1
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Zhu N, Smallwood PM, Rattner A, Chang TH, Williams J, Wang Y, Nathans J. Utility of protein-protein binding surfaces composed of anti-parallel alpha-helices and beta-sheets selected by phage display. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107283. [PMID: 38608728 PMCID: PMC11107207 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past 3 decades, a diverse collection of small protein domains have been used as scaffolds to generate general purpose protein-binding reagents using a variety of protein display and enrichment technologies. To expand the repertoire of scaffolds and protein surfaces that might serve this purpose, we have explored the utility of (i) a pair of anti-parallel alpha-helices in a small highly disulfide-bonded 4-helix bundle, the CC4 domain from reversion-inducing Cysteine-rich Protein with Kazal Motifs and (ii) a concave beta-sheet surface and two adjacent loops in the human FN3 domain, the scaffold for the widely used monobody platform. Using M13 phage display and next generation sequencing, we observe that, in both systems, libraries of ∼30 million variants contain binding proteins with affinities in the low μM range for baits corresponding to the extracellular domains of multiple mammalian proteins. CC4- and FN3-based binding proteins were fused to the N- and/or C-termini of Fc domains and used for immunostaining of transfected cells. Additionally, FN3-based binding proteins were inserted into VP1 of AAV to direct AAV infection to cells expressing a defined surface receptor. Finally, FN3-based binding proteins were inserted into the Pvc13 tail fiber protein of an extracellular contractile injection system particle to direct protein cargo delivery to cells expressing a defined surface receptor. These experiments support the utility of CC4 helices B and C and of FN3 beta-strands C, D, and F together with adjacent loops CD and FG as surfaces for engineering general purpose protein-binding reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningyu Zhu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Philip M Smallwood
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Amir Rattner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Tao-Hsin Chang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - John Williams
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Yanshu Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Jeremy Nathans
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
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2
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Morselli M, Holton TR, Pellegrini M, Yeates TO, Arbing MA. Design and Construction of a Designed Ankyrin Repeat Protein (DARPin) Display Library. Curr Protoc 2024; 4:e960. [PMID: 38206591 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.960] [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: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Protein display systems are powerful techniques used to identify protein molecules that bind with high affinity to target proteins of interest. The initial challenge in implementing a display system is the construction of a high-diversity naïve library. Here, we describe the methods to generate a designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) display library using degenerate oligonucleotides. Specifically described is the construction of a single DARPin repeat module by overlap extension PCR, concatenation of the module by restriction enzyme digestion and ligation, and incorporation of the concatenated modules into a full-length DARPin sequence in a bacterial cloning or display vector containing the hydrophilic N- and C-terminal capping domains. Protocols for PCR amplification of DARPin sequences to estimate diversity of naïve and enriched libraries via next-generation sequencing are included, as is a simple Linux-based program for analysis of naïve and enriched sequences. © 2024 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Generation of a single DARPin repeat by overlap extension PCR Basic Protocol 2: Concatenation of DARPin repeats Basic Protocol 3: Ligation of internal repeats into cloning/display vector containing N- and C-terminal capping repeats Basic Protocol 4: Estimation of library size and diversity by next-generation sequencing (NGS) Basic Protocol 5: NGS analysis of naïve and enriched libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Morselli
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Current Address: Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Thomas R Holton
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Matteo Pellegrini
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Todd O Yeates
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Mark A Arbing
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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3
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Baronaite U, Cachat E. Preparation of Chromobodies for the Detection of Cell Surface Epitopes. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2774:303-314. [PMID: 38441773 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3718-0_20] [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: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Chromobodies are nanobodies genetically fused to fluorescent proteins, which were developed to visualize endogenous intracellular antigens. These versatile bioimaging nanotools can also be used to detect cell surface epitopes, and we describe here how we use them as an alternative to conjugated antibodies. This way, we routinely test the binding efficiency of nanobodies for their cognate cell surface antigens, before integrating them as sensing domains into complex synthetic receptor architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugne Baronaite
- Centre for Engineering Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Institute for Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Elise Cachat
- Centre for Engineering Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
- Institute for Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
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4
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Frecot DI, Froehlich T, Rothbauer U. 30 years of nanobodies - an ongoing success story of small binders in biological research. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs261395. [PMID: 37937477 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A milestone in the field of recombinant binding molecules was achieved 30 years ago with the discovery of single-domain antibodies from which antigen-binding variable domains, better known as nanobodies (Nbs), can be derived. Being only one tenth the size of conventional antibodies, Nbs feature high affinity and specificity, while being highly stable and soluble. In addition, they display accessibility to cryptic sites, low off-target accumulation and deep tissue penetration. Efficient selection methods, such as (semi-)synthetic/naïve or immunized cDNA libraries and display technologies, have facilitated the isolation of Nbs against diverse targets, and their single-gene format enables easy functionalization and high-yield production. This Review highlights recent advances in Nb applications in various areas of biological research, including structural biology, proteomics and high-resolution and in vivo imaging. In addition, we provide insights into intracellular applications of Nbs, such as live-cell imaging, biosensors and targeted protein degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desiree I Frecot
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Markwiesenstrasse 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Theresa Froehlich
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Rothbauer
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
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5
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Matsuda S, Affolter M. Is Drosophila Dpp/BMP morphogen spreading required for wing patterning and growth? Bioessays 2023; 45:e2200218. [PMID: 37452394 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200218] [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: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Secreted signaling molecules act as morphogens to control patterning and growth in many developing tissues. Since locally produced morphogens spread to form a concentration gradient in the surrounding tissue, spreading is generally thought to be the key step in the non-autonomous actions. Here, we review recent advances in tool development to investigate morphogen function using the role of decapentaplegic (Dpp)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-type ligand in the Drosophila wing disc as an example. By applying protein binder tools to distinguish between the roles of Dpp spreading and local Dpp signaling, we found that Dpp signaling in the source cells is important for wing patterning and growth but Dpp spreading from this source cells is not as strictly required as previously thought. Given recent studies showing unexpected requirements of long-range action of different morphogens, manipulating endogenous morphogen gradients by synthetic protein binder tools could shed more light on how morphogens act in developing tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Matsuda
- Growth & Development, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Affolter
- Growth & Development, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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6
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Kakasi B, Gácsi E, Jankovics H, Vonderviszt F. Extreme thermal stability of the antiGFP nanobody - GFP complex. BMC Res Notes 2023; 16:110. [PMID: 37340471 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-023-06382-3] [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: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its derivatives are widely used in biomedical research. The manipulation of GFP-tagged proteins by GFP-specific binders, e.g. single-domain antibodies (nanobodies), is of increasing significance. It is therefore important to better understand the properties of antiGFP-GFP interaction in order to establish methodological applications. In this work the interaction of superfolder GFP (sfGFP) and its enhancer nanobody (aGFPenh) was characterized further. RESULTS Previous calorimetric experiments demonstrated that the aGFPenh nanobody binds strongly to sfGFP with a nanomolar affinity. Here we show that this interaction results in a substantial structural stabilization of aGFPenh reflected in a significant increase of its melting temperature by almost 30 °C. The thermal stability of the sfGFP-aGFPenh complex is close to 85 °C in the pH range 7.0-8.5. For therapeutic applications thermoresistance is often an essential factor. Our results suggest that methodologies based on GFP-aGFP interaction can be applied under a wide range of physicochemical conditions. The aGFPenh nanobody seems to be suitable for manipulating sfGFP-labeled targets even in extreme thermophilic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Kakasi
- Bio-Nanosystems Laboratory, Research Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Eszter Gácsi
- Bio-Nanosystems Laboratory, Research Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Hajnalka Jankovics
- Bio-Nanosystems Laboratory, Research Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Vonderviszt
- Bio-Nanosystems Laboratory, Research Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary.
- Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science, Centre for Energy Research, Budapest, Hungary.
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7
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Gao B, Zhu S. Enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain activity by two microbial defensins. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1195156. [PMID: 37405160 PMCID: PMC10315472 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1195156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptide binders are of great interest to both basic and biomedical research due to their unique properties in manipulating protein functions in a precise spatial and temporal manner. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein is a ligand that captures human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to initiate infection. The development of binders of RBDs has value either as antiviral leads or as versatile tools to study the functional properties of RBDs dependent on their binding positions on the RBDs. In this study, we report two microbe-derived antibacterial defensins with RBD-binding activity. These two naturally occurring binders bind wild-type RBD (WT RBD) and RBDs from various variants with moderate-to-high affinity (7.6-1,450 nM) and act as activators that enhance the ACE2-binding activity of RBDs. Using a computational approach, we mapped an allosteric pathway in WT RBD that connects its ACE2-binding sites to other distal regions. The latter is targeted by the defensins, in which a cation-π interaction could trigger the peptide-elicited allostery in RBDs. The discovery of the two positive allosteric peptides of SARS-CoV-2 RBD will promote the development of new molecular tools for investigating the biochemical mechanisms of RBD allostery.
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8
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Mendoza C, Hanegan C, Sperry A, Vargas L, Case T, Bikman B, Mizrachi D. Insulin receptor-inspired soluble insulin binder. Eur J Cell Biol 2023; 102:151293. [PMID: 36739671 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151293] [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: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The insulin receptor (IR) is a 320 kDa membrane receptor tyrosine kinase mediating the pleiotropic actions of insulin, leading to phosphorylation of several intracellular substrates including serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1), and IR autophosphorylation. Structural details of the IR have been recently revealed. A high-binding insulin site, L1 (Kd =2 nM), consists of two distant domains in the primary sequence of the IR. Our design simplified the L1 binding site and transformed it into a soluble insulin binder (sIB). The sIB, a 17 kDa protein, binds insulin with 38 nM affinity. The sIB competes with IR for insulin and reduces by more than 50% phosphorylation of AKT1 in HEK 293 T cells, with similar effects on IR autophosphorylation. The sIB represents a new tool for research of insulin binding and signaling properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Mendoza
- Cell Biology and Physiology, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Cameron Hanegan
- Cell Biology and Physiology, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Alek Sperry
- Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Logan Vargas
- Cell Biology and Physiology, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Trevor Case
- Cell Biology and Physiology, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Benjamin Bikman
- Cell Biology and Physiology, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Dario Mizrachi
- Cell Biology and Physiology, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States.
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9
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Design of an artificial phage-display library based on a new scaffold improved for average stability of the randomized proteins. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1339. [PMID: 36693880 PMCID: PMC9873692 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27710-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Scaffold-based protein libraries are designed to be both diverse and rich in functional/folded proteins. However, introducing an extended diversity while preserving stability of the initial scaffold remains a challenge. Here we developed an original approach to select the ensemble of folded proteins from an initial library. The thermostable CheY protein from Thermotoga maritima was chosen as scaffold. Four loops of CheY were diversified to create a new binding surface. The subset of the library giving rise to folded proteins was first selected using a natural protein partner of the template scaffold. Then, a gene shuffling approach based on a single restriction enzyme was used to recombine DNA sequences encoding these filtrated variants. Taken together, the filtration strategy and the shuffling of the filtrated sequences were shown to enrich the library in folded and stable sequences while maintaining a large diversity in the final library (Lib-Cheytins 2.1). Binders of the Oplophorus luciferase Kaz domain were then selected by phage display from the final library, showing affinities in the μM range. One of the best variants induced a loss of 92% of luminescent activity, suggesting that this Cheytin preferentially binds to the Kaz active site.
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10
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Loreau V, Rees R, Chan EH, Taxer W, Gregor K, Mußil B, Pitaval C, Luis NM, Mangeol P, Schnorrer F, Görlich D. A nanobody toolbox to investigate localisation and dynamics of Drosophila titins and other key sarcomeric proteins. eLife 2023; 12:79343. [PMID: 36645120 PMCID: PMC9886281 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Measuring the positions and dynamics of proteins in intact tissues or whole animals is key to understanding protein function. However, to date, this is challenging, as the accessibility of large antibodies to dense tissues is often limited, and fluorescent proteins inserted close to a domain of interest may affect protein function. These complications apply in particular to muscle sarcomeres, arguably one of the most protein-dense assemblies in nature, which complicates studying sarcomere morphogenesis at molecular resolution. Here, we introduce a toolbox of nanobodies recognising various domains of the two Drosophila titin homologs, Sallimus and Projectin, as well as the key sarcomeric proteins Obscurin, α-Actinin, and Zasp52. We verified the superior labelling qualities of our nanobodies in muscle tissue as compared to antibodies. By applying our toolbox to larval muscles, we found a gigantic Sallimus isoform stretching more than 2 µm to bridge the sarcomeric I-band, while Projectin covers almost the entire myosin filaments in a polar orientation. Transgenic expression of tagged nanobodies confirmed their high affinity-binding without affecting target protein function. Finally, adding a degradation signal to anti-Sallimus nanobodies suggested that it is difficult to fully degrade Sallimus in mature sarcomeres; however, expression of these nanobodies caused developmental lethality. These results may inspire the generation of similar toolboxes for other large protein complexes in Drosophila or mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Loreau
- Turing Centre for Living Systems, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, IDBMMarseilleFrance
| | - Renate Rees
- Department of Cellular Logistics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Eunice HoYee Chan
- Turing Centre for Living Systems, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, IDBMMarseilleFrance
| | - Waltraud Taxer
- Department of Cellular Logistics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Kathrin Gregor
- Department of Cellular Logistics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Bianka Mußil
- Department of Cellular Logistics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Christophe Pitaval
- Turing Centre for Living Systems, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, IDBMMarseilleFrance
| | - Nuno Miguel Luis
- Turing Centre for Living Systems, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, IDBMMarseilleFrance
| | - Pierre Mangeol
- Turing Centre for Living Systems, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, IDBMMarseilleFrance
| | - Frank Schnorrer
- Turing Centre for Living Systems, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, IDBMMarseilleFrance
| | - Dirk Görlich
- Department of Cellular Logistics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
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11
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Schueder F, Mangeol P, Chan EH, Rees R, Schünemann J, Jungmann R, Görlich D, Schnorrer F. Nanobodies combined with DNA-PAINT super-resolution reveal a staggered titin nanoarchitecture in flight muscles. eLife 2023; 12:79344. [PMID: 36645127 PMCID: PMC9886278 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Sarcomeres are the force-producing units of all striated muscles. Their nanoarchitecture critically depends on the large titin protein, which in vertebrates spans from the sarcomeric Z-disc to the M-band and hence links actin and myosin filaments stably together. This ensures sarcomeric integrity and determines the length of vertebrate sarcomeres. However, the instructive role of titins for sarcomeric architecture outside of vertebrates is not as well understood. Here, we used a series of nanobodies, the Drosophila titin nanobody toolbox, recognising specific domains of the two Drosophila titin homologs Sallimus and Projectin to determine their precise location in intact flight muscles. By combining nanobodies with DNA-PAINT super-resolution microscopy, we found that, similar to vertebrate titin, Sallimus bridges across the flight muscle I-band, whereas Projectin is located at the beginning of the A-band. Interestingly, the ends of both proteins overlap at the I-band/A-band border, revealing a staggered organisation of the two Drosophila titin homologs. This architecture may help to stably anchor Sallimus at the myosin filament and hence ensure efficient force transduction during flight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Schueder
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig Maximilian UniversityMunichGermany
- Max Planck Institute of BiochemistryMartinsriedGermany
| | - Pierre Mangeol
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living SystemsMarseilleFrance
| | - Eunice HoYee Chan
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living SystemsMarseilleFrance
| | - Renate Rees
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | | | - Ralf Jungmann
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig Maximilian UniversityMunichGermany
- Max Planck Institute of BiochemistryMartinsriedGermany
| | - Dirk Görlich
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Frank Schnorrer
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living SystemsMarseilleFrance
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12
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Kim AR, Xu J, Cheloha R, Mohr SE, Zirin J, Ploegh HL, Perrimon N. NanoTag Nanobody Tools for Drosophila In Vitro and In Vivo Studies. Curr Protoc 2022; 2:e628. [PMID: 36571722 PMCID: PMC9811555 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Nanobodies have emerged as powerful protein-binding tools to uncover protein functions. Using functionalized protein binders, proteins of interest can be visualized, degraded, delocalized, or post-translationally modified in vivo. We recently reported the use of two short peptide tags, 10-aa 127D01 and 14-aa VHH05, and their corresponding nanobodies, Nb127D01 and NbVHH05, for both in vitro and in vivo studies in Drosophila. Here, we provide detailed protocols for nanobody production and for visualization of proteins of interest in either fixed or live samples. In addition, we include protocols for endogenous protein tagging using CRISPR-mediated genome engineering. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Nanobody production in S2 cells Basic Protocol 2: Nanobody expression and purification in bacterial cells Basic Protocol 3: Immunostaining with nanobodies Basic Protocol 4: Immunoblotting with nanobodies Basic Protocol 5: Immunoprecipitation with nanobodies prepared from S2 cells Basic Protocol 6: Immunoprecipitation with nanobodies prepared from bacteria Basic Protocol 7: NbVHH05 and Nb127D01 used as chromobodies Basic Protocol 8: NanoTag trap as a method to alter protein localization Support Protocol: CRISPR-mediated tagging of endogenous genes with NanoTags.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ah-Ram Kim
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jun Xu
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Ross Cheloha
- Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stephanie E Mohr
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jonathan Zirin
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hidde L Ploegh
- Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Norbert Perrimon
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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13
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Al-Amin RA, Muthelo PM, Abdurakhmanov E, Vincke C, Amin SP, Muyldermans S, Danielson UH, Landegren U. Sensitive Protein Detection Using Site-Specifically Oligonucleotide-Conjugated Nanobodies. Anal Chem 2022; 94:10054-10061. [PMID: 35786874 PMCID: PMC9310004 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c00584] [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] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
![]()
High-quality affinity
probes are critical for sensitive and specific
protein detection, in particular for detection of protein biomarkers
in the early phases of disease development. Proximity extension assays
(PEAs) have been used for high-throughput multiplexed protein detection
of up to a few thousand different proteins in one or a few microliters
of plasma. Clonal affinity reagents can offer advantages over the
commonly used polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) in terms of reproducibility
and standardization of such assays. Here, we explore nanobodies (Nbs)
as an alternative to pAbs as affinity reagents for PEA. We describe
an efficient site-specific approach for preparing high-quality oligo-conjugated
Nb probes via enzyme coupling using Sortase A (SrtA). The procedure
allows convenient removal of unconjugated affinity reagents after
conjugation. The purified high-grade Nb probes were used in PEA, and
the reactions provided an efficient means to select optimal pairs
of binding reagents from a group of affinity reagents. We demonstrate
that Nb-based PEA (nano-PEA) for interleukin-6 (IL6) detection can
augment assay performance, compared to the use of pAb probes. We identify
and validate Nb combinations capable of binding in pairs without competition
for IL6 antigen detection by PEA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasel A Al-Amin
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Phathutshedzo M Muthelo
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Eldar Abdurakhmanov
- Department of Chemistry - BMC, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 576, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Cécile Vincke
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.,Myeloid Cell Immunology Laboratory, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Shahnaz P Amin
- Capio Vårdcentral Väsby, Dragonvägen 92, 194 33 Upplands Väsby, Sweden
| | - Serge Muyldermans
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - U Helena Danielson
- Department of Chemistry - BMC, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 576, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ulf Landegren
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08 Uppsala, Sweden
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14
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Swanson S, Sivaraman V, Grigoryan G, Keating AE. Tertiary motifs as building blocks for the design of protein‐binding peptides. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4322. [PMID: 35634780 PMCID: PMC9088223 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Swanson
- Department of Biology Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge Massachusetts USA
| | - Venkatesh Sivaraman
- Department of Biology Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge Massachusetts USA
| | - Gevorg Grigoryan
- Department of Computer Science Dartmouth College Hanover New Hampshire USA
| | - Amy E. Keating
- Department of Biology Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge Massachusetts USA
- Department of Biological Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge Massachusetts USA
- Koch Center for Integrative Cancer Research Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge Massachusetts USA
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15
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Mahita J, Kim DG, Son S, Choi Y, Kim HS, Bailey-Kellogg C. Computational epitope binning reveals functional equivalence of sequence-divergent paratopes. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:2169-2180. [PMID: 35615020 PMCID: PMC9118127 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Epitope binning groups target-specific protein binders recognizing the same binding region. The “Epibin” method utilizes docking models to computationally predict competition and identify bins. Epibin recapitulated binding competition of repebody variants as determined by immunoassays. In addition, Epibin enabled identification of ‘paratope-equivalent’ residues in sequence-dissimilar variants. Computational epitope binning can scale to allow characterization of entire antigen-specific antibody repertoires.
The therapeutic efficacy of a protein binder largely depends on two factors: its binding site and its binding affinity. Advances in in vitro library display screening and next-generation sequencing have enabled accelerated development of strong binders, yet identifying their binding sites still remains a major challenge. The differentiation, or “binning”, of binders into different groups that recognize distinct binding sites on their target is a promising approach that facilitates high-throughput screening of binders that may show different biological activity. Here we study the extent to which the information contained in the amino acid sequences comprising a set of target-specific binders can be leveraged to bin them, inferring functional equivalence of their binding regions, or paratopes, based directly on comparison of the sequences, their modeled structures, or their modeled interactions. Using a leucine-rich repeat binding scaffold known as a “repebody” as the source of diversity in recognition against interleukin-6 (IL-6), we show that the “Epibin” approach introduced here effectively utilized structural modelling and docking to extract specificity information encoded in the repebody amino acid sequences and thereby successfully recapitulate IL-6 binding competition observed in immunoassays. Furthermore, our computational binning provided a basis for designing in vitro mutagenesis experiments to pinpoint specificity-determining residues. Finally, we demonstrate that the Epibin approach can extend to antibodies, retrospectively comparing its predictions to results from antigen-specific antibody competition studies. The study thus demonstrates the utility of modeling structure and binding from the amino acid sequences of different binders against the same target, and paves the way for larger-scale binning and analysis of entire repertoires.
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16
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Xu J, Kim AR, Cheloha RW, Fischer FA, Li JSS, Feng Y, Stoneburner E, Binari R, Mohr SE, Zirin J, Ploegh HL, Perrimon N. Protein visualization and manipulation in Drosophila through the use of epitope tags recognized by nanobodies. eLife 2022; 11:74326. [PMID: 35076390 PMCID: PMC8853664 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Expansion of the available repertoire of reagents for visualization and manipulation of proteins will help understand their function. Short epitope tags linked to proteins of interest and recognized by existing binders such as nanobodies facilitate protein studies by obviating the need to isolate new antibodies directed against them. Nanobodies have several advantages over conventional antibodies, as they can be expressed and used as tools for visualization and manipulation of proteins in vivo. Here, we characterize two short (<15aa) NanoTag epitopes, 127D01 and VHH05, and their corresponding high-affinity nanobodies. We demonstrate their use in Drosophila for in vivo protein detection and re-localization, direct and indirect immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, and immunoprecipitation. We further show that CRISPR-mediated gene targeting provides a straightforward approach to tagging endogenous proteins with the NanoTags. Single copies of the NanoTags, regardless of their location, suffice for detection. This versatile and validated toolbox of tags and nanobodies will serve as a resource for a wide array of applications, including functional studies in Drosophila and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Xu
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School
| | - Ah-Ram Kim
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School
| | | | | | | | - Yuan Feng
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School
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17
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Avellaneda J, Schnorrer F. Tagging Drosophila Proteins with Genetically Encoded Fluorophores. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2540:251-268. [PMID: 35980582 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2541-5_12] [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: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Proteins are typically not expressed homogeneously in all cells of a complex organism. Within cells, proteins can dynamically change locations, be transported to their destinations, or be degraded upon external signals. Thus, revealing the cellular and subcellular localizations as well as the temporal dynamics of a protein provides important insights into the possible function of the studied protein. Tagging a protein of interest with a genetically encoded fluorophore enables us to follow its expression dynamics in the living organism. Here, we summarize the genetic resources available for tagged Drosophila proteins that assist in studying protein expression and dynamics. We also review the various techniques used in the past and at present to tag a protein of interest with a genetically encoded fluorophore. Comparing the pros and cons of the various techniques guides the reader to judge the suitable applications possible with these tagged proteins in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerome Avellaneda
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Frank Schnorrer
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France.
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18
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Asaadi Y, Jouneghani FF, Janani S, Rahbarizadeh F. A comprehensive comparison between camelid nanobodies and single chain variable fragments. Biomark Res 2021; 9:87. [PMID: 34863296 PMCID: PMC8642758 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-021-00332-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
By the emergence of recombinant DNA technology, many antibody fragments have been developed devoid of undesired properties of natural immunoglobulins. Among them, camelid heavy-chain variable domains (VHHs) and single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) are the most favored ones. While scFv is used widely in various applications, camelid antibodies (VHHs) can serve as an alternative because of their superior chemical and physical properties such as higher solubility, stability, smaller size, and lower production cost. Here, these two counterparts are compared in structure and properties to identify which one is more suitable for each of their various therapeutic, diagnosis, and research applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasaman Asaadi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Fazlollahi Jouneghani
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Janani
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Rahbarizadeh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
- Research and Development Center of Biotechnology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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19
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Non-Antibody-Based Binders for the Enrichment of Proteins for Analysis by Mass Spectrometry. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11121791. [PMID: 34944435 PMCID: PMC8698613 DOI: 10.3390/biom11121791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There is often a need to isolate proteins from body fluids, such as plasma or serum, prior to further analysis with (targeted) mass spectrometry. Although immunoglobulin or antibody-based binders have been successful in this regard, they possess certain disadvantages, which stimulated the development and validation of alternative, non-antibody-based binders. These binders are based on different protein scaffolds and are often selected and optimized using phage or other display technologies. This review focuses on several non-antibody-based binders in the context of enriching proteins for subsequent liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis and compares them to antibodies. In addition, we give a brief introduction to approaches for the immobilization of binders. The combination of non-antibody-based binders and targeted mass spectrometry is promising in areas, like regulated bioanalysis of therapeutic proteins or the quantification of biomarkers. However, the rather limited commercial availability of these binders presents a bottleneck that needs to be addressed.
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20
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Writing and erasing O-GlcNAc from target proteins in cells. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:2891-2901. [PMID: 34783346 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is a widespread reversible modification on nucleocytoplasmic proteins that plays an important role in many biochemical processes and is highly relevant to numerous human diseases. The O-GlcNAc modification has diverse functional impacts on individual proteins and glycosites, and methods for editing this modification on substrates are essential to decipher these functions. Herein, we review recent progress in developing methods for O-GlcNAc regulation, with a focus on methods for editing O-GlcNAc with protein- and site-selectivity in cells. The applications, advantages, and limitations of currently available strategies for writing and erasing O-GlcNAc and future directions are also discussed. These emerging approaches to manipulate O-GlcNAc on a target protein in cells will greatly accelerate the development of functional studies and enable therapeutic interventions in the O-GlcNAc field.
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21
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Matsuda S, Schaefer JV, Mii Y, Hori Y, Bieli D, Taira M, Plückthun A, Affolter M. Asymmetric requirement of Dpp/BMP morphogen dispersal in the Drosophila wing disc. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6435. [PMID: 34750371 PMCID: PMC8576045 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26726-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
How morphogen gradients control patterning and growth in developing tissues remains largely unknown due to lack of tools manipulating morphogen gradients. Here, we generate two membrane-tethered protein binders that manipulate different aspects of Decapentaplegic (Dpp), a morphogen required for overall patterning and growth of the Drosophila wing. One is "HA trap" based on a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) against the HA tag that traps HA-Dpp to mainly block its dispersal, the other is "Dpp trap" based on a Designed Ankyrin Repeat Protein (DARPin) against Dpp that traps Dpp to block both its dispersal and signaling. Using these tools, we found that, while posterior patterning and growth require Dpp dispersal, anterior patterning and growth largely proceed without Dpp dispersal. We show that dpp transcriptional refinement from an initially uniform to a localized expression and persistent signaling in transient dpp source cells render the anterior compartment robust against the absence of Dpp dispersal. Furthermore, despite a critical requirement of dpp for the overall wing growth, neither Dpp dispersal nor direct signaling is critical for lateral wing growth after wing pouch specification. These results challenge the long-standing dogma that Dpp dispersal is strictly required to control and coordinate overall wing patterning and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonas V Schaefer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yusuke Mii
- National Institute for Basic Biology and Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- JST PRESTO, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yutaro Hori
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Masanori Taira
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Andreas Plückthun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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22
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Ákos Z, Dunipace L, Stathopoulos A. NaNuTrap: a technique for in vivo cell nucleus labelling using nanobodies. Development 2021; 148:dev199822. [PMID: 34328170 PMCID: PMC10656463 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In vivo cell labelling is challenging in fast developmental processes because many cell types differentiate more quickly than the maturation time of fluorescent proteins, making visualization of these tissues impossible with standard techniques. Here, we present a nanobody-based method, Nanobody Nuclear Trap (NaNuTrap), which works with the existing Gal4/UAS system in Drosophila and allows for early in vivo cell nuclei labelling independently of the maturation time of the fluorescent protein. This restores the utility of fluorescent proteins that have longer maturation times, such as those used in two-photon imaging, for live imaging of fast or very early developmental processes. We also present a more general application of this system, whereby NaNuTrap can convert cytoplasmic GFP expressed in any existing transgenic fly line into a nuclear label. This nuclear re-localization of the fluorescent signal can improve the utility of the GFP label, e.g. in cell counting, as well as resulting in a general increase in intensity of the live fluorescent signal. We demonstrate these capabilities of NaNuTrap by effectively tracking subsets of cells during the fast movements associated with gastrulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsuzsa Ákos
- California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Leslie Dunipace
- California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Angelike Stathopoulos
- California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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23
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Forlani G, Di Ventura B. A light way for nuclear cell biologists. J Biochem 2021; 169:273-286. [PMID: 33245128 PMCID: PMC8053400 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvaa139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The nucleus is a very complex organelle present in eukaryotic cells. Having the crucial task to safeguard, organize and manage the genetic information, it must tightly control its molecular constituents, its shape and its internal architecture at any given time. Despite our vast knowledge of nuclear cell biology, much is yet to be unravelled. For instance, only recently we came to appreciate the existence of a dynamic nuclear cytoskeleton made of actin filaments that regulates processes such as gene expression, DNA repair and nuclear expansion. This suggests further exciting discoveries ahead of us. Modern cell biologists embrace a new methodology relying on precise perturbations of cellular processes that require a reversible, highly spatially confinable, rapid, inexpensive and tunEable external stimulus: light. In this review, we discuss how optogenetics, the state-of-the-art technology that uses genetically encoded light-sensitive proteins to steer biological processes, can be adopted to specifically investigate nuclear cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Forlani
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM)
- Centers for Biological Signalling Studies BIOSS and CIBSS
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Biology II, Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Barbara Di Ventura
- Centers for Biological Signalling Studies BIOSS and CIBSS
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Biology II, Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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24
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Vigano MA, Ell CM, Kustermann MMM, Aguilar G, Matsuda S, Zhao N, Stasevich TJ, Affolter M, Pyrowolakis G. Protein manipulation using single copies of short peptide tags in cultured cells and in Drosophila melanogaster. Development 2021; 148:dev191700. [PMID: 33593816 PMCID: PMC7990863 DOI: 10.1242/dev.191700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Cellular development and function rely on highly dynamic molecular interactions among proteins distributed in all cell compartments. Analysis of these interactions has been one of the main topics in cellular and developmental research, and has been mostly achieved by the manipulation of proteins of interest (POIs) at the genetic level. Although genetic strategies have significantly contributed to our current understanding, targeting specific interactions of POIs in a time- and space-controlled manner or analysing the role of POIs in dynamic cellular processes, such as cell migration or cell division, would benefit from more-direct approaches. The recent development of specific protein binders, which can be expressed and function intracellularly, along with advancement in synthetic biology, have contributed to the creation of a new toolbox for direct protein manipulations. Here, we have selected a number of short-tag epitopes for which protein binders from different scaffolds have been generated and showed that single copies of these tags allowed efficient POI binding and manipulation in living cells. Using Drosophila, we also find that single short tags can be used for POI manipulation in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Alessandra Vigano
- Growth and Development, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Clara-Maria Ell
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Biology I, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Biological Systems Analysis, University of Freiburg, Habsburgerstrasse 49, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Manuela M M Kustermann
- Institute for Biology I, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Biological Systems Analysis, University of Freiburg, Habsburgerstrasse 49, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gustavo Aguilar
- Growth and Development, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Shinya Matsuda
- Growth and Development, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ning Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Timothy J Stasevich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Markus Affolter
- Growth and Development, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - George Pyrowolakis
- Institute for Biology I, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Biological Systems Analysis, University of Freiburg, Habsburgerstrasse 49, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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25
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Limsakul P, Charupanit K, Moonla C, Jeerapan I. Advances in emergent biological recognition elements and bioelectronics for diagnosing COVID-19. EMERGENT MATERIALS 2021; 4:231-247. [PMID: 33718775 PMCID: PMC7937783 DOI: 10.1007/s42247-021-00175-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Coronaviruses pose a serious threat to public health. Tremendous efforts are dedicated to advance reliable and effective detection of coronaviruses. Currently, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis mainly relies on the detection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genetic materials by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. However, simpler and more rapid and reliable alternatives are needed to meet high demand during the pandemic. Biosensor-based diagnosis approaches become alternatives for selectively and rapidly detecting virus particles because of their biorecognition elements consisting of biomaterials that are specific to virus biomarkers. Here, we summarize biorecognition materials, including antibodies and antibody-like molecules, that are designed to recognize SARS-CoV-2 biomarkers and the advances of recently developed biosensors for COVID-19 diagnosis. The design of biorecognition materials or layers is crucial to maximize biosensing performances, such as high selectivity and sensitivity of virus detection. Additionally, the recent representative achievements in developing bioelectronics for sensing coronavirus are included. This review includes scholarly articles, mainly published in 2020 and early 2021. In addition to capturing the fast development in the fields of applied materials and biodiagnosis, the outlook of this rapidly evolving technology is summarized. Early diagnosis of COVID-19 could help prevent the spread of this contagious disease and provide significant information to medical teams to treat patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praopim Limsakul
- Division of Physical Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112 Thailand
- Center of Excellence for Trace Analysis and Biosensor, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112 Thailand
| | - Krit Charupanit
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110 Thailand
| | - Chochanon Moonla
- School of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Suranaree University of Technology, 111, University Avenue, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000 Thailand
| | - Itthipon Jeerapan
- Division of Physical Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112 Thailand
- Center of Excellence for Trace Analysis and Biosensor, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112 Thailand
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26
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Wilkes J, Scott-Tucker A, Wright M, Crabbe T, Scrutton NS. Exploiting Single Domain Antibodies as Regulatory Parts to Modulate Monoterpenoid Production in E. coli. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:2828-2839. [PMID: 32927940 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering offer potentially green and attractive routes to the production of high value compounds. The provision of high-quality parts and pathways is crucial in enabling the biosynthesis of chemicals using synthetic biology. While a number of regulatory parts that provide control at the transcriptional and translational level have been developed, relatively few exist at the protein level. Single domain antibodies (sdAb) such as camelid heavy chain variable fragments (VHH) possess binding characteristics which could be exploited for their development and use as novel parts for regulating metabolic pathways at the protein level in microbial cell factories. Here, a platform for the use of VHH as tools in Escherichia coli is developed and subsequently used to modulate linalool production in E. coli. The coproduction of a Design of Experiments (DoE) optimized pBbE8k His6-VHHCyDisCo system alongside a heterologous linalool production pathway facilitated the identification of anti-bLinS VHH that functioned as modulators of bLinS. This resulted in altered product profiles and significant variation in the titers of linalool, geraniol, nerolidol, and indole obtained. The ability to alter the production levels of high value terpenoids, such as linalool, in a tunable manner at the protein level could represent a significant step forward for the development of improved microbial cell factories. This study serves as a proof of principle indicating that VHH can be used to modulate enzyme activity in engineered pathways within E. coli. Given their almost limitless binding potential, we posit that single domain antibodies could emerge as powerful regulatory parts in synthetic biology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Wilkes
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | | | - Mike Wright
- UCB Pharma Ltd., Slough, SL1 3WE, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Crabbe
- UCB Pharma Ltd., Slough, SL1 3WE, United Kingdom
| | - Nigel S. Scrutton
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
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27
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Jedlitzke B, Mootz HD. Photocaged Nanobodies Delivered into Cells for Light Activation of Biological Processes. CHEMPHOTOCHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/cptc.202000163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Jedlitzke
- Institute of Biochemistry Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy University of Muenster Correns-Str. 36 48149 Münster Germany
| | - Henning D. Mootz
- Institute of Biochemistry Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy University of Muenster Correns-Str. 36 48149 Münster Germany
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28
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Zhang C, Ötjengerdes RM, Roewe J, Mejias R, Marschall ALJ. Applying Antibodies Inside Cells: Principles and Recent Advances in Neurobiology, Virology and Oncology. BioDrugs 2020; 34:435-462. [PMID: 32301049 PMCID: PMC7391400 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-020-00419-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
To interfere with cell function, many scientists rely on methods that target DNA or RNA due to the ease with which they can be applied. Proteins are usually the final executors of function but are targeted only indirectly by these methods. Recent advances in targeted degradation of proteins based on proteolysis-targeting chimaeras (PROTACs), ubiquibodies, deGradFP (degrade Green Fluorescent Protein) and other approaches have demonstrated the potential of interfering directly at the protein level for research and therapy. Proteins can be targeted directly and very specifically by antibodies, but using antibodies inside cells has so far been considered to be challenging. However, it is possible to deliver antibodies or other proteins into the cytosol using standard laboratory equipment. Physical methods such as electroporation have been demonstrated to be efficient and validated thoroughly over time. The expression of intracellular antibodies (intrabodies) inside cells is another way to interfere with intracellular targets at the protein level. Methodological strategies to target the inside of cells with antibodies, including delivered antibodies and expressed antibodies, as well as applications in the research areas of neurobiology, viral infections and oncology, are reviewed here. Antibodies have already been used to interfere with a wide range of intracellular targets. Disease-related targets included proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (α-synuclein), Alzheimer's disease (amyloid-β) or Huntington's disease (mutant huntingtin [mHtt]). The applications of intrabodies in the context of viral infections include targeting proteins associated with HIV (e.g. HIV1-TAT, Rev, Vif, gp41, gp120, gp160) and different oncoviruses such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Epstein-Barr virus, and they have been used to interfere with various targets related to different processes in cancer, including oncogenic pathways, proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, metastasis, angiogenesis or neo-antigens (e.g. p53, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 [HER2], signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 [STAT3], RAS-related RHO-GTPase B (RHOB), cortactin, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 [VEGFR2], Ras, Bcr-Abl). Interfering at the protein level allows questions to be addressed that may remain unanswered using alternative methods. This review addresses why direct targeting of proteins allows unique insights, what is currently feasible in vitro, and how this relates to potential therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Zhang
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rina M Ötjengerdes
- Hannover Medical School (MHH), Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Julian Roewe
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Clinical Cooperation Unit (CCU) Neuroimmunology and Brain TumorImmunology (D170), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rebeca Mejias
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Andrea L J Marschall
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institute of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Brunswick, Germany.
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Structure-based engineering of anti-GFP nanobody tandems as ultra-high-affinity reagents for purification. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6239. [PMID: 32277083 PMCID: PMC7148334 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62606-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Green fluorescent proteins (GFPs) are widely used in biological research. Although GFP can be visualized easily, its precise manipulation through binding partners is still burdensome because of the limited availability of high-affinity binding partners and related structural information. Here, we report the crystal structure of GFPuv in complex with the anti-GFP nanobody LaG16 at 1.67 Å resolution, revealing the details of the binding between GFPuv and LaG16. The LaG16 binding site was on the opposite side of the GFP β-barrel from the binding site of the GFP-enhancer, another anti-GFP nanobody, indicating that the GFP-enhancer and LaG16 can bind to GFP together. Thus, we further designed 3 linkers of different lengths to fuse LaG16 and GFP-enhancer together, and the GFP binding of the three constructs was further tested by ITC. The construct with the (GGGGS)4 linker had the highest affinity with a KD of 0.5 nM. The GFP-enhancer-(GGGGS)4-LaG16 chimeric nanobody was further covalently linked to NHS-activated agarose and then used in the purification of a GFP-tagged membrane protein, GFP-tagged zebrafish P2X4, resulting in higher yield than purification with the GFP-enhancer nanobody alone. This work provides a proof of concept for the design of ultra-high-affinity binders of target proteins through dimerized nanobody chimaeras, and this strategy may also be applied to link interesting target protein nanobodies without overlapping binding surfaces.
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30
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Jedlitzke B, Yilmaz Z, Dörner W, Mootz HD. Photobodies: Light-Activatable Single-Domain Antibody Fragments. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:1506-1510. [PMID: 31755215 PMCID: PMC7004160 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201912286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Photocaged antibody fragments, termed photobodies, have been developed that are impaired in their antigen-binding capacity and can be activated by irradiation with UV light (365 nm). This rational design concept builds on the selective photocaging of a single tyrosine in a nanobody (a single-domain antibody fragment). Tyrosine is a frequently occurring residue in central positions of the paratope region. o-Nitrobenzyl-protected tyrosine variants were incorporated into four nanobodies, including examples directed against EGFR and HER2, and photodeprotection restores the native sequence. An anti-GFP photobody exhibited an at least 10 000-fold impaired binding affinity before photodeprotection compared with the parent nanobody. A bispecific nanobody-photobody fusion protein was generated to trigger protein heterodimerization by light. Photoactivatable antibodies are expected to become versatile protein reagents and to enable novel approaches in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Jedlitzke
- Institute of BiochemistryDepartment of Chemistry and PharmacyUniversity of MuensterWilhelm-Klemm-Str. 248149MünsterGermany
| | - Zahide Yilmaz
- Institute of BiochemistryDepartment of Chemistry and PharmacyUniversity of MuensterWilhelm-Klemm-Str. 248149MünsterGermany
| | - Wolfgang Dörner
- Institute of BiochemistryDepartment of Chemistry and PharmacyUniversity of MuensterWilhelm-Klemm-Str. 248149MünsterGermany
| | - Henning D. Mootz
- Institute of BiochemistryDepartment of Chemistry and PharmacyUniversity of MuensterWilhelm-Klemm-Str. 248149MünsterGermany
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31
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Mittl PR, Ernst P, Plückthun A. Chaperone-assisted structure elucidation with DARPins. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2020; 60:93-100. [PMID: 31918361 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) are artificial binding proteins that have found many uses in therapy, diagnostics and biochemical research. They substantially extend the scope of antibody-derived binders. Their high affinity and specificity, rigidity, extended paratope, and facile bacterial production make them attractive for structural biology. Complexes with simple DARPins have been crystallized for a long time, but particularly the rigid helix fusion strategy has opened new opportunities. Rigid DARPin fusions expand crystallization space, enable recruitment of targets in a host lattice and reduce the size limit for cryo-EM. Besides applications in structural biology, rigid DARPin fusions also serve as molecular probes in cells to investigate spatial restraints in targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peer Re Mittl
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Ernst
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Plückthun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
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32
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Jedlitzke B, Yilmaz Z, Dörner W, Mootz HD. Photobodies: Light‐Activatable Single‐Domain Antibody Fragments. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201912286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Jedlitzke
- Institute of Biochemistry Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy University of Muenster Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 48149 Münster Germany
| | - Zahide Yilmaz
- Institute of Biochemistry Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy University of Muenster Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 48149 Münster Germany
| | - Wolfgang Dörner
- Institute of Biochemistry Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy University of Muenster Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 48149 Münster Germany
| | - Henning D. Mootz
- Institute of Biochemistry Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy University of Muenster Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 2 48149 Münster Germany
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33
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Drosophila research: From the genome to the proteome. C R Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2019.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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34
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R Ferreira R, Fukui H, Chow R, Vilfan A, Vermot J. The cilium as a force sensor-myth versus reality. J Cell Sci 2019; 132:132/14/jcs213496. [PMID: 31363000 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.213496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells need to sense their mechanical environment during the growth of developing tissues and maintenance of adult tissues. The concept of force-sensing mechanisms that act through cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions is now well established and accepted. Additionally, it is widely believed that force sensing can be mediated through cilia. Yet, this hypothesis is still debated. By using primary cilia sensing as a paradigm, we describe the physical requirements for cilium-mediated mechanical sensing and discuss the different hypotheses of how this could work. We review the different mechanosensitive channels within the cilium, their potential mode of action and their biological implications. In addition, we describe the biological contexts in which cilia are acting - in particular, the left-right organizer - and discuss the challenges to discriminate between cilium-mediated chemosensitivity and mechanosensitivity. Throughout, we provide perspectives on how quantitative analysis and physics-based arguments might help to better understand the biological mechanisms by which cells use cilia to probe their mechanical environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita R Ferreira
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1258, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France
| | - Hajime Fukui
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1258, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France
| | - Renee Chow
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1258, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France
| | - Andrej Vilfan
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS), Department of Living Matter Physics, 37077 Göttingen, Germany .,J. Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Julien Vermot
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 67404 Illkirch, France .,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1258, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France
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35
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Aguilar G, Vigano MA, Affolter M, Matsuda S. Reflections on the use of protein binders to study protein function in developmental biology. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2019; 8:e356. [PMID: 31265212 PMCID: PMC6851689 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Studies in the field of developmental biology aim to unravel how a fertilized egg develops into an adult organism and how proteins and other macromolecules work together during this process. With regard to protein function, most of the developmental studies have used genetic and RNA interference approaches, combined with biochemical analyses, to reach this goal. However, there always remains much room for interpretation on how a given protein functions, because proteins work together with many other molecules in complex regulatory networks and it is not easy to reveal the function of one given protein without affecting the networks. Likewise, it has remained difficult to experimentally challenge and/or validate the proposed concepts derived from mutant analyses without tools that directly manipulate protein function in a predictable manner. Recently, synthetic tools based on protein binders such as scFvs, nanobodies, DARPins, and others have been applied in developmental biology to directly manipulate target proteins in a predicted manner. Although such tools would have a great impact in filling the gap of knowledge between mutant phenotypes and protein functions, careful investigations are required when applying functionalized protein binders to fundamental questions in developmental biology. In this review, we first summarize how protein binders have been used in the field, and then reflect on possible guidelines for applying such tools to study protein functions in developmental biology. This article is categorized under: Technologies > Analysis of Proteins Establishment of Spatial and Temporal Patterns > Gradients Invertebrate Organogenesis > Flies.
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36
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Thaler M, Luppa PB. Highly sensitive immunodiagnostics at the point of care employing alternative recognition elements and smartphones: hype, trend, or revolution? Anal Bioanal Chem 2019; 411:7623-7635. [PMID: 31236649 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-019-01974-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Immunodiagnostic tests performed at the point of care (POC) today usually employ antibodies for biorecognition and are read out either visually or with specialized equipment. Availability of alternative biorecognition elements with promising features as well as smartphone-based approaches for signal readout, however, challenge the described established configuration in terms of analytical performance and practicability. Assessing these developments' clinical relevance and their impact on POC immunodiagnostics is demanding. The first part of this review will therefore give an overview on suitable diagnostic biosensors based on alternative recognition elements (such as nucleic acid-based aptamers or engineered binding proteins) and exemplify advantages and drawbacks of these biomolecules on the base of selected assays. The second part of the review then focuses on smartphone-connected diagnostics and discusses the indispensable considerations required for successful future clinical POCT implementation. Together, the joint depiction of two of the most innovative and exciting developments in the field will enable the reader to cast a glance into the distant future of POC immunodiagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Thaler
- Institut für Klinische Chemie und Pathobiochemie, Klinikum rechts der Isar der TU München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter B Luppa
- Institut für Klinische Chemie und Pathobiochemie, Klinikum rechts der Isar der TU München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
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37
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Prole DL, Taylor CW. A genetically encoded toolkit of functionalized nanobodies against fluorescent proteins for visualizing and manipulating intracellular signalling. BMC Biol 2019; 17:41. [PMID: 31122229 PMCID: PMC6533734 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-019-0662-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intrabodies enable targeting of proteins in live cells, but generating specific intrabodies against the thousands of proteins in a proteome poses a challenge. We leverage the widespread availability of fluorescently labelled proteins to visualize and manipulate intracellular signalling pathways in live cells by using nanobodies targeting fluorescent protein tags. RESULTS We generated a toolkit of plasmids encoding nanobodies against red and green fluorescent proteins (RFP and GFP variants), fused to functional modules. These include fluorescent sensors for visualization of Ca2+, H+ and ATP/ADP dynamics; oligomerising or heterodimerising modules that allow recruitment or sequestration of proteins and identification of membrane contact sites between organelles; SNAP tags that allow labelling with fluorescent dyes and targeted chromophore-assisted light inactivation; and nanobodies targeted to lumenal sub-compartments of the secretory pathway. We also developed two methods for crosslinking tagged proteins: a dimeric nanobody, and RFP-targeting and GFP-targeting nanobodies fused to complementary hetero-dimerizing domains. We show various applications of the toolkit and demonstrate, for example, that IP3 receptors deliver Ca2+ to the outer membrane of only a subset of mitochondria and that only one or two sites on a mitochondrion form membrane contacts with the plasma membrane. CONCLUSIONS This toolkit greatly expands the utility of intrabodies and will enable a range of approaches for studying and manipulating cell signalling in live cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Prole
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK.
| | - Colin W Taylor
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK.
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38
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Using Nanobodies to Study Protein Function in Developing Organisms. Antibodies (Basel) 2019; 8:antib8010016. [PMID: 31544822 PMCID: PMC6640693 DOI: 10.3390/antib8010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies have been invaluable tools to study proteins over the past decades. While indispensable for most biological studies including developmental biology, antibodies have been used mostly in fixed tissues or as binding reagents in the extracellular milieu. For functional studies and for clinical applications, antibodies have been functionalized by covalently fusing them to heterologous partners (i.e., chemicals, proteins or other moieties). Such functionalized antibodies have been less widely used in developmental biology studies. In the past few years, the discovery and application of small functional binding fragments derived from single-chain antibodies, so-called nanobodies, has resulted in novel approaches to study proteins during the development of multicellular animals in vivo. Expression of functionalized nanobody fusions from integrated transgenes allows manipulating proteins of interest in the extracellular and the intracellular milieu in a tissue- and time-dependent manner in an unprecedented manner. Here, we describe how nanobodies have been used in the field of developmental biology and look into the future to imagine how else nanobody-based reagents could be further developed to study the proteome in living organisms.
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39
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Mörsdorf D, Müller P. Tuning Protein Diffusivity with Membrane Tethers. Biochemistry 2019; 58:177-181. [PMID: 30562001 PMCID: PMC6344912 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b01150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 12/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Diffusion is essential for biochemical processes because it dominates molecular movement on small scales. Enzymatic reactions, for example, require fast exchange of substrate and product molecules in the local environment of the enzyme to ensure efficient turnover. On larger spatial scales, diffusion of secreted signaling proteins is thought to limit the spatial extent of tissue differentiation during embryonic development. While it is possible to measure diffusion in vivo, specifically interfering with diffusion processes and testing diffusion models directly remains challenging. The development of genetically encoded nanobodies that bind specific proteins has provided the opportunity to alter protein localization and reduce protein mobility. Here, we extend the nanobody toolbox with a membrane-tethered low-affinity diffusion regulator that can be used to tune the effective diffusivity of extracellular molecules over an order of magnitude in living embryos. This opens new avenues for future applications to functionally interfere with diffusion-dependent processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Mörsdorf
- Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the
Max Planck Society, Max-Planck-Ring 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Patrick Müller
- Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the
Max Planck Society, Max-Planck-Ring 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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40
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Vigano MA, Bieli D, Schaefer JV, Jakob RP, Matsuda S, Maier T, Plückthun A, Affolter M. DARPins recognizing mTFP1 as novel reagents for in vitro and in vivo protein manipulations. Biol Open 2018; 7:bio.036749. [PMID: 30237292 PMCID: PMC6262872 DOI: 10.1242/bio.036749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last few years, protein-based affinity reagents have proven very helpful in cell and developmental biology. While many of these versatile small proteins can be expressed both in the intracellular and extracellular milieu in cultured cells and in living organisms, they can also be functionalized by fusing them to different protein domains in order to regulate or modulate their target proteins in diverse manners. For example, protein binders have been employed to degrade, trap, localize or enzymatically modify specific target proteins. Whereas binders to many endogenous proteins or small protein tags have been generated, several affinity reagents against fluorescent proteins have also been created and used to manipulate target proteins tagged with the corresponding fluorescent protein. Both of these approaches have resulted in improved methods for cell biological and developmental studies. While binders against GFP and mCherry have been previously isolated and validated, we now report the generation and utilization of designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) against the monomeric teal fluorescent protein 1 (mTFP1). Here we use the generated DARPins to delocalize Rab proteins to the nuclear compartment, in which they cannot fulfil their regular functions anymore. In the future, such manipulations might enable the production of acute loss-of-function phenotypes in different cell types or in living organisms based on direct protein manipulation rather than on genetic loss-of-function analyses. Summary: Structural characterization of two novel DARPins (designed ankyrin repeat proteins) recognizing the monomeric teal fluorescent protein 1 (mTFP1) and their functionalization for protein manipulation strategies in cultured cells and potentially in living organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Alessandra Vigano
- Growth and Development, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dimitri Bieli
- Growth and Development, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jonas V Schaefer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roman P Jakob
- Structural Biology and Biophysics, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Shinya Matsuda
- Growth and Development, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Timm Maier
- Structural Biology and Biophysics, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Plückthun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Affolter
- Growth and Development, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
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41
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Pipe SW. Bioengineered molecules for the management of haemophilia: Promise and remaining challenges. Haemophilia 2018; 24 Suppl 6:68-75. [PMID: 29878662 DOI: 10.1111/hae.13507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant DNA technology has led to accelerating introduction of novel therapeutics for the treatment of haemophilia. This technology has driven the development of recombinant clotting factors, extended half-life clotting factors, alternative biologics to promote haemostasis and enabled the launch of the gene therapy era for haemophilia. At the core of this technology is the ability to study the structure and function of the native molecules and to apply rational bioengineering to overcome limitations to the existing therapies. Through the study of haemophilia-causing mutations, site-directed mutagenesis, detailed structural models and a wide repertoire of animal models, new bioengineering strategies are helping overcome some of the remaining limitations and challenges of traditional clotting factor concentrates. Some of these bioengineering strategies are now being partnered with improvements in vectorology leading to the first wave of successful gene therapy approaches. This study will review past and present bioengineered molecules that are advancing care for haemophilia as well as novel approaches that promise to continue to improve care and outcomes for patients with haemophilia.
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Affiliation(s)
- S W Pipe
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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