1
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Peter M, Shipman S, Heo J, Macklis JD. Limitations of fluorescent timer protein maturation kinetics to isolate transcriptionally synchronized human neural progenitor cells. iScience 2024; 27:109911. [PMID: 38784012 PMCID: PMC11111830 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into subtype-specific neurons holds substantial potential for disease modeling in vitro. For successful differentiation, a detailed understanding of the transcriptional networks regulating cell fate decisions is critical. The heterochronic nature of neurodevelopment, during which distinct cells in the brain and during in vitro differentiation acquire their fates in an unsynchronized manner, hinders pooled transcriptional comparisons. One approach is to "translate" chronologic time into linear developmental and maturational time. Simple binary promotor-driven fluorescent proteins (FPs) to pool similar cells are unable to achieve this goal, due to asynchronous promotor onset in individual cells. We tested five fluorescent timer (FT) molecules expressed from the endogenous paired box 6 (PAX6) promoter in 293T and human hPSCs. Each of these FT systems faithfully reported chronologic time in 293T cells, but none of the FT constructs followed the same fluorescence kinetics in human neural progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Peter
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Seth Shipman
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jaewon Heo
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jeffrey D. Macklis
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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2
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Talandashti R, van Ek L, Gehin C, Xue D, Moqadam M, Gavin AC, Reuter N. Membrane specificity of the human cholesterol transfer protein STARD4. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168572. [PMID: 38615744 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
STARD4 regulates cholesterol homeostasis by transferring cholesterol between the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum. The STARD4 structure features a helix-grip fold surrounding a large hydrophobic cavity holding the sterol. Its access is controlled by a gate formed by the Ω1 and Ω4 loops and the C-terminal α-helix. Little is known about the mechanisms by which STARD4 binds to membranes and extracts/releases cholesterol. All available structures of STARD4 are without a bound sterol and display the same closed conformation of the gate. The cholesterol transfer activity of the mouse STARD4 is enhanced in the presence of anionic lipids, and in particular of phosphatidylinositol biphosphates (PIP2) for which two binding sites were proposed on the mouse STARD4 surface. Yet only one of these sites is conserved in human STARD4. We here report the results of a liposome microarray-based assay and microseconds-long molecular dynamics simulations of human STARD4 with complex lipid bilayers mimicking the composition of the donor and acceptor membranes. We show that the binding of apo form of human STARD4 is sensitive to the presence of PIP2 through two specific binding sites, one of which was not identified on mouse STARD4. We report two novel conformations of the gate in holo-STARD4: a yet-unobserved close conformation and an open conformation of Ω4 shedding light on the opening/closure mechanism needed for cholesterol uptake/release. Overall, the modulation of human STARD4 membrane-binding by lipid composition, and by the presence of the cargo supports the capacity of human STARD4 to achieve directed transfer between specific organelle membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Talandashti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Bergen 5020, Norway; Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Bergen 5020, Norway
| | - Larissa van Ek
- Department of Cellular Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Diabetes Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Charlotte Gehin
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dandan Xue
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Bergen 5020, Norway; Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Bergen 5020, Norway
| | - Mahmoud Moqadam
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Bergen 5020, Norway; Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Bergen 5020, Norway
| | - Anne-Claude Gavin
- Department of Cellular Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Diabetes Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Reuter
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Bergen 5020, Norway; Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Bergen 5020, Norway.
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3
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Stover L, Bahramimoghaddam H, Wang L, Schrecke S, Yadav GP, Zhou M, Laganowsky A. Grafting the ALFA tag for structural studies of aquaporin Z. J Struct Biol X 2024; 9:100097. [PMID: 38361954 PMCID: PMC10867769 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjsbx.2024.100097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Aquaporin Z (AqpZ), a bacterial water channel, forms a tetrameric complex and, like many other membrane proteins, activity is regulated by lipids. Various methods have been developed to facilitate structure determination of membrane proteins, such as the use of antibodies. Here, we graft onto AqpZ the ALFA tag (AqpZ-ALFA), an alpha helical epitope, to make use of the high-affinity anti-ALFA nanobody (nB). Native mass spectrometry reveals the AqpZ-ALFA fusion forms a stable, 1:1 complex with nB. Single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy studies reveal the octameric (AqpZ-ALFA)4(nB)4 complex forms a dimeric assembly and the structure was determined to 1.9 Å resolution. Dimerization of the octamer is mediated through stacking of the symmetrically bound nBs. Tube-like density is also observed, revealing a potential cardiolipin binding site. Grafting of the ALFA tag, or other epitope, along with binding and association of nBs to promote larger complexes will have applications in structural studies and protein engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Stover
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | | | - Lie Wang
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Samantha Schrecke
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Gaya P. Yadav
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics (LBSD), Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Ming Zhou
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Arthur Laganowsky
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
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4
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Li D, Cai Y, Guo J, Liu Y, Lu F, Li Q, Liu Y, Li Y. Screening signal peptidase based on split-GFP assembly technology to promote the secretion of alkaline protease AprE in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 269:132166. [PMID: 38723822 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Improving the ability of bacteria to secrete protein is essential for large-scale production of food enzymes. However, due to the lack of effective tracking technology for target proteins, the optimization of the secretory system is facing many problems. In this study, we utilized the split-GFP system to achieve self-assembly into mature GFP in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and successfully tracked the alkaline protease AprE. The split-GFP system was employed to assess the signal peptidases, a crucial component in the secretory system, and signal peptidase sipA was identified as playing a role in the secretion of AprE. Deletion of sipA resulted in a higher accumulation of the precursor protein of AprE compared to other signal peptidase deletion strains. To explore the mechanism of signal peptidase on signal peptide, molecular docking and calculation of free energy were performed. The action strength of the signal peptidase is determined by its binding affinity with the tripeptides at the C-terminal of the signal peptide. The functions of signal peptides YdbK and NucB rely on sipA, and overexpression of sipA by integrating it into genome of B. amyloliquefaciens increased the activity of extracellular AprE by 19.9 %. These findings provide insights into enhancing the secretion efficiency of chassis strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dengke Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, PR China
| | - Yian Cai
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, PR China
| | - Jiejie Guo
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, PR China
| | - Yihan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, PR China.
| | - Fuping Lu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, PR China.
| | - Qinggang Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, PR China.
| | - Yexue Liu
- Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, PR China.
| | - Yu Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, PR China.
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5
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Allen MC, Karplus PA, Mehl RA, Cooley RB. Genetic Encoding of Phosphorylated Amino Acids into Proteins. Chem Rev 2024; 124:6592-6642. [PMID: 38691379 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Reversible phosphorylation is a fundamental mechanism for controlling protein function. Despite the critical roles phosphorylated proteins play in physiology and disease, our ability to study individual phospho-proteoforms has been hindered by a lack of versatile methods to efficiently generate homogeneous proteins with site-specific phosphoamino acids or with functional mimics that are resistant to phosphatases. Genetic code expansion (GCE) is emerging as a transformative approach to tackle this challenge, allowing direct incorporation of phosphoamino acids into proteins during translation in response to amber stop codons. This genetic programming of phospho-protein synthesis eliminates the reliance on kinase-based or chemical semisynthesis approaches, making it broadly applicable to diverse phospho-proteoforms. In this comprehensive review, we provide a brief introduction to GCE and trace the development of existing GCE technologies for installing phosphoserine, phosphothreonine, phosphotyrosine, and their mimics, discussing both their advantages as well as their limitations. While some of the technologies are still early in their development, others are already robust enough to greatly expand the range of biologically relevant questions that can be addressed. We highlight new discoveries enabled by these GCE approaches, provide practical considerations for the application of technologies by non-GCE experts, and also identify avenues ripe for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Allen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, GCE4All Research Center, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 United States
| | - P Andrew Karplus
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, GCE4All Research Center, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 United States
| | - Ryan A Mehl
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, GCE4All Research Center, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 United States
| | - Richard B Cooley
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, GCE4All Research Center, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 United States
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6
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Hamlish NX, Abramyan AM, Shah B, Zhang Z, Schepartz A. Incorporation of Multiple β 2-Hydroxy Acids into a Protein In Vivo Using an Orthogonal Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2024; 10:1044-1053. [PMID: 38799653 PMCID: PMC11117724 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c01366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The programmed synthesis of sequence-defined biomaterials whose monomer backbones diverge from those of canonical α-amino acids represents the next frontier in protein and biomaterial evolution. Such next-generation molecules provide otherwise nonexistent opportunities to develop improved biologic therapies, bioremediation tools, and biodegradable plastic-like materials. One monomer family of particular interest for biomaterials includes β-hydroxy acids. Many natural products contain isolated β-hydroxy acid monomers, and polymers of β-hydroxy acids (β-esters) are found in polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polyesters under development as bioplastics and drug encapsulation/delivery systems. Here we report that β2-hydroxy acids possessing both (R) and (S) absolute configuration are substrates for pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) enzymes in vitro and that (S)-β2-hydroxy acids are substrates in cellulo. Using the orthogonal MaPylRS/MatRNAPyl synthetase/tRNA pair, in conjunction with wild-type E. coli ribosomes and EF-Tu, we report the cellular synthesis of model proteins containing two (S)-β2-hydroxy acid residues at internal positions. Metadynamics simulations provide a rationale for the observed preference for the (S)-β2-hydroxy acid and provide mechanistic insights that inform future engineering efforts. As far as we know, this finding represents the first example of an orthogonal synthetase that acylates tRNA with a β2-hydroxy acid substrate and the first example of a protein hetero-oligomer containing multiple expanded-backbone monomers produced in cellulo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah X. Hamlish
- Department
of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University
of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Ara M. Abramyan
- Schrödinger,
Inc., San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Bhavana Shah
- Process
Development, Attribute Sciences, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, California 91320, United
States
| | - Zhongqi Zhang
- Process
Development, Attribute Sciences, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, California 91320, United
States
| | - Alanna Schepartz
- Department
of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University
of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Calfornia 94720, United States
- California
Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Chan Zuckerberg
Biohub, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- ARC
Institute, Palo Alto, California 94304, United States
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7
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Ishii Y, Fukunaga K, Cooney A, Yokobayashi Y, Matsuura T. Switchable and orthogonal gene expression control inside artificial cells by synthetic riboswitches. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024. [PMID: 38767578 DOI: 10.1039/d4cc00965g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Here we report two novel synthetic riboswitches that respond to ASP2905 and theophylline and function in reconstituted cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system. We encapsulated the CFPS system as well as DNA-templated encoding reporter genes regulated by these orthogonal riboswitches inside liposomes, and achieved switchable and orthogonal control over gene expression by external stimulation with the cognate ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Ishii
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan.
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Keisuke Fukunaga
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan.
| | - Aileen Cooney
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan.
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Yohei Yokobayashi
- Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Engineering Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Matsuura
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan.
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8
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Beyrent E, Wei DT, Beacham GM, Park S, Zheng J, Paszek MJ, Hollopeter G. Dimerization activates the Inversin complex in C. elegans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.17.594761. [PMID: 38798613 PMCID: PMC11118560 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.17.594761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Genetic, colocalization, and biochemical studies suggest that the ankyrin repeat-containing proteins Inversin (INVS) and ANKS6 function with the NEK8 kinase to control tissue patterning and maintain organ physiology. It is unknown whether these three proteins assemble into a static "Inversin complex" or one that adopts multiple bioactive forms. Through characterization of hyperactive alleles in C. elegans , we discovered that the Inversin complex is activated by dimerization. Genome engineering of an RFP tag onto the nematode homologs of INVS (MLT-4) and NEK8 (NEKL-2) induced a gain-of-function, cyst-like phenotype that was suppressed by monomerization of the fluorescent tag. Stimulated dimerization of MLT-4 or NEKL-2 using optogenetics was sufficient to recapitulate the phenotype of a constitutively active Inversin complex. Further, dimerization of NEKL-2 bypassed a lethal MLT-4 mutant, demonstrating that the dimeric form is required for function. We propose that dynamic switching between at least two functionally distinct states-an active dimer and an inactive monomer-gates the output of the Inversin complex.
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9
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Azuma Y, Gaweł S, Pasternak M, Woźnicka O, Pyza E, Heddle JG. Reengineering of an Artificial Protein Cage for Efficient Packaging of Active Enzymes. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2312286. [PMID: 38738740 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202312286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Protein cages that readily encapsulate active enzymes of interest present useful nanotools for delivery and catalysis, wherein those with programmable disassembly characteristics serve as particularly attractive platforms. Here, a general guest packaging system based on an artificial protein cage, TRAP-cage, the disassembly of which can be induced by the addition of reducing agents, is established. In this system, TRAP-cage with SpyCatcher moieties in the lumen is prepared using genetic modification of the protein building block and assembled into a cage structure with either monovalent gold ions or molecular crosslinkers. The resulting protein cage can efficiently capture guest proteins equipped with a SpyTag by simply mixing them in an aqueous solution. This post-assembly loading system, which circumvents the exposure of guests to thiol-reactive crosslinkers, enables the packaging of enzymes possessing a catalytic cysteine or a metal cofactor while retaining their catalytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Azuma
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, Krakow, 30-387, Poland
| | - Szymon Gaweł
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, Krakow, 30-387, Poland
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Prof. S. Łojasiewicza 11, Krakow, 30-348, Poland
| | - Monika Pasternak
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, Krakow, 30-387, Poland
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Prof. S. Łojasiewicza 11, Krakow, 30-348, Poland
| | - Olga Woźnicka
- Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, Krakow, 30-387, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Pyza
- Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, Krakow, 30-387, Poland
| | - Jonathan G Heddle
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, Krakow, 30-387, Poland
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10
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Wang PY, Bartel DP. The guide RNA sequence dictates the slicing kinetics and conformational dynamics of the Argonaute silencing complex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.10.15.562437. [PMID: 38766062 PMCID: PMC11100590 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.15.562437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
The RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which powers RNA interference (RNAi), consists of a guide RNA and an Argonaute protein that slices target RNAs complementary to the guide. We find that for different guide-RNA sequences, slicing rates of perfectly complementary, bound targets can be surprisingly different (>250-fold range), and that faster slicing confers better knockdown in cells. Nucleotide sequence identities at guide-RNA positions 7, 10, and 17 underlie much of this variation in slicing rates. Analysis of one of these determinants implicates a structural distortion at guide nucleotides 6-7 in promoting slicing. Moreover, slicing directed by different guide sequences has an unanticipated, 600-fold range in 3'-mismatch tolerance, attributable to guides with weak (AU-rich) central pairing requiring extensive 3' complementarity (pairing beyond position 16) to more fully populate the slicing-competent conformation. Together, our analyses identify sequence determinants of RISC activity and provide biochemical and conformational rationale for their action. HIGHLIGHTS • Sequence of guide RNA can alter slicing rate of fully paired substrate by 250-fold• Sequences that cause more rapid slicing direct more efficient RNAi in cells• Strong central pairing imparts tolerance for mismatches to the guide 3' region• This tolerance is attributable to more fully populating the slicing conformation.
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11
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Hertz LM, White EN, Kuznedelov K, Cheng L, Yu AM, Kakkaramadam R, Severinov K, Chen A, Lucks J. The effect of pseudoknot base pairing on cotranscriptional structural switching of the fluoride riboswitch. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:4466-4482. [PMID: 38567721 PMCID: PMC11077080 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae231] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
A central question in biology is how RNA sequence changes influence dynamic conformational changes during cotranscriptional folding. Here we investigated this question through the study of transcriptional fluoride riboswitches, non-coding RNAs that sense the fluoride anion through the coordinated folding and rearrangement of a pseudoknotted aptamer domain and a downstream intrinsic terminator expression platform. Using a combination of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase in vitro transcription and cellular gene expression assays, we characterized the function of mesophilic and thermophilic fluoride riboswitch variants. We showed that only variants containing the mesophilic pseudoknot function at 37°C. We next systematically varied the pseudoknot sequence and found that a single wobble base pair is critical for function. Characterizing thermophilic variants at 65°C through Thermus aquaticus RNA polymerase in vitro transcription showed the importance of this wobble pair for function even at elevated temperatures. Finally, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations which supported the experimental findings, visualized the RNA structure switching process, and provided insight into the important role of magnesium ions. Together these studies provide deeper insights into the role of riboswitch sequence in influencing folding and function that will be important for understanding of RNA-based gene regulation and for synthetic biology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Hertz
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Elise N White
- Department of Chemistry and the RNA Institute, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | | | - Luyi Cheng
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Angela M Yu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Rivaan Kakkaramadam
- Department of Chemistry and the RNA Institute, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Konstantin Severinov
- Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Alan Chen
- Department of Chemistry and the RNA Institute, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Julius B Lucks
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
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12
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Lewis JD, Salipante SJ. Development of advanced control material for reverse transcription-mediated bacterial nucleic acid amplification tests. J Clin Microbiol 2024; 62:e0024324. [PMID: 38629844 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00243-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Detection of bacterial RNA by nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), such as reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), offers distinct advantages over DNA-based methods. However, such assays also present challenges in ascertaining positive and internal control material that can reliably monitor success over all phases of testing (bacterial lysis, nucleic acid recovery, reverse transcription, amplification, and signal detection): since they are unable to distinguish between amplification of bacterial RNA transcripts and the DNA templates that encode them, using intact organisms as controls can inform cell lysis but not successful detection of RNA. We developed a control strategy for RNA-based bacterial NAATs that allows ready discrimination of RNA from DNA templates using self-splicing bacterial introns, such that those nucleic acids ultimately encode different sequences. We engineered two vectors encoding synthetic transgenes based on this principle, one that is active in the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli and one that functions in both E. coli and the Gram-positive organism Staphylococcus aureus. We subsequently designed RT-LAMP assays that either target RNA and DNA from transgenic organisms or target RNA exclusively and demonstrated the specificity of amplification using purified nucleic acids. Using multiplex fluorescent RT-LAMP of heat-lysed specimens, we showed the practicality of deploying such transgenic organisms as an internal control to ascertain sample integrity and assay performance during clinical diagnostic testing. Our approach has broad utility for RNA-based bacterial NAATs, especially point-of-care assays and other applications where nucleic acids are nonspecifically liberated for testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janessa D Lewis
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stephen J Salipante
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
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13
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Hacisuleyman E, Hale CR, Noble N, Luo JD, Fak JJ, Saito M, Chen J, Weissman JS, Darnell RB. Neuronal activity rapidly reprograms dendritic translation via eIF4G2:uORF binding. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:822-835. [PMID: 38589584 PMCID: PMC11088998 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01615-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Learning and memory require activity-induced changes in dendritic translation, but which mRNAs are involved and how they are regulated are unclear. In this study, to monitor how depolarization impacts local dendritic biology, we employed a dendritically targeted proximity labeling approach followed by crosslinking immunoprecipitation, ribosome profiling and mass spectrometry. Depolarization of primary cortical neurons with KCl or the glutamate agonist DHPG caused rapid reprogramming of dendritic protein expression, where changes in dendritic mRNAs and proteins are weakly correlated. For a subset of pre-localized messages, depolarization increased the translation of upstream open reading frames (uORFs) and their downstream coding sequences, enabling localized production of proteins involved in long-term potentiation, cell signaling and energy metabolism. This activity-dependent translation was accompanied by the phosphorylation and recruitment of the non-canonical translation initiation factor eIF4G2, and the translated uORFs were sufficient to confer depolarization-induced, eIF4G2-dependent translational control. These studies uncovered an unanticipated mechanism by which activity-dependent uORF translational control by eIF4G2 couples activity to local dendritic remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezgi Hacisuleyman
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-oncology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Caryn R Hale
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-oncology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Natalie Noble
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-oncology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ji-Dung Luo
- Bioinformatics Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - John J Fak
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-oncology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Misa Saito
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-oncology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jin Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Altos Labs, Bay Area Institute of Science, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan S Weissman
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Robert B Darnell
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-oncology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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14
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Gomes JV, Singh-Bhagania S, Cenci M, Chacon Cordon C, Singh M, Butterwick JA. The molecular basis of sugar detection by an insect taste receptor. Nature 2024; 629:228-234. [PMID: 38447670 PMCID: PMC11062906 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07255-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Animals crave sugars because of their energy potential and the pleasurable sensation of tasting sweetness. Yet all sugars are not metabolically equivalent, requiring mechanisms to detect and differentiate between chemically similar sweet substances. Insects use a family of ionotropic gustatory receptors to discriminate sugars1, each of which is selectively activated by specific sweet molecules2-6. Here, to gain insight into the molecular basis of sugar selectivity, we determined structures of Gr9, a gustatory receptor from the silkworm Bombyx mori (BmGr9), in the absence and presence of its sole activating ligand, D-fructose. These structures, along with structure-guided mutagenesis and functional assays, illustrate how D-fructose is enveloped by a ligand-binding pocket that precisely matches the overall shape and pattern of chemical groups in D-fructose. However, our computational docking and experimental binding assays revealed that other sugars also bind BmGr9, yet they are unable to activate the receptor. We determined the structure of BmGr9 in complex with one such non-activating sugar, L-sorbose. Although both sugars bind a similar position, only D-fructose is capable of engaging a bridge of two conserved aromatic residues that connects the pocket to the pore helix, inducing a conformational change that allows the ion-conducting pore to open. Thus, chemical specificity does not depend solely on the selectivity of the ligand-binding pocket, but it is an emergent property arising from a combination of receptor-ligand interactions and allosteric coupling. Our results support a model whereby coarse receptor tuning is derived from the size and chemical characteristics of the pocket, whereas fine-tuning of receptor activation is achieved through the selective engagement of an allosteric pathway that regulates ion conduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Victor Gomes
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Matthew Cenci
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Carlos Chacon Cordon
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Manjodh Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Joel A Butterwick
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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15
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Vizjak P, Kamp D, Hepp N, Scacchetti A, Gonzalez Pisfil M, Bartho J, Halic M, Becker PB, Smolle M, Stigler J, Mueller-Planitz F. ISWI catalyzes nucleosome sliding in condensed nucleosome arrays. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024:10.1038/s41594-024-01290-x. [PMID: 38664566 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01290-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
How chromatin enzymes work in condensed chromatin and how they maintain diffusional mobility inside remains unexplored. Here we investigated these challenges using the Drosophila ISWI remodeling ATPase, which slides nucleosomes along DNA. Folding of chromatin fibers did not affect sliding in vitro. Catalytic rates were also comparable in- and outside of chromatin condensates. ISWI cross-links and thereby stiffens condensates, except when ATP hydrolysis is possible. Active hydrolysis is also required for ISWI's mobility in condensates. Energy from ATP hydrolysis therefore fuels ISWI's diffusion through chromatin and prevents ISWI from cross-linking chromatin. Molecular dynamics simulations of a 'monkey-bar' model in which ISWI grabs onto neighboring nucleosomes, then withdraws from one before rebinding another in an ATP hydrolysis-dependent manner, qualitatively agree with our data. We speculate that monkey-bar mechanisms could be shared with other chromatin factors and that changes in chromatin dynamics caused by mutations in remodelers could contribute to pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Vizjak
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Early Stage Bioprocess Development, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Dieter Kamp
- Gene Center, Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Nicola Hepp
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alessandro Scacchetti
- Department of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Epigenetics Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mariano Gonzalez Pisfil
- Core Facility Bioimaging and Walter-Brendel-Centre of Experimental Medicine, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Joseph Bartho
- Gene Center, Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mario Halic
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Peter B Becker
- Department of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Michaela Smolle
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- BioPhysics Core Facility, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- ViraTherapeutics GmbH, Rum, Austria
| | - Johannes Stigler
- Gene Center, Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
| | - Felix Mueller-Planitz
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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16
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Zhang C, Joseph AM, Casini L, Collier J, Badrinarayanan A, Manley S. Chromosome organization shapes replisome dynamics in Caulobacter crescentus. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3460. [PMID: 38658616 PMCID: PMC11043382 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47849-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA replication in bacteria takes place on highly compacted chromosomes, where segregation, transcription, and repair must occur simultaneously. Within this dynamic environment, colocalization of sister replisomes has been observed in many bacterial species, driving the hypothesis that a physical linker may tether them together. However, replisome splitting has also been reported in many of the same species, leaving the principles behind replisome organization a long-standing puzzle. Here, by tracking the replisome β-clamp subunit in live Caulobacter crescentus, we find that rapid DNA segregation can give rise to a second focus which resembles a replisome, but does not replicate DNA. Sister replisomes can remain colocalized, or split apart to travel along DNA separately upon disruption of chromosome inter-arm alignment. Furthermore, chromosome arm-specific replication-transcription conflicts differentially modify replication speed on the two arms, facilitate the decoupling of the two replisomes. With these observations, we conclude that the dynamic chromosome organization flexibly shapes the organization of sister replisomes, and we outline principles which can help to reconcile previously conflicting models of replisome architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhang
- Laboratory of Experimental Biophysics, Institute of Physics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Asha Mary Joseph
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Laurent Casini
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Justine Collier
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anjana Badrinarayanan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Suliana Manley
- Laboratory of Experimental Biophysics, Institute of Physics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
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17
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Lubkowicz D, Hava DL, Lewis K, Isabella VM. Rational Engineering of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 as Live Biotherapeutic to Degrade Uremic Toxin Precursors. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:1077-1084. [PMID: 38588591 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00686] [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: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Uremic toxins (UTs) are microbiota-derived metabolites that accelerate the progression of kidney damage in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). One of the major UTs involved in CKD progression is p-cresol-sulfate (PCS), derived from dietary l-tyrosine (l-Tyr). Here, we engineered a probiotic strain of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, to convert l-Tyr to the nontoxic compound p-coumaric acid via tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL). First, a small metagenomic library was assessed to identify the TAL with the greatest whole-cell activity. Second, accessory genes implicated in the import of l-Tyr and export of PCA were overexpressed to enhance l-Tyr degradation by 106% and 56%, respectively. Last, random mutagenesis coupled to a novel selection and screening strategy was developed that identified a TAL variant with a 25% increase in whole-cell activity. Taken together, the final strain exhibits a 183% improvement over initial whole-cell activity and provides a promising candidate to degrade l-Tyr mediated PCS accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Lubkowicz
- Synlogic Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - David L Hava
- Synlogic Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Kim Lewis
- Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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18
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Lee MS, Lee JA, Biondo JR, Lux JE, Raig RM, Berger PN, Bernhards CB, Kuhn DL, Gupta MK, Lux MW. Cell-Free Protein Expression in Polymer Materials. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:1152-1164. [PMID: 38467017 PMCID: PMC11036507 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
While synthetic biology has advanced complex capabilities such as sensing and molecular synthesis in aqueous solutions, important applications may also be pursued for biological systems in solid materials. Harsh processing conditions used to produce many synthetic materials such as plastics make the incorporation of biological functionality challenging. One technology that shows promise in circumventing these issues is cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS), where core cellular functionality is reconstituted outside the cell. CFPS enables genetic functions to be implemented without the complications of membrane transport or concerns over the cellular viability or release of genetically modified organisms. Here, we demonstrate that dried CFPS reactions have remarkable tolerance to heat and organic solvent exposure during the casting processes for polymer materials. We demonstrate the utility of this observation by creating plastics that have spatially patterned genetic functionality, produce antimicrobials in situ, and perform sensing reactions. The resulting materials unlock the potential to deliver DNA-programmable biofunctionality in a ubiquitous class of synthetic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn S. Lee
- U.S.
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 5183 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Jennifer A. Lee
- U.S.
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 5183 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
- Defense
Threat Reduction Agency, 2800 Bush River Road, Gunpowder, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - John R. Biondo
- U.S.
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 5183 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
- Excet
Inc., 6225 Brandon Avenue,
Suite 360, Springfield, Virginia 22150, United States
| | - Jeffrey E. Lux
- US
Air Force Research Laboratory, 2179 12th Street, B652/R122, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
- UES
Inc., 4401 Dayton-Xenia
Road, Dayton, Ohio 45432, United States
| | - Rebecca M. Raig
- US
Air Force Research Laboratory, 2179 12th Street, B652/R122, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
- UES
Inc., 4401 Dayton-Xenia
Road, Dayton, Ohio 45432, United States
| | - Pierce N. Berger
- U.S.
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 5183 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Casey B. Bernhards
- U.S.
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 5183 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Danielle L. Kuhn
- U.S.
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 5183 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Maneesh K. Gupta
- US
Air Force Research Laboratory, 2179 12th Street, B652/R122, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Matthew W. Lux
- U.S.
Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 5183 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
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19
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Kim TH, Park JY, Jung J, Sung JS, Kwon S, Bae HE, Shin HJ, Kang MJ, Jose J, Pyun JC. A one-step immunoassay based on switching peptides for diagnosis of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) using screened Fv-antibodies. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:3751-3763. [PMID: 38532694 DOI: 10.1039/d4tb00066h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
In this study, a one-step immunoassay for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) based on Fv-antibodies and switching peptides was developed, and the assay results of PEDV were obtained by just mixing samples without any further reaction or washing steps. The Fv-antibodies with binding affinity to the spike protein of PEDV were screened from the Fv-antibody library using the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein as a screening probe. Screened Fv-antibodies with binding affinities to the RBD antigen were expressed, and the binding constants (KD) were calculated to be 83-142 nM. The one-step immunoassay for the detection of PEDV was configured as a displacement immunoassay using a fluorescence-labeled switching peptide. The one-step immunoassay based on switching peptides was performed using PEDV, and the limit of detection (LOD) values for PEDV detection were estimated to be Ct = 39.7-36.4. Compared with the LOD value for a conventional lateral flow immunoassay (Ct = 33.0), the one-step immunoassay showed a remarkably improved LOD for the detection of PEDV. Finally, the interaction between the screened Fv-antibodies and the PEDV RBD was investigated using docking simulations and compared with the amino acid sequences of the receptors on host cells, such as aminopeptidase N (APN) and angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae-Hun Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03722, Korea.
| | - Jae-Yeon Park
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, South Korea
| | - Jaeyong Jung
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03722, Korea.
| | - Jeong Soo Sung
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03722, Korea.
| | - Soonil Kwon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03722, Korea.
| | - Hyung Eun Bae
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03722, Korea.
| | - Hyun-Jin Shin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, South Korea
| | - Min-Jung Kang
- Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Korea
| | - Joachim Jose
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medical Chemistry, Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jae-Chul Pyun
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 03722, Korea.
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20
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Gonzalez Solveyra E, Perez Sirkin YA, Tagliazucchi M, Szleifer I. Orientational Pathways during Protein Translocation through Polymer-Modified Nanopores. ACS NANO 2024; 18:10427-10438. [PMID: 38556978 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c11318] [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: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Protein translocation through nanopores holds significant promise for applications in biotechnology, biomolecular analysis, and medicine. However, the interpretation of signals generated by the translocation of the protein remains challenging. In this way, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding on how macromolecules translocate through a nanopore and to identify what are the critical parameters that govern the process. In this study, we investigate the interplay between protein charge regulation, orientation, and nanopore surface modifications using a theoretical framework that allows us to explicitly take into account the acid-base reactions of the titrable amino acids in the proteins and in the polyelectrolytes grafted to the nanopore surface. Our goal is to thoroughly characterize the translocation process of different proteins (GFP, β-lactoglobulin, lysozyme, and RNase) through nanopores modified with weak polyacids. Our calculations show that the charge regulation mechanism exerts a profound effect on the translocation process. The pH-dependent interactions between proteins and charged polymers within the nanopore lead to diverse free energy landscapes with barriers, wells, and flat regions dictating translocation efficiency. Comparison of different proteins allows us to identify the significance of protein isoelectric point, size, and morphology in the translocation behavior. Taking advantage of these insights, we propose pH-responsive nanopores that can load proteins at one pH and release them at another, offering opportunities for controlled protein delivery, separation, and sensing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefania Gonzalez Solveyra
- Instituto de Nanosistemas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín-CONICET, San Martín, Buenos Aires B1650, Argentina
| | - Yamila A Perez Sirkin
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Inorgánica Analítica y Química Física y CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Química de los Materiales, Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE). Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mario Tagliazucchi
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Inorgánica Analítica y Química Física y CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Química de los Materiales, Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE). Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Igal Szleifer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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21
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Hu Q, Wang J, Liu C, Feng Y, Chen H. Determinants of mer Promoter Activity from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:490. [PMID: 38674424 PMCID: PMC11049809 DOI: 10.3390/genes15040490] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the MerR family is known for its special regulatory mechanism, we aimed to explore which factors determine the expression activity of the mer promoter. The Tn501/Tn21 mer promoter contains an abnormally long spacer (19 bp) between the -35 and -10 elements, which is essential for the unique DNA distortion mechanism. To further understand the role of base sequences in the mer promoter spacer, this study systematically engineered a series of mutant derivatives and used luminescent and fluorescent reporter genes to investigate the expression activity of these derivatives. The results reveal that the expression activity of the mer promoter is synergistically modulated by the spacer length (17 bp is optimal) and the region upstream of -10 (especially -13G). The spacing is regulated by MerR transcription factors through symmetrical sequences, and -13G presumably functions through interaction with the RNA polymerase sigma-70 subunit.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; (Q.H.); (J.W.); (C.L.); (Y.F.)
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22
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Gutiérrez-Armayor D, Atoini Y, Van Opdenbosch D, Zollfrank C, Nieddu M, Costa RD. Simple Sol-Gel Protein Stabilization toward Rainbow and White Lighting Devices. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2311031. [PMID: 38597244 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202311031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are heralded as a paradigm of sustainable materials for photonics/optoelectronics. However, their stabilization under non-physiological environments and/or harsh operation conditions is the major challenge. Among the FP-stabilization methods, classical sol-gel is the most effective, but less versatile, as most of the proteins/enzymes are easily degraded due to the need of multi-step processes, surfactants, and mixed water/organic solvents in extreme pH. Herein, sol-gel chemistry with archetypal FPs (mGreenLantern; mCherry) is revisited, simplifying the method by one-pot, surfactant-free, and aqueous media (phosphate buffer saline pH = 7.4). The synthesis mechanism involves the direct reaction of the carboxylic groups at the FP surface with the silica precursor, generating a positively charged FP intermediate that acts as a seed for the formation of size-controlled mesoporous FP@SiO2 nanoparticles. Green-/red-emissive (single-FP component) and dual-emissive (multi-FPs component; kinetic studies not required) FP@SiO2 are prepared without affecting the FP photoluminescence and stabilities (>6 months) under dry storage and organic solvent suspensions. Finally, FP@SiO2 color filters are applied to rainbow and white bio-hybrid light-emitting diodes featuring up to 15-fold enhanced stabilities without reducing luminous efficacy compared to references with native FPs. Overall, an easy, versatile, and effective FP-stabilization method is demonstrated in FP@SiO2 toward sustainable protein lighting.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Gutiérrez-Armayor
- Chair of Biogenic Functional Materials, Technical University of Munich, Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability, Schulgasse, 22, 94315, Straubing, Germany
| | - Youssef Atoini
- Chair of Biogenic Functional Materials, Technical University of Munich, Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability, Schulgasse, 22, 94315, Straubing, Germany
| | - Daniel Van Opdenbosch
- Chair for Biogenic Polymers Technical University of Munich, Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability, Schulgasse, 16, 94315, Straubing, Germany
| | - Cordt Zollfrank
- Chair for Biogenic Polymers Technical University of Munich, Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability, Schulgasse, 16, 94315, Straubing, Germany
| | - Mattia Nieddu
- Chair of Biogenic Functional Materials, Technical University of Munich, Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability, Schulgasse, 22, 94315, Straubing, Germany
| | - Rubén D Costa
- Chair of Biogenic Functional Materials, Technical University of Munich, Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability, Schulgasse, 22, 94315, Straubing, Germany
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23
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Delgadillo-Guevara M, Halte M, Erhardt M, Popp PF. Fluorescent tools for the standardized work in Gram-negative bacteria. J Biol Eng 2024; 18:25. [PMID: 38589953 PMCID: PMC11003136 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-024-00420-9] [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: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Standardized and thoroughly characterized genetic tools are a prerequisite for studying cellular processes to ensure the reusability and consistency of experimental results. The discovery of fluorescent proteins (FPs) represents a milestone in the development of genetic reporters for monitoring transcription or protein localization in vivo. FPs have revolutionized our understanding of cellular dynamics by enabling the real-time visualization and tracking of biological processes. Despite these advancements, challenges remain in the appropriate use of FPs, specifically regarding their proper application, protein turnover dynamics, and the undesired disruption of cellular functions. Here, we systematically compared a comprehensive set of 15 FPs and assessed their performance in vivo by focusing on key parameters, such as signal over background ratios and protein stability rates, using the Gram-negative model organism Salmonella enterica as a representative host. We evaluated four protein degradation tags in both plasmid- and genome-based systems and our findings highlight the necessity of introducing degradation tags to analyze time-sensitive cellular processes. We demonstrate that the gain of dynamics mediated by the addition of degradation tags impacts the cell-to-cell heterogeneity of plasmid-based but not genome-based reporters. Finally, we probe the applicability of FPs for protein localization studies in living cells using standard and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy. In summary, our study underscores the importance of careful FP selection and paves the way for the development of improved genetic reporters to enhance the reproducibility and reliability of fluorescence-based research in Gram-negative bacteria and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Delgadillo-Guevara
- Institute of Biology/Molecular Microbiology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, 10115, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Manuel Halte
- Institute of Biology/Molecular Microbiology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, 10115, Germany
| | - Marc Erhardt
- Institute of Biology/Molecular Microbiology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, 10115, Germany
- Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, Berlin, 10117, Germany
| | - Philipp F Popp
- Institute of Biology/Molecular Microbiology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, 10115, Germany.
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24
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Pham TD, Poletti C, Tientcheu TMN, Cuccioloni M, Spurio R, Fabbretti A, Milon P, Giuliodori AM. FAST, a method based on split-GFP for the detection in solution of proteins synthesized in cell-free expression systems. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8042. [PMID: 38580785 PMCID: PMC10997616 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58588-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems offer a versatile platform for a wide range of applications. However, the traditional methods for detecting proteins synthesized in CFPS, such as radioactive labeling, fluorescent tagging, or electrophoretic separation, may be impractical, due to environmental hazards, high costs, technical complexity, and time consuming procedures. These limitations underscore the need for new approaches that streamline the detection process, facilitating broader application of CFPS. By harnessing the reassembly capabilities of two GFP fragments-specifically, the GFP1-10 and GFP11 fragments-we have crafted a method that simplifies the detection of in vitro synthesized proteins called FAST (Fluorescent Assembly of Split-GFP for Translation Tests). FAST relies on the fusion of the small tag GFP11 to virtually any gene to be expressed in CFPS. The in vitro synthesized protein:GFP11 can be rapidly detected in solution upon interaction with an enhanced GFP1-10 fused to the Maltose Binding Protein (MBP:GFP1-10). This interaction produces a fluorescent signal detectable with standard fluorescence readers, thereby indicating successful protein synthesis. Furthermore, if required, detection can be coupled with the purification of the fluorescent complex using standardized MBP affinity chromatography. The method's versatility was demonstrated by fusing GFP11 to four distinct E. coli genes and analyzing the resulting protein synthesis in both a homemade and a commercial E. coli CFPS system. Our experiments confirmed that the FAST method offers a direct correlation between the fluorescent signal and the amount of synthesized protein:GFP11 fusion, achieving a sensitivity threshold of 8 ± 2 pmol of polypeptide, with fluorescence plateauing after 4 h. Additionally, FAST enables the investigation of translation inhibition by antibiotics in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, FAST is a new method that permits the rapid, efficient, and non-hazardous detection of protein synthesized within CFPS systems and, at the same time, the purification of the target protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy Duong Pham
- Laboratory of Genetics of Microorganisms and Microbial Biotechnology, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Chiara Poletti
- Laboratory of Genetics of Microorganisms and Microbial Biotechnology, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Therese Manuela Nloh Tientcheu
- Laboratory of Genetics of Microorganisms and Microbial Biotechnology, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Cuccioloni
- Laboratory of Genetics of Microorganisms and Microbial Biotechnology, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Roberto Spurio
- Laboratory of Genetics of Microorganisms and Microbial Biotechnology, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Attilio Fabbretti
- Laboratory of Genetics of Microorganisms and Microbial Biotechnology, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Pohl Milon
- Laboratory of Biomolecules, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), Lima, Peru
| | - Anna Maria Giuliodori
- Laboratory of Genetics of Microorganisms and Microbial Biotechnology, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy.
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25
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de Veer SJ, Zhou Y, Durek T, Craik DJ, Rehm FBH. Tertiary amide bond formation by an engineered asparaginyl ligase. Chem Sci 2024; 15:5248-5255. [PMID: 38577369 PMCID: PMC10988630 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06352f] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Transpeptidases are powerful tools for site-specific protein modification, enabling the production of tailored biologics to investigate protein function and aiding the development of next-generation therapeutics and diagnostics. Although protein labelling at the N- or C-terminus is readily accomplished using a range of established transpeptidases, these reactions are generally limited to forming products that are linked by a standard (secondary) amide bond. Here we show that, unlike other widely used transpeptidases, an engineered asparaginyl ligase is able to efficiently synthesise tertiary amide bonds by accepting diverse secondary amine nucleophiles. These reactions proceed efficiently under mild conditions (near-neutral pH) and allow the optimal recognition elements for asparaginyl ligases (P1 Asn and P2'' Leu) to be preserved. Certain products, particularly proline-containing products, were found to be protected from recognition by the enzyme, allowing for straightforward sequential labelling of proteins. Additionally, incorporation of 4-azidoproline enables one-pot dual labelling directly at the ligation junction. These capabilities further expand the chemical diversity of asparaginyl ligase-catalysed reactions and provide an alternative approach for straightforward, successive modification of protein substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J de Veer
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Yan Zhou
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Thomas Durek
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Fabian B H Rehm
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
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26
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Sánchez-Costa M, Urigoitia A, Comino N, Arnaiz B, Khatami N, Ruiz-Hernandez R, Diamanti E, Abarrategi A, López-Gallego F. In-Hydrogel Cell-Free Protein Expression System as Biocompatible and Implantable Biomaterial. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:15993-16002. [PMID: 38509001 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c01388] [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: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Biomaterials capable of delivering therapeutic proteins are relevant in biomedicine, yet their manufacturing relies on centralized manufacturing chains that pose challenges to their remote implementation at the point of care. This study explores the viability of confined cell-free protein synthesis within porous hydrogels as biomaterials that dynamically produce and deliver proteins to in vitro and in vivo biological microenvironments. These functional biomaterials have the potential to be assembled as implants at the point of care. To this aim, we first entrap cell-free extracts (CFEs) from Escherichia coli containing the transcription-translation machinery, together with plasmid DNA encoding the super folded green fluorescence protein (sGFP) as a model protein, into hydrogels using various preparation methods. Agarose hydrogels result in the most suitable biomaterials to confine the protein synthesis system, demonstrating efficient sGFP production and diffusion from the core to the surface of the hydrogel. Freeze-drying (FD) of agarose hydrogels still allows for the synthesis and diffusion of sGFP, yielding a more attractive biomaterial for its reconstitution and implementation at the point of care. FD-agarose hydrogels are biocompatible in vitro, allowing for the colonization of cell microenvironments along with cell proliferation. Implantation assays of this biomaterial in a preclinical mouse model proved the feasibility of this protein synthesis approach in an in vivo context and indicated that the physical properties of the biomaterials influence their immune responses. This work introduces a promising avenue for biomaterial fabrication, enabling the in vivo synthesis and targeted delivery of proteins and opening new paths for advanced protein therapeutic approaches based on biocompatible biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ane Urigoitia
- CIC biomaGUNE, Edificio Empresarial "C", Paseo de Miramón 182, 20009Donostia, Spain
| | - Natalia Comino
- CIC biomaGUNE, Edificio Empresarial "C", Paseo de Miramón 182, 20009Donostia, Spain
| | - Blanca Arnaiz
- CIC biomaGUNE, Edificio Empresarial "C", Paseo de Miramón 182, 20009Donostia, Spain
| | - Neda Khatami
- CIC biomaGUNE, Edificio Empresarial "C", Paseo de Miramón 182, 20009Donostia, Spain
- Polymat, University of Basque Country UPV/EHU, Donostia/San Sebastián 20018, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | | | - Eleftheria Diamanti
- CIC biomaGUNE, Edificio Empresarial "C", Paseo de Miramón 182, 20009Donostia, Spain
| | - Ander Abarrategi
- CIC biomaGUNE, Edificio Empresarial "C", Paseo de Miramón 182, 20009Donostia, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013Bilbao, Spain
| | - Fernando López-Gallego
- CIC biomaGUNE, Edificio Empresarial "C", Paseo de Miramón 182, 20009Donostia, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013Bilbao, Spain
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27
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Sun B, Li Z, Peng Y, Wang F, Cheng Y, Liu Y, Ma L. Whole-Cell Display of Phospholipase D in Escherichia coli for High-Efficiency Extracellular Phosphatidylserine Production. Biomolecules 2024; 14:430. [PMID: 38672447 PMCID: PMC11048313 DOI: 10.3390/biom14040430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Phospholipids are widely utilized in various industries, including food, medicine, and cosmetics, due to their unique chemical properties and healthcare benefits. Phospholipase D (PLD) plays a crucial role in the biotransformation of phospholipids. Here, we have constructed a super-folder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP)-based phospholipase D (PLD) expression and surface-display system in Escherichia coli, enabling the surface display of sfGFP-PLDr34 on the bacteria. The displayed sfGFP-PLDr34 showed maximum enzymatic activity at pH 5.0 and 45 °C. The optimum Ca2+ concentrations for the transphosphatidylation activity and hydrolysis activity are 100 mM and 10 mM, respectively. The use of displayed sfGFP-PLDr34 for the conversion of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and L-serine to phosphatidylserine (PS) showed that nearly all the PC was converted into PS at the optimum conditions. The displayed enzyme can be reused for up to three rounds while still producing detectable levels of PS. Thus, Escherichia coli/sfGFP-PLD shows potential for the feasible industrial-scale production of PS. Moreover, this system is particularly valuable for quickly screening higher-activity PLDs. The fluorescence of sfGFP can indicate the expression level of the fused PLD and changes that occur during reuse.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China; (B.S.); (Z.L.); (Y.P.); (F.W.); (Y.C.)
| | - Lixin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China; (B.S.); (Z.L.); (Y.P.); (F.W.); (Y.C.)
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28
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Zhang Y, Looger LL. Fast and sensitive GCaMP calcium indicators for neuronal imaging. J Physiol 2024; 602:1595-1604. [PMID: 36811153 DOI: 10.1113/jp283832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
We review the principles of development and deployment of genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) for the detection of neural activity. Our focus is on the popular GCaMP family of green GECIs, culminating in the recent release of the jGCaMP8 sensors, with dramatically improved kinetics relative to previous generations. We summarize the properties of GECIs in multiple colour channels (blue, cyan, green, yellow, red, far-red) and highlight areas for further improvement. With their low-millisecond rise-times, the jGCaMP8 indicators allow new classes of experiments following neural activity in time frames approaching the underlying computations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Loren L Looger
- Department of Neurosciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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29
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Zabolotskii AI, Riabkova NS. A new look at the fluorescent protein-based approach for identifying optimal coding sequence for recombinant protein expression in E. coli. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2300343. [PMID: 38622786 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300343] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, most amino acids are encoded by several codons. The choice among synonymous codons at the N-terminus of genes has a profound effect on protein expression in Escherichia coli. This is often explained by the different contributions of synonymous codons to mRNA secondary structure formation. Strong secondary structures at the 5'-end of mRNA interfere with ribosome binding and affect the process of translation initiation. In silico optimization of the gene 5'-end can significantly increase the level of protein expression; however, this method is not always effective due to the uncertainty of the exact mechanism by which synonymous substitutions affect expression; thus, it may produce nonoptimal variants as well as miss some of the best producers. In this paper, an alternative approach is proposed based on screening a partially randomized library of expression constructs comprising hundreds of selected synonymous variants. The effect of such substitutions was evaluated using the gene of interest fused to the reporter gene of the fluorescent protein with subsequent screening for the most promising candidates according to the reporter's signal intensity. The power of the approach is demonstrated by a significant increase in the prokaryotic expression of three proteins: canine cystatin C, human BCL2-associated athanogene 3 and human cardiac troponin I. This simple approach was suggested which may provide an efficient, easy, and inexpensive optimization method for poorly expressed proteins in bacteria.
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30
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Tomris I, van der Woude R, de Paiva Froes Rocha R, Torrents de la Peña A, Ward AB, de Vries RP. Viral envelope proteins fused to multiple distinct fluorescent reporters to probe receptor binding. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4974. [PMID: 38533540 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4974] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Enveloped viruses carry one or multiple proteins with receptor-binding functionalities. Functional receptors can be glycans, proteinaceous, or both; therefore, recombinant protein approaches are instrumental in attaining new insights regarding viral envelope protein receptor-binding properties. Visualizing and measuring receptor binding typically entails antibody detection or direct labeling, whereas direct fluorescent fusions are attractive tools in molecular biology. Here, we report a suite of distinct fluorescent fusions, both N- and C-terminal, for influenza A virus hemagglutinins and SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD. The proteins contained three or six fluorescent protein barrels and were applied directly to cells to assess receptor binding properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilhan Tomris
- Department of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Roosmarijn van der Woude
- Department of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Rebeca de Paiva Froes Rocha
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Alba Torrents de la Peña
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Andrew B Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Robert P de Vries
- Department of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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31
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Deng F, Wan J, Li G, Dong H, Xia X, Wang Y, Li X, Zhuang C, Zheng Y, Liu L, Yan Y, Feng J, Zhao Y, Xie H, Li Y. Improved green and red GRAB sensors for monitoring spatiotemporal serotonin release in vivo. Nat Methods 2024; 21:692-702. [PMID: 38443508 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-024-02188-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
The serotonergic system plays important roles in both physiological and pathological processes, and is a therapeutic target for many psychiatric disorders. Although several genetically encoded GFP-based serotonin (5-HT) sensors were recently developed, their sensitivities and spectral profiles are relatively limited. To overcome these limitations, we optimized green fluorescent G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-activation-based 5-HT (GRAB5-HT) sensors and developed a red fluorescent GRAB5-HT sensor. These sensors exhibit excellent cell surface trafficking and high specificity, sensitivity and spatiotemporal resolution, making them suitable for monitoring 5-HT dynamics in vivo. Besides recording subcortical 5-HT release in freely moving mice, we observed both uniform and gradient 5-HT release in the mouse dorsal cortex with mesoscopic imaging. Finally, we performed dual-color imaging and observed seizure-induced waves of 5-HT release throughout the cortex following calcium and endocannabinoid waves. In summary, these 5-HT sensors can offer valuable insights regarding the serotonergic system in both health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinxia Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Guochuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Xiju Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Peking University-Tsinghua University-National Institute of Biological Sciences Joint Graduate Program, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yipan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Xuelin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Chaowei Zhuang
- Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Laixin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuqi Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiesi Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Yulin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Xie
- Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.
- Peking University-Tsinghua University-National Institute of Biological Sciences Joint Graduate Program, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.
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32
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Sharifi M, Alizadeh AA, Mivehroud MH, Dastmalchi S. Construction of a bacteriophage-derived vector with potential applications in targeted drug delivery and cell imaging. Biotechnol Lett 2024; 46:147-159. [PMID: 38184487 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-023-03455-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
There is a strong relationship between the dysregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the development of epithelial-derived cancers. Therefore, EGFR has usually been considered the desired target for gene therapy. Here, we propose an approach for targeting EGFR-expressing cells by phage particles capable of displaying EGF and GFP as tumor-targeting and reporting elements, respectively. For this purpose, the superfolder GFP-EGF (sfGFP-EGF) coding sequence was inserted at the N-terminus of the pIII gene in the pIT2 phagemid. The capability of the constructed phage to recognize EGFR-overexpressing cells was monitored by fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), and cell-based ELISA experiments. FACS analysis showed a significant shift in the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of the cells treated with phage displaying sfGFP-EGF compared to phage displaying only sfGFP. The binding of phage displaying sfGFP-EGF to A-431 cells, monitored by fluorescence microscopy, indicated the formation of the sfGFP-EGF-EGFR complex on the surface of the treated cells. Cell-based ELISA experiments showed that phages displaying either EGF or sfGFP-EGF can specifically bind EGFR-expressing cells. The vector constructed in the current study has the potential to be engineered for gene delivery purposes as well as cell-based imaging for tumor detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Sharifi
- Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Analysis Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Alizadeh
- Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Medicinal Plants Research Center, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Maryam Hamzeh Mivehroud
- Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- School of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Siavoush Dastmalchi
- Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- School of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Near East University, Po. Box: 99138, Nicosia, North Cyprus, Mersin 10, Turkey.
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33
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Zhuo Y, Luo B, Yi X, Dong H, Miao X, Wan J, Williams JT, Campbell MG, Cai R, Qian T, Li F, Weber SJ, Wang L, Li B, Wei Y, Li G, Wang H, Zheng Y, Zhao Y, Wolf ME, Zhu Y, Watabe-Uchida M, Li Y. Improved green and red GRAB sensors for monitoring dopaminergic activity in vivo. Nat Methods 2024; 21:680-691. [PMID: 38036855 PMCID: PMC11009088 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-02100-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) plays multiple roles in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes via a large network of dopaminergic projections. To dissect the spatiotemporal dynamics of DA release in both dense and sparsely innervated brain regions, we developed a series of green and red fluorescent G-protein-coupled receptor activation-based DA (GRABDA) sensors using a variety of DA receptor subtypes. These sensors have high sensitivity, selectivity and signal-to-noise ratio with subsecond response kinetics and the ability to detect a wide range of DA concentrations. We then used these sensors in mice to measure both optogenetically evoked and behaviorally relevant DA release while measuring neurochemical signaling in the nucleus accumbens, amygdala and cortex. Using these sensors, we also detected spatially resolved heterogeneous cortical DA release in mice performing various behaviors. These next-generation GRABDA sensors provide a robust set of tools for imaging dopaminergic activity under a variety of physiological and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhou Zhuo
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyang Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolei Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinxia Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Beijing, China
| | - John T Williams
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Malcolm G Campbell
- Center for Brain Science, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ruyi Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Tongrui Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Fengling Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Sophia J Weber
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Peking University-Tsinghua University-National Institute of Biological Sciences Joint Graduate Program, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Bozhi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Guochuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Yulin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Marina E Wolf
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Yingjie Zhu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mitsuko Watabe-Uchida
- Center for Brain Science, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China.
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Beijing, China.
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China.
- National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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Zheng J, Guo N, Huang Y, Guo X, Wagner A. High temperature delays and low temperature accelerates evolution of a new protein phenotype. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2495. [PMID: 38553445 PMCID: PMC10980763 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46332-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the origin of life, temperatures on earth have fluctuated both on short and long time scales. How such changes affect the rate at which Darwinian evolution can bring forth new phenotypes remains unclear. On the one hand, high temperature may accelerate phenotypic evolution because it accelerates most biological processes. On the other hand, it may slow phenotypic evolution, because proteins are usually less stable at high temperatures and therefore less evolvable. Here, to test these hypotheses experimentally, we evolved a green fluorescent protein in E. coli towards the new phenotype of yellow fluorescence at different temperatures. Yellow fluorescence evolved most slowly at high temperature and most rapidly at low temperature, in contradiction to the first hypothesis. Using high-throughput population sequencing, protein engineering, and biochemical assays, we determined that this is due to the protein-destabilizing effect of neofunctionalizing mutations. Destabilization is highly detrimental at high temperature, where neofunctionalizing mutations cannot be tolerated. Their detrimental effects can be mitigated through excess stability at low temperature, leading to accelerated adaptive evolution. By modifying protein folding stability, temperature alters the accessibility of mutational paths towards high-fitness genotypes. Our observations have broad implications for our understanding of how temperature changes affect evolutionary adaptations and innovations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Zheng
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China.
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Ning Guo
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuxiang Huang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Guo
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Andreas Wagner
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- The Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, USA.
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Valentino IM, Llivicota-Guaman JG, Dao TP, Mulvey EO, Lehman AM, Galagedera SKK, Mallon EL, Castañeda CA, Kraut DA. Phase separation of polyubiquitinated proteins in UBQLN2 condensates controls substrate fate. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.15.585243. [PMID: 38559018 PMCID: PMC10980000 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.15.585243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Ubiquitination is one of the most common post-translational modifications in eukaryotic cells. Depending on the architecture of polyubiquitin chains, substrate proteins can meet different cellular fates, but our understanding of how chain linkage controls protein fate remains limited. UBL-UBA shuttle proteins, such as UBQLN2, bind to ubiquitinated proteins and to the proteasome or other protein quality control machinery elements and play a role in substrate fate determination. Under physiological conditions, UBQLN2 forms biomolecular condensates through phase separation, a physicochemical phenomenon in which multivalent interactions drive the formation of a macromolecule-rich dense phase. Ubiquitin and polyubiquitin chains modulate UBQLN2's phase separation in a linkage-dependent manner, suggesting a possible link to substrate fate determination, but polyubiquitinated substrates have not been examined directly. Using sedimentation assays and microscopy we show that polyubiquitinated substrates induce UBQLN2 phase separation and incorporate into the resulting condensates. This substrate effect is strongest with K63-linked substrates, intermediate with mixed-linkage substrates, and weakest with K48-linked substrates. Proteasomes can be recruited to these condensates, but proteasome activity towards K63-linked and mixed linkage substrates is inhibited in condensates. Substrates are also protected from deubiquitinases by UBQLN2-induced phase separation. Our results imply that phase separation can act as a regulatory switch that controls the fate of ubiquitinated substrates in a chain-linkage dependent manner, thus serving as an interpreter of the ubiquitin code.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thuy P. Dao
- Department of Biology, Department of Chemistry, Bioinspired Institute, Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244
| | - Erin O. Mulvey
- Department of Chemistry, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085
| | - Andrew M. Lehman
- Department of Chemistry, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085
| | - Sarasi K. K. Galagedera
- Department of Biology, Department of Chemistry, Bioinspired Institute, Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244
| | - Erica L. Mallon
- Department of Chemistry, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085
| | - Carlos A. Castañeda
- Department of Biology, Department of Chemistry, Bioinspired Institute, Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244
| | - Daniel A. Kraut
- Department of Chemistry, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085
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36
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Popgeorgiev N, Gil C, Berthenet K, Bertolin G, Ichim G. Shedding light on mitochondrial outer-membrane permeabilization and membrane potential: State of the art methods and biosensors. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 156:58-65. [PMID: 37438211 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.07.003] [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: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Membrane structural integrity is essential for optimal mitochondrial function. These organelles produce the energy needed for all vital processes, provided their outer and inner membranes are intact. This prevents the release of mitochondrial apoptogenic factors into the cytosol and ensures intact mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) to sustain ATP production. Cell death by apoptosis is generally triggered by outer mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (MOMP), tightly coupled with loss of ΔΨ m. As these two processes are essential for both mitochondrial function and cell death, researchers have devised various techniques to assess them. Here, we discuss current methods and biosensors available for detecting MOMP and measuring ΔΨ m, focusing on their advantages and limitations and discuss what new imaging tools are needed to improve our knowledge of mitochondrial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolay Popgeorgiev
- Cancer Cell Death laboratory, part of LabEX DEVweCAN, Cancer Initiation and Tumoral Cell Identity Department, CRCL, U1052 INSERM, UMR CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université Lyon I, Institut Convergence PLAsCAN Lyon, France; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Clara Gil
- Cancer Cell Death laboratory, part of LabEX DEVweCAN, Cancer Initiation and Tumoral Cell Identity Department, CRCL, U1052 INSERM, UMR CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université Lyon I, Institut Convergence PLAsCAN Lyon, France
| | - Kevin Berthenet
- Cancer Cell Death laboratory, part of LabEX DEVweCAN, Cancer Initiation and Tumoral Cell Identity Department, CRCL, U1052 INSERM, UMR CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université Lyon I, Institut Convergence PLAsCAN Lyon, France
| | - Giulia Bertolin
- CNRS, Univ Rennes, IGDR (Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes), Rennes, France.
| | - Gabriel Ichim
- Cancer Cell Death laboratory, part of LabEX DEVweCAN, Cancer Initiation and Tumoral Cell Identity Department, CRCL, U1052 INSERM, UMR CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université Lyon I, Institut Convergence PLAsCAN Lyon, France.
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37
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Polge C, Cabantous S, Taillandier D. Tripartite Split-GFP for High Throughput Screening of Small Molecules: A Powerful Strategy for Targeting Transient/Labile Interactors like E2-E3 Ubiquitination Enzymes. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300723. [PMID: 38088048 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
The search for inhibitors of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS) is an expanding area, due to the crucial role of UPS enzymes in several diseases. The complexity of the UPS and the multiple protein-protein interactions (PPIs) involved, either between UPS proteins themselves or between UPS components and theirs targets, offer an incredibly wide field for the development of chemical compounds for specifically modulating or inhibiting metabolic pathways. However, numerous UPS PPIs are transient/labile, due the processivity of the system (Ubiquitin [Ub] chain elongation, Ub transfer, etc.). Among the different strategies that can be used either for deciphering UPS PPI or for identifying/characterizing small compounds inhibitors, the split-GFP approach offers several advantages notably for high throughput screening of drugs. Split-GFP is based on the principle of protein-fragment complementation assay (PCA). PCA allows addressing PPIs by coupling each protein of interest (POI) to fragments of a reporter protein whose reconstitution is linked to the interaction of the POI. Here, we review the evolution of the split-GFP approach from bipartite to tripartite Split-GFP and its recent applicability for screening chemical compounds targeting the UPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Polge
- Université Clermont Auvergne INRAE, UNH, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Stéphanie Cabantous
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse INSERM UMR 1037, Université de Toulouse, F-31037, Toulouse, France
| | - Daniel Taillandier
- Université Clermont Auvergne INRAE, UNH, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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38
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Rowe L. Comparing Learning Outcomes and Student and Instructor Perceptions of a Simultaneous Online versus In-Person Biochemistry Laboratory Course. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION 2024; 101:882-891. [PMID: 38495613 PMCID: PMC10938634 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
This article compares the learning outcomes and student perceptions of a one semester undergraduate biochemistry laboratory course that was taught using either a fully online or a fully in-person teaching modality. The semester long biochemistry laboratory mimicked the work sequence a researcher would encounter when transforming a plasmid containing a gene for a recombinant protein (superfolder green fluorescent protein, sf-GFP) and then purifying, identifying, and characterizing that protein. The two modalities of the course were completed in the same semester, by the same instructor, in which students self-selected into which modality they preferred at the beginning of the semester. Students in the in-person section reported enjoying the laboratory course more than the online cohort of students and found it to be less time-consuming. Additionally, a survey of biochemistry laboratory instructors from across the United States, who had experience teaching both online and in-person biochemistry laboratories, indicated that the majority of instructors that responded to the survey preferred the in-person modality: believing them to be more effective and engaging for the students, more enjoyable, and less time-consuming for the instructor. Statistical analysis of formative and summative assessments indicated no significant difference in non-hands-on student learning objective and learning goal scores between the two groups, but the small number of students and instructors in this study limits the generalizability of these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rowe
- Department of Chemistry, Eastern
Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky 40475, United States
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39
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Girik V, van Ek L, Dentand Quadri I, Azam M, Cruz Cobo M, Mandavit M, Riezman I, Riezman H, Gavin AC, Nunes-Hasler P. Development of Genetically Encoded Fluorescent KSR1-Based Probes to Track Ceramides during Phagocytosis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2996. [PMID: 38474242 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052996] [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: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Ceramides regulate phagocytosis; however, their exact function remains poorly understood. Here, we sought (1) to develop genetically encoded fluorescent tools for imaging ceramides, and (2) to use them to examine ceramide dynamics during phagocytosis. Fourteen enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fusion constructs based on four known ceramide-binding domains were generated and screened. While most constructs localized to the nucleus or cytosol, three based on the CA3 ceramide-binding domain of kinase suppressor of ras 1 (KSR1) localized to the plasma membrane or autolysosomes. C-terminally tagged CA3 with a vector-based (C-KSR) or glycine-serine linker (C-KSR-GS) responded sensitively and similarly to ceramide depletion and accumulation using a panel of ceramide modifying drugs, whereas N-terminally tagged CA3 (N-KSR) responded differently to a subset of treatments. Lipidomic and liposome microarray analysis suggested that, instead, N-KSR may preferentially bind glucosyl-ceramide. Additionally, the three probes showed distinct dynamics during phagocytosis. Despite partial autolysosomal degradation, C-KSR and C-KSR-GS accumulated at the plasma membrane during phagocytosis, whereas N-KSR did not. Moreover, the weak recruitment of C-KSR-GS to the endoplasmic reticulum and phagosomes was enhanced through overexpression of the endoplasmic reticulum proteins stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) and Sec22b, and was more salient in dendritic cells. The data suggest these novel probes can be used to analyze sphingolipid dynamics and function in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Girik
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Geneva Center for Inflammation Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Larissa van Ek
- Department of Cellular Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Diabetes Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Dentand Quadri
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Geneva Center for Inflammation Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maral Azam
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Geneva Center for Inflammation Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - María Cruz Cobo
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Geneva Center for Inflammation Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marion Mandavit
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Geneva Center for Inflammation Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Riezman
- Department of Biochemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Howard Riezman
- Department of Biochemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Claude Gavin
- Department of Cellular Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Diabetes Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Biochemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paula Nunes-Hasler
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Geneva Center for Inflammation Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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40
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Gee M, Atai K, Coller HA, Yeates TO, Castells-Graells R. Designed fluorescent protein cages as fiducial markers for targeted cell imaging. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.28.582585. [PMID: 38464160 PMCID: PMC10925312 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.28.582585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Understanding how proteins function within their cellular environments is essential for cellular biology and biomedical research. However, current imaging techniques exhibit limitations, particularly in the study of small complexes and individual proteins within cells. Previously, protein cages have been employed as imaging scaffolds to study purified small proteins using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Here we demonstrate an approach to deliver designed protein cages - endowed with fluorescence and targeted binding properties - into cells, thereby serving as fiducial markers for cellular imaging. We used protein cages with anti-GFP DARPin domains to target a mitochondrial protein (MFN1) expressed in mammalian cells, which was genetically fused to GFP. We demonstrate that the protein cages can penetrate cells, are directed to specific subcellular locations, and are detectable with confocal microscopy. This innovation represents a milestone in developing tools for in-depth cellular exploration, especially in conjunction with methods such as cryo-correlative light and electron microscopy (cryo-CLEM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Gee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
| | - Kaiser Atai
- Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
| | - Hilary A Coller
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
| | - Todd O Yeates
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90095
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41
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Schulte M, Grotheer L, Hensel M. Bright individuals: Applications of fluorescent protein-based reporter systems in single-cell cellular microbiology. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:605-617. [PMID: 38234267 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Activation and function of virulence functions of bacterial pathogens are highly dynamic in time and space, and can show considerable heterogeneity between individual cells in pathogen populations. To investigate the complex events in host-pathogen interactions, single cell analyses are required. Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are excellent tools to follow the fate of individual bacterial cells during infection, and can also be deployed to use the pathogen as a sensor for its specific environment in host cells or host organisms. This Resources describes design and applications of dual fluorescence reporters (DFR) in cellular microbiology. DFR feature constitutively expressed FPs for detection of bacterial cells, and FPs expressed by an environmentally regulated promoter for interrogation of niche-specific cues or nutritional parameters. Variations of the basic design allow the generation of DFR that can be used to analyze, on single cell level, bacterial proliferation during infection, subcellular localization of intracellular bacteria, stress response, or persister state. We describe basic considerations for DFR design and review recent applications of DFR in cellular microbiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Schulte
- Abt. Mikrobiologie, Universität Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
- CellNanOs-Center of Cellular Nanoanalytics Osnabrück, Universität Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Luisa Grotheer
- Abt. Mikrobiologie, Universität Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Michael Hensel
- Abt. Mikrobiologie, Universität Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
- CellNanOs-Center of Cellular Nanoanalytics Osnabrück, Universität Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
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42
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Choi HJ, Lee H, Cheong DE, Yoo SK, Lee DE, Kim GJ. Construction and characterization of a functional variant hFGF7 with enhanced properties by circular permutation. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2300712. [PMID: 38528341 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300712] [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: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Human fibroblast growth factor 7 (hFGF7) is a member of the paracrine-acting FGF family and mediates various reactions such as wound healing, tissue homeostasis, and liver regeneration. These activities make it a plausible candidate for pharmaceutical applications as a drug. However, the low expression level and stability of the recombinant hFGF7 were known to be major hurdles for further applications. Here, the expression level and stability of hFGF7 were attempted to improve by changing the order of amino acids through circular permutation (CP), thereby expecting an alternative fate according to the N-end rule. CP-hFGF7 variants were constructed systematically by using putative amino acid residues in the loop region that avoided the disruption of the structural integrity especially in the functional motif. Among them, cp-hFGF7115-114 revealed a relatively higher expression level in the soluble fraction than the wild-type hFGF7 and was efficiently purified (7 mg L-1) to apparent homogeneity. The activity and stability of the purified variant cp-hFGF7115-114 were comparable or superior to that of the wild-type hFGF7, thereby strongly suggesting that CP could be an alternative tool for the functional expression of hFGF7 in Escherichia coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Ji Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences and Research Center of Ecomimetics, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanui Lee
- Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Eun Cheong
- Department of Biological Sciences and Research Center of Ecomimetics, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Kyoung Yoo
- Department of Biological Sciences and Research Center of Ecomimetics, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Eun Lee
- Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, Republic of Korea
| | - Geun-Joong Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences and Research Center of Ecomimetics, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
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43
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Huddy TF, Hsia Y, Kibler RD, Xu J, Bethel N, Nagarajan D, Redler R, Leung PJY, Weidle C, Courbet A, Yang EC, Bera AK, Coudray N, Calise SJ, Davila-Hernandez FA, Han HL, Carr KD, Li Z, McHugh R, Reggiano G, Kang A, Sankaran B, Dickinson MS, Coventry B, Brunette TJ, Liu Y, Dauparas J, Borst AJ, Ekiert D, Kollman JM, Bhabha G, Baker D. Blueprinting extendable nanomaterials with standardized protein blocks. Nature 2024; 627:898-904. [PMID: 38480887 PMCID: PMC10972742 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07188-4] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
A wooden house frame consists of many different lumber pieces, but because of the regularity of these building blocks, the structure can be designed using straightforward geometrical principles. The design of multicomponent protein assemblies, in comparison, has been much more complex, largely owing to the irregular shapes of protein structures1. Here we describe extendable linear, curved and angled protein building blocks, as well as inter-block interactions, that conform to specified geometric standards; assemblies designed using these blocks inherit their extendability and regular interaction surfaces, enabling them to be expanded or contracted by varying the number of modules, and reinforced with secondary struts. Using X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy, we validate nanomaterial designs ranging from simple polygonal and circular oligomers that can be concentrically nested, up to large polyhedral nanocages and unbounded straight 'train track' assemblies with reconfigurable sizes and geometries that can be readily blueprinted. Because of the complexity of protein structures and sequence-structure relationships, it has not previously been possible to build up large protein assemblies by deliberate placement of protein backbones onto a blank three-dimensional canvas; the simplicity and geometric regularity of our design platform now enables construction of protein nanomaterials according to 'back of an envelope' architectural blueprints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy F Huddy
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yang Hsia
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ryan D Kibler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jinwei Xu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Neville Bethel
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Rachel Redler
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Philip J Y Leung
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Connor Weidle
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alexis Courbet
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Erin C Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Biological Physics, Structure and Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Asim K Bera
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nicolas Coudray
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratories, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - S John Calise
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Fatima A Davila-Hernandez
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hannah L Han
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kenneth D Carr
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Zhe Li
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ryan McHugh
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Gabriella Reggiano
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alex Kang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Banumathi Sankaran
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging, Berkeley Center for Structural Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Miles S Dickinson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brian Coventry
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - T J Brunette
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yulai Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Justas Dauparas
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew J Borst
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Damian Ekiert
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratories, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Justin M Kollman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Gira Bhabha
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratories, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Baker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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44
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Liu X, Shi Y, Liu R, Song K, Chen L. Structure of human phagocyte NADPH oxidase in the activated state. Nature 2024; 627:189-195. [PMID: 38355798 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07056-1] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Phagocyte NADPH oxidase, a protein complex with a core made up of NOX2 and p22 subunits, is responsible for transferring electrons from intracellular NADPH to extracellular oxygen1. This process generates superoxide anions that are vital for killing pathogens1. The activation of phagocyte NADPH oxidase requires membrane translocation and the binding of several cytosolic factors2. However, the exact mechanism by which cytosolic factors bind to and activate NOX2 is not well understood. Here we present the structure of the human NOX2-p22 complex activated by fragments of three cytosolic factors: p47, p67 and Rac1. The structure reveals that the p67-Rac1 complex clamps onto the dehydrogenase domain of NOX2 and induces its contraction, which stabilizes the binding of NADPH and results in a reduction of the distance between the NADPH-binding domain and the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-binding domain. Furthermore, the dehydrogenase domain docks onto the bottom of the transmembrane domain of NOX2, which reduces the distance between FAD and the inner haem. These structural rearrangements might facilitate the efficient transfer of electrons between the redox centres in NOX2 and lead to the activation of phagocyte NADPH oxidase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Beijing, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiting Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Kangcheng Song
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Beijing, China.
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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45
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Zhang Z, Li Y, Zheng L, Jin M, Wu Y, Xu R, Luo Y, Wu J, Su W, Luo S, Huang Y, Wang C, Chang Z, Jiang D, Huang J. A novel method for high level production of protein glutaminase by sfGFP tag in Bacillus subtilis. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 262:130092. [PMID: 38354920 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130092] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Protein glutaminase (PG; EC 3.5.1.44) is a novel deamidase that helps to improve functional properties of food proteins. Currently, the highest activated PG enzyme activity was 26 U/mg when recombinantly expressed via the twin-arginine translocation (Tat) pathway in Corynebacterium glutamicum. In this study, superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) was used to replace traditional signal peptides to facilitate efficient heterologous expression and secretion of Propeptide-Protein glutaminase (PP) in Bacillus subtilis. The fusion protein, sfGFP-PP, was secreted from 12 h of fermentation and reached its highest extracellular expression at 28 h, with a secretion efficiency of about 93 %. Moreover, when fusing sfGFP with PP at the N-terminus, it significantly enhances PG expression up to 26 U/mL by approximately 2.2-fold compared to conventional signal-peptides- guided PP with 11.9 U/mL. Finally, the PG enzyme activity increased from 26 U/mL to 36.9 U/mL after promoter and RBS optimization. This strategy not only provides a new approach to increase PG production as well as extracellular secretion but also offers sfGFP as an effective N-terminal tag for increased secreted production of difficult-to-express proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhang
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Yuxi Li
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Lihui Zheng
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Mingfei Jin
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Yelin Wu
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, PR China
| | - Rui Xu
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Yin Luo
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Jiajing Wu
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Wei Su
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Shijing Luo
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Yuchen Huang
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Cong Wang
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Zhongyi Chang
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Deming Jiang
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China.
| | - Jing Huang
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China.
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46
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Vacca F, Cardamone D, Andreano E, Medini D, Rappuoli R, Sala C. Deep-learning image analysis for high-throughput screening of opsono-phagocytosis-promoting monoclonal antibodies against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4807. [PMID: 38413727 PMCID: PMC10899611 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55606-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is nowadays a global health concern as bacterial pathogens are increasingly developing resistance to antibiotics. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) represent a powerful tool for addressing AMR thanks to their high specificity for pathogenic bacteria which allows sparing the microbiota, kill bacteria through complement deposition, enhance phagocytosis or inhibit bacterial adhesion to epithelial cells. Here we describe a visual opsono-phagocytosis assay which relies on confocal microscopy to measure the impact of mAbs on phagocytosis of the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae by macrophages. With respect to traditional CFU-based assays, generated images can be automatically analysed by convolutional neural networks. Our results demonstrate that confocal microscopy and deep learning-based analysis allow screening for phagocytosis-promoting mAbs against N. gonorrhoeae, even when mAbs are not purified and are expressed at low concentration. Ultimately, the flexibility of the staining protocol and of the deep-learning approach make the assay suitable for other bacterial species and cell lines where mAb activity needs to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Vacca
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery Laboratory, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Dario Cardamone
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery Laboratory, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
- Data Science for Health Laboratory, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
- University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Emanuele Andreano
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery Laboratory, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Duccio Medini
- Data Science for Health Laboratory, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Sala
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery Laboratory, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy.
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47
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Love AM, Nair NU. Specific codons control cellular resources and fitness. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk3485. [PMID: 38381824 PMCID: PMC10881034 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk3485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
As cellular engineering progresses from simply overexpressing proteins to imparting complex phenotypes through multigene expression, judicious appropriation of cellular resources is essential. Since codon use is degenerate and biased, codons may control cellular resources at a translational level. We investigate how partitioning transfer RNA (tRNA) resources by incorporating dissimilar codon usage can drastically alter interdependence of expression level and burden on the host. By isolating the effect of individual codons' use during translation elongation while eliminating confounding factors, we show that codon choice can trans-regulate fitness of the host and expression of other heterologous or native genes. We correlate specific codon usage patterns with host fitness and derive a coding scheme for multigene expression called the Codon Health Index (CHI, χ). This empirically derived coding scheme (χ) enables the design of multigene expression systems that avoid catastrophic cellular burden and is robust across several proteins and conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M. Love
- Manus Bio, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Nikhil U. Nair
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
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48
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Baugh AC, Defalco JB, Duscent-Maitland CV, Tumen-Velasquez MP, Laniohan NS, Figatner K, Hoover TR, Karls AC, Elliott KT, Neidle EL. Regulation of tricarboxylate transport and metabolism in Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0211123. [PMID: 38289138 PMCID: PMC10880598 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02111-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the significant presence of plant-derived tricarboxylic acids in some environments, few studies detail the bacterial metabolism of trans-aconitic acid (Taa) and tricarballylic acid (Tcb). In a soil bacterium, Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1, we discovered interrelated pathways for the consumption of Taa and Tcb. An intricate regulatory scheme tightly controls the transport and catabolism of both compounds and may reflect that they can be toxic inhibitors of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The genes encoding two similar LysR-type transcriptional regulators, TcuR and TclR, were clustered on the chromosome with tcuA and tcuB, genes required for Tcb consumption. The genetic organization differed from that in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, in which tcuA and tcuB form an operon with a transporter gene, tcuC. In A. baylyi, tcuC was not cotranscribed with tcuAB. Rather, tcuC was cotranscribed with a gene, designated pacI, encoding an isomerase needed for Taa consumption. TcuC appears to transport Tcb and cis-aconitic acid (Caa), the presumed product of PacI-mediated periplasmic isomerization of Taa. Two operons, tcuC-pacI and tcuAB, were transcriptionally controlled by both TcuR and TclR, which have overlapping functions. We investigated the roles of the two regulators in activating transcription of both operons in response to multiple effector compounds, including Taa, Tcb, and Caa.IMPORTANCEIngestion of Taa and Tcb by grazing livestock can cause a serious metabolic disorder called grass tetany. The disorder, which results from Tcb absorption by ruminants, focuses attention on the metabolism of tricarboxylic acids. Additional interest stems from efforts to produce tricarboxylic acids as commodity chemicals. Improved understanding of bacterial enzymes and pathways for tricarboxylic acid metabolism may contribute to new biomanufacturing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa C. Baugh
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Justin B. Defalco
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kayla Figatner
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Timothy R. Hoover
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Anna C. Karls
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Ellen L. Neidle
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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49
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Dolcemascolo R, Heras-Hernández M, Goiriz L, Montagud-Martínez R, Requena-Menéndez A, Ruiz R, Pérez-Ràfols A, Higuera-Rodríguez RA, Pérez-Ropero G, Vranken WF, Martelli T, Kaiser W, Buijs J, Rodrigo G. Repurposing the mammalian RNA-binding protein Musashi-1 as an allosteric translation repressor in bacteria. eLife 2024; 12:RP91777. [PMID: 38363283 PMCID: PMC10942595 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91777] [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: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The RNA recognition motif (RRM) is the most common RNA-binding protein domain identified in nature. However, RRM-containing proteins are only prevalent in eukaryotic phyla, in which they play central regulatory roles. Here, we engineered an orthogonal post-transcriptional control system of gene expression in the bacterium Escherichia coli with the mammalian RNA-binding protein Musashi-1, which is a stem cell marker with neurodevelopmental role that contains two canonical RRMs. In the circuit, Musashi-1 is regulated transcriptionally and works as an allosteric translation repressor thanks to a specific interaction with the N-terminal coding region of a messenger RNA and its structural plasticity to respond to fatty acids. We fully characterized the genetic system at the population and single-cell levels showing a significant fold change in reporter expression, and the underlying molecular mechanism by assessing the in vitro binding kinetics and in vivo functionality of a series of RNA mutants. The dynamic response of the system was well recapitulated by a bottom-up mathematical model. Moreover, we applied the post-transcriptional mechanism engineered with Musashi-1 to specifically regulate a gene within an operon, implement combinatorial regulation, and reduce protein expression noise. This work illustrates how RRM-based regulation can be adapted to simple organisms, thereby adding a new regulatory layer in prokaryotes for translation control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roswitha Dolcemascolo
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC – University of ValenciaPaternaSpain
- Department of Biotechnology, Polytechnic University of ValenciaValenciaSpain
| | - María Heras-Hernández
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC – University of ValenciaPaternaSpain
| | - Lucas Goiriz
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC – University of ValenciaPaternaSpain
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Polytechnic University of ValenciaValenciaSpain
| | - Roser Montagud-Martínez
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC – University of ValenciaPaternaSpain
- Department of Biotechnology, Polytechnic University of ValenciaValenciaSpain
| | | | - Raúl Ruiz
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC – University of ValenciaPaternaSpain
| | - Anna Pérez-Ràfols
- Giotto Biotech SRLSesto FiorentinoItaly
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), Department of Chemistry Ugo Schiff, Consorzio Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche di Metalloproteine (CIRMMP), University of FlorenceSesto FiorentinoItaly
| | - R Anahí Higuera-Rodríguez
- Dynamic Biosensors GmbHPlaneggGermany
- Department of Physics, Technical University of MunichGarchingGermany
| | - Guillermo Pérez-Ropero
- Ridgeview Instruments ABUppsalaSweden
- Department of Chemistry – BMC, Uppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Wim F Vranken
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
- Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels, Université Libre de Bruxelles – Vrije Universiteit BrusselBrusselsBelgium
| | | | | | - Jos Buijs
- Ridgeview Instruments ABUppsalaSweden
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Guillermo Rodrigo
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC – University of ValenciaPaternaSpain
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50
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Pal U, Bachmann D, Pelzer C, Christiansen J, Blank LM, Tiso T. A genetic toolbox to empower Paracoccus pantotrophus DSM 2944 as a metabolically versatile SynBio chassis. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:53. [PMID: 38360576 PMCID: PMC10870620 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02325-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To contribute to the discovery of new microbial strains with metabolic and physiological robustness and develop them into successful chasses, Paracoccus pantotrophus DSM 2944, a Gram-negative bacterium from the phylum Alphaproteobacteria and the family Rhodobacteraceae, was chosen. The strain possesses an innate ability to tolerate high salt concentrations. It utilizes diverse substrates, including cheap and renewable feedstocks, such as C1 and C2 compounds. Also, it can consume short-chain alkanes, predominately found in hydrocarbon-rich environments, making it a potential bioremediation agent. The demonstrated metabolic versatility, coupled with the synthesis of the biodegradable polymer polyhydroxyalkanoate, positions this microbial strain as a noteworthy candidate for advancing the principles of a circular bioeconomy. RESULTS The study aims to follow the chassis roadmap, as depicted by Calero and Nikel, and de Lorenzo, to transform wild-type P. pantotrophus DSM 2944 into a proficient SynBio (Synthetic Biology) chassis. The initial findings highlight the antibiotic resistance profile of this prospective SynBio chassis. Subsequently, the best origin of replication (ori) was identified as RK2. In contrast, the non-replicative ori R6K was selected for the development of a suicide plasmid necessary for genome integration or gene deletion. Moreover, when assessing the most effective method for gene transfer, it was observed that conjugation had superior efficiency compared to electroporation, while transformation by heat shock was ineffective. Robust host fitness was demonstrated by stable plasmid maintenance, while standardized gene expression using an array of synthetic promoters could be shown. pEMG-based scarless gene deletion was successfully adapted, allowing gene deletion and integration. The successful integration of a gene cassette for terephthalic acid degradation is showcased. The resulting strain can grow on both monomers of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), with an increased growth rate achieved through adaptive laboratory evolution. CONCLUSION The chassis roadmap for the development of P. pantotrophus DSM 2944 into a proficient SynBio chassis was implemented. The presented genetic toolkit allows genome editing and therewith the possibility to exploit Paracoccus for a myriad of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Upasana Pal
- Institute of Applied Microbiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Denise Bachmann
- Institute of Applied Microbiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Chiara Pelzer
- Institute of Applied Microbiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Julia Christiansen
- Institute of Applied Microbiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Chair of Microbiology, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Lars M Blank
- Institute of Applied Microbiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Till Tiso
- Institute of Applied Microbiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
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