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Jann C, Giofré S, Bhattacharjee R, Lemke EA. Cracking the Code: Reprogramming the Genetic Script in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes to Harness the Power of Noncanonical Amino Acids. Chem Rev 2024. [PMID: 39120726 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Over 500 natural and synthetic amino acids have been genetically encoded in the last two decades. Incorporating these noncanonical amino acids into proteins enables many powerful applications, ranging from basic research to biotechnology, materials science, and medicine. However, major challenges remain to unleash the full potential of genetic code expansion across disciplines. Here, we provide an overview of diverse genetic code expansion methodologies and systems and their final applications in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, represented by Escherichia coli and mammalian cells as the main workhorse model systems. We highlight the power of how new technologies can be first established in simple and then transferred to more complex systems. For example, whole-genome engineering provides an excellent platform in bacteria for enabling transcript-specific genetic code expansion without off-targets in the transcriptome. In contrast, the complexity of a eukaryotic cell poses challenges that require entirely new approaches, such as striving toward establishing novel base pairs or generating orthogonally translating organelles within living cells. We connect the milestones in expanding the genetic code of living cells for encoding novel chemical functionalities to the most recent scientific discoveries, from optimizing the physicochemical properties of noncanonical amino acids to the technological advancements for their in vivo incorporation. This journey offers a glimpse into the promising developments in the years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosimo Jann
- Biocenter, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- IMB Postdoc Programme (IPPro), 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sabrina Giofré
- Biocenter, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- IMB Postdoc Programme (IPPro), 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Rajanya Bhattacharjee
- Biocenter, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- IMB International PhD Programme (IPP), 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Edward A Lemke
- Biocenter, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128 Mainz, Germany
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Liu DD, Ding W, Cheng JT, Wei Q, Lin Y, Zhu TY, Tian J, Sun K, Zhang L, Lu P, Yang F, Liu C, Tang S, Yang B. Characterize direct protein interactions with enrichable, cleavable and latent bioreactive unnatural amino acids. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5221. [PMID: 38890329 PMCID: PMC11189575 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49517-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Latent bioreactive unnatural amino acids (Uaas) have been widely used in the development of covalent drugs and identification of protein interactors, such as proteins, DNA, RNA and carbohydrates. However, it is challenging to perform high-throughput identification of Uaa cross-linking products due to the complexities of protein samples and the data analysis processes. Enrichable Uaas can effectively reduce the complexities of protein samples and simplify data analysis, but few cross-linked peptides were identified from mammalian cell samples with these Uaas. Here we develop an enrichable and multiple amino acids reactive Uaa, eFSY, and demonstrate that eFSY is MS cleavable when eFSY-Lys and eFSY-His are the cross-linking products. An identification software, AixUaa is developed to decipher eFSY mass cleavable data. We systematically identify direct interactomes of Thioredoxin 1 (Trx1) and Selenoprotein M (SELM) with eFSY and AixUaa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Dan Liu
- Life Sciences Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Wenlong Ding
- Life Sciences Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Jin-Tao Cheng
- Life Sciences Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Qiushi Wei
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering & School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yinuo Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510530, China
| | - Tian-Yi Zhu
- Life Sciences Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Jing Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510530, China
| | - Ke Sun
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China
| | - Long Zhang
- Life Sciences Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Peilong Lu
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Biophysics, Kidney Disease Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Chao Liu
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering & School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Shibing Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510530, China.
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
| | - Bing Yang
- Life Sciences Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.
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Abstract
Protein nanomaterials are well-defined, hollow protein nanoparticles comprised of virus capsids, virus-like particles, ferritin, heat shock proteins, chaperonins and many more. Protein-based nanomaterials are formed by the self-assembly of protein subunits and have numerous desired properties as drug-delivery vehicles, including being optimally sized for endocytosis, nontoxic, biocompatible, biodegradable and functionalized at three separate interfaces (external, internal and intersubunit). As a result, protein nanomaterials have been intensively investigated as functional entities in bionanotechnology, including drug delivery, nanoreactors and templates for organic and inorganic nanomaterials. Several variables influence efficient administration, particularly active targeting, cellular uptake, the kinetics of the release and systemic elimination. This review examines the wide range of medicines, loading/release processes, targeted therapies and treatment effectiveness.
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Stieglitz JT, Lahiri P, Stout MI, Van Deventer JA. Exploration of Methanomethylophilus alvus Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase Activity in Yeast. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:1824-1834. [PMID: 35417129 PMCID: PMC10112046 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Archaeal pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetases (PylRSs) have been used to genetically encode over 200 distinct noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) in proteins in Escherichia coli and mammalian cells. This vastly expands the range of chemical functionality accessible within proteins produced in these organisms. Despite these clear successes, explorations of PylRS function in yeast remain limited. In this work, we demonstrate that the Methanomethylophilus alvus PylRS (MaPylRS) and its cognate tRNACUAMaPyl support the incorporation of ncAAs into proteins produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using stop codon suppression methodologies. Additionally, we prepared three MaPylRS mutants originally engineered in E. coli and determined that all three were active with one or more ncAAs, although with low efficiencies of ncAA incorporation in comparison to the parent MaPylRS. Alongside MaPylRS variants, we evaluated the activity of previously reported Methanosarcina mazei, Methanosarcina barkeri, and chimeric M. mazei and M. barkeri PylRSs. Using S. cerevisiae RJY100 and pairing these PylRSs with the M. mazei tRNACUA, we did not observe any detectable stop codon suppression activity under the same conditions that produced moderately efficient ncAA incorporation with MaPylRS. The addition of MaPylRS/tRNACUAMaPyl to the orthogonal translation machinery toolkit in S. cerevisiae potentially opens the door to hundreds of ncAAs that have not previously been genetically encodable using other aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pairs. Extending the scope of ncAA incorporation in yeast could powerfully advance chemical and biological research for applications ranging from basic biological discovery to enzyme engineering and therapeutic protein lead discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica T. Stieglitz
- Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Priyanka Lahiri
- Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Matthew I. Stout
- Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - James A. Van Deventer
- Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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Van Fossen EM, Grutzius S, Ruby CE, Mourich DV, Cebra C, Bracha S, Karplus PA, Cooley RB, Mehl RA. Creating a Selective Nanobody Against 3-Nitrotyrosine Containing Proteins. Front Chem 2022; 10:835229. [PMID: 35265586 PMCID: PMC8899190 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.835229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A critical step in developing therapeutics for oxidative stress-related pathologies is the ability to determine which specific modified protein species are innocuous by-products of pathology and which are causative agents. To achieve this goal, technologies are needed that can identify, characterize and quantify oxidative post translational modifications (oxPTMs). Nanobodies (Nbs) represent exquisite tools for intracellular tracking of molecules due to their small size, stability and engineerability. Here, we demonstrate that it is possible to develop a selective Nb against an oxPTM protein, with the key advance being the use of genetic code expansion (GCE) to provide an efficient source of the large quantities of high-quality, homogenous and site-specific oxPTM-containing protein needed for the Nb selection process. In this proof-of-concept study, we produce a Nb selective for a 3-nitrotyrosine (nitroTyr) modified form of the 14-3-3 signaling protein with a lesser recognition of nitroTyr in other protein contexts. This advance opens the door to the GCE-facilitated development of other anti-PTM Nbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise M. Van Fossen
- Oregon State University, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Sonia Grutzius
- Oregon State University, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Carl E. Ruby
- Oregon State University, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Dan V. Mourich
- Oregon State University, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Chris Cebra
- Oregon State University, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Shay Bracha
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (VSCS), Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, United States
| | - P. Andrew Karplus
- Oregon State University, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Richard B. Cooley
- Oregon State University, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Ryan A. Mehl
- Oregon State University, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, OR, United States
- *Correspondence: Ryan A. Mehl,
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Sabot C, Kele P. Novel Approaches in Biomolecule Labeling. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1809. [PMID: 34944453 PMCID: PMC8698964 DOI: 10.3390/biom11121809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The selective functionalization of biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids or carbohydrates is a focus of persistent interest due to their widespread use, ranging from basic chemical biology research to gain insight into biological processes to the most promising biomedical applications, including the development of diagnostics or targeted therapies [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrille Sabot
- Normandie University, CNRS, UNIROUEN, INSA Rouen, COBRA, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - Péter Kele
- Chemical Biology Research Group, Institute of Organic Chemistry, ELKH Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok krt 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
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High-throughput characterization of photocrosslinker-bearing ion channel variants to map residues critical for function and pharmacology. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001321. [PMID: 34491979 PMCID: PMC8448361 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) can endow proteins with novel functionalities, such as crosslinking or fluorescence. In ion channels, the function of these variants can be studied with great precision using standard electrophysiology, but this approach is typically labor intensive and low throughput. Here, we establish a high-throughput protocol to conduct functional and pharmacological investigations of ncAA-containing human acid-sensing ion channel 1a (hASIC1a) variants in transiently transfected mammalian cells. We introduce 3 different photocrosslinking ncAAs into 103 positions and assess the function of the resulting 309 variants with automated patch clamp (APC). We demonstrate that the approach is efficient and versatile, as it is amenable to assessing even complex pharmacological modulation by peptides. The data show that the acidic pocket is a major determinant for current decay, and live-cell crosslinking provides insight into the hASIC1a–psalmotoxin 1 (PcTx1) interaction. Further, we provide evidence that the protocol can be applied to other ion channels, such as P2X2 and GluA2 receptors. We therefore anticipate the approach to enable future APC-based studies of ncAA-containing ion channels in mammalian cells. This study describes a method to rapidly screen hundreds of ion channel variants containing non-canonical amino acids. A proof-of-principle introducing photocrosslinking non-canonical amino acids into the human ion channel hASIC1a shows how this approach can provide insights into function and pharmacology.
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8
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Genetically encoded selective cross-linkers and emerging applications. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 48:1807-1817. [PMID: 32657352 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
There has been a large amount of interest in the development of genetically encoded cross-linkers that target functional groups naturally present in cells. Recently, a new class of unnatural amino acids that specifically react with target residues were developed and genetically incorporated. The selective reaction shows higher cross-linking efficiency, lower background and predictable cross-linking sites. It has been applied to enhance protein/peptide stability, pinpoint protein-protein interactions, stabilize protein complexes, engineer covalent protein inhibitors, identify phosphatases in living cells, etc. These new covalent linkages provide excellent new tools for protein engineering and biological studies. Their applications in biotherapy will provide considerable opportunities for innovating and improving biomolecular medicines.
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van der Zouwen AJ, Witte MD. Modular Approaches to Synthesize Activity- and Affinity-Based Chemical Probes. Front Chem 2021; 9:644811. [PMID: 33937194 PMCID: PMC8082414 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.644811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Combinatorial and modular methods to synthesize small molecule modulators of protein activity have proven to be powerful tools in the development of new drug-like molecules. Over the past decade, these methodologies have been adapted toward utilization in the development of activity- and affinity-based chemical probes, as well as in chemoproteomic profiling. In this review, we will discuss how methods like multicomponent reactions, DNA-encoded libraries, phage displays, and others provide new ways to rapidly screen novel chemical probes against proteins of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonie J van der Zouwen
- Chemical Biology II, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Martin D Witte
- Chemical Biology II, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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Hassan MM, Olaoye OO. Recent Advances in Chemical Biology Using Benzophenones and Diazirines as Radical Precursors. Molecules 2020; 25:E2285. [PMID: 32414020 PMCID: PMC7288102 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25102285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of light-activated chemical probes to study biological interactions was first discovered in the 1960s, and has since found many applications in studying diseases and gaining deeper insight into various cellular mechanisms involving protein-protein, protein-nucleic acid, protein-ligand (drug, probe), and protein-co-factor interactions, among others. This technique, often referred to as photoaffinity labelling, uses radical precursors that react almost instantaneously to yield spatial and temporal information about the nature of the interaction and the interacting partner(s). This review focuses on the recent advances in chemical biology in the use of benzophenones and diazirines, two of the most commonly known light-activatable radical precursors, with a focus on the last three years, and is intended to provide a solid understanding of their chemical and biological principles and their applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Murtaza Hassan
- Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada;
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Olasunkanmi O. Olaoye
- Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada;
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
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