PURE mRNA display for in vitro selection of single-chain antibodies

Engineering thermostability of industrial enzymes for enhanced application performance

Thermostability is a key factor for the industrial application of enzymes. This review categorizes enzymes by their applications and discusses the importance of engineering thermostability for practical use. It summarizes fundamental theories and recent advancements in enzyme thermostability modification, including directed evolution, semi-rational design, and rational design. Directed evolution uses high-throughput screening to generate random mutations, while semi-rational design combines hotspot identification with screening. Rational design focuses on key residues to enhance stability by improving rigidity, foldability, and reducing aggregation. The review also covers rational strategies like engineering folding energy, surface charge, machine learning methods, and consensus design, along with tools that support these approaches. Practical examples are critically assessed to highlight the benefits and limitations of these strategies. Finally, the challenges and potential contributions of artificial intelligence in enzyme thermostability engineering are discussed.

STALL-seq: mRNA-display selection of bacterial and eukaryotic translational arrest sequences from large random-sequence libraries

The translational arrest is a phenomenon wherein a temporary pause or slowing of the translation elongation reaction occurs due to the interaction between ribosome and nascent peptide. Recent studies have revealed that translational arrest peptides are involved in intracellular protein homeostasis regulatory functions, such as gene expression regulation at the translational level and regulation of cotranslational protein folding. Herein, we established a method for the large-scale in vitro selection of translational arrest peptides from DNA libraries by combining a modified mRNA display method and deep sequencing. We performed in vitro selection of translational arrest sequences from random-sequence libraries via mRNA display based on the Escherichia coli PURE system or wheat germ extract. Following several rounds of affinity selection, we obtained various candidate sequences that were not similar to known arrest peptides and subsequently confirmed their ribosome stalling activity by peptidyl-tRNA detection and toeprinting assay. Following the site-directed mutagenesis of the selected sequences, these clones were found to contain novel arrest peptide motifs. This method, termed STALL-seq (Selection of Translational Arrest sequences from Large Library sequencing), could be useful for the large-scale investigation of translational arrest sequences acting on both bacterial and eukaryotic ribosomes and could help discover novel intracellular regulatory mechanisms.

mRNA Display Pipeline for Protein Biosensor Construction

Despite the significant potential of protein biosensors, their construction remains a trial-and-error process. The most obvious approach for addressing this is to utilize modular biosensor architectures where specificity-conferring modalities can be readily generated to recognize new targets. Toward this goal, we established a workflow that uses mRNA display-based selection of hyper-stable monobody domains for the target of choice or ribosome display to select equally stable DARPins. These binders were integrated into a two-component allosteric biosensor architecture based on a calmodulin-reporter chimera. This workflow was tested by developing biosensors for liver toxicity markers such as cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase, mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase 1. We demonstrate that our pipeline consistently produced >103 unique binders for each target within a week. Our analysis revealed that the affinity of the binders for their targets was not a direct predictor of the binder's performance in a biosensor context. The interactions between the binding domains and the reporter module affect the biosensor activity and the dynamic range. We conclude that following binding domain selection, the multiplexed biosensor assembly and prototyping appear to be the most promising approach for identifying biosensors with the desired properties.

N-Terminal Amino Acid Affects the Translation Efficiency at Lower Temperatures in a Reconstituted Protein Synthesis System

The Escherichia coli (E. coli)-based protein synthesis using recombinant elements (PURE) system is a cell-free protein synthesis system reconstituted from purified factors essential for E. coli translation. The PURE system is widely used for basic and synthetic biology applications. One of the major challenges associated with the PURE system is that the protein yield of the system varies depending on the protein. Studies have reported that the efficiency of translation is significantly affected by nucleotide and amino acid sequences, especially in the N-terminal region. Here, we investigated the inherent effect of various N-terminal sequences on protein synthesis using the PURE system. We found that a single amino acid substitution in the N-terminal region significantly altered translation efficiency in the PURE system, especially at low temperatures. This result gives us useful suggestions for the expression of the protein of interest in vitro and in vivo.

De Novo Single-Stranded RNA-Binding Peptides Discovered by Codon-Restricted mRNA Display

RNA-binding proteins participate in diverse cellular processes, including DNA repair, post-transcriptional modification, and cancer progression through their interactions with RNAs, making them attractive for biotechnological applications. While nature provides an array of naturally occurring RNA-binding proteins, developing de novo RNA-binding peptides remains challenging. In particular, tailoring peptides to target single-stranded RNA with low complexity is difficult due to the inherent structural flexibility of RNA molecules. Here, we developed a codon-restricted mRNA display and identified multiple de novo peptides from a peptide library that bind to poly(C) and poly(A) RNA with KDs ranging from micromolar to submicromolar concentrations. One of the newly identified peptides is capable of binding to the cytosine-rich sequences of the oncogenic Cdk6 3'UTR RNA and MYU lncRNA, with affinity comparable to that of the endogenous binding protein. Hence, we present a novel platform for discovering de novo single-stranded RNA-binding peptides that offer promising avenues for regulating RNA functions.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy: The Diverse Roles That Fluorine Can Play within Amino Acid Side Chains

Side chain-fluorinated amino acids are useful tools in medicinal chemistry and protein science. In this review, we outline some general strategies for incorporating fluorine atom(s) into amino acid side chains and for elaborating such building blocks into more complex fluorinated peptides and proteins. We then describe the diverse benefits that fluorine can offer when located within amino acid side chains, including enabling 19F NMR and 18F PET imaging applications, enhancing pharmacokinetic properties, controlling molecular conformation, and optimizing target-binding.

Large-scale analysis of mRNA sequences localized near the start and amber codons and their impact on the diversity of mRNA display libraries

Extremely diverse libraries are essential for effectively selecting functional peptides or proteins, and mRNA display technology is a powerful tool for generating such libraries with over 1012-1013 diversity. Particularly, the protein-puromycin linker (PuL)/mRNA complex formation yield is determining for preparing the libraries. However, how mRNA sequences affect the complex formation yield remains unclear. To study the effects of N-terminal and C-terminal coding sequences on the complex formation yield, puromycin-attached mRNAs containing three random codons after the start codon (32768 sequences) or seven random bases next to the amber codon (6480 sequences) were translated. Enrichment scores were calculated by dividing the appearance rate of every sequence in protein-PuL/mRNA complexes by that in total mRNAs. The wide range of enrichment scores (0.09-2.10 for N-terminal and 0.30-4.23 for C-terminal coding sequences) indicated that the N-terminal and C-terminal coding sequences strongly affected the complex formation yield. Using C-terminal GGC-CGA-UAG-U sequences, which resulted in the highest enrichment scores, we constructed highly diverse libraries of monobodies and macrocyclic peptides. The present study provides insights into how mRNA sequences affect the protein/mRNA complex formation yield and will accelerate the identification of functional peptides and proteins involved in various biological processes and having therapeutic applications.

DNA-Encoded Immunoassay in Picoliter Drops: A Minimal Cell-Free Approach

Immunoassays have emerged as indispensable bioanalytical tools but necessitate long preliminary steps for the selection, production, and purification of the antibody(ies) to be used. Here is explored the paradigm shift of creating a rapid and purification-free assay in picoliter drops where the antibody is expressed from coding DNA and its binding to antigens concomitantly characterized in situ. Efficient synthesis in bulk of various functional variable domains of heavy-chain only antibodies (VHH) using reconstituted cell-free expression media, including an anti-green fluorescent protein VHH, is shown first. A microfluidic device is then used to generate monodisperse drops (30 pL) containing all the assay components, including a capture scaffold, onto which the accumulation of VHH:antigen produces a specific fluorescent signal. This allows to assess, in parallel or sequentially at high throughput (500 Hz), the VHH-antigen binding and its specificity in less than 3 h, directly from a VHH-coding DNA, for multiple VHH sequences, various antigens and down to DNA concentrations as low as 12 plasmids per drop. It is anticipated that the ultraminiaturized format, robustness, and programmability of this novel cell-free immunoassay concept will constitute valuable assets in fields as diverse as antibody discovery, point-of-care diagnostics, synthetic biology, and/or bioanalytical assays.

Directing evolution of novel ligands by mRNA display

mRNA display is a powerful biological display platform for the directed evolution of proteins and peptides. mRNA display libraries covalently link the displayed peptide or protein (phenotype) with the encoding genetic information (genotype) through the biochemical activity of the small molecule puromycin. Selection for peptide/protein function is followed by amplification of the linked genetic material and generation of a library enriched in functional sequences. Iterative selection cycles are then performed until the desired level of function is achieved, at which time the identity of candidate peptides can be obtained by sequencing the genetic material. The purpose of this review is to discuss the development of mRNA display technology since its inception in 1997 and to comprehensively review its use in the selection of novel peptides and proteins. We begin with an overview of the biochemical mechanism of mRNA display and its variants with a particular focus on its advantages and disadvantages relative to other biological display technologies. We then discuss the importance of scaffold choice in mRNA display selections and review the results of selection experiments with biological (e.g., fibronectin) and linear peptide library architectures. We then explore recent progress in the development of "drug-like" peptides by mRNA display through the post-translational covalent macrocyclization and incorporation of non-proteogenic functionalities. We conclude with an examination of enabling technologies that increase the speed of selection experiments, enhance the information obtained in post-selection sequence analysis, and facilitate high-throughput characterization of lead compounds. We hope to provide the reader with a comprehensive view of current state and future trajectory of mRNA display and its broad utility as a peptide and protein design tool.

cDNA TRAP display for rapid and stable in vitro selection of antibody-like proteins

We developed a cDNA TRAP display for the rapid selection of antibody-like proteins in various conditions. By modifying the original puromycin linker in the TRAP display, a monobody was covalently attached to the cDNA. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrated a rapid model selection of an anti-EGFR1 monobody in a solution containing ribonuclease.

PURE mRNA display and cDNA display provide rapid detection of core epitope motif via high-throughput sequencing

The reconstructed in vitro translation system known as the PURE system has been used in a variety of cell-free experiments such as the expression of native and de novo proteins as well as various display methods to select for functional polypeptides. We developed a refined PURE-based display method for the preparation of stable messenger RNA (mRNA) and complementary DNA (cDNA)-peptide conjugates and validated its utility for in vitro selection. Our conjugate formation efficiency exceeded 40%, followed by gel purification to allow minimum carry-over of components from the translation system to the downstream assay enabling clean and efficient random peptide sequence screening. We chose the commercially available anti-FLAG M2 antibody as a target molecule for validation. Starting from approximately 1.7 × 10¹² random sequences, a round-by-round high-throughput sequencing showed clear enrichment of the FLAG epitope DYKDDD as well as revealing consensus FLAG epitope motif DYK(D/L/N)(L/Y/D/N/F)D. Enrichment of core FLAG motifs lacking one of the four key residues (DYKxxD) indicates that Tyr (Y) and Lys (K) appear as the two key residues essential for binding. Furthermore, the comparison between mRNA display and cDNA display method resulted in overall similar performance with slightly higher enrichment for mRNA display. We also show that gel purification steps in the refined PURE-based display method improve conjugate formation efficiency and enhance the enrichment rate of FLAG epitope motifs in later rounds of selection especially for mRNA display. Overall, the generalized procedure and consistent performance of two different display methods achieved by the commercially available PURE system will be useful for future studies to explore the sequence and functional space of diverse polypeptides.

The science of puromycin: From studies of ribosome function to applications in biotechnology

Puromycin is a naturally occurring aminonucleoside antibiotic that inhibits protein synthesis by ribosome-catalyzed incorporation into the C-terminus of elongating nascent chains, blocking further extension and resulting in premature termination of translation. It is most commonly known as a selection marker for cell lines genetically engineered to express a resistance transgene, but its additional uses as a probe for protein synthesis have proven invaluable across a wide variety of model systems, ranging from purified ribosomes and cell-free translation to intact cultured cells and whole animals. Puromycin is comprised of a nucleoside covalently bound to an amino acid, mimicking the 3′ end of aminoacylated tRNAs that participate in delivery of amino acids to elongating ribosomes. Both moieties can tolerate some chemical substitutions and modifications without significant loss of activity, generating a diverse toolbox of puromycin-based reagents with added functionality, such as biotin for affinity purification or fluorophores for fluorescent microscopy detection. These reagents, as well as anti-puromycin antibodies, have played a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of the regulation and dysregulation of protein synthesis in normal and pathological processes, including immune response and neurological function. This manuscript reviews the current state of puromycin-based research, including structure and mechanism of action, relevant derivatives, use in advanced methodologies and some of the major insights generated using such techniques both in the lab and the clinic.

Selection and screening strategies in directed evolution to improve protein stability

Protein stability is not only fundamental for experimental, industrial, and therapeutic applications, but is also the baseline for evolving novel protein functions. For decades, stability engineering armed with directed evolution has continued its rapid development and inevitably poses challenges. Generally, in directed evolution, establishing a reliable link between a genotype and any interpretable phenotype is more challenging than diversifying genetic libraries. Consequently, we set forth in a small picture to emphasize the screening or selection techniques in protein stability-directed evolution to secure the link. For a more systematic review, two main branches of these techniques, namely cellular or cell-free display and stability biosensors, are expounded with informative examples.

A gold mine for drug discovery: Strategies to develop cyclic peptides into therapies

As a versatile therapeutic modality, peptides attract much attention because of their great binding affinity, low toxicity, and the capability of targeting traditionally "undruggable" protein surfaces. However, the deficiency of cell permeability and metabolic stability always limits the success of in vitro bioactive peptides as drug candidates. Peptide macrocyclization is one of the most established strategies to overcome these limitations. Over the past decades, more than 40 cyclic peptide drugs have been clinically approved, the vast majority of which are derived from natural products. The de novo discovered cyclic peptides on the basis of rational design and in vitro evolution, have also enabled the binding with targets for which nature provides no solutions. The current review summarizes different classes of cyclic peptides with diverse biological activities, and presents an overview of various approaches to develop cyclic peptide-based drug candidates, drawing upon series of examples to illustrate each strategy.

A novel immuno-PCR method using cDNA display

Immuno-PCR (IPCR) provides sensitive and versatile detection of a variety of antigens by conjugating a PCR-amplifiable DNA reporter to a specific antibody or an aptamer. Several methodologies have been developed to prepare appropriate DNA-antibody conjugates, but in most cases, it remains difficult to label polypeptides with high site-specificity and fixed stoichiometry. To address this issue, we first demonstrated the feasibility of IPCR based on cDNA display, a 1:1 covalent complex of a polypeptide and its encoding cDNA via puromycin at the single molecule level. Several other in vitro display technologies (e.g., ribosome display, mRNA display) have similar simple nucleic acid-peptide linkage. However, they should be unsuitable for diagnostic applications because of their lability against heat and RNase. The newly developed system here, termed cDNA display mediated immuno-PCR (cD-IPCR), proved to work in direct- and sandwich-type detection of target proteins. Detection of a target in serum was also possible, using a VHH (variable domain of the heavy chain of a heavy chain antibody) antibody as a binding molecule. Although further improvement on sensitivity and quantitativity is necessary before the method becomes useful, we believe this work demonstrated a potential of cD-IPCR as an alternative novel format of IPCR.

Protein engineering approaches for antibody fragments: directed evolution and rational design approaches

The number of therapeutic antibodies in preclinical, clinical, or approved phases has been increasing exponentially, mostly due to their known successes. Development of antibody engineering methods has substantially hastened the development of therapeutic antibodies. A variety of protein engineering techniques can be applied to antibodies to improve their afinity and/or biophysical properties such as solubility and stability. Antibody fragments (where all or some parts of constant regions are eliminated while the essential antigen binding region is preserved) are more suitable for protein engineering techniques because there are many in vitro screening technologies available for antibody fragments but not full-length antibodies. Improvement of biophysical characteristics is important in the early development phase because most antibodies fail at the later stage of development and this leads to loss of resources and time. Here, we review directed evolution and rational design methods to improve antibody properties. Recent developments in rational design approaches and antibody display technologies, and especially phage display, which was recently awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize, are discussed to be used in antibody research and development.

Cyclic Peptides: Promising Scaffolds for Biopharmaceuticals

To date, small molecules and macromolecules, including antibodies, have been the most pursued substances in drug screening and development efforts. Despite numerous favorable features as a drug, these molecules still have limitations and are not complementary in many regards. Recently, peptide-based chemical structures that lie between these two categories in terms of both structural and functional properties have gained increasing attention as potential alternatives. In particular, peptides in a circular form provide a promising scaffold for the development of a novel drug class owing to their adjustable and expandable ability to bind a wide range of target molecules. In this review, we discuss recent progress in methodologies for peptide cyclization and screening and use of bioactive cyclic peptides in various applications.

Expanding biological applications using cell-free metabolic engineering: An overview

Expanding the concept of cell-free biology, implemented both with purified components and crude extracts, is continuing to deepen our appreciation of biological fundamentals while enlarging the range of applications. We are no longer intimidated by the complexity of crude extracts and complicated reaction systems with hundreds of active components, and, instead, coordinately activate and inactivate metabolic processes to focus and expand the capabilities of natural biological processes. This, in turn, dramatically increases the range of benefits offered by new products, both natural and supernatural, that were previously infeasible and/or unimaginable. This overview of cell-free metabolic engineering provides a broad range of examples and insights to guide and motivate continued research that will further expand fundamental understanding and beneficial applications. However, this survey also reveals how far we are from fully unlocking the potential offered by natural and engineered biological components and systems. This is an exciting conclusion, but metabolic engineering by itself is not sufficient. Going forward, innovative metabolic engineering must be intimately combined with creative process engineering to fully realize potential contributions toward a sustainable global civilization.

Enhanced mRNA-protein fusion efficiency of a single-domain antibody by selection of mRNA display with additional random sequences in the terminal translated regions

In vitro display technologies such as mRNA and cDNA display are powerful tools to create and select functional peptides. However, in some cases, efficiency of mRNA-protein fusion is very low, which results in decreased library size and lower chance of successful selection. In this study, to improve mRNA-protein fusion efficiency, we prepared an mRNA display library of a protein with random N- and C-terminal coding regions consisting of 12 nucleotides (i.e. four amino acids), and performed an electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA)-based selection of successfully formed mRNA display molecules. A single-domain antibody (Nanobody, or VHH) was used as a model protein, and as a result, a pair of sequences was identified that increased mRNA-protein fusion efficiency of this protein by approximately 20%. Interestingly, enhancement of the fusion efficiency induced by the identified sequences was protein-specific, and different results were obtained for other proteins including VHHs with different CDRs. The results suggested that conformation of mRNA as a whole, rather than the amino acid sequence of the translated peptide, is an important factor to determine mRNA-protein fusion efficiency.

In vitro selection of bispecific diabody fragments using covalent bicistronic DNA display

Bispecific antibodies with two different antigen-binding sites have been widely used for a variety of medical applications. The activity and stability of antibody fragments can be improved by in vitro evolution. Although the affinity and stability of small bispecific antibody fragments such as diabodies can be further optimized by in vitro display technologies, cell-free display of bispecific antibody fragments has not been reported. In this study, we applied a covalent bicistronic DNA display for the in vitro selection of heterodimeric diabodies. First, we confirmed the antigen-binding activities of a diabody synthesized by an in vitro transcription and translation system. However, when we performed DNA-display selection of a model diabody library in a proof-of-principle experiment, no enrichment of the diabody gene was observed, likely due to a low yield of the diabody heterodimer. To overcome this issue, we introduced cysteine residues at the VH-VL interface of the diabody heterodimer. Using the disulfide-stabilized diabodies, we successfully enriched the diabody gene from a model library. Our results indicate that the covalent bicistronic DNA display technique could be useful for improving the stability and affinity of bispecific diabody fragments.