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Zhu G, Zhang H, Han L, Wang H, Zhu A, Li L. Solvent-Driven Room-Temperature Curtius Rearrangements to Access Nucleotides Bearing Substituted Fused Pyridones. Org Lett 2024; 26:4356-4360. [PMID: 38739349 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.4c01403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
The intramolecular Curtius rearrangement suffers from a high reaction temperature, low yields, tedious product isolation, and difficult scale up. This study presents a room-temperature Curtius rearrangement that can be novelly driven by the HFIP solvent, followed by light-illuminated intramolecular cyclization. Such a mild reaction allows for the preparation of various fused pyridone derivatives with diverse substituent groups that have rarely been incorporated by previous methods. The roles of HFIP and light are investigated by a set of control experiments through a combination of IR and NMR titration. Furthermore, using the substituted fused pyridones as unnatural bases, we can obtain a panel of new nucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gongming Zhu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs, Pingyuan Laboratory, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Haiyang Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs, Pingyuan Laboratory, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Liyang Han
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs, Pingyuan Laboratory, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Honglei Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs, Pingyuan Laboratory, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Anlian Zhu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs, Pingyuan Laboratory, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Lingjun Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs, Pingyuan Laboratory, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
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2
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Sigal M, Matsumoto S, Beattie A, Katoh T, Suga H. Engineering tRNAs for the Ribosomal Translation of Non-proteinogenic Monomers. Chem Rev 2024; 124:6444-6500. [PMID: 38688034 PMCID: PMC11122139 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00894] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Ribosome-dependent protein biosynthesis is an essential cellular process mediated by transfer RNAs (tRNAs). Generally, ribosomally synthesized proteins are limited to the 22 proteinogenic amino acids (pAAs: 20 l-α-amino acids present in the standard genetic code, selenocysteine, and pyrrolysine). However, engineering tRNAs for the ribosomal incorporation of non-proteinogenic monomers (npMs) as building blocks has led to the creation of unique polypeptides with broad applications in cellular biology, material science, spectroscopy, and pharmaceuticals. Ribosomal polymerization of these engineered polypeptides presents a variety of challenges for biochemists, as translation efficiency and fidelity is often insufficient when employing npMs. In this Review, we will focus on the methodologies for engineering tRNAs to overcome these issues and explore recent advances both in vitro and in vivo. These efforts include increasing orthogonality, recruiting essential translation factors, and creation of expanded genetic codes. After our review on the biochemical optimizations of tRNAs, we provide examples of their use in genetic code manipulation, with a focus on the in vitro discovery of bioactive macrocyclic peptides containing npMs. Finally, an analysis of the current state of tRNA engineering is presented, along with existing challenges and future perspectives for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell Sigal
- Department of Chemistry,
Graduate School of Science, The University
of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Satomi Matsumoto
- Department of Chemistry,
Graduate School of Science, The University
of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Adam Beattie
- Department of Chemistry,
Graduate School of Science, The University
of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Takayuki Katoh
- Department of Chemistry,
Graduate School of Science, The University
of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Suga
- Department of Chemistry,
Graduate School of Science, The University
of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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3
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Yu H, Han X, Wang W, Zhang Y, Xiang L, Bai D, Zhang L, Weng Z, Lv K, Song L, Luo W, Yin N, Zhang Y, Feng T, Wang L, Xie G. Modified Unit-Mediated Strand Displacement Reactions for Direct Detection of Single Nucleotide Variants in Active Double-Stranded DNA. ACS NANO 2024; 18:12401-12411. [PMID: 38701333 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c01511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Accurate identification of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in key driver genes holds a significant value for disease diagnosis and treatment. Fluorescent probes exhibit tremendous potential in specific, high-resolution, and rapid detection of SNVs. However, additional steps are required in most post-PCR assays to convert double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) products into single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), enabling them to possess hybridization activity to trigger subsequent reactions. This process not only prolongs the complexity of the experiment but also introduces the risk of losing target information. In this study, we proposed two strategies for enriching active double-stranded DNA, involving PCR based on obstructive groups and cleavable units. Building upon this, we explored the impact of modified units on the strand displacement reaction (SDR) and assessed their discriminatory efficacy for mutations. The results showed that detection of low variant allele frequencies (VAF) as low as 0.1% can be achieved. The proposed strategy allowed orthogonal identification of 45 clinical colorectal cancer tissue samples with 100% specificity, and the results were generally consistent with sequencing results. Compared to existing methods for enriching active targets, our approach offers a more diverse set of enrichment strategies, characterized by the advantage of being simple and fast and preserving original information to the maximum extent. The objective of this study is to offer an effective solution for the swift and facile acquisition of active double-stranded DNA. We anticipate that our work will facilitate the practical applications of SDR based on dsDNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Yu
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Chinese Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Xiaole Han
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Chinese Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Weitao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Chinese Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yangli Zhang
- The Center for Clinical Molecular Medical Detection, Biobank Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Linguo Xiang
- The Center for Clinical Molecular Medical Detection, Biobank Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Dan Bai
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Chinese Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Chinese Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Zhi Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Ke Lv
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Chinese Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Lin Song
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Chinese Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Wang Luo
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Chinese Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Na Yin
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Chinese Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yaoyi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Chinese Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Tong Feng
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Chinese Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Li Wang
- The Center for Clinical Molecular Medical Detection, Biobank Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Guoming Xie
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Chinese Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
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4
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Wang B, Bradley KM, Kim MJ, Laos R, Chen C, Gerloff DL, Manfio L, Yang Z, Benner SA. Enzyme-assisted high throughput sequencing of an expanded genetic alphabet at single base resolution. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4057. [PMID: 38744910 PMCID: PMC11094070 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48408-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
With just four building blocks, low sequence information density, few functional groups, poor control over folding, and difficulties in forming compact folds, natural DNA and RNA have been disappointing platforms from which to evolve receptors, ligands, and catalysts. Accordingly, synthetic biology has created "artificially expanded genetic information systems" (AEGIS) to add nucleotides, functionality, and information density. With the expected improvements seen in AegisBodies and AegisZymes, the task for synthetic biologists shifts to developing for expanded DNA the same analytical tools available to natural DNA. Here we report one of these, an enzyme-assisted sequencing of expanded genetic alphabet (ESEGA) method to sequence six-letter AEGIS DNA. We show how ESEGA analyses this DNA at single base resolution, and applies it to optimized conditions for six-nucleotide PCR, assessing the fidelity of various DNA polymerases, and extending this to AEGIS components with functional groups. This supports the renewed exploitation of expanded DNA alphabets in biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bang Wang
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, FL, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | | | - Roberto Laos
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, FL, USA
| | - Cen Chen
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, FL, USA
| | | | - Luran Manfio
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, FL, USA
| | - Zunyi Yang
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, FL, USA.
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences, LLC, Alachua, FL, USA.
| | - Steven A Benner
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, FL, USA.
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences, LLC, Alachua, FL, USA.
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5
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Sawant AA, Tripathi S, Galande S, Rajamani S. A Prebiotic Genetic Nucleotide as an Early Darwinian Ancestor for Pre-RNA Evolution. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:18072-18082. [PMID: 38680342 PMCID: PMC11044211 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Prebiotic genetic nucleotides (PGNs) often outcompete canonical alphabets in the formation of nucleotides and subsequent RNA oligomerization under early Earth conditions. This indicates that the early genetic code might have been dominated by pre-RNA that contained PGNs for information transfer and catalysis. Despite this, deciphering pre-RNAs' capacity to acquire function and delineating their evolutionary transition to a canonical RNA World has remained under-researched in the origins of life (OoL) field. We report the synthesis of a prebiotically relevant nucleotide (BaTP) containing the noncanonical nucleobase barbituric acid. We demonstrate the first instance of its enzymatic incorporation into an RNA, using a T7 RNA polymerase. BaTP's incorporation into baby spinach aptamer allowed it to retain its overall secondary structure and function. Finally, we also demonstrate faithful transfer of information from the pre-RNA-containing BaTP to DNA, using a high-fidelity RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, alluding to how selection pressures and complexities could have ensued during the molecular evolution of the early genetic code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupam A. Sawant
- Department
of Biology, Indian Institute of Science
Education and Research (IISER) Pune, Dr Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411008, India
| | - Sneha Tripathi
- Department
of Biology, Indian Institute of Science
Education and Research (IISER) Pune, Dr Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411008, India
| | - Sanjeev Galande
- Department
of Biology, Indian Institute of Science
Education and Research (IISER) Pune, Dr Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411008, India
- Center
of Excellence in Epigenetics, Department of Life Sciences, School
of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution
of Eminence, Gautam Buddha
Nagar, Uttar Pradesh 201314, India
| | - Sudha Rajamani
- Department
of Biology, Indian Institute of Science
Education and Research (IISER) Pune, Dr Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411008, India
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6
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Tan HP, Kimoto M, Hirao I. Advancing Genetic Alphabet Expansion: Synthesis of 7-(2-Thienyl)-Imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (Ds) and 4-(4-Pentyne-1,2-diol)-1-Propynyl-2-Nitropyrrole (Diol-Px) for Use in Replicable Unnatural Base Pairs for PCR Applications. Curr Protoc 2024; 4:e1009. [PMID: 38572677 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.1009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Expanding the genetic alphabet enhances DNA recombinant technologies by introducing unnatural base pairs (UBPs) beyond the standard A-T and G-C pairs, leading to biomaterials with novel and increased functionalities. Recent developments include UBPs that effectively function as a third base pair in replication, transcription, and/or translation processes. One such UBP, Ds-Px, demonstrates extremely high specificity in replication. Chemically synthesized DNA fragments containing Ds bases are amplified by PCR with the 5'-triphosphates of Ds and Px deoxyribonucleosides (dDsTP and dPxTP). The Ds-Px pair system has applications in enhanced DNA data storage, generation of high-affinity DNA aptamers, and incorporation of functional elements into RNA through transcription. This protocol describes the synthesis of the amidite derivative of Ds (dDs amidite), the triphosphate dDsTP, and the diol-modified dPxTP (Diol-dPxTP) for PCR amplifications involving the Ds-Px pair. © 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Synthesis of Ds deoxyribonucleoside (dDs) Basic Protocol 2: Synthesis of dDs amidite Basic Protocol 3: Synthesis of dDs triphosphate (dDsTP) Basic Protocol 4: Synthesis of Pn deoxyribonucleoside (4-iodo-dPn) Basic Protocol 5: Synthesis of acetyl-protected diol-modified Px deoxyribonucleoside (Diol-dPx) Basic Protocol 6: Synthesis of Diol-dPx triphosphate (Diol-dPxTP) Basic Protocol 7: Purification of triphosphates Support Protocol 1: Synthesis of Hoffer's chlorosugar Support Protocol 2: Preparation of 0.5 M pyrophosphate in DMF Support Protocol 3: Preparation of 2 M TEAB buffer.
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7
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Ptacin JL, Ma L, Caffaro CE, Acuff NV, Germar K, Severy P, Qu Y, Vela JL, Cai X, San Jose KM, Aerni HR, Chen DB, Esche E, Ismaili TK, Herman R, Pavlova Y, Pena MJ, Nguyen J, Koriazova LK, Shawver LK, Joseph IB, Mooney J, Peakman M, Milla ME. A CD25-biased interleukin-2 for autoimmune therapy engineered via a semi-synthetic organism. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2024; 4:58. [PMID: 38532017 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-024-00485-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural cytokines are poorly suited as therapeutics for systemic administration due to suboptimal pharmacological and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties. Recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhIL-2) has shown promise for treatment of autoimmune (AI) disorders yet exhibits short systemic half-life and opposing immune responses that negate an appropriate therapeutic index. METHODS A semi-synthetic microbial technology platform was used to engineer a site-specifically pegylated form of rhIL-2 with enhanced PK, specificity for induction of immune-suppressive regulatory CD4 + T cells (Tregs), and reduced stimulation of off-target effector T and NK cells. A library of rhIL-2 molecules was constructed with single site-specific, biorthogonal chemistry-compatible non-canonical amino acids installed near the interface where IL-2 engages its cognate receptor βγ (IL-2Rβγ) signaling complex. Biorthogonal site-specific pegylation and functional screening identified variants that retained engagement of the IL-2Rα chain with attenuated potency at the IL-2Rβγ complex. RESULTS Phenotypic screening in mouse identifies SAR444336 (SAR'336; formerly known as THOR-809), rhIL-2 pegylated at H16, as a potential development candidate that specifically expands peripheral CD4+ Tregs with upregulation of markers that correlate with their suppressive function including FoxP3, ICOS and Helios, yet minimally expands CD8 + T or NK cells. In non-human primate, administration of SAR'336 also induces dose-dependent expansion of Tregs and upregulated suppressive markers without significant expansion of CD8 + T or NK cells. SAR'336 administration reduces inflammation in a delayed-type hypersensitivity mouse model, potently suppressing CD4+ and CD8 + T cell proliferation. CONCLUSION SAR'336 is a specific Treg activator, supporting its further development for the treatment of AI diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerod L Ptacin
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Lina Ma
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Carolina E Caffaro
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Nicole V Acuff
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | | | - Peter Severy
- Sanofi, 350 Water St., Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Yanyan Qu
- Sanofi, 350 Water St., Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | | | - Xinming Cai
- Sanofi, 350 Water St., Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Kristine M San Jose
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Hans R Aerni
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - David B Chen
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Ean Esche
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Taylor K Ismaili
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Rob Herman
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Yelena Pavlova
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Michael J Pena
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Jasmine Nguyen
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Lilia K Koriazova
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Laura K Shawver
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Ingrid B Joseph
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Jill Mooney
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Mark Peakman
- Sanofi, 350 Water St., Cambridge, MA, 02141, USA
| | - Marcos E Milla
- Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Rd. Suite 190, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
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8
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Chen XR, Jiang WJ, Guo QH, Liu XY, Cui G, Li L. Theoretical insights into the photophysics of an unnatural base Z: A MS-CASPT2 investigation. Photochem Photobiol 2024; 100:380-392. [PMID: 38041414 DOI: 10.1111/php.13884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
We have employed the highly accurate multistate complete active space second-order perturbation theory (MS-CASPT2) method to investigate the photoinduced excited state relaxation properties of one unnatural base, namely Z. Upon excitation to the S2 state of Z, the internal conversion to the S1 state would be dominant. From the S1 state, two intersystem crossing paths leading to the T2 and T1 states and one internal conversion path to the S0 state are possible. However, considering the large barrier to access the S1 /S0 conical intersection and the strong spin-orbit coupling between S1 and T2 states (>40 cm-1 ), the intersystem crossing to the triplet manifolds is predicted to be more preferred. Arriving at the T2 state, the internal conversion to the T1 state and the intersystem crossing back to the S1 state are both possible considering the S1 /T2 /T1 three-state intersection near the T2 minimum. Upon arrival at the T1 state, the deactivation to S0 can be efficient after overcoming a small barrier to access T1 /S0 crossing point, where the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is as large as 39.7 cm-1 . Our present work not only provides in-depth insights into the photoinduced process of unnatural base Z, but can also help the future design of novel unnatural bases with better photostability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Rui Chen
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wen-Jun Jiang
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qian-Hong Guo
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiang-Yang Liu
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ganglong Cui
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Laicai Li
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
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9
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Wang J, Yu H. Threose nucleic acid as a primitive genetic polymer and a contemporary molecular tool. Bioorg Chem 2024; 143:107049. [PMID: 38150936 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.107049] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acids serve a dual role as both genetic materials in living organisms and versatile molecular tools for various applications. Threose nuclei acid (TNA) stands out as a synthetic genetic polymer, holding potential as a primitive genetic material and as a contemporary molecular tool. In this review, we aim to provide an extensive overview of TNA research progress in these two key aspects. We begin with a retrospect of the initial discovery of TNA, followed by an in-depth look at the structural features of TNA duplex and experimental assessment of TNA as a possible RNA progenitor during early evolution of life on Earth. In the subsequent section, we delve into the recent development of TNA molecular tools such as aptamers, catalysts and antisense oligonucleotides. We emphasize the practical application of functional TNA molecules in the realms of targeted protein degradation and selective gene silencing. Our review culminates with a discussion of future research directions and the technical challenges that remain to be addressed in the field of TNA research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Hanyang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.
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10
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Gao S, Guan H, Bloomer H, Wich D, Song D, Khirallah J, Ye Z, Zhao Y, Chen M, Xu C, Liu L, Xu Q. Harnessing non-Watson-Crick's base pairing to enhance CRISPR effectors cleavage activities and enable gene editing in mammalian cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2308415120. [PMID: 38150477 PMCID: PMC10786293 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308415120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Genomic DNA of the cyanophage S-2L virus is composed of 2-aminoadenine (Z), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C), forming the genetic alphabet ZTGC, which violates Watson-Crick base pairing rules. The Z-base has an extra amino group on the two position that allows the formation of a third hydrogen bond with thymine in DNA strands. Here, we explored and expanded applications of this non-Watson-Crick base pairing in protein expression and gene editing. Both ZTGC-DNA (Z-DNA) and ZUGC-RNA (Z-RNA) produced in vitro show detectable compatibility and can be decoded in mammalian cells, including Homo sapiens cells. Z-crRNA can guide CRISPR-effectors SpCas9 and LbCas12a to cleave specific DNA through non-Watson-Crick base pairing and boost cleavage activities compared to A-crRNA. Z-crRNA can also allow for efficient gene and base editing in human cells. Together, our results help pave the way for potential strategies for optimizing DNA or RNA payloads for gene editing therapeutics and give insights to understanding the natural Z-DNA genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuliang Gao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Huiwen Guan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Hanan Bloomer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Douglas Wich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Donghui Song
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Jennifer Khirallah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Zhongfeng Ye
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Yu Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Mengting Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Chutian Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Lihan Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Qiaobing Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
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11
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Sett A, Gadewar M, Babu MA, Panja A, Sachdeva P, Almutary AG, Upadhye V, Jha SK, Jha NK. Orchestration and theranostic applications of synthetic genome with Hachimoji bases/building blocks. Chem Biol Drug Des 2024; 103:e14378. [PMID: 38230795 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic genomics is a novel field of chemical biology where the chemically modified genetic alphabets have been considered in central dogma of life. Tweaking of chemical compositions of natural nucleotide bases could be developed as novel building blocks of DNA/RNA. The modified bases (dP, dZ, dS, and dB etc.) have been demonstrated to be adaptable for replication, transcription and follow Darwinism law of evolution. With advancement of chemical biology especially nucleotide chemistry, synthetic genetic codes have been discovered and Hachimoji nucleotides are the most important and significant one among them. These additional nucleotide bases can form orthogonal base-pairing, and also follow Darwinian evolution and other structural features. In the Hachimoji base pairing, synthetic building blocks are formed using eight modified nucleotide (DNA/RNA) letters (hence the name "Hachimoji"). Their structural conformations, like polyelectrolyte backbones and stereo-regular building blocks favor thermodynamic stability and confirm Schrodinger aperiodic crystal. From the structural genomics aspect, these synthetic bases could be incorporated into the central dogma of life. Researchers have shown Hachimoji building blocks were transcribed to its RNA counterpart as a functional fluorescent Hachimoji aptamer. Apart from several unnatural nucleotide base pairs maneuvered into its in vitro and in vivo applications, this review describes future perspective towards the development and therapeutic utilization of the genetic codes, a primary objective of synthetic and chemical biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arghya Sett
- ERIN Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 5 Av. des Hauts-Fourneaux, Belval, 4362, Esch, Luxembourg
| | - Manoj Gadewar
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical and Allied Sciences, K R Mangalam University, Gurgaon, India
| | - M Arockia Babu
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, GLA University, Mathura, India
| | | | | | - Abdulmajeed G Almutary
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Vijay Upadhye
- Centre of Research for Development (CR4D) and Department of Microbiology, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
| | - Saurabh Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Niraj Kumar Jha
- Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
- Centre of Research Impact and Outreach, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
- School of Bioengineering & Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, 144411, India
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering and Food Technology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, India
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12
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Butler ND, Kunjapur AM. Selective and Site-Specific Incorporation of Nonstandard Amino Acids Within Proteins for Therapeutic Applications. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2720:35-53. [PMID: 37775656 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3469-1_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
The incorporation of nonstandard amino acids (nsAAs) within protein sequences has broadened the chemical functionalities available for use in the study, prevention, or treatment of disease. The ability to genetically encode the introduction of nsAAs at precise sites of target recombinant proteins has enabled numerous applications such as bioorthogonal conjugation, thrombin inhibition, intrinsic biological containment of live organisms, and immunochemical termination of self-tolerance. Genetic systems that perform critical steps in enabling nsAA incorporation are known as orthogonal translation systems or orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pairs. In Escherichia coli, several of these have been designed to accept novel nsAAs. Certain endogenous proteins, codon context, and standard amino acid concentrations can affect the yield of recombinant protein, the rate of nsAA incorporation within off-target proteins, and the rate of misincorporation due to near-cognate suppression or misacylation of orthogonal tRNA with standard amino acids. As a result, a significant body of work has been performed in engineering the E. coli genome to alleviate these issues. Here, we describe common methods applicable to nsAA incorporation within proteins in E. coli for sufficient purity and characterization for downstream therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil D Butler
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Aditya M Kunjapur
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
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13
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Wang G, Du Y, Chen T. Enzymatic Preparation of DNA with an Expanded Genetic Alphabet Using Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase and Its Applications. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2760:133-145. [PMID: 38468086 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3658-9_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Efficient preparation of DNA oligonucleotides containing unnatural nucleobases (UBs) that can pair with their cognates to form unnatural base pairs (UBPs) is an essential prerequisite for the application of UBPs in vitro and in vivo. Traditional preparation of oligonucleotides containing unnatural nucleobases largely relies on solid-phase synthesis, which needs to use unstable nucleoside phosphoramidites and a DNA synthesizer, and is environmentally unfriendly and limited in product length. To overcome these limitations of solid-phase synthesis, we developed enzymatic methods for daily laboratory preparation of DNA oligonucleotides containing unnatural nucleobase dNaM, dTPT3, or one of the functionalized dTPT3 derivatives, which can be used for orthogonal DNA labeling or the preparation of DNAs containing UBP dNaM-dTPT3, one of the most successful UBPs to date, based on the template-independent polymerase terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT). Here, we first provide a detailed procedure for the TdT-based preparation of DNA oligonucleotides containing 3'-nucleotides of dNaM, dTPT3, or one of dTPT3 derivatives. We then present the procedures for enzyme-linked oligonucleotide assay (ELONA) and imaging of bacterial cells using DNA oligonucleotides containing 3'-nucleotides of dTPT3 derivatives with different functional groups. The procedure for enzymatic synthesis of DNAs containing an internal UBP dNaM-dTPT3 is also described. Hopefully, these methods will greatly facilitate the application of UBPs and the construction of semi-synthetic organisms with an expanded genetic alphabet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyuan Wang
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhui Du
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingjian Chen
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
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14
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Manna S, Kimoto M, Truong J, Bommisetti P, Peitz A, Hirao I, Hammond MC. Systematic Mutation and Unnatural Base Pair Incorporation Improves Riboswitch-Based Biosensor Response Time. ACS Sens 2023; 8:4468-4472. [PMID: 37878677 PMCID: PMC10749561 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c01266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Engineered RNAs have applications in diverse fields from biomedical to environmental. In many cases, the folding of the RNA is critical to its function. Here we describe a strategy to improve the response time of a riboswitch-based fluorescent biosensor. Systematic mutagenesis was performed to either make transpose or transition base pair mutants or introduce orthogonal base pairs. Both natural and unnatural base pair mutants were found to improve the biosensor response time without compromising fold turn-on or ligand affinity. These strategies can be transferred to improve the performance of other RNA-based tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudeshna Manna
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
- Henry
Eyring Center for Cell & Genome Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Michiko Kimoto
- Institute
of Bioengineering and Bioimaging (IBB), A*STAR, 31 Biopolis
Way, The Nanos #07-01, 138669, Singapore
- Xenolis
Pte. Ltd., 85 Science
Park Drive, #02-05B, The Cavendish, 118259, Singapore
| | - Johnny Truong
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
- Henry
Eyring Center for Cell & Genome Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Praneeth Bommisetti
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Ava Peitz
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
- Henry
Eyring Center for Cell & Genome Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Ichiro Hirao
- Institute
of Bioengineering and Bioimaging (IBB), A*STAR, 31 Biopolis
Way, The Nanos #07-01, 138669, Singapore
- Xenolis
Pte. Ltd., 85 Science
Park Drive, #02-05B, The Cavendish, 118259, Singapore
| | - Ming C. Hammond
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
- Henry
Eyring Center for Cell & Genome Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84112, United States
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15
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Wang B, Bradley KM, Kim MJ, Laos R, Chen C, Gerloff DL, Manfio L, Yang Z, Benner SA. Enzyme-Assisted High Throughput Sequencing of an Expanded Genetic Alphabet at Single Base Resolution. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3678081. [PMID: 38196584 PMCID: PMC10775363 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3678081/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Many efforts have sought to apply laboratory in vitro evolution (LIVE) to natural nucleic acid (NA) scaffolds to directly evolve functional molecules. However, synthetic biology can move beyond natural NA scaffolds to create molecular systems whose libraries are far richer reservoirs of functionality than natural NAs. For example, "artificially expanded genetic information systems" (AEGIS) add up to eight nucleotides to the four found in standard NA. Even in its simplest 6-letter versions, AEGIS adds functional groups, information density, and folding motifs that natural NA libraries lack. To complete this vision, however, tools are needed to sequence molecules that are created by AEGIS LIVE. Previous sequencing approaches, including approaches from our laboratories, exhibited limited performance and lost many sequences in diverse library mixtures. Here, we present a new approach that enzymatically transforms the target AEGIS DNA. With higher transliteration efficiency and fidelity, this Enzyme-Assisted Sequencing of Expanded Genetic Alphabet (ESEGA) approach produces substantially better sequences of 6-letter (AGCTZP) DNA than previous transliteration approaches. Therefore, ESEGA facilitates precise analysis of libraries, allowing 'next-generation deep sequencing' to accurately quantify the sequences of 6-letter DNA molecules at single base resolution. We then applied ESEGA to three tasks: (a) defining optimal conditions to perform 6-nucleotide PCR (b) evaluating the fidelity of 6-nucleotide PCR with various DNA polymerases, and (c) extending that evaluation to AEGIS components functionalized with alkynyl and aromatic groups. No other approach at present has this scope, allowing this work to be the next step towards exploiting the potential of expanded DNA alphabets in biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bang Wang
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13709 Progress Blvd, Alachua, FL, USA, 32615
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA, 32611
| | | | - Myong-Jung Kim
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences, LLC, Alachua, FL, USA, 32615
| | - Roberto Laos
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13709 Progress Blvd, Alachua, FL, USA, 32615
| | - Cen Chen
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13709 Progress Blvd, Alachua, FL, USA, 32615
| | - Dietlind L. Gerloff
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13709 Progress Blvd, Alachua, FL, USA, 32615
| | - Luran Manfio
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13709 Progress Blvd, Alachua, FL, USA, 32615
| | - Zunyi Yang
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13709 Progress Blvd, Alachua, FL, USA, 32615
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences, LLC, Alachua, FL, USA, 32615
| | - Steven A. Benner
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13709 Progress Blvd, Alachua, FL, USA, 32615
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences, LLC, Alachua, FL, USA, 32615
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16
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Mentis AFA, Papavassiliou KA, Papavassiliou AG. DNA origami: a tool to evaluate and harness transcription factors. J Mol Med (Berl) 2023; 101:1493-1498. [PMID: 37813986 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-023-02380-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Alongside other players, such as CpG methylation and the "histone code," transcription factors (TFs) represent a key feature of gene regulation. TFs are implicated in critical cellular processes, ranging from cell death, growth, and differentiation, up to intranuclear signaling of steroid and other hormones, physical entities, and hypoxia regulation. Notwithstanding an extensive body of research in this field, several questions and therapeutic options remain unanswered and unexplored, respectively. Of note, many of these TFs represent therapeutic targets, which are either difficult to be pharmacologically tackled or are still not drugged via traditional approaches, such as small-molecule inhibition. Upon providing a brief overview of TFs, we focus herein on how synthetic biology/medicine could assist in their study as well as their therapeutic targeting. Specifically, we contend that DNA origami, i.e., a novel synthetic DNA nanotechnological approach, represents an excellent synthetic biology/medicine tool to accomplish the above goals, since it can harness several vital characteristics of DNA: DNA polymerization, DNA complementarity, DNA "programmability," and DNA "editability." In doing so, DNA origami can be applied to study TF dynamics during DNA transcription, to elucidate xeno-nucleic acids with distinct scaffolds and unconventional base pairs, and to use TFs as competitors of oncogene-engaged promoters. Overall, because of their potential for high-throughput design and their favorable pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, DNA origami can be a novel armory for TF-related drug design. Last, we discuss future trends in the field, such as RNA origami and innovative DNA origami-based therapeutic delivery approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kostas A Papavassiliou
- First University Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sotiria' Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios G Papavassiliou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, 11527, Greece.
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17
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Huo B, Wang C, Hu X, Wang H, Zhu G, Zhu A, Li L. Peripheral substitution effects on unnatural base pairs: A case of brominated TPT3 to enhance replication fidelity. Bioorg Chem 2023; 140:106827. [PMID: 37683537 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
The high fidelity poses a central role in developing unnatural base pairs (UBPs), which means the high pairing capacity of unnatural bases with their partners, and low mispairing with all the natural bases. Different strategies have been used to develop higher-fidelity UBPs, including optimizing hydrophobic interaction forces between UBPs. Variant substituent groups are allowed to fine tune the hydrophobic forces of different UBPs' candidates. However, the modifications on the skeleton of TPT3 base are rare and the replication fidelity of TPT3-NaM remains hardly to improve so far. In this paper, we reasoned that modifying and/or expanding the aromatic surface by Bromo-substituents to slightly increase hydrophobicity of TPT3 might offer a way to increase the fidelity of this pair. Based on the hypothesis, we synthesized the bromine substituted TPT3, 2-bromo-TPT3 and 2, 4-dibromo-TPT3 as the new TPT3 analogs. While the enzyme reaction kinetic experiments showed that d2-bromo-TPT3-dNaM pair and d2, 4-dibromo-TPT3TP-dNaM pair had slightly less efficient incorporation and extension rates than that of dTPT3-dNaM pair, the assays did reveal that the mispairing of 2-bromo-TPT3 and 2, 4-dibromo-TPT3 with all the natural bases could dramatically decrease in contrast to TPT3. Their lower mispairing capacity promoted us to run polymerase chain amplification reactions, and a higher fidelity of d2-bromo-TPT3-dNaM pair could be obtained with 99.72 ± 0.01% of the in vitro replication fidelity than that of dTPT3-dNaM pair, 99.52 ± 0.09%. In addition, d2-bromo-TPT3-dNaM can also be effectively copied in E. coli cells, which showed the same replication fidelity as that of dTPT3-dNaM in the specific sequence, but a higher fidelity in the random sequence context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianbian Huo
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, China Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Chao Wang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, China Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Xiaoqi Hu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, China Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Honglei Wang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, China Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Gongming Zhu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, China Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Anlian Zhu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Lingjun Li
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, China Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China; Pingyuan Laboratory, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.
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18
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Arboleda-García A, Alarcon-Ruiz I, Boada-Acosta L, Boada Y, Vignoni A, Jantus-Lewintre E. Advancements in synthetic biology-based bacterial cancer therapy: A modular design approach. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2023; 190:104088. [PMID: 37541537 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.104088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology aims to program living bacteria cells with artificial genetic circuits for user-defined functions, transforming them into powerful tools with numerous applications in various fields, including oncology. Cancer treatments have serious side effects on patients due to the systemic action of the drugs involved. To address this, new systems that provide localized antitumoral action while minimizing damage to healthy tissues are required. Bacteria, often considered pathogenic agents, have been used as cancer treatments since the early 20th century. Advances in genetic engineering, synthetic biology, microbiology, and oncology have improved bacterial therapies, making them safer and more effective. Here we propose six modules for a successful synthetic biology-based bacterial cancer therapy, the modules include Payload, Release, Tumor-targeting, Biocontainment, Memory, and Genetic Circuit Stability Module. These will ensure antitumor activity, safety for the environment and patient, prevent bacterial colonization, maintain cell stability, and prevent loss or defunctionalization of the genetic circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Arboleda-García
- Systems Biology and Biosystems Control Lab, Instituto de Automática e Informática Industrial, Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain
| | - Ivan Alarcon-Ruiz
- Gene Regulation in Cardiovascular Remodeling and Inflammation Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lissette Boada-Acosta
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer, CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain; TRIAL Mixed Unit, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe-Fundación Investigación del Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Fundación Investigación del Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Yadira Boada
- Systems Biology and Biosystems Control Lab, Instituto de Automática e Informática Industrial, Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain
| | - Alejandro Vignoni
- Systems Biology and Biosystems Control Lab, Instituto de Automática e Informática Industrial, Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain.
| | - Eloisa Jantus-Lewintre
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer, CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain; TRIAL Mixed Unit, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe-Fundación Investigación del Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Fundación Investigación del Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Department of Biotechnology, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
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19
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Dörrenhaus R, Wagner PK, Kath-Schorr S. Two are not enough: synthetic strategies and applications of unnatural base pairs. Biol Chem 2023; 404:883-896. [PMID: 37354104 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2023-0169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid chemistry is a rapidly evolving field, and the need for novel nucleotide modifications and artificial nucleotide building blocks for diagnostic and therapeutic use, material science or for studying cellular processes continues unabated. This review focusses on the development and application of unnatural base pairs as part of an expanded genetic alphabet. Not only recent developments in "nature-like" artificial base pairs are presented, but also current synthetic methods to get access to C-glycosidic nucleotides. Wide-ranging viability in synthesis is a prerequisite for the successful use of unnatural base pairs in a broader spectrum and will be discussed.
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20
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Bai J, Zou J, Cao Y, Du Y, Chen T. Recognition of an Unnatural Base Pair by Tool Enzymes from Bacteriophages and Its Application in the Enzymatic Preparation of DNA with an Expanded Genetic Alphabet. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:2676-2690. [PMID: 37590442 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Unnatural base pairs (UBPs) have been developed to expand the genetic alphabet in vitro and in vivo. UBP dNaM-dTPT3 and its analogues have been successfully used to construct the first set of semi-synthetic organisms, which suggested the great potential of UBPs to be used for producing novel synthetic biological parts. Two prerequisites for doing so are the facile manipulation of DNA containing UBPs with common tool enzymes, including DNA polymerases and ligases, and the easy availability of UBP-containing DNA strands. Besides, for the application of UBPs in phage synthetic biology, the recognition of UBPs by phage enzymes is essential. Here, we first explore the recognition of dNaM-dTPT3 by a family B DNA polymerase from bacteriophage, T4 DNA polymerase D219A. Results from primer extension, steady-state kinetics, and gap-filling experiments suggest that T4 DNA polymerase D219A can efficiently and faithfully replicate dNaM-dTPT3, and efficiently fill a gap by inserting dTPT3TP or its analogues opposite dNaM. We then systematically explore the recognition of dNaM-dTPT3 and its analogues by different DNA ligases from bacteriophages and find that these DNA ligases are generally able to efficiently ligate the DNA nick next to dNaM-dTPT3 or its analogues, albeit with slightly different efficiencies. These results suggest more enzymatic tools for the manipulation of dNaM-dTPT3 and indicate the potential use of dNaM-dTPT3 for expanding the genetic alphabet in bacteriophages. Based on these results, we next develop and comprehensively optimize an upgraded method for enzymatic preparation of unnatural nucleobase (UB)-containing DNA oligonucleotides with good simplicity and universality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingsi Bai
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Jinrong Zou
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Yijun Cao
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Yuhui Du
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Tingjian Chen
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
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21
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Cao Y, Bai J, Zou J, Du Y, Chen T. One-Pot Enzymatic Preparation of Oligonucleotides with an Expanded Genetic Alphabet via Controlled Pause and Restart of Primer Extension: Making Unnatural Out of Natural. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:2691-2706. [PMID: 37672623 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
The genetic alphabet of life has been dramatically expanded via the development of unnatural base pairs (UBPs) that work as efficiently as natural base pairs in the storage and retrieval of genetic information. Among the most predominant UBPs, dNaM-dTPT3 and its analogues have been successfully employed to build semisynthetic cells with a functional six-letter genome. With the rapidly growing applications of UBPs in vitro and in vivo, there is an ever-increasing demand for DNA oligonucleotides containing unnatural bases (UBs) at desired positions. Conventional solid-phase synthesis of oligonucleotides has intrinsic limitations and needs to use unstable unnatural phosphoramidites and a DNA synthesizer, so it does not meet the daily urgent requirement for a few UB-containing DNA oligonucleotides in the laboratory. In this work, we develop a one-pot enzymatic method for preparing dNaM- or dTPT3-containing DNA oligonucleotides via controlled pause and restart of primer extension mediated by Klenow fragment (exo-). By systematic optimization of the reaction conditions, high efficiencies and product purities have been achieved. The universality of this method for preparing DNA oligonucleotides containing dNaM or dTPT3 in different sequence contexts is also demonstrated. This method allows convenient production of an arbitrary UB-containing DNA oligonucleotide in a single test tube with only two natural DNA oligonucleotides, stable nucleoside triphosphates, Klenow fragment (exo-), and other common reagents in the laboratory, providing the lowest cost and the highest simplicity for the enzymatic preparation of UB-containing oligonucleotides. Clearly, this method has great potential to facilitate the in vitro and in vivo applications of the UBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijun Cao
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Jingsi Bai
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Jinrong Zou
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Yuhui Du
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Tingjian Chen
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
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22
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Liu F, He L, Dong S, Xuan J, Cui Q, Feng Y. Artificial Small Molecules as Cofactors and Biomacromolecular Building Blocks in Synthetic Biology: Design, Synthesis, Applications, and Challenges. Molecules 2023; 28:5850. [PMID: 37570818 PMCID: PMC10421094 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28155850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Enzymes are essential catalysts for various chemical reactions in biological systems and often rely on metal ions or cofactors to stabilize their structure or perform functions. Improving enzyme performance has always been an important direction of protein engineering. In recent years, various artificial small molecules have been successfully used in enzyme engineering. The types of enzymatic reactions and metabolic pathways in cells can be expanded by the incorporation of these artificial small molecules either as cofactors or as building blocks of proteins and nucleic acids, which greatly promotes the development and application of biotechnology. In this review, we summarized research on artificial small molecules including biological metal cluster mimics, coenzyme analogs (mNADs), designer cofactors, non-natural nucleotides (XNAs), and non-natural amino acids (nnAAs), focusing on their design, synthesis, and applications as well as the current challenges in synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenghua Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 189 Songling Road, Qingdao 266101, China
- Shandong Energy Institute, 189 Songling Road, Qingdao 266101, China
- Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory, 189 Songling Road, Qingdao 266101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lingling He
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 30 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Sheng Dong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 189 Songling Road, Qingdao 266101, China
- Shandong Energy Institute, 189 Songling Road, Qingdao 266101, China
- Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory, 189 Songling Road, Qingdao 266101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jinsong Xuan
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 30 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Qiu Cui
- CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 189 Songling Road, Qingdao 266101, China
- Shandong Energy Institute, 189 Songling Road, Qingdao 266101, China
- Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory, 189 Songling Road, Qingdao 266101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yingang Feng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 189 Songling Road, Qingdao 266101, China
- Shandong Energy Institute, 189 Songling Road, Qingdao 266101, China
- Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory, 189 Songling Road, Qingdao 266101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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23
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Zhang XE, Liu C, Dai J, Yuan Y, Gao C, Feng Y, Wu B, Wei P, You C, Wang X, Si T. Enabling technology and core theory of synthetic biology. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2023; 66:1742-1785. [PMID: 36753021 PMCID: PMC9907219 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2214-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology provides a new paradigm for life science research ("build to learn") and opens the future journey of biotechnology ("build to use"). Here, we discuss advances of various principles and technologies in the mainstream of the enabling technology of synthetic biology, including synthesis and assembly of a genome, DNA storage, gene editing, molecular evolution and de novo design of function proteins, cell and gene circuit engineering, cell-free synthetic biology, artificial intelligence (AI)-aided synthetic biology, as well as biofoundries. We also introduce the concept of quantitative synthetic biology, which is guiding synthetic biology towards increased accuracy and predictability or the real rational design. We conclude that synthetic biology will establish its disciplinary system with the iterative development of enabling technologies and the maturity of the core theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-En Zhang
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Chenli Liu
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Junbiao Dai
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Yingjin Yuan
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
| | - Caixia Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Yan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Bian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Ping Wei
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Chun You
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China.
| | - Xiaowo Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics; Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology; Bioinformatics Division, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology; Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Tong Si
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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24
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Kawamoto Y, Wu Y, Takahashi Y, Takakura Y. Development of nucleic acid medicines based on chemical technology. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114872. [PMID: 37244354 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Oligonucleotide-based therapeutics have attracted attention as an emerging modality that includes the modulation of genes and their binding proteins related to diseases, allowing us to take action on previously undruggable targets. Since the late 2010s, the number of oligonucleotide medicines approved for clinical uses has dramatically increased. Various chemistry-based technologies have been developed to improve the therapeutic properties of oligonucleotides, such as chemical modification, conjugation, and nanoparticle formation, which can increase nuclease resistance, enhance affinity and selectivity to target sites, suppress off-target effects, and improve pharmacokinetic properties. Similar strategies employing modified nucleobases and lipid nanoparticles have been used for developing coronavirus disease 2019 mRNA vaccines. In this review, we provide an overview of the development of chemistry-based technologies aimed at using nucleic acids for developing therapeutics over the past several decades, with a specific emphasis on the structural design and functionality of chemical modification strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Kawamoto
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
| | - You Wu
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yuki Takahashi
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Takakura
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
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25
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Beattie AT, Dunkelmann DL, Chin JW. Quintuply orthogonal pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA Pyl pairs. Nat Chem 2023; 15:948-959. [PMID: 37322102 PMCID: PMC7615293 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01232-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Mutually orthogonal aminoacyl transfer RNA synthetase/transfer RNA pairs provide a foundation for encoding non-canonical amino acids into proteins, and encoded non-canonical polymer and macrocycle synthesis. Here we discover quintuply orthogonal pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS)/pyrrolysyl-tRNA (tRNAPyl) pairs. We discover empirical sequence identity thresholds for mutual orthogonality and use these for agglomerative clustering of PylRS and tRNAPyl sequences; this defines numerous sequence clusters, spanning five classes of PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs (the existing classes +N, A and B, and newly defined classes C and S). Most of the PylRS clusters belong to classes that were unexplored for orthogonal pair generation. By testing pairs from distinct clusters and classes, and pyrrolysyl-tRNAs with unusual structures, we resolve 80% of the pairwise specificities required to make quintuply orthogonal PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs; we control the remaining specificities by engineering and directed evolution. Overall, we create 924 mutually orthogonal PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs, 1,324 triply orthogonal pairs, 128 quadruply orthogonal pairs and 8 quintuply orthogonal pairs. These advances may provide a key foundation for encoded polymer synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam T Beattie
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Jason W Chin
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
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26
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Li Y, Abraham C, Suslov O, Yaren O, Shaw RW, Kim MJ, Wan S, Marliere P, Benner SA. Synthetic Biology Pathway to Nucleoside Triphosphates for Expanded Genetic Alphabets. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:1772-1781. [PMID: 37227319 PMCID: PMC10911313 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
One horizon in synthetic biology seeks alternative forms of DNA that store, transcribe, and support the evolution of biological information. Here, hydrogen bond donor and acceptor groups are rearranged within a Watson-Crick geometry to get 12 nucleotides that form 6 independently replicating pairs. Such artificially expanded genetic information systems (AEGIS) support Darwinian evolution in vitro. To move AEGIS into living cells, metabolic pathways are next required to make AEGIS triphosphates economically from their nucleosides, eliminating the need to feed these expensive compounds in growth media. We report that "polyphosphate kinases" can be recruited for such pathways, working with natural diphosphate kinases and engineered nucleoside kinases. This pathway in vitro makes AEGIS triphosphates, including third-generation triphosphates having improved ability to survive in living bacterial cells. In α-32P-labeled forms, produced here for the first time, they were used to study DNA polymerases, finding cases where third-generation AEGIS triphosphates perform better with natural enzymes than second-generation AEGIS triphosphates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubing Li
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13709 Progress Blvd., Alachua, Florida 32615 United States
| | - Clay Abraham
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13709 Progress Blvd., Alachua, Florida 32615 United States
| | - Oleg Suslov
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13709 Progress Blvd., Alachua, Florida 32615 United States
| | - Ozlem Yaren
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13709 Progress Blvd., Alachua, Florida 32615 United States
| | - Ryan W. Shaw
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13709 Progress Blvd., Alachua, Florida 32615 United States
| | - Myong-Jung Kim
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Blvd., Alachua, Florida 32615 United States
| | - Shuo Wan
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13709 Progress Blvd., Alachua, Florida 32615 United States
| | - Philippe Marliere
- Institute of Systems & Synthetic Biology, Génopole, 5 rue Desbruères, 91030 Evry Cedex France
| | - Steven A. Benner
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13709 Progress Blvd., Alachua, Florida 32615 United States
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Blvd., Alachua, Florida 32615 United States
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27
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28
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Yang C, Peng Z, Yang L, Du B, Guo C, Sui S, Wang J, Li J, Wang J, Li N. Design and application of artificial rare L-lysine codons in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1194511. [PMID: 37324439 PMCID: PMC10268032 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1194511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: L-lysine is widely used in the feed, food, and pharmaceutical industries, and screening for high L-lysine-producing strains has become a key goal for the industry. Methods: We constructed the rare L-lysine codon AAA by corresponding tRNA promoter replacement in C. glutamicum. Additionally, a screening marker related to the intracellular L-lysine content was constructed by converting all L-lysine codons of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) into the artificial rare codon AAA. The artificial EGFP was then ligated into pEC-XK99E and transformed into competent Corynebacterium glutamicum 23604 cells with the rare L-lysine codon. After atmospheric and room-temperature plasma mutation and induction culture, 55 mutants (0.01% of total cells) with stronger fluorescence were sorted using flow cytometry, and further screened by fermentation in a 96-deep-well plate and 500 mL shaker. Results: The fermentation results showed that the L-lysine production was increased by up to 9.7% in the mutant strains with higher fluorescence intensities, and that the highest screening positive rate was 69%, compared with that in the wild-type strain. Conclusion: The application of artificially constructed rare codons in this study represents an efficient, accurate, and simple method for screening other amino acid-producing microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuiping Yang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, China
| | - Zehao Peng
- Department of Biological Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, China
| | - Lu Yang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, China
| | - Bowen Du
- Department of Biological Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, China
| | | | - Songsen Sui
- Zhucheng Dongxiao Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Zhucheng, China
| | - Jianbin Wang
- Zhucheng Dongxiao Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Zhucheng, China
| | - Junlin Li
- Zhucheng Dongxiao Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Zhucheng, China
| | - Junqing Wang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking (LBMP), Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, China
| | - Nan Li
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
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29
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Wang H, Zhu W, Wang C, Li X, Wang L, Huo B, Mei H, Zhu A, Zhang G, Li L. Locating, tracing and sequencing multiple expanded genetic letters in complex DNA context via a bridge-base approach. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:e52. [PMID: 36971131 PMCID: PMC10201413 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
A panel of unnatural base pairs is developed to expand genetic alphabets. One or more unnatural base pairs (UBPs) can be inserted to enlarge the capacity, diversity, and functionality of canonical DNA, so monitoring the multiple-UBPs-containing DNA by simple and convenient approaches is essential. Herein, we report a bridge-base approach to repurpose the capability of determining TPT3-NaM UBPs. The success of this approach depends on the design of isoTAT that can simultaneously pair with NaM and G as a bridge base, as well as the discovering of the transformation of NaM to A in absence of its complementary base. TPT3-NaM can be transferred to C-G or A-T by simple PCR assays with high read-through ratios and low sequence-dependent properties, permitting for the first time to dually locate the multiple sites of TPT3-NaM pairs. Then we show the unprecedented capacity of this approach to trace accurate changes and retention ratios of multiple TPT3-NaM UPBs during in vivo replications. In addition, the method can also be applied to identify multiple-site DNA lesions, transferring TPT3-NaM makers to different natural bases. Taken together, our work presents the first general and convenient approach capable of locating, tracing, and sequencing site- and number-unlimited TPT3-NaM pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglei Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation Regulation and Target Drug, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Wuyuan Zhu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Xiaohuan Li
- Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Luying Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Bianbian Huo
- Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation Regulation and Target Drug, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Hui Mei
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Anlian Zhu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Guisheng Zhang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
| | - Lingjun Li
- Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation Regulation and Target Drug, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
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30
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Gerecht K, Freund N, Liu W, Liu Y, Fürst MJLJ, Holliger P. The Expanded Central Dogma: Genome Resynthesis, Orthogonal Biosystems, Synthetic Genetics. Annu Rev Biophys 2023; 52:413-432. [PMID: 37159296 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-111622-091203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology seeks to probe fundamental aspects of biological form and function by construction [i.e., (re)synthesis] rather than deconstruction (analysis). In this sense, biological sciences now follow the lead given by the chemical sciences. Synthesis can complement analytic studies but also allows novel approaches to answering fundamental biological questions and opens up vast opportunities for the exploitation of biological processes to provide solutions for global problems. In this review, we explore aspects of this synthesis paradigm as applied to the chemistry and function of nucleic acids in biological systems and beyond, specifically, in genome resynthesis, synthetic genetics (i.e., the expansion of the genetic alphabet, of the genetic code, and of the chemical make-up of genetic systems), and the elaboration of orthogonal biosystems and components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karola Gerecht
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
| | - Niklas Freund
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
| | - Wei Liu
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
| | - Yang Liu
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
| | - Maximilian J L J Fürst
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
- Current address: Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Philipp Holliger
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
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31
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Ko B, Takebe N, Andrews O, Makena MR, Chen AP. Rethinking Oncologic Treatment Strategies with Interleukin-2. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091316. [PMID: 37174716 PMCID: PMC10177415 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
High-dose recombinant human IL-2 (rhIL-2, aldesleukin) emerged as an important treatment option for selected patients with metastatic melanoma and metastatic renal cell carcinoma, producing durable and long-lasting antitumor responses in a small fraction of patients and heralding the potential of cancer immunotherapy. However, the adoption of high-dose rhIL-2 has been restricted by its severe treatment-related adverse event (TRAE) profile, which necessitates highly experienced clinical providers familiar with rhIL-2 administration and readily accessible critical care medicine support. Given the comparatively wide-ranging successes of immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies, there have been concerted efforts to significantly improve the efficacy and toxicities of IL-2-based immunotherapeutic approaches. In this review, we highlight novel drug development strategies, including biochemical modifications and engineered IL-2 variants, to expand the narrow therapeutic window of IL-2 by leveraging downstream activation of the IL-2 receptor to selectively expand anti-tumor CD8-positive T cells and natural killer cells. These modified IL-2 cytokines improve single-agent activity in solid tumor malignancies beyond the established United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indications of metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma, and may also be safer in rational combinations with established treatment modalities, including anti-PD-(L)1 and anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy, chemotherapies, and targeted therapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Ko
- Division of Cancer Treatment & Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Naoko Takebe
- Division of Cancer Treatment & Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Omozusi Andrews
- Division of Cancer Treatment & Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Monish Ram Makena
- Division of Cancer Treatment & Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Alice P Chen
- Division of Cancer Treatment & Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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32
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Jena NR, Das P, Shukla PK. Complementary base pair interactions between different rare tautomers of the second-generation artificial genetic alphabets. J Mol Model 2023; 29:125. [PMID: 37014428 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-023-05537-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
The functionality of a semisynthetic DNA in the biological environment will depend on the base pair nature of its complementary base pairs. To understand this, base pair interactions between complementary bases of recently proposed eight second-generation artificial nucleobases are studied herein by considering their rare tautomeric conformations and a dispersion-corrected density functional theoretic method. It is found that the binding energies of two hydrogen-bonded complementary base pairs are more negative than those of the three hydrogen-bonded base pairs. However, as the former base pairs are endothermic, the semisynthetic duplex DNA would involve the latter base pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- N R Jena
- Discipline of Natural Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design, and Manufacturing, Jabalpur, 482005, India.
| | - P Das
- Discipline of Natural Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design, and Manufacturing, Jabalpur, 482005, India
| | - P K Shukla
- Department of Physics, Assam University, Silchar, 788011, India
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33
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Hoffmann SA, Diggans J, Densmore D, Dai J, Knight T, Leproust E, Boeke JD, Wheeler N, Cai Y. Safety by design: Biosafety and biosecurity in the age of synthetic genomics. iScience 2023; 26:106165. [PMID: 36895643 PMCID: PMC9988571 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Technologies to profoundly engineer biology are becoming increasingly affordable, powerful, and accessible to a widening group of actors. While offering tremendous potential to fuel biological research and the bioeconomy, this development also increases the risk of inadvertent or deliberate creation and dissemination of pathogens. Effective regulatory and technological frameworks need to be developed and deployed to manage these emerging biosafety and biosecurity risks. Here, we review digital and biological approaches of a range of technology readiness levels suited to address these challenges. Digital sequence screening technologies already are used to control access to synthetic DNA of concern. We examine the current state of the art of sequence screening, challenges and future directions, and environmental surveillance for the presence of engineered organisms. As biosafety layer on the organism level, we discuss genetic biocontainment systems that can be used to created host organisms with an intrinsic barrier against unchecked environmental proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan A Hoffmann
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - James Diggans
- Twist Bioscience, 681 Gateway Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA 9408, USA
| | - Douglas Densmore
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Junbiao Dai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tom Knight
- Ginkgo Bioworks, 27 Drydock Avenue, Boston, MA 02210, USA
| | - Emily Leproust
- Twist Bioscience, 681 Gateway Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA 9408, USA
| | - Jef D Boeke
- Institute for Systems Genetics, and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, 435 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
| | - Nicole Wheeler
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Yizhi Cai
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
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34
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Negi I, Singh B, Singh Mahmi A, Sharma P. Structural Properties of Hachimoji Nucleic Acids and Their Building Blocks: Comparison of Genetic Systems with Four, Six and Eight Alphabets. Chemphyschem 2023; 24:e202200714. [PMID: 36315394 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202200714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Expansion of the genetic alphabet is an ambitious goal. A recent breakthrough has led to the eight-base (hachimoji) genetics having canonical and unnatural bases. However, very little is known on the molecular-level features that facilitate the candidature of unnatural bases as genetic alphabets. Here we amalgamated DFT calculations and MD simulations to analyse the properties of the constituents of hachimoji DNA and RNA. DFT reveals the dominant syn conformation for isolated unnatural deoxyribonucleosides and at the 5'-end of oligonucleotides, although an anti/syn mixture is predicted at the nonterminal and 3'-terminal positions. However, isolated ribonucleotides prefer an anti/syn mixture, but mostly prefer anti conformation at the nonterminal positions. Further, the canonical base pairing combinations reveals significant strength, which may facilitate replication of hachimoji DNA. We also identify noncanonical base pairs that can better tolerate the substitution of unnatural pairs in RNA. Stacking strengths of 51 dimers reveals higher average stacking stabilization of dimers of hachimoji bases than canonical bases, which provides clues for choosing energetically stable sequences. A total of 14.4 μs MD simulations reveal the influence of solvent on the properties of hachimoji oligonucleotides and point to the likely fidelity of replication of hachimoji DNA. Our results pinpoint the features that explain the experimentally observed stability of hachimoji DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indu Negi
- Computational Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Bimaldeep Singh
- Computational Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Amanpreet Singh Mahmi
- Computational Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Purshotam Sharma
- Computational Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada
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35
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Romesberg FE. Discovery, implications and initial use of semi-synthetic organisms with an expanded genetic alphabet/code. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220030. [PMID: 36633274 PMCID: PMC9835597 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Much recent interest has focused on developing proteins for human use, such as in medicine. However, natural proteins are made up of only a limited number of canonical amino acids with limited functionalities, and this makes the discovery of variants with some functions difficult. The ability to recombinantly express proteins containing non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) with properties selected to impart the protein with desired properties is expected to dramatically improve the discovery of proteins with different functions. Perhaps the most straightforward approach to such an expansion of the genetic code is through expansion of the genetic alphabet, so that new codon/anticodon pairs can be created to assign to ncAAs. In this review, I briefly summarize more than 20 years of effort leading ultimately to the discovery of synthetic nucleotides that pair to form an unnatural base pair, which when incorporated into DNA, is stably maintained, transcribed and used to translate proteins in Escherichia coli. In addition to discussing wide ranging conceptual implications, I also describe ongoing efforts at the pharmaceutical company Sanofi to employ the resulting 'semi-synthetic organisms' or SSOs, for the production of next-generation protein therapeutics. This article is part of the theme issue 'Reactivity and mechanism in chemical and synthetic biology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floyd E. Romesberg
- Platform Innovation, Synthorx, a Sanofi Company, 11099 N. Torrey Pines Road, Suite 190, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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36
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Wang R, Wang X, Xie S, Zhang Y, Ji D, Zhang X, Cui C, Jiang J, Tan W. Molecular elements: novel approaches for molecular building. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220024. [PMID: 36633277 PMCID: PMC9835600 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Classically, a molecular element (ME) is a pure substance composed of two or more atoms of the same element. However, MEs, in the context of this review, can be any molecules as elements bonded together into the backbone of synthetic oligonucleotides (ONs) with designed sequences and functions, including natural A, T, C, G, U, and unnatural bases. The use of MEs can facilitate the synthesis of designer molecules and smart materials. In particular, we discuss the landmarks associated with DNA structure and related technologies, as well as the extensive application of ONs, the ideal type of molecules for intervention therapy aimed at correcting disease-causing genetic errors (indels). It is herein concluded that the discovery of ON therapeutics and the fabrication of designer molecules or nanostructures depend on the ME concept that we previously published. Accordingly, ME will be our focal point as we discuss related research directions and perspectives in making molecules and materials. This article is part of the theme issue 'Reactivity and mechanism in chemical and synthetic biology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruowen Wang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China,Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, and Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, People's Republic of China,Department of Chemistry, Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, University of Florida Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-7200, USA
| | - Xueqiang Wang
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, People's Republic of China,Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, and Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, People's Republic of China
| | - Sitao Xie
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, People's Republic of China,Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, and Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanyan Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China
| | - Dingkun Ji
- Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaobing Zhang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, and Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Cui
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, and Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, People's Republic of China,Department of Chemistry, Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, University of Florida Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-7200, USA
| | - Jianhui Jiang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, and Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, People's Republic of China
| | - Weihong Tan
- Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China,Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, People's Republic of China,Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, and Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, People's Republic of China,Department of Chemistry, Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at Bio/Nano Interface, Health Cancer Center, University of Florida Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-7200, USA
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37
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Benner SA. Rethinking nucleic acids from their origins to their applications. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220027. [PMID: 36633284 PMCID: PMC9835595 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Reviewed are three decades of synthetic biology research in our laboratory that has generated alternatives to standard DNA and RNA as possible informational systems to support Darwinian evolution, and therefore life, and to understand their natural history, on Earth and throughout the cosmos. From this, we have learned that: • the core structure of nucleic acids appears to be a natural outcome of non-biological chemical processes probably in constrained, intermittently irrigated, sub-aerial aquifers on the surfaces of rocky planets like Earth and/or Mars approximately 4.36 ± 0.05 billion years ago; • however, this core is not unique. Synthetic biology has generated many different molecular systems able to support the evolution of molecular information; • these alternatives to standard DNA and RNA support biotechnology, including DNA synthesis, human diagnostics, biomedical research and medicine; • in particular, they support laboratory in vitro evolution (LIVE) with performance to generate catalysts at least 104-105 fold better than standard DNA libraries, enhancing access to receptors and catalysts on demand. Coupling nanostructures to the products of LIVE with expanded DNA offers new approaches for disease therapy; and • nevertheless, a polyelectrolyte structure and size regular building blocks are required for any informational polymer to support Darwinian evolution. These features serve as universal and agnostic biosignatures, useful for seeking life throughout the Solar System. This article is part of the theme issue 'Reactivity and mechanism in chemical and synthetic biology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven A. Benner
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13709 Progress Boulevard no. 7, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Boulevard no. 17, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
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38
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Update of the Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase/tRNA Pyl Pair and Derivatives for Genetic Code Expansion. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0038522. [PMID: 36695595 PMCID: PMC9945579 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00385-22] [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: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The cotranslational incorporation of pyrrolysine (Pyl), the 22nd proteinogenic amino acid, into proteins in response to the UAG stop codon represents an outstanding example of natural genetic code expansion. Genetic encoding of Pyl is conducted by the pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) and its cognate tRNA, tRNAPyl. Owing to the high tolerance of PylRS toward diverse amino acid substrates and great orthogonality in various model organisms, the PylRS/tRNAPyl-derived pairs are ideal for genetic code expansion to insert noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins of interest. Since the discovery of cellular components involved in the biosynthesis and genetic encoding of Pyl, synthetic biologists have been enthusiastic about engineering PylRS/tRNAPyl-derived pairs to rewrite the genetic code of living cells. Recently, considerable progress has been made in understanding the molecular phylogeny, biochemical properties, and structural features of the PylRS/tRNAPyl pair, guiding its further engineering and optimization. In this review, we cover the basic and updated knowledge of the PylRS/tRNAPyl pair's unique characteristics that make it an outstanding tool for reprogramming the genetic code. In addition, we summarize the recent efforts to create efficient and (mutually) orthogonal PylRS/tRNAPyl-derived pairs for incorporation of diverse ncAAs by genome mining, rational design, and advanced directed evolution methods.
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39
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López-Tena M, Chen SK, Winssinger N. Supernatural: Artificial Nucleobases and Backbones to Program Hybridization-Based Assemblies and Circuits. Bioconjug Chem 2023; 34:111-123. [PMID: 35856656 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.2c00292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The specificity and predictability of hybridization make oligonucleotides a powerful platform to program assemblies and networks with logic-gated responses, an area of research which has grown into a field of its own. While the field has capitalized on the commercial availability of DNA oligomers with its four canonical nucleobases, there are opportunities to extend the capabilities of the hardware with unnatural nucleobases and other backbones. This Topical Review highlights nucleobases that favor hybridizations that are empowering for assemblies and networks as well as two chiral XNAs than enable orthogonal hybridization networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel López-Tena
- University of Geneva, Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, NCCR Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest Ansermet, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Si-Kai Chen
- University of Geneva, Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, NCCR Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest Ansermet, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Winssinger
- University of Geneva, Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, NCCR Chemical Biology, 30 Quai Ernest Ansermet, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland
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40
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Antunes A, Alvarez-Vallina L, Bertoglio F, Bouquin N, Cornen S, Duffieux F, Ferré P, Gillet R, Jorgensen C, Leick MB, Maillère B, Negre H, Pelegrin M, Poirier N, Reusch D, Robert B, Serre G, Vicari A, Villalba M, Volpers C, Vuddamalay G, Watier H, Wurch T, Zabeau L, Zielonka S, Zhang B, Beck A, Martineau P. 10th antibody industrial symposium: new developments in antibody and adoptive cell therapies. MAbs 2023; 15:2211692. [PMID: 37184206 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2023.2211692] [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: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The annual "Antibody Industrial Symposium", co-organized by LabEx MAbImprove and MabDesign, held its 10th anniversary edition in Montpellier, France, on June 28-29, 2022. The meeting focused on new results and concepts in antibody engineering (naked, mono- or multi-specific, conjugated to drugs or radioelements) and also on new cell-based therapies, such as chimeric antigenic receptor (CAR)-T cells. The symposium, which brought together scientists from academia and industry, also addressed issues concerning the production of these molecules and cells, and the necessary steps to ensure a strong intellectual property protection of these new molecules and approaches. These two days of exchanges allowed a rich discussion among the various actors in the field of therapeutic antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luis Alvarez-Vallina
- Cancer Immunotherapy Unit (UNICA), Department of Immunology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- H120-CNIO Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Research Unit, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Federico Bertoglio
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institute of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biotechnology, Braunschweig, Germany, Current address
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Christian Jorgensen
- IRMB, université de Montpellier, Inserm U1183, Montpellier, France
- Unité d'immunologie clinique et de thérapeutique des maladies ostéoarticulaires, département de rhumatologie, hôpital Lapeyronie, Montpellier, France
| | - Mark B Leick
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bernard Maillère
- Université de Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé, SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Hélène Negre
- Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier, Suresnes, France
| | | | | | - Dietmar Reusch
- Pharma Technical Development Analytics Biologics, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Bruno Robert
- IRCM, INSERM, U1194 Univ Montpellier, ICM, 208, rue des Apothicaires, Montpellier, France
| | - Guy Serre
- Institut Toulousain des maladies infectieuses et inflammatoires - INFINITY- Inserm, CNRS, Université Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| | - Alain Vicari
- Calypso Biotech SA, Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Hervé Watier
- CEPR, INSERM U1100 Université de Tours, et CHU de Tours, Tours cedex, France
| | | | | | - Stefan Zielonka
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Baolin Zhang
- Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Alain Beck
- Biologics CMC & Developability, Institut de Recherche Pierre Fabre, St Julien-en-Genevois Cedex, France
| | - Pierre Martineau
- IRCM, INSERM, U1194 Univ Montpellier, ICM, 208, rue des Apothicaires, Montpellier, France
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41
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Wang G, He C, Zou J, Liu J, Du Y, Chen T. Enzymatic Synthesis of DNA with an Expanded Genetic Alphabet Using Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:4142-4155. [PMID: 36455255 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Development of unnatural base pairs (UBPs) has significantly expanded the genetic alphabet both in vitro and in vivo and led to numerous potential applications in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industry. Efficient synthesis of oligonucleotides containing unnatural nucleobases is undoubtedly an essential prerequisite for making full use of the UBPs, and de novo synthesis of oligonucleotides with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferases (TdTs) has emerged as a method of great potential to overcome limitations of traditional solid-phase synthesis. Herein, we report the efficient template-independent incorporation of nucleotides of unnatural nucleobases dTPT3 and dNaM, which have been designed to make one of the most successful UBPs to date, dTPT3-dNaM, into DNA oligonucleotides with a TdT enzyme under optimized conditions. We also demonstrate the efficient TdT incorporation of dTPT3 derivatives with different functional linkers into oligonucleotides for orthogonal labeling of nucleic acids and applications thereof. The development of a method for the daily laboratory preparation of DNAs with UBPs at arbitrary sites with the assistance of TdT is also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyuan Wang
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Chuanping He
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Jinrong Zou
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Jiayun Liu
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Yuhui Du
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Tingjian Chen
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
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42
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Tellurium-Modified Nucleosides, Nucleotides, and Nucleic Acids with Potential Applications. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27238379. [PMID: 36500495 PMCID: PMC9737395 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Tellurium was successfully incorporated into proteins and applied to protein structure determination through X-ray crystallography. However, studies on tellurium modification of DNA and RNA are limited. This review highlights the recent development of Te-modified nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids, and summarizes the main synthetic approaches for the preparation of 5-PhTe, 2'-MeTe, and 2'-PhTe modifications. Those modifications are compatible with solid-phase synthesis and stable during Te-oligonucleotide purification. Moreover, the ideal electronic and atomic properties of tellurium for generating clear isomorphous signals give Te-modified DNA and RNA great potential applications in 3D crystal structure determination through X-ray diffraction. STM study also shows that Te-modified DNA has strong topographic and current peaks, which immediately suggests potential applications in nucleic acid direct imaging, nanomaterials, molecular electronics, and diagnostics. Theoretical studies indicate the potential application of Te-modified nucleosides in cancer therapy.
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Gueta O, Amiram M. Expanding the chemical repertoire of protein-based polymers for drug-delivery applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 190:114460. [PMID: 36030987 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Expanding the chemical repertoire of natural and artificial protein-based polymers (PBPs) can enable the production of sequence-defined, yet chemically diverse, biopolymers with customized or new properties that cannot be accessed in PBPs composed of only natural amino acids. Various approaches can enable the expansion of the chemical repertoire of PBPs, including chemical and enzymatic treatments or the incorporation of unnatural amino acids. These techniques are employed to install a wide variety of chemical groups-such as bio-orthogonally reactive, cross-linkable, post-translation modifications, and environmentally responsive groups-which, in turn, can facilitate the design of customized PBP-based drug-delivery systems with modified, fine-tuned, or entirely new properties and functions. Here, we detail the existing and emerging technologies for expanding the chemical repertoire of PBPs and review several chemical groups that either demonstrate or are anticipated to show potential in the design of PBP-based drug delivery systems. Finally, we provide our perspective on the remaining challenges and future directions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osher Gueta
- The Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Miriam Amiram
- The Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel.
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44
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Sun L, Ma X, Zhang B, Qin Y, Ma J, Du Y, Chen T. From polymerase engineering to semi-synthetic life: artificial expansion of the central dogma. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:1173-1197. [PMID: 36320892 PMCID: PMC9533422 DOI: 10.1039/d2cb00116k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acids have been extensively modified in different moieties to expand the scope of genetic materials in the past few decades. While the development of unnatural base pairs (UBPs) has expanded the genetic information capacity of nucleic acids, the production of synthetic alternatives of DNA and RNA has increased the types of genetic information carriers and introduced novel properties and functionalities into nucleic acids. Moreover, the efforts of tailoring DNA polymerases (DNAPs) and RNA polymerases (RNAPs) to be efficient unnatural nucleic acid polymerases have enabled broad application of these unnatural nucleic acids, ranging from production of stable aptamers to evolution of novel catalysts. The introduction of unnatural nucleic acids into living organisms has also started expanding the central dogma in vivo. In this article, we first summarize the development of unnatural nucleic acids with modifications or alterations in different moieties. The strategies for engineering DNAPs and RNAPs are then extensively reviewed, followed by summarization of predominant polymerase mutants with good activities for synthesizing, reverse transcribing, or even amplifying unnatural nucleic acids. Some recent application examples of unnatural nucleic acids with their polymerases are then introduced. At the end, the approaches of introducing UBPs and synthetic genetic polymers into living organisms for the creation of semi-synthetic organisms are reviewed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leping Sun
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology 510006 Guangzhou China
| | - Xingyun Ma
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology 510006 Guangzhou China
| | - Binliang Zhang
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology 510006 Guangzhou China
| | - Yanjia Qin
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology 510006 Guangzhou China
| | - Jiezhao Ma
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology 510006 Guangzhou China
| | - Yuhui Du
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology 510006 Guangzhou China
| | - Tingjian Chen
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology 510006 Guangzhou China
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45
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Huo B, Zhang X, Wang C, Wang H, Zhu G, Zhu W, Zhu A, Mei H, Li L. Mechanistic Insight into the Photoinduced Damage of an Unnatural Base Pair. Chemistry 2022; 28:e202201730. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.202201730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bianbian Huo
- Department Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions Ministry of Education Henan Normal University Xinxiang Henan 453007 P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation Regulation and Target Drug Henan Normal University Xinxiang Henan 453007 P. R. China
| | - Xiguang Zhang
- Department Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions Ministry of Education Henan Normal University Xinxiang Henan 453007 P. R. China
| | - Chao Wang
- Department Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions Ministry of Education Henan Normal University Xinxiang Henan 453007 P. R. China
| | - Honglei Wang
- Department Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions Ministry of Education Henan Normal University Xinxiang Henan 453007 P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation Regulation and Target Drug Henan Normal University Xinxiang Henan 453007 P. R. China
| | - Gongming Zhu
- Department Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions Ministry of Education Henan Normal University Xinxiang Henan 453007 P. R. China
| | - Wuyuan Zhu
- Department Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions Ministry of Education Henan Normal University Xinxiang Henan 453007 P. R. China
| | - Anlian Zhu
- Department Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions Ministry of Education Henan Normal University Xinxiang Henan 453007 P. R. China
| | - Hui Mei
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen 518055 P. R. China
| | - Lingjun Li
- Department Henan Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecule and Drug Innovation Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions Ministry of Education Henan Normal University Xinxiang Henan 453007 P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation Regulation and Target Drug Henan Normal University Xinxiang Henan 453007 P. R. China
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46
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Zhu Q, Liu Q, Yao C, Zhang Y, Cai M. Yeast transcriptional device libraries enable precise synthesis of value-added chemicals from methanol. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:10187-10199. [PMID: 36095129 PMCID: PMC9508829 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural methylotrophs are attractive methanol utilization hosts, but lack flexible expression tools. In this study, we developed yeast transcriptional device libraries for precise synthesis of value-added chemicals from methanol. We synthesized transcriptional devices by fusing bacterial DNA-binding proteins (DBPs) with yeast transactivation domains, and linking bacterial binding sequences (BSs) with the yeast core promoter. Three DBP–BS pairs showed good activity when working with transactivation domains and the core promoter of PAOX1 in the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris. Fine-tuning of the tandem BSs, spacers and differentiated input promoters further enabled a constitutive transcriptional device library (cTRDL) composed of 126 transcriptional devices with an expression strength of 16–520% and an inducible TRDL (iTRDL) composed of 162 methanol-inducible transcriptional devices with an expression strength of 30–500%, compared with PAOX1. Selected devices from iTRDL were adapted to the dihydromonacolin L biosynthetic pathway by orthogonal experimental design, reaching 5.5-fold the production from the PAOX1-driven pathway. The full factorial design of the selected devices from the cTRDL was adapted to the downstream pathway of dihydromonacolin L to monacolin J. Monacolin J production from methanol reached 3.0-fold the production from the PAOX1-driven pathway. Our engineered toolsets ensured multilevel pathway control of chemical synthesis in methylotrophic yeasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoyun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Qi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Chaoying Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yuanxing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Menghao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
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47
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Zhao F, Wei Y, Wang X, Zhou Y, Tong Y, Ang EL, Liu S, Zhao H, Zhang Y. Enzymatic Synthesis of the Unnatural Nucleotide 2'-Deoxyisoguanosine 5'-Monophosphate. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200295. [PMID: 35959532 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Naturally occurring DNA contains four canonical bases, forming two Watson-Crick base pairs (adenine-thymine, guanine-cytosine). Efforts over the past decades have led to the development of several unnatural base pairs, enabling the synthesis of unnatural DNA with an expanded genetic alphabet. The engineering of organisms capable of de novo biosynthesis of unnatural DNA would have significant technological and philosophical implications, but remains a challenge. Here we report the enzymatic conversion of 2'-deoxyxanthosine 5'-monophosphate (dXMP) into deoxyisoguanosine monophosphate (dBMP), a precursor of the unnatural isoguanine-isocytosine base pair. The reaction is catalyzed by the bacteriophage enzyme PurZ and bacterial PurB, and is a key addition to the toolbox for de novo biosynthesis of unnatural DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuping Zhao
- Tianjin University, School of Pharmacology Science and Technology, CHINA
| | - Yifeng Wei
- Agency for Science Technology and Research, Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation, SINGAPORE
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Tianjin University, School of Pharmacology Science and Technology, CHINA
| | - Yan Zhou
- Tianjin University, School of Pharmacology Science and Technology, CHINA
| | - Yang Tong
- Tianjin University, School of Pharmacology Science and Technology, CHINA
| | - Ee Lui Ang
- Agency for Science Technology and Research, Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation, SINGAPORE
| | - Shengnan Liu
- Tianjin University, Institute of Molecular Plus, CHINA
| | - Huimin Zhao
- Agency for Science Technology and Research, Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation, SINGAPORE
| | - Yan Zhang
- Tianjin University, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Office 417-4, 92 Weijin Rd, Nankai District, 300072, Tianjin, CHINA
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48
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Engineering Ribosomes to Alleviate Abiotic Stress in Plants: A Perspective. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11162097. [PMID: 36015400 PMCID: PMC9415564 DOI: 10.3390/plants11162097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
As the centerpiece of the biomass production process, ribosome activity is highly coordinated with environmental cues. Findings revealing ribosome subgroups responsive to adverse conditions suggest this tight coordination may be grounded in the induction of variant ribosome compositions and the differential translation outcomes they might produce. In this perspective, we go through the literature linking ribosome heterogeneity to plants’ abiotic stress response. Once unraveled, this crosstalk may serve as the foundation of novel strategies to custom cultivars tolerant to challenging environments without the yield penalty.
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49
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Park H, Gibbs JM. Selectivity and efficiency in the ligation of the pyrene:abasic base pair by T4 and PBCV-1 DNA ligases. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:9072-9075. [PMID: 35876431 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc03079a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Remarkable selectivity was observed in the ligation of 5'-phosphate 1-pyrene nucleotide terminated strands across from an abasic lesion in a DNA-templated ligation reaction by two different ligases suggesting that pyrene-terminated strands could be used in abasic site detection. Increasing ATP concentration was critical to enhancing the selectivity for this base pair with T4 DNA ligase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hansol Park
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G2, Canada.
| | - Julianne M Gibbs
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G2, Canada.
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50
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Zhu X, Zhaoyang Zhang, Bin Jia, Yuan Y. Current advances of biocontainment strategy in synthetic biology. Chin J Chem Eng 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2022.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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