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Levitskaya Z, Ser Z, Koh H, Mei WS, Chee S, Sobota RM, Ghadessy JF. Engineering cell-free systems by chemoproteomic-assisted phenotypic screening. RSC Chem Biol 2024; 5:372-385. [PMID: 38576719 PMCID: PMC10989505 DOI: 10.1039/d4cb00004h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic screening is a valuable tool to both understand and engineer complex biological systems. We demonstrate the functionality of this approach in the development of cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) technology. Phenotypic screening identified numerous compounds that enhanced protein production in yeast lysate CFPS reactions. Notably, many of these were competitive ATP kinase inhibitors, with the exploitation of their inherent substrate promiscuity redirecting ATP flux towards heterologous protein expression. Chemoproteomic-guided strain engineering partially phenocopied drug effects, with a 30% increase in protein yield observed upon deletion of the ATP-consuming SSA1 component of the HSP70 chaperone. Moreover, drug-mediated metabolic rewiring coupled with template optimization generated the highest protein yields in yeast CFPS to date using a hitherto less efficient, but more cost-effective glucose energy regeneration system. Our approach highlights the utility of target-agnostic phenotypic screening and target identification to deconvolute cell-lysate complexity, adding to the expanding repertoire of strategies for improving CFPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zarina Levitskaya
- Protein and Peptide Engineering and Research Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) 8A Biomedical Grove Singapore 138648
| | - Zheng Ser
- Function Proteomics Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) 8A Biomedical Grove Singapore 138648
| | - Hiromi Koh
- Function Proteomics Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) 8A Biomedical Grove Singapore 138648
| | - Wang Shi Mei
- Function Proteomics Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) 8A Biomedical Grove Singapore 138648
| | - Sharon Chee
- Protein and Peptide Engineering and Research Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) 8A Biomedical Grove Singapore 138648
| | - Radoslaw Mikolaj Sobota
- Function Proteomics Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) 8A Biomedical Grove Singapore 138648
| | - John F Ghadessy
- Protein and Peptide Engineering and Research Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) 8A Biomedical Grove Singapore 138648
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Smith PR, Loerch S, Kunder N, Stanowick AD, Lou TF, Campbell ZT. Functionally distinct roles for eEF2K in the control of ribosome availability and p-body abundance. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6789. [PMID: 34815424 PMCID: PMC8611098 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27160-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Processing bodies (p-bodies) are a prototypical phase-separated RNA-containing granule. Their abundance is highly dynamic and has been linked to translation. Yet, the molecular mechanisms responsible for coordinate control of the two processes are unclear. Here, we uncover key roles for eEF2 kinase (eEF2K) in the control of ribosome availability and p-body abundance. eEF2K acts on a sole known substrate, eEF2, to inhibit translation. We find that the eEF2K agonist nelfinavir abolishes p-bodies in sensory neurons and impairs translation. To probe the latter, we used cryo-electron microscopy. Nelfinavir stabilizes vacant 80S ribosomes. They contain SERBP1 in place of mRNA and eEF2 in the acceptor site. Phosphorylated eEF2 associates with inactive ribosomes that resist splitting in vitro. Collectively, the data suggest that eEF2K defines a population of inactive ribosomes resistant to recycling and protected from degradation. Thus, eEF2K activity is central to both p-body abundance and ribosome availability in sensory neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick R. Smith
- grid.267323.10000 0001 2151 7939The University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Biological Sciences, Richardson, TX USA
| | - Sarah Loerch
- grid.443970.dJanelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA USA ,grid.205975.c0000 0001 0740 6917University of California, Santa Cruz, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Santa Cruz, CA USA
| | - Nikesh Kunder
- grid.267323.10000 0001 2151 7939The University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Biological Sciences, Richardson, TX USA
| | - Alexander D. Stanowick
- grid.267323.10000 0001 2151 7939The University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Biological Sciences, Richardson, TX USA
| | - Tzu-Fang Lou
- grid.267323.10000 0001 2151 7939The University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Biological Sciences, Richardson, TX USA
| | - Zachary T. Campbell
- grid.267323.10000 0001 2151 7939The University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Biological Sciences, Richardson, TX USA ,grid.267323.10000 0001 2151 7939The Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS), University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX USA
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Trainor BM, Komar AA, Pestov DG, Shcherbik N. Cell-free Translation: Preparation and Validation of Translation-competent Extracts from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Bio Protoc 2021; 11:e4093. [PMID: 34692902 PMCID: PMC8481029 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free translation is a powerful technique for in vitro protein synthesis. While cell-free translation platforms prepared from bacterial, plant, and mammalian cells are commercially available, yeast-based translation systems remain proprietary knowledge of individual labs. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for simple, fast, and cost-effective preparation of the translation-competent cell-free extract (CFE) from budding yeast. Our protocol streamlines steps combined from different procedures published over the last three decades and incorporates cryogenic lysis of yeast cells to produce a high yield of the translationally active material. We also describe techniques for the validation and troubleshooting of the quality and translational activity of the obtained yeast CFE. Graphic abstract: The flow of Cell-Free Extract (CFE) preparation procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon M. Trainor
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University, School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2 Medical Center Drive, Stratford, New Jersey, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University, 42 E. Laurel Road, Suite 2200, Stratford, New Jersey, USA
| | - Anton A. Komar
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, and the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio, 44115, USA
| | - Dimitri G. Pestov
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University, School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2 Medical Center Drive, Stratford, New Jersey, USA
| | - Natalia Shcherbik
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University, School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2 Medical Center Drive, Stratford, New Jersey, USA
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Cell-Free Expression of a Plant Membrane Protein BrPT2 From Boesenbergia Rotunda. Mol Biotechnol 2021; 63:316-326. [PMID: 33565047 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-021-00304-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Prenylation of aromatic natural products by membrane-bound prenyltransferases (PTs) is an important biosynthesis step of many bioactive compounds. At present, only a few plant flavonoid-related PT genes have been functionally characterized, mainly due to the difficulties of expressing these membrane proteins. Rapid and effective methods to produce functional plant membrane proteins are thus indispensable. Here, we evaluated expression systems through cell-based and cell-free approaches to express Boesenbergia rotunda BrPT2 encoding a membrane-bound prenyltransferase. We attempted to express BrPT2 in Escherichia coli and tobacco plants but failed to detect this protein using the Western-blot technique, whereas an intact single band of 43 kDa was detected when BrPT2 was expressed using a cell-free protein synthesis system (PURE). Under in vitro enzymatic condition, the synthesized BrPT2 successfully catalyzed pinostrobin chalcone to pinostrobin. Molecular docking analysis showed that pinostrobin chalcone interacts with BrPT2 at two cavities: (1) the main binding site at the central cavity and (2) the allosteric binding site located away from the central cavity. Our findings suggest that cell-free protein synthesis could be an alternative for rapid production of valuable difficult-to-express membrane proteins.
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Abstract
Proteins are the main source of drug targets and some of them possess therapeutic potential themselves. Among them, membrane proteins constitute approximately 50% of the major drug targets. In the drug discovery pipeline, rapid methods for producing different classes of proteins in a simple manner with high quality are important for structural and functional analysis. Cell-free systems are emerging as an attractive alternative for the production of proteins due to their flexible nature without any cell membrane constraints. In a bioproduction context, open systems based on cell lysates derived from different sources, and with batch-to-batch consistency, have acted as a catalyst for cell-free synthesis of target proteins. Most importantly, proteins can be processed for downstream applications like purification and functional analysis without the necessity of transfection, selection, and expansion of clones. In the last 5 years, there has been an increased availability of new cell-free lysates derived from multiple organisms, and their use for the synthesis of a diverse range of proteins. Despite this progress, major challenges still exist in terms of scalability, cost effectiveness, protein folding, and functionality. In this review, we present an overview of different cell-free systems derived from diverse sources and their application in the production of a wide spectrum of proteins. Further, this article discusses some recent progress in cell-free systems derived from Chinese hamster ovary and Sf21 lysates containing endogenous translocationally active microsomes for the synthesis of membrane proteins. We particularly highlight the usage of internal ribosomal entry site sequences for more efficient protein production, and also the significance of site-specific incorporation of non-canonical amino acids for labeling applications and creation of antibody drug conjugates using cell-free systems. We also discuss strategies to overcome the major challenges involved in commercializing cell-free platforms from a laboratory level for future drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srujan Kumar Dondapati
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Marlitt Stech
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Anne Zemella
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Joint Faculty of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, The Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and the University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
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Takada H, Roghanian M, Murina V, Dzhygyr I, Murayama R, Akanuma G, Atkinson GC, Garcia-Pino A, Hauryliuk V. The C-Terminal RRM/ACT Domain Is Crucial for Fine-Tuning the Activation of 'Long' RelA-SpoT Homolog Enzymes by Ribosomal Complexes. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:277. [PMID: 32184768 PMCID: PMC7058999 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The (p)ppGpp-mediated stringent response is a bacterial stress response implicated in virulence and antibiotic tolerance. Both synthesis and degradation of the (p)ppGpp alarmone nucleotide are mediated by RelA-SpoT Homolog (RSH) enzymes which can be broadly divided in two classes: single-domain 'short' and multi-domain 'long' RSH. The regulatory ACT (Aspartokinase, Chorismate mutase and TyrA)/RRM (RNA Recognition Motif) domain is a near-universal C-terminal domain of long RSHs. Deletion of RRM in both monofunctional (synthesis-only) RelA as well as bifunctional (i.e., capable of both degrading and synthesizing the alarmone) Rel renders the long RSH cytotoxic due to overproduction of (p)ppGpp. To probe the molecular mechanism underlying this effect we characterized Escherichia coli RelA and Bacillus subtilis Rel RSHs lacking RRM. We demonstrate that, first, the cytotoxicity caused by the removal of RRM is counteracted by secondary mutations that disrupt the interaction of the RSH with the starved ribosomal complex - the ultimate inducer of (p)ppGpp production by RelA and Rel - and, second, that the hydrolytic activity of Rel is not abrogated in the truncated mutant. Therefore, we conclude that the overproduction of (p)ppGpp by RSHs lacking the RRM domain is not explained by a lack of auto-inhibition in the absence of RRM or/and a defect in (p)ppGpp hydrolysis. Instead, we argue that it is driven by misregulation of the RSH activation by the ribosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiraku Takada
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mohammad Roghanian
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Victoriia Murina
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ievgen Dzhygyr
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Rikinori Murayama
- Akita Prefectural Research Center for Public Health and Environment, Akita, Japan
| | - Genki Akanuma
- Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Science, Gakushuin University, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Abel Garcia-Pino
- Cellular and Molecular Microbiology, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- WELBIO, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vasili Hauryliuk
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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Thoring L, Zemella A, Wüstenhagen D, Kubick S. Accelerating the Production of Druggable Targets: Eukaryotic Cell-Free Systems Come into Focus. Methods Protoc 2019; 2:mps2020030. [PMID: 31164610 PMCID: PMC6632147 DOI: 10.3390/mps2020030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the biopharmaceutical pipeline, protein expression systems are of high importance not only for the production of biotherapeutics but also for the discovery of novel drugs. The vast majority of drug targets are proteins, which need to be characterized and validated prior to the screening of potential hit components and molecules. A broad range of protein expression systems is currently available, mostly based on cellular organisms of prokaryotic and eukaryotic origin. Prokaryotic cell-free systems are often the system of choice for drug target protein production due to the simple generation of expression hosts and low cost of preparation. Limitations in the production of complex mammalian proteins appear due to inefficient protein folding and posttranslational modifications. Alternative protein production systems, so-called eukaryotic cell-free protein synthesis systems based on eukaryotic cell-lysates, close the gap between a fast protein generation system and a high quality of complex mammalian proteins. In this study, we show the production of druggable target proteins in eukaryotic cell-free systems. Functional characterization studies demonstrate the bioactivity of the proteins and underline the potential for eukaryotic cell-free systems to significantly improve drug development pipelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Thoring
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Anne Zemella
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Doreen Wüstenhagen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany.
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