scholarly journals Designer membraneless organelles enable codon reassignment of selected mRNAs in eukaryotes

Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 363 (6434) ◽  
pp. eaaw2644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher D. Reinkemeier ◽  
Gemma Estrada Girona ◽  
Edward A. Lemke
Keyword(s):  
Protein Engineering ◽  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Stop Codon ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Codon Reassignment ◽  
Entire Genome ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Spatial Targeting ◽  
Rna Targeting

Nature regulates interference between cellular processes—allowing more complexity of life—by confining specific functions to organelles. Inspired by this concept, we designed an artificial organelle dedicated to protein engineering. We generated a membraneless organelle to translate only one type of messenger RNA—by recruiting an RNA-targeting system, stop codon–suppression machinery, and ribosomes—by means of phase separation and spatial targeting. This enables site-specific protein engineering with a tailored noncanonical function in response to one specific codon in the entire genome only in the protein of choice. Our results demonstrate a simple yet effective approach to the generation of artificial organelles that provides a route toward customized orthogonal translation and protein engineering in semisynthetic eukaryotic cells.

scholarly journals Engineered peptide ligases for cell signaling and bioconjugation

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 1153-1165
Author(s):  
Clara L. Frazier ◽  
Amy M. Weeks
Keyword(s):  
Protein Engineering ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
Biological Applications ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Natural Peptide ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Peptide Ligation

Enzymes that catalyze peptide ligation are powerful tools for site-specific protein bioconjugation and the study of cellular signaling. Peptide ligases can be divided into two classes: proteases that have been engineered to favor peptide ligation, and protease-related enzymes with naturally evolved peptide ligation activity. Here, we provide a review of key natural peptide ligases and proteases engineered to favor peptide ligation activity. We cover the protein engineering approaches used to generate and improve these tools, along with recent biological applications, advantages, and limitations associated with each enzyme. Finally, we address future challenges and opportunities for further development of peptide ligases as tools for biological research.

Systematic Engineering of a Protein Nanocage for High-Yield, Site-Specific Modification

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel D. Brauer ◽  
Emily C. Hartman ◽  
Daniel L.V. Bader ◽  
Zoe N. Merz ◽  
Danielle Tullman-Ercek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecules ◽  
Protein Modification ◽  
Positive Charge ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Protein Cage ◽  
Protein Carriers ◽  
Site Selective ◽  
Targeted Library

<div> <p>Site-specific protein modification is a widely-used strategy to attach drugs, imaging agents, or other useful small molecules to protein carriers. N-terminal modification is particularly useful as a high-yielding, site-selective modification strategy that can be compatible with a wide array of proteins. However, this modification strategy is incompatible with proteins with buried or sterically-hindered N termini, such as virus-like particles like the well-studied MS2 bacteriophage coat protein. To assess VLPs with improved compatibility with these techniques, we generated a targeted library based on the MS2-derived protein cage with N-terminal proline residues followed by three variable positions. We subjected the library to assembly, heat, and chemical selections, and we identified variants that were modified in high yield with no reduction in thermostability. Positive charge adjacent to the native N terminus is surprisingly beneficial for successful extension, and over 50% of the highest performing variants contained positive charge at this position. Taken together, these studies described nonintuitive design rules governing N-terminal extensions and identified successful extensions with high modification potential.</p> </div>

scholarly journals Sense codon reassignment enables viral resistance and encoded polymer synthesis

Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 372 (6546) ◽  
pp. 1057-1062
Author(s):  
Wesley E. Robertson ◽  
Louise F. H. Funke ◽  
Daniel de la Torre ◽  
Julius Fredens ◽  
Thomas S. Elliott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stop Codon ◽  
Synonymous Codon ◽  
Viral Resistance ◽  
Release Factor ◽  
Codon Reassignment ◽  
Efficient Synthesis ◽  
Noncanonical Amino Acids ◽  
Laboratory Evolution ◽  
Transfer Rnas ◽  
Sense Codon

It is widely hypothesized that removing cellular transfer RNAs (tRNAs)—making their cognate codons unreadable—might create a genetic firewall to viral infection and enable sense codon reassignment. However, it has been impossible to test these hypotheses. In this work, following synonymous codon compression and laboratory evolution in Escherichia coli, we deleted the tRNAs and release factor 1, which normally decode two sense codons and a stop codon; the resulting cells could not read the canonical genetic code and were completely resistant to a cocktail of viruses. We reassigned these codons to enable the efficient synthesis of proteins containing three distinct noncanonical amino acids. Notably, we demonstrate the facile reprogramming of our cells for the encoded translation of diverse noncanonical heteropolymers and macrocycles.

scholarly journals Protein ubiquitination via dehydroalanine: development and insights into the diastereoselective 1,4-addition step

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
pp. 4817-4823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Meledin ◽  
Sachitanand M. Mali ◽  
Sumeet K. Singh ◽  
Ashraf Brik
Keyword(s):  
Specific Protein ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Isopeptide Bond ◽  
Protein Ubiquitination

We report a strategy for site-specific protein ubiquitination using dehydroalanine (Dha) chemistry for the preparation of ubiquitin conjugates bearing a very close mimic of the native isopeptide bond.

Structure, Function, Involvement in Diseases and Targeting of 14-3-3 Proteins: An Update

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ylenia Cau ◽  
Daniela Valensin ◽  
Mattia Mori ◽  
Sara Draghi ◽  
Maurizio Botta
Keyword(s):  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Protein Protein Interactions ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Protein Partners ◽  
High Sequence Homology ◽  
Small Molecule Modulators

14-3-3 is a class of proteins able to interact with a multitude of targets by establishing protein-protein interactions (PPIs). They are usually found in all eukaryotes with a conserved secondary structure and high sequence homology among species. 14-3-3 proteins are involved in many physiological and pathological cellular processes either by triggering or interfering with the activity of specific protein partners. In the last years, the scientific community has collected many evidences on the role played by seven human 14-3-3 isoforms in cancer or neurodegenerative diseases. Indeed, these proteins regulate the molecular mechanisms associated to these diseases by interacting with (i) oncogenic and (ii) pro-apoptotic proteins and (iii) with proteins involved in Parkinson and Alzheimer diseases. The discovery of small molecule modulators of 14-3-3 PPIs could facilitate complete understanding of the physiological role of these proteins, and might offer valuable therapeutic approaches for these critical pathological states.

scholarly journals Peptide-tags for site-specific protein labelling in vitro and in vivo

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1731-1745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Lotze ◽  
Ulrike Reinhardt ◽  
Oliver Seitz ◽  
Annette G. Beck-Sickinger
Keyword(s):  
Metal Ions ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Protein Localization ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Protein Labelling ◽  
Peptide Interactions ◽  
Peptide Tags

Peptide-tag based labelling can be achieved by (i) enzymes (ii) recognition of metal ions or small molecules and (iii) peptide–peptide interactions and enables site-specific protein visualization to investigate protein localization and trafficking.

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