A simple approach for preparation of affinity matrices: Simultaneous purification and reversible immobilization of a streptavidin mutein to agarose matrix

Thioester Capture Strategy for the Identification of Nonribosomal Peptide and Polyketide Intermediates

Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) and polyketide synthases (PKSs) are multi-domainal megasynthases. While they are capable of generating a structurally diverse array of metabolites of therapeutic relevance, their mere size and complex nature of their assembly (intermediates are tethered and enzyme bound) make them inherently difficult to characterize. In order to facilitate structural characterization of these metabolites, a thioester capture strategy that enables direct trapping and characterization of the thioester-bound enzyme intermediates was developed. Specifically, a synthetic Biotin-Cys agent was designed and utilized, enabling direct analysis by LCMS/MS and NMR spectroscopy. In the long term, the approach might facilitate the discovery of novel scaffolds from cryptic biosynthetic pathways, paving the way for the development of drug leads and therapeutic initiatives.

A Dual Detergent Strategy to Capture a Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteome in Peptidiscs for Characterization by Mass Spectrometry and Binding Assays

The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria plays a critical role in protecting the cell against external stressors, including antibiotics, and therefore is a prime target for antimicrobial discovery. To facilitate the discovery efforts, a precise knowledge of the outer membrane proteome, and possible variations during pathogenesis, is important. Characterization of the bacterial outer membrane remain challenging, however, and low throughput, due to the high hydrophobicity and relatively low abundance of this cell compartment. Here we adapt our peptidisc-based method to selectively isolate the outer membrane proteome before analysis by mass spectrometry. Using a dual detergent membrane solubilization approach, followed by protein purification in peptidiscs, we capture over 70 outer membrane proteins, including 26 integral β-barrels and 26 lipoproteins. Many of these proteins are present at high peptide intensities, indicative of a high abundance in the library sample. We further show that the isolated outer membrane proteome can be employed in downstream ligand-binding assays. This peptidisc library made of outer membrane proteins may therefore be useful to systematically survey other bacterial outer membrane proteomes, but also as a nanoparticle format able to support the discovery of next-generation antimicrobials. Data are available via ProteomeXchange identifier PXD036749.

Tag-mediated single-step purification and immobilization of recombinant proteins toward protein-engineered advanced materials

Background

The potential applications of protein-engineered functional materials are so wide and exciting that the interest in these eco-friendly advanced materials will further expand in the future. Tag-mediated protein purification/immobilization technologies have emerged as green and cost-effective approaches for the fabrication of such materials. Strategies that combine the purification and immobilization of recombinant proteins/peptides onto/into natural, synthetic or hybrid materials in a single-step are arising and attracting increasing interest.

Aim of Review

This review highlights the most significant advances of the last 5 years within the scope of tag-mediated protein purification/immobilization and elucidates their contributions for the development of efficient single-step purification and immobilization strategies. Recent progresses in the field of protein-engineered materials created using innovative protein-tag combinations and future opportunities created by these new technologies are also summarized and identified herein.

Key Scientific Concepts of Review

Protein purification/immobilization tags present a remarkable ability to establish specific non-covalent/covalent interactions between solid materials and biological elements, which prompted the creation of tailor-made and advanced functional materials, and of next-generation hybrid materials. Affinity tags can bind to a wide range of materials (of synthetic, natural or hybrid nature), being most suitable for protein purification. Covalently binding tags are most suitable for long-term protein immobilization, but can only bind naturally to protein-based materials. Hybrid affinity-covalently binding tags have allowed efficient one-step purification and immobilization of proteins onto different materials, as well as the development of innovative protein-engineered materials. Self-aggregating tags have been particularly useful in combination with other tags for generating protein-engineered materials with self-assembling, flexible and/or responsive properties. While these tags have been mainly explored for independent protein purification, immobilization or functionalization purposes, efficient strategies that combine tag-mediated purification and immobilization/functionalization in a single-step will be essential to guarantee the sustainable manufacturing of advanced protein-engineered materials.

Modeling and Experimental Validation of Algorithms for Maximum Quantity of Protein to be Immobilized on Solid Supports by Electrostatic Adsorption in the Strategy of Rational Design of Immobilized Derivatives

Protein immobilization by electrostatic adsorption to a support could represent a good option. On the other hand, lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.17) is a little and basic protein. The objective of this work was to test the functionality of the strategy of Rational Design of Immobilized Derivatives for the immobilization by electrostatic adsorption of egg white lysozyme on SP-Sepharose FastFlow support. The RDID_1.0 software was used to predict the superficial lysozyme clusters, the electrostatic configuration probability for each cluster, and the theoretical and estimated maximum quantity of protein to be immobilized. In addition, immobilization was performed and the experimental parameter practical maximum quantity of protein to be immobilized and the enzymatic activity of the immobilized derivative were assessed. The estimated maximum quantity of protein to be immobilized (9.49 protein mg/support g) was close to the experimental practical maximum quantity of protein to be immobilized (14.73 ± 0.09 protein mg/support g). The enzymatic activity assay with the chitosan substrate showed the catalytic functionality of the lysozyme-SP-Sepharose immobilized derivative (35.85 ± 3.07 U/support g), which preserved 78% functional activity. The used algorithm to calculate the estimated maximum quantity of protein to be immobilized works for other proteins, porous solid supports and immobilization methods, and this parameter has a high predictive value, useful for obtaining optimum immobilized derivatives. The applied methodology is valid to predict the most probable protein-support configurations and their catalytic competences, which concur with the experimental results. The produced biocatalyst had a high retention of functional activity. This indicates its functionality in enzymatic bioconversion processes.

An Overview of Antibody Conjugated Polymeric Nanoparticles for Breast Cancer Therapy

Nanoparticles (NPs) are promising drug delivery systems (DDS) for identifying and treating cancer. Active targeting NPs can be generated by conjugation with ligands that bind overexpressed or mutant cell surface receptors on target cells that are poorly or not even expressed on normal cells. Receptor-mediated endocytosis of the NPs occurs and the drug is released inside the cell or in the surrounding tissue due to the bystander effect. Antibodies are the most frequently used ligands to actively target tumor cells. In this context, antibody-based therapies have been extensively used in HER2+ breast cancer. However, some patients inherently display resistance and in advanced stages, almost all eventually progress. Functionalized NPs through conjugation with antibodies appear to be a promising strategy to optimize targeted therapies due to properties related to biocompatibility, suitable delivery control and efficiency of functionalization. This review is focused on the different strategies to conjugate antibodies into polymeric NPs. Recent antibody conjugation approaches applied to the improvement of breast cancer therapy are highlighted in this review.

A suitable and effective stepwise oxidative refolding procedure for highly-cationic tetrameric avidin in nucleic acid free conditions

Optimized conditions are needed to refold recombinant proteins from bacterial inclusion bodies into their biologically active conformations. In this study, we found two crucial requirements for efficient refolding of cationic tetrameric chicken avidin. The first step is to eliminate nucleic acid contaminants from the bacterial inclusion body. The electrostatic interactions between the remaining nucleic acids and proteins strongly enhanced protein aggregation during the refolding process. The cysteine specific reversible S-cationization procedure was successfully employed for large-scale preparation of nucleic acid free denatured protein without purification tag system. The second step is the intramolecular disulfide formation prior to refolding in dialysis removing denaturant. Disulfide intact monomeric avidin showed efficient formation of biologically active tetrameric conformation during the refolding process. Using this optimized refolding procedure, highly cationic avidin derivative designed as an intracellular delivery carrier of biotinylated protein was successfully prepared.

A bio-coupling approach using a dextran-binding domain to immobilize an engineered streptavidin to Sephadex for easy preparation of affinity matrix

An engineered streptavidin, SAVSBPM18 with reversible biotin binding capability, has been successfully applied to purify biotinylated and streptavidin-binding peptide (SBP) tagged proteins. To simplify the preparation for the SAVSBPM18 affinity matrix without chemical conjugation, two bio-coupling approaches were developed based on a 14-kDa dextran-binding domain (DBD) from a Leuconostoc mesenteroides dextransucrase. The first approach offers simplicity for bio-coupling by creating a direct fusion, SAVSBPM18-Linker-DBD. Purification of the fusion from crude extract and its immobilization to Sephadex can be consolidated in one-step. The second approach aims at flexibility. A SnoopCatcher (SC) was fused to DBD to create SC-Linker-DBD. This fusion can covalently capture any recombinant proteins tagged with a SnoopTag (ST) including SAVSBPM18-Linker-ST via the formation of an isopeptide bond at the interface through the SnoopCatcher-SnoopTag interaction. Although monomeric DBD binds to dextran with nanomolar affinity, DBD tetramerized via streptavidin (SAVSBPM18-Linker-ST·SC-Linker-DBD) showed an even tighter binding to Sephadex. The majority of the fluorescently labelled DBD tetramers were retained on the Sephadex surface even after four months. Affinity columns generated using either approach effectively purified both SBP-tagged and biotinylated proteins. These columns are reusable and functional even after a year of frequent use.