scholarly journals An enzyme-based biosensor for monitoring and engineering protein stability in vivo

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (13) ◽  
pp. e2101618118
Author(s):  
Chang Ren ◽  
Xin Wen ◽  
Jun Mencius ◽  
Shu Quan

Protein stability affects the physiological functions of proteins and is also a desirable trait in many protein engineering tasks, yet improving protein stability is challenging because of limitations in methods for directly monitoring protein stability in cells. Here, we report an in vivo stability biosensor wherein a protein of interest (POI) is inserted into a microbial enzyme (CysGA) that catalyzes the formation of endogenous fluorescent compounds, thereby coupling POI stability to simple fluorescence readouts. We demonstrate the utility of the biosensor in directed evolution to obtain stabilized, less aggregation-prone variants of two POIs (including nonamyloidogenic variants of human islet amyloid polypeptide). Beyond engineering applications, we exploited our biosensor in deep mutational scanning for experimental delineation of the stability-related contributions of all residues throughout the catalytic domain of a histone H3K4 methyltransferase, thereby revealing its scientifically informative stability landscape. Thus, our highly accessible method for in vivo monitoring of the stability of diverse proteins will facilitate both basic research and applied protein engineering efforts.

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 339-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilani G. Gamage ◽  
Ajith Gunaratne ◽  
Gopal R. Periyannan ◽  
Timothy G. Russell

Background: The dipeptide composition-based Instability Index (II) is one of the protein primary structure-dependent methods available for in vivo protein stability predictions. As per this method, proteins with II value below 40 are stable proteins. Intracellular protein stability principles guided the original development of the II method. However, the use of the II method for in vitro protein stability predictions raises questions about the validity of applying the II method under experimental conditions that are different from the in vivo setting. Objective: The aim of this study is to experimentally test the validity of the use of II as an in vitro protein stability predictor. Methods: A representative protein CCM (CCM - Caulobacter crescentus metalloprotein) that rapidly degrades under in vitro conditions was used to probe the dipeptide sequence-dependent degradation properties of CCM by generating CCM mutants to represent stable and unstable II values. A comparative degradation analysis was carried out under in vitro conditions using wildtype CCM, CCM mutants and two other candidate proteins: metallo-β-lactamase L1 and α -S1- casein representing stable, borderline stable/unstable, and unstable proteins as per the II predictions. The effect of temperature and a protein stabilizing agent on CCM degradation was also tested. Results: Data support the dipeptide composition-dependent protein stability/instability in wt-CCM and mutants as predicted by the II method under in vitro conditions. However, the II failed to accurately represent the stability of other tested proteins. Data indicate the influence of protein environmental factors on the autoproteolysis of proteins. Conclusion: Broader application of the II method for the prediction of protein stability under in vitro conditions is questionable as the stability of the protein may be dependent not only on the intrinsic nature of the protein but also on the conditions of the protein milieu.


2020 ◽  
Vol 168 (5) ◽  
pp. 515-533
Author(s):  
Jose M González de Cózar ◽  
Maria Carretero-Junquera ◽  
Grzegorz L Ciesielski ◽  
Sini M Miettinen ◽  
Markku Varjosalo ◽  
...  

Abstract In eukaryotes, ribonuclease H1 (RNase H1) is involved in the processing and removal of RNA/DNA hybrids in both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. The enzyme comprises a C-terminal catalytic domain and an N-terminal hybrid-binding domain (HBD), separated by a linker of variable length, 115 amino acids in Drosophila melanogaster (Dm). Molecular modelling predicted this extended linker to fold into a structure similar to the conserved HBD. Based on a deletion series, both the catalytic domain and the conserved HBD were required for high-affinity binding to heteroduplex substrates, while loss of the novel HBD led to an ∼90% drop in Kcat with a decreased KM, and a large increase in the stability of the RNA/DNA hybrid-enzyme complex, supporting a bipartite-binding model in which the second HBD facilitates processivity. Shotgun proteomics following in vivo cross-linking identified single-stranded DNA-binding proteins from both nuclear and mitochondrial compartments, respectively RpA-70 and mtSSB, as prominent interaction partners of Dm RNase H1. However, we were not able to document direct and stable interactions with mtSSB when the proteins were co-overexpressed in S2 cells, and functional interactions between them in vitro were minor.


Author(s):  
Juha Rouvinen ◽  
Martina Andberg ◽  
Johan Pääkkönen ◽  
Nina Hakulinen ◽  
Anu Koivula

Abstract Deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolases (DERAs, EC 4.1.2.4) are acetaldehyde-dependent, Class I aldolases catalyzing in nature a reversible aldol reaction between an acetaldehyde donor (C2 compound) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate acceptor (C3 compound, C3P) to generate deoxyribose-5-phosphate (C5 compound, DR5P). DERA enzymes have been found to accept also other types of aldehydes as their donor, and in particular as acceptor molecules. Consequently, DERA enzymes can be applied in C–C bond formation reactions to produce novel compounds, thus offering a versatile biocatalytic alternative for synthesis. DERA enzymes, found in all kingdoms of life, share a common TIM barrel fold despite the low overall sequence identity. The catalytic mechanism is well-studied and involves formation of a covalent enzyme-substrate intermediate. A number of protein engineering studies to optimize substrate specificity, enzyme efficiency, and stability of DERA aldolases have been published. These have employed various engineering strategies including structure-based design, directed evolution, and recently also machine learning–guided protein engineering. For application purposes, enzyme immobilization and usage of whole cell catalysis are preferred methods as they improve the overall performance of the biocatalytic processes, including often also the stability of the enzyme. Besides single-step enzymatic reactions, DERA aldolases have also been applied in multi-enzyme cascade reactions both in vitro and in vivo. The DERA-based applications range from synthesis of commodity chemicals and flavours to more complicated and high-value pharmaceutical compounds. Key points • DERA aldolases are versatile biocatalysts able to make new C–C bonds. • Synthetic utility of DERAs has been improved by protein engineering approaches. • Computational methods are expected to speed up the future DERA engineering efforts. Graphical abstract


2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 337-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo A. Senisterra ◽  
Bum Soo Hong ◽  
Hee-Won Park ◽  
Masoud Vedadi

Many diseases in humans are caused by mutations that decrease the stability of specific proteins or increase their susceptibility to aggregation. Consequently, the availability of high-throughput methods for assessing protein stability and aggregation properties under physiological conditions (e.g., 37 °C) is necessary to analyze physicochemical properties under conditions that are closer to in vivo models. Therefore, the authors have explored the use of isothermal denaturation (ITD) in a 384-well format to evaluate the reproducibility of the method in assessing the stability of proteins at temperatures below the melting temperature and detecting the binding of ligands. Under the conditions tested, the authors were able to assess the stability of citrate synthase and malate dehydrogenase at different constant temperatures and detect the binding of oxaloacetate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide to these 2 enzymes, respectively, using the 384-well format. The ITD experiments detected ligand binding to these proteins at about 4 times lower concentration compared with techniques that measure changes in melting temperature. The data show that ITD can be applied to screen libraries of a relatively large number of compounds or detect small stability differences between protein variants. ( Journal of Biomolecular Screening 2008:337-342)


Author(s):  
Robert J. Carroll ◽  
Marvin P. Thompson ◽  
Harold M. Farrell

Milk is an unusually stable colloidal system; the stability of this system is due primarily to the formation of micelles by the major milk proteins, the caseins. Numerous models for the structure of casein micelles have been proposed; these models have been formulated on the basis of in vitro studies. Synthetic casein micelles (i.e., those formed by mixing the purified αsl- and k-caseins with Ca2+ in appropriate ratios) are dissimilar to those from freshly-drawn milks in (i) size distribution, (ii) ratio of Ca/P, and (iii) solvation (g. water/g. protein). Evidently, in vivo organization of the caseins into the micellar form occurs in-a manner which is not identical to the in vitro mode of formation.


1977 ◽  
Vol 16 (04) ◽  
pp. 157-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Schümichen ◽  
B. Mackenbrock ◽  
G. Hoffmann

SummaryThe bone-seeking 99mTc-Sn-pyrophosphate compound (compound A) was diluted both in vitro and in vivo and proved to be unstable both in vitro and in vivo. However, stability was much better in vivo than in vitro and thus the in vitro stability of compound A after dilution in various mediums could be followed up by a consecutive evaluation of the in vivo distribution in the rat. After dilution in neutral normal saline compound A is metastable and after a short half-life it is transformed into the other 99mTc-Sn-pyrophosphate compound A is metastable and after a short half-life in bone but in the kidneys. After dilution in normal saline of low pH and in buffering solutions the stability of compound A is increased. In human plasma compound A is relatively stable but not in plasma water. When compound B is formed in a buffering solution, uptake in the kidneys and excretion in urine is lowered and blood concentration increased.It is assumed that the association of protons to compound A will increase its stability at low concentrations while that to compound B will lead to a strong protein bond in plasma. It is concluded that compound A will not be stable in vivo because of a lack of stability in the extravascular space, and that the protein bond in plasma will be a measure of its in vivo stability.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 307-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasrin Zarkar ◽  
Mohammad Ali Nasiri Khalili ◽  
Fathollah Ahmadpour ◽  
Sirus Khodadadi ◽  
Mehdi Zeinoddini

Background: DAB389IL-2 (Denileukin diftitox) as an immunotoxin is a targeted pharmaceutical protein and is the first immunotoxin approved by FDA. It is used for the treatment of various kinds of cancer such as CTCL lymphoma, melanoma, and Leukemia but among all of these, treatment of CTCL has special importance. DAB389IL-2 consists of two distinct parts; the catalytic domain of Diphtheria Toxin (DT) that genetically fused to the whole IL-2. Deamidation is the most important reaction for chemical instability of proteins occurs during manufacture and storage. Deamidation of asparagine residues occurs at a higher rate than glutamine residues. The structure of proteins, temperature and pH are the most important factors that influence the rate of deamidation. Methods: Since there is not any information about deamidation of DAB389IL-2, we studied in silico deamidation by Molecular Dynamic (MD) simulations using GROMACS software. The 3D model of fusion protein DAB389IL-2 was used as a template for deamidation. Then, the stability of deamidated and native form of the drug was calculated. Results: The results of MD simulations were showed that the deamidated form of DAB389IL-2 is more unstable than the normal form. Also, deamidation was carried by incubating DAB389IL-2, 0.3 mg/ml in ammonium hydrogen carbonate for 24 h at 37o C in order to in vitro experiment. Conclusion: The results of in vitro experiment were confirmed outcomes of in silico study. In silico and in vitro experiments were demonstrated that DAB389IL-2 is unstable in deamidated form.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Swetledge ◽  
Renee Carter ◽  
Rhett Stout ◽  
Carlos E. Astete ◽  
Jangwook P. Jung ◽  
...  

AbstractPolymeric nanoparticles have been investigated as potential delivery systems for therapeutic compounds to address many ailments including eye disease. The stability and spatiotemporal distribution of polymeric nanoparticles in the eye are important regarding the practical applicability and efficacy of the delivery system in treating eye disease. We selected poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles loaded with lutein, a carotenoid antioxidant associated with eye health, as our model ophthalmic nanodelivery system and evaluated its stability when suspended in various conditions involving temperature and light exposure. We also assessed the ocular biodistribution of the fluorescently labeled nanoparticle vehicle when administered topically. Lutein-loaded nanoparticles were stable in suspension when stored at 4 °C with only 26% lutein release and no significant lutein decay or changes in nanoparticle morphology. When stored at 25 °C and 37 °C, these NPs showed signs of bulk degradation, had significant lutein decay compared to 4 °C, and released over 40% lutein after 5 weeks in suspension. Lutein-loaded nanoparticles were also more resistant to photodegradation compared to free lutein when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, decaying approximately 5 times slower. When applied topically in vivo, Cy5-labled nanoparticles showed high uptake in exterior eye tissues including the cornea, episcleral tissue, and sclera. The choroid was the only inner eye tissue that was significantly higher than the control group. Decreased fluorescence in all exterior eye tissues and the choroid at 1 h compared to 30 min indicated rapid elimination of nanoparticles from the eye.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajiv Sharma ◽  
Daniel P. Dever ◽  
Ciaran M. Lee ◽  
Armon Azizi ◽  
Yidan Pan ◽  
...  

AbstractTargeted DNA correction of disease-causing mutations in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) may enable the treatment of genetic diseases of the blood and immune system. It is now possible to correct mutations at high frequencies in HSPCs by combining CRISPR/Cas9 with homologous DNA donors. Because of the precision of gene correction, these approaches preclude clonal tracking of gene-targeted HSPCs. Here, we describe Tracking Recombination Alleles in Clonal Engraftment using sequencing (TRACE-Seq), a methodology that utilizes barcoded AAV6 donor template libraries, carrying in-frame silent mutations or semi-randomized nucleotides outside the coding region, to track the in vivo lineage contribution of gene-targeted HSPC clones. By targeting the HBB gene with an AAV6 donor template library consisting of ~20,000 possible unique exon 1 in-frame silent mutations, we track the hematopoietic reconstitution of HBB targeted myeloid-skewed, lymphoid-skewed, and balanced multi-lineage repopulating human HSPC clones in mice. We anticipate this methodology could potentially be used for HSPC clonal tracking of Cas9 RNP and AAV6-mediated gene targeting outcomes in translational and basic research settings.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document