1
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Schmidt L, Tüting C, Kyrilis FL, Hamdi F, Semchonok DA, Hause G, Meister A, Ihling C, Stubbs MT, Sinz A, Kastritis PL. Delineating organizational principles of the endogenous L-A virus by cryo-EM and computational analysis of native cell extracts. Commun Biol 2024; 7:557. [PMID: 38730276 PMCID: PMC11087493 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06204-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The high abundance of most viruses in infected host cells benefits their structural characterization. However, endogenous viruses are present in low copy numbers and are therefore challenging to investigate. Here, we retrieve cell extracts enriched with an endogenous virus, the yeast L-A virus. The determined cryo-EM structure discloses capsid-stabilizing cation-π stacking, widespread across viruses and within the Totiviridae, and an interplay of non-covalent interactions from ten distinct capsomere interfaces. The capsid-embedded mRNA decapping active site trench is supported by a constricting movement of two flexible opposite-facing loops. tRNA-loaded polysomes and other biomacromolecules, presumably mRNA, are found in virus proximity within the cell extract. Mature viruses participate in larger viral communities resembling their rare in-cell equivalents in terms of size, composition, and inter-virus distances. Our results collectively describe a 3D-architecture of a viral milieu, opening the door to cell-extract-based high-resolution structural virology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Schmidt
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Technical Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstraße 15, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Tüting
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany.
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3, Halle/Saale, Germany.
| | - Fotis L Kyrilis
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Farzad Hamdi
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Dmitry A Semchonok
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Gerd Hause
- Biozentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Weinbergweg 22, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Annette Meister
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Christian Ihling
- Institute of Pharmacy, Center for Structural Mass Spectrometry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Milton T Stubbs
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Andrea Sinz
- Institute of Pharmacy, Center for Structural Mass Spectrometry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Panagiotis L Kastritis
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany.
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3, Halle/Saale, Germany.
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece.
- Biozentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Weinbergweg 22, Halle/Saale, Germany.
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2
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Nonappa. Seeing the Supracolloidal Assemblies in 3D: Unraveling High-Resolution Structures Using Electron Tomography. ACS MATERIALS AU 2024; 4:238-257. [PMID: 38737122 PMCID: PMC11083119 DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialsau.3c00067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging has revolutionized modern materials science, nanotechnology, and structural biology. Its ability to provide information about materials' structure, composition, and properties at atomic-level resolution has enabled groundbreaking discoveries and the development of innovative materials with precision and accuracy. Electron tomography, single particle reconstruction, and microcrystal electron diffraction techniques have paved the way for the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of biological samples, synthetic materials, and hybrid nanostructures at near atomic-level resolution. TEM tomography using a series of two-dimensional (2D) projections has been used extensively in biological science, but in recent years it has become an important method in synthetic nanomaterials and soft matter research. TEM tomography offers unprecedented morphological details of 3D objects, internal structures, packing patterns, growth mechanisms, and self-assembly pathways of self-assembled colloidal systems. It complements other analytical tools, including small-angle X-ray scattering, and provides valuable data for computational simulations for predictive design and reverse engineering of nanomaterials with the desired structure and properties. In this perspective, I will discuss the importance of TEM tomography in the structural understanding and engineering of self-assembled nanostructures with specific emphasis on colloidal capsids, composite cages, biohybrid superlattices with complex geometries, polymer assemblies, and self-assembled protein-based superstructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nonappa
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural
Sciences, Tampere University, FI-33720 Tampere, Finland
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3
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Wu Z, Bayón JL, Kouznetsova TB, Ouchi T, Barkovich KJ, Hsu SK, Craig SL, Steinmetz NF. Virus-like Particles Armored by an Endoskeleton. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:2989-2997. [PMID: 38294951 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Many virus-like particles (VLPs) have good chemical, thermal, and mechanical stabilities compared to those of other biologics. However, their stability needs to be improved for the commercialization and use in translation of VLP-based materials. We developed an endoskeleton-armored strategy for enhancing VLP stability. Specifically, the VLPs of physalis mottle virus (PhMV) and Qβ were used to demonstrate this concept. We built an internal polymer "backbone" using a maleimide-PEG15-maleimide cross-linker to covalently interlink viral coat proteins inside the capsid cavity, while the native VLPs are held together by only noncovalent bonding between subunits. Endoskeleton-armored VLPs exhibited significantly improved thermal stability (95 °C for 15 min), increased resistance to denaturants (i.e., surfactants, pHs, chemical denaturants, and organic solvents), and enhanced mechanical performance. Single-molecule force spectroscopy demonstrated a 6-fold increase in rupture distance and a 1.9-fold increase in rupture force of endoskeleton-armored PhMV. Overall, this endoskeleton-armored strategy provides more opportunities for the development and applications of materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuohong Wu
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Shu and K. C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jorge L Bayón
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Shu and K. C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Tatiana B Kouznetsova
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Tetsu Ouchi
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Krister J Barkovich
- Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Shu and K. C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Sean K Hsu
- Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Shu and K. C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Stephen L Craig
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Nicole F Steinmetz
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Shu and K. C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Institute for Materials Discovery and Design, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Center for Engineering in Cancer, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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4
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Wei WS, Trubiano A, Sigl C, Paquay S, Dietz H, Hagan MF, Fraden S. Hierarchical assembly is more robust than egalitarian assembly in synthetic capsids. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2312775121. [PMID: 38324570 PMCID: PMC10873614 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312775121] [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: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Self-assembly of complex and functional materials remains a grand challenge in soft material science. Efficient assembly depends on a delicate balance between thermodynamic and kinetic effects, requiring fine-tuning affinities and concentrations of subunits. By contrast, we introduce an assembly paradigm that allows large error-tolerance in the subunit affinity and helps avoid kinetic traps. Our combined experimental and computational approach uses a model system of triangular subunits programmed to assemble into T = 3 icosahedral capsids comprising 60 units. The experimental platform uses DNA origami to create monodisperse colloids whose three-dimensional geometry is controlled to nanometer precision, with two distinct bonds whose affinities are controlled to kBT precision, quantified in situ by static light scattering. The computational model uses a coarse-grained representation of subunits, short-ranged potentials, and Langevin dynamics. Experimental observations and modeling reveal that when the bond affinities are unequal, two distinct hierarchical assembly pathways occur, in which the subunits first form dimers in one case and pentamers in another. These hierarchical pathways produce complete capsids faster and are more robust against affinity variation than egalitarian pathways, in which all binding sites have equal strengths. This finding suggests that hierarchical assembly may be a general engineering principle for optimizing self-assembly of complex target structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Shao Wei
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02453
- Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02453
| | - Anthony Trubiano
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02453
- Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02453
| | - Christian Sigl
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Nanotechnology, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, Garching85748, Germany
- Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching85748, Germany
| | - Stefan Paquay
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02453
- Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02453
| | - Hendrik Dietz
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Nanotechnology, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, Garching85748, Germany
- Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching85748, Germany
| | - Michael F. Hagan
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02453
- Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02453
| | - Seth Fraden
- Martin A. Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02453
- Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA02453
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5
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Brown C, Agarwal A, Luque A. pyCapsid: identifying dominant dynamics and quasi-rigid mechanical units in protein shells. Bioinformatics 2024; 40:btad761. [PMID: 38113434 PMCID: PMC10786678 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btad761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
SUMMARY pyCapsid is a Python package developed to facilitate the characterization of the dynamics and quasi-rigid mechanical units of protein shells and other protein complexes. The package was developed in response to the rapid increase of high-resolution structures, particularly capsids of viruses, requiring multiscale biophysical analyses. Given a protein shell, pyCapsid generates the collective vibrations of its amino-acid residues, identifies quasi-rigid mechanical regions associated with the disassembly of the structure, and maps the results back to the input proteins for interpretation. pyCapsid summarizes the main results in a report that includes publication-quality figures. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION pyCapsid's source code is available under MIT License on GitHub. It is compatible with Python 3.8-3.10 and has been deployed in two leading Python package-management systems, PIP and Conda. Installation instructions and tutorials are available in the online documentation and in the pyCapsid's YouTube playlist. In addition, a cloud-based implementation of pyCapsid is available as a Google Colab notebook. pyCapsid Colab does not require installation and generates the same report and outputs as the installable version. Users can post issues regarding pyCapsid in the repository's issues section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Brown
- Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92116, United States
- Department of Physics, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92116, United States
| | - Anuradha Agarwal
- Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92116, United States
- Computational Science Research Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92116, United States
| | - Antoni Luque
- Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92116, United States
- Computational Science Research Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92116, United States
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92116, United States
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States
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6
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Feng Y, Roos WH. Atomic Force Microscopy: An Introduction. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2694:295-316. [PMID: 37824010 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3377-9_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Imaging of nano-sized particles and sample features is crucial in a variety of research fields, for instance, in biological sciences, where it is paramount to investigate structures at the single particle level. Often, two-dimensional images are not sufficient, and further information such as topography and mechanical properties are required. Furthermore, to increase the biological relevance, it is desired to perform the imaging in close to physiological environments. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) meets these demands in an all-in-one instrument. It provides high-resolution images including surface height information leading to three-dimensional information on sample morphology. AFM can be operated both in air and in buffer solutions. Moreover, it has the capacity to determine protein and membrane material properties via the force spectroscopy mode. Here we discuss the principles of AFM operation and provide examples of how biomolecules can be studied. New developments in AFM are discussed, and by including approaches such as bimodal AFM and high-speed AFM (HS-AFM), we show how AFM can be used to study a variety of static and dynamic single biomolecules and biomolecular assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhen Feng
- Moleculaire Biofysica, Zernike instituut, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Wouter H Roos
- Moleculaire Biofysica, Zernike instituut, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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7
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Cantero M, Cvirkaite-Krupovic V, Krupovic M, de Pablo PJ. Mechanical tomography of an archaeal lemon-shaped virus reveals membrane-like fluidity of the capsid and liquid nucleoprotein cargo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2307717120. [PMID: 37824526 PMCID: PMC10589707 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307717120] [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: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Archaeal lemon-shaped viruses have unique helical capsids composed of highly hydrophobic protein strands which can slide past each other resulting in remarkable morphological reorganization. Here, using atomic force microscopy, we explore the biomechanical properties of the lemon-shaped virions of Sulfolobus monocaudavirus 1 (SMV1), a double-stranded DNA virus which infects hyperthermophilic (~80 °C) and acidophilic (pH ~ 2) archaea. Our results reveal that SMV1 virions are extremely soft and withstand repeated extensive deformations, reaching remarkable strains of 80% during multiple cycles of consecutive mechanical assaults, yet showing scarce traces of disruption. SMV1 virions can reversibly collapse wall-to-wall, reducing their volume by ~90%. Beyond revealing the exceptional malleability of the SMV1 protein shell, our data also suggest a fluid-like nucleoprotein cargo which can flow inside the capsid, resisting and accommodating mechanical deformations without further alteration. Our experiments suggest a packing fraction of the virus core to be as low as 11%, with the amount of the accessory proteins almost four times exceeding that of the viral genome. Our findings indicate that SMV1 protein capsid displays biomechanical properties of lipid membranes, which is not found among protein capsids of other viruses. The remarkable malleability and fluidity of the SMV1 virions are likely necessary for the structural transformations during the infection and adaptation to extreme environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Cantero
- Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada C03, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid28049, Spain
| | | | - Mart Krupovic
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris75015, France
| | - Pedro J. de Pablo
- Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada C03, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid28049, Spain
- Instituto de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid28049, Spain
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8
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Su Y, Liu B, Huang Z, Teng Z, Yang L, Zhu J, Huo S, Liu A. Virus-like particles nanoreactors: from catalysis towards bio-applications. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:9084-9098. [PMID: 37697810 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb01112g] [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: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are self-assembled supramolecular structures found in nature, often used for compartmentalization. Exploiting their inherent properties, including precise nanoscale structures, monodispersity, and high stability, these architectures have been widely used as nanocarriers to protect or enrich catalysts, facilitating catalytic reactions and avoiding interference from the bulk solutions. In this review, we summarize the current progress of virus-like particles (VLPs)-based nanoreactors. First, we briefly introduce the physicochemical properties of the most commonly used virus particles to understand their roles in catalytic reactions beyond the confined space. Next, we summarize the self-assembly of nanoreactors forming higher-order hierarchical structures, highlighting the emerging field of nanoreactors as artificial organelles and their potential biomedical applications. Finally, we discuss the current findings and future perspectives of VLPs-based nanoreactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Su
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Beibei Liu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Zhenkun Huang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Zihao Teng
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Liulin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, P. R. China
| | - Jie Zhu
- National-Local Joint Engineering Research and High-Quality Utilization, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
| | - Shuaidong Huo
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
| | - Aijie Liu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
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9
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Borodavka A, Acker J. Seeing Biomolecular Condensates Through the Lens of Viruses. Annu Rev Virol 2023; 10:163-182. [PMID: 37040799 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-111821-103226] [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: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Phase separation of viral biopolymers is a key factor in the formation of cytoplasmic viral inclusions, known as sites of virus replication and assembly. This review describes the mechanisms and factors that affect phase separation in viral replication and identifies potential areas for future research. Drawing inspiration from studies on cellular RNA-rich condensates, we compare the hierarchical coassembly of ribosomal RNAs and proteins in the nucleolus to the coordinated coassembly of viral RNAs and proteins taking place within viral factories in viruses containing segmented RNA genomes. We highlight the common characteristics of biomolecular condensates in viral replication and how this new understanding is reshaping our views of virus assembly mechanisms. Such studies have the potential to uncover unexplored antiviral strategies targeting these phase-separated states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Borodavka
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
| | - Julia Acker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
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10
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Clark AB, Safdari M, Zoorob S, Zandi R, van der Schoot P. Relaxational dynamics of the T-number conversion of virus capsids. J Chem Phys 2023; 159:084904. [PMID: 37610017 DOI: 10.1063/5.0160822] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
We extend a recently proposed kinetic theory of virus capsid assembly based on Model A kinetics and study the dynamics of the interconversion of virus capsids of different sizes triggered by a quench, that is, by sudden changes in the solution conditions. The work is inspired by in vitro experiments on functionalized coat proteins of the plant virus cowpea chlorotic mottle virus, which undergo a reversible transition between two different shell sizes (T = 1 and T = 3) upon changing the acidity and salinity of the solution. We find that the relaxation dynamics are governed by two time scales that, in almost all cases, can be identified as two distinct processes. Initially, the monomers and one of the two types of capsids respond to the quench. Subsequently, the monomer concentration remains essentially constant, and the conversion between the two capsid species completes. In the intermediate stages, a long-lived metastable steady state may present itself, where the thermodynamically less stable species predominate. We conclude that a Model A based relaxational model can reasonably describe the early and intermediate stages of the conversion experiments. However, it fails to provide a good representation of the time evolution of the state of assembly of the coat proteins in the very late stages of equilibration when one of the two species disappears from the solution. It appears that explicitly incorporating the nucleation barriers to assembly and disassembly is crucial for an accurate description of the experimental findings, at least under conditions where these barriers are sufficiently large.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Bryan Clark
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Mohammadamin Safdari
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Selim Zoorob
- Biophysics Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Roya Zandi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
- Biophysics Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
| | - Paul van der Schoot
- Department of Applied Physics and Science Education, Eindhoven University of Technology, Postbus 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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11
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Fernandez de la Mora J, Almazán F, Rodríguez JM. Spontaneous Interconversion between Different Narrowly Defined Shapes of Rotavirus Double-Layered Particles Studied in Real Time by High-Resolution Mobility Analysis. Anal Chem 2023; 95:11483-11490. [PMID: 37463035 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Rotavirus double-layered particles (DLPs) are studied in the gas phase with a high-resolution differential mobility analyzer (DMA). DLPs were transferred to 10 mM aqueous ammonium acetate, electrosprayed into the gas phase, converted into primarily singly charged particles, and DMA-analyzed. Up to seven slightly different conformations were resolved, whose apparently random, fast (minutes), and reversible interconversions were followed in real time. They sometimes evolved into just two distinct structures, with periods of one dominating over the other and vice versa. Differences between the DLP structures in solution and in the gas phase are clearly revealed by the smaller DLP diameter found here (60 versus 70 nm). Nevertheless, we argue that the multiple gas-phase conformers observed originate in as many conformations pre-existing in solution. We further hypothesize that these conformers correspond to incomplete DLPs having lost some of the VP6 trimer quintets surrounding each of the 12 5-fold axes. Instances of this peculiar loss have been previously documented by cryoelectron microscopy for the rotavirus Wa strain, as well as via charge detection mass spectrometry for five other rotavirus strains included in the RotaTec vaccine. Evidence of this loss systematically found for all 7 rotavirus types so far studied in aqueous ammonium acetate may be a special feature of this electrolyte.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Fernandez de la Mora
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Yale University, 9 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8286, United States
| | - Fernando Almazán
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), CSIC, Darwin 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier M Rodríguez
- Department of Macromolecular Structures, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), CSIC, Darwin 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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12
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Maksudov F, Kliuchnikov E, Marx KA, Purohit PK, Barsegov V. Mechanical fatigue testing in silico: Dynamic evolution of material properties of nanoscale biological particles. Acta Biomater 2023; 166:326-345. [PMID: 37142109 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.04.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Biological particles have evolved to possess mechanical characteristics necessary to carry out their functions. We developed a computational approach to "fatigue testing in silico", in which constant-amplitude cyclic loading is applied to a particle to explore its mechanobiology. We used this approach to describe dynamic evolution of nanomaterial properties and low-cycle fatigue in the thin spherical encapsulin shell, thick spherical Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus (CCMV) capsid, and thick cylindrical microtubule (MT) fragment over 20 cycles of deformation. Changing structures and force-deformation curves enabled us to describe their damage-dependent biomechanics (strength, deformability, stiffness), thermodynamics (released and dissipated energies, enthalpy, and entropy) and material properties (toughness). Thick CCMV and MT particles experience material fatigue due to slow recovery and damage accumulation over 3-5 loading cycles; thin encapsulin shells show little fatigue due to rapid remodeling and limited damage. The results obtained challenge the existing paradigm: damage in biological particles is partially reversible owing to particle's partial recovery; fatigue crack may or may not grow with each loading cycle and may heal; and particles adapt to deformation amplitude and frequency to minimize the energy dissipated. Using crack size to quantitate damage is problematic as several cracks might form simultaneously in a particle. Dynamic evolution of strength, deformability, and stiffness, can be predicted by analyzing the cycle number (N) dependent damage, [Formula: see text] , where α is a power law and Nf is fatigue life. Fatigue testing in silico can now be used to explore damage-induced changes in the material properties of other biological particles. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Biological particles possess mechanical characteristics necessary to perform their functions. We developed "fatigue testing in silico" approach, which employes Langevin Dynamics simulations of constant-amplitude cyclic loading of nanoscale biological particles, to explore dynamic evolution of the mechanical, energetic, and material properties of the thin and thick spherical particles of encapsulin and Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus, and the microtubule filament fragment. Our study of damage growth and fatigue development challenge the existing paradigm. Damage in biological particles is partially reversible as fatigue crack might heal with each loading cycle. Particles adapt to deformation amplitude and frequency to minimize energy dissipation. The evolution of strength, deformability, and stiffness, can be accurately predicted by analyzing the damage growth in particle structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farkhad Maksudov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01854, United States
| | - Evgenii Kliuchnikov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01854, United States
| | - Kenneth A Marx
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01854, United States
| | - Prashant K Purohit
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, PA, United States
| | - Valeri Barsegov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01854, United States.
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13
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Laguna-Castro M, Rodríguez-Moreno A, Llorente E, Lázaro E. The balance between fitness advantages and costs drives adaptation of bacteriophage Qβ to changes in host density at different temperatures. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1197085. [PMID: 37303783 PMCID: PMC10248866 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1197085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Host density is one of the main factors affecting the infective capacity of viruses. When host density is low, it is more difficult for the virus to find a susceptible cell, which increases its probability of being damaged by the physicochemical agents of the environment. Nevertheless, viruses can adapt to variations in host density through different strategies that depend on the particular characteristics of the life cycle of each virus. In a previous work, using the bacteriophage Qβ as an experimental model, we found that when bacterial density was lower than optimal the virus increased its capacity to penetrate into the bacteria through a mutation in the minor capsid protein (A1) that is not described to interact with the cell receptor. Results Here we show that the adaptive pathway followed by Qβ in the face of similar variations in host density depends on environmental temperature. When the value for this parameter is lower than optimal (30°C), the mutation selected is the same as at the optimal temperature (37°C). However, when temperature increases to 43°C, the mutation selected is located in a different protein (A2), which is involved both in the interaction with the cell receptor and in the process of viral progeny release. The new mutation increases the entry of the phage into the bacteria at the three temperatures assayed. However, it also considerably increases the latent period at 30 and 37°C, which is probably the reason why it is not selected at these temperatures. Conclusion The conclusion is that the adaptive strategies followed by bacteriophage Qβ, and probably other viruses, in the face of variations in host density depend not only on their advantages at this selective pressure, but also on the fitness costs that particular mutations may present in function of the rest of environmental parameters that influence viral replication and stability.
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14
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Xiao K, Ma R, Wu CX. Wrapping dynamics and critical conditions for active nonspherical nanoparticle uptake. Phys Rev E 2023; 107:054401. [PMID: 37329073 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.107.054401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The cellular uptake of self-propelled nonspherical nanoparticles (NPs) or viruses by cell membrane is crucial in many biological processes, but its universal dynamics have yet to be elucidated. In this study, using the Onsager variational principle, we obtain a general wrapping equation for nonspherical self-propelled nanoparticles. Two analytical critical conditions are theoretically found, indicating a continuous full uptake for prolate particles and a snapthrough full uptake for oblate particles. They precisely capture the full uptake critical boundaries in the phase diagrams numerically constructed in terms of active force, aspect ratio, adhesion energy density, and membrane tension. It is found that enhancing activity (active force), reducing effective dynamic viscosity, increasing adhesion energy density, and decreasing membrane tension can significantly improve the wrapping efficiency of the self-propelled nonspherical nanoparticles. These results give a panoramic view of the uptake dynamics of active nonspherical nanoparticles, and may offer instructions for designing an effective active NP-based vehicle for controlled drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Xiao
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325016, People's Republic of China and Department of Physics, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Ma
- Fujian Provincial Key Lab for Soft Functional Materials Research, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Department of Physics, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen-Xu Wu
- Fujian Provincial Key Lab for Soft Functional Materials Research, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Department of Physics, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China
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15
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Hajiaghapour Asr M, Dayani F, Saedi Segherloo F, Kamedi A, Neill AO, MacLoughlin R, Doroudian M. Lipid Nanoparticles as Promising Carriers for mRNA Vaccines for Viral Lung Infections. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041127. [PMID: 37111613 PMCID: PMC10146241 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been an increase in deaths due to infectious diseases, most notably in the context of viral respiratory pathogens. Consequently, the focus has shifted in the search for new therapies, with attention being drawn to the use of nanoparticles in mRNA vaccines for targeted delivery to improve the efficacy of these vaccines. Notably, mRNA vaccine technologies denote as a new era in vaccination due to their rapid, potentially inexpensive, and scalable development. Although they do not pose a risk of integration into the genome and are not produced from infectious elements, they do pose challenges, including exposing naked mRNAs to extracellular endonucleases. Therefore, with the development of nanotechnology, we can further improve their efficacy. Nanoparticles, with their nanometer dimensions, move more freely in the body and, due to their small size, have unique physical and chemical properties. The best candidates for vaccine mRNA transfer are lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), which are stable and biocompatible and contain four components: cationic lipids, ionizable lipids, polyethylene glycols (PEGs), and cholesterol, which are used to facilitate cytoplasmic mRNA delivery. In this article, the components and delivery system of mRNA-LNP vaccines against viral lung infections such as influenza, coronavirus, and respiratory syncytial virus are reviewed. Moreover, we provide a succinct overview of current challenges and potential future directions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mena Hajiaghapour Asr
- Department of Cell and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran 1571914911, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Dayani
- Department of Cell and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran 1571914911, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Saedi Segherloo
- Department of Cell and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran 1571914911, Iran
| | - Ali Kamedi
- Department of Cell and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran 1571914911, Iran
| | - Andrew O’ Neill
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Tallaght University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ronan MacLoughlin
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
- Research and Development, Science and Emerging Technologies, Aerogen Limited, Galway Business Park, H91 HE94 Galway, Ireland
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mohammad Doroudian
- Department of Cell and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran 1571914911, Iran
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Tallaght University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
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16
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Radiom M, Keys T, Turgay Y, Ali A, Preet S, Chesnov S, Lutz-Bueno V, Slack E, Mezzenga R. Mechanical tuning of virus-like particles. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 634:963-971. [PMID: 36571858 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.12.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Virus-like particles (VLPs) are promising scaffolds for developing mucosal vaccines. For their optimal performance, in addition to design parameters from an immunological perspective, biophysical properties may need to be considered. EXPERIMENTS We investigated the mechanical properties of VLPs scaffolded on the coat protein of Acinetobacter phage AP205 using atomic force microscopy and small angle X-ray scattering. FINDINGS Investigations showed that AP205 VLP is a tough nanoshell of stiffness 93 ± 23 pN/nm and elastic modulus 0.11 GPa. However, its mechanical properties are modulated by attaching muco-inert polyethylene glycol to 46 ± 10 pN/nm and 0.05 GPa. Addition of antigenic peptides derived from SARS-CoV2 spike protein by genetic fusion increased the stiffness to 146 ± 54 pN/nm although the elastic modulus remained unchanged. These results, which are interpreted in terms of shell thickness and coat protein net charge variations, demonstrate that surface conjugation can induce appreciable changes in the biophysical properties of VLP-scaffolded vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Radiom
- Laboratory of Food Immunology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; Laboratory of Food and Soft Materials, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Tim Keys
- Laboratory of Food Immunology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Yagmur Turgay
- Laboratory of Food Immunology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ahmed Ali
- Laboratory of Food Immunology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Swapan Preet
- Laboratory of Food Immunology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Serge Chesnov
- University of Zürich/ETH Zürich, Functional Genomics Centre Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Emma Slack
- Laboratory of Food Immunology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Raffaele Mezzenga
- Laboratory of Food and Soft Materials, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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17
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Melnyk A, Kozarov L, Wachsmann-Hogiu S. A deconvolution approach to modelling surges in COVID-19 cases and deaths. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2361. [PMID: 36759700 PMCID: PMC9910232 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29198-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to emphasize the importance of epidemiological modelling in guiding timely and systematic responses to public health threats. Nonetheless, the predictive qualities of these models remain limited by their underlying assumptions of the factors and determinants shaping national and regional disease landscapes. Here, we introduce epidemiological feature detection, a novel latent variable mixture modelling approach to extracting and parameterizing distinct and localized features of real-world trends in daily COVID-19 cases and deaths. In this approach, we combine methods of peak deconvolution that are commonly used in spectroscopy with the susceptible-infected-recovered-deceased model of disease transmission. We analyze the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, Canada, and Germany and find that the lag time between reported cases and deaths, which we term case-death latency, is closely correlated with adjusted case fatality rates across these countries. Our findings illustrate the spatiotemporal variability of both these disease metrics within and between different disease landscapes. They also highlight the complex relationship between case-death latency, adjusted case fatality rate, and COVID-19 management across various degrees of decentralized governments and administrative structures, which provides a retrospective framework for responding to future pandemics and disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Melnyk
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, 3480 Rue University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0E9, Canada.
| | - Lena Kozarov
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, 3480 Rue University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0E9, Canada
| | - Sebastian Wachsmann-Hogiu
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, 3480 Rue University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0E9, Canada.
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18
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Shen L, Cao S, Wang Y, Zhou P, Wang S, Zhao Y, Meng L, Zhang Q, Li Y, Xu X, Yuan Q, Li J. Self-Adaptive Antibacterial Scaffold with Programmed Delivery of Osteogenic Peptide and Lysozyme for Infected Bone Defect Treatment. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:626-637. [PMID: 36541416 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c19026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Bone defects caused by disease or trauma are often accompanied by infection, which severely disrupts the normal function of bone tissue at the defect site. Biomaterials that can simultaneously reduce inflammation and promote osteogenesis are effective tools for addressing this problem. In this study, we set up a programmed delivery platform based on a chitosan scaffold to enhance its osteogenic activity and prevent implant-related infections. In brief, the osteogenic peptide sequence (YGFGG) was modified onto the surface of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) to form CCMV-YGFGG nanoparticles. CCMV-YGFGG exhibited good biocompatibility and osteogenic ability in vitro. Then, CCMV-YGFGG and lysozyme were loaded on the chitosan scaffold, which exhibited a good antibacterial effect and promoted bone regeneration for infected bone defect treatment. As a delivery platform, the scaffold showed staged release of lysozyme and CCMV-YGFGG, which facilitates the regeneration of infected bone defects. Our study provides a novel and promising strategy for the treatment of infected bone defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luxuan Shen
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Shuqin Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Yuemin Wang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Pei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Shuaibing Wang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Yao Zhao
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Lingzhuang Meng
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Quan Zhang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Yanyan Li
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Xinyuan Xu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Quan Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Jianshu Li
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
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19
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Depta PN, Dosta M, Wenzel W, Kozlowska M, Heinrich S. Hierarchical Coarse-Grained Strategy for Macromolecular Self-Assembly: Application to Hepatitis B Virus-Like Particles. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314699. [PMID: 36499027 PMCID: PMC9740473 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Macromolecular self-assembly is at the basis of many phenomena in material and life sciences that find diverse applications in technology. One example is the formation of virus-like particles (VLPs) that act as stable empty capsids used for drug delivery or vaccine fabrication. Similarly to the capsid of a virus, VLPs are protein assemblies, but their structural formation, stability, and properties are not fully understood, especially as a function of the protein modifications. In this work, we present a data-driven modeling approach for capturing macromolecular self-assembly on scales beyond traditional molecular dynamics (MD), while preserving the chemical specificity. Each macromolecule is abstracted as an anisotropic object and high-dimensional models are formulated to describe interactions between molecules and with the solvent. For this, data-driven protein-protein interaction potentials are derived using a Kriging-based strategy, built on high-throughput MD simulations. Semi-automatic supervised learning is employed in a high performance computing environment and the resulting specialized force-fields enable a significant speed-up to the micrometer and millisecond scale, while maintaining high intermolecular detail. The reported generic framework is applied for the first time to capture the formation of hepatitis B VLPs from the smallest building unit, i.e., the dimer of the core protein HBcAg. Assembly pathways and kinetics are analyzed and compared to the available experimental observations. We demonstrate that VLP self-assembly phenomena and dependencies are now possible to be simulated. The method developed can be used for the parameterization of other macromolecules, enabling a molecular understanding of processes impossible to be attained with other theoretical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Nicolas Depta
- Institute of Solids Process Engineering and Particle Technology (SPE), Hamburg University of Technology, 21073 Hamburg, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Maksym Dosta
- Institute of Solids Process Engineering and Particle Technology (SPE), Hamburg University of Technology, 21073 Hamburg, Germany
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co Kg., 88400 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wenzel
- Institute of Nanotechnology (INT), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Mariana Kozlowska
- Institute of Nanotechnology (INT), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Stefan Heinrich
- Institute of Solids Process Engineering and Particle Technology (SPE), Hamburg University of Technology, 21073 Hamburg, Germany
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20
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Becchi M, Capelli R, Perego C, Pavan GM, Micheletti C. Density-tunable pathway complexity in a minimalistic self-assembly model. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:8106-8116. [PMID: 36239129 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00968d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
An open challenge in self-assembly is learning how to design systems that can be conditionally guided towards different target structures depending on externally-controlled conditions. Using a theoretical and numerical approach, here we discuss a minimalistic self-assembly model that can be steered towards different types of ordered constructs at the equilibrium by solely tuning a facile selection parameter, namely the density of building blocks. Metadynamics and Langevin dynamics simulations allow us to explore the behavior of the system in and out of equilibrium conditions. We show that the density-driven tunability is encoded in the pathway complexity of the system, and specifically in the competition between two different main self-assembly routes. A comprehensive set of simulations provides insight into key factors allowing to make one self-assembling pathway prevailing on the other (or vice versa), determining the selection of the final self-assembled products. We formulate and validate a practical criterion for checking whether a specific molecular design is predisposed for such density-driven tunability of the products, thus offering a new, broader perspective to realize and harness this facile extrinsic control of conditional self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Becchi
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati - SISSA, via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Riccardo Capelli
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy.
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Giovanni Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Claudio Perego
- Department of Innovative Technologies, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Polo Universitario Lugano, Campus Est, Via la Santa 1, 6962 Lugano-Viganello, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni M Pavan
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy.
- Department of Innovative Technologies, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Polo Universitario Lugano, Campus Est, Via la Santa 1, 6962 Lugano-Viganello, Switzerland
| | - Cristian Micheletti
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati - SISSA, via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy.
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21
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Stability and conformational memory of electrosprayed and rehydrated bacteriophage MS2 virus coat proteins. Curr Res Struct Biol 2022; 4:338-348. [PMID: 36440379 PMCID: PMC9685359 DOI: 10.1016/j.crstbi.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteins are innately dynamic, which is important for their functions, but which also poses significant challenges when studying their structures. Gas-phase techniques can utilise separation and a range of sample manipulations to transcend some of the limitations of conventional techniques for structural biology in crystalline or solution phase, and isolate different states for separate interrogation. However, the transfer from solution to the gas phase risks affecting the structures, and it is unclear to what extent different conformations remain distinct in the gas phase, and if resolution in silico can recover the native conformations and their differences. Here, we use extensive molecular dynamics simulations to study the two distinct conformations of dimeric capsid protein of the MS2 bacteriophage. The protein undergoes notable restructuring of its peripheral parts in the gas phase, but subsequent simulation in solvent largely recovers the native structure. Our results suggest that despite some structural loss due to the experimental conditions, gas-phase structural biology techniques provide meaningful data that inform not only about the structures but also conformational dynamics of proteins. Presented extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulation data investigating protein vacuum exposure and rehydration dynamics. Demonstrated that the majority of the protein structure recovers their initial solution conformation after vacuum exposure. Explored the potential gain for structural biology of using MD simulation to refine gas-phase determined protein structures.
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22
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Xiao K, Ma R, Wu CX. Force-induced wrapping phase transition in activated cellular uptake. Phys Rev E 2022; 106:044411. [PMID: 36397463 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.106.044411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular pathogens, including all viruses and many bacteria, enter a host cell through either passive endocytosis or active self-propulsion. Though the cellular uptake of passive particles via endocytic process has been studied extensively, little work has been done on the active entry of self-propelled pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes. Here, we present a theoretical model to investigate the adhesive wrapping of a self-propelled particle by a plasma membrane, and find a type of first-order wrapping transition from a small partial wrapping state to a large partial wrapping state triggered by the active force. The phase diagram displays more complex behaviors compared with the passive wrapping mediated merely by adhesion. We also find that a tubular protrusion can be formed if the active force exceeds a force barrier. These results may provide a useful guidance to the study of activity-driven cellular entry of active particles into cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Xiao
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325016, People's Republic of China and Department of Physics, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Ma
- Fujian Provincial Key Lab for Soft Functional Materials Research, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Department of Physics, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen-Xu Wu
- Fujian Provincial Key Lab for Soft Functional Materials Research, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Department of Physics, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China
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23
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Mizrahi I, Bruinsma R, Rudnick J. Spanning tree model and the assembly kinetics of RNA viruses. Phys Rev E 2022; 106:044405. [PMID: 36397584 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.106.044405] [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: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses self-assemble spontaneously in solutions that contain the viral RNA genome molecules and viral capsid proteins. The self-assembly of empty capsids can be understood on the basis of free energy minimization. However, during the self-assembly of complete viral particles in the cytoplasm of an infected cell, the viral genome molecules must be selected from a large pool of very similar host messenger RNA molecules and it is not known whether this also can be understood by free energy minimization. We address this question using a simple mathematical model, the spanning tree model, that was recently proposed for the assembly of small ssRNA viruses. We present a statistical physics analysis of the properties of this model. RNA selection takes place via a kinetic mechanism that operates during the formation of the nucleation complex and that is related to Hopfield kinetic proofreading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inbal Mizrahi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Robijn Bruinsma
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Joseph Rudnick
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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24
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Abstract
Melting in two-dimensional flat space is typically two-step and via the hexatic phase. How melting proceeds on a curved surface, however, is not known. Topology mandates that crystalline particle assemblies on these surfaces harbor a finite density of defects, which itself can be ordered, like the icosahedral ordering of 5-coordinated disclination defects on a sphere. Thus, melting even on a sphere, the simplest closed surface, involves the loss of both crystalline and defect order. Probing the interplay of these two forms of order, however, requires a system in which melting can be performed in situ, and this has not been achieved hitherto. Here, by tuning interparticle interactions in situ, we report an observation of an intermediate hexatic phase during the melting of colloidal crystals on a sphere. Remarkably, we observed a precipitous drop in icosahedral defect order in the hexatic phase where the shear modulus is expected to vanish. Furthermore, unlike in flat space, where disorder can fundamentally alter the nature of the melting process, on the sphere, we observed the signature characteristics of ideal melting. Our findings have profound implications for understanding, for instance, the self-assembly and maturation dynamics of viral capsids and also phase transitions on curved surfaces.
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25
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Miller JE, Srinivasan Y, Dharmaraj NP, Liu A, Nguyen PL, Taylor SD, Yeates TO. Designing Protease-Triggered Protein Cages. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:12681-12689. [PMID: 35802879 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c02165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Proteins that self-assemble into enclosed polyhedral cages, both naturally and by design, are garnering attention for their prospective utility in the fields of medicine and biotechnology. Notably, their potential for encapsulation and surface display are attractive for experiments that require protection and targeted delivery of cargo. The ability to control their opening or disassembly would greatly advance the development of protein nanocages into widespread molecular tools. Toward the development of protein cages that disassemble in a systematic manner and in response to biologically relevant stimuli, here we demonstrate a modular protein cage system that is opened by highly sequence-specific proteases, based on sequence insertions at strategically chosen loop positions in the protein cage subunits. We probed the generality of the approach in the context of protein cages built using the two prevailing methods of construction: genetic fusion between oligomeric components and (non-covalent) computational interface design between oligomeric components. Our results suggest that the former type of cage may be more amenable than the latter for endowing proteolytically controlled disassembly. We show that a successfully designed cage system, based on oligomeric fusion, is modular with regard to its triggering protease. One version of the cage is targeted by an asparagine protease implicated in cancer and Alzheimer's disease, whereas the second version is responsive to the blood-clotting protease, thrombin. The approach demonstrated here should guide future efforts to develop therapeutic vectors to treat disease states where protease induction or mis-regulation occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin E Miller
- UCLA Molecular Biology Institute, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095-1570, United States.,UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095-1570, United States
| | - Yashes Srinivasan
- UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Nithin P Dharmaraj
- UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Andrew Liu
- UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Phillip L Nguyen
- UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Scott D Taylor
- UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Todd O Yeates
- UCLA Molecular Biology Institute, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095-1570, United States.,UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095-1570, United States.,UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
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26
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Timmermans SBPE, Ramezani A, Montalvo T, Nguyen M, van der Schoot P, van Hest JCM, Zandi R. The Dynamics of Viruslike Capsid Assembly and Disassembly. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:12608-12612. [PMID: 35792573 PMCID: PMC9305980 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c04074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Cowpea chlorotic
mottle virus (CCMV) is a widely used model for
virus replication studies. A major challenge lies in distinguishing
between the roles of the interaction between coat proteins and that
between the coat proteins and the viral RNA in assembly and disassembly
processes. Here, we report on the spontaneous and reversible size
conversion of the empty capsids of a CCMV capsid protein functionalized
with a hydrophobic elastin-like polypeptide which occurs following
a pH jump. We monitor the concentrations of T = 3
and T = 1 capsids as a function of time and show
that the time evolution of the conversion from one T number to another is not symmetric: The conversion from T = 1 to T = 3 is a factor of 10 slower
than that of T = 3 to T = 1. We
explain our experimental findings using a simple model based on classical
nucleation theory applied to virus capsids, in which we account for
the change in the free protein concentration, as the different types
of shells assemble and disassemble by shedding or absorbing single
protein subunits. As far as we are aware, this is the first study
confirming that both the assembly and disassembly of viruslike shells
can be explained through classical nucleation theory, reproducing
quantitatively results from time-resolved experiments
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne B. P. E. Timmermans
- Bio-Organic Chemistry Research Group, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Alireza Ramezani
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Toni Montalvo
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Mark Nguyen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Paul van der Schoot
- Soft Matter and Biological Physics Group, Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jan C. M. van Hest
- Bio-Organic Chemistry Research Group, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Roya Zandi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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27
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Characterising biomolecular interactions and dynamics with mass photometry. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2022; 68:102132. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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28
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Harati Taji Z, Bielytskyi P, Shein M, Sani MA, Seitz S, Schütz AK. Transient RNA Interactions Leave a Covalent Imprint on a Viral Capsid Protein. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:8536-8550. [PMID: 35512333 PMCID: PMC9121876 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c12439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the leading cause of persistent liver infections. Its DNA-based genome is synthesized through reverse transcription of an RNA template inside the assembled capsid shell. In addition to the structured assembly domain, the capsid protein harbors a C-terminal extension that mediates both the enclosure of RNA during capsid assembly and the nuclear entry of the capsid during infection. The arginine-rich motifs within this extension, though common to many viruses, have largely escaped atomic-scale investigation. Here, we leverage solution and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at ambient and cryogenic temperatures, under dynamic nuclear polarization signal enhancement, to investigate the organization of the genome within the capsid. Transient interactions with phosphate groups of the RNA backbone confine the arginine-rich motifs to the interior capsid space. While no secondary structure is induced in the C-terminal extension, interactions with RNA counteract the formation of a disulfide bond, which covalently tethers this peptide arm onto the inner capsid surface. Electrostatic and covalent contributions thus compete in the spatial regulation of capsid architecture. This disulfide switch represents a coupling mechanism between the structured assembly domain of the capsid and the enclosed nucleic acids. In particular, it enables the redox-dependent regulation of the exposure of the C-terminal extension on the capsid surface, which is required for nuclear uptake of the capsid. Phylogenetic analysis of capsid proteins from hepadnaviruses points toward a function of this switch in the persistence of HBV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Harati Taji
- Bavarian NMR Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching 85748, Germany.,Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | - Pavlo Bielytskyi
- Bavarian NMR Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching 85748, Germany.,Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | - Mikhail Shein
- Bavarian NMR Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching 85748, Germany.,Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | - Marc-Antoine Sani
- School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Stefan Seitz
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.,Division of Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis (F170), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Anne K Schütz
- Bavarian NMR Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching 85748, Germany.,Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
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29
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Rousso I, Deshpande A. Applications of Atomic Force Microscopy in HIV-1 Research. Viruses 2022; 14:v14030648. [PMID: 35337055 PMCID: PMC8955997 DOI: 10.3390/v14030648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Obtaining an understanding of the mechanism underlying the interrelations between the structure and function of HIV-1 is of pivotal importance. In previous decades, this mechanism was addressed extensively in a variety of studies using conventional approaches. More recently, atomic force microscopy, which is a relatively new technique with unique capabilities, has been utilized to study HIV-1 biology. Atomic force microscopy can generate high-resolution images at the nanometer-scale and analyze the mechanical properties of individual HIV-1 virions, virus components (e.g., capsids), and infected live cells under near-physiological environments. This review describes the working principles and various imaging and analysis modes of atomic force microscopy, and elaborates on its distinctive contributions to HIV-1 research in areas such as mechanobiology and the physics of infection.
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30
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Mebus-Antunes NC, Ferreira WS, Barbosa GM, Neves-Martins TC, Weissmuller G, Almeida FCL, Da Poian AT. The interaction of dengue virus capsid protein with negatively charged interfaces drives the in vitro assembly of nucleocapsid-like particles. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264643. [PMID: 35231063 PMCID: PMC8887749 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) causes a major arthropod-borne viral disease, with 2.5 billion people living in risk areas. DENV consists in a 50 nm-diameter enveloped particle in which the surface proteins are arranged with icosahedral symmetry, while information about nucleocapsid (NC) structural organization is lacking. DENV NC is composed of the viral genome, a positive-sense single-stranded RNA, packaged by the capsid (C) protein. Here, we established the conditions for a reproducible in vitro assembly of DENV nucleocapsid-like particles (NCLPs) using recombinant DENVC. We analyzed NCLP formation in the absence or presence of oligonucleotides in solution using small angle X-ray scattering, Rayleigh light scattering as well as fluorescence anisotropy, and characterized particle structural properties using atomic force and transmission electron microscopy imaging. The experiments in solution comparing 2-, 5- and 25-mer oligonucleotides established that 2-mer is too small and 5-mer is sufficient for the formation of NCLPs. The assembly process was concentration-dependent and showed a saturation profile, with a stoichiometry of 1:1 (DENVC:oligonucleotide) molar ratio, suggesting an equilibrium involving DENVC dimer and an organized structure compatible with NCLPs. Imaging methods proved that the decrease in concentration to sub-nanomolar concentrations of DENVC allows the formation of regular spherical NCLPs after protein deposition on mica or carbon surfaces, in the presence as well as in the absence of oligonucleotides, in this latter case being surface driven. Altogether, the results suggest that in vitro assembly of DENV NCLPs depends on DENVC charge neutralization, which must be a very coordinated process to avoid unspecific aggregation. Our hypothesis is that a specific highly positive spot in DENVC α4-α4' is the main DENVC-RNA binding site, which is required to be firstly neutralized to allow NC formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathane C. Mebus-Antunes
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wellington S. Ferreira
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Glauce M. Barbosa
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thais C. Neves-Martins
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gilberto Weissmuller
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fabio C. L. Almeida
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Andrea T. Da Poian
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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31
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Ruszkowski M, Strugala A, Indyka P, Tresset G, Figlerowicz M, Urbanowicz A. Cryo-EM reconstructions of BMV-derived virus-like particles reveal assembly defects in the icosahedral lattice structure. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:3224-3233. [PMID: 35156989 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr05650f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The increasing interest in virus-like particles (VLPs) has been reflected by the growing number of studies on their assembly and application. However, the formation of complete VLPs is a complex phenomenon, making it difficult to rationally design VLPs with desired features de novo. In this paper, we describe VLPs assembled in vitro from the recombinant capsid protein of brome mosaic virus (BMV). The analysis of VLPs was performed by Cryo-EM reconstructions and allowed us to visualize a few classes of VLPs, giving insight into the VLP self-assembly process. Apart from the mature icosahedral VLP practically identical with native virions, we describe putative VLP intermediates displaying non-icosahedral arrangements of capsomers, proposed to occur before the final disorder-order transition stage of icosahedral VLP assembly. Some of the described VLP classes show a lack of protein shell continuity, possibly resulting from too strong interaction with the cargo (in this case tRNA) with the capsid protein. We believe that our results are a useful prerequisite for the rational design of VLPs in the future and lead the way to the effective production of modified VLPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milosz Ruszkowski
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland.
| | - Aleksander Strugala
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland.
| | - Paulina Indyka
- Jagiellonian University, Solaris National Synchrotron Radiation Centre, Czerwone Maki 98, 30-392 Cracow, Poland
- Jagiellonian University, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology (MCB), 30-387 Cracow, Poland
| | - Guillaume Tresset
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Marek Figlerowicz
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland.
| | - Anna Urbanowicz
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland.
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32
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Head RJ, Lumbers ER, Jarrott B, Tretter F, Smith G, Pringle KG, Islam S, Martin JH. Systems analysis shows that thermodynamic physiological and pharmacological fundamentals drive COVID-19 and response to treatment. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2022; 10:e00922. [PMID: 35106955 PMCID: PMC8929328 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Why a systems analysis view of this pandemic? The current pandemic has inflicted almost unimaginable grief, sorrow, loss, and terror at a global scale. One of the great ironies with the COVID‐19 pandemic, particularly early on, is counter intuitive. The speed at which specialized basic and clinical sciences described the details of the damage to humans in COVID‐19 disease has been impressive. Equally, the development of vaccines in an amazingly short time interval has been extraordinary. However, what has been less well understood has been the fundamental elements that underpin the progression of COVID‐19 in an individual and in populations. We have used systems analysis approaches with human physiology and pharmacology to explore the fundamental underpinnings of COVID‐19 disease. Pharmacology powerfully captures the thermodynamic characteristics of molecular binding with an exogenous entity such as a virus and its consequences on the living processes well described by human physiology. Thus, we have documented the passage of SARS‐CoV‐2 from infection of a single cell to species jump, to tropism, variant emergence and widespread population infection. During the course of this review, the recurrent observation was the efficiency and simplicity of one critical function of this virus. The lethality of SARS‐CoV‐2 is due primarily to its ability to possess and use a variable surface for binding to a specific human target with high affinity. This binding liberates Gibbs free energy (GFE) such that it satisfies the criteria for thermodynamic spontaneity. Its binding is the prelude to human host cellular entry and replication by the appropriation of host cell constituent molecules that have been produced with a prior energy investment by the host cell. It is also a binding that permits viral tropism to lead to high levels of distribution across populations with newly formed virions. This thermodynamic spontaneity is repeated endlessly as infection of a single host cell spreads to bystander cells, to tissues, to humans in close proximity and then to global populations. The principal antagonism of this process comes from SARS‐CoV‐2 itself, with its relentless changing of its viral surface configuration, associated with the inevitable emergence of variants better configured to resist immune sequestration and importantly with a greater affinity for the host target and higher infectivity. The great value of this physiological and pharmacological perspective is that it reveals the fundamental thermodynamic underpinnings of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Head
- Drug Discovery and Development, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Eugenie R Lumbers
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bevyn Jarrott
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Felix Tretter
- Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gary Smith
- VP System Practice - International Society for System Sciences, Pontypool, UK
| | - Kirsty G Pringle
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Saiful Islam
- Drug Discovery and Development, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer H Martin
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia.,Centre for Drug Repurposing and Medicines Research, Clinical Pharmacology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
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33
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Sun W, Gao X, Lei H, Wang W, Cao Y. Biophysical Approaches for Applying and Measuring Biological Forces. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2105254. [PMID: 34923777 PMCID: PMC8844594 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202105254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, increasing evidence has indicated that mechanical loads can regulate the morphogenesis, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of living cells. Investigations of how cells sense mechanical stimuli or the mechanotransduction mechanism is an active field of biomaterials and biophysics. Gaining a further understanding of mechanical regulation and depicting the mechanotransduction network inside cells require advanced experimental techniques and new theories. In this review, the fundamental principles of various experimental approaches that have been developed to characterize various types and magnitudes of forces experienced at the cellular and subcellular levels are summarized. The broad applications of these techniques are introduced with an emphasis on the difficulties in implementing these techniques in special biological systems. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique are discussed, which can guide readers to choose the most suitable technique for their questions. A perspective on future directions in this field is also provided. It is anticipated that technical advancement can be a driving force for the development of mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxu Sun
- School of SciencesNantong UniversityNantong226019P. R. China
| | - Xiang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Hai Lei
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation CenterNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Wei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Yi Cao
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials and TechnologyDepartment of Polymer Science & EngineeringCollege of Chemistry & Chemical EngineeringNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation CenterNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
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34
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de Pablo PJ, San Martín C. Seeing and touching adenovirus: complementary approaches for understanding assembly and disassembly of a complex virion. Curr Opin Virol 2021; 52:112-122. [PMID: 34906758 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Understanding adenovirus assembly and disassembly poses many challenges due to the virion complexity. A distinctive feature of adenoviruses is the large amount of virus-encoded proteins packed together with the dsDNA genome. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures are broadening our understanding of capsid variability along evolution, but little is known about the organization of the non-icosahedral nucleoproteic core and its influence in adenovirus function. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes the biomechanics of virus particles, while simultaneously inducing and monitoring their disassembly in real time. Synergistic combination of AFM with EM shows that core proteins play unexpected key roles in maturation and entry, and uncoating dynamics are finely tuned to ensure genome release at the appropriate time and place for successful infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro J de Pablo
- Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and IFIMAC, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Carmen San Martín
- Departamento de Estructura de Macromoléculas, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Darwin 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
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35
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Adams MC, Schiltz CJ, Heck ML, Chappie JS. Crystal structure of the potato leafroll virus coat protein and implications for viral assembly. J Struct Biol 2021; 214:107811. [PMID: 34813955 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2021.107811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Luteoviruses, poleroviruses, and enamoviruses are insect-transmitted, agricultural pathogens that infect a wide array of plants, including staple food crops. Previous cryo-electron microscopy studies of virus-like particles show that luteovirid viral capsids are built from a structural coat protein that organizes with T = 3 icosahedral symmetry. Here, we present the crystal structure of a truncated version of the coat protein monomer from potato leafroll virus at 1.80-Å resolution. In the crystal lattice, monomers pack into flat sheets that preserve the two-fold and three-fold axes of icosahedral symmetry and show minimal structural deviations when compared to the full-length subunits of the assembled virus-like particle. These observations have important implications in viral assembly and maturation and suggest that the CP N-terminus and its interactions with RNA play an important role in generating capsid curvature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myfanwy C Adams
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Carl J Schiltz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Michelle L Heck
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Joshua S Chappie
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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36
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Buzón P, Maity S, Christodoulis P, Wiertsema MJ, Dunkelbarger S, Kim C, Wuite GJ, Zlotnick A, Roos WH. Virus self-assembly proceeds through contact-rich energy minima. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabg0811. [PMID: 34730996 PMCID: PMC8565845 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg0811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembly of supramolecular complexes such as viral capsids occurs prominently in nature. Nonetheless, the mechanisms underlying these processes remain poorly understood. Here, we uncover the assembly pathway of hepatitis B virus (HBV), applying fluorescence optical tweezers and high-speed atomic force microscopy. This allows tracking the assembly process in real time with single-molecule resolution. Our results identify a specific, contact-rich pentameric arrangement of HBV capsid proteins as a key on-path assembly intermediate and reveal the energy balance of the self-assembly process. Real-time nucleic acid packaging experiments show that a free energy change of ~1.4 kBT per condensed nucleotide is used to drive protein oligomerization. The finding that HBV assembly occurs via contact-rich energy minima has implications for our understanding of the assembly of HBV and other viruses and also for the development of new antiviral strategies and the rational design of self-assembling nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Buzón
- Moleculaire Biofysica, Zernike Instituut, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Sourav Maity
- Moleculaire Biofysica, Zernike Instituut, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Monique J. Wiertsema
- Moleculaire Biofysica, Zernike Instituut, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Steven Dunkelbarger
- Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Christine Kim
- Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Gijs J.L. Wuite
- Physics of Living Systems, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Adam Zlotnick
- Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Wouter H. Roos
- Moleculaire Biofysica, Zernike Instituut, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- Corresponding author.
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Marichal L, Gargowitsch L, Rubim RL, Sizun C, Kra K, Bressanelli S, Dong Y, Panahandeh S, Zandi R, Tresset G. Relationships between RNA topology and nucleocapsid structure in a model icosahedral virus. Biophys J 2021; 120:3925-3936. [PMID: 34418368 PMCID: PMC8511167 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The process of genome packaging in most of viruses is poorly understood, notably the role of the genome itself in the nucleocapsid structure. For simple icosahedral single-stranded RNA viruses, the branched topology due to the RNA secondary structure is thought to lower the free energy required to complete a virion. We investigate the structure of nucleocapsids packaging RNA segments with various degrees of compactness by small-angle x-ray scattering and cryotransmission electron microscopy. The structural differences are mild even though compact RNA segments lead on average to better-ordered and more uniform particles across the sample. Numerical calculations confirm that the free energy is lowered for the RNA segments displaying the larger number of branch points. The effect is, however, opposite with synthetic polyelectrolytes, in which a star topology gives rise to more disorder in the capsids than a linear topology. If RNA compactness and size account in part for the proper assembly of the nucleocapsid and the genome selectivity, other factors most likely related to the host cell environment during viral assembly must come into play as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Marichal
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Orsay, France
| | - Laetitia Gargowitsch
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Orsay, France
| | - Rafael Leite Rubim
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Orsay, France
| | - Christina Sizun
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Kalouna Kra
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Orsay, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Stéphane Bressanelli
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Yinan Dong
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, California
| | - Sanaz Panahandeh
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, California
| | - Roya Zandi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, California
| | - Guillaume Tresset
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Orsay, France.
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Abstract
Background Many traditional biological concepts continue to be debated by biologists, scientists and philosophers of science. The specific objective of this brief reflection is to offer an alternative vision to the definition of life taking as a starting point the traits common to all living beings. Results and Conclusions Thus, I define life as a process that takes place in highly organized organic structures and is characterized by being preprogrammed, interactive, adaptative and evolutionary. If life is the process, living beings are the system in which this process takes place. I also wonder whether viruses can be considered living things or not. Taking as a starting point my definition of life and, of course, on what others have thought about it, I am in favor of considering viruses as living beings. I base this conclusion on the fact that viruses satisfy all the vital characteristics common to all living things and on the role they have played in the evolution of species. Finally, I argue that if there were life elsewhere in the universe, it would be very similar to what we know on this planet because the laws of physics and the composition of matter are universal and because of the principle of the inexorability of life.
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Kobayashi R, Inaba H, Matsuura K. Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy Analysis of Effect of Molecular Crowding on Self-Assembly of β-Annulus Peptide into Artificial Viral Capsid. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094754. [PMID: 33946174 PMCID: PMC8125178 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent progress in the de novo design of self-assembling peptides has enabled the construction of peptide-based viral capsids. Previously, we demonstrated that 24-mer β-annulus peptides from tomato bushy stunt virus spontaneously self-assemble into an artificial viral capsid. Here we propose to use the artificial viral capsid through the self-assembly of β-annulus peptide as a simple model to analyze the effect of molecular crowding environment on the formation process of viral capsid. Artificial viral capsids formed by co-assembly of fluorescent-labelled and unmodified β-annulus peptides in dilute aqueous solutions and under molecular crowding conditions were analyzed using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). The apparent particle size and the dissociation constant (Kd) of the assemblies decreased with increasing concentration of the molecular crowding agent, i.e., polyethylene glycol (PEG). This is the first successful in situ analysis of self-assembling process of artificial viral capsid under molecular crowding conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Risako Kobayashi
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8552, Japan; (R.K.); (H.I.)
| | - Hiroshi Inaba
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8552, Japan; (R.K.); (H.I.)
- Centre for Research on Green Sustainable Chemistry, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8552, Japan
| | - Kazunori Matsuura
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8552, Japan; (R.K.); (H.I.)
- Centre for Research on Green Sustainable Chemistry, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8552, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-857-31-5262
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Virus-Like Particles Produced Using the Brome Mosaic Virus Recombinant Capsid Protein Expressed in a Bacterial System. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063098. [PMID: 33803568 PMCID: PMC8003079 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs), due to their nanoscale dimensions, presence of interior cavities, self-organization abilities and responsiveness to environmental changes, are of interest in the field of nanotechnology. Nevertheless, comprehensive knowledge of VLP self-assembly principles is incomplete. VLP formation is governed by two types of interactions: protein–cargo and protein–protein. These interactions can be modulated by the physicochemical properties of the surroundings. Here, we used brome mosaic virus (BMV) capsid protein produced in an E. coli expression system to study the impact of ionic strength, pH and encapsulated cargo on the assembly of VLPs and their features. We showed that empty VLP assembly strongly depends on pH whereas ionic strength of the buffer plays secondary but significant role. Comparison of VLPs containing tRNA and polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSS) revealed that the structured tRNA profoundly increases VLPs stability. We also designed and produced mutated BMV capsid proteins that formed VLPs showing altered diameters and stability compared to VLPs composed of unmodified proteins. We also observed that VLPs containing unstructured polyelectrolyte (PSS) adopt compact but not necessarily more stable structures. Thus, our methodology of VLP production allows for obtaining different VLP variants and their adjustment to the incorporated cargo.
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