1
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Sachdev S, Roy S, Saha SJ, Zhao G, Kumariya R, Creemer BA, Yin R, Pierce BG, Bewley CA, Cheloha RW. Evaluation of Alphafold modeling for elucidation of nanobody-peptide epitope interactions. J Biol Chem 2025:110268. [PMID: 40409557 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2025.110268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2025] [Revised: 05/14/2025] [Accepted: 05/16/2025] [Indexed: 05/25/2025] Open
Abstract
Models of Ab-antigen complexes can be used to understand interaction mechanisms and for improving affinity. This study evaluates the use of the protein structure prediction algorithm AlphaFold (AF) for exploration of interactions between peptide epitope tags and the smallest functional antibody fragments, nanobodies (Nbs). Although past studies of AF for modeling antibody-target (antigen) interactions suggested modest algorithm performance, those were primarily focused on Ab-protein interactions, while the performance and utility of AF for Nb-peptide interactions, which are generally less complex due to smaller antigens, smaller binding domains, and fewer chains, is less clear. In this study we evaluated the performance of AF for predicting the structures of Nbs bound to experimentally validated, linear, short peptide epitopes (Nb-tag pairs). We expanded the pool of experimental data available for comparison through crystallization and structural determination of a previously reported Nb-tag complex (Nb127). Models of Nb-tag pair structures generated from AF were variable with respect to consistency with experimental data, with good performance in just over half (4 out of 6) of cases. Even among Nb-tag pairs successfully modeled in isolation, efforts to translate modeling to more complex contexts failed, suggesting an underappreciated role of the size and complexity of inputs in AF modeling success. Finally, the model of a Nb-tag pair with minimal previous characterization was used to guide the design of a peptide-electrophile conjugate that undergoes covalent crosslinking with Nb upon binding. These findings highlight the utility of minimized antibody and antigen structures to maximize insights from AF modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Sachdev
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry; National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health, USA
| | - Swarnali Roy
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry; National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health, USA
| | - Shubhra J Saha
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry; National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health, USA
| | - Gengxiang Zhao
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry; National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health, USA
| | - Rashmi Kumariya
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry; National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health, USA
| | - Brendan A Creemer
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry; National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health, USA
| | - Rui Yin
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Brian G Pierce
- University of Maryland Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Carole A Bewley
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry; National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health, USA
| | - Ross W Cheloha
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry; National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health, USA.
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2
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Suresh P, Wijne C, Sun ZYJ, Becht N, Sahay I, Pishesha N, Ploegh H. A nanobody that binds to the backside of the ubiquitin conjugating enzyme Ube2G2 differentially affects interactions with its partner E3 Ligases. Commun Biol 2025; 8:614. [PMID: 40234692 PMCID: PMC12000298 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-08038-3] [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: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2025] [Indexed: 04/17/2025] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin conjugating E2 enzymes are a set of ~40 proteins that play a central role in the ubiquitination cascade. They transfer ubiquitin from an E1 enzyme to substrates with the help of an E3 enzyme. The members of the E2 family share structural similarity in their conserved UBC fold. This complicates an assessment of the specificity of E2-E3 interactions. We identified a nanobody that binds to the 'backside' region of Ube2G2, an E2 involved in ER protein quality control. This binding does not affect ubiquitin loading but shows varying degrees of inhibition on E3-mediated ubiquitination, in the order HRD1 > CHIP >> TRC8. A naturally occurring segment that binds Ube2G2's backside, referred to as G2BR (Ube2G2 Binding Region), shows a similar inhibitory effect depending on the identity of the interacting E3. The G2BR in the Ube2G2-cognate E3 Gp78 enhances Ube2G2's activity, but its deletion results in a similar inhibition upon addition of the nanobody. Occupation of a single binding site on an E2 can thus affect its interactions with different E3s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavana Suresh
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Charlotte Wijne
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhen-Yu J Sun
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nanette Becht
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ishani Sahay
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Novalia Pishesha
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hidde Ploegh
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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3
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Fayn S, Roy S, Cabalteja CC, Lee W, Makala H, Baidoo K, Nambiar D, Sheehan‐Klenk J, Chung J, Buffington J, Ho M, Escorcia FE, Cheloha RW. Generation of Site-Specifically Labeled Affinity Reagents via Use of a Self-Labeling Single Domain Antibody. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2025; 12:e2417160. [PMID: 39965119 PMCID: PMC11984916 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202417160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2024] [Revised: 01/30/2025] [Indexed: 02/20/2025]
Abstract
Several chemical and enzymatic methods have been used to link antibodies to moieties that facilitate visualization of cognate targets. Emerging evidence suggests that the extent of labeling, dictated by the type of chemistry used, has a substantial impact on performance, especially in the context of antibodies used for the visualization of tumors in vivo. These effects are particularly pronounced in studies using small antibody fragments, such as single-domain antibodies, or nanobodies. Here, we leverage a new variety of conjugation chemistry, based on a nanobody that forms a crosslink with a specialized high-affinity epitope analogue, to label target-specific nanobody constructs with functionalities of choice, including fluorophores, chelators, and click chemistry handles. Using heterodimeric nanobody conjugates, comprised of an antigen recognition module and a self-labeling module, enables us to attach the desired functional group at a location distal to the site of antigen recognition. Constructs generated using this approach bound to antigens expressed on xenograft murine models of liver cancer and allowed for non-invasive diagnostic imaging. The modularity of our approach using a self-labeling nanobody offers a novel method for site-specific functionalization of biomolecules and can be extended to other applications for which covalent labeling is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Fayn
- Molecular Imaging BranchCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892USA
- Oxford Institute for Radiation OncologyDepartment of OncologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordOX3 7DQUK
| | - Swarnali Roy
- Chemical Biology in Signaling SectionNational Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892USA
| | - Chino C. Cabalteja
- Chemical Biology in Signaling SectionNational Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892USA
| | - Woonghee Lee
- Molecular Imaging BranchCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892USA
| | - Hima Makala
- Molecular Imaging BranchCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892USA
| | - Kwamena Baidoo
- Molecular Imaging BranchCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892USA
| | - Divya Nambiar
- Molecular Imaging BranchCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892USA
| | - Julia Sheehan‐Klenk
- Molecular Imaging BranchCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892USA
| | - Joon‐Yong Chung
- Molecular Imaging BranchCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892USA
| | - Jesse Buffington
- Antibody Engineering ProgramCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892USA
| | - Mitchell Ho
- Antibody Engineering ProgramCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892USA
- Laboratory of Molecular BiologyCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892USA
| | - Freddy E. Escorcia
- Molecular Imaging BranchCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892USA
- Radiation Oncology BranchCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892USA
| | - Ross W. Cheloha
- Chemical Biology in Signaling SectionNational Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD20892USA
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4
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Beach SJ, Maselko M. Recombinant venom proteins in insect seminal fluid reduce female lifespan. Nat Commun 2025; 16:219. [PMID: 39774598 PMCID: PMC11707029 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54863-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 11/21/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2025] Open
Abstract
The emergence of insecticide resistance has increased the need for alternative pest management tools. Numerous genetic biocontrol approaches, which involve the release of genetically modified organisms to control pest populations, are in various stages of development to provide highly targeted pest control. However, all current mating-based genetic biocontrol technologies function by releasing engineered males which skew sex-ratios or reduce offspring viability in subsequent generations which leaves mated females to continue to cause harm (e.g. transmit disease). Here, we demonstrate intragenerational genetic biocontrol, wherein mating with engineered males reduces female lifespan. The toxic male technique (TMT) involves the heterologous expression of insecticidal proteins within the male reproductive tract that are transferred to females via mating. In this study, we demonstrate TMT in Drosophila melanogaster males, which reduce the median lifespan of mated females by 37 - 64% compared to controls mated to wild type males. Agent-based models of Aedes aegypti predict that TMT could reduce rates of blood feeding by a further 40 - 60% during release periods compared to leading biocontrol technologies like fsRIDL. TMT is a promising approach for combatting outbreaks of disease vectors and agricultural pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Beach
- Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Maciej Maselko
- Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
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5
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Saha S, Cheloha RW. Chemically Induced Dimerization via Nanobody Binding Facilitates in Situ Ligand Assembly and On-Demand GPCR Activation. JACS AU 2024; 4:4780-4789. [PMID: 39735930 PMCID: PMC11673187 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2024] [Revised: 11/16/2024] [Accepted: 11/18/2024] [Indexed: 12/31/2024]
Abstract
Methods that enable the on-demand synthesis of biologically active molecules offer the potential for a high degree of control over the timing and context of target activation; however, such approaches often require extensive engineering to implement. Tools to restrict the localization of assembly also remain limited. Here we present a new approach for stimulus-induced ligand assembly that helps to address these challenges. This methodology relies on the high affinity and specificity recognition exhibited by antibody fragments (nanobodies, Nbs). By using Nbs that recognize short peptide epitopes to create semisynthetic conjugates, we develop a bioengineering platform termed peptide epitope dimerization (PED) in which the addition of heterodimeric peptide composed of two Nb epitopes stimulates the proximity-induced synthesis of a functional ligand for the parathyroid hormone receptor-1, a G protein-coupled receptor. We further demonstrate that high efficiency assembly can be achieved on the cell surface via Nb-based delivery of template. This approach opens the door for the on-demand generation of bioactive receptor ligands preferentially at a desired biological niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubhra
Jyoti Saha
- Laboratory
of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive
and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes
of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Ross W. Cheloha
- Laboratory
of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive
and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes
of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
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6
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Rehm FBH, Tyler TJ, Zhou Y, Huang YH, Wang CK, Lawrence N, Craik DJ, Durek T. Repurposing a plant peptide cyclase for targeted lysine acylation. Nat Chem 2024; 16:1481-1489. [PMID: 38789555 PMCID: PMC11374674 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-024-01520-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Transpeptidases are powerful tools for protein engineering but are largely restricted to acting at protein backbone termini. Alternative enzymatic approaches for internal protein labelling require bulky recognition motifs or non-proteinogenic reaction partners, potentially restricting which proteins can be modified or the types of modification that can be installed. Here we report a strategy for labelling lysine side chain ε-amines by repurposing an engineered asparaginyl ligase, which naturally catalyses peptide head-to-tail cyclization, for versatile isopeptide ligations that are compatible with peptidic substrates. We find that internal lysines with an adjacent leucine residue mimic the conventional N-terminal glycine-leucine substrate. This dipeptide motif enables efficient intra- or intermolecular ligation through internal lysine side chains, minimally leaving an asparagine C-terminally linked to the lysine side chain via an isopeptide bond. The versatility of this approach is demonstrated by the chemoenzymatic synthesis of peptides with non-native C terminus-to-side chain topology and the conjugation of chemically modified peptides to recombinant proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian B H Rehm
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Tristan J Tyler
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yan Zhou
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yen-Hua Huang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Conan K Wang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicole Lawrence
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Thomas Durek
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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7
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Zhou Y, Durek T, Craik DJ, Rehm FBH. Sortase-Catalyzed Protein Domain Inversion. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202316777. [PMID: 38366985 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202316777] [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: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Topological transformations and permutations of proteins have attracted significant interest as strategies to generate new protein functionalities or stability. These efforts have mainly been inspired by naturally occurring post-translational modifications, such as head-to-tail cyclization, circular permutation, or lasso-like entanglement. Such approaches can be realized experimentally via genetic encoding, in the case of circular permutation, or via enzymatic processing, in the case of cyclization. Notably, these previously described strategies leave the polypeptide backbone orientation unaltered. Here we describe an unnatural protein permutation, the protein domain inversion, whereby a C-terminal portion of a protein is enzymatically inverted from the canonical N-to-C to a C-to-C configuration with respect to the N-terminal part of the protein. The closest conceptually analogous biological process is perhaps the inversion of DNA segments as catalyzed by recombinases. We achieve these inversions using an engineered sortase A, a widely used transpeptidase. Our reactions proceed efficiently under mild conditions at 4-25 °C and are compatible with entirely heterologously-produced protein substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhou
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Thomas Durek
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Fabian B H Rehm
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
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8
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Braga Emidio N, Small BM, Keller AR, Cheloha RW, Wingler LM. Nanobody-Mediated Dualsteric Engagement of the Angiotensin Receptor Broadens Biased Ligand Pharmacology. Mol Pharmacol 2024; 105:260-271. [PMID: 38164609 PMCID: PMC10877709 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.123.000797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Dualsteric G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) ligands are a class of bitopic ligands that consist of an orthosteric pharmacophore, which binds to the pocket occupied by the receptor's endogenous agonist, and an allosteric pharmacophore, which binds to a distinct site. These ligands have the potential to display characteristics of both orthosteric and allosteric ligands. To explore the signaling profiles that dualsteric ligands of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) can access, we ligated a 6e epitope tag-specific nanobody (single-domain antibody fragment) to angiotensin II (AngII) and analogs that show preferential allosteric coupling to Gq (TRV055, TRV056) or β-arrestin (TRV027). While the nanobody itself acts as a probe-specific neutral or negative allosteric ligand of N-terminally 6e-tagged AT1R, nanobody conjugation to orthosteric ligands had varying effects on Gq dissociation and β-arrestin plasma membrane recruitment. The potency of certain AngII analogs was enhanced up to 100-fold, and some conjugates behaved as partial agonists, with up to a 5-fold decrease in maximal efficacy. Nanobody conjugation also biased the signaling of TRV055 and TRV056 toward Gq, suggesting that Gq bias at AT1R can be modulated through molecular mechanisms distinct from those previously elucidated. Both competition radioligand binding experiments and functional assays demonstrated that orthosteric antagonists (angiotensin receptor blockers) act as non-competitive inhibitors of all these nanobody-peptide conjugates. This proof-of-principle study illustrates the array of pharmacological patterns that can be achieved by incorporating neutral or negative allosteric pharmacophores into dualsteric ligands. Nanobodies directed toward linear epitopes could provide a rich source of allosteric reagents for this purpose. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Here we engineer bitopic (dualsteric) ligands for epitope-tagged angiotensin II type 1 receptor by conjugating angiotensin II or its biased analogs to an epitope-specific nanobody (antibody fragment). Our data demonstrate that nanobody-mediated interactions with the receptor N-terminus endow angiotensin analogs with properties of allosteric modulators and provide a novel mechanism to increase the potency, modulate the maximal effect, or alter the bias of ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayara Braga Emidio
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (N.B.E., R.W.C.) and Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (B.M.S., A.R.K., L.M.W.)
| | - Brandi M Small
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (N.B.E., R.W.C.) and Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (B.M.S., A.R.K., L.M.W.)
| | - Amanda R Keller
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (N.B.E., R.W.C.) and Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (B.M.S., A.R.K., L.M.W.)
| | - Ross W Cheloha
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (N.B.E., R.W.C.) and Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (B.M.S., A.R.K., L.M.W.)
| | - Laura M Wingler
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (N.B.E., R.W.C.) and Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (B.M.S., A.R.K., L.M.W.)
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9
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Braga Emidio N, Cheloha RW. Semi-synthetic nanobody-ligand conjugates exhibit tunable signaling properties and enhanced transcriptional outputs at neurokinin receptor-1. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4866. [PMID: 38088474 PMCID: PMC10806929 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4866] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Antibodies have proven highly valuable for therapeutic development; however, they are typically poor candidates for applications that require activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest collection of targets for clinically approved drugs. Nanobodies (Nbs), the smallest antibody fragments retaining full antigen-binding capacity, have emerged as promising tools for pharmacologic applications, including GPCR modulation. Past work has shown that conjugation of Nbs with ligands can provide GPCR agonists that exhibit improved activity and selectivity compared to their parent ligands. The neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), a GPCR targeted for the treatment of pain, is activated by peptide agonists such as Substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA), which induce signaling through multiple pathways (Gs , Gq and β-arrestin). In this study, we investigated whether conjugating NK1R ligands with Nbs that bind to a separate location on the receptor would provide chimeric compounds with distinctive signaling properties. We employed sortase A-mediated ligation to generate several conjugates consisting of Nbs linked to NK1R ligands. Many of these conjugates exhibited divergent and unexpected signaling properties and transcriptional outputs. For example, some Nb-NKA conjugates showed enhanced receptor binding capacity, high potency partial agonism, prolonged cAMP production, and an increase in transcriptional output associated with Gs signaling; whereas other conjugates were virtually inactive. Nanobody conjugation caused only minor alterations in ligand-induced upstream Gq signaling with unexpected enhancements in transcriptional (downstream) responses. Our findings underscore the potential of nanobody conjugation for providing compounds with advantageous properties such as biased agonism, prolonged duration of action, and enhanced transcriptional responses. These compounds hold promise not only for facilitating fundamental research on GPCR signal transduction mechanisms but also for the development of more potent and enduring therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayara Braga Emidio
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Ross W. Cheloha
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
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10
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Xu MN, Zhong MZ, Feng SN, Xu YQ, Peng XM, Zeng K, Huang XW. Production of recombinant HPV11/16 E6/E7-MBP-His 6 fusion proteins and their potential to induce cytokine secretion by immune cells in peripheral blood. Virol J 2024; 21:10. [PMID: 38183109 PMCID: PMC10768090 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02281-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection poses a significant threat to public health worldwide. Targeting the function of HPV E6 and E7 proteins and activating the host immune response against these proteins represent promising therapeutic strategies for combating HPV-related diseases. Consequently, the efficient production of soluble, high-purity E6 and E7 proteins is crucial for function and host immune response studies. In this context, we selected the pMCSG19 protein expression vector for Escherichia coli to produce soluble MBP-His6 tagged HPV11/16 E6/E7 proteins, achieving relatively high purity and yield. Notably, these proteins exhibited low toxicity to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and did not compromise their viability. Additionally, the recombinant proteins were capable of inducing the secretion of multiple cytokines by immune cells in peripheral blood, indicating their potential to elicit immune responses. In conclusion, our study offers a novel approach for the production of HPV11/16 E6/E7 fusion proteins with relatively high purity and yield. The fusing HPV11/16 E6/E7 proteins to MBP-His6 tag may serve as a valuable method for large-scale protein production in future research endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Nian Xu
- Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mei-Zhen Zhong
- Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Si-Ning Feng
- Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan-Qin Xu
- Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Peng
- Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kang Zeng
- Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xiao-Wen Huang
- Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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11
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Emidio NB, Cheloha RW. Semi-synthetic nanobody-ligand conjugates exhibit tunable signaling properties and enhanced transcriptional outputs at neurokinin receptor-1. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.08.561411. [PMID: 37986858 PMCID: PMC10659424 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.08.561411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Antibodies have proven highly valuable for therapeutic development; however, they are typically poor candidates for applications that require activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest collection of targets for clinically approved drugs. Nanobodies (Nbs), the smallest antibody fragments retaining full antigen-binding capacity, have emerged as promising tools for pharmacologic applications, including GPCR modulation. Past work has shown that conjugation of Nbs with ligands can provide GPCR agonists that exhibit improved activity and selectivity compared to their parent ligands. The neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), a GPCR targeted for the treatment of pain, is activated by peptide agonists such as Substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA), which induce signaling through multiple pathways (Gs, Gq and β-arrestin). In this study, we investigated whether conjugating NK1R ligands with Nbs that bind to a separate location on the receptor would provide chimeric compounds with distinctive signaling properties. We employed sortase A-mediated ligation to generate several conjugates consisting of Nbs linked to NK1R ligands. Many of these conjugates exhibited divergent and unexpected signaling properties and transcriptional outputs. For example, some Nb-NKA conjugates showed enhanced receptor binding capacity, high potency partial agonism, prolonged cAMP production, and an increase in transcriptional output associated with Gs signaling; whereas other conjugates were virtually inactive. Nanobody conjugation caused only minor alterations in ligand-induced upstream Gq signaling with unexpected enhancements in transcriptional (downstream) responses. Our findings underscore the potential of nanobody conjugation for providing compounds with advantageous properties such as biased agonism, prolonged duration of action, and enhanced transcriptional responses. These compounds hold promise not only for facilitating fundamental research on GPCR signal transduction mechanisms but also for the development of more potent and enduring therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayara Braga Emidio
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20894, United States
| | - Ross W. Cheloha
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20894, United States
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12
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Guo S, Gao W, Zeng M, Liu F, Yang Q, Chen L, Wang Z, Jin Y, Xiang P, Chen H, Wen Z, Shi Q, Song Z. Characterization of TLR1 and expression profiling of TLR signaling pathway related genes in response to Aeromonas hydrophila challenge in hybrid yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco ♀ × P. vachelli ♂). Front Immunol 2023; 14:1163781. [PMID: 37056759 PMCID: PMC10086376 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1163781] [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: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Toll‐like receptor 1 (TLR1) mediates the innate immune response to a variety of microbes through recognizing cell wall components (such as bacterial lipoproteins) in mammals. However, the detailed molecular mechanism of TLR1 involved in pathogen immunity in the representative hybrid yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco ♀ × P. vachelli ♂) has not been well studied. In the present study, we identified the TLR1 gene from the hybrid yellow catfish, and further comparative synteny data from multiple species confirmed that the TLR1 gene is highly conserved in teleosts. Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinguishable TLR1s in diverse taxa, suggesting consistence in evolution of the TLR1 proteins with various species. Structural prediction indicated that the three-dimensional structures of TLR1 proteins are relatively conserved among different taxa. Positive selection analysis showed that purifying selection dominated the evolutionary process of TLR1s and TLR1-TIR domain in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Expression pattern analysis based on the tissue distribution showed that TLR1 mainly transcribed in the gonad, gallbladder and kidney, and the mRNA levels of TLR1 in kidney were remarkably up-regulated after Aeromonas hydrophila stimulation, indicating that TLR1 participates in the inflammatory responses to exogenous pathogen infection in hybrid yellow catfish. Homologous sequence alignment and chromosomal location indicated that the TLR signaling pathway is very conserved in the hybrid yellow catfish. The expression patterns of TLR signaling pathway related genes (TLR1- TLR2 - MyD88 - FADD - Caspase 8) were consistent after pathogen stimulation, revealing that the TLR signaling pathway is triggered and activated after A. hydrophila infection. Our findings will lay a solid foundation for better understanding the immune roles of TLR1 in teleosts, as well as provide basic data for developing strategies to control disease outbreak in hybrid yellow catfish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengtao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenxue Gao
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mengsha Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fenglin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingzhuoma Yang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zesong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanjun Jin
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Peng Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hanxi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhengyong Wen
- Key Laboratory of Sichuan for Fishes Conservation and Utilization in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Life Science, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang, China
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Zhengyong Wen, ; Qiong Shi, ; Zhaobin Song,
| | - Qiong Shi
- Key Laboratory of Sichuan for Fishes Conservation and Utilization in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Life Science, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang, China
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Zhengyong Wen, ; Qiong Shi, ; Zhaobin Song,
| | - Zhaobin Song
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Zhengyong Wen, ; Qiong Shi, ; Zhaobin Song,
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13
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Kim AR, Xu J, Cheloha R, Mohr SE, Zirin J, Ploegh HL, Perrimon N. NanoTag Nanobody Tools for Drosophila In Vitro and In Vivo Studies. Curr Protoc 2022; 2:e628. [PMID: 36571722 PMCID: PMC9811555 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Nanobodies have emerged as powerful protein-binding tools to uncover protein functions. Using functionalized protein binders, proteins of interest can be visualized, degraded, delocalized, or post-translationally modified in vivo. We recently reported the use of two short peptide tags, 10-aa 127D01 and 14-aa VHH05, and their corresponding nanobodies, Nb127D01 and NbVHH05, for both in vitro and in vivo studies in Drosophila. Here, we provide detailed protocols for nanobody production and for visualization of proteins of interest in either fixed or live samples. In addition, we include protocols for endogenous protein tagging using CRISPR-mediated genome engineering. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Nanobody production in S2 cells Basic Protocol 2: Nanobody expression and purification in bacterial cells Basic Protocol 3: Immunostaining with nanobodies Basic Protocol 4: Immunoblotting with nanobodies Basic Protocol 5: Immunoprecipitation with nanobodies prepared from S2 cells Basic Protocol 6: Immunoprecipitation with nanobodies prepared from bacteria Basic Protocol 7: NbVHH05 and Nb127D01 used as chromobodies Basic Protocol 8: NanoTag trap as a method to alter protein localization Support Protocol: CRISPR-mediated tagging of endogenous genes with NanoTags.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ah-Ram Kim
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jun Xu
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Ross Cheloha
- Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stephanie E Mohr
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jonathan Zirin
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hidde L Ploegh
- Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Norbert Perrimon
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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14
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Cabalteja CC, Sachdev S, Cheloha RW. Rapid Covalent Labeling of Membrane Proteins on Living Cells Using a Nanobody-Epitope Tag Pair. Bioconjug Chem 2022; 33:1867-1875. [PMID: 36107739 PMCID: PMC10200341 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.2c00334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic molecules that form a covalent bond upon binding to a targeted biomolecule (proximity-induced reactivity) are the subject of intense biomedical interest for the unique pharmacological properties imparted by irreversible binding. However, off-target covalent labeling and the lack of molecules with sufficient specificity limit more widespread applications. We describe the first example of a cross-linking platform that uses a synthetic peptide epitope and a single domain antibody (or nanobody) pair to form a covalent linkage rapidly and specifically. The rate of the cross-linking reaction between peptide and nanobody is faster than most other biocompatible cross-linking reactions, and it can be used to label live cells expressing receptor-nanobody fusions. The rapid kinetics of this system allowed us to probe the consequences on signaling for ligand cross-linking to the A2A-adenosine receptor. Our method may be generally useful to site-specifically link synthetic molecules to receptors on mammalian cell surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chino C. Cabalteja
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry; National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health. Bethesda, MD USA 20894
| | - Shivani Sachdev
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry; National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health. Bethesda, MD USA 20894
| | - Ross W. Cheloha
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry; National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health. Bethesda, MD USA 20894
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15
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Cabalteja CC, Sachdev S, Cheloha RW. Characterization of a Nanobody-Epitope Tag Interaction and Its Application for Receptor Engineering. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:2296-2303. [PMID: 35930411 PMCID: PMC10200313 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Peptide epitope tags offer a valuable means for detection and manipulation of protein targets for which high quality detection reagents are not available. Most commonly used epitope tags are bound by conventional, full-size antibodies (Abs). The complex architecture of Abs complicates their application in protein engineering and intracellular applications. To address these shortcomings, single domain antibodies (nanobodies, Nbs) that recognize short peptide epitopes have become increasingly prized. Here, we characterize the interaction between a Nb (Nb6E) and a 14-mer peptide epitope. We identify residues in the peptide epitope essential for high affinity binding. Using this information in combination with computational modeling we propose a mode of interaction between Nb6E and this epitope. We apply this nanobody-epitope pair to augment the potency of a ligand at an engineered adenosine A2A receptor. This characterization of the nanobody-epitope pair opens the door to diverse applications including mechanistic studies of the G protein-coupled receptor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chino C. Cabalteja
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry; National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health. Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Shivani Sachdev
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry; National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health. Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ross W. Cheloha
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry; National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health. Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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16
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Moliner-Morro A, McInerney GM, Hanke L. Nanobodies in the limelight: Multifunctional tools in the fight against viruses. J Gen Virol 2022; 103. [PMID: 35579613 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies are natural antivirals generated by the vertebrate immune system in response to viral infection or vaccination. Unsurprisingly, they are also key molecules in the virologist's molecular toolbox. With new developments in methods for protein engineering, protein functionalization and application, smaller antibody-derived fragments are moving in focus. Among these, camelid-derived nanobodies play a prominent role. Nanobodies can replace full-sized antibodies in most applications and enable new possible applications for which conventional antibodies are challenging to use. Here we review the versatile nature of nanobodies, discuss their promise as antiviral therapeutics, for diagnostics, and their suitability as research tools to uncover novel aspects of viral infection and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainhoa Moliner-Morro
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gerald M McInerney
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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17
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Jedlitzke B, Mootz HD. A light-activatable photocaged variant of the ultra-high affinity ALFA-tag nanobody. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200079. [PMID: 35411584 PMCID: PMC9324849 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Nanobodies against short linear peptide‐epitopes are widely used to detect and bind proteins of interest (POI) in fusion constructs. Engineered nanobodies that can be controlled by light have found very recent attention for various extra‐ and intracellular applications. We here report the design of a photocaged variant of the ultra‐high affinity ALFA‐tag nanobody, also termed ALFA‐tag photobody. ortho‐Nitrobenzyl tyrosine was incorporated into the paratope region of the nanobody by genetic code expansion technology and resulted in a ≥9,200 to 100,000‐fold impairment of the binding affinity. Irradiation with light (365 nm) leads to decaging and reconstitutes the native nanobody. We show the light‐dependent binding of the ALFA‐tag photobody to HeLa cells presenting the ALFA‐tag. The generation of the first photobody directed against a short peptide epitope underlines the generality of our photobody design concept. We envision that this photobody will be useful for the spatiotemporal control of proteins in many applications using cultured cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Jedlitzke
- Institute of BiochemistryDepartment of Chemistry and PharmacyUniversity of MuensterCorrensstr. 3648149MünsterGermany
| | - Henning D. Mootz
- Institute of BiochemistryDepartment of Chemistry and PharmacyUniversity of MuensterCorrensstr. 3648149MünsterGermany
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18
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Rehm FBH, Tyler TJ, de Veer SJ, Craik DJ, Durek T. Enzymatic C-to-C Protein Ligation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202116672. [PMID: 35018698 PMCID: PMC9303898 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202116672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Transpeptidase-catalyzed protein and peptide modifications have been widely utilized for generating conjugates of interest for biological investigation or therapeutic applications. However, all known transpeptidases are constrained to ligating in the N-to-C orientation, limiting the scope of attainable products. Here, we report that an engineered asparaginyl ligase accepts diverse incoming nucleophile substrate mimetics, particularly when a means of selectively quenching the reactivity of byproducts released from the recognition sequence is employed. In addition to directly catalyzing formation of l-/d- or α-/β-amino acid junctions, we find C-terminal Leu-ethylenediamine (Leu-Eda) motifs to be bona fide mimetics of native N-terminal Gly-Leu sequences. Appending a C-terminal Leu-Eda to synthetic peptides or, via an intein-splicing approach, to recombinant proteins enables direct transpeptidase-catalyzed C-to-C ligations. This work significantly expands the synthetic scope of enzyme-catalyzed protein transpeptidation reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian B. H. Rehm
- Institute for Molecular BioscienceAustralian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein ScienceThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLD 4072Australia
| | - Tristan J. Tyler
- Institute for Molecular BioscienceAustralian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein ScienceThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLD 4072Australia
| | - Simon J. de Veer
- Institute for Molecular BioscienceAustralian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein ScienceThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLD 4072Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular BioscienceAustralian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein ScienceThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLD 4072Australia
| | - Thomas Durek
- Institute for Molecular BioscienceAustralian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein ScienceThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLD 4072Australia
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19
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Xu J, Kim AR, Cheloha RW, Fischer FA, Li JSS, Feng Y, Stoneburner E, Binari R, Mohr SE, Zirin J, Ploegh HL, Perrimon N. Protein visualization and manipulation in Drosophila through the use of epitope tags recognized by nanobodies. eLife 2022; 11:74326. [PMID: 35076390 PMCID: PMC8853664 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Expansion of the available repertoire of reagents for visualization and manipulation of proteins will help understand their function. Short epitope tags linked to proteins of interest and recognized by existing binders such as nanobodies facilitate protein studies by obviating the need to isolate new antibodies directed against them. Nanobodies have several advantages over conventional antibodies, as they can be expressed and used as tools for visualization and manipulation of proteins in vivo. Here, we characterize two short (<15aa) NanoTag epitopes, 127D01 and VHH05, and their corresponding high-affinity nanobodies. We demonstrate their use in Drosophila for in vivo protein detection and re-localization, direct and indirect immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, and immunoprecipitation. We further show that CRISPR-mediated gene targeting provides a straightforward approach to tagging endogenous proteins with the NanoTags. Single copies of the NanoTags, regardless of their location, suffice for detection. This versatile and validated toolbox of tags and nanobodies will serve as a resource for a wide array of applications, including functional studies in Drosophila and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Xu
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School
| | - Ah-Ram Kim
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School
| | | | | | | | - Yuan Feng
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School
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20
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Rehm FBH, Tyler TJ, de Veer SJ, Craik DJ, Durek T. Enzymatic C‐to‐C Protein Ligation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202116672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fabian B. H. Rehm
- The University of Queensland Institute for Molecular Bioscience Chemistry and Structural Biology AUSTRALIA
| | - Tristan J. Tyler
- The University of Queensland Institute for Molecular Bioscience Chemistry and Structural Biology AUSTRALIA
| | - Simon J. de Veer
- The University of Queensland Institute for Molecular Bioscience Chemistry and Structural Biology AUSTRALIA
| | - David J. Craik
- The University of Queensland Institute for Molecular Bioscience Chemistry and Structural Biology AUSTRALIA
| | - Thomas Durek
- The University of Queensland Institute for Molecular Bioscience 306 Carmody RdLvl 7 North 4072 Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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21
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Cai J, Romão E, Wu G, Li J, Li L, Wang Z, Li Y, Yang J, Shen Y, Xu Z, Muyldermans S, Wang H. Nanobodies as binding-chaperones stabilize the recombinant Bombyx mori acetylcholinesterase and protect the enzyme activity in pesticide detection. Enzyme Microb Technol 2022; 155:109992. [DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2022.109992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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22
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Cheloha RW, Fischer FA, Gardella TJ, Ploegh HL. Activation of a G protein-coupled receptor through indirect antibody-mediated tethering of ligands. RSC Chem Biol 2021; 2:1692-1700. [PMID: 34977584 PMCID: PMC8637866 DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00118c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies raised against many cell surface proteins, including G protein-coupled receptors, remain important tools for their functional characterization. By linking antibodies to ligands for cell surface proteins, such adducts can be targeted to the surface of a cell type of choice. Site-specific functionalization of full-size antibodies with synthetic moieties remains challenging. Here we present new approaches in which single domain antibodies (known as VHHs or nanobodies) that target either cell surface proteins or conventional antibodies are used to indirectly deliver ligands for GPCRs to their sites of action. The combination of high yield production of nanobodies, facile site-specific functionalization, and compatibility with commercially available mouse and rabbit antibodies should enable wide application of this approach. The use of antibodies to target membrane receptors enables specific and potent activation. But antibodies with appropriate specificity can be lacking. We present methods for targeting receptors without target-specific antibodies.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross W Cheloha
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 1 Blackfan Circle Boston MA 02115 USA
| | - Fabian A Fischer
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 1 Blackfan Circle Boston MA 02115 USA
| | - Thomas J Gardella
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 50 Blossom Street Boston MA 02114 USA
| | - Hidde L Ploegh
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 1 Blackfan Circle Boston MA 02115 USA
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23
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Wagner TR, Rothbauer U. Nanobodies - Little helpers unravelling intracellular signaling. Free Radic Biol Med 2021; 176:46-61. [PMID: 34536541 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The identification of diagnostic and therapeutic targets requires a comprehensive understanding of cellular processes, for which advanced technologies in biomedical research are needed. The emergence of nanobodies (Nbs) derived from antibody fragments of camelid heavy chain-only antibodies as intracellular research tools offers new possibilities to study and modulate target antigens in living cells. Here we summarize this rapidly changing field, beginning with a brief introduction of Nbs, followed by an overview of how target-specific Nbs can be generated, and introduce the selection of intrabodies as research tools. Intrabodies, by definition, are intracellular functional Nbs that target ectopic or endogenous intracellular antigens within living cells. Such binders can be applied in various formats, e.g. as chromobodies for live cell microscopy or as biosensors to decipher complex intracellular signaling pathways. In addition, protein knockouts can be achieved by target-specific Nbs, while modulating Nbs have the potential as future therapeutics. The development of fine-tunable and switchable Nb-based systems that simultaneously provide spatial and temporal control has recently taken the application of these binders to the next level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa R Wagner
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany; NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Rothbauer
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany; NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany.
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24
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Harmand TJ, Pishesha N, Rehm FBH, Ma W, Pinney WB, Xie YJ, Ploegh HL. Asparaginyl Ligase-Catalyzed One-Step Cell Surface Modification of Red Blood Cells. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:1201-1207. [PMID: 34129316 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Red blood cells (RBCs) can serve as vascular carriers for drugs, proteins, peptides, and nanoparticles. Human RBCs remain in the circulation for ∼120 days, are biocompatible, and are immunologically largely inert. RBCs are cleared by the reticuloendothelial system and can induce immune tolerance to foreign components attached to the RBC surface. RBC conjugates have been pursued in clinical trials to treat cancers and autoimmune diseases and to correct genetic disorders. Still, most methods used to modify RBCs require multiple steps, are resource-intensive and time-consuming, and increase the risk of inflicting damage to the RBCs. Here, we describe direct conjugation of peptides and proteins onto the surface of RBCs in a single step, catalyzed by a highly efficient, recombinant asparaginyl ligase under mild, physiological conditions. In mice, the modified RBCs remain intact in the circulation, display a normal circulatory half-life, and retain their immune tolerance-inducing properties, as shown for protection against an accelerated model for type 1 diabetes. We conjugated different nanobodies to RBCs with retention of their binding properties, and these modified RBCs can target cancer cells in vitro. This approach provides an appealing alternative to current methods of RBC engineering. It provides ready access to more complex RBC constructs and highlights the general utility of asparaginyl ligases for the modification of native cell surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibault J Harmand
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachussets 02115, United States
| | - Novalia Pishesha
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachussets 02115, United States
| | - Fabian B H Rehm
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachussets 02115, United States
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Weiyi Ma
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachussets 02115, United States
| | - William B Pinney
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachussets 02115, United States
| | - Yushu J Xie
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachussets 02115, United States
| | - Hidde L Ploegh
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachussets 02115, United States
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25
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Ramirez DH, Ge Y, Woo CM. O-GlcNAc Engineering on a Target Protein in Cells with Nanobody-OGT and Nanobody-splitOGA. Curr Protoc 2021; 1:e117. [PMID: 33950562 PMCID: PMC8162732 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The monosaccharide O-linked N-acetyl glucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is an essential and dynamic post-translational modification (PTM) that decorates thousands of nucleocytoplasmic proteins. Interrogating the role of O-GlcNAc on a target protein is crucial yet challenging to perform in cells. We recently reported a pair of methods to selectively install or remove O-GlcNAc on a target protein in cells using an engineered O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) or split O-GlcNAcase (OGA) fused to a nanobody. Target protein O-GlcNAcylation and de-O-GlcNAcylation complements methods to interrogate the role of O-GlcNAc on a global scale or at individual glycosites. Herein, we describe a protocol for utilizing the nanobody-OGT and nanobody-splitOGA systems to screen for O-GlcNAc functionality on a target protein. We additionally include associated protocols for the detection of O-GlcNAc and cloning procedures to adapt the method for the user's target protein of interest. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Target protein O-GlcNAcylation of JunB using nanobody-OGT Basic Protocol 2: Target protein deglycosylation of Nup62 using nanobody-splitOGA Alternate Protocol: Verification of the O-GlcNAc state of a tagged target protein through chemoenzymatic labeling Support Protocol: Cloning of new nanobody-OGT/nanobody-splitOGA and target protein pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yun Ge
- 12 Oxford St, Cambridge MA 02138
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26
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Ge Y, Ramirez DH, Yang B, D'Souza AK, Aonbangkhen C, Wong S, Woo CM. Target protein deglycosylation in living cells by a nanobody-fused split O-GlcNAcase. Nat Chem Biol 2021; 17:593-600. [PMID: 33686291 PMCID: PMC8085020 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-021-00757-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is an essential and dynamic post-translational modification that is presented on thousands of nucleocytoplasmic proteins. Interrogating the role of O-GlcNAc on a single target protein is crucial, yet challenging to perform in cells. Herein, we developed a nanobody-fused split O-GlcNAcase (OGA) as an O-GlcNAc eraser for selective deglycosylation of a target protein in cells. After systematic cellular optimization, we identified a split OGA with reduced inherent deglycosidase activity that selectively removed O-GlcNAc from the desired target protein when directed by a nanobody. We demonstrate the generality of the nanobody-fused split OGA using four nanobodies against five target proteins and use the system to study the impact of O-GlcNAc on the transcription factors c-Jun and c-Fos. The nanobody-directed O-GlcNAc eraser provides a new strategy for the functional evaluation and engineering of O-GlcNAc via the selective removal of O-GlcNAc from individual proteins directly in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Ge
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Daniel H Ramirez
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Bo Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alexandria K D'Souza
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Chanat Aonbangkhen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Stephanie Wong
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Christina M Woo
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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27
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Vigano MA, Ell CM, Kustermann MMM, Aguilar G, Matsuda S, Zhao N, Stasevich TJ, Affolter M, Pyrowolakis G. Protein manipulation using single copies of short peptide tags in cultured cells and in Drosophila melanogaster. Development 2021; 148:dev191700. [PMID: 33593816 PMCID: PMC7990863 DOI: 10.1242/dev.191700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Cellular development and function rely on highly dynamic molecular interactions among proteins distributed in all cell compartments. Analysis of these interactions has been one of the main topics in cellular and developmental research, and has been mostly achieved by the manipulation of proteins of interest (POIs) at the genetic level. Although genetic strategies have significantly contributed to our current understanding, targeting specific interactions of POIs in a time- and space-controlled manner or analysing the role of POIs in dynamic cellular processes, such as cell migration or cell division, would benefit from more-direct approaches. The recent development of specific protein binders, which can be expressed and function intracellularly, along with advancement in synthetic biology, have contributed to the creation of a new toolbox for direct protein manipulations. Here, we have selected a number of short-tag epitopes for which protein binders from different scaffolds have been generated and showed that single copies of these tags allowed efficient POI binding and manipulation in living cells. Using Drosophila, we also find that single short tags can be used for POI manipulation in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Alessandra Vigano
- Growth and Development, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Clara-Maria Ell
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Biology I, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Biological Systems Analysis, University of Freiburg, Habsburgerstrasse 49, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Manuela M M Kustermann
- Institute for Biology I, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Biological Systems Analysis, University of Freiburg, Habsburgerstrasse 49, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gustavo Aguilar
- Growth and Development, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Shinya Matsuda
- Growth and Development, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ning Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Timothy J Stasevich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Markus Affolter
- Growth and Development, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - George Pyrowolakis
- Institute for Biology I, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Biological Systems Analysis, University of Freiburg, Habsburgerstrasse 49, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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28
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Van MV, Fujimori T, Bintu L. Nanobody-mediated control of gene expression and epigenetic memory. Nat Commun 2021; 12:537. [PMID: 33483487 PMCID: PMC7822885 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20757-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting chromatin regulators to specific genomic locations for gene control is emerging as a powerful method in basic research and synthetic biology. However, many chromatin regulators are large, making them difficult to deliver and combine in mammalian cells. Here, we develop a strategy for gene control using small nanobodies that bind and recruit endogenous chromatin regulators to a gene. We show that an antiGFP nanobody can be used to simultaneously visualize GFP-tagged chromatin regulators and control gene expression, and that nanobodies against HP1 and DNMT1 can silence a reporter gene. Moreover, combining nanobodies together or with other regulators, such as DNMT3A or KRAB, can enhance silencing speed and epigenetic memory. Finally, we use the slow silencing speed and high memory of antiDNMT1 to build a signal duration timer and recorder. These results set the basis for using nanobodies against chromatin regulators for controlling gene expression and epigenetic memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike V Van
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Taihei Fujimori
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Lacramioara Bintu
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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29
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A nanobody suite for yeast scaffold nucleoporins provides details of the nuclear pore complex structure. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6179. [PMID: 33268786 PMCID: PMC7710722 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19884-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are the main conduits for molecular exchange across the nuclear envelope. The NPC is a modular assembly of ~500 individual proteins, called nucleoporins or nups. Most scaffolding nups are organized in two multimeric subcomplexes, the Nup84 or Y complex and the Nic96 or inner ring complex. Working in S. cerevisiae, and to study the assembly of these two essential subcomplexes, we here develop a set of twelve nanobodies that recognize seven constituent nucleoporins of the Y and Nic96 complexes. These nanobodies all bind specifically and with high affinity. We present structures of several nup-nanobody complexes, revealing their binding sites. Additionally, constitutive expression of the nanobody suite in S. cerevisiae detect accessible and obstructed surfaces of the Y complex and Nic96 within the NPC. Overall, this suite of nanobodies provides a unique and versatile toolkit for the study of the NPC.
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30
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Cheloha RW, Harmand TJ, Wijne C, Schwartz TU, Ploegh HL. Exploring cellular biochemistry with nanobodies. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:15307-15327. [PMID: 32868455 PMCID: PMC7650250 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.012960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Reagents that bind tightly and specifically to biomolecules of interest remain essential in the exploration of biology and in their ultimate application to medicine. Besides ligands for receptors of known specificity, agents commonly used for this purpose are monoclonal antibodies derived from mice, rabbits, and other animals. However, such antibodies can be expensive to produce, challenging to engineer, and are not necessarily stable in the context of the cellular cytoplasm, a reducing environment. Heavy chain-only antibodies, discovered in camelids, have been truncated to yield single-domain antibody fragments (VHHs or nanobodies) that overcome many of these shortcomings. Whereas they are known as crystallization chaperones for membrane proteins or as simple alternatives to conventional antibodies, nanobodies have been applied in settings where the use of standard antibodies or their derivatives would be impractical or impossible. We review recent examples in which the unique properties of nanobodies have been combined with complementary methods, such as chemical functionalization, to provide tools with unique and useful properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross W Cheloha
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thibault J Harmand
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Charlotte Wijne
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas U Schwartz
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hidde L Ploegh
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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31
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Flicker S, Zettl I, Tillib SV. Nanobodies-Useful Tools for Allergy Treatment? Front Immunol 2020; 11:576255. [PMID: 33117377 PMCID: PMC7561424 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.576255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decade single domain antibodies (nanobodies, VHH) qualified through their unique characteristics have emerged as accepted and even advantageous alternative to conventional antibodies and have shown great potential as diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Currently nanobodies find their main medical application area in the fields of oncology and neurodegenerative diseases. According to late-breaking information, nanobodies specific for coronavirus spikes have been generated these days to test their suitability as useful therapeutics for future outbreaks. Their superior properties such as chemical stability, high affinity to a broad spectrum of epitopes, low immunogenicity, ease of their generation, selection and production proved nanobodies also to be remarkable to investigate their efficacy for passive treatment of type I allergy, an exaggerated immune reaction to foreign antigens with increasing global prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Flicker
- Division of Immunopathology, Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ines Zettl
- Division of Immunopathology, Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sergei V. Tillib
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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32
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Rehm FBH, Harmand TJ, Yap K, Durek T, Craik DJ, Ploegh HL. Site-Specific Sequential Protein Labeling Catalyzed by a Single Recombinant Ligase. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:17388-17393. [PMID: 31573802 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b09166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Protein ligases of defined substrate specificity are versatile tools for protein engineering. Upon completion of the reaction, the products of currently reported protein ligases contain the amino acid sequence that is recognized by that same ligase, resulting in repeated cycles of ligation and hydrolysis as competing reactions. Thus, previous efforts to sequentially label proteins at distinct positions required ligases of orthogonal specificity. A recombinant Oldenlandia affinis asparaginyl endopeptidase, OaAEP1, is promiscuous for incoming nucleophiles. This promiscuity enabled us to define a nucleophile composed of natural amino acids that is ligated efficiently to the substrate yet yields a product that is poorly recognized by OaAEP1. Proteins modified with an efficient recognition module could be readily modified to yield a defined product bearing a cleavage-resistant motif, whereas proteins containing this inferior recognition motif remained essentially unmodified. We demonstrate the versatility of the N- or C-terminal protein modifications obtainable with this approach and modify the N- and C-termini of a single substrate protein in a sequential, site-specific manner in excellent yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian B H Rehm
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine , Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachussets 02115 , United States.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , QLD 4072 , Australia
| | - Thibault J Harmand
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine , Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachussets 02115 , United States
| | - Kuok Yap
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , QLD 4072 , Australia
| | - Thomas Durek
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , QLD 4072 , Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , QLD 4072 , Australia
| | - Hidde L Ploegh
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine , Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachussets 02115 , United States
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