1
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Koroleva ON, Kuzmina NV, Dubrovin EV, Drutsa VL. Atomic force microscopy of spherical intermediates on the pathway to fibril formation of influenza A virus nuclear export protein. Microsc Res Tech 2024; 87:1131-1145. [PMID: 38270267 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24499] [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: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The nuclear export protein of the influenza A virus (NEP) is involved in many important processes of the virus life cycle. This makes it an attractive target for the treatment of a disease caused by a virus. Previously it has been shown, that recombinant variants of NEP are highly prone to aggregation in solution under various conditions with the formation of amyloid-like aggregates. In the present work, the amyloid nature of NEP aggregates was evidenced by Congo red binding assays. Atomic force microscopy has shown that NEP can form two types of spherical nanoparticles, which provide an alternative pathway for the formation of amyloid-like fibrils. Type I of these "fibrillogenic" spheres, formed under physiological conditions, represents the micelle-like particles with height 10-60 nm, which can generate worm-like flexible fibrils with the diameter 2.5-4.0 nm, length 20-500 nm and the Young's modulus ~73 MPa. Type II spherical aggregates with size of about 400-1000 nm, formed at elevated temperatures, includes fractions of drop-like and vesicle-like particles, generating more rigid amyloid-like fibrils with height of ~8 nm, and length of up to 2 μm. The hypothetical mechanism of fibril formation via nanospherical structures was suggested. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: AFM has revealed two types of the influenza A virus nuclear export protein spherical aggregates. They provide an alternative pathway for the formation of amyloid-like fibrils. The mechanism of fibril formation via spherical structures is suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga N Koroleva
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Natalia V Kuzmina
- Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Evgeniy V Dubrovin
- Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation
- National University of Science and Technology, MISIS, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Valeriy L Drutsa
- A.N.Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation
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2
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Gray M, Rodriguez-Otero MR, Champion JA. Self-Assembled Recombinant Elastin and Globular Protein Vesicles with Tunable Properties for Diverse Applications. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:1227-1237. [PMID: 38624000 PMCID: PMC11080046 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00694] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Vesicles are self-assembled structures comprised of a membrane-like exterior surrounding a hollow lumen with applications in drug delivery, artificial cells, and micro-bioreactors. Lipid or polymer vesicles are the most common and are made of lipids or polymers, respectively. They are highly useful structures for many applications but it can be challenging to decorate them with proteins or encapsulate proteins in them, owing to the use of organic solvent in their formation and the large size of proteins relative to lipid or polymer molecules. By utilization of recombinant fusion proteins to make vesicles, specific protein domains can be directly incorporated while also imparting tunability and stability. Protein vesicle assembly relies on the design and use of self-assembling amphiphilic proteins. A specific protein vesicle platform made in purely aqueous conditions of a globular, functional protein fused to a glutamate-rich leucine zipper (ZE) and a thermoresponsive elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) fused to an arginine-rich leucine zipper (ZR) is discussed here. The hydrophobic conformational change of the ELP above its transition temperature drives assembly, and strong ZE/ZR binding enables incorporation of the desired functional protein. Mixing the soluble proteins on ice induces zipper binding, and then warming above the ELP transition temperature (Tt) triggers the transition to and growth of protein-rich coacervates and, finally, reorganization of proteins into vesicles. Vesicle size is tunable based on salt concentration, rate of heating, protein concentration, size of the globular protein, molar ratio of the proteins, and the ELP sequence. Increasing the salt concentration decreases vesicle size by decreasing the Tt, resulting in a shorter coacervation transition stage. Likewise, directly changing the heating rate also changes this time and increasing protein concentration increases coalescence. Increasing globular protein size decreases the size of the vesicle due to steric hindrance. By changing the ELP sequence, which consists of (VPGXG)n, through the guest residue (X) or number of repeats (n), Tt is changed, affecting size. Additionally, the chemical nature of X variation has endowed vesicles with stimuli responsiveness and stability at physiological conditions.Protein vesicles have been used for biocatalysis, biomacromolecular drug delivery, and vaccine applications. Photo-cross-linkable vesicles were used to deliver small molecule cargo to cancer cells in vitro and antigen to immune cells in vivo. pH-responsive vesicles effectively delivered functional protein cargo, including cytochrome C, to the cytosol of cancer cells in vitro, using hydrophobic ion pairing to improve cargo distribution in the vesicles and release. The globular protein used to make the vesicles can be varied to achieve different functions. For example, enzyme vesicles exhibit biocatalysis, and antigen vesicles induce antibody and cellular immune responses after vaccination in mice. Collectively, the development and engineering of the protein vesicle platform has employed amphiphilic self-assembly strategies and rational protein engineering to control physical, chemical, and biological properties for biotechnology and nanomedicine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikaela
A. Gray
- School
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Mariela R. Rodriguez-Otero
- School
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- BioEngineering
Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- BioEngineering
Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Dr NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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3
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Ren Y, Guan S, Qu X. Polymer-Protein Assemblies with Tunable Vesicular and Hierarchical Nanostructures. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202317251. [PMID: 38189597 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202317251] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The construction of variable structured multi-protein nano-assemblies is of great interest for the development of protein-based therapeutic systems. This study showcases the synthesis of polymer-protein assemblies with tunable structure like single- and multi-layer polymer-crosslinked protein vesicles, Janus protein vesicles and other hierarchical-structured assemblies by utilizing a dynamic template-assistant intermittent-assembly approach. The generalization of the methodology helps the protein assemblies to gain notable functional complexity. And we demonstrate compelling evidence highlighting the substantial impact of the topological morphology of protein nanoaggregates on their cellular uptake capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Ren
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Shanyue Guan
- Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Xiaozhong Qu
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
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4
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Strader RL, Shmidov Y, Chilkoti A. Encoding Structure in Intrinsically Disordered Protein Biomaterials. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:302-311. [PMID: 38194282 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00624] [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] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
In nature, proteins range from those with highly ordered secondary and tertiary structures to those that completely lack a well-defined three-dimensional structure, termed intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). IDPs are generally characterized by one or more segments that have a compositional bias toward small hydrophilic amino acids and proline residues that promote structural disorder and are called intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). The combination of IDRs with ordered regions and the interactions between the two determine the phase behavior, structure, and function of IDPs. Nature also diversifies the structure of proteins and thereby their functions by hybridization of the proteins with other moieties such as glycans and lipids; for instance, post-translationally glycosylated and lipidated proteins are important cell membrane components. Additionally, diversity in protein structure and function is achieved in nature through cross-linking proteins within themselves or with other domains to create various topologies. For example, an essential characteristic of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is the cross-linking of its network components, including proteins such as collagen and elastin, as well as polysaccharides such as hyaluronic acid (HA). Inspired by nature, synthetic IDP (SynIDP)-based biomaterials can be designed by employing similar strategies with the goal of introducing structural diversity and hence unique physiochemical properties. This Account describes such materials produced over the past decade and following one or more of the following approaches: (1) incorporating highly ordered domains into SynIDPs, (2) conjugating SynIDPs to other moieties through either genetically encoded post-translational modification or chemical conjugation, and (3) engineering the topology of SynIDPs via chemical modification. These approaches introduce modifications to the primary structure of SynIDPs, which are then translated to unique three-dimensional secondary and tertiary structures. Beginning with completely disordered SynIDPs as the point of origin, structure may be introduced into SynIDPs by each of these three unique approaches individually along orthogonal axes or by combinations of the three, enabling bioinspired designs to theoretically span the entire range of three-dimensional structural possibilities. Furthermore, the resultant structures span a wide range of length scales, from nano- to meso- to micro- and even macrostructures. In this Account, emphasis is placed on the physiochemical properties and structural features of the described materials. Conjugates of SynIDPs to synthetic polymers and materials achieved by simple mixing of components are outside the scope of this Account. Related biomedical applications are described briefly. Finally, we note future directions for the design of functional SynIDP-based biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Strader
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Yulia Shmidov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Ashutosh Chilkoti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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5
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Bhardwaj R, Mishra P. Multiresponsive Nanoscale Self-Assembly of Azurin-Elastin-like Polypeptide Fusion Protein for Enhanced Prostate Cancer Therapy. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:508-521. [PMID: 38047916 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
A fusion protein composed of a bacterial protein, azurin, having antineoplastic properties and a thermally responsive structural cationic elastin-like protein (ELP), is designed, cloned, expressed, and purified. A simple method of inverse transition cycle (ITC) is employed to purify the fusion protein azurin-ELP diblock copolymer (d-bc). The molecular weight of the azurin-ELP fusion protein is ∼32 kDa. Further, its self-assembly properties are investigated. Interestingly, the engineered azurin-ELP d-bc in response to increasing temperature shows a dual-step phase separation into biofunctional nanostructures. Around the physiological temperature, azurin-ELP d-bc forms stable coacervates, which is dependent on the concentration and time of incubation. These coacervates are formed below the lower critical solubility temperature (LCST) of the ELP block at physiological temperature. Above LCST, i.e., 50-55°C, micelles of size ranging from 25 to 30 nm are formed. The cytotoxicity of azurin-ELP d-bc depends on the size of the coacervates formed and their cellular uptake at physiological temperature. Further, MTT assay of azurin-ELP d-bc in the cross-linked micelles prepared ex situ shows > six times higher killing of LNCaP cells than the unimeric form of azurin-ELP at 5 μM concentration. The flow cytometric results of these micelles at 20 μM concentration show ∼97% LNCaP cells in the apoptotic phase. Thus, azurin-ELP cross-linked micelles have enhanced potential for anticancer therapy due to their higher avidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritu Bhardwaj
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Prashant Mishra
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
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6
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Gao R, Yu X, Kumar BVVSP, Tian L. Hierarchical Structuration in Protocellular System. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2300422. [PMID: 37438327 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300422] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Spatial control is one of the ubiquitous features in biological systems and the key to the functional complexity of living cells. The strategies to achieve such precise spatial control in protocellular systems are crucial to constructing complex artificial living systems with functional collective behavior. Herein, the authors review recent advances in the spatial control within a single protocell or between different protocells and discuss how such hierarchical structured protocellular system can be used to understand complex living systems or to advance the development of functional microreactors with the programmable release of various biomacromolecular payloads, or smart protocell-biological cell hybrid system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Gao
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Xinran Yu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | | | - Liangfei Tian
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- Department of Ultrasound, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- Innovation Center for Smart Medical Technologies & Devices, Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
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7
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Shin J, Jang Y. Rational design and engineering of polypeptide/protein vesicles for advanced biological applications. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:8834-8847. [PMID: 37505198 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb01103h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic vesicles have gained considerable popularity in recent years for numerous biological and medical applications. Among the various types of synthetic vesicles, the utilization of polypeptides and/or proteins as fundamental constituents has garnered significant interest for vesicle construction owing to the unique bio-functionalities inherent in rationally designed amino acid sequences. Especially the incorporation of functional proteins onto the vesicle surface facilitates a wide range of advanced biological applications that are not easily attainable with traditional building blocks, such as lipids and polymers. The main goal of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in polypeptide/protein vesicles. Moreover, this review encompasses the rational design and engineering strategies employed in the creation of polypeptide/protein vesicles, including the synthesis of building blocks, the modulation of their self-assembly, as well as their diverse applications. Furthermore, this work includes an in-depth discussion of the key challenges and opportunities associated with polypeptide/protein vesicles, providing valuable insights for future research. By offering an up-to-date review of this burgeoning field of polypeptide/protein vesicle research, this review will shed light on the potential applications of these biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jooyong Shin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, 1006 Center Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
| | - Yeongseon Jang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, 1006 Center Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
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8
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Kubota R, Hiroi T, Ikuta Y, Liu Y, Hamachi I. Visualizing Formation and Dynamics of a Three-Dimensional Sponge-like Network of a Coacervate in Real Time. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:18316-18328. [PMID: 37562059 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c03793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Coacervates, which are formed by liquid-liquid phase separation, have been extensively explored as models for synthetic cells and membraneless organelles, so their in-depth structural analysis is crucial. However, both the inner structure dynamics and formation mechanism of coacervates remain elusive. Herein, we demonstrate real-time confocal observation of a three-dimensional sponge-like network in a dipeptide-based coacervate. In situ generation of the dipeptide allowed us to capture the emergence of the sponge-like network via unprecedented membrane folding of vesicle-shaped intermediates. We also visualized dynamic fluctuation of the network, including reversible engagement/disengagement of cross-links and a stochastic network kissing event. Photoinduced transient formation of a multiphase coacervate was achieved with a thermally responsive phase transition. Our findings expand the fundamental understanding of synthetic coacervates and provide opportunities to manipulate their physicochemical properties by engineering the inner network for potential applications in development of artificial cells and life-like material fabrication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryou Kubota
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Taro Hiroi
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Yuriki Ikuta
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Yuchong Liu
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Itaru Hamachi
- Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
- JST-ERATO, Hamachi Innovative Molecular Technology for Neuroscience, Kyoto University, Nishikyo-ku, Katsura 615-8530, Japan
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9
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Li Y, Dautel DR, Gray MA, McKenna ME, Champion JA. Rational design of elastin-like polypeptide fusion proteins to tune self-assembly and properties of protein vesicles. J Mater Chem B 2023. [PMID: 37357544 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb00200d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Protein vesicles made from bioactive proteins have potential value in drug delivery, biocatalysis, and as artificial cells. As the proteins are produced recombinantly, the ability to precisely tune the protein sequence provides control not possible with polymeric vesicles. The tunability and biocompatibility motivated this work to develop protein vesicles using rationally designed protein building blocks to investigate how protein sequence influences vesicle self-assembly and properties. We have reported an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) fused to an arginine-rich leucine zipper (ZR) and functional, globular proteins fused to a glutamate-rich leucine zipper (ZE) that self-assemble into protein vesicles when warmed from 4 to 25 °C due to the hydrophobic transition of ELP. Previously, we demonstrated the ability to tune vesicle properties by changing protein and salt concentration, ZE : ZR ratio, and warming rate. However, there is a limit to the properties that can be achieved via assembly conditions. In order to access a wider range of vesicle diameter and stability profiles, this work investigated how modifiying the hydrophobicity and length of the ELP sequence influenced self-assembly and the final properties of protein vesicles using mCherry as a model globular protein. The results showed that both transition temperature and diameter of protein vesicles were inversely correlated to the ELP guest residue hydrophobicity and the number of ELP pentapeptide repeats. Additionally, sequence manipulation enabled assembly of vesicles with properties not accessible by changes to assembly conditions. For example, introduction of tyrosine at 5 guest residue positions in ELP enabled formation of nanoscale vesicles stable at physiological salt concentration. This work yields design guidelines for modifying the ELP sequence to manipulate protein vesicle transition temperature, size and stability to achieve desired properties for particular biofunctional applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yirui Li
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA.
- BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA
| | - Dylan R Dautel
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA.
| | - Mikaela A Gray
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA.
| | - Michael E McKenna
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA.
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA.
- BioEngineering Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA
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10
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Powers J, Jang Y. Temperature-responsive membrane permeability of recombinant fusion protein vesicles. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:3273-3280. [PMID: 37089115 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00096f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we investigate the changes in the permeability of the recombinant fusion protein vesicles with different membrane structures as a function of solution temperature. The protein vesicles are self-assembled from recombinant fusion protein complexes composed of an mCherry fused with a glutamic acid-rich leucine zipper and a counter arginine-rich leucine zipper fused with an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP). We have found that the molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of the protein vesicle membranes varies inversely with solution temperature by monitoring the transport of fluorescent-tagged dextran dyes with different molecular weights. The temperature-responsiveness of the protein vesicle membranes is obtained from the lower critical solution temperature behavior of ELP in the protein building blocks. Consequently, the unique vesicle membrane structures with different single-layered and double-layered ELP organizations impact the sensitivity of the permeability responses of the protein vesicles. Single-layered protein vesicles with the ELP domains facing the interior show more drastic permeability changes as a function of temperature than double-layered protein vesicles in which ELP blocks are buried inside the membranes. This work about the temperature-responsive membrane permeability of unique protein vesicles will provide design guidelines for new biomaterials and their applications, such as drug delivery and synthetic protocell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson Powers
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida 1006 Center Drive, FL 32669, USA.
| | - Yeongseon Jang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida 1006 Center Drive, FL 32669, USA.
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11
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Dautel DR, Champion JA. Self-Assembly of Functional Protein Nanosheets from Thermoresponsive Bolaamphiphiles. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:3612-3620. [PMID: 36018255 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Nanosheets are two-dimensional materials, less than 100 nm thick, that can be used for separations, biosensing, and biocatalysis. Nanosheets can be made from inorganic and organic materials such as graphene, polymers, and proteins. Here, we report the self-assembly of nanosheets under aqueous conditions from functional proteins. The nanosheets are synthesized from two fusion proteins held together by high-affinity interactions of two leucine zippers to form bolaamphiphiles. The hydrophobic domain, ZR-ELP-ZR, contains the thermoresponsive elastin-like peptide (ELP) flanked by arginine-rich leucine zippers (ZR), each of which binds the hydrophilic fusion protein, globule-ZE, via the glutamate-rich leucine zipper (ZE) fused to a functional, globular protein. Nanosheets form when the proteins are mixed at 4 °C in aqueous solutions and then heated to 25 °C as the container is rotated end-over-end causing expansion and contraction of the air-water interface. The nanosheets are robust with respect to the choice of globular protein and can incorporate small fluorescent proteins that are less than 30 kDa as well as large enzymes, such as 80 kDa malate synthase G. Upon incorporation into nanosheets, enzymes retain more than 70% of their original activity, demonstrating the potential of protein nanosheets to be used for biosensing or biocatalytic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan R Dautel
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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12
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Ganar KA, Leijten L, Deshpande S. Actinosomes: Condensate-Templated Containers for Engineering Synthetic Cells. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:2869-2879. [PMID: 35948429 PMCID: PMC9396703 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Engineering synthetic cells has a broad appeal, from
understanding
living cells to designing novel biomaterials for therapeutics, biosensing,
and hybrid interfaces. A key prerequisite to creating synthetic cells
is a three-dimensional container capable of orchestrating biochemical
reactions. In this study, we present an easy and effective technique
to make cell-sized porous containers, coined actinosomes, using the
interactions between biomolecular condensates and the actin cytoskeleton.
This approach uses polypeptide/nucleoside triphosphate condensates
and localizes actin monomers on their surface. By triggering actin
polymerization and using osmotic gradients, the condensates are transformed
into containers, with the boundary made up of actin filaments and
polylysine polymers. We show that the guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-to-adenosine
triphosphate (ATP) ratio is a crucial parameter for forming actinosomes:
insufficient ATP prevents condensate dissolution, while excess ATP
leads to undesired crumpling. Permeability studies reveal the porous
surface of actinosomes, allowing small molecules to pass through while
restricting bigger macromolecules within the interior. We show the
functionality of actinosomes as bioreactors by carrying out in vitro protein translation within them. Actinosomes are
a handy addition to the synthetic cell platform, with appealing properties
like ease of production, inherent encapsulation capacity, and a potentially
active surface to trigger signaling cascades and form multicellular
assemblies, conceivably useful for biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketan A Ganar
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University and Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Liza Leijten
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University and Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Siddharth Deshpande
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University and Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
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13
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Dautel DR, Heller WT, Champion JA. Protein Vesicles with pH-Responsive Disassembly. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:3678-3687. [PMID: 35943848 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Protein biomaterials offer several advantages over those made from other components because their amino acid sequence can be precisely controlled with genetic engineering to produce a diverse set of material building blocks. In this work, three different elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) sequences were designed to synthesize pH-responsive protein vesicles. ELPs undergo a thermally induced hydrophobic transition that enables self-assembly of different kinds of protein biomaterials. The transition can be tuned by the composition of the guest residue, X, within the ELP pentapeptide repeat unit, VPGXG. When the guest residue is substituted with an ionizable amino acid, such as histidine, the ELP undergoes a pH-dependent hydrophobic phase transition. We used pH-responsive ELPs with different levels of histidine substitution, in combination with leucine zippers and globular, functional proteins, to fabricate protein vesicles. We demonstrate pH-dependent self-assembly, diameter, and disassembly of the vesicles using a combination of turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering, microscopy, and small angle X-ray scattering. As the ELP transition is dependent on the sequence, the vesicle properties also depend on the histidine content in the ELP building blocks. These results demonstrate the tunability of protein vesicles endowed with pH responsiveness, which expands their potential in drug-delivery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan R Dautel
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - William T Heller
- Neutron Scattering, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, MS 6473, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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14
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Shin J, Cole BD, Shan T, Jang Y. Heterogeneous Synthetic Vesicles toward Artificial Cells: Engineering Structure and Composition of Membranes for Multimodal Functionalities. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:1505-1518. [PMID: 35266692 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c01504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The desire to develop artificial cells to imitate living cells in synthetic vesicle platforms has continuously increased over the past few decades. In particular, heterogeneous synthetic vesicles made from two or more building blocks have attracted attention for artificial cell applications based on their multifunctional modules with asymmetric structures. In addition to the traditional liposomes or polymersomes, polypeptides and proteins have recently been highlighted as potential building blocks to construct artificial cells owing to their specific biological functionalities. Incorporating one or more functionally folded, globular protein into synthetic vesicles enables more cell-like functions mediated by proteins. This Review highlights the recent research about synthetic vesicles toward artificial cell models, from traditional synthetic vesicles to protein-assembled vesicles with asymmetric structures. We aim to provide fundamental and practical insights into applying knowledge on molecular self-assembly to the bottom-up construction of artificial cell platforms with heterogeneous building blocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jooyong Shin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Blair D Cole
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Ting Shan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Yeongseon Jang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
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15
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Chu S, Wang AL, Bhattacharya A, Montclare JK. Protein Based Biomaterials for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Applications. PROGRESS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2022; 4:012003. [PMID: 34950852 PMCID: PMC8691744 DOI: 10.1088/2516-1091/ac2841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Proteins are some of the most versatile and studied macromolecules with extensive biomedical applications. The natural and biological origin of proteins offer such materials several advantages over their synthetic counterparts, such as innate bioactivity, recognition by cells and reduced immunogenic potential. Furthermore, proteins can be easily functionalized by altering their primary amino acid sequence and can often be further self-assembled into higher order structures either spontaneously or under specific environmental conditions. This review will feature the recent advances in protein-based biomaterials in the delivery of therapeutic cargo such as small molecules, genetic material, proteins, and cells. First, we will discuss the ways in which secondary structural motifs, the building blocks of more complex proteins, have unique properties that enable them to be useful for therapeutic delivery. Next, supramolecular assemblies, such as fibers, nanoparticles, and hydrogels, made from these building blocks that are engineered to behave in a cohesive manner, are discussed. Finally, we will cover additional modifications to protein materials that impart environmental responsiveness to materials. This includes the emerging field of protein molecular robots, and relatedly, protein-based theranostic materials that combine therapeutic potential with modern imaging modalities, including near-infrared fluorescence spectroscopy (NIRF), single-photo emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound/photoacoustic imaging (US/PAI).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Chu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Andrew L Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- College of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Aparajita Bhattacharya
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Jin Kim Montclare
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- Department of Chemistry, NYU, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biomaterials, NYU College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
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16
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Khodaverdi M, Hossain MS, Zhang Z, Martino RP, Nehls CW, Mozhdehi D. Pathway‐Selection for Programmable Assembly of Genetically Encoded Amphiphiles by Thermal Processing. CHEMSYSTEMSCHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/syst.202100037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Khodaverdi
- Department of Chemistry Syracuse University Center for Science and Technology, 111 Syracuse NY 13244 USA
| | - Md Shahadat Hossain
- Department of Chemistry Syracuse University Center for Science and Technology, 111 Syracuse NY 13244 USA
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Department of Chemistry Syracuse University Center for Science and Technology, 111 Syracuse NY 13244 USA
| | - Robert P. Martino
- Department of Chemistry Syracuse University Center for Science and Technology, 111 Syracuse NY 13244 USA
| | - Connor W. Nehls
- Department of Chemistry Syracuse University Center for Science and Technology, 111 Syracuse NY 13244 USA
| | - Davoud Mozhdehi
- Department of Chemistry Syracuse University Center for Science and Technology, 111 Syracuse NY 13244 USA
- BioInspired Syracuse Institute for Material and Living Systems Syracuse University Syracuse NY 13244 USA
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17
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Li Y, Champion JA. Photocrosslinked, Tunable Protein Vesicles for Drug Delivery Applications. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2001810. [PMID: 33511792 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202001810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant proteins have emerged as promising building blocks for vesicle self-assembly because of their versatility through genetic manipulation and biocompatibility. Vesicles composed of thermally responsive elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) fusion proteins encapsulate cargo during assembly. However, vesicle stability in physiological environments remains a significant challenge for biofunctional applications. Here, incorporation of an unnatural amino acid, para-azido phenylalanine, into the ELP domain is reported to enable photocrosslinking of protein vesicles and tuning of vesicle size and swelling. The size of the vesicles can be tuned by changing ELP hydrophobicity and ionic strength. Protein vesicles are assessed for their ability to encapsulate doxorubicin and dually deliver doxorubicin and fluorescent protein in vitro as a proof of concept. The resulting photocrosslinkable vesicles made from full-sized, functional proteins show high potential in drug delivery applications, especially for small molecule/protein combination therapies or targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yirui Li
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering BioEngineering Program Georgia Institute of Technology 950 Atlantic Dr. NW Atlanta GA 30332‐2000 USA
| | - Julie A. Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering BioEngineering Program Georgia Institute of Technology 950 Atlantic Dr. NW Atlanta GA 30332‐2000 USA
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18
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Ibrahimova V, Zhao H, Ibarboure E, Garanger E, Lecommandoux S. Thermosensitive Vesicles from Chemically Encoded Lipid‐Grafted Elastin‐like Polypeptides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202102807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vusala Ibrahimova
- University of Bordeaux CNRS Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629 33600 Pessac France
| | - Hang Zhao
- University of Bordeaux CNRS Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629 33600 Pessac France
| | - Emmanuel Ibarboure
- University of Bordeaux CNRS Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629 33600 Pessac France
| | - Elisabeth Garanger
- University of Bordeaux CNRS Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629 33600 Pessac France
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19
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Ibrahimova V, Zhao H, Ibarboure E, Garanger E, Lecommandoux S. Thermosensitive Vesicles from Chemically Encoded Lipid-Grafted Elastin-like Polypeptides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:15036-15040. [PMID: 33856091 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202102807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Biomimetic design to afford smart functional biomaterials with exquisite properties represents synthetic challenges and provides unique perspectives. In this context, elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) recently became highly attractive building blocks in the development of lipoprotein-based membranes. In addition to the bioengineered post-translational modifications of genetically encoded recombinant ELPs developed so far, we report here a simple and versatile method to design biohybrid brush-like lipid-grafted-ELPs using chemical post-modification reactions. We have explored a combination of methionine alkylation and click chemistry to create a new class of hybrid lipoprotein mimics. Our design allowed the formation of biomimetic vesicles with controlled permeability, correlated to the temperature-responsiveness of ELPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vusala Ibrahimova
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, 33600, Pessac, France
| | - Hang Zhao
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, 33600, Pessac, France
| | - Emmanuel Ibarboure
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, 33600, Pessac, France
| | - Elisabeth Garanger
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, 33600, Pessac, France
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20
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21
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Tan R, Shin J, Heo J, Cole BD, Hong J, Jang Y. Tuning the Structural Integrity and Mechanical Properties of Globular Protein Vesicles by Blending Crosslinkable and NonCrosslinkable Building Blocks. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:4336-4344. [PMID: 32955862 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Vesicles made from functionally folded, globular proteins that perform specific biological activities, such as catalysis, sensing, or therapeutics, show potential applications as artificial cells, microbioreactors, or protein drug delivery vehicles. The mechanical properties of vesicle membranes, including the elastic modulus and hardness, play a critical role in dictating the stability and shape transformation of the vesicles under external stimuli triggers. Herein, we have developed a strategy to tune the mechanical properties and integrity of globular protein vesicle (GPV) membranes of which building molecules are recombinant fusion protein complexes: a mCherry fused with an acidic leucine zipper (mCherry-ZE) and a basic leucine zipper fused with an elastin-like polypeptide (ZR-ELP). To control the mechanical properties of GPVs, we introduced a nonstandard amino acid (para-azidophenylalanine (pAzF)) into the ELP domains (ELP-X), which enabled the creation of crosslinked vesicles under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Crosslinked GPVs made from mCherry-ZE/ZR-ELP-X complexes presented higher stability than noncrosslinked GPVs under hypotonic osmotic stress. The degree of swelling of GPVs increased as less crosslinking was achieved in the vesicle membranes, which resulted in the disassembly of GPVs into membraneless coacervates. Nanoindentation by atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirmed that the stiffness and Young's elastic modulus of GPVs increase as the blending molar ratio of ZR-ELP-X to ZR-ELP increases to make vesicles. The results obtained in this study suggest a rational design to make GPVs with tunable mechanical properties for target applications by simply varying the blending ratio of ZR-ELP and ZR-ELP-X in the vesicle self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruwen Tan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, 1006 Center Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Jooyong Shin
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiwoong Heo
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Blair D Cole
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, 1006 Center Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Jinkee Hong
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeongseon Jang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, 1006 Center Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
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22
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Liu Z, Zhou W, Qi C, Kong T. Interface Engineering in Multiphase Systems toward Synthetic Cells and Organelles: From Soft Matter Fundamentals to Biomedical Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e2002932. [PMID: 32954548 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202002932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic cells have a major role in gaining insight into the complex biological processes of living cells; they also give rise to a range of emerging applications from gene delivery to enzymatic nanoreactors. Living cells rely on compartmentalization to orchestrate reaction networks for specialized and coordinated functions. Principally, the compartmentalization has been an essential engineering theme in constructing cell-mimicking systems. Here, efforts to engineer liquid-liquid interfaces of multiphase systems into membrane-bounded and membraneless compartments, which include lipid vesicles, polymer vesicles, colloidosomes, hybrids, and coacervate droplets, are summarized. Examples are provided of how these compartments are designed to imitate biological behaviors or machinery, including molecule trafficking, growth, fusion, energy conversion, intercellular communication, and adaptivity. Subsequently, the state-of-art applications of these cell-inspired synthetic compartments are discussed. Apart from being simplified and cell models for bridging the gap between nonliving matter and cellular life, synthetic compartments also are utilized as intracellular delivery vehicles for nuclei acids and nanoreactors for biochemical synthesis. Finally, key challenges and future directions for achieving the full potential of synthetic cells are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Liu
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Wen Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Cheng Qi
- College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Tiantian Kong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
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23
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Dautel DR, Champion JA. Protein Vesicles Self-Assembled from Functional Globular Proteins with Different Charge and Size. Biomacromolecules 2020; 22:116-125. [PMID: 32886493 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Protein vesicles can be synthesized by mixing two fusion proteins: an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) fused to an arginine-rich leucine zipper (ZR) with a globular, soluble protein fused to a glutamate-rich leucine zipper (ZE). Currently, only fluorescent proteins have been incorporated into vesicles; however, for protein vesicles to be useful for biocatalysis, drug delivery, or biosensing, vesicles must assemble from functional proteins that span an array of properties and functionalities. In this work, the globular protein was systematically changed to determine the effects of the surface charge and size on the self-assembly of protein vesicles. The formation of microphases, which included vesicles, coacervates, and hybrid structures, was monitored at different assembly conditions to determine the phase space for each globular protein. The results show that the protein surface charge has a small effect on vesicle self-assembly. However, increasing the size of the globular protein decreases the vesicle size and increases the stability at lower ZE/ZR molar ratios. The phase diagrams created can be used as guidelines to incorporate new functional proteins into vesicles. Furthermore, this work reports catalytically active enzyme vesicles, demonstrating the potential for the application of vesicles as biocatalysts or biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan R Dautel
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Julie A Champion
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 950 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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24
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Baul U, Bley M, Dzubiella J. Thermal Compaction of Disordered and Elastin-like Polypeptides: A Temperature-Dependent, Sequence-Specific Coarse-Grained Simulation Model. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:3523-3538. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Upayan Baul
- Applied Theoretical Physics—Computational Physics, Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder Strasse 3, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael Bley
- Applied Theoretical Physics—Computational Physics, Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder Strasse 3, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Joachim Dzubiella
- Applied Theoretical Physics—Computational Physics, Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder Strasse 3, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS@FIT—Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany
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25
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Phase transition of RNA-protein complexes into ordered hollow condensates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:15650-15658. [PMID: 32571937 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1922365117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation of multivalent intrinsically disordered protein-RNA complexes is ubiquitous in both natural and biomimetic systems. So far, isotropic liquid droplets are the most commonly observed topology of RNA-protein condensates in experiments and simulations. Here, by systematically studying the phase behavior of RNA-protein complexes across varied mixture compositions, we report a hollow vesicle-like condensate phase of nucleoprotein assemblies that is distinct from RNA-protein droplets. We show that these vesicular condensates are stable at specific mixture compositions and concentration regimes within the phase diagram and are formed through the phase separation of anisotropic protein-RNA complexes. Similar to membranes composed of amphiphilic lipids, these nucleoprotein-RNA vesicular membranes exhibit local ordering, size-dependent permeability, and selective encapsulation capacity without sacrificing their dynamic formation and dissolution in response to physicochemical stimuli. Our findings suggest that protein-RNA complexes can robustly create lipid-free vesicle-like enclosures by phase separation.
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26
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Zhou L, Shi H, Li Z, He C. Recent Advances in Complex Coacervation Design from Macromolecular Assemblies and Emerging Applications. Macromol Rapid Commun 2020; 41:e2000149. [DOI: 10.1002/marc.202000149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lili Zhou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering National University of Singapore 9 Engineering Drive 1 Singapore 117576 Singapore
| | - Huihui Shi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering National University of Singapore 9 Engineering Drive 1 Singapore 117576 Singapore
| | - Zibiao Li
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering A:STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08‐03 Singapore 138634 Singapore
| | - Chaobin He
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering National University of Singapore 9 Engineering Drive 1 Singapore 117576 Singapore
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering A:STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08‐03 Singapore 138634 Singapore
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27
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Hossain MS, Liu X, Maynard TI, Mozhdehi D. Genetically Encoded Inverse Bolaamphiphiles. Biomacromolecules 2019; 21:660-669. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b01380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Md Shahadat Hossain
- Department of Chemistry, 1-014 Center for Science and Technology, 111 College Place, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Chemistry, 1-014 Center for Science and Technology, 111 College Place, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Timothy I. Maynard
- Department of Chemistry, 1-014 Center for Science and Technology, 111 College Place, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Davoud Mozhdehi
- Department of Chemistry, 1-014 Center for Science and Technology, 111 College Place, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
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