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McNutt E, Ke N, Thurman A, Eaglesham JB, Berkmen M. SAS: Split antibiotic selection for identifying chaperones that improve protein solubility. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26996. [PMID: 38495176 PMCID: PMC10943334 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Heterologous expression of active, native-folded protein in Escherichia coli is critical in both academic research and biotechnology settings. When expressing non-native recombinant proteins in E. coli, obtaining soluble and active protein can be challenging. Numerous techniques can be used to enhance a proteins solubility, and largely focus on either altering the expression strain, plasmid vector features, growth conditions, or the protein coding sequence itself. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach for addressing issues with protein solubility, and it can be both time and labor intensive to find a solution. An alternative approach is to use the co-expression of chaperones to assist with increasing protein solubility. By designing a genetic system where protein solubility is linked to viability, the appropriate protein folding factor can be selected for any given protein of interest. To this end, we developed a Split Antibiotic Selection (SAS) whereby an insoluble protein is inserted in-frame within the coding sequence of the hygromycin B resistance protein, aminoglycoside 7″-phosphotransferase-Ia (APH(7″)), to generate a tripartite fusion. By creating this tripartite fusion with APH(7″), the solubility of the inserted protein can be assessed by measuring the level of hygromycin B resistance of the cells. Results We demonstrate the functionality of this system using a known protein and co-chaperone pair, the human mitochondrial Hsp70 ATPase domain (ATPase70) and its co-chaperone human escort protein (Hep). Insertion of the insoluble ATPase70 within APH(7'') renders the tripartite fusion insoluble and results in sensitivity to hygromycin B. Antibiotic resistance can be rescued by expression of the co-chaperone Hep which assists in the folding of the APH(7'')-ATPase70-APH(7'') tripartite fusion and find that cellular hygromycin B resistance correlates with the total soluble fusion protein. Finally, using a diverse chaperone library, we find that SAS can be used in a pooled genetic selection to identify chaperones capable of improving client protein solubility. Conclusions The tripartite APH(7'') fusion links the in vivo solubility of the inserted protein of interest to hygromycin B resistance. This construct can be used in conjunction with a chaperone library to select for chaperones that increase the solubility of the inserted protein. This selection system can be applied to a variety of client proteins and eliminates the need to individually test chaperone-protein pairs to identify those that increase solubility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily McNutt
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938, USA
| | - Na Ke
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938, USA
| | | | | | - Mehmet Berkmen
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938, USA
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Mizrachi D, Robinson MP, Ren G, Ke N, Berkmen M, DeLisa MP. Retraction Note: A water-soluble DsbB variant that catalyzes disulfide-bond formation in vivo. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:392. [PMID: 38242958 PMCID: PMC10922644 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01550-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Dario Mizrachi
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Michael-Paul Robinson
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Guoping Ren
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Na Ke
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Matthew P DeLisa
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
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Robinson MP, Jung J, Lopez-Barbosa N, Chang M, Li M, Jaroentomeechai T, Cox EC, Zheng X, Berkmen M, DeLisa MP. Isolation of full-length IgG antibodies from combinatorial libraries expressed in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3514. [PMID: 37316535 PMCID: PMC10267130 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39178-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Here we describe a facile and robust genetic selection for isolating full-length IgG antibodies from combinatorial libraries expressed in the cytoplasm of redox-engineered Escherichia coli cells. The method is based on the transport of a bifunctional substrate comprised of an antigen fused to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, which allows positive selection of bacterial cells co-expressing cytoplasmic IgGs called cyclonals that specifically capture the chimeric antigen and sequester the antibiotic resistance marker in the cytoplasm. The utility of this approach is first demonstrated by isolating affinity-matured cyclonal variants that specifically bind their cognate antigen, the leucine zipper domain of a yeast transcriptional activator, with subnanomolar affinities, which represent a ~20-fold improvement over the parental IgG. We then use the genetic assay to discover antigen-specific cyclonals from a naïve human antibody repertoire, leading to the identification of lead IgG candidates with affinity and specificity for an influenza hemagglutinin-derived peptide antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael-Paul Robinson
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Jinjoo Jung
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Natalia Lopez-Barbosa
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Matthew Chang
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Mingji Li
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Thapakorn Jaroentomeechai
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Emily C Cox
- Biomedical and Biological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Xiaolu Zheng
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Mehmet Berkmen
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
| | - Matthew P DeLisa
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
- Biomedical and Biological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
- Cornell Institute of Biotechnology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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Frankel E, Temple J, Dikener E, Berkmen M. Bridging the gap with bacterial art. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2023; 370:7110979. [PMID: 37028930 PMCID: PMC10132471 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnad025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Living art made with bacteria is gaining global attention, spreading from laboratories into the public domain: from school STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) events, to art galleries, museums, community labs, and ultimately to the studios of microbial artists. Bacterial art is a synthesis of science and art that can lead to developments in both fields. Through the 'universal language of art', many social and preconceived ideas - including abstract scientific concepts - can be challenged and brought to the public attention in a unique way. By using bacteria to create publicly accessible art pieces, the barriers between humans and microbes can be lessened and the artificial separation of the fields of science and art may be brought one step closer. Here, we document the history, impact, and current moment in the field of microbiologically-inspired art for the benefit of educators, students, and the interested public. We provide a comprehensive historical background and examples of ancient bacterial art from cave paintings to uses in modern synthetic biology, a simple protocol for conducting bacterial art in a safe and responsible manner, a discussion of the artificial separation of science and art, and the future implications of art made from living microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eve Frankel
- Boston Open Science Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jasmine Temple
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
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Srila W, Min TT, Sumphanapai T, Rangnoi K, Berkmen M, Yamabhai M. Correction to: Production and applications of fluorobody from redox-engineered Escherichia coli. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:3129. [PMID: 36976307 PMCID: PMC10106344 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12494-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Witsanu Srila
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand
| | - Thae Thae Min
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand
| | - Thitima Sumphanapai
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand
| | - Kuntalee Rangnoi
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand
| | | | - Montarop Yamabhai
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand.
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Srila W, Min TT, Sumphanapai T, Rangnoi K, Berkmen M, Yamabhai M. Production and applications of fluorobody from redox-engineered Escherichia coli. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:1959-1970. [PMID: 36729226 PMCID: PMC10050041 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12395-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Efficient selection and production of antibody fragments in microbial systems remain to be a challenging process. To optimize microbial production of single-chain variable fragments (scFvs), we have chosen five model targets, 1) a hapten, Zearalenone (ZEN) mycotoxin, along with infectious agents 2) rabies virus, 3) Propionibacterium acnes, 4) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and a cancer cell 5) acute myeloid leukemia cell line (HL-60). The scFv binders were affinity selected from a non-immunized human phage display scFv antibody library and genetically fused to the N-terminus of emerald green fluorescent protein (EmGFP). The scFv-EmGFP fusion constructs were subcloned into an expression vector, under the control of T7 promoter, C-terminally tagged with hexa-histidine and expressed in different Escherichia coli (E. coli) hosts. This enabled the detection of cells that expressed the correct scFv-EmGFP fusion, termed fluorobody, via bright fluorescent signal in the cytoplasm. Among the three E. coli hosts tested, an engineered E. coli B strain called SHuffle B that promotes disulfide bond formation in the cytoplasm appeared to be the most appropriate host. The recombinant fluorobodies were well expressed (2-8 mg/L), possessed the fluorescence property of EmGFP, and retained the ability to bind to their cognate targets. Their specific bindings were demonstrated by ELISA, fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay (FLISA), flow cytometry, and fluorescent microscope imaging. The fluorobody expression platform in this study could be further adopted as a one-step immunostaining technique based on scFv, isolated from phage display library to numerous desired targets. KEY POINTS: • E. coli SHuffle express T7 is a suitable expression host for scFv-EmGFP (fluorobody) • Only the clones harboring scFv-EmGFP plasmid will show bright fluorescent signal • This platform can be used to produce fluorobodies for numerous purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Witsanu Srila
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand
| | - Thae Thae Min
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand
| | - Thitima Sumphanapai
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand
| | - Kuntalee Rangnoi
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand
| | | | - Montarop Yamabhai
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand.
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Riggs P, Blundell-Hunter G, Hagelberger J, Ren G, Ettwiller L, Berkmen M. Insertion Specificity of the hATx-6 Transposase of Hydra magnipapillata. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 8:734154. [PMID: 34988112 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.734154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements (TE) are mobile genetic elements, present in all domains of life. They commonly encode a single transposase enzyme, that performs the excision and reintegration reactions, and these enzymes have been used in mutagenesis and creation of next-generation sequencing libraries. All transposases have some bias in the DNA sequence they bind to when reintegrating the TE DNA. We sought to identify a transposase that showed minimal sequence bias and could be produced recombinantly, using information from the literature and a novel bioinformatic analysis, resulting in the selection of the hATx-6 transposase from Hydra vulgaris (aka Hydra magnipapillata) for further study. This transposase was tested and shown to be active both in vitro and in vivo, and we were able to demonstrate very low sequence bias in its integration preference. This transposase could be an excellent candidate for use in biotechnology, such as the creation of next-generation sequencing libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Riggs
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA, United States
| | | | | | - Guoping Ren
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA, United States
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Abstract
Antibodies are globally important macromolecules, used for research, diagnostics, and as therapeutics. The common mammalian antibody immunoglobulin G (IgG) is a complex glycosylated macromolecule, composed of two heavy chains and two light chains held together by multiple disulfide bonds. For this reason, IgG and related antibody fragments are usually produced through secretion from mammalian cell lines, such as Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. However, there is growing interest in production of antibodies in prokaryotic systems due to the potential for rapid and cheap production in a highly genetically manipulable system. Research on oxidative protein folding in prokaryotes has enabled engineering of Escherichia coli strains capable of producing IgG and other disulfide bonded proteins in the cytoplasm, known as SHuffle. In this protocol, we provide a review of research on prokaryotic antibody production, guidelines on cloning of antibody expression constructs, conditions for an initial expression and purification experiment, and parameters which may be optimized for increased purification yields. Last, we discuss the limitations of prokaryotic antibody production, and highlight potential future avenues for research on antibody expression and folding.
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9
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Lénon M, Ke N, Ren G, Meuser ME, Loll PJ, Riggs P, Berkmen M. A useful epitope tag derived from maltose binding protein. Protein Sci 2021; 30:1235-1246. [PMID: 33896065 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Maltose binding protein (MBP) is used in recombinant protein expression as an affinity and solubility tag. The monoclonal antibody B48 binds MBP tightly and has no cross-reactivity to other proteins in an Escherichia coli lysate. This high level of specificity suggested that MBP contains an epitope that could prove useful as a purification and visualization tag for proteins expressed in E. coli. To discover the MBP epitope, a co-crystal structure was determined for MBP bound to its antibody and four amino acids of MBP were identified as critical for the binding interaction. Fusions of various fragments of MBP to the glutathione S-transferase protein were engineered in order to identify the smallest fragment still recognized by the α-MBP antibody. Stabilization of the epitope via mutational engineering resulted in a minimized 14 amino-acid tag.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Lénon
- Protein Expression and Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Stress Adaptation and Metabolism in Enterobacteria Unit, UMR CNRS 2001, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Na Ke
- Protein Expression and Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, USA
| | - Guoping Ren
- Protein Expression and Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, USA
| | - Megan E Meuser
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Patrick J Loll
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Paul Riggs
- Protein Expression and Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, USA
| | - Mehmet Berkmen
- Protein Expression and Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, USA
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10
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Nilewski S, Varatnitskaya M, Masuch T, Kusnezowa A, Gellert M, Baumann AF, Lupilov N, Kusnezow W, Koch MH, Eisenacher M, Berkmen M, Lillig CH, Leichert LI. Functional metagenomics of the thioredoxin superfamily. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100247. [PMID: 33361108 PMCID: PMC7949104 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.016350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental sequence data of microbial communities now makes up the majority of public genomic information. The assignment of a function to sequences from these metagenomic sources is challenging because organisms associated with the data are often uncharacterized and not cultivable. To overcome these challenges, we created a rationally designed expression library of metagenomic proteins covering the sequence space of the thioredoxin superfamily. This library of 100 individual proteins represents more than 22,000 thioredoxins found in the Global Ocean Sampling data set. We screened this library for the functional rescue of Escherichia coli mutants lacking the thioredoxin-type reductase (ΔtrxA), isomerase (ΔdsbC), or oxidase (ΔdsbA). We were able to assign functions to more than a quarter of our representative proteins. The in vivo function of a given representative could not be predicted by phylogenetic relation but did correlate with the predicted isoelectric surface potential of the protein. Selected proteins were then purified, and we determined their activity using a standard insulin reduction assay and measured their redox potential. An unexpected gel shift of protein E5 during the redox potential determination revealed a redox cycle distinct from that of typical thioredoxin-superfamily oxidoreductases. Instead of the intramolecular disulfide bond formation typical for thioredoxins, this protein forms an intermolecular disulfide between the attacking cysteines of two separate subunits during its catalytic cycle. Our functional metagenomic approach proved not only useful to assign in vivo functions to representatives of thousands of proteins but also uncovered a novel reaction mechanism in a seemingly well-known protein superfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Nilewski
- Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry - Microbial Biochemistry, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Marharyta Varatnitskaya
- Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry - Microbial Biochemistry, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Thorsten Masuch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry - Microbial Biochemistry, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany; Protein Expression and Modification Division, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anna Kusnezowa
- Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry - Microbial Biochemistry, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Manuela Gellert
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Anne F Baumann
- Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry - Microbial Biochemistry, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Natalie Lupilov
- Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry - Microbial Biochemistry, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Witali Kusnezow
- Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry - Microbial Biochemistry, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Martin Eisenacher
- Medizinisches Proteom-Center, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Mehmet Berkmen
- Protein Expression and Modification Division, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christopher H Lillig
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Lars I Leichert
- Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry - Microbial Biochemistry, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
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Lénon M, Ke N, Szady C, Sakhtah H, Ren G, Manta B, Causey B, Berkmen M. Improved production of Humira antibody in the genetically engineered Escherichia coli SHuffle, by co-expression of human PDI-GPx7 fusions. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:9693-9706. [PMID: 32997203 PMCID: PMC7595990 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10920-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Microbial production of antibodies offers the promise of cheap, fast, and efficient production of antibodies at an industrial scale. Limiting this capacity in prokaryotes is the absence of the post-translational machinery, present in dedicated antibody producing eukaryotic cell lines, such as B cells. There has been few and limited success in producing full-length, correctly folded, and assembled IgG in the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cell lines. One such success was achieved by utilizing the genetically engineered Escherichia coli strain SHuffle with an oxidative cytoplasm. Due to the genetic disruption of reductive pathways, SHuffle cells are under constant oxidative stress, including increased levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The oxidizing capacity of H2O2 was linked to improved disulfide bond formation, by expressing a fusion of two endoplasmic reticulum-resident proteins, the thiol peroxidase GPx7 and the protein disulfide isomerase, PDI. In concert, these proteins mediate disulfide transfer from H2O2 to target proteins via PDI-Gpx7 fusions. The potential of this new strain was tested with Humira, a blockbuster antibody usually produced in eukaryotic cells. Expression results demonstrate that the new engineered SHuffle strain (SHuffle2) could produce Humira IgG four-fold better than the parental strain, both in shake-flask and in high-density fermentation. These preliminary studies guide the field in genetically engineering eukaryotic redox pathways in prokaryotes for the production of complex macromolecules. Key points • A eukaryotic redox pathway was engineered into the E. coli strain SHuffle in order to improve the yield of the blockbuster antibody Humira. • The best peroxidase-PDI fusion was selected using bioinformatics and in vivo studies. • Improved yields of Humira were demonstrated at shake-flask and high-density fermenters. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00253-020-10920-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Lénon
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Stress Adaptation and Metabolism in Enterobacteria Unit, UMR CNRS 2001, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Na Ke
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
| | - Cecily Szady
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
| | - Hassan Sakhtah
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
- Boston Institute of Biotechnology, LLC., Upstream Process Development, 225 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA, 01772, USA
| | - Guoping Ren
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
| | - Bruno Manta
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
- Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Bioquímica and Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de la República, CP 11800, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Bryce Causey
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
| | - Mehmet Berkmen
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA.
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12
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Leith EM, O'Dell WB, Ke N, McClung C, Berkmen M, Bergonzo C, Brinson RG, Kelman Z. Characterization of the internal translation initiation region in monoclonal antibodies expressed in Escherichia coli. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:18046-18056. [PMID: 31604819 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.011008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) represent an important platform for the development of biotherapeutic products. Most mAbs are produced in mammalian cells, but several mAbs are made in Escherichia coli, including therapeutic fragments. The NISTmAb is a well-characterized reference material made widely available to facilitate the development of both originator biologics and biosimilars. Here, when expressing NISTmAb from codon-optimized constructs in E. coli (eNISTmAb), a truncated variant of its heavy chain was observed. N-terminal protein sequencing and mutagenesis analyses indicated that the truncation resulted from an internal translation initiation from a GTG codon (encoding Val) within eNISTmAb. Using computational and biochemical approaches, we demonstrate that this translation initiates from a weak Shine-Dalgarno sequence and is facilitated by a putative ribosomal protein S1-binding site. We also observed similar internal initiation in the mAb adalimumab (the amino acid sequence of the drug Humira) when expressed in E. coli Of note, these internal initiation regions were likely an unintended result of the codon optimization for E. coli expression, and the amino acid pattern from which it is derived was identified as a Pro-Ser-X-X-X-Val motif. We discuss the implications of our findings for E. coli protein expression and codon optimization and outline possible strategies for reducing the likelihood of internal translation initiation and truncated product formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik M Leith
- Biomolecular Labeling Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology and Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland 20850
| | - William B O'Dell
- Biomolecular Labeling Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology and Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland 20850; National Institute of Standards and Technology, Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland 20850
| | - Na Ke
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts 01938
| | | | | | - Christina Bergonzo
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland 20850
| | - Robert G Brinson
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland 20850
| | - Zvi Kelman
- Biomolecular Labeling Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology and Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland 20850; National Institute of Standards and Technology, Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland 20850.
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Reuter WH, Masuch T, Ke N, Lenon M, Radzinski M, Van Loi V, Ren G, Riggs P, Antelmann H, Reichmann D, Leichert LI, Berkmen M. Utilizing redox-sensitive GFP fusions to detect in vivo redox changes in a genetically engineered prokaryote. Redox Biol 2019; 26:101280. [PMID: 31450103 PMCID: PMC6831853 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2019.101280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the in vivo redox biology of cells is a complex albeit important biological problem. Studying redox processes within living cells without physical disruption or chemical modifications is essential in determining the native redox states of cells. In this study, the previously characterized reduction-oxidation sensitive green fluorescent protein (roGFP2) was used to elucidate the redox changes of the genetically engineered Escherichia coli strain, SHuffle. SHuffle cells were demonstrated to be under constitutive oxidative stress and responding transcriptionally in an OxyR-dependent manner. Using roGFP2 fused to either glutathione (GSH)- or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)- sensitive proteins (glutaredoxin 1 or Orp1), the cytosolic redox state of both wild type and SHuffle cells based on GSH/GSSG and H2O2 pools was measured. These probes open the path to in vivo studies of redox changes and genetic selections in prokaryotic hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thorsten Masuch
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA; Ruhr University Bochum, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Microbial Biochemistry, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Na Ke
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
| | - Marine Lenon
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
| | - Meytal Radzinski
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Safra Campus Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Vu Van Loi
- Institute for Biology-Microbiology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Guoping Ren
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
| | - Paul Riggs
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
| | - Haike Antelmann
- Institute for Biology-Microbiology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dana Reichmann
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Safra Campus Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Lars I Leichert
- Ruhr University Bochum, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Microbial Biochemistry, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Mehmet Berkmen
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA.
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14
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Agrawal A, Bisharyan Y, Papoyan A, Bednenko J, Cardarelli J, Yao M, Clark T, Berkmen M, Ke N, Colussi P. Fusion to Tetrahymena thermophila granule lattice protein 1 confers solubility to sexual stage malaria antigens in Escherichia coli. Protein Expr Purif 2018; 153:7-17. [PMID: 30081196 PMCID: PMC6189453 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A transmission-blocking vaccine targeting the sexual stages of Plasmodium species could play a key role in eradicating malaria. Multiple studies have identified the P. falciparum proteins Pfs25 and Pfs48/45 as prime targets for transmission-blocking vaccines. Although significant advances have been made in recombinant expression of these antigens, they remain difficult to produce at large scale and lack strong immunogenicity as subunit antigens. We linked a self-assembling protein, granule lattice protein 1 (Grl1p), from the ciliated protozoan, Tetrahymena thermophila, to regions of the ectodomains of either Pfs25 or Pfs48/45. We found that resulting protein chimera could be produced in E. coli as nanoparticles that could be readily purified in soluble form. When produced in the E. coli SHuffle strain, fusion to Grl1p dramatically increased solubility of target antigens while at the same time directing the formation of particles with diameters centering on 38 and 25 nm depending on the antigen. In a number of instances, co-expression with chaperone proteins and induction at a lower temperature further increased expression and solubility. Based on Western blotting and ELISA analysis, Pfs25 and Pfs48/45 retained their transmission-blocking epitopes within E. coli-derived particles, and the particles themselves elicited strong antibody responses in rabbits when given with an aluminum-based adjuvant. Antibodies against Pfs25-containing nanoparticles blocked parasite transmission in standard membrane-feeding assays. In conclusion, fusion to Grl1p can act as a solubility enhancer for proteins with limited solubility while retaining correct folding, which may be useful for applications such as the production of vaccines and other biologics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Theodore Clark
- TetraGenetics Inc, Arlington, MA, USA; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | - Na Ke
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA, USA
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15
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Reddy PT, Brinson RG, Hoopes JT, McClung C, Ke N, Kashi L, Berkmen M, Kelman Z. Platform development for expression and purification of stable isotope labeled monoclonal antibodies in Escherichia coli. MAbs 2018; 10:992-1002. [PMID: 30060704 PMCID: PMC6204800 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2018.1496879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The widespread use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) as a platform for therapeutic drug development in the pharmaceutical industry has led to an increased interest in robust experimental approaches for assessment of mAb structure, stability and dynamics. The ability to enrich proteins with stable isotopes is a prerequisite for the in-depth application of many structural and biophysical methods, including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), small angle neutron scattering, neutron reflectometry, and quantitative mass spectrometry. While mAbs can typically be produced with very high yields using mammalian cell expression, stable isotope labeling using cell culture is expensive and often impractical. The most common and cost-efficient approach to label proteins is to express proteins in Escherichia coli grown in minimal media; however, such methods for mAbs have not been reported to date. Here we present, for the first time, the expression and purification of a stable isotope labeled mAb from a genetically engineered E. coli strain capable of forming disulfide bonds in its cytoplasm. It is shown using two-dimensional NMR spectral fingerprinting that the unlabeled mAb and the mAb singly or triply labeled with 13C, 15N, 2H are well folded, with only minor structural differences relative to the mammalian cell-produced mAb that are attributed to the lack of glycosylation in the Fc domain. This advancement of an E. coli-based mAb expression platform will facilitate the production of mAbs for in-depth structural characterization, including the high resolution investigation of mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasad T Reddy
- a Biomolecular Labeling Laboratory, Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research , National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Maryland , Rockville , MD , USA
| | - Robert G Brinson
- b Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research , National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Maryland , Rockville , MD , USA
| | - J Todd Hoopes
- a Biomolecular Labeling Laboratory, Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research , National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Maryland , Rockville , MD , USA
| | | | - Na Ke
- c New England Biolabs , Ipswich , MA , USA
| | - Lila Kashi
- a Biomolecular Labeling Laboratory, Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research , National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Maryland , Rockville , MD , USA
| | | | - Zvi Kelman
- a Biomolecular Labeling Laboratory, Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research , National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Maryland , Rockville , MD , USA
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16
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Hibender S, Landeta C, Berkmen M, Beckwith J, Boyd D. Aeropyrum pernix membrane topology of protein VKOR promotes protein disulfide bond formation in two subcellular compartments. Microbiology (Reading) 2017; 163:1864-1879. [PMID: 29139344 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Disulfide bonds confer stability and activity to proteins. Bioinformatic approaches allow predictions of which organisms make protein disulfide bonds and in which subcellular compartments disulfide bond formation takes place. Such an analysis, along with biochemical and protein structural data, suggests that many of the extremophile Crenarachaea make protein disulfide bonds in both the cytoplasm and the cell envelope. We have sought to determine the oxidative folding pathways in the sequenced genomes of the Crenarchaea, by seeking homologues of the enzymes known to be involved in disulfide bond formation in bacteria. Some Crenarchaea have two homologues of the cytoplasmic membrane protein VKOR, a protein required in many bacteria for the oxidation of bacterial DsbAs. We show that the two VKORs of Aeropyrum pernix assume opposite orientations in the cytoplasmic membrane, when expressed in E. coli. One has its active cysteines oriented toward the E. coli periplasm (ApVKORo) and the other toward the cytoplasm (ApVKORi). Furthermore, the ApVKORo promotes disulfide bond formation in the E. coli cell envelope, while the ApVKORi promotes disulfide bond formation in the E. coli cytoplasm via a co-expressed archaeal protein ApPDO. Amongst the VKORs from different archaeal species, the pairs of VKORs in each species are much more closely related to each other than to the VKORs of the other species. The results suggest two independent occurrences of the evolution of the two topologically inverted VKORs in archaea. Our results suggest a mechanistic basis for the formation of disulfide bonds in the cytoplasm of Crenarchaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stijntje Hibender
- Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Postbus 94216, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cristina Landeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Jon Beckwith
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dana Boyd
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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17
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Mizrachi D, Robinson MP, Ren G, Ke N, Berkmen M, DeLisa MP. A water-soluble DsbB variant that catalyzes disulfide-bond formation in vivo. Nat Chem Biol 2017; 13:1022-1028. [PMID: 28628094 PMCID: PMC5562517 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.2409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Escherichia coli DsbB is a transmembrane enzyme that catalyzes the reoxidation of the periplasmic oxidase DsbA by ubiquinone. Here, we sought to convert membrane-bound DsbB into a water-soluble biocatalyst by leveraging a previously described method for in vivo solubilization of integral membrane proteins (IMPs). When solubilized DsbB variants were coexpressed with an export-defective copy of DsbA in the cytoplasm of wild-type E. coli cells, artificial oxidation pathways were created that efficiently catalyzed de novo disulfide-bond formation in a range of substrate proteins, in a manner dependent on both DsbA and quinone. Hence, DsbB solubilization was achieved with preservation of both catalytic activity and substrate specificity. Moreover, given the generality of the solubilization technique, the results presented here should pave the way to unlocking the biocatalytic potential of other membrane-bound enzymes whose utility has been limited by poor stability of IMPs outside of their native lipid-bilayer context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Mizrachi
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Michael-Paul Robinson
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Guoping Ren
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Rd, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
| | - Na Ke
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Rd, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
| | - Mehmet Berkmen
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Rd, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
| | - Matthew P. DeLisa
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
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18
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Abstract
Escherichia coli continues to be a popular expression host for the production of proteins, yet successful recombinant expression of active proteins to high yields remains a trial and error process. This is mainly due to decoupling of the folding factors of a protein from its native host, when expressed recombinantly in E. coli. Failure to fold could be due to many reasons but is often due to lack of post-translational modifications that are absent in E. coli. One such post-translational modification is the formation of disulfide bonds, a common feature of secreted proteins. The genetically engineered SHuffle cells offer an expression solution to proteins that require disulfide bonds for their folding and activity. The purpose of this protocol unit is to familiarize the researcher with the biology of SHuffle cells and guide the experimental design in order to optimize and increase the chances of successful expression of their desired protein of choice. Example of the expression and purification of a model disulfide-bonded protein DsbC is described in detail. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Na Ke
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts
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19
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Lobstein J, Emrich CA, Jeans C, Faulkner M, Riggs P, Berkmen M. Erratum to: SHuffle, a novel Escherichia coli protein expression strain capable of correctly folding disulfide bonded proteins in its cytoplasm. Microb Cell Fact 2016; 15:124. [PMID: 27411489 PMCID: PMC4944262 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-016-0512-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chris Jeans
- QB3-MacroLab, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | | | - Paul Riggs
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA
| | - Mehmet Berkmen
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA. .,New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, USA.
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20
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Chatelle C, Kraemer S, Ren G, Chmura H, Marechal N, Boyd D, Roggemans C, Ke N, Riggs P, Bardwell J, Berkmen M. Converting a Sulfenic Acid Reductase into a Disulfide Bond Isomerase. Antioxid Redox Signal 2015; 23:945-57. [PMID: 26191605 PMCID: PMC4624244 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2014.6235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Posttranslational formation of disulfide bonds is essential for the folding of many secreted proteins. Formation of disulfide bonds in a protein with more than two cysteines is inherently fraught with error and can result in incorrect disulfide bond pairing and, consequently, misfolded protein. Protein disulfide bond isomerases, such as DsbC of Escherichia coli, can recognize mis-oxidized proteins and shuffle the disulfide bonds of the substrate protein into their native folded state. RESULTS We have developed a simple blue/white screen that can detect disulfide bond isomerization in vivo, using a mutant alkaline phosphatase (PhoA*) in E. coli. We utilized this screen to isolate mutants of the sulfenic acid reductase (DsbG) that allowed this protein to act as a disulfide bond isomerase. Characterization of the isolated mutants in vivo and in vitro allowed us to identify key amino acid residues responsible for oxidoreductase properties of thioredoxin-like proteins such as DsbC or DsbG. INNOVATION AND CONCLUSIONS Using these key residues, we also identified and characterized interesting environmental homologs of DsbG with novel properties, thus demonstrating the capacity of this screen to discover and elucidate mechanistic details of in vivo disulfide bond isomerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Chatelle
- 1 Protein Expression and Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts
| | - Stéphanie Kraemer
- 1 Protein Expression and Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts.,2 Actelion, Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Guoping Ren
- 1 Protein Expression and Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts
| | - Hannah Chmura
- 1 Protein Expression and Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts
| | - Nils Marechal
- 1 Protein Expression and Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts
| | - Dana Boyd
- 3 Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Caroline Roggemans
- 1 Protein Expression and Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts.,4 Novartis, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Na Ke
- 1 Protein Expression and Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts
| | - Paul Riggs
- 1 Protein Expression and Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts
| | - James Bardwell
- 5 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Mehmet Berkmen
- 1 Protein Expression and Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts
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21
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Ke
- New England Biolabs Ipswich Massachusetts
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22
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Lobstein J, Emrich CA, Jeans C, Faulkner M, Riggs P, Berkmen M. SHuffle, a novel Escherichia coli protein expression strain capable of correctly folding disulfide bonded proteins in its cytoplasm. Microb Cell Fact 2012; 11:56. [PMID: 22569138 PMCID: PMC3526497 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2859-11-56] [Citation(s) in RCA: 342] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2011] [Accepted: 05/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Production of correctly disulfide bonded proteins to high yields remains a challenge. Recombinant protein expression in Escherichia coli is the popular choice, especially within the research community. While there is an ever growing demand for new expression strains, few strains are dedicated to post-translational modifications, such as disulfide bond formation. Thus, new protein expression strains must be engineered and the parameters involved in producing disulfide bonded proteins must be understood. RESULTS We have engineered a new E. coli protein expression strain named SHuffle, dedicated to producing correctly disulfide bonded active proteins to high yields within its cytoplasm. This strain is based on the trxB gor suppressor strain SMG96 where its cytoplasmic reductive pathways have been diminished, allowing for the formation of disulfide bonds in the cytoplasm. We have further engineered a major improvement by integrating into its chromosome a signal sequenceless disulfide bond isomerase, DsbC. We probed the redox state of DsbC in the oxidizing cytoplasm and evaluated its role in assisting the formation of correctly folded multi-disulfide bonded proteins. We optimized protein expression conditions, varying temperature, induction conditions, strain background and the co-expression of various helper proteins. We found that temperature has the biggest impact on improving yields and that the E. coli B strain background of this strain was superior to the K12 version. We also discovered that auto-expression of substrate target proteins using this strain resulted in higher yields of active pure protein. Finally, we found that co-expression of mutant thioredoxins and PDI homologs improved yields of various substrate proteins. CONCLUSIONS This work is the first extensive characterization of the trxB gor suppressor strain. The results presented should help researchers design the appropriate protein expression conditions using SHuffle strains.
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23
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Berkmen M. Production of disulfide-bonded proteins in Escherichia coli. Protein Expr Purif 2012; 82:240-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2011.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2011] [Revised: 10/24/2011] [Accepted: 10/27/2011] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
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24
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Hemmis C, Berkmen M, Eser M, Schildbach J. TrbB from Conjugative Plasmid F: A Representative of a New Class of Dsbd-Dependent Disulfide Isomerases. Biophys J 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2010.12.1271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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25
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Shouldice SR, Cho SH, Boyd D, Heras B, Eser M, Beckwith J, Riggs P, Martin JL, Berkmen M. In vivooxidative protein folding can be facilitated by oxidationâreduction cycling. Mol Microbiol 2010; 75:13-28. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2009.06952.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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26
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Berkmen M, Boyd D, Beckwith J. The Nonconsecutive Disulfide Bond of Escherichia coli Phytase (AppA) Renders It Dependent on the Protein-disulfide Isomerase, DsbC. J Biol Chem 2005; 280:11387-94. [PMID: 15642731 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m411774200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of protein disulfide bonds in the Escherichia coli periplasm by the enzyme DsbA is an inaccurate process. Many eukaryotic proteins with nonconsecutive disulfide bonds expressed in E. coli require an additional protein for proper folding, the disulfide bond isomerase DsbC. Here we report studies on a native E. coli periplasmic acid phosphatase, phytase (AppA), which contains three consecutive and one nonconsecutive disulfide bonds. We show that AppA requires DsbC for its folding. However, the activity of an AppA mutant lacking its nonconsecutive disulfide bond is DsbC-independent. An AppA homolog, Agp, a periplasmic acid phosphatase with similar structure, lacks the nonconsecutive disulfide bond but has the three consecutive disulfide bonds found in AppA. The consecutively disulfide-bonded Agp is not dependent on DsbC but is rendered dependent by engineering into it the conserved nonconsecutive disulfide bond of AppA. Taken together, these results provide support for the proposal that proteins with nonconsecutive disulfide bonds require DsbC for full activity and that disulfide bonds are formed predominantly during translocation across the cytoplasmic membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Berkmen
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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27
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Schierle CF, Berkmen M, Huber D, Kumamoto C, Boyd D, Beckwith J. The DsbA signal sequence directs efficient, cotranslational export of passenger proteins to the Escherichia coli periplasm via the signal recognition particle pathway. J Bacteriol 2003; 185:5706-13. [PMID: 13129941 PMCID: PMC193964 DOI: 10.1128/jb.185.19.5706-5713.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Escherichia coli cytoplasmic protein thioredoxin 1 can be efficiently exported to the periplasmic space by the signal sequence of the DsbA protein (DsbAss) but not by the signal sequence of alkaline phosphatase (PhoA) or maltose binding protein (MBP). Using mutations of the signal recognition particle (SRP) pathway, we found that DsbAss directs thioredoxin 1 to the SRP export pathway. When DsbAss is fused to MBP, MBP also is directed to the SRP pathway. We show directly that the DsbAss-promoted export of MBP is largely cotranslational, in contrast to the mode of MBP export when the native signal sequence is utilized. However, both the export of thioredoxin 1 by DsbAss and the export of DsbA itself are quite sensitive to even the slight inhibition of SecA. These results suggest that SecA may be essential for both the slow posttranslational pathway and the SRP-dependent cotranslational pathway. Finally, probably because of its rapid folding in the cytoplasm, thioredoxin provides, along with gene fusion approaches, a sensitive assay system for signal sequences that utilize the SRP pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clark F Schierle
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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28
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Abstract
The dinI homolog of S. marcescens was cloned from a plasmid library by virtue of its ability to inhibit nuclease expression from the S. marcescens nucA gene integrated in the genome of E. coli. The S. marcescens DinI protein is 68% identical to DinI of E. coli. It has a similar effect on other SOS regulated genes and likely exerts it effect on nuclease expression, which is most pronounced as the cells entered stationary phase, through inhibition of basal SOS expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Berkmen
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5001, USA
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29
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Barlow T, Berkmen M, Georgellis D, Bayr L, Arvidson S, von Gabain A. RNase E, the major player in mRNA degradation, is down-regulated in Escherichia coli during a transient growth retardation (diauxic lag). Biol Chem 1998; 379:33-8. [PMID: 9504714 DOI: 10.1515/bchm.1998.379.1.33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The endoribonuclease RNase E plays a major part in mRNA degradation in Escherichia coli in addition to its role in processing rRNA. RNase E is encoded by an essential gene, rne, also known as ams and hmp, which is autoregulated post-transcriptionally. Here we report a transient decrease in the steady state level of the full-length rne transcript and a corresponding decline in the amount of the protein and enzymatic activity. During this period an mRNA fragment, lacking an intact 5' end, accumulates. This down-regulation of RNase E occurs under aerobic growth conditions in rich medium during a short diauxic lag in mid-exponential phase; it most likely reflects an exhaustion of a not yet identified medium compound which is followed by switching on a new metabolic pathway. During this lag, the levels of bulk protein are maintained. Our results suggest that a transient drop in the intracellular RNase E level is a means of cells to retard mRNA turnover in a period of adjustment to medium utilization. Furthermore, the here described regulation of the rne transcript and its cognate gene product seems to occur by an RNase E-independent mechanism responsive to changes in growth conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Barlow
- Microbiology and Tumorbiology Center, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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30
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Abstract
The recently discovered nucC locus of Serratia marcescens encodes the cryptic prophage genes nucE, nucD, and nucC. NucC is required for expression of the S. marcescens nuclease and functions as a transcriptional activator of the nuclease gene, nucA. NucE and NucD are dispensable for nuclease expression but were proposed to allow for secretion of the nuclease by Escherichia coli. Here, we show (i) that the NucE protein is membrane bound, (ii) that it can complement the lambda S holin, (iii) that it can be triggered by potassium cyanide, (iv) that it is detrimental to cell viability, and (v) that the concomitant expression of nucE and nucD results in cell lysis. Apparently NucE and NucD function as a holin and an endolysin, respectively. This suggests that their roles in nuclease secretion by E. coli are indirect, possibly through directed cell lysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Berkmen
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Vienna Biocenter, University of Vienna, Austria
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