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Moser C, Muhle-Goll C. Cell-free protein production of a gamma secretase homolog. Protein Expr Purif 2024; 215:106407. [PMID: 38000778 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2023.106407] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Cleavage of the transmembrane domain (TMD) of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) by γ-secretase, an intramembrane aspartyl protease, generates Aβ peptides of various lengths that form plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. Although the debate has not been finally resolved whether these plaques trigger the onset of Alzheimer's or are side products, disease-related mutations suggest their implication in the etiology of the dementia. These occur both in presenilin, the catalytic subunit of γ-secretase, and in the TMD of APP. Despite two seminal cryo-electron microscopy structures that show the complex of γ-secretase with its substrates APP and Notch, the mechanism of γ-secretase is not yet fully understood. Especially on which basis it selects its substrates is still an enigma. The presenilin homolog PSH from the archaeon Methanoculleus marisnigri JR1 (MCMJR1) is catalytically active without accessory proteins in contrast to γ-secretase making it an excellent model for studies of the basic cleavage process. We here focused on the cell-free expression of PSH screening a range of conditions. Cleavage assays to verify the activity show that not only the yield, but mainly the activity of the protease depends on the careful selection of expression conditions. Optimal results were found for a cell-free expression at relatively low temperature, 20 °C, employing cell lysates prepared from E. coli Rosetta cells. To speed up protein preparation for immediate functional assays, a crude purification protocol was developed. This allows to produce ready-made PSH in a fast and efficient manner in less than two days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Moser
- Institute for Biological Interfaces 4, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein- Leopoldshafen, Germany; Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Claudia Muhle-Goll
- Institute for Biological Interfaces 4, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein- Leopoldshafen, Germany; Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
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Borhani SG, Levine MZ, Krumpe LH, Wilson J, Henrich CJ, O'Keefe BR, Lo DC, Sittampalam GS, Godfrey AG, Lunsford RD, Mangalampalli V, Tao D, LeClair CA, Thole AP, Frey D, Swartz J, Rao G. An approach to rapid distributed manufacturing of broad spectrum anti-viral griffithsin using cell-free systems to mitigate pandemics. N Biotechnol 2023; 76:13-22. [PMID: 37054948 PMCID: PMC10330340 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
This study describes the cell-free biomanufacturing of a broad-spectrum antiviral protein, griffithsin (GRFT) such that it can be produced in microgram quantities with consistent purity and potency in less than 24 h. We demonstrate GRFT production using two independent cell-free systems, one plant and one microbial. Griffithsin purity and quality were verified using standard regulatory metrics. Efficacy was demonstrated in vitro against SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1 and was nearly identical to that of GRFT expressed in vivo. The proposed production process is efficient and can be readily scaled up and deployed wherever a viral pathogen might emerge. The current emergence of viral variants of SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in frequent updating of existing vaccines and loss of efficacy for front-line monoclonal antibody therapies. Proteins such as GRFT with its efficacious and broad virus neutralizing capability provide a compelling pandemic mitigation strategy to promptly suppress viral emergence at the source of an outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayan G Borhani
- Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA; Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - Max Z Levine
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5025, USA
| | - Lauren H Krumpe
- Molecular Targets Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI-Frederick, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jennifer Wilson
- Molecular Targets Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI-Frederick, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Curtis J Henrich
- Molecular Targets Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI-Frederick, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Barry R O'Keefe
- Molecular Targets Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI-Frederick, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Natural Products Branch, Developmental Therapeutics Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Donald C Lo
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - G Sitta Sittampalam
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Alexander G Godfrey
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - R Dwayne Lunsford
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Venkata Mangalampalli
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Dingyin Tao
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Christopher A LeClair
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Aaron P Thole
- Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA; Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - Douglas Frey
- Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA; Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - James Swartz
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5025, USA
| | - Govind Rao
- Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA; Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA.
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3
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Stark JC, Jaroentomeechai T, Warfel KF, Hershewe JM, DeLisa MP, Jewett MC. Rapid biosynthesis of glycoprotein therapeutics and vaccines from freeze-dried bacterial cell lysates. Nat Protoc 2023:10.1038/s41596-022-00799-z. [PMID: 37328605 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-022-00799-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The advent of distributed biomanufacturing platforms promises to increase agility in biologic production and expand access by reducing reliance on refrigerated supply chains. However, such platforms are not capable of robustly producing glycoproteins, which represent the majority of biologics approved or in development. To address this limitation, we developed cell-free technologies that enable rapid, modular production of glycoprotein therapeutics and vaccines from freeze-dried Escherichia coli cell lysates. Here, we describe a protocol for generation of cell-free lysates and freeze-dried reactions for on-demand synthesis of desired glycoproteins. The protocol includes construction and culture of the bacterial chassis strain, cell-free lysate production, assembly of freeze-dried reactions, cell-free glycoprotein synthesis, and glycoprotein characterization, all of which can be completed in one week or less. We anticipate that cell-free technologies, along with this comprehensive user manual, will help accelerate development and distribution of glycoprotein therapeutics and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C Stark
- Department of Chemistry & Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Thapakorn Jaroentomeechai
- Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katherine F Warfel
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Jasmine M Hershewe
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Matthew P DeLisa
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Michael C Jewett
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Simpson-Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Sato W, Zajkowski T, Moser F, Adamala KP. Synthetic cells in biomedical applications. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 14:e1761. [PMID: 34725945 PMCID: PMC8918002 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic cells are engineered vesicles that can mimic one or more salient features of life. These features include directed localization, sense-and-respond behavior, gene expression, metabolism, and high stability. In nanomedicine, many of these features are desirable capabilities of drug delivery vehicles but are difficult to engineer. In this focus article, we discuss where synthetic cells offer unique advantages over nanoparticle and living cell therapies. We review progress in the engineering of the above life-like behaviors and how they are deployed in nanomedicine. Finally, we assess key challenges synthetic cells face before being deployed as drugs and suggest ways to overcome these challenges. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Lipid-Based Structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wakana Sato
- 1 Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN US
| | - Tomasz Zajkowski
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, S. Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
- USRA at NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, CA 94035
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, 600 1st Avenue, Seattle WA 98104
| | - Felix Moser
- Synlife, Inc., One Kendall Square Suite B4401, Cambridge, MA 20139
| | - Katarzyna P. Adamala
- 1 Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN US
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Brookwell A, Oza JP, Caschera F. Biotechnology Applications of Cell-Free Expression Systems. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11121367. [PMID: 34947898 PMCID: PMC8705439 DOI: 10.3390/life11121367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free systems are a rapidly expanding platform technology with an important role in the engineering of biological systems. The key advantages that drive their broad adoption are increased efficiency, versatility, and low cost compared to in vivo systems. Traditionally, in vivo platforms have been used to synthesize novel and industrially relevant proteins and serve as a testbed for prototyping numerous biotechnologies such as genetic circuits and biosensors. Although in vivo platforms currently have many applications within biotechnology, they are hindered by time-constraining growth cycles, homeostatic considerations, and limited adaptability in production. Conversely, cell-free platforms are not hindered by constraints for supporting life and are therefore highly adaptable to a broad range of production and testing schemes. The advantages of cell-free platforms are being leveraged more commonly by the biotechnology community, and cell-free applications are expected to grow exponentially in the next decade. In this study, new and emerging applications of cell-free platforms, with a specific focus on cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS), will be examined. The current and near-future role of CFPS within metabolic engineering, prototyping, and biomanufacturing will be investigated as well as how the integration of machine learning is beneficial to these applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- August Brookwell
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, College of Science & Mathematics, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA;
| | - Javin P. Oza
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, College of Science & Mathematics, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA;
- Correspondence: (J.P.O.); (F.C.)
| | - Filippo Caschera
- Nuclera Nucleics Ltd., Cambridge CB4 0GD, UK
- Correspondence: (J.P.O.); (F.C.)
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