1
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Liang Q, Tu B, Cui L. Recombinant T7 RNA polymerase production using ClearColi BL21(DE3) and animal-free media for in vitro transcription. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:41. [PMID: 38180552 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12939-w] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
In vitro transcription (IVT) using T7 RNA polymerase (RNAP) is integral to RNA research, yet producing this enzyme in E. coli presents challenges regarding endotoxins and animal-sourced toxins. This study demonstrates the viable production and characterization of T7 RNAP using ClearColi BL21(DE3) (an endotoxin-free E. coli strain) and animal-free media. Compared to BL21(DE3) with animal-free medium, soluble T7 RNAP expression is ~50% lower in ClearColi BL21(DE3). Optimal soluble T7 RNAP expression in flask fermentation is achieved through the design of experiments (DoE). Specification and functional testing showed that the endotoxin-free T7 RNAP has comparable activity to conventional T7 RNAP. After Ni-NTA purification, endotoxin levels were approximately 109-fold lower than T7 RNAP from BL21(DE3) with animal-free medium. Furthermore, a full factorial DoE created an optimal IVT system that maximized mRNA yield from the endotoxin-free and animal-free T7 RNAP. This work addresses critical challenges in recombinant T7 RNAP production through innovative host and medium combinations, avoided endotoxin risks and animal-derived toxins. Together with an optimized IVT reaction system, this study represents a significant advance for safe and reliable reagent manufacturing and RNA therapeutics. KEY POINTS: • Optimized IVT system maximizes mRNA yields, enabling the synthesis of long RNAs. • Novel production method yields endotoxin-free and animal-free T7 RNAP. • The T7 RNAP has equivalent specifications and function to conventional T7 RNAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianying Liang
- School of Pharmacy & School of Biological and Food Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou, 213164, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Bowen Tu
- Pathogenic Biological Laboratory, Changzhou Disease Control and Prevention Centre, Changzhou Medical Centre, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Lun Cui
- School of Pharmacy & School of Biological and Food Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou, 213164, Jiangsu Province, China.
- CCZU-JITRI Joint Bio-X Lab, Changzhou AiRiBio Healthcare CO., LTD, Changzhou, 213164, Jiangsu Province, China.
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2
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Charbonneau AA, Reicks EJ, Cambria JF, Inman J, Danley D, Shockley EA, Davion R, Salgado I, Norton EG, Corbett LJ, Hanacek LE, Jensen JG, Kibodeaux MA, Kirkpatrick TK, Rausch KM, Roth SR, West B, Wilson KE, Lawrence CM, Cloninger MJ. CUREs for high-level Galectin-3 expression. Protein Expr Purif 2024; 221:106516. [PMID: 38801985 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2024.106516] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Galectins are a large and diverse protein family defined by the presence of a carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) that binds β-galactosides. They play important roles in early development, tissue regeneration, immune homeostasis, pathogen recognition, and cancer. In many cases, studies that examine galectin biology and the effect of manipulating galectins are aided by, or require the ability to express and purify, specific members of the galectin family. In many cases, E. coli is employed as a heterologous expression system, and galectin expression is induced with isopropyl β-galactoside (IPTG). Here, we show that galectin-3 recognizes IPTG with micromolar affinity and that as IPTG induces expression, newly synthesized galectin can bind and sequester cytosolic IPTG, potentially repressing further expression. To circumvent this putative inhibitory feedback loop, we utilized an autoinduction protocol that lacks IPTG, leading to significantly increased yields of galectin-3. Much of this work was done within the context of a course-based undergraduate research experience, indicating the ease and reproducibility of the resulting expression and purification protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth J Reicks
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - John F Cambria
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Jacob Inman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Daria Danley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Emmie A Shockley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Ravenor Davion
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Isabella Salgado
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Erienne G Norton
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Lucy J Corbett
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Lucy E Hanacek
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Jordan G Jensen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Marguerite A Kibodeaux
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Tess K Kirkpatrick
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Keilen M Rausch
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Samantha R Roth
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Bernadette West
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Kenai E Wilson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - C Martin Lawrence
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Mary J Cloninger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
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3
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Yang X, Cao S, Sun H, Deng Y, Zhang X, Li Y, Ma D, Chen H, Li W. The critical roles of the Zn 2Cys 6 transcription factor Fp487 in the development and virulence of Fusarium pseudograminearum: A potential target for Fusarium crown rot control. Microbiol Res 2024; 285:127784. [PMID: 38824820 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127784] [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: 02/25/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Fusarium crown rot (FCR) caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum poses a significant threat to wheat production in the Huang-Huai-Hai region of China. However, the pathogenic mechanism of F. pseudograminearum is still poorly understood. Zn2Cys6 transcription factors, which are exclusive to fungi, play pivotal roles in regulating fungal development, drug resistance, pathogenicity, and secondary metabolism. In this study, we present the functional characterization of a Zn2Cys6 transcription factor F. pseudograminearum, designated Fp487. In F. pseudograminearum, Fp487 is shown to be required for mycelial growth through gene knockout and phenotypic analyses. Compared with wild-type CF14047, the ∆Fp487 mutant displayed a slight reduction in growth rate but a significant decrease in conidiogenesis, pathogenicity and 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3AcDON) production. Moreover, the mutant exhibited heightened sensitivity to oxidative and cytomembrane stress. Furthermore, we synthesized dsRNA from the Fp487 gene in vitro, resulting in a reduction in the growth rate of F. pseudograminearum and its virulence on barley leaves through spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS). Notably, this study makes the first instance of inducing the expression of abundant dsRNA from F. pseudograminearum by engineering the Escherichia coli strain HT115 (DE3) and utilizing the SIGS technique to evaluate the virulence effect of dsRNA on F. pseudograminearum. In conclusion, our findings revealed the crucial role of Fp487 in regulating pathogenicity, stress responses, DON production, and conidiogenesis in F. pseudograminearum. Furthermore, Fp487 is a potential RNAi-based target for FCR control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyue Yang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Crop Production in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, China
| | - Shulin Cao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Centre for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Haiyan Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China
| | - Yuanyu Deng
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China
| | - Yan Li
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Crop Production in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, China
| | - Dongfang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Crop Production in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, China
| | - Huaigu Chen
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Centre for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
| | - Wei Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Centre for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
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4
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van der Sijs A, Visser T, Moerman P, Folkers G, Kegel W. Broccoli aptamer allows quantitative transcription regulation studies in vitro. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304677. [PMID: 38870160 PMCID: PMC11175446 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Quantitative transcription regulation studies in vivo and in vitro often make use of reporter proteins. Here we show that using Broccoli aptamers, quantitative study of transcription in various regulatory scenarios is possible without a translational step. To explore the method we studied several regulatory scenarios that we analyzed using thermodynamic occupancy-based models, and found excellent agreement with previous studies. In the next step we show that non-coding DNA can have a dramatic effect on the level of transcription, similar to the influence of the lac repressor with a strong affinity to operator sites. Finally, we point out the limitations of the method in terms of delay times coupled to the folding of the aptamer. We conclude that the Broccoli aptamer is suitable for quantitative transcription measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda van der Sijs
- Van ’t Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloidal Chemistry, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Visser
- Van ’t Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloidal Chemistry, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Pepijn Moerman
- Self-Organizing Soft Matter, Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Gert Folkers
- Utrecht NMR Group, Bijvoet Centre fo Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Willem Kegel
- Van ’t Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloidal Chemistry, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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5
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Hart MT, Rom JS, Le Breton Y, Hause LL, Belew AT, El-Sayed NM, McIver KS. The Streptococcus pyogenes stand-alone regulator RofA exhibits characteristics of a PRD-containing virulence regulator. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0008324. [PMID: 38712951 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00083-24] [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: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes [group A streptococcus (GAS)] is a human pathogen capable of infecting diverse tissues. To successfully infect these sites, GAS must detect available nutrients and adapt accordingly. The phosphoenolpyruvate transferase system (PTS) mediates carbohydrate uptake and metabolic gene regulation to adapt to the nutritional environment. Regulation by the PTS can occur through phosphorylation of transcriptional regulators at conserved PTS-regulatory domains (PRDs). GAS has several PRD-containing stand-alone regulators with regulons encoding both metabolic genes and virulence factors [PRD-containing virulence regulators (PCVRs)]. One is RofA, which regulates the expression of virulence genes in multiple GAS serotypes. It was hypothesized that RofA is phosphorylated by the PTS in response to carbohydrate levels to coordinate virulence gene expression. In this study, the RofA regulon of M1T1 strain 5448 was determined using RNA sequencing. Two operons were consistently differentially expressed across growth in the absence of RofA; the pilus operon was downregulated, and the capsule operon was upregulated. This correlated with increased capsule production and decreased adherence to keratinocytes. Purified RofA-His was phosphorylated in vitro by PTS proteins EI and HPr, and phosphorylated RofA-FLAG was detected in vivo when GAS was grown in low-glucose C medium. Phosphorylated RofA was not observed when C medium was supplemented 10-fold with glucose. Mutations of select histidine residues within the putative PRDs contributed to the in vivo phosphorylation of RofA, although phosphorylation of RofA was still observed, suggesting other phosphorylation sites exist in the protein. Together, these findings support the hypothesis that RofA is a PCVR that may couple sugar metabolism with virulence regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan T Hart
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph S Rom
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Yoann Le Breton
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Lara L Hause
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Ashton T Belew
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Najib M El-Sayed
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Kevin S McIver
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, College Park, Maryland, USA
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6
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Wanyu Z, Dongling N, Yae Z, Lianying J, Chenglin G, Rong C, Li H. Prokaryotic expression of DFP1 and DFP2 in Dermatophagoides farinae and their responses to temperature stress. Gene 2024; 927:148661. [PMID: 38871034 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
The functions of highly expressed genes DFP1 and DFP2 in Dermatophagoides farinae remain unknown. DFP1 and DFP2 have been abundantly annotated and were up-regulated under temperature stress at 43 °C and -10 °C in our previous RNA-seq study, indicating that DFP1 and DFP2 may have temperature stress response function. Here, we amplified, cloned, and sequenced to obtain the complete coding sequences of DFP1 and DFP2 and predicted their protein characteristics using bioinformatics analysis. Then, prokaryotic expression systems were constructed and found that DFP1 was expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta-gami 2 (DE3) but not BL21 (DE3); DFP2 was expressed in both BL21 (DE3) and Rosetta-gami 2 (DE3), with higher expression in BL21 (DE3). Finally, the growth curves of bacteria were drawn and indicated that the DFP1- and DFP2-pET32a carrying recombinant bacteria grew better than the respectiveonly pET32a carrying control bacteria after heat and cold stress. This study confirms for the first time that DFP1 and DFP2 respond to temperature stress at the protein level. The constructed prokaryotic expression systems will provide an experimental foundation for future antibody preparation for western blotting detection to confirm the temperature-stress response functions of DFP1 and DFP2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Wanyu
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Niu Dongling
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China; Clinical Laboratory Center, Xi'an People's Hospital, Xi'an Fourth Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an 710004, China
| | - Zhao Yae
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China.
| | - Jiao Lianying
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Guan Chenglin
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Chai Rong
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Hu Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
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7
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Johnson AO, Shipman BM, Hunt BC, Learman BS, Brauer AL, Zhou SP, Hageman Blair R, De Nisco NJ, Armbruster CE. Function and contribution of two putative Enterococcus faecalis glycosaminoglycan degrading enzymes to bacteremia and catheter-associated urinary tract infection. Infect Immun 2024:e0019924. [PMID: 38842305 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00199-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecalis is a common cause of healthcare-acquired bloodstream infections and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) in both adults and children. Treatment of E. faecalis infection is frequently complicated by multi-drug resistance. Based on protein homology, E. faecalis encodes two putative hyaluronidases, EF3023 (HylA) and EF0818 (HylB). In other Gram-positive pathogens, hyaluronidases have been shown to contribute to tissue damage and immune evasion, but the function in E. faecalis has yet to be explored. Here, we show that both hylA and hylB contribute to E. faecalis pathogenesis. In a CAUTI model, ΔhylA exhibited defects in bladder colonization and dissemination to the bloodstream, and ΔhylB exhibited a defect in kidney colonization. Furthermore, a ΔhylAΔhylB double mutant exhibited a severe colonization defect in a model of bacteremia while the single mutants colonized to a similar level as the wild-type strain, suggesting potential functional redundancy within the bloodstream. We next examined enzymatic activity, and demonstrate that HylB is capable of digesting both hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulfate in vitro, while HylA exhibits only a very modest activity against heparin. Importantly, HA degradation by HylB provided a modest increase in cell density during the stationary phase and also contributed to dampening of lipopolysaccharide-mediated NF-κB activation. Overall, these data demonstrate that glycosaminoglycan degradation is important for E. faecalis pathogenesis in the urinary tract and during bloodstream infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra O Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Braden M Shipman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
| | - Benjamin C Hunt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Brian S Learman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Aimee L Brauer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Serena P Zhou
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
| | - Rachael Hageman Blair
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Health Professions, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Nicole J De Nisco
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Chelsie E Armbruster
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
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8
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Brudenell EL, Pohare MB, Zafred D, Phipps J, Hornsby HR, Darby JF, Dai J, Liggett E, Cain KM, Barran PE, de Silva TI, Sayers JR. Efficient overexpression and purification of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 nucleocapsid proteins in Escherichia coli. Biochem J 2024; 481:669-682. [PMID: 38713013 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20240019] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The fundamental biology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleocapsid protein (Ncap), its use in diagnostic assays and its potential application as a vaccine component have received considerable attention since the outbreak of the Covid19 pandemic in late 2019. Here we report the scalable expression and purification of soluble, immunologically active, SARS-CoV-2 Ncap in Escherichia coli. Codon-optimised synthetic genes encoding the original Ncap sequence and four common variants with an N-terminal 6His affinity tag (sequence MHHHHHHG) were cloned into an inducible expression vector carrying a regulated bacteriophage T5 synthetic promoter controlled by lac operator binding sites. The constructs were used to express Ncap proteins and protocols developed which allow efficient production of purified Ncap with yields of over 200 mg per litre of culture media. These proteins were deployed in ELISA assays to allow comparison of their responses to human sera. Our results suggest that there was no detectable difference between the 6His-tagged and untagged original Ncap proteins but there may be a slight loss of sensitivity of sera to other Ncap isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Brudenell
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
| | - Manoj B Pohare
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
| | - Domen Zafred
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
| | - Janine Phipps
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
| | - Hailey R Hornsby
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
| | - John F Darby
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
| | - Junxiao Dai
- Michael Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Ellen Liggett
- Michael Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Kathleen M Cain
- Michael Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Perdita E Barran
- Michael Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry, Department of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Thushan I de Silva
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
| | - Jon R Sayers
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids and Florey Institute, Section of Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, U.K
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9
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Curry E, Muir G, Qu J, Kis Z, Hulley M, Brown A. Engineering an Escherichia coli based in vivo mRNA manufacturing platform. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:1912-1926. [PMID: 38419526 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28684] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic mRNA is currently produced in standardized in vitro transcription systems. However, this one-size-fits-all approach has associated drawbacks in supply chain shortages, high reagent costs, complex product-related impurity profiles, and limited design options for molecule-specific optimization of product yield and quality. Herein, we describe for the first time development of an in vivo mRNA manufacturing platform, utilizing an Escherichia coli cell chassis. Coordinated mRNA, DNA, cell and media engineering, primarily focussed on disrupting interactions between synthetic mRNA molecules and host cell RNA degradation machinery, increased product yields >40-fold compared to standard "unengineered" E. coli expression systems. Mechanistic dissection of cell factory performance showed that product mRNA accumulation levels approached theoretical limits, accounting for ~30% of intracellular total RNA mass, and that this was achieved via host-cell's reallocating biosynthetic capacity away from endogenous RNA and cell biomass generation activities. We demonstrate that varying sized functional mRNA molecules can be produced in this system and subsequently purified. Accordingly, this study introduces a new mRNA production technology, expanding the solution space available for mRNA manufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Curry
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - George Muir
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Jixin Qu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Zoltán Kis
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Adam Brown
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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10
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Gonçalves AAM, Ribeiro AJ, Resende CAA, Couto CAP, Gandra IB, Dos Santos Barcelos IC, da Silva JO, Machado JM, Silva KA, Silva LS, Dos Santos M, da Silva Lopes L, de Faria MT, Pereira SP, Xavier SR, Aragão MM, Candida-Puma MA, de Oliveira ICM, Souza AA, Nogueira LM, da Paz MC, Coelho EAF, Giunchetti RC, de Freitas SM, Chávez-Fumagalli MA, Nagem RAP, Galdino AS. Recombinant multiepitope proteins expressed in Escherichia coli cells and their potential for immunodiagnosis. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:145. [PMID: 38778337 PMCID: PMC11110257 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02418-w] [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: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Recombinant multiepitope proteins (RMPs) are a promising alternative for application in diagnostic tests and, given their wide application in the most diverse diseases, this review article aims to survey the use of these antigens for diagnosis, as well as discuss the main points surrounding these antigens. RMPs usually consisting of linear, immunodominant, and phylogenetically conserved epitopes, has been applied in the experimental diagnosis of various human and animal diseases, such as leishmaniasis, brucellosis, cysticercosis, Chagas disease, hepatitis, leptospirosis, leprosy, filariasis, schistosomiasis, dengue, and COVID-19. The synthetic genes for these epitopes are joined to code a single RMP, either with spacers or fused, with different biochemical properties. The epitopes' high density within the RMPs contributes to a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. The RMPs can also sidestep the need for multiple peptide synthesis or multiple recombinant proteins, reducing costs and enhancing the standardization conditions for immunoassays. Methods such as bioinformatics and circular dichroism have been widely applied in the development of new RMPs, helping to guide their construction and better understand their structure. Several RMPs have been expressed, mainly using the Escherichia coli expression system, highlighting the importance of these cells in the biotechnological field. In fact, technological advances in this area, offering a wide range of different strains to be used, make these cells the most widely used expression platform. RMPs have been experimentally used to diagnose a broad range of illnesses in the laboratory, suggesting they could also be useful for accurate diagnoses commercially. On this point, the RMP method offers a tempting substitute for the production of promising antigens used to assemble commercial diagnostic kits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Alice Maia Gonçalves
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Anna Julia Ribeiro
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Carlos Ananias Aparecido Resende
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Carolina Alves Petit Couto
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Isadora Braga Gandra
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Isabelle Caroline Dos Santos Barcelos
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Jonatas Oliveira da Silva
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Juliana Martins Machado
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Kamila Alves Silva
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Líria Souza Silva
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Michelli Dos Santos
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Lucas da Silva Lopes
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Mariana Teixeira de Faria
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Paula Pereira
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Sandra Rodrigues Xavier
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Matheus Motta Aragão
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Mayron Antonio Candida-Puma
- Computational Biology and Chemistry Research Group, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa, 04000, Peru
| | | | - Amanda Araujo Souza
- Biophysics Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasília, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Lais Moreira Nogueira
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Mariana Campos da Paz
- Bioactives and Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Antônio Ferraz Coelho
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 30130-100, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Cordeiro Giunchetti
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, National Institute of Science and Technology on Tropical Diseases (INCT-DT), Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Sonia Maria de Freitas
- Biophysics Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasília, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Miguel Angel Chávez-Fumagalli
- Computational Biology and Chemistry Research Group, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa, 04000, Peru
| | - Ronaldo Alves Pinto Nagem
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Alexsandro Sobreira Galdino
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Midwest Campus, Divinópolis, 35501-296, Brazil.
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11
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Khan H, Paul P, Goar H, Bamniya B, Baid N, Sarkar D. Mycobacterium tuberculosis PhoP integrates stress response to intracellular survival by regulating cAMP level. eLife 2024; 13:RP92136. [PMID: 38739431 PMCID: PMC11090507 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92136] [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] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis within the host macrophages requires the bacterial virulence regulator PhoP, but the underlying reason remains unknown. 3',5'-Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is one of the most widely used second messengers, which impacts a wide range of cellular responses in microbial pathogens including M. tuberculosis. Herein, we hypothesized that intra-bacterial cAMP level could be controlled by PhoP since this major regulator plays a key role in bacterial responses against numerous stress conditions. A transcriptomic analysis reveals that PhoP functions as a repressor of cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) Rv0805, which hydrolyzes cAMP. In keeping with these results, we find specific recruitment of the regulator within the promoter region of rv0805 PDE, and absence of phoP or ectopic expression of rv0805 independently accounts for elevated PDE synthesis, leading to the depletion of intra-bacterial cAMP level. Thus, genetic manipulation to inactivate PhoP-rv0805-cAMP pathway decreases cAMP level, stress tolerance, and intracellular survival of the bacillus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hina Khan
- CSIR, Institute of Microbial TechnologyChandigarhIndia
| | - Partha Paul
- CSIR, Institute of Microbial TechnologyChandigarhIndia
| | - Harsh Goar
- CSIR, Institute of Microbial TechnologyChandigarhIndia
| | - Bhanwar Bamniya
- CSIR, Institute of Microbial TechnologyChandigarhIndia
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative ResearchGhaziabadIndia
| | - Navin Baid
- CSIR, Institute of Microbial TechnologyChandigarhIndia
| | - Dibyendu Sarkar
- CSIR, Institute of Microbial TechnologyChandigarhIndia
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative ResearchGhaziabadIndia
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12
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Schoenmakers LLJ, den Uijl MJ, Postma JL, van den Akker TAP, Huck WTS, Driessen AJM. SecYEG-mediated translocation in a model synthetic cell. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2024; 9:ysae007. [PMID: 38807757 PMCID: PMC11131593 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) provide a powerful model compartment for synthetic cells. However, a key challenge is the incorporation of membrane proteins that allow for transport, energy transduction, compartment growth and division. Here, we have successfully incorporated the membrane protein complex SecYEG-the key bacterial translocase that is essential for the incorporation of newly synthesized membrane proteins-in GUVs. Our method consists of fusion of small unilamellar vesicles containing reconstituted SecYEG into GUVs, thereby forming SecGUVs. These are suitable for large-scale experiments while maintaining a high protein:lipid ratio. We demonstrate that incorporation of SecYEG into GUVs does not inhibit its translocation efficiency. Robust membrane protein functionalized proteo-GUVs are promising and flexible compartments for use in the formation and growth of synthetic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludo L J Schoenmakers
- Physical-Organic Chemistry, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Max J den Uijl
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Molecular Biotechnology, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Jelle L Postma
- General Instrumentation, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Tim A P van den Akker
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Molecular Biotechnology, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Wilhelm T S Huck
- Physical-Organic Chemistry, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Arnold J M Driessen
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Molecular Biotechnology, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
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13
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Nazir A, Shad M, Rehman HM, Azim N, Sajjad M. Application of SUMO fusion technology for the enhancement of stability and activity of lysophospholipase from Pyrococcus abyssi. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:183. [PMID: 38722449 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-03998-w] [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: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Heterologous production of proteins in Escherichia coli has raised several challenges including soluble production of target proteins, high levels of expression and purification. Fusion tags can serve as the important tools to overcome these challenges. SUMO (small ubiquitin-related modifier) is one of these tags whose fusion to native protein sequence can enhance its solubility and stability. In current research, a simple, efficient and cost-effective method is being discussed for the construction of pET28a-SUMO vector. In order to improve the stability and activity of lysophospholipase from Pyrococcus abyssi (Pa-LPL), a 6xHis-SUMO tag was fused to N-terminal of Pa-LPL by using pET28a-SUMO vector. Recombinant SUMO-fused enzyme (6 H-S-PaLPL) works optimally at 35 °C and pH 6.5 with remarkable thermostability at 35-95 °C. Thermo-inactivation kinetics of 6 H-S-PaLPL were also studied at 35-95 °C with first order rate constant (kIN) of 5.58 × 10- 2 h-1 and half-life of 12 ± 0 h at 95 °C. Km and Vmax for the hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl butyrate were calculated to be 2 ± 0.015 mM and 3882 ± 22.368 U/mg, respectively. 2.4-fold increase in Vmax of Pa-LPL was observed after fusion of 6xHis-SUMO tag to its N-terminal. It is the first report on the utilization of SUMO fusion tag to enhance the overall stability and activity of Pa-LPL. Fusion of 6xHis-SUMO tag not only aided in the purification process but also played a crucial role in increasing the thermostability and activity of the enzyme. SUMO-fused enzyme, thus generated, can serve as an important candidate for degumming of vegetable oils at industrial scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arshia Nazir
- School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Mohsin Shad
- School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Naseema Azim
- School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Sajjad
- School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
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14
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Johnson AO, Shipman BM, Hunt BC, Learman BS, Brauer AL, Zhou SP, Blair RH, De Nisco NJ, Armbruster CE. Function and contribution of two putative Enterococcus faecalis glycosaminoglycan degrading enzymes to bacteremia and catheter-associated urinary tract infection. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.08.593205. [PMID: 38766094 PMCID: PMC11100720 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.08.593205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Enterococcus faecalis is a common cause of healthcare acquired bloodstream infections and catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) in both adults and children. Treatment of E. faecalis infection is frequently complicated by multi-drug resistance. Based on protein homology, E. faecalis encodes two putative hyaluronidases, EF3023 (HylA) and EF0818 (HylB). In other Gram-positive pathogens, hyaluronidases have been shown to contribute to tissue damage and immune evasion, but function in E. faecalis has yet to be explored. Here, we show that both hylA and hylB contribute to E. faecalis pathogenesis. In a CAUTI model, Δ hylA exhibited defects in bladder colonization and dissemination to the bloodstream, and Δ hylB exhibited a defect in kidney colonization. Furthermore, a Δ hylA Δ hylB double mutant exhibited a severe colonization defect in a model of bacteremia while the single mutants colonized to a similar level as the wild-type strain, suggesting potential functional redundancy within the bloodstream. We next examined enzymatic activity, and demonstrate that HylB is capable of digesting both HA and CS in vitro while HylA exhibits only a very modest activity against heparin. Importantly, HA degradation by HylB provided a modest increase in cell density during stationary phase and also contributed to dampening of LPS-mediated NF-Bκ activation. Overall, these data demonstrate that glycosaminoglycan degradation is important for E. faecalis pathogenesis in the urinary tract and during bloodstream infection.
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15
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García-Bayona L, Said N, Coyne MJ, Flores K, Elmekki NM, Sheahan ML, Camacho AG, Hutt K, Yildiz FH, Kovács ÁT, Waldor MK, Comstock LE. A pervasive large conjugative plasmid mediates multispecies biofilm formation in the intestinal microbiota increasing resilience to perturbations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.29.590671. [PMID: 38746121 PMCID: PMC11092513 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.29.590671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Although horizontal gene transfer is pervasive in the intestinal microbiota, we understand only superficially the roles of most exchanged genes and how the mobile repertoire affects community dynamics. Similarly, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the ability of a community to recover after a perturbation. Here, we identified and functionally characterized a large conjugative plasmid that is one of the most frequently transferred elements among Bacteroidales species and is ubiquitous in diverse human populations. This plasmid encodes both an extracellular polysaccharide and fimbriae, which promote the formation of multispecies biofilms in the mammalian gut. We use a hybridization-based approach to visualize biofilms in clarified whole colon tissue with unprecedented 3D spatial resolution. These biofilms increase bacterial survival to common stressors encountered in the gut, increasing strain resiliency, and providing a rationale for the plasmid's recent spread and high worldwide prevalence.
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16
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Muñoz-Muñoz PLA, Terán-Ramírez C, Mares-Alejandre RE, Márquez-González AB, Madero-Ayala PA, Meléndez-López SG, Ramos-Ibarra MA. Surface Engineering of Escherichia coli to Display Its Phytase (AppA) and Functional Analysis of Enzyme Activities. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:3424-3437. [PMID: 38666945 PMCID: PMC11048855 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46040215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli phytase (AppA) is widely used as an exogenous enzyme in monogastric animal feed mainly because of its ability to degrade phytic acid or its salt (phytate), a natural source of phosphorus. Currently, successful recombinant production of soluble AppA has been achieved by gene overexpression using both bacterial and yeast systems. However, some methods for the biomembrane immobilization of phytases (including AppA), such as surface display on yeast cells and bacterial spores, have been investigated to avoid expensive enzyme purification processes. This study explored a homologous protein production approach for displaying AppA on the cell surface of E. coli by engineering its outer membrane (OM) for extracellular expression. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of total bacterial lysates and immunofluorescence microscopy of non-permeabilized cells revealed protein expression, whereas activity assays using whole cells or OM fractions indicated functional enzyme display, as evidenced by consistent hydrolytic rates on typical substrates (i.e., p-nitrophenyl phosphate and phytic acid). Furthermore, the in vitro results obtained using a simple method to simulate the gastrointestinal tract of poultry suggest that the whole-cell biocatalyst has potential as a feed additive. Overall, our findings support the notion that biomembrane-immobilized enzymes are reliable for the hydrolysis of poorly digestible substrates relevant to animal nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia L. A. Muñoz-Muñoz
- Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Group, School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana 22390, BCN, Mexico; (P.L.A.M.-M.); (C.T.-R.); (R.E.M.-A.); (A.B.M.-G.); (P.A.M.-A.); (S.G.M.-L.)
| | - Celina Terán-Ramírez
- Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Group, School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana 22390, BCN, Mexico; (P.L.A.M.-M.); (C.T.-R.); (R.E.M.-A.); (A.B.M.-G.); (P.A.M.-A.); (S.G.M.-L.)
- Biochemical Sciences Graduate Program (Doctorate Studies), National Autonomous University of Mexico, Cuernavaca 62210, MOR, Mexico
| | - Rosa E. Mares-Alejandre
- Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Group, School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana 22390, BCN, Mexico; (P.L.A.M.-M.); (C.T.-R.); (R.E.M.-A.); (A.B.M.-G.); (P.A.M.-A.); (S.G.M.-L.)
| | - Ariana B. Márquez-González
- Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Group, School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana 22390, BCN, Mexico; (P.L.A.M.-M.); (C.T.-R.); (R.E.M.-A.); (A.B.M.-G.); (P.A.M.-A.); (S.G.M.-L.)
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (Doctorate Studies), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Pablo A. Madero-Ayala
- Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Group, School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana 22390, BCN, Mexico; (P.L.A.M.-M.); (C.T.-R.); (R.E.M.-A.); (A.B.M.-G.); (P.A.M.-A.); (S.G.M.-L.)
- Science and Engineering Graduate Program (Doctorate Studies), Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana 22390, BCN, Mexico
| | - Samuel G. Meléndez-López
- Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Group, School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana 22390, BCN, Mexico; (P.L.A.M.-M.); (C.T.-R.); (R.E.M.-A.); (A.B.M.-G.); (P.A.M.-A.); (S.G.M.-L.)
| | - Marco A. Ramos-Ibarra
- Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Group, School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana 22390, BCN, Mexico; (P.L.A.M.-M.); (C.T.-R.); (R.E.M.-A.); (A.B.M.-G.); (P.A.M.-A.); (S.G.M.-L.)
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17
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da Costa Rodrigues T, Zorzete P, Miyaji EN, Gonçalves VM. Novel method for production and purification of untagged pneumococcal surface protein A from clade 1. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:281. [PMID: 38570417 PMCID: PMC10990985 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13098-2] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae can cause diseases with high mortality and morbidity. The licensed vaccines are based on capsular polysaccharides and induce antibodies with low cross reactivity, leading to restricted coverage of serotypes. For surpassing this limitation, new pneumococcal vaccines are needed for induction of broader protection. One important candidate is the pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), which can be classified in 6 clades and 3 families. We have reported an efficient process for production and purification of untagged recombinant PspA from clade 4 (PspA4Pro). We now aim to obtain a highly pure recombinant PspA from clade 1 (PspA1) to be included, together with PspA4Pro, in a vaccine formulation to broaden response against pneumococci. The vector pET28a-pspA1 was constructed and used to transform Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) strain. One clone with high production of PspA1 was selected and adapted to high-density fermentation (HDF) medium. After biomass production in 6 L HDF using a bioreactor, the purification was defined after testing 3 protocols. During the batch bioreactor cultivation, plasmid stability remained above 90% and acetate formation was not detected. The final protein purification process included treatment with a cationic detergent after lysis, anion exchange chromatography, cryoprecipitation, cation exchange chromatography, and multimodal chromatography. The final purification process showed PspA1 purity of 93% with low endotoxin content and an overall recovery above 20%. The novel established process can be easily scaled-up and proved to be efficient to obtain a highly pure untagged PspA1 for inclusion in vaccine formulations. KEY POINTS: • Purification strategy for recombinant PspA1 from Streptococcus pneumoniae • Downstream processing for untagged protein antigens, the case of PspA1 • Purification strategy for PspA variants relies on buried amino acids in their sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasson da Costa Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades Em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patricia Zorzete
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eliane Namie Miyaji
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades Em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Viviane Maimoni Gonçalves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades Em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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18
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Lara AR, Utrilla J, Martínez LM, Krausch N, Kaspersetz L, Hidalgo D, Cruz-Bournazou N, Neubauer P, Sigala JC, Gosset G, Büchs J. Recombinant protein expression in proteome-reduced cells under aerobic and oxygen-limited regimes. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:1216-1230. [PMID: 38178599 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28645] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Industrial cultures are hindered by the physiological complexity of the host and the limited mass transfer capacity of conventional bioreactors. In this study, a minimal cell approach was combined with genetic devices to overcome such issues. A flavin mononucleotide-based fluorescent protein (FbFP) was expressed in a proteome-reduced Escherichia coli (PR). When FbFP was expressed from a constitutive protein generator (CPG), the PR strain produced 47% and 35% more FbFP than its wild type (WT), in aerobic or oxygen-limited regimes, respectively. Metabolic and expression models predicted more efficient biomass formation at higher fluxes to FbFP, in agreement with these results. A microaerobic protein generator (MPG) and a microaerobic transcriptional cascade (MTC) were designed to induce FbFP expression upon oxygen depletion. The FbFP fluorescence using the MTC in the PR strain was 9% higher than that of the WT bearing the CPG under oxygen limitation. To further improve the PR strain, the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex regulator gene was deleted, and the Vitreoscilla hemoglobin was expressed. Compared to oxygen-limited cultures of the WT, the engineered strains increased the FbFP expression more than 50% using the MTC. Therefore, the designed expression systems can be a valuable alternative for industrial cultivations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro R Lara
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jose Utrilla
- Synthetic Biology Program, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Luz María Martínez
- Departamento de Ingeniería Celular y Biocatálisis, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Niels Krausch
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lucas Kaspersetz
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - David Hidalgo
- Synthetic Biology Program, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | | | - Peter Neubauer
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Juan-Carlos Sigala
- Departamento de Procesos y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Guillermo Gosset
- Departamento de Ingeniería Celular y Biocatálisis, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Jochen Büchs
- Chair of Biochemical Engineering (AVT.BioVT), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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19
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Hardebeck S, Jácobo Goebbels N, Michalski C, Schreiber S, Jose J. Identification of a potent PCNA-p15-interaction inhibitor by autodisplay-based peptide library screening. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14471. [PMID: 38646975 PMCID: PMC11033925 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is an essential factor for DNA metabolism. The influence of PCNA on DNA replication and repair, combined with the high expression rate of PCNA in various tumours renders PCNA a promising target for cancer therapy. In this context, an autodisplay-based screening method was developed to identify peptidic PCNA interaction inhibitors. A 12-mer randomized peptide library consisting of 2.54 × 106 colony-forming units was constructed and displayed at the surface of Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells by autodisplay. Cells exhibiting an enhanced binding to fluorescent mScarlet-I-PCNA were enriched in four sorting rounds by flow cytometry. This led to the discovery of five peptide variants with affinity to mScarlet-I-PCNA. Among these, P3 (TCPLRWITHDHP) exhibited the highest binding signal. Subsequent flow cytometric analysis revealed a dissociation constant of 0.62 μM for PCNA-P3 interaction. Furthermore, the inhibition of PCNA interactions was investigated using p15, a PIP-box containing protein involved in DNA replication and repair. P3 inhibited the PCNA-p1551-70 interaction with a half maximal inhibitory activity of 16.2 μM, characterizing P3 as a potent inhibitor of the PCNA-p15 interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Hardebeck
- University of MünsterInstitute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal ChemistryMünsterGermany
| | | | - Caroline Michalski
- University of MünsterInstitute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal ChemistryMünsterGermany
| | - Sebastian Schreiber
- University of MünsterInstitute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal ChemistryMünsterGermany
| | - Joachim Jose
- University of MünsterInstitute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal ChemistryMünsterGermany
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20
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Möller AM, Vázquez-Hernández M, Kutscher B, Brysch R, Brückner S, Marino EC, Kleetz J, Senges CHR, Schäkermann S, Bandow JE, Narberhaus F. Common and varied molecular responses of Escherichia coli to five different inhibitors of the lipopolysaccharide biosynthetic enzyme LpxC. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107143. [PMID: 38458396 PMCID: PMC10998244 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107143] [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: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
A promising yet clinically unexploited antibiotic target in difficult-to-treat Gram-negative bacteria is LpxC, the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of lipopolysaccharides, which are the major constituents of the outer membrane. Despite the development of dozens of chemically diverse LpxC inhibitor molecules, it is essentially unknown how bacteria counteract LpxC inhibition. Our study provides comprehensive insights into the response against five different LpxC inhibitors. All compounds bound to purified LpxC from Escherichia coli. Treatment of E. coli with these compounds changed the cell shape and stabilized LpxC suggesting that FtsH-mediated proteolysis of the inactivated enzyme is impaired. LpxC inhibition sensitized E. coli to vancomycin and rifampin, which poorly cross the outer membrane of intact cells. Four of the five compounds led to an accumulation of lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine, a cleavage product of phosphatidylethanolamine, generated by the phospholipase PldA. The combined results suggested an imbalance in lipopolysaccharides and phospholipid biosynthesis, which was corroborated by the global proteome response to treatment with the LpxC inhibitors. Apart from LpxC itself, FabA and FabB responsible for the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids were consistently induced. Upregulated compound-specific proteins are involved in various functional categories, such as stress reactions, nucleotide, or amino acid metabolism and quorum sensing. Our work shows that antibiotics targeting the same enzyme do not necessarily elicit identical cellular responses. Moreover, we find that the response of E. coli to LpxC inhibition is distinct from the previously reported response in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Maria Möller
- Microbial Biology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Blanka Kutscher
- Microbial Biology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Raffael Brysch
- Microbial Biology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Simon Brückner
- Microbial Biology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Emily C Marino
- Microbial Biology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Julia Kleetz
- Microbial Biology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Christoph H R Senges
- Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sina Schäkermann
- Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Julia E Bandow
- Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Franz Narberhaus
- Microbial Biology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
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21
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Bull JJ, Wichman HA, Krone SM, Molineux IJ. Controlling Recombination to Evolve Bacteriophages. Cells 2024; 13:585. [PMID: 38607024 PMCID: PMC11011186 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070585] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Recombination among different phages sometimes facilitates their ability to grow on new hosts. Protocols to direct the evolution of phage host range, as might be used in the application of phage therapy, would then benefit from including steps to enable recombination. Applying mathematical and computational models, in addition to experiments using phages T3 and T7, we consider ways that a protocol may influence recombination levels. We first address coinfection, which is the first step to enabling recombination. The multiplicity of infection (MOI, the ratio of phage to cell concentration) is insufficient for predicting (co)infection levels. The force of infection (the rate at which cells are infected) is also critical but is more challenging to measure. Using both a high force of infection and high MOI (>1) for the different phages ensures high levels of coinfection. We also apply a four-genetic-locus model to study protocol effects on recombinant levels. Recombinants accumulate over multiple generations of phage growth, less so if one phage outgrows the other. Supplementing the phage pool with the low-fitness phage recovers some of this 'lost' recombination. Overall, fine tuning of phage recombination rates will not be practical with wild phages, but qualitative enhancement can be attained with some basic procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. Bull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
- Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
| | - Holly A. Wichman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
- Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
| | - Stephen M. Krone
- Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
- Department of Mathematics and Statistical Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Ian J. Molineux
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular Biosciences, LaMontagne Center for Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA;
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22
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Ensinck D, Gerhardt ECM, Rollan L, Huergo LF, Gramajo H, Diacovich L. The PII protein interacts with the Amt ammonium transport and modulates nitrate/nitrite assimilation in mycobacteria. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1366111. [PMID: 38591044 PMCID: PMC11001197 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1366111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
PII proteins are signal transduction proteins that belong to a widely distributed family of proteins involved in the modulation of different metabolisms in bacteria. These proteins are homotrimers carrying a flexible loop, named T-loop, which changes its conformation due to the recognition of diverse key metabolites, ADP, ATP, and 2-oxoglutarate. PII proteins interact with different partners to primarily regulate a set of nitrogen pathways. In some organisms, PII proteins can also control carbon metabolism by interacting with the biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP), a key component of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) enzyme complex, inhibiting its activity with the consequent reduction of fatty acid biosynthesis. Most bacteria contain at least two PII proteins, named GlnB and GlnK, with different regulatory roles. In mycobacteria, only one PII protein was identified, and the three-dimensional structure was solved, however, its physiological role is unknown. In this study we purified the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) PII protein, named GlnB, and showed that it weakly interacts with the AccA3 protein, the α subunit shared by the three different, and essential, Acyl-CoA carboxylase complexes (ACCase 4, 5, and 6) present in M. tb. A M. smegmatis deletion mutant, ∆MsPII, exhibited a growth deficiency on nitrate and nitrite as unique nitrogen sources, and accumulated nitrite in the culture supernatant. In addition, M. tb PII protein was able to interact with the C-terminal domain of the ammonium transporter Amt establishing the ancestral role for this PII protein as a GlnK functioning protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delfina Ensinck
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Edileusa C. M. Gerhardt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Lara Rollan
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Luciano F. Huergo
- Setor Litoral, Federal University of Paraná, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Matinhos, Paraná, Brazil
- Graduated Program in Sciences-Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Hugo Gramajo
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Lautaro Diacovich
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
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23
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Tao K, Narita SI, Okada U, Murakami S, Tokuda H. Dissection of an ABC transporter LolCDE function analyzed by photo-crosslinking. J Biochem 2024; 175:427-437. [PMID: 38156779 PMCID: PMC11005994 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvad118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The envelope of Escherichia coli contains approximately 100 different species of lipoproteins, most of which are localized to the inner leaflet of the outer membrane. The localization of lipoprotein (Lol) system, consisting of five Lol proteins, is responsible for the trafficking of lipoproteins to the outer membrane. LolCDE binds to lipoproteins destined for the outer membrane and transfers them to the periplasmic chaperone LolA. Although the cryo-EM structures of E. coli LolCDE have been reported, the mechanisms by which outer membrane lipoproteins are transferred to LolA remain elusive. In this study, we investigated the interaction between LolCDE and lipoproteins using site-specific photo-crosslinking. We introduced a photo-crosslinkable amino acid into different locations across the four helices which form the central lipoprotein-binding cavity, and identified domains that crosslink with peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (Pal) in vivo. Using one of the derivatives containing the photo-crosslinkable amino acid, we developed an in vitro system to analyze the binding of lipoproteins to LolCDE. Our results indicate that compound 2, a LolCDE inhibitor, does not inhibit the binding of lipoproteins to LolCDE, but rather promotes the dissociation of bound lipoproteins from LolCDE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuyuki Tao
- Isotope Science Center, University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunky-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Shin-ichiro Narita
- Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Yamagata Prefectural Yonezawa University of Nutrition Sciences, Yonezawa, Yamagata 992-0025, Japan
| | - Ui Okada
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Satoshi Murakami
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Hajime Tokuda
- Faculty of Nutritional Sciences, University of Morioka, Takizawa, Iwate 020-0694, Japan
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24
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Wenzel S, Hess R, Kiefer D, Kuhn A. Involvement of the Cell Division Protein DamX in the Infection Process of Bacteriophage T4. Viruses 2024; 16:487. [PMID: 38675830 PMCID: PMC11054660 DOI: 10.3390/v16040487] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanism of how the infecting DNA of bacteriophage T4 passes from the capsid through the bacterial cell wall and enters the cytoplasm is essentially unknown. After adsorption, the short tail fibers of the infecting phage extend from the baseplate and trigger the contraction of the tail sheath, leading to a puncturing of the outer membrane by the tail tip needle composed of the proteins gp5.4, gp5 and gp27. To explore the events that occur in the periplasm and at the inner membrane, we constructed T4 phages that have a modified gp27 in their tail tip with a His-tag. Shortly after infection with these phages, cells were chemically cross-linked and solubilized. The cross-linked products were affinity-purified on a nickel column and the co-purified proteins were identified by mass spectrometry, and we found that predominantly the inner membrane proteins DamX, SdhA and PpiD were cross-linked. The same partner proteins were identified when purified gp27 was added to Escherichia coli spheroplasts, suggesting a direct protein-protein interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Andreas Kuhn
- Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, 190h, Garbenstr. 30, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; (S.W.); (R.H.); (D.K.)
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25
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Hansen AL, Theisen FF, Crehuet R, Marcos E, Aghajari N, Willemoës M. Carving out a Glycoside Hydrolase Active Site for Incorporation into a New Protein Scaffold Using Deep Network Hallucination. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:862-875. [PMID: 38357862 PMCID: PMC10949244 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00674] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Enzymes are indispensable biocatalysts for numerous industrial applications, yet stability, selectivity, and restricted substrate recognition present limitations for their use. Despite the importance of enzyme engineering in overcoming these limitations, success is often challenged by the intricate architecture of enzymes derived from natural sources. Recent advances in computational methods have enabled the de novo design of simplified scaffolds with specific functional sites. Such scaffolds may be advantageous as platforms for enzyme engineering. Here, we present a strategy for the de novo design of a simplified scaffold of an endo-α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase active site, a glycoside hydrolase from the GH101 enzyme family. Using a combination of trRosetta hallucination, iterative cycles of deep-learning-based structure prediction, and ProteinMPNN sequence design, we designed proteins with 290 amino acids incorporating the active site while reducing the molecular weight by over 100 kDa compared to the initial endo-α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase. Of 11 tested designs, six were expressed as soluble monomers, displaying similar or increased thermostabilities compared to the natural enzyme. Despite lacking detectable enzymatic activity, the experimentally determined crystal structures of a representative design closely matched the design with a root-mean-square deviation of 1.0 Å, with most catalytically important side chains within 2.0 Å. The results highlight the potential of scaffold hallucination in designing proteins that may serve as a foundation for subsequent enzyme engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Lønstrup Hansen
- The
Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Section for Biomolecular
Sciences, Department of Biology, University
of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Frederik Friis Theisen
- The
Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Section for Biomolecular
Sciences, Department of Biology, University
of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ramon Crehuet
- Institute
for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC), CSIC, Carrer Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enrique Marcos
- Protein
Design and Modeling Lab, Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB), CSIC, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nushin Aghajari
- Molecular
Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, CNRS, University of Lyon1, UMR5086, 7 Passage du Vercors, F-69367 Lyon CEDEX 07, France
| | - Martin Willemoës
- The
Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Section for Biomolecular
Sciences, Department of Biology, University
of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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26
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Zhang Y, Anbir S, McTiernan J, Li S, Worcester M, Mishra P, Colvin ME, Gopinathan A, Mohideen U, Zandi R, Kuhlman TE. Synthesis, insertion, and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein within lipid bilayers. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadm7030. [PMID: 38416838 PMCID: PMC10901468 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adm7030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Throughout history, coronaviruses have posed challenges to both public health and the global economy; nevertheless, methods to combat them remain rudimentary, primarily due to the absence of experiments to understand the function of various viral components. Among these, membrane (M) proteins are one of the most elusive because of their small size and challenges with expression. Here, we report the development of an expression system to produce tens to hundreds of milligrams of M protein per liter of Escherichia coli culture. These large yields render many previously inaccessible structural and biophysical experiments feasible. Using cryo-electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, we image and characterize individual membrane-incorporated M protein dimers and discover membrane thinning in the vicinity, which we validated with molecular dynamics simulations. Our results suggest that the resulting line tension, along with predicted induction of local membrane curvature, could ultimately drive viral assembly and budding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhong Zhang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Sara Anbir
- Biophysics Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Joseph McTiernan
- Department of Physics, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95340, USA
| | - Siyu Li
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Michael Worcester
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Pratyasha Mishra
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Michael E. Colvin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95340, USA
| | - Ajay Gopinathan
- Department of Physics, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95340, USA
| | - Umar Mohideen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Biophysics Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Roya Zandi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Biophysics Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Thomas E. Kuhlman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Biophysics Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Microbiology Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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27
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Gercke D, Lenz F, Jose J. Split-GFP complementation at the bacterial cell surface for antibody-free labeling and quantification of heterologous protein display. Enzyme Microb Technol 2024; 174:110391. [PMID: 38176324 DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2023.110391] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The split-GFP system is a versatile tool with numerous applications, but it has been underutilized for the labeling of heterologous surface-displayed proteins. By inserting the 16 amino acid sequence of the GFP11-tag between a protein of interest and an autotransporter protein, it is possible to present a protein at the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria and to fluorescently label it by complementation with externally added GFP1-10. The labeled cells could be clearly discerned from cells without the protein of interest using flow cytometry and the insertion of the GFP11-tag caused no significant alteration of the catalytic activity for the tested model enzyme CsBglA. Furthermore, the amount of the protein of interest on the cells could be quantified by comparing the green fluorescence resulting from the complementation to that of standards with known concentrations. This allows a precise characterization of whole-cell biocatalysts, which is difficult with existing methods. The split-GFP complementation approach was shown to be specific, in a similar manner as commercial antibodies. It is cost-efficient, minimizes the possibility of adverse effects on protein expression or solubility, and can be performed at high throughput.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Gercke
- Universität Münster, Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, PharmaCampus, Corrensstrasse 48, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Florian Lenz
- Universität Münster, Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, PharmaCampus, Corrensstrasse 48, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Joachim Jose
- Universität Münster, Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, PharmaCampus, Corrensstrasse 48, 48149 Münster, Germany.
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28
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Després PC, Dubé AK, Grenier J, Picard MÈ, Shi R, Landry CR. Compensatory mutations potentiate constructive neutral evolution by gene duplication. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.12.579783. [PMID: 38405844 PMCID: PMC10888846 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.12.579783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Protein functions generally depend on their assembly into complexes. During evolution, some complexes have transitioned from homomers encoded by a single gene to heteromers encoded by duplicate genes. This transition could occur without adaptive evolution through intermolecular compensatory mutations. Here, we experimentally duplicate and evolve an homodimeric enzyme to examine if and how this could happen. We identify hundreds of deleterious mutations that inactivate individual homodimers but produce functional enzymes when co-expressed as duplicated proteins that heterodimerize. The structure of one such heteromer reveals how both losses of function are buffered through the introduction of asymmetry in the complex that allows them to subfunctionalize. Constructive neutral evolution can thus occur by gene duplication followed by only one deleterious mutation per duplicate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe C Després
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- PROTEO, Le regroupement québécois de recherche sur la fonction, l'ingénierie et les applications des protéines, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre de Recherche sur les Données Massives, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Alexandre K Dubé
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- PROTEO, Le regroupement québécois de recherche sur la fonction, l'ingénierie et les applications des protéines, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre de Recherche sur les Données Massives, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Jordan Grenier
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- PROTEO, Le regroupement québécois de recherche sur la fonction, l'ingénierie et les applications des protéines, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Picard
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- PROTEO, Le regroupement québécois de recherche sur la fonction, l'ingénierie et les applications des protéines, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Rong Shi
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- PROTEO, Le regroupement québécois de recherche sur la fonction, l'ingénierie et les applications des protéines, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Christian R Landry
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- PROTEO, Le regroupement québécois de recherche sur la fonction, l'ingénierie et les applications des protéines, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre de Recherche sur les Données Massives, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, G1V 0A6, Canada
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Nie M, Wang J, Zhang K. Engineering a Novel Acetyl-CoA Pathway for Efficient Biosynthesis of Acetyl-CoA-Derived Compounds. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:358-369. [PMID: 38151239 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00613] [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] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Acetyl-CoA is an essential central metabolite in living organisms and a key precursor for various value-added products as well. However, the intracellular availability of acetyl-CoA limits the efficient production of these target products due to complex and strict regulation. Here, we proposed a new acetyl-CoA pathway, relying on two enzymes, threonine aldolase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (acetylating), which can convert one l-threonine into one acetyl-CoA, one glycine, and generate one NADH, without carbon loss. Introducing the acetyl-CoA pathway could increase the intracellular concentration of acetyl-CoA by 8.6-fold compared with the wild-type strain. To develop a cost-competitive and genetically stable acetyl-CoA platform strain, the new acetyl-CoA pathway, driven by the constitutive strong promoter, was integrated into the chromosome of Escherichia coli. We demonstrated the practical application of this new acetyl-CoA pathway by high titer production of β-alanine, mevalonate, and N-acetylglucosamine. At the same time, this pathway achieved a high-yield production of glycine, a value-added commodity chemical for the synthesis of glyphosate and thiamphenicol. This work shows the potential of this new acetyl-CoA pathway for the industrial production of acetyl-CoA-derived compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengzhen Nie
- Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
- Center of Synthetic Biology and Integrated Bioengineering, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310030, China
| | - Jingyu Wang
- Center of Synthetic Biology and Integrated Bioengineering, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310030, China
| | - Kechun Zhang
- Center of Synthetic Biology and Integrated Bioengineering, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310030, China
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30
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Hussain A, Ray MK. Role of DEAD-box RNA helicases in low-temperature adapted growth of Antarctic Pseudomonas syringae Lz4W. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0433522. [PMID: 38014988 PMCID: PMC10783127 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04335-22] [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: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE RNA metabolism is important as RNA acts as a link between genomic information and functional biomolecules, thereby playing a critical role in cellular response to environment. We investigated the role of DEAD-box RNA helicases in low-temperature adapted growth of P. syringae, as this group of enzymes play an essential role in modulation of RNA secondary structures. This is the first report on the assessment of all major DEAD-box RNA helicases in any Antarctic bacterium. Of the five RNA helicases, three (srmB, csdA, and dbpA) are important for the growth of the Antarctic P. syringae at low temperature. However, the requisite role of dbpA and the indispensable requirement of csdA for low-temperature adapted growth are a novel finding of this study. Growth analysis of combinatorial deletion strains was performed to understand the functional interaction among helicase genes. Similarly, genetic complementation of RNA helicase mutants was conducted for identification of gene redundancy in P. syringae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashaq Hussain
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Malay Kumar Ray
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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31
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Vazulka S, Schiavinato M, Tauer C, Wagenknecht M, Cserjan-Puschmann M, Striedner G. RNA-seq reveals multifaceted gene expression response to Fab production in Escherichia coli fed-batch processes with particular focus on ribosome stalling. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:14. [PMID: 38183013 PMCID: PMC10768439 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02278-w] [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: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Escherichia coli is a cost-effective expression system for production of antibody fragments like Fabs. Various yield improvement strategies have been applied, however, Fabs remain challenging to produce. This study aimed to characterize the gene expression response of commonly used E. coli strains BL21(DE3) and HMS174(DE3) to periplasmic Fab expression using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Two Fabs, Fabx and FTN2, fused to a post-translational translocation signal sequence, were produced in carbon-limited fed-batch cultivations. RESULTS Production of Fabx impeded cell growth substantially stronger than FTN2 and yields of both Fabs differed considerably. The most noticeable, common changes in Fab-producing cells suggested by our RNA-seq data concern the cell envelope. The Cpx and Psp stress responses, both connected to inner membrane integrity, were activated, presumably by recombinant protein aggregation and impairment of the Sec translocon. The data additionally suggest changes in lipopolysaccharide synthesis, adjustment of membrane permeability, and peptidoglycan maturation and remodeling. Moreover, all Fab-producing strains showed depletion of Mg2+, indicated by activation of the PhoQP two-component signal transduction system during the early stage and sulfur and phosphate starvation during the later stage of the process. Furthermore, our data revealed ribosome stalling, caused by the Fabx amino acid sequence, as a contributor to low Fabx yields. Increased Fabx yields were obtained by a site-specific amino acid exchange replacing the stalling sequence. Contrary to expectations, cell growth was not impacted by presence or removal of the stalling sequence. Considering ribosome rescue is a conserved mechanism, the substantial differences observed in gene expression between BL21(DE3) and HMS174(DE3) in response to ribosome stalling on the recombinant mRNA were surprising. CONCLUSIONS Through characterization of the gene expression response to Fab production under industrially relevant cultivation conditions, we identified potential cell engineering targets. Thereby, we hope to enable rational approaches to improve cell fitness and Fab yields. Furthermore, we highlight ribosome stalling caused by the amino acid sequence of the recombinant protein as a possible challenge during recombinant protein production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Vazulka
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Production of Next-Level Biopharmaceuticals in E. Coli, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matteo Schiavinato
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Computational Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christopher Tauer
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Production of Next-Level Biopharmaceuticals in E. Coli, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Wagenknecht
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV, GmbH & Co KG, Dr.-Boehringer-Gasse 5-11, A-1120, Vienna, Austria
| | - Monika Cserjan-Puschmann
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Production of Next-Level Biopharmaceuticals in E. Coli, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Gerald Striedner
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Production of Next-Level Biopharmaceuticals in E. Coli, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
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32
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den Uijl MJ, Driessen AJM. Phospholipid dependency of membrane protein insertion by the Sec translocon. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2024; 1866:184232. [PMID: 37734458 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2023.184232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Membrane protein insertion into and translocation across the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane are essential processes facilitated by the Sec translocon. Membrane insertion occurs co-translationally whereby the ribosome nascent chain is targeted to the translocon via signal recognition particle and its receptor FtsY. The phospholipid dependence of membrane protein insertion has remained mostly unknown. Here we assessed in vitro the dependence of the SecA independent insertion of the mannitol permease MtlA into the membrane on the main phospholipid species present in Escherichia coli. We observed that insertion depends on the presence of phosphatidylglycerol and is due to the anionic nature of the polar headgroup, while insertion is stimulated by the zwitterionic phosphatidylethanolamine. We found an optimal insertion efficiency at about 30 mol% DOPG and 50 mol% DOPE which approaches the bulk membrane phospholipid composition of E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max J den Uijl
- University of Groningen, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Arnold J M Driessen
- University of Groningen, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
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33
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Kumar A, Kamuju V, Vivekanandan P. RNA G-quadruplexes inhibit translation of the PE/PPE transcripts in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105567. [PMID: 38103641 PMCID: PMC10801317 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105567] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) in bacteria remains poorly understood. High G-quadruplex densities have been linked to organismal stress. Here we investigate rG4s in mycobacteria, which survive highly stressful conditions within the host. We show that rG4-enrichment is a unique feature exclusive to slow-growing pathogenic mycobacteria, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) transcripts contain an abundance of folded rG4s. Notably, the PE/PPE family of genes, unique to slow-growing pathogenic mycobacteria, contain over 50% of rG4s within Mtb transcripts. We found that RNA oligonucleotides of putative rG4s in PE/PPE genes form G-quadruplex structures in vitro, which are stabilized by the G-quadruplex ligand BRACO19. Furthermore, BRACO19 inhibits the transcription of PE/PPE genes and selectively suppresses the growth of Mtb but not Mycobacterium smegmatis or other rapidly growing bacteria. Importantly, the stabilization of rG4s inhibits the translation of Mtb PE/PPE genes (PPE56, PPE67, PPE68, PE_PGRS39, and PE_PGRS41) ectopically expressed in M. smegmatis or Escherichia coli. In addition, the rG4-mediated reduction in PE/PPE protein levels attenuates proinflammatory response upon infection of THP-1 cells. Our findings shed new light on the regulation of PE/PPE genes and highlight a pivotal role for rG4s in Mtb transcripts as regulators of post-transcriptional translational control. The rG4s in mycobacterial transcripts may represent potential drug targets for newer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Kumar
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India
| | - Vinay Kamuju
- Department of Biochemical Engineering & Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India
| | - Perumal Vivekanandan
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India.
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34
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Jiménez-Guerrero I, Sonawane M, Eckshtain-Levi N, Tuang ZK, da Silva GM, Pérez-Montaño F, Leibman-Markus M, Gupta R, Noda-Garcia L, Bar M, Burdman S. Natural variation in a short region of the Acidovorax citrulli type III-secreted effector AopW1 is associated with differences in cytotoxicity and host adaptation. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 117:516-540. [PMID: 37864805 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial fruit blotch, caused by Acidovorax citrulli, is a serious disease of melon and watermelon. The strains of the pathogen belong to two major genetic groups: group I strains are strongly associated with melon, while group II strains are more aggressive on watermelon. A. citrulli secretes many protein effectors to the host cell via the type III secretion system. Here we characterized AopW1, an effector that shares similarity to the actin cytoskeleton-disrupting effector HopW1 of Pseudomonas syringae and with effectors from other plant-pathogenic bacterial species. AopW1 has a highly variable region (HVR) within amino acid positions 147 to 192, showing 14 amino acid differences between group I and II variants. We show that group I AopW1 is more toxic to yeast and Nicotiana benthamiana cells than group II AopW1, having stronger actin filament disruption activity, and increased ability to induce cell death and reduce callose deposition. We further demonstrated the importance of some amino acid positions within the HVR for AopW1 cytotoxicity. Cellular analyses revealed that AopW1 also localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplasts, and plant endosomes. We also show that overexpression of the endosome-associated protein EHD1 attenuates AopW1-induced cell death and increases defense responses. Finally, we show that sequence variation in AopW1 plays a significant role in the adaptation of group I and II strains to their preferred hosts, melon and watermelon, respectively. This study provides new insights into the HopW1 family of bacterial effectors and provides first evidence on the involvement of EHD1 in response to biotic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Jiménez-Guerrero
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Monica Sonawane
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Noam Eckshtain-Levi
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Za Khai Tuang
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gustavo Mateus da Silva
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Francisco Pérez-Montaño
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Microbiology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Meirav Leibman-Markus
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Rupali Gupta
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Lianet Noda-Garcia
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Maya Bar
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Saul Burdman
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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35
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Jossier M, Oury C, Glab N, Hodges M. Purification of Recombinant N-terminal Histidine-Tagged Arabidopsis thaliana Phosphoglycolate Phosphatase 1, Glycolate Oxidase 1 and 2, and Hydroxypyruvate Reductase 1. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2792:97-111. [PMID: 38861081 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3802-6_8] [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] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
To measure the kinetic properties of photorespiratory enzymes, it is necessary to work with purified proteins. Protocols to purify photorespiratory enzymes from leaves of various plant species require several time-consuming steps. It is now possible to produce large quantities of recombinant proteins in bacterial cells. They can be rapidly purified as histidine-tagged recombinant proteins by immobilized metal affinity chromatography using Ni2+-NTA-agarose. This chapter describes protocols to purify several Arabidopsis thaliana His-tagged recombinant photorespiratory enzymes (phosphoglycolate phosphatase, glycolate oxidase, and hydroxypyruvate reductase) from Escherichia coli cell cultures using two bacterial strain-plasmid systems: BL21(DE3)-pET and LMG194-pBAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Jossier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAe, Université Paris Cité, Université d'Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Céline Oury
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAe, Université Paris Cité, Université d'Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Nathalie Glab
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAe, Université Paris Cité, Université d'Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Michael Hodges
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAe, Université Paris Cité, Université d'Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
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36
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Bajracharya A, Dickey B, Qiu Y. GST Pull-Down Assay to Study PIF4 Binding In Vitro. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2795:195-212. [PMID: 38594540 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3814-9_19] [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] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The phytochrome-interacting factor 4 (PIF4) is a well-known transcription factor that plays a pivotal role in plant thermomorphogenesis, coordinating growth and development in response to temperature changes. As PIF4 functions by forming complexes with other proteins, determining its interacting partners is essential for understanding its diverse roles in plant thermal responses. The GST (glutathione-S-transferase) pull-down assay is a widely used biochemical technique that enables the investigation of protein-protein interactions in vitro. It is particularly useful for studying transient or weak interactions between proteins. In this chapter, we describe the GST pull-down approach to detect the interaction between PIF4 and a known or suspected interacting protein. We provide detailed step-by-step descriptions of the assay procedures, from the preparation of recombinant GST-PIF4 fusion protein to the binding and elution of interacting partners. Additionally, we provide guidelines for data interpretation, quantification, and statistical analysis to ensure robust and reliable results.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Berry Dickey
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA
| | - Yongjian Qiu
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA.
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37
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Ngo PHT, Ishida S, Busogi BB, Do H, Ledesma MA, Kar S, Ellington A. Changes in Coding and Efficiency through Modular Modifications to a One Pot PURE System for In Vitro Transcription and Translation. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:3771-3777. [PMID: 38050859 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00461] [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] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
The incorporation of unnatural amino acids is an attractive method for improving or bringing new and novel functions in peptides and proteins. Cell-free protein synthesis using the Protein Synthesis Using Recombinant Elements (PURE) system is an attractive platform for efficient unnatural amino acid incorporation. In this work, we further adapted and modified the One Pot PURE to obtain a robust and modular system for enzymatic single-site-specific incorporation of an unnatural amino acid. We demonstrated the flexibility of this system through the introduction of two different orthogonal aminoacyl tRNA synthetase:tRNA pairs that suppressed two distinctive stop codons in separate reaction mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuoc H T Ngo
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Satoshi Ishida
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Bianca B Busogi
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Hannah Do
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Maximiliano A Ledesma
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Shaunak Kar
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Andrew Ellington
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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38
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Schütz A, Bernhard F, Berrow N, Buyel JF, Ferreira-da-Silva F, Haustraete J, van den Heuvel J, Hoffmann JE, de Marco A, Peleg Y, Suppmann S, Unger T, Vanhoucke M, Witt S, Remans K. A concise guide to choosing suitable gene expression systems for recombinant protein production. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102572. [PMID: 37917580 PMCID: PMC10643540 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This overview guides both novices and experienced researchers facing challenging targets to select the most appropriate gene expression system for producing a particular protein. By answering four key questions, readers can determine the most suitable gene expression system following a decision scheme. This guide addresses the most commonly used and accessible systems and provides brief descriptions of the main gene expression systems' key characteristics to assist decision making. Additionally, information has been included for selected less frequently used "exotic" gene expression systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Schütz
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Technology Platform for Protein Production & Characterization, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Bernhard
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Nick Berrow
- Protein Expression Core Facility, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Johannes F Buyel
- Univeristy of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Institute of Bioprocess Science and Engineering (IBSE), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Frederico Ferreira-da-Silva
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC) and Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jurgen Haustraete
- VIB, Center for Inflammation Research & Ugent, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joop van den Heuvel
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Department of Structure and Function of Proteins, Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jan-Erik Hoffmann
- Protein Chemistry Facility, Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn-Str. 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Ario de Marco
- Laboratory of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska Cesta 13, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia
| | - Yoav Peleg
- Structural Proteomics Unit (SPU), Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities (LSCF), Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Sabine Suppmann
- Protein Expression and Purification Core Facility, Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Tamar Unger
- Structural Proteomics Unit (SPU), Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities (LSCF), Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Martine Vanhoucke
- BCCM/GeneCorner Plasmid Collection, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 71, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Susanne Witt
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kim Remans
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Protein Expression and Purification Core Facility, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
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Martinez FG, Zielke RA, Fougeroux CE, Li L, Sander AF, Sikora AE. Development of a Tag/Catcher-mediated capsid virus-like particle vaccine presenting the conserved Neisseria gonorrhoeae SliC antigen that blocks human lysozyme. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0024523. [PMID: 37916806 PMCID: PMC10715030 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00245-23] [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: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are promising nanotools for the development of subunit vaccines due to high immunogenicity and safety. Herein, we explored the versatile and effective Tag/Catcher-AP205 capsid VLP (cVLP) vaccine platform to address the urgent need for the development of an effective and safe vaccine against gonorrhea. The benefits of this clinically validated cVLP platform include its ability to facilitate unidirectional, high-density display of complex/full-length antigens through an effective split-protein Tag/Catcher conjugation system. To assess this modular approach for making cVLP vaccines, we used a conserved surface lipoprotein, SliC, that contributes to the Neisseria gonorrhoeae defense against human lysozyme, as a model antigen. This protein was genetically fused at the N- or C-terminus to the small peptide Tag enabling their conjugation to AP205 cVLP, displaying the complementary Catcher. We determined that SliC with the N-terminal SpyTag, N-SliC, retained lysozyme-blocking activity and could be displayed at high density on cVLPs without causing aggregation. In mice, the N-SliC-VLP vaccines, adjuvanted with AddaVax or CpG, induced significantly higher antibody titers compared to controls. In contrast, similar vaccine formulations containing monomeric SliC were non-immunogenic. Accordingly, sera from N-SliC-VLP-immunized mice also had significantly higher human complement-dependent serum bactericidal activity. Furthermore, the N-SliC-VLP vaccines administered subcutaneously with an intranasal boost elicited systemic and vaginal IgG and IgA, whereas subcutaneous delivery alone failed to induce vaginal IgA. The N-SliC-VLP with CpG (10 µg/dose) induced the most significant increase in total serum IgG and IgG3 titers, vaginal IgG and IgA, and bactericidal antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian G. Martinez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Ryszard A. Zielke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Lixin Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Adam F. Sander
- AdaptVac Aps, Hørsholm, Denmark
- Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute for Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Aleksandra E. Sikora
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
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40
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Cronan JE. Two neglected but valuable genetic tools for Escherichia coli and other bacteria: In vivo cosmid packaging and inducible plasmid replication. Mol Microbiol 2023; 120:783-790. [PMID: 37770255 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15171] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
In physiology and synthetic biology, it can be advantageous to introduce a gene into a naive bacterial host under conditions in which all cells receive the gene and remain fully functional. This cannot be done by the usual chemical transformation and electroporation methods due to low efficiency and cell death, respectively. However, in vivo packaging of plasmids (called cosmids) that contain the 223 bp cos site of phage λ results in phage particles that contain concatemers of the cosmid that can be transduced into all cells of a culture. An historical shortcoming of in vivo packaging of cosmids was inefficient packaging and contamination of the particles containing cosmid DNA with a great excess of infectious λ phage. Manipulation of the packaging phage and the host has eliminated these shortcomings resulting in particles that contain only cosmid DNA. Plasmids have the drawback that they can be difficult to remove from cells. Plasmids with conditional replication provide a means to "cure" plasmids from cells. The prevalent conditional replication plasmids are temperature-sensitive plasmids, which are cured at high growth temperature. However, inducible replication plasmids are in some cases more useful, especially since this approach has been applied to plasmids having diverse replication and compatibility properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Cronan
- Departments of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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Khananisho D, Cumming AJ, Kulakova D, Shilling PJ, Daley DO. Tips for efficiently maintaining pET expression plasmids. Curr Genet 2023; 69:277-287. [PMID: 37938343 PMCID: PMC10716060 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-023-01276-0] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
pET expression plasmids are widely used for producing recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli. Selection and maintenance of cells harboring a pET plasmid are possible using either a Tn3.1-type genetic fragment (which encodes a ß-lactamase and confers resistance to ß-lactam antibiotics) or a Tn903.1-type genetic fragment (which encodes an aminoglycoside-3'-phosphotransferase and confers resistance aminoglycoside antibiotics). Herein we have investigated how efficiently pET plasmids are maintained using these two fragments. The study reveals that pET plasmids are efficiently maintained with both Tn3.1 and Tn903.1 genetic fragments prior to the induction of recombinant protein production, and over short induction times (i.e., 2 h). However, over longer induction times (i.e., 20 h), the efficiency of plasmid maintenance depends on the host strain used, and the type of antibiotic selection cassette used. Based on our collective observations, we have 2 general tips for efficiently maintaining pET plasmids during recombinant production experiments. Tip #1: Use a strain with lowered levels of the T7 RNA polymerase, such as C41(DE3). pET plasmids will be efficiently maintained over long induction times with both the Tn3.1 and Tn903.1 genetic fragments, regardless of whether antibiotics are present during cultivation. Tip #2: If a strain with higher levels of T7 RNA polymerase strain is necessary, such as BL21(DE3)), keep induction times short or use a plasmid containing a Tn903.1-type fragment and select with kanamycin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Khananisho
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alister J Cumming
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daria Kulakova
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patrick J Shilling
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daniel O Daley
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Ma Y, Guo N, Li X, Jiang Z, Zhang D, Guo L, Wang Y. Development of an Efficient Recombinant Protein Expression System in Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum Based on the Bacteriophage T7 System. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:3092-3105. [PMID: 37712503 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00439] [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] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant proteins have broad applications. However, there is a lack of a recombinant protein expression system specifically for large-scale production in anaerobic hosts. Here, we developed a powerful and stringently inducible protein expression system based on the bacteriophage T7 system in the strictly anaerobic solvent-producing Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum. With the integration of a codon optimized T7 RNA polymerase into the chromosome, a single plasmid carrying a T7 promoter could efficiently drive high-level expression of the target gene in an orthogonal manner, which was tightly regulated by a lactose-inducible system. Furthermore, by deleting beta-galactosidase genes involved in lactose metabolism, the transcriptional strength was further improved. In the ultimately optimized strain TM-07, the transcriptional strength of the T7 promoter showed 9.5-fold increase compared to the endogenous strong promoter Pthl. The heterologous NADP+-dependent 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase (Hbd1) from C. kluyveri was expressed in TM-07, and the yield of the recombinant protein reached 30.4-42.4% of the total cellular protein, surpassing the strong protein expression systems in other Gram-positive bacteria. The relative activity of Hbd1 in the crude enzyme was 198.0 U/mg, which was 8.3-fold higher than the natural activity in C. kluyveri. The relative activity of the purified enzyme reached 467.4 U/mg. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first application of the T7 expression system in Clostridium species, and this optimized expression system holds great potential for large-scale endotoxin-free recombinant protein production under strictly anaerobic conditions. This development paves the way for significant advancements in biotechnology and opens up new avenues for industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuechao Ma
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
- Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Na Guo
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
- Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Zhihua Jiang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Dunhua Zhang
- Aquatic Animal Health Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Auburn, Alabama 36832, United States
| | - Liang Guo
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
- Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
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Hussain A, Ray MK. Functional activity of E. coli RNase R in the Antarctic Pseudomonas syringae Lz4W. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2023; 21:101. [PMID: 37843651 PMCID: PMC10579198 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-023-00553-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Antarctic P. syringae RNase R play an essential role in the processing of 16S and 5S rRNA, thereby playing an important role in cold-adapted growth of the bacterium. This study is focused on deciphering the in vivo functional activity of mesophilic exoribonuclease R and its catalytic domain (RNB) in an evolutionary distant psychrophilic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae Lz4W. RESULTS Our results confirm that E. coli RNase R complemented the physiological functions of the psychrophilic bacterium P. syringae RNase R and rescued the cold-sensitive phenotype of Pseudomonas syringae ∆rnr mutant. More importantly, the catalytic domain (RNB) of the E. coli RNase R is also capable of alleviating the cold-sensitive growth defects of ∆rnr mutant as seen with the catalytic domain (RNB) of the P. syringae enzyme. The Catalytic domain of E. coli RNase R was less efficient than the Catalytic domain of P. syringae RNase R in rescuing the cold-sensitive growth of ∆rnr mutant at 4°C, as the ∆rnr expressing the RNBEc (catalytic domain of E. coli RNase R) displayed longer lag phase than the RNBPs (Catalytic domain of P. syringae RNase R) complemented ∆rnr mutant at 4°C. Altogether it appears that the E. coli RNase R and P. syringae RNase R are functionally exchangeable for the growth requirements of P. syringae at low temperature (4°C). Our results also confirm that in P. syringae the requirement of RNase R for supporting the growth at 4°C is independent of the degradosomal complex. CONCLUSION E. coli RNase R (RNase REc) rescues the cold-sensitive phenotype of the P. syringae Δrnr mutant. Similarly, the catalytic domain of E. coli RNase R (RNBEc) is also capable of supporting the growth of Δrnr mutant at low temperatures. These findings have a vast scope in the design and development of low-temperature-based expression systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashaq Hussain
- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India.
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Taylor JE, Palur DSK, Zhang A, Gonzales JN, Arredondo A, Coulther TA, Lechner ABJ, Rodriguez EP, Fiehn O, Didzbalis J, Siegel JB, Atsumi S. Awakening the natural capability of psicose production in Escherichia coli. NPJ Sci Food 2023; 7:54. [PMID: 37838768 PMCID: PMC10576766 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-023-00231-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the rampant rise in obesity and diabetes, consumers are desperately seeking for ways to reduce their sugar intake, but to date there are no options that are both accessible and without sacrifice of palatability. One of the most promising new ingredients in the food system as a non-nutritive sugar substitute with near perfect palatability is D-psicose. D-psicose is currently produced using an in vitro enzymatic isomerization of D-fructose, resulting in low yield and purity, and therefore requiring substantial downstream processing to obtain a high purity product. This has made adoption of D-psicose into products limited and results in significantly higher per unit costs, reducing accessibility to those most in need. Here, we found that Escherichia coli natively possesses a thermodynamically favorable pathway to produce D-psicose from D-glucose through a series of phosphorylation-epimerization-dephosphorylation steps. To increase carbon flux towards D-psicose production, we introduced a series of genetic modifications to pathway enzymes, central carbon metabolism, and competing metabolic pathways. In an attempt to maximize both cellular viability and D-psicose production, we implemented methods for the dynamic regulation of key genes including clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats inhibition (CRISPRi) and stationary-phase promoters. The engineered strains achieved complete consumption of D-glucose and production of D-psicose, at a titer of 15.3 g L-1, productivity of 2 g L-1 h-1, and yield of 62% under test tube conditions. These results demonstrate the viability of whole-cell catalysis as a sustainable alternative to in vitro enzymatic synthesis for the accessible production of D-psicose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayce E Taylor
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | | | - Angela Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Jake N Gonzales
- Plant Biology Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Augustine Arredondo
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | | | | | - Elys P Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- West Coast Metabolomics Center, UC Davis Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Oliver Fiehn
- West Coast Metabolomics Center, UC Davis Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - John Didzbalis
- Mars, Incorporated, 6885 Elm Street, McLean, VA, 22101, USA
| | - Justin B Siegel
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Shota Atsumi
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- Plant Biology Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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Díaz-Pérez AL, Díaz-Pérez C, Gaona-García RY, Hernández-Santoyo A, Lázaro-Mixteco PE, Reyes-De La Cruz H, Campos-García J. Study of peripheral domains in structure-function of isocitrate lyase (ICL) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 39:339. [PMID: 37821748 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03768-0] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
The capacity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to assimilate nutrients is essential for niche colonization and contributes to its pathogenicity. Isocitrate lyase (ICL), the first enzyme of the glyoxylate cycle, redirects isocitrate from the tricarboxylic acid cycle to render glyoxylate and succinate. P. aeruginosa ICL (PaICL) is regarded as a virulence factor due to its role in carbon assimilation during infection. The AceA/ICL protein family shares the catalytic domain I, triosephosphate isomerase barrel (TIM-barrel). The carboxyl terminus of domain I is essential for Escherichia coli ICL (EcICL) of subfamily 1. PaICL, which belongs to subfamily 3, has domain II inserted at the periphery of domain I, which is believed to participate in enzyme oligomerization. In addition, PaICL has the α13-loop-α14 (extended motif), which protrudes from the enzyme core, being of unknown function. This study investigates the role of domain II, the extended motif, and the carboxyl-terminus (C-ICL) and amino-terminus (N-ICL) regions in the function of the PaICL enzyme, also as their involvement in the virulence of P. aeruginosa PAO1. Deletion of domain II and the extended motif results in enzyme inactivation and structural instability of the enzyme. The His6-tag fusion at the C-ICL protein produced a less efficient enzyme than fusion at the N-ICL, but without affecting the acetate assimilation or virulence. The PaICL homotetrameric structure of the enzyme was more stable in the N-His6-ICL than in the C-His6-ICL, suggesting that the C-terminus is critical for the ICL quaternary conformation. The ICL-mutant A39 complemented with the recombinant proteins N-His6-ICL or C-His6-ICL were more virulent than the WT PAO1 strain. The findings indicate that the domain II and the extended motif are essential for the ICL structure/function, and the C-terminus is involved in its quaternary structure conformation, confirming that in P. aeruginosa, the ICL is essential for acetate assimilation and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alma Laura Díaz-Pérez
- Lab. de Biotecnología Microbiana, Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edif. U-3, Ciudad Universitaria, 58030, Morelia, Mich., Mexico
| | - César Díaz-Pérez
- Facultad de Agrobiologia, Campus Celaya-Salvatierra, Universiad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Gto., Mexico
| | - Roxana Yughadi Gaona-García
- Lab. de Biotecnología Microbiana, Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edif. U-3, Ciudad Universitaria, 58030, Morelia, Mich., Mexico
| | - Alejandra Hernández-Santoyo
- Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Pedro E Lázaro-Mixteco
- Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Mich., Mexico
| | - Homero Reyes-De La Cruz
- Lab. de Biotecnología Microbiana, Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edif. U-3, Ciudad Universitaria, 58030, Morelia, Mich., Mexico
| | - Jesús Campos-García
- Lab. de Biotecnología Microbiana, Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edif. U-3, Ciudad Universitaria, 58030, Morelia, Mich., Mexico.
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Zhang P, Wang H, Xu H, Wei L, Liu L, Hu Z, Wang X. Deep flanking sequence engineering for efficient promoter design using DeepSEED. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6309. [PMID: 37813854 PMCID: PMC10562447 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41899-y] [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: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Designing promoters with desirable properties is essential in synthetic biology. Human experts are skilled at identifying strong explicit patterns in small samples, while deep learning models excel at detecting implicit weak patterns in large datasets. Biologists have described the sequence patterns of promoters via transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs). However, the flanking sequences of cis-regulatory elements, have long been overlooked and often arbitrarily decided in promoter design. To address this limitation, we introduce DeepSEED, an AI-aided framework that efficiently designs synthetic promoters by combining expert knowledge with deep learning techniques. DeepSEED has demonstrated success in improving the properties of Escherichia coli constitutive, IPTG-inducible, and mammalian cell doxycycline (Dox)-inducible promoters. Furthermore, our results show that DeepSEED captures the implicit features in flanking sequences, such as k-mer frequencies and DNA shape features, which are crucial for determining promoter properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengcheng Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics; Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology; Bioinformatics Division, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology; Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Haochen Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics; Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology; Bioinformatics Division, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology; Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Hanwen Xu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics; Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology; Bioinformatics Division, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology; Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Wei
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics; Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology; Bioinformatics Division, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology; Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Liyang Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics; Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology; Bioinformatics Division, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology; Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhirui Hu
- Center for Statistical Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaowo Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics; Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology; Bioinformatics Division, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology; Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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Lenz P, Bakkes PJ, Müller C, Malek M, Freudl R, Oldiges M, Drepper T, Jaeger KE, Knapp A. Analysis of protein secretion in Bacillus subtilis by combining a secretion stress biosensor strain with an in vivo split GFP assay. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:203. [PMID: 37805580 PMCID: PMC10559633 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02199-8] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacillus subtilis is one of the workhorses in industrial biotechnology and well known for its secretion potential. Efficient secretion of recombinant proteins still requires extensive optimization campaigns and screening with activity-based methods. However, not every protein can be detected by activity-based screening. We therefore developed a combined online monitoring system, consisting of an in vivo split GFP assay for activity-independent target detection and an mCherry-based secretion stress biosensor. The split GFP assay is based on the fusion of a target protein to the eleventh β-sheet of sfGFP, which can complement a truncated sfGFP that lacks this β-sheet named GFP1-10. The secretion stress biosensor makes use of the CssRS two component quality control system, which upregulates expression of mCherry in the htrA locus thereby allowing a fluorescence readout of secretion stress. RESULTS The biosensor strain B. subtilis PAL5 was successfully constructed by exchanging the protease encoding gene htrA with mCherry via CRISPR/Cas9. The Fusarium solani pisi cutinase Cut fused to the GFP11 tag (Cut11) was used as a model enzyme to determine the stress response upon secretion mediated by signal peptides SPPel, SPEpr and SPBsn obtained from naturally secreted proteins of B. subtilis. An in vivo split GFP assay was developed, where purified GFP1-10 is added to the culture broth. By combining both methods, an activity-independent high-throughput method was created, that allowed optimization of Cut11 secretion. Using the split GFP-based detection assay, we demonstrated a good correlation between the amount of secreted cutinase and the enzymatic activity. Additionally, we screened a signal peptide library and identified new signal peptide variants that led to improved secretion while maintaining low stress levels. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that the combination of a split GFP-based detection assay for secreted proteins with a secretion stress biosensor strain enables both, online detection of extracellular target proteins and identification of bottlenecks during protein secretion in B. subtilis. In general, the system described here will also enable to monitor the secretion stress response provoked by using inducible promoters governing the expression of different enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Lenz
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Patrick J Bakkes
- Institute of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geoscience IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Carolin Müller
- Institute of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geoscience IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Marzena Malek
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Roland Freudl
- Institute of Bio- and Geoscience IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Marco Oldiges
- Institute of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geoscience IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Thomas Drepper
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Karl-Erich Jaeger
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Andreas Knapp
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
- Castrol Germany GmbH, 41179, Mönchengladbach, Germany.
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Van Doren SR, Scott BS, Koppisetti RK. SARS-CoV-2 fusion peptide sculpting of a membrane with insertion of charged and polar groups. Structure 2023; 31:1184-1199.e3. [PMID: 37625399 PMCID: PMC10592393 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.07.015] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
The fusion peptide of SARS-CoV-2 spike is essential for infection. How this charged and hydrophobic domain occupies and affects membranes needs clarification. Its depth in zwitterionic, bilayered micelles at pH 5 (resembling late endosomes) was measured by paramagnetic NMR relaxation enhancements used to bias molecular dynamics simulations. Asp830 inserted deeply, along with Lys825 or Lys835. Protonation of Asp830 appeared to enhance agreement of simulated and NMR-measured depths. While the fusion peptide occupied a leaflet of the DMPC bilayer, the opposite leaflet invaginated with influx of water and choline head groups in around Asp830 and bilayer-inserted polar side chains. NMR-detected hydrogen exchange found corroborating hydration of the backbone of Thr827-Phe833 inserted deeply in bicelles. Pinching of the membrane at the inserted charge and the intramembrane hydration of polar groups agree with theory. Formation of corridors of hydrated, inward-turned head groups was accompanied by flip-flop of head groups. Potential roles of the defects are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R Van Doren
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
| | - Benjamin S Scott
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Rama K Koppisetti
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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Klein R, Brehm J, Wissig J, Heermann R, Unden G. A signaling complex of adenylate cyclase CyaC of Sinorhizobium meliloti with cAMP and the transcriptional regulators Clr and CycR. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:236. [PMID: 37633907 PMCID: PMC10463352 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02989-5] [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: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adenylate cyclases (ACs) generate the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP), which is found in all domains of life and is involved in the regulation of various cell physiological and metabolic processes. In the plant symbiotic bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, synthesis of cAMP by the membrane-bound AC CyaC responds to the redox state of the respiratory chain and the respiratory quinones. However, nothing is known about the signaling cascade that is initiated by cAMP produced by CyaC. RESULTS Here, the CRP-like transcriptional regulator Clr and the TetR-like regulator CycR (TR01819 protein) were identified to interact with CyaC using the bacterial two-hybrid system (BACTH), co-sedimentation assays, and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. Interaction of CycR with Clr, and of CyaC with Clr requires the presence of cAMP and of ATP, respectively, whereas that of CyaC with CycR was independent of the nucleotides. CONCLUSION The data implicate a ternary CyaC×CycR×cAMP-Clr complex, functioning as a specific signaling cascade which is formed after activation of CyaC and synthesis of cAMP. cAMP-Clr is thought to work in complex with CycR to regulate a subset of genes of the cAMP-Clr regulon in S. meliloti.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Klein
- Institute of Molecular Physiology (imP), Microbiology and Biotechnology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Biocenter II, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jannis Brehm
- Institute of Molecular Physiology (imP), Microbiology and Biotechnology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Biocenter II, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Juliane Wissig
- Institute of Molecular Physiology (imP), Microbiology and Biotechnology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Biocenter II, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ralf Heermann
- Institute of Molecular Physiology (imP), Microbiology and Biotechnology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Biocenter II, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, 55128, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Gottfried Unden
- Institute of Molecular Physiology (imP), Microbiology and Biotechnology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Biocenter II, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, 55128, Mainz, Germany.
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Marmont LS, Orta AK, Corey RA, Sychantha D, Galliano AF, Li YE, Baileeves BW, Greene NG, Stansfeld PJ, Clemons WM, Bernhardt TG. A feedback control mechanism governs the synthesis of lipid-linked precursors of the bacterial cell wall. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.01.551478. [PMID: 37577621 PMCID: PMC10418202 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.01.551478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Many bacterial surface glycans such as the peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall, O-antigens, and capsules are built from monomeric units linked to a polyprenyl lipid carrier. How this limiting lipid carrier is effectively distributed among competing pathways has remained unclear for some time. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of hyperactive variants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa MraY, the essential and conserved enzyme catalyzing the formation of the first lipid-linked PG precursor called lipid I. These variants result in the elevated production of the final PG precursor lipid II in cells and are hyperactive in a purified system. Amino acid substitutions within the activated MraY variants unexpectedly map to a cavity on the extracellular side of the dimer interface, far from the active site. Our structural evidence and molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the cavity is a binding site for lipid II molecules that have been transported to the outer leaflet of the membrane. Overall, our results support a model in which excess externalized lipid II allosterically inhibits MraY, providing a feedback mechanism to prevent the sequestration of lipid carrier in the PG biogenesis pathway. MraY belongs to the broadly distributed polyprenyl-phosphate N-acetylhexosamine 1-phosphate transferase (PNPT) superfamily of enzymes. We therefore propose that similar feedback mechanisms may be widely employed to coordinate precursor supply with demand by polymerases, thereby optimizing the partitioning of lipid carriers between competing glycan biogenesis pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey S. Marmont
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Anna K. Orta
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Robin A. Corey
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - David Sychantha
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Ana Fernández Galliano
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Yancheng E. Li
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Becca W.A. Baileeves
- School of Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Warwick, UK
| | - Neil G. Greene
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Phillip J. Stansfeld
- School of Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Warwick, UK
| | - William M. Clemons
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Thomas G. Bernhardt
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, United States
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