Dynamically resolved self-assembly of S-layer proteins on solid surfaces

Bacteria-Based Nanoprobes for Cancer Therapy

Surgical removal together with chemotherapy and radiotherapy has used to be the pillars of cancer treatment. Although these traditional methods are still considered as the first-line or standard treatments, non-operative situation, systemic toxicity or resistance severely weakened the therapeutic effect. More recently, synthetic biological nanocarriers elicited substantial interest and exhibited promising potential for combating cancer. In particular, bacteria and their derivatives are omnipotent to realize intrinsic tumor targeting and inhibit tumor growth with anti-cancer agents secreted and immune response. They are frequently employed in synergistic bacteria-mediated anticancer treatments to strengthen the effectiveness of anti-cancer treatment. In this review, we elaborate on the development, mechanism and advantage of bacterial therapy against cancer and then systematically introduce the bacteria-based nanoprobes against cancer and the recent achievements in synergistic treatment strategies and clinical trials. We also discuss the advantages as well as the limitations of these bacteria-based nanoprobes, especially the questions that hinder their application in human, exhibiting this novel anti-cancer endeavor comprehensively.

S-layer proteins as immune players: tales from pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria

In bacteria, as in other microorganisms, surface compounds interact with different pattern recognition receptors expressed by host cells, which usually triggers a variety of cellular responses that result in immunomodulation. The S-layer is a two-dimensional macromolecular crystalline structure formed by (glyco)-protein subunits that covers the surface of many species of Bacteria and almost all Archaea. In Bacteria, the presence of S-layer has been described in both pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains. As surface components, special attention deserves the role that S-layer proteins (SLPs) play in the interaction of bacterial cells with humoral and cellular components of the immune system. In this sense, some differences can be predicted between pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. In the first group, the S-layer constitutes an important virulence factor, which in turn makes it a potential therapeutic target. For the other group, the growing interest to understand the mechanisms of action of commensal microbiota and probiotic strains has prompted the studies of the role of the S-layer in the interaction between the host immune cells and bacteria bearing this surface structure. In this review, we aim to summarize the main latest reports and the perspectives of bacterial SLPs as immune players, focusing on those from pathogenic and commensal/probiotic most studied species.

In vitro investigation of protein assembly by combined microscopy and infrared spectroscopy at the nanometer scale

The nanoscale structure and dynamics of proteins on surfaces has been extensively studied using various imaging techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) in liquid environments. These powerful imaging techniques, however, can potentially damage or perturb delicate biological material and do not provide chemical information, which prevents a fundamental understanding of the dynamic processes underlying their evolution under physiological conditions. Here, we use a platform developed in our laboratory that enables acquisition of infrared (IR) spectroscopy and AFM images of biological material in physiological liquids with nanometer resolution in a cell closed by atomically thin graphene membranes transparent to IR photons. In this work, we studied the self-assembly process of S-layer proteins at the graphene-aqueous solution interface. The graphene acts also as the membrane separating the solution containing the proteins and Ca²⁺ ions from the AFM tip, thus eliminating sample damage and contamination effects. The formation of S-layer protein lattices and their structural evolution was monitored by AFM and by recording the amide I and II IR absorption bands, which reveal the noncovalent interaction between proteins and their response to the environment, including ionic strength and solvation. Our measurement platform opens unique opportunities to study biological material and soft materials in general.

Nanoarchitectonics for enhanced antibacterial activity with Lactobacillus buchneri S-layer proteins-coated silver nanoparticles

Various multi-drug-resistant microorganisms have appeared while a single antibacterial agent is increasingly no longer adequate for dealing with these resistant microorganisms. Herein, commercially purchased 50 nm-average-diameter silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and Lactobacillus buchneri-isolated surface-layer proteins (SLPs) as a capping agent were used to fabricate a hybrid antibacterial agent (SLP-AgNPs) with enhanced antibacterial activity, and the possible synergistic antibacterial mechanism was explored. Characterization results revealed that SLP-AgNPs were uniformly surrounded by protein corona provided from SLP, and the formulations were mainly mediated by the electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding, which was evidenced by the results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. According to the antibacterial tests, the minimum inhibitory concentration of SLP-AgNPs against Salmonella enterica (0.010 mg/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (0.005 mg/mL) was 5-10 times lower than that of bare AgNPs, and while SLP-AgNPs showed a higher antibiofilm activity. Furthermore, bacterial cells exposed to SLP-AgNPs exhibited higher cell membrane permeability and stronger inhibition of respiratory-chain dehydrogenase activity, resulting in more severe cell death compared with bare AgNPs. The synergistic effect of SLP on AgNPs was probably carried out by enhanced function of adhesion to bacteria and antibacterial ability of SLP and SLP's supramolecular lattice structure on the sustained release of silver ion.

Patterns in Nature—S-Layer Lattices of Bacterial and Archaeal Cells

Bacterial surface layers (S-layers) have been observed as the outermost cell envelope component in a wide range of bacteria and most archaea. S-layers are monomolecular lattices composed of a single protein or glycoprotein species and have either oblique, square or hexagonal lattice symmetry with unit cell dimensions ranging from 3 to 30 nm. They are generally 5 to 10 nm thick (up to 70 nm in archaea) and represent highly porous protein lattices (30–70% porosity) with pores of uniform size and morphology in the range of 2 to 8 nm. Since S-layers can be considered as one of the simplest protein lattices found in nature and the constituent units are probably the most abundantly expressed proteins on earth, it seems justified to briefly review the different S-layer lattice types, the need for lattice imperfections and the discussion of S-layers from the perspective of an isoporous protein network in the ultrafiltration region. Finally, basic research on S-layers laid the foundation for applications in biotechnology, synthetic biology, and biomimetics.

A bacterial surface layer protein exploits multistep crystallization for rapid self-assembly

Many microbes assemble a crystalline protein layer on their outer surface as an additional barrier and communication platform between the cell and its environment. Surface layer proteins efficiently crystallize to continuously coat the cell, and this trait has been utilized to design functional macromolecular nanomaterials. Here, we report that rapid crystallization of a bacterial surface layer protein occurs through a multistep pathway involving a crystalline intermediate. Upon calcium binding, sequential changes occur in the structure and arrangement of the protein, which are captured by time-resolved small angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron cryo-microscopy. We demonstrate that a specific domain is responsible for enhancing the rate of self-assembly, unveiling possible evolutionary mechanisms to enhance the kinetics of 2D protein crystallization.

Surface layers (S-layers) are crystalline protein coats surrounding microbial cells. S-layer proteins (SLPs) regulate their extracellular self-assembly by crystallizing when exposed to an environmental trigger. However, molecular mechanisms governing rapid protein crystallization in vivo or in vitro are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the Caulobacter crescentus SLP readily crystallizes into sheets in vitro via a calcium-triggered multistep assembly pathway. This pathway involves 2 domains serving distinct functions in assembly. The C-terminal crystallization domain forms the physiological 2-dimensional (2D) crystal lattice, but full-length protein crystallizes multiple orders of magnitude faster due to the N-terminal nucleation domain. Observing crystallization using a time course of electron cryo-microscopy (Cryo-EM) imaging reveals a crystalline intermediate wherein N-terminal nucleation domains exhibit motional dynamics with respect to rigid lattice-forming crystallization domains. Dynamic flexibility between the 2 domains rationalizes efficient S-layer crystal nucleation on the curved cellular surface. Rate enhancement of protein crystallization by a discrete nucleation domain may enable engineering of kinetically controllable self-assembling 2D macromolecular nanomaterials.

Topologically-guided continuous protein crystallization controls bacterial surface layer self-assembly

Many bacteria and most archaea possess a crystalline protein surface layer (S-layer), which surrounds their growing and topologically complicated outer surface. Constructing a macromolecular structure of this scale generally requires localized enzymatic machinery, but a regulatory framework for S-layer assembly has not been identified. By labeling, superresolution imaging, and tracking the S-layer protein (SLP) from C. crescentus, we show that 2D protein self-assembly is sufficient to build and maintain the S-layer in living cells by efficient protein crystal nucleation and growth. We propose a model supported by single-molecule tracking whereby randomly secreted SLP monomers diffuse on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) outer membrane until incorporated at the edges of growing 2D S-layer crystals. Surface topology creates crystal defects and boundaries, thereby guiding S-layer assembly. Unsupervised assembly poses challenges for therapeutics targeting S-layers. However, protein crystallization as an evolutionary driver rationalizes S-layer diversity and raises the potential for biologically inspired self-assembling macromolecular nanomaterials.

Bacteria assemble the surface layer (S-layer), a crystalline protein coat surrounding the curved surface, using protein self-assembly. Here authors image native and purified RsaA, the S-layer protein from C. crescentus, and show that protein crystallization alone is sufficient to assemble and maintain the S-layer in vivo.

Contrasting Chemistry of Block Copolymer Films Controls the Dynamics of Protein Self-Assembly at the Nanoscale

Biological systems are able to control the assembly and positioning of proteins with nanoscale precision, as exemplified by the intricate molecular structures within cell membranes, virus capsids, and collagen matrices. Controlling the assembly of biomolecules is critical for the use of biomaterials in artificial systems such as antibacterial coatings, engineered tissue samples, and implanted medical devices. Furthermore, understanding the dynamics of protein assembly on heterogeneous templates will ultimately enable the control of protein crystallization in general. Here, we show a biomimetic, hierarchical bottom-up approach to direct the self-assembly of crystalline S-layers through nonspecific interactions with nanostructured block copolymer (BCP) thin-film templates. A comparison between physically and chemically patterned BCP substrates shows that chemical heterogeneity is required to confine the adhesion and self-assembly of S-layers to specific BCP domains. Furthermore, we show that this mechanism can be extended to direct the formation of collagen fibers along the principal direction of the underlying BCP substrate. The dynamics of protein self-assembly at the solid-liquid interface are followed using in situ high-resolution atomic force microscopy under continuous flow conditions, allowing the determination of the rate constants of the self-assembly. A pattern of alternating, chemically distinct nanoscale domains drastically increases the rate of self-assembly compared to non-patterned chemically homogeneous substrates.

Surface-Layer Protein-Enhanced Immunotherapy Based on Cell Membrane-Coated Nanoparticles for the Effective Inhibition of Tumor Growth and Metastasis

Chemo-immunotherapy is an important tool to overcome tumor immune suppression in cancer immunotherapy. Herein, we report a surface-layer (S-layer) protein-enhanced immunotherapy strategy based on cell membrane-coated S-CM-HPAD nanoparticles for the effective malignant tumor therapy and metastasis inhibition. The S-CM-HPAD NPs could effectively deliver the tumor antigen, DOX, and immunoadjuvant to the homotypic tumor by the homotypic targeting ability of the coated cell membrane. In addition to its ability to induce tumor cell death, the loaded DOX could enhance the immunotherapy response by inhibition of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Because of the intrinsic adjuvant property and capability to surface display epitopes and proteins, the S-layers localized on the surface of S-CM-HPAD NPs potentiated the immune response to the antigen. The results confirmed that the protective immunity against tumor occurrence was promoted effectively by prompting proliferation of lymphocytes and secretion of cytokine caused by the tumor-associated antigen and adjuvant. The excellent combinational therapeutic effects on the inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis in the melanoma tumor models demonstrated that the S-layer-enhanced immunotherapeutic method is a promising strategy for tumor immunotherapy of malignant tumor growth and metastasis.

A Probabilistic Model for Crystal Growth Applied toProtein Deposition at the Microscale

A probabilistic discrete model for 2D protein crystal growth is presented. This model takes into account the available space and can describe growing processes of a different nature due to the versatility of its parameters, which gives the model great flexibility. The accuracy of the simulation is tested against a real recrystallization experiment, carried out with the bacterial protein SbpA from Lysinibacillus sphaericus CCM2177, showing high agreement between the proposed model and the actual images of the crystal growth. Finally, it is also discussed how the regularity of the interface (i.e., the curve that separates the crystal from the substrate) affects the evolution of the simulation.

Life under Continuous Streaming: Recrystallization of Low Concentrations of Bacterial SbpA in Dynamic Flow Conditions

The well-known bacterial S-layer protein SbpA from Lysinibacillus sphaericus CCM2177 induces spontaneous crystal formation via cooperative self-assembly of the protein subunits into an ordered supramolecular structure. Recrystallization occurs in the presence of divalent cations (i.e., Ca2+) and finally leads to producing smooth 2-D crystalline coatings composed of squared (p4) lattice structures. Among the factors interfering in such a process, the rate of protein supply certainly plays an important role since a limited number of accessible proteins might turn detrimental for film completion. Studies so far have mostly focused on high SbpA concentrations provided under stopped-flow or dynamic-flow conditions, thus omitting the possibility of investigating intermediate states, in which dynamic flow is applied for more critical concentrations of SbpA (i.e., 25, 10, and 5 µg/mL). In this work, we have characterized both physico-chemical and topographical aspects of the assembly and recrystallization of SbpA protein in such low concentration conditions by means of in situ Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCMD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements, respectively. On the basis of these experiments, we can confirm how the application of a dynamic flow influences the formation of a closed and crystalline protein film from low protein concentrations (i.e., 10 µg/mL), which otherwise would not be formed.