1
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Charette M, Rosenblum C, Shade O, Deiters A. Optogenetics with Atomic Precision─A Comprehensive Review of Optical Control of Protein Function through Genetic Code Expansion. Chem Rev 2025; 125:1663-1717. [PMID: 39928721 PMCID: PMC11869211 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 10/03/2024] [Accepted: 10/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2025]
Abstract
Conditional control of protein activity is important in order to elucidate the particular functions and interactions of proteins, their regulators, and their substrates, as well as their impact on the behavior of a cell or organism. Optical control provides a perhaps optimal means of introducing spatiotemporal control over protein function as it allows for tunable, rapid, and noninvasive activation of protein activity in its native environment. One method of introducing optical control over protein activity is through the introduction of photocaged and photoswitchable noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) through genetic code expansion in cells and animals. Genetic incorporation of photoactive ncAAs at key residues in a protein provides a tool for optical activation, or sometimes deactivation, of protein activity. Importantly, the incorporation site can typically be rationally selected based on structural, mechanistic, or computational information. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the applications of photocaged lysine, tyrosine, cysteine, serine, histidine, glutamate, and aspartate derivatives, as well as photoswitchable phenylalanine analogues. The extensive and diverse list of proteins that have been placed under optical control demonstrates the broad applicability of this methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura Charette
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Carolyn Rosenblum
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Olivia Shade
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Alexander Deiters
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
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2
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Kim JC, Kim Y, Cho S, Park HS. Noncanonical Amino Acid Incorporation in Animals and Animal Cells. Chem Rev 2024; 124:12463-12497. [PMID: 39541258 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2024]
Abstract
Noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) are synthetic building blocks that, when incorporated into proteins, confer novel functions and enable precise control over biological processes. These small yet powerful tools offer unprecedented opportunities to investigate and manipulate various complex life forms. In particular, ncAA incorporation technology has garnered significant attention in the study of animals and their constituent cells, which serve as invaluable model organisms for gaining insights into human physiology, genetics, and diseases. This review will provide a comprehensive discussion on the applications of ncAA incorporation technology in animals and animal cells, covering past achievements, current developments, and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo-Chan Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - YouJin Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Suho Cho
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Sung Park
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
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3
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Naskar R, Ghosh A, Bhattacharya R, Chakraborty S. A critical appraisal of geroprotective activities of flavonoids in terms of their bio-accessibility and polypharmacology. Neurochem Int 2024; 180:105859. [PMID: 39265701 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2024.105859] [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: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024]
Abstract
Flavonoids, a commonly consumed natural product, elicit health-benefits such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-allergic, hepatoprotective, anti-carcinogenic and neuroprotective activities. Several studies have reported the beneficial role of flavonoids in improving memory, learning, and cognition in clinical settings. Their mechanism of action is mediated through the modulation of multiple signalling cascades. This polypharmacology makes them an attractive natural scaffold for designing and developing new effective therapeutics for complex neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Flavonoids are shown to inhibit crucial targets related to neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), including acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, β-secretase, γ-secretase, α-synuclein, Aβ protein aggregation and neurofibrillary tangles formation. Conserved neuro-signalling pathways related to neurotransmitter biogenesis and inactivation, ease of genetic manipulation and tractability, cost-effectiveness, and their short lifespan make Caenorhabditis elegans one of the most frequently used models in neuroscience research and high-throughput drug screening for neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we critically appraise the neuroprotective activities of different flavonoids based on clinical trials and epidemiological data. This review provides critical insights into the absorption, metabolism, and tissue distribution of various classes of flavonoids, as well as detailed mechanisms of the observed neuroprotective activities at the molecular level, to rationalize the clinical data. We further extend the review to critically evaluate the scope of flavonoids in the disease management of neurodegenerative disorders and review the suitability of C. elegans as a model organism to study the neuroprotective efficacy of flavonoids and natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roumi Naskar
- Center for Innovation in Molecular and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CIMPS), Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad Campus, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Anirrban Ghosh
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Kolkata, 700135, India
| | - Raja Bhattacharya
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Kolkata, 700135, India.
| | - Sandipan Chakraborty
- Center for Innovation in Molecular and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CIMPS), Dr. Reddy's Institute of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad Campus, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500046, India.
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4
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Wanka V, Fottner M, Cigler M, Lang K. Genetic Code Expansion Approaches to Decipher the Ubiquitin Code. Chem Rev 2024; 124:11544-11584. [PMID: 39311880 PMCID: PMC11503651 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 10/25/2024]
Abstract
The covalent attachment of Ub (ubiquitin) to target proteins (ubiquitylation) represents one of the most versatile PTMs (post-translational modifications) in eukaryotic cells. Substrate modifications range from a single Ub moiety being attached to a target protein to complex Ub chains that can also contain Ubls (Ub-like proteins). Ubiquitylation plays pivotal roles in most aspects of eukaryotic biology, and cells dedicate an orchestrated arsenal of enzymes to install, translate, and reverse these modifications. The entirety of this complex system is coined the Ub code. Deciphering the Ub code is challenging due to the difficulty in reconstituting enzymatic machineries and generating defined Ub/Ubl-protein conjugates. This Review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in using GCE (genetic code expansion) techniques to study the Ub code. We highlight strategies to site-specifically ubiquitylate target proteins and discuss their advantages and disadvantages, as well as their various applications. Additionally, we review the potential of small chemical PTMs targeting Ub/Ubls and present GCE-based approaches to study this additional layer of complexity. Furthermore, we explore methods that rely on GCE to develop tools to probe interactors of the Ub system and offer insights into how future GCE-based tools could help unravel the complexity of the Ub code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Wanka
- Laboratory
for Organic Chemistry (LOC), Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences
(D-CHAB), ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maximilian Fottner
- Laboratory
for Organic Chemistry (LOC), Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences
(D-CHAB), ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marko Cigler
- Department
of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Kathrin Lang
- Laboratory
for Organic Chemistry (LOC), Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences
(D-CHAB), ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department
of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
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5
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Dunkelmann DL, Chin JW. Engineering Pyrrolysine Systems for Genetic Code Expansion and Reprogramming. Chem Rev 2024; 124:11008-11062. [PMID: 39235427 PMCID: PMC11467909 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Over the past 16 years, genetic code expansion and reprogramming in living organisms has been transformed by advances that leverage the unique properties of pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS)/tRNAPyl pairs. Here we summarize the discovery of the pyrrolysine system and describe the unique properties of PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs that provide a foundation for their transformational role in genetic code expansion and reprogramming. We describe the development of genetic code expansion, from E. coli to all domains of life, using PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs, and the development of systems that biosynthesize and incorporate ncAAs using pyl systems. We review applications that have been uniquely enabled by the development of PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs for incorporating new noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs), and strategies for engineering PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs to add noncanonical monomers, beyond α-L-amino acids, to the genetic code of living organisms. We review rapid progress in the discovery and scalable generation of mutually orthogonal PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs that can be directed to incorporate diverse ncAAs in response to diverse codons, and we review strategies for incorporating multiple distinct ncAAs into proteins using mutually orthogonal PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs. Finally, we review recent advances in the encoded cellular synthesis of noncanonical polymers and macrocycles and discuss future developments for PylRS/tRNAPyl pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L. Dunkelmann
- Medical
Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, England, United Kingdom
- Max
Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Jason W. Chin
- Medical
Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, England, United Kingdom
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6
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Onchan W, Attakitbancha C, Uttamapinant C. An expanded molecular and systems toolbox for imaging, mapping, and controlling local translation. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2024; 82:102523. [PMID: 39226865 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.102523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Localized protein translation occurs through trafficking of mRNAs and protein translation machineries to different compartments of the cell, leading to rapid on-site synthesis of proteins in response to signaling cues. The spatiotemporally precise nature of the local translation process necessitates continual developments of technologies reviewed herein to visualize and map biomolecular components and the translation process with better spatial and temporal resolution and with fewer artifacts. We also discuss approaches to control local translation, which can serve as a design paradigm for subcellular genetic devices for eukaryotic synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warunya Onchan
- School of Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), Rayong, Thailand
| | - Chadaporn Attakitbancha
- School of Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), Rayong, Thailand
| | - Chayasith Uttamapinant
- School of Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), Rayong, Thailand.
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7
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Niu W, Guo J. Cellular Site-Specific Incorporation of Noncanonical Amino Acids in Synthetic Biology. Chem Rev 2024; 124:10577-10617. [PMID: 39207844 PMCID: PMC11470805 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, genetic code expansion (GCE)-enabled methods for incorporating noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins have significantly advanced the field of synthetic biology while also reaping substantial benefits from it. On one hand, they provide synthetic biologists with a powerful toolkit to enhance and diversify biological designs beyond natural constraints. Conversely, synthetic biology has not only propelled the development of ncAA incorporation through sophisticated tools and innovative strategies but also broadened its potential applications across various fields. This Review delves into the methodological advancements and primary applications of site-specific cellular incorporation of ncAAs in synthetic biology. The topics encompass expanding the genetic code through noncanonical codon addition, creating semiautonomous and autonomous organisms, designing regulatory elements, and manipulating and extending peptide natural product biosynthetic pathways. The Review concludes by examining the ongoing challenges and future prospects of GCE-enabled ncAA incorporation in synthetic biology and highlighting opportunities for further advancements in this rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Niu
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588, United States
- The Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication (NCIBC), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588, United States
| | - Jiantao Guo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588, United States
- The Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication (NCIBC), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588, United States
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8
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Koch NG, Budisa N. Evolution of Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase: From Methanogenesis to Genetic Code Expansion. Chem Rev 2024; 124:9580-9608. [PMID: 38953775 PMCID: PMC11363022 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Over 20 years ago, the pyrrolysine encoding translation system was discovered in specific archaea. Our Review provides an overview of how the once obscure pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) tRNA pair, originally responsible for accurately translating enzymes crucial in methanogenic metabolic pathways, laid the foundation for the burgeoning field of genetic code expansion. Our primary focus is the discussion of how to successfully engineer the PylRS to recognize new substrates and exhibit higher in vivo activity. We have compiled a comprehensive list of ncAAs incorporable with the PylRS system. Additionally, we also summarize recent successful applications of the PylRS system in creating innovative therapeutic solutions, such as new antibody-drug conjugates, advancements in vaccine modalities, and the potential production of new antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaj G. Koch
- Department
of Chemistry, Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
- Department
of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH
Zurich, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Biocatalysis
Group, Institute of Chemistry, Technische
Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
- Chemical
Synthetic Biology Chair, Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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9
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Weiss JL, Decker JC, Bolano A, Krahn N. Tuning tRNAs for improved translation. Front Genet 2024; 15:1436860. [PMID: 38983271 PMCID: PMC11231383 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1436860] [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: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Transfer RNAs have been extensively explored as the molecules that translate the genetic code into proteins. At this interface of genetics and biochemistry, tRNAs direct the efficiency of every major step of translation by interacting with a multitude of binding partners. However, due to the variability of tRNA sequences and the abundance of diverse post-transcriptional modifications, a guidebook linking tRNA sequences to specific translational outcomes has yet to be elucidated. Here, we review substantial efforts that have collectively uncovered tRNA engineering principles that can be used as a guide for the tuning of translation fidelity. These principles have allowed for the development of basic research, expansion of the genetic code with non-canonical amino acids, and tRNA therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua L Weiss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - J C Decker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Ariadna Bolano
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Natalie Krahn
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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10
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Guo QR, Cao YJ. Applications of genetic code expansion technology in eukaryotes. Protein Cell 2024; 15:331-363. [PMID: 37847216 PMCID: PMC11074999 DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwad051] [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] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Unnatural amino acids (UAAs) have gained significant attention in protein engineering and drug development owing to their ability to introduce new chemical functionalities to proteins. In eukaryotes, genetic code expansion (GCE) enables the incorporation of UAAs and facilitates posttranscriptional modification (PTM), which is not feasible in prokaryotic systems. GCE is also a powerful tool for cell or animal imaging, the monitoring of protein interactions in target cells, drug development, and switch regulation. Therefore, there is keen interest in utilizing GCE in eukaryotic systems. This review provides an overview of the application of GCE in eukaryotic systems and discusses current challenges that need to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao-ru Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomic, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yu J Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomic, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
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11
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Rabinowitch I, Colón-Ramos DA, Krieg M. Understanding neural circuit function through synaptic engineering. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:131-139. [PMID: 38172626 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00777-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Synapses are a key component of neural circuits, facilitating rapid and specific signalling between neurons. Synaptic engineering - the synthetic insertion of new synaptic connections into in vivo neural circuits - is an emerging approach for neural circuit interrogation. This approach is especially powerful for establishing causality in neural circuit structure-function relationships, for emulating synaptic plasticity and for exploring novel patterns of circuit connectivity. Contrary to other approaches for neural circuit manipulation, synaptic engineering targets specific connections between neurons and functions autonomously with no user-controlled external activation. Synaptic engineering has been successfully implemented in several systems and in different forms, including electrical synapses constructed from ectopically expressed connexin gap junction proteins, synthetic optical synapses composed of presynaptic photon-emitting luciferase coupled with postsynaptic light-gated channels, and artificial neuropeptide signalling pathways. This Perspective describes these different methods and how they have been applied, and examines how the field may advance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ithai Rabinowitch
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Daniel A Colón-Ramos
- Wu Tsai Institute, Department of Neuroscience and Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michael Krieg
- ICFO - Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels, Spain
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12
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Joest EF, Tampé R. Design principles for engineering light-controlled antibodies. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:1501-1517. [PMID: 37507295 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.06.006] [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: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Engineered antibodies are essential tools for research and advanced pharmacy. In the development of therapeutics, antibodies are excellent candidates as they offer both target recognition and modulation. Thanks to the latest advances in biotechnology, light-activated antibody fragments can be constructed to control spontaneous antigen interaction with high spatiotemporal precision. To implement conditional antigen binding, several optogenetic and optochemical engineering concepts have recently been developed. Here, we highlight the various strategies and discuss the features of opto-conditional antibodies. Each concept offers intrinsic advantages beneficial to different applications. In summary, the novel design approaches constitute a complementary toolset to promote current and upcoming antibody technologies with ultimate precision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eike F Joest
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt a.M., Germany.
| | - Robert Tampé
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt a.M., Germany.
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13
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Kukhtar D, Fussenegger M. Synthetic biology in multicellular organisms: Opportunities in nematodes. Biotechnol Bioeng 2023. [PMID: 37448225 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology has mainly focused on introducing new or altered functionality in single cell systems: primarily bacteria, yeast, or mammalian cells. Here, we describe the extension of synthetic biology to nematodes, in particular the well-studied model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, as a convenient platform for developing applications in a multicellular setting. We review transgenesis techniques for nematodes, as well as the application of synthetic biology principles to construct nematode gene switches and genetic devices to control motility. Finally, we discuss potential applications of engineered nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmytro Kukhtar
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Fussenegger
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Life Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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14
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Fragoso-Luna A, Romero-Bueno R, Eibl M, Ayuso C, Muñoz-Jiménez C, Benes V, Cases I, Askjaer P. Expanded FLP toolbox for spatiotemporal protein degradation and transcriptomic profiling in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2023; 223:iyac166. [PMID: 36321973 PMCID: PMC9836023 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Control of gene expression in specific tissues and/or at certain stages of development allows the study and manipulation of gene function with high precision. Site-specific genome recombination by the flippase (FLP) and cyclization recombination (Cre) enzymes has proved particularly relevant. Joint efforts of many research groups have led to the creation of efficient FLP and Cre drivers to regulate gene expression in a variety of tissues in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we extend this toolkit by the addition of FLP lines that drive recombination specifically in distal tip cells, the somatic gonad, coelomocytes, and the epithelial P lineage. In some cases, recombination-mediated gene knockouts do not completely deplete protein levels due to persistence of long-lived proteins. To overcome this, we developed a spatiotemporally regulated degradation system for green fluorescent fusion proteins based on FLP-mediated recombination. Using 2 stable nuclear pore proteins, MEL-28/ELYS and NPP-2/NUP85 as examples, we report the benefit of combining tissue-specific gene knockout and protein degradation to achieve complete protein depletion. We also demonstrate that FLP-mediated recombination can be utilized to identify transcriptomes in a C. elegans tissue of interest. We have adapted RNA polymerase DamID for the FLP toolbox and by focusing on a well-characterized tissue, the hypodermis, we show that the vast majority of genes identified by RNA polymerase DamID are known to be expressed in this tissue. These tools allow combining FLP activity for simultaneous gene inactivation and transcriptomic profiling, thus enabling the inquiry of gene function in various complex biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Fragoso-Luna
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Junta de Andalucía, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Raquel Romero-Bueno
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Junta de Andalucía, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Michael Eibl
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Junta de Andalucía, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Cristina Ayuso
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Junta de Andalucía, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Celia Muñoz-Jiménez
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Junta de Andalucía, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Ildefonso Cases
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Junta de Andalucía, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Peter Askjaer
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Junta de Andalucía, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
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15
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Thapliyal S, Glauser DA. Neurogenetic Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neurogenetics 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-07793-7_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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16
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Quintin S, Charvin G. Left-right asymmetry in oxidative stress sensing neurons in C. elegans. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2022; 2022:10.17912/micropub.biology.000652. [PMID: 36338152 PMCID: PMC9631000 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Perception of oxidative stress in nematodes involves specific neurons expressing antioxidant enzymes. Here, we carefully characterized GFP knock-in lines for C. elegans peroxiredoxin PRDX-2 and thioredoxin TRX-1, and uncovered that left and right I2, PHA and ASJ neurons reproducibly express an asymmetric level of each enzyme. We observed that high-expressing neurons are in most cases associated with a particular side, indicating a directional rather than stochastic type of asymmetry. We propose that the biological relevance of this left-right asymmetry is to fine-tune H 2 O 2 or light sensing, which remains to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Quintin
- IGBMC, Development and Stem Cells Department
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CNRS UMR7104, INSERM U964, Université de Strasbourg, 67404 France
,
Correspondence to: Sophie Quintin (
)
| | - Gilles Charvin
- IGBMC, Development and Stem Cells Department
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CNRS UMR7104, INSERM U964, Université de Strasbourg, 67404 France
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17
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Feng Z, Ducos B, Scerbo P, Aujard I, Jullien L, Bensimon D. The Development and Application of Opto-Chemical Tools in the Zebrafish. Molecules 2022; 27:6231. [PMID: 36234767 PMCID: PMC9572478 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish is one of the most widely adopted animal models in both basic and translational research. This popularity of the zebrafish results from several advantages such as a high degree of similarity to the human genome, the ease of genetic and chemical perturbations, external fertilization with high fecundity, transparent and fast-developing embryos, and relatively low cost-effective maintenance. In particular, body translucency is a unique feature of zebrafish that is not adequately obtained with other vertebrate organisms. The animal's distinctive optical clarity and small size therefore make it a successful model for optical modulation and observation. Furthermore, the convenience of microinjection and high embryonic permeability readily allow for efficient delivery of large and small molecules into live animals. Finally, the numerous number of siblings obtained from a single pair of animals offers large replicates and improved statistical analysis of the results. In this review, we describe the development of opto-chemical tools based on various strategies that control biological activities with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution. We also discuss the reported applications of these tools in zebrafish and highlight the current challenges and future possibilities of opto-chemical approaches, particularly at the single cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiping Feng
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Bertrand Ducos
- Laboratoire de Physique de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris Sciences Letters University, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 24 Rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France
- High Throughput qPCR Core Facility, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris Sciences Letters University, 46 Rue d’Ulm, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Pierluigi Scerbo
- Laboratoire de Physique de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris Sciences Letters University, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 24 Rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France
- Inovarion, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Aujard
- Laboratoire PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris Sciences Letters University, Sorbonne Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 24 Rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Ludovic Jullien
- Laboratoire PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris Sciences Letters University, Sorbonne Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 24 Rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France
| | - David Bensimon
- Laboratoire de Physique de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris Sciences Letters University, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 24 Rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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18
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Xi Z, Davis L, Baxter K, Tynan A, Goutou A, Greiss S. Using a quadruplet codon to expand the genetic code of an animal. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:4801-4812. [PMID: 34882769 PMCID: PMC9122531 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic code expansion in multicellular organisms is currently limited to the use of repurposed amber stop codons. Here, we introduce a system for the use of quadruplet codons to direct incorporation of non-canonical amino acids in vivo in an animal, the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans. We develop hybrid pyrrolysyl tRNA variants to incorporate non-canonical amino acids in response to the quadruplet codon UAGA. We demonstrate the efficiency of the quadruplet decoding system by incorporating photocaged amino acids into two proteins widely used as genetic tools. We use photocaged lysine to express photocaged Cre recombinase for the optical control of gene expression and photocaged cysteine to express photo-activatable caspase for light inducible cell ablation. Our approach will facilitate the routine adoption of quadruplet decoding for genetic code expansion in eukaryotic cells and multicellular organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyan Xi
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lloyd Davis
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kieran Baxter
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ailish Tynan
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Angeliki Goutou
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sebastian Greiss
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
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