amino acid, but studies of Pyl have been hindered by the difficulty and inefficiency of both its chemical and biological syntheses. Here, the authors developed an improved PANCE approach to evolve the pylBCD pathway for increased production of Pyl proteins in E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne M L Ho
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Corwin A Miller
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathryn A Smith
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jacob R Mattia
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Matthew R Bennett
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA. .,Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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16
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Liu D, Rubin GM, Dhakal D, Chen M, Ding Y. Biocatalytic synthesis of peptidic natural products and related analogues. iScience 2021; 24:102512. [PMID: 34041453 PMCID: PMC8141463 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptidic natural products (PNPs) represent a rich source of lead compounds for the discovery and development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of a variety of diseases. However, the chemical synthesis of PNPs with diverse modifications for drug research is often faced with significant challenges, including the unavailability of constituent nonproteinogenic amino acids, inefficient cyclization protocols, and poor compatibility with other functional groups. Advances in the understanding of PNP biosynthesis and biocatalysis provide a promising, sustainable alternative for the synthesis of these compounds and their analogues. Here we discuss current progress in using native and engineered biosynthetic enzymes for the production of both ribosomally and nonribosomally synthesized peptides. In addition, we highlight new in vitro and in vivo approaches for the generation and screening of PNP libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dake Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Garret M. Rubin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Dipesh Dhakal
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Manyun Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Yousong Ding
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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17
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Lei M, Jayaraman A, Van Deventer JA, Lee K. Engineering Selectively Targeting Antimicrobial Peptides. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2021; 23:339-357. [PMID: 33852346 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-010220-095711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacterial pathogens has necessitated the development of new therapeutics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of compounds with potentially attractive therapeutic properties, including the ability to target specific groups of bacteria. In nature, AMPs exhibit remarkable structural and functional diversity, which may be further enhanced through genetic engineering, high-throughput screening, and chemical modification strategies. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying AMP selectivity and highlight recent computational and experimental efforts to design selectively targeting AMPs. While there has been an extensive effort to find broadly active and highly potent AMPs, it remains challenging to design targeting peptides to discriminate between different bacteria on the basis of physicochemical properties. We also review approaches for measuring AMP activity, point out the challenges faced in assaying for selectivity, and discuss the potential for increasing AMP diversity through chemical modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Lei
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA; , ,
| | - Arul Jayaraman
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA; .,Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - James A Van Deventer
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA; , , .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Kyongbum Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA; , ,
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18
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Makhlynets OV, Caputo GA. Characteristics and therapeutic applications of antimicrobial peptides. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2021; 2:011301. [PMID: 38505398 PMCID: PMC10903410 DOI: 10.1063/5.0035731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The demand for novel antimicrobial compounds is rapidly growing due to the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. In response, numerous alternative approaches are being taken including use of polymers, metals, combinatorial approaches, and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). AMPs are a naturally occurring part of the immune system of all higher organisms and display remarkable broad-spectrum activity and high selectivity for bacterial cells over host cells. However, despite good activity and safety profiles, AMPs have struggled to find success in the clinic. In this review, we outline the fundamental properties of AMPs that make them effective antimicrobials and extend this into three main approaches being used to help AMPs become viable clinical options. These three approaches are the incorporation of non-natural amino acids into the AMP sequence to impart better pharmacological properties, the incorporation of AMPs in hydrogels, and the chemical modification of surfaces with AMPs for device applications. These approaches are being developed to enhance the biocompatibility, stability, and/or bioavailability of AMPs as clinical options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga V. Makhlynets
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, 111 College Place, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA
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19
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Torres MDT, Cao J, Franco OL, Lu TK, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Synthetic Biology and Computer-Based Frameworks for Antimicrobial Peptide Discovery. ACS NANO 2021; 15:2143-2164. [PMID: 33538585 PMCID: PMC8734659 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c09509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest challenges of our time. This global health problem originated from a paucity of truly effective antibiotic classes and an increased incidence of multi-drug-resistant bacterial isolates in hospitals worldwide. Indeed, it has been recently estimated that 10 million people will die annually from drug-resistant infections by the year 2050. Therefore, the need to develop out-of-the-box strategies to combat antibiotic resistance is urgent. The biological world has provided natural templates, called antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which exhibit multiple intrinsic medical properties including the targeting of bacteria. AMPs can be used as scaffolds and, via engineering, can be reconfigured for optimized potency and targetability toward drug-resistant pathogens. Here, we review the recent development of tools for the discovery, design, and production of AMPs and propose that the future of peptide drug discovery will involve the convergence of computational and synthetic biology principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo D T Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Jicong Cao
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Octavio L Franco
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF 70790160, Brazil
- S-inova Biotech, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS 79117010, Brazil
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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20
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Liu Y, Davis RG, Thomas PM, Kelleher NL, Jewett MC. In vitro-Constructed Ribosomes Enable Multi-site Incorporation of Noncanonical Amino Acids into Proteins. Biochemistry 2021; 60:161-169. [PMID: 33426883 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Efforts to expand the scope of ribosome-mediated polymerization to incorporate noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into peptides and proteins hold promise for creating new classes of enzymes, therapeutics, and materials. Recently, the integrated synthesis, assembly, and translation (iSAT) system was established to construct functional ribosomes in cell-free systems. However, the iSAT system has not been shown to be compatible with genetic code expansion. Here, to address this gap, we develop an iSAT platform capable of manufacturing pure proteins with site-specifically incorporated ncAAs. We first establish an iSAT platform based on extracts from genomically recoded Escherichia coli lacking release factor 1 (RF-1). This permits complete reassignment of the amber codon translation function. Next, we optimize orthogonal translation system components to demonstrate the benefits of genomic RF-1 deletion on incorporation of ncAAs into proteins. Using our optimized platform, we demonstrate high-level, multi-site incorporation of p-acetyl-phenylalanine (pAcF) and p-azido-phenylalanine into superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP). Mass spectrometry analysis confirms the high accuracy of incorporation for pAcF at one, two, and five amber sites in sfGFP. The iSAT system updated for ncAA incorporation sets the stage for investigating ribosomal mutations to better understand the fundamental basis of protein synthesis, manufacturing proteins with new properties, and engineering ribosomes for novel polymerization chemistries.
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21
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Schipp CJ, Ma Y, Al‐Shameri A, D'Alessio F, Neubauer P, Contestabile R, Budisa N, di Salvo ML. An Engineered Escherichia coli Strain with Synthetic Metabolism for in-Cell Production of Translationally Active Methionine Derivatives. Chembiochem 2020; 21:3525-3538. [PMID: 32734669 PMCID: PMC7756864 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
In the last decades, it has become clear that the canonical amino acid repertoire codified by the universal genetic code is not up to the needs of emerging biotechnologies. For this reason, extensive genetic code re-engineering is essential to expand the scope of ribosomal protein translation, leading to reprogrammed microbial cells equipped with an alternative biochemical alphabet to be exploited as potential factories for biotechnological purposes. The prerequisite for this to happen is a continuous intracellular supply of noncanonical amino acids through synthetic metabolism from simple and cheap precursors. We have engineered an Escherichia coli bacterial system that fulfills these requirements through reconfiguration of the methionine biosynthetic pathway and the introduction of an exogenous direct trans-sulfuration pathway. Our metabolic scheme operates in vivo, rescuing intermediates from core cell metabolism and combining them with small bio-orthogonal compounds. Our reprogrammed E. coli strain is capable of the in-cell production of l-azidohomoalanine, which is directly incorporated into proteins in response to methionine codons. We thereby constructed a prototype suitable for economic, versatile, green sustainable chemistry, pushing towards enzyme chemistry and biotechnology-based production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Johannes Schipp
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Institute of BiotechnologyTechnische Universität Berlin ACK 24Ackerstraße 7613355BerlinGermany
| | - Ying Ma
- Paraxel International GmbH, Berlin, Campus DRK Kliniken Berlin Westend Haus 18Spandauer Damm 13014050BerlinGermany
| | - Ammar Al‐Shameri
- Institut für ChemieTechnische Universität BerlinMüller-Breslau-Straße. 1010623BerlinGermany
| | - Federico D'Alessio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche “A. Rossi Fanelli”Sapienza Università di RomaPiazzale Aldo Moro, 5 – Edificio CU2000185RomaItaly
| | - Peter Neubauer
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Institute of BiotechnologyTechnische Universität Berlin ACK 24Ackerstraße 7613355BerlinGermany
| | - Roberto Contestabile
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche “A. Rossi Fanelli”Sapienza Università di RomaPiazzale Aldo Moro, 5 – Edificio CU2000185RomaItaly
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Institut für ChemieTechnische Universität BerlinMüller-Breslau-Straße. 1010623BerlinGermany
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of ManitobaWinnipegMB, R3T 2N2Canada
| | - Martino Luigi di Salvo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche “A. Rossi Fanelli”Sapienza Università di RomaPiazzale Aldo Moro, 5 – Edificio CU2000185RomaItaly
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22
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Tseng HW, Baumann T, Sun H, Wang YS, Ignatova Z, Budisa N. Expanding the Scope of Orthogonal Translation with Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetases Dedicated to Aromatic Amino Acids. Molecules 2020; 25:E4418. [PMID: 32992991 PMCID: PMC7582959 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25194418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In protein engineering and synthetic biology, Methanosarcina mazei pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (MmPylRS), with its cognate tRNAPyl, is one of the most popular tools for site-specific incorporation of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs). Numerous orthogonal pairs based on engineered MmPylRS variants have been developed during the last decade, enabling a substantial genetic code expansion, mainly with aliphatic pyrrolysine analogs. However, comparatively less progress has been made to expand the substrate range of MmPylRS towards aromatic amino acid residues. Therefore, we set to further expand the substrate scope of orthogonal translation by a semi-rational approach; redesigning the MmPylRS efficiency. Based on the randomization of residues from the binding pocket and tRNA binding domain, we identify three positions (V401, W417 and S193) crucial for ncAA specificity and enzyme activity. Their systematic mutagenesis enabled us to generate MmPylRS variants dedicated to tryptophan (such as β-(1-Azulenyl)-l-alanine or 1-methyl-l-tryptophan) and tyrosine (mainly halogenated) analogs. Moreover, our strategy also significantly improves the orthogonal translation efficiency with the previously activated analog 3-benzothienyl-l-alanine. Our study revealed the engineering of both first shell and distant residues to modify substrate specificity as an important strategy to further expand our ability to discover and recruit new ncAAs for orthogonal translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsueh-Wei Tseng
- Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße 10, 10623 Berlin, Germany; (H.-W.T.); (T.B.); (H.S.)
| | - Tobias Baumann
- Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße 10, 10623 Berlin, Germany; (H.-W.T.); (T.B.); (H.S.)
| | - Huan Sun
- Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße 10, 10623 Berlin, Germany; (H.-W.T.); (T.B.); (H.S.)
| | - Yane-Shih Wang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 116, Taiwan;
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei 116, Taiwan
| | - Zoya Ignatova
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße 10, 10623 Berlin, Germany; (H.-W.T.); (T.B.); (H.S.)
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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23
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Deng J, Viel JH, Chen J, Kuipers OP. Synthesis and Characterization of Heterodimers and Fluorescent Nisin Species by Incorporation of Methionine Analogues and Subsequent Click Chemistry. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:2525-2536. [PMID: 32786360 PMCID: PMC7507115 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Noncanonical
amino acids form a highly diverse pool of building
blocks that can render unique physicochemical properties to peptides
and proteins. Here, four methionine analogues with unsaturated and
varying side chain lengths were successfully incorporated at four
different positions in nisin in Lactococcus lactis through force feeding. This approach allows for residue-specific
incorporation of methionine analogues into nisin to expand their structural
diversity and alter their activity profiles. Moreover, the insertion
of methionine analogues with biorthogonal chemical reactivity, e.g.,
azidohomoalanine and homopropargylglycine, provides the opportunity
for chemical coupling to functional moieties and fluorescent probes
as well as for intermolecular coupling of nisin variants. All resulting
nisin conjugates retained antimicrobial activity, which substantiates
the potential of this method as a tool to further study its localization
and mode of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Deng
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jakob H. Viel
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jingqi Chen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar P. Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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24
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Martínez-Rodríguez S, Torres JM, Sánchez P, Ortega E. Overview on Multienzymatic Cascades for the Production of Non-canonical α-Amino Acids. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:887. [PMID: 32850740 PMCID: PMC7431475 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The 22 genetically encoded amino acids (AAs) present in proteins (the 20 standard AAs together with selenocysteine and pyrrolysine), are commonly referred as proteinogenic AAs in the literature due to their appearance in ribosome-synthetized polypeptides. Beyond the borders of this key set of compounds, the rest of AAs are generally named imprecisely as non-proteinogenic AAs, even when they can also appear in polypeptide chains as a result of post-transductional machinery. Besides their importance as metabolites in life, many of D-α- and L-α-"non-canonical" amino acids (NcAAs) are of interest in the biotechnological and biomedical fields. They have found numerous applications in the discovery of new medicines and antibiotics, drug synthesis, cosmetic, and nutritional compounds, or in the improvement of protein and peptide pharmaceuticals. In addition to the numerous studies dealing with the asymmetric synthesis of NcAAs, many different enzymatic pathways have been reported in the literature allowing for the biosynthesis of NcAAs. Due to the huge heterogeneity of this group of molecules, this review is devoted to provide an overview on different established multienzymatic cascades for the production of non-canonical D-α- and L-α-AAs, supplying neophyte and experienced professionals in this field with different illustrative examples in the literature. Whereas the discovery of new or newly designed enzymes is of great interest, dusting off previous enzymatic methodologies by a "back and to the future" strategy might accelerate the implementation of new or improved multienzymatic cascades.
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25
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Bakare OO, Fadaka AO, Klein A, Pretorius A. Dietary effects of antimicrobial peptides in therapeutics. ALL LIFE 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/26895293.2020.1726826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Olalekan Olanrewaju Bakare
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Adewale Oluwaseun Fadaka
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ashwil Klein
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ashley Pretorius
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
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26
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Shang Z, Chan SY, Song Q, Li P, Huang W. The Strategies of Pathogen-Oriented Therapy on Circumventing Antimicrobial Resistance. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2020; 2020:2016201. [PMID: 33083786 PMCID: PMC7539235 DOI: 10.34133/2020/2016201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The emerging antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses serious threats to the global public health. Conventional antibiotics have been eclipsed in combating with drug-resistant bacteria. Moreover, the developing and deploying of novel antimicrobial drugs have trudged, as few new antibiotics are being developed over time and even fewer of them can hit the market. Alternative therapeutic strategies to resolve the AMR crisis are urgently required. Pathogen-oriented therapy (POT) springs up as a promising approach in circumventing antibiotic resistance. The tactic underling POT is applying antibacterial compounds or materials directly to infected regions to treat specific bacteria species or strains with goals of improving the drug efficacy and reducing nontargeting and the development of drug resistance. This review exemplifies recent trends in the development of POTs for circumventing AMR, including the adoption of antibiotic-antibiotic conjugates, antimicrobial peptides, therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, nanotechnologies, CRISPR-Cas systems, and microbiota modulations. Employing these alternative approaches alone or in combination shows promising advantages for addressing the growing clinical embarrassment of antibiotics in fighting drug-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zifang Shang
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics (FSCFE), Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) & Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering (IBME), Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Siew Yin Chan
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics (FSCFE), Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) & Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering (IBME), Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Qing Song
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics (FSCFE), Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) & Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering (IBME), Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), Xi'an 710072, China
- Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays (KLOEID) and Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (NUPT), Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Peng Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics (FSCFE), Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) & Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering (IBME), Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics (FSCFE), Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) & Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering (IBME), Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), Xi'an 710072, China
- Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays (KLOEID) and Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (NUPT), Nanjing 210023, China
- Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), Nanjing 211816, China
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27
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Ma Y, Wang C, Li Y, Li J, Wan Q, Chen J, Tay FR, Niu L. Considerations and Caveats in Combating ESKAPE Pathogens against Nosocomial Infections. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2020; 7:1901872. [PMID: 31921562 PMCID: PMC6947519 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201901872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) are among the most common opportunistic pathogens in nosocomial infections. ESKAPE pathogens distinguish themselves from normal ones by developing a high level of antibiotic resistance that involves multiple mechanisms. Contemporary therapeutic strategies which are potential options in combating ESKAPE bacteria need further investigation. Herein, a broad overview of the antimicrobial research on ESKAPE pathogens over the past five years is provided with prospective clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu‐Xuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Military StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShaanxi Key Laboratory of StomatologyDepartment of ProsthodonticsSchool of StomatologyThe Fourth Military Medical University145 Changle West RoadXi'anShaanxi710032P. R. China
| | - Chen‐Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Military StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShaanxi Key Laboratory of StomatologyDepartment of ProsthodonticsSchool of StomatologyThe Fourth Military Medical University145 Changle West RoadXi'anShaanxi710032P. R. China
| | - Yuan‐Yuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Military StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShaanxi Key Laboratory of StomatologyDepartment of ProsthodonticsSchool of StomatologyThe Fourth Military Medical University145 Changle West RoadXi'anShaanxi710032P. R. China
| | - Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Military StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShaanxi Key Laboratory of StomatologyDepartment of ProsthodonticsSchool of StomatologyThe Fourth Military Medical University145 Changle West RoadXi'anShaanxi710032P. R. China
| | - Qian‐Qian Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Military StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShaanxi Key Laboratory of StomatologyDepartment of ProsthodonticsSchool of StomatologyThe Fourth Military Medical University145 Changle West RoadXi'anShaanxi710032P. R. China
| | - Ji‐Hua Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Military StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShaanxi Key Laboratory of StomatologyDepartment of ProsthodonticsSchool of StomatologyThe Fourth Military Medical University145 Changle West RoadXi'anShaanxi710032P. R. China
| | - Franklin R. Tay
- State Key Laboratory of Military StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShaanxi Key Laboratory of StomatologyDepartment of ProsthodonticsSchool of StomatologyThe Fourth Military Medical University145 Changle West RoadXi'anShaanxi710032P. R. China
- The Graduate SchoolAugusta University1430, John Wesley Gilbert DriveAugustaGA30912‐1129USA
| | - Li‐Na Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Military StomatologyNational Clinical Research Center for Oral DiseasesShaanxi Key Laboratory of StomatologyDepartment of ProsthodonticsSchool of StomatologyThe Fourth Military Medical University145 Changle West RoadXi'anShaanxi710032P. R. China
- The Graduate SchoolAugusta University1430, John Wesley Gilbert DriveAugustaGA30912‐1129USA
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Jin X, Park OJ, Hong SH. Incorporation of non-standard amino acids into proteins: challenges, recent achievements, and emerging applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:2947-2958. [PMID: 30790000 PMCID: PMC6449208 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-09690-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The natural genetic code only allows for 20 standard amino acids in protein translation, but genetic code reprogramming enables the incorporation of non-standard amino acids (NSAAs). Proteins containing NSAAs provide enhanced or novel properties and open diverse applications. With increased attention to the recent advancements in synthetic biology, various improved and novel methods have been developed to incorporate single and multiple distinct NSAAs into proteins. However, various challenges remain in regard to NSAA incorporation, such as low yield and misincorporation. In this review, we summarize the recent efforts to improve NSAA incorporation by utilizing orthogonal translational system optimization, cell-free protein synthesis, genomically recoded organisms, artificial codon boxes, quadruplet codons, and orthogonal ribosomes, before closing with a discussion of the emerging applications of NSAA incorporation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Jin
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, 60616, USA
| | - Oh-Jin Park
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, 60616, USA
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Yanbian University of Science and Technology, Yanji, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Seok Hoon Hong
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, 60616, USA.
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29
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Hazam PK, Goyal R, Ramakrishnan V. Peptide based antimicrobials: Design strategies and therapeutic potential. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 142:10-22. [PMID: 30125585 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Therapeutic activity of antibiotics is noteworthy, as they are used in the treatment of microbial infections. Regardless of their utility, there has been a steep decrease in the number of drug candidates due to antibiotic resistance, an inevitable consequence of noncompliance with the full therapeutic regimen. A variety of resistant species like MDR (Multi-Drug Resistant), XDR (Extensively Drug-Resistant) and PDR (Pan Drug-Resistant) species have evolved, but discovery pipeline has already shown signs of getting dried up. Therefore, the need for newer antibiotics is of utmost priority to combat the microbial infections of future times. Peptides have some interesting features like minimal side effect, high tolerability and selectivity towards specific targets, which would help them successfully comply with the stringent safety standards set for clinical trials. In this review, we attempt to present the state of the art in the discovery of peptide-based antimicrobials from a design perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Kishore Hazam
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, 781039, India
| | - Ruchika Goyal
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, 781039, India
| | - Vibin Ramakrishnan
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, 781039, India.
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30
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Bioinspired Designs, Molecular Premise and Tools for Evaluating the Ecological Importance of Antimicrobial Peptides. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2018; 11:ph11030068. [PMID: 29996512 PMCID: PMC6161137 DOI: 10.3390/ph11030068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This review article provides an overview of recent developments in antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), summarizing structural diversity, potential new applications, activity targets and microbial killing responses in general. The use of artificial and natural AMPs as templates for rational design of peptidomimetics are also discussed and some strategies are put forward to curtail cytotoxic effects against eukaryotic cells. Considering the heat-resistant nature, chemical and proteolytic stability of AMPs, we attempt to summarize their molecular targets, examine how these macromolecules may contribute to potential environmental risks vis-à-vis the activities of the peptides. We further point out the evolutional characteristics of the macromolecules and indicate how they can be useful in designing target-specific peptides. Methods are suggested that may help to assess toxic mechanisms of AMPs and possible solutions are discussed to promote the development and application of AMPs in medicine. Even if there is wide exposure to the environment like in the hospital settings, AMPs may instead contribute to prevent healthcare-associated infections so long as ecotoxicological aspects are considered.
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31
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Nickling JH, Baumann T, Schmitt FJ, Bartholomae M, Kuipers OP, Friedrich T, Budisa N. Antimicrobial Peptides Produced by Selective Pressure Incorporation of Non-canonical Amino Acids. J Vis Exp 2018:57551. [PMID: 29781997 PMCID: PMC6101111 DOI: 10.3791/57551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Nature has a variety of possibilities to create new protein functions by modifying the sequence of the individual amino acid building blocks. However, all variations are based on the 20 canonical amino acids (cAAs). As a way to introduce additional physicochemical properties into polypeptides, the incorporation of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) is increasingly used in protein engineering. Due to their relatively short length, the modification of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides by ncAAs is particularly attractive. New functionalities and chemical handles can be generated by specific modifications of individual residues. The selective pressure incorporation (SPI) method utilizes auxotrophic host strains that are deprived of an essential amino acid in chemically defined growth media. Several structurally and chemically similar amino acid analogs can then be activated by the corresponding aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and provide residue-specific cAA(s) → ncAA(s) substitutions in the target peptide or protein sequence. Although, in the context of the SPI method, ncAAs are also incorporated into the host proteome during the phase of recombinant gene expression, the majority of the cell's resources are assigned to the expression of the target gene. This enables efficient residue-specific incorporation of ncAAs often accompanied with high amounts of modified target. The presented work describes the in vivo incorporation of six proline analogs into the antimicrobial peptide nisin, a lantibiotic naturally produced by Lactococcus lactis. Antimicrobial properties of nisin can be changed and further expanded during its fermentation and expression in auxotrophic Escherichia coli strains in defined growth media. Thereby, the effects of residue-specific replacement of cAAs with ncAAs can deliver changes in antimicrobial activity and specificity. Antimicrobial activity assays and fluorescence microscopy are used to test the new nisin variants for growth inhibition of a Gram-positive Lactococcus lactis indicator strain. Mass spectroscopy is used to confirm ncAA incorporation in bioactive nisin variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica H Nickling
- Department of Biocatalysis, Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin
| | - Tobias Baumann
- Department of Biocatalysis, Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin;
| | - Franz-Josef Schmitt
- Department of Bioenergetics, Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin
| | - Maike Bartholomae
- Molecular Genetics Group, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Molecular Genetics Group, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen
| | - Thomas Friedrich
- Department of Bioenergetics, Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Department of Biocatalysis, Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin
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32
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Bartholomae M, Baumann T, Nickling JH, Peterhoff D, Wagner R, Budisa N, Kuipers OP. Expanding the Genetic Code of Lactococcus lactis and Escherichia coli to Incorporate Non-canonical Amino Acids for Production of Modified Lantibiotics. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:657. [PMID: 29681891 PMCID: PMC5897534 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The incorporation of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) into ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides, e.g., nisin from the Gram-positive bacterium Lactococcus lactis, bears great potential to expand the chemical space of various antimicrobials. The ncAA Nε-Boc-L-lysine (BocK) was chosen for incorporation into nisin using the archaeal pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase–tRNAPyl pair to establish orthogonal translation in L. lactis for read-through of in-frame amber stop codons. In parallel, recombinant nisin production and orthogonal translation were combined in Escherichia coli cells. Both organisms synthesized bioactive nisin(BocK) variants. Screening of a nisin amber codon library revealed suitable sites for ncAA incorporation and two variants displayed high antimicrobial activity. Orthogonal translation in E. coli and L. lactis presents a promising tool to create new-to-nature nisin derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maike Bartholomae
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Tobias Baumann
- Biocatalysis Group, Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin (Berlin Institute of Technology), Berlin, Germany
| | - Jessica H Nickling
- Biocatalysis Group, Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin (Berlin Institute of Technology), Berlin, Germany
| | - David Peterhoff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Wagner
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Biocatalysis Group, Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin (Berlin Institute of Technology), Berlin, Germany
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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33
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Yoshida M, Hinkley T, Tsuda S, Abul-Haija YM, McBurney RT, Kulikov V, Mathieson JS, Galiñanes Reyes S, Castro MD, Cronin L. Using Evolutionary Algorithms and Machine Learning to Explore Sequence Space for the Discovery of Antimicrobial Peptides. Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2018.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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34
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Reed KB, Alper HS. Expanding beyond canonical metabolism: Interfacing alternative elements, synthetic biology, and metabolic engineering. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2018; 3:20-33. [PMID: 29911196 PMCID: PMC5884228 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic engineering offers an exquisite capacity to produce new molecules in a renewable manner. However, most industrial applications have focused on only a small subset of elements from the periodic table, centered around carbon biochemistry. This review aims to illustrate the expanse of chemical elements that can currently (and potentially) be integrated into useful products using cellular systems. Specifically, we describe recent advances in expanding the cellular scope to include the halogens, selenium and the metalloids, and a variety of metal incorporations. These examples range from small molecules, heteroatom-linked uncommon elements, and natural products to biomining and nanotechnology applications. Collectively, this review covers the promise of an expanded range of elemental incorporations and the future impacts it may have on biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin B. Reed
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 200E Dean Keeton St. Stop C0400, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Hal S. Alper
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 200E Dean Keeton St. Stop C0400, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 2500 Speedway Avenue, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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35
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Montalbán-López M, Deng J, van Heel AJ, Kuipers OP. Specificity and Application of the Lantibiotic Protease NisP. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:160. [PMID: 29479343 PMCID: PMC5812297 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Lantibiotics are ribosomally produced and posttranslationally modified peptides containing several lanthionine residues. They exhibit substantial antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including relevant pathogens. The production of the model lantibiotic nisin minimally requires the expression of the modification and export machinery. The last step during nisin maturation is the cleavage of the leader peptide. This liberates the active compound and is catalyzed by the cell wall-anchored protease NisP. Here, we report the production and purification of a soluble variant of NisP. This has enabled us to study its specificity and test its suitability for biotechnological applications. The ability of soluble NisP to cleave leaders from various substrates was tested with two sets of nisin variants. The first set was designed to investigate the influence of amino acid variations in the leader peptide or variations around the cleavage site. The second set was designed to study the influence of the lanthionine ring topology on the proteolytic efficiency. We show that the substrate promiscuity is higher than has previously been suggested. Our results demonstrate the importance of the arginine residue at the end of the leader peptide and the importance of lanthionine rings in the substrate for specific cleavage. Collectively, these data indicate that NisP is a suitable protease for the activation of diverse heterologously expressed lantibiotics, which is required to release active antimicrobial compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jingjing Deng
- Department Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Auke J van Heel
- Department Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Department Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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36
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Rayevsky AV, Sharifi M, Tukalo MA. Molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulation study of archaeal leucyl-tRNA synthetase in complex with different mischarged tRNA in editing conformation. J Mol Graph Model 2017; 76:289-295. [PMID: 28743072 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2017.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Revised: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) play important roles in maintaining the accuracy of protein synthesis. Some aaRSs accomplish this via editing mechanisms, among which leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS) edits non-cognate amino acid norvaline mainly by post-transfer editing. However, the molecular basis for this pathway for eukaryotic and archaeal LeuRS remain unclear. In this study, a complex of archaeal P. horikoshii LeuRS (PhLeuRS) with misacylated tRNALeu was modeled wherever tRNA's acceptor stem was oriented directly into the editing site. To understand the distinctive features of organization we reconstructed a complex of PhLeuRS with tRNA and visualize post-transfer editing interactions mode by performing molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies. To study molecular basis for substrate selectivity by PhLeuRS's editing site we utilized MD simulation of the entire LeuRS complexes using a diverse charged form of tRNAs, namely norvalyl-tRNALeu and isoleucyl-tRNALeu. In general, the editing site organization of LeuRS from P.horikoshii has much in common with bacterial LeuRS. The MD simulation results revealed that the post-transfer editing substrate norvalyl-A76, binds more strongly than isoleucyl-A76. Moreover, the branched side chain of isoleucine prevents water molecules from being closer and hence the hydrolysis reaction slows significantly. To investigate a possible mechanism of the post-transfer editing reaction, by PhLeuRS we have determined that two water molecules (the attacking and assisting water molecules) are localized near the carbonyl group of the amino acid to be cleaved off. These water molecules approach the substrate from the opposite side to that observed for Thermus thermophilus LeuRS (TtLeuRS). Based on the results obtained, it was suggested that the post-transfer editing mechanism of PhLeuRS differs from that of prokaryotic TtLeuRS.
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Affiliation(s)
- A V Rayevsky
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, 150 Academician Zabolotny Str., Kyiv 03680, Ukraine.
| | - M Sharifi
- Medway School of Pharmacy, Universities of Kent and Greenwich, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
| | - M A Tukalo
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, 150 Academician Zabolotny Str., Kyiv 03680, Ukraine.
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37
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Völler JS, Budisa N. Coupling genetic code expansion and metabolic engineering for synthetic cells. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2017; 48:1-7. [PMID: 28237511 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2017.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Orthogonal protein translation with noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) has become a standard method in biosciences. Whereas much effort is made to broaden the chemical space of ncAAs, only few attempts on their systematic low-cost in situ production are reported until now. The main aim is to engineer cells with newly designed biosynthetic pathways coupled with orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pairs (o-pairs). These should provide cost-effective solutions to industrially relevant bio-production problems, such as peptide/protein production beyond the canonical set of natural molecules and to expand the arsenal of chemistries available for living cells. Therefore, coupling genetic code expansion (GCE) with metabolic engineering is the basic prerequisite to transform orthogonal translation from a standard technique in academic research to industrial biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Stefan Völler
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße 10, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Straße 10, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
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