Towards a generic prototyping approach for therapeutically-relevant peptides and proteins in a cell-free translation system

Advances in peptide and protein therapeutics increased the need for rapid and cost-effective polypeptide prototyping. While in vitro translation systems are well suited for fast and multiplexed polypeptide prototyping, they suffer from misfolding, aggregation and disulfide-bond scrambling of the translated products. Here we propose that efficient folding of in vitro produced disulfide-rich peptides and proteins can be achieved if performed in an aggregation-free and thermodynamically controlled folding environment. To this end, we modify an E. coli-based in vitro translation system to allow co-translational capture of translated products by affinity matrix. This process reduces protein aggregation and enables productive oxidative folding and recycling of misfolded states under thermodynamic control. In this study we show that the developed approach is likely to be generally applicable for prototyping of a wide variety of disulfide-constrained peptides, macrocyclic peptides with non-native bonds and antibody fragments in amounts sufficient for interaction analysis and biological activity assessment.

Functional characterization of 5′ UTR cis-acting sequence elements that modulate translational efficiency in Plasmodium falciparum and humans

Background The eukaryotic parasite Plasmodium falciparum causes millions of malarial infections annually while drug resistance to common anti-malarials is further confounding eradication efforts. Translation is an attractive therapeutic target that will benefit from a deeper mechanistic understanding. As the rate limiting step of translation, initiation is a primary driver of translational efficiency. It is a complex process regulated by both cis and trans acting factors, providing numerous potential targets. Relative to model organisms and humans, P. falciparum mRNAs feature unusual 5′ untranslated regions suggesting cis-acting sequence complexity in this parasite may act to tune levels of protein synthesis through their effects on translational efficiency. Methods Here, in vitro translation is deployed to compare the role of cis-acting regulatory sequences in P. falciparum and humans. Using parasite mRNAs with high or low translational efficiency, the presence, position, and termination status of upstream “AUG”s, in addition to the base composition of the 5′ untranslated regions, were characterized. Results The density of upstream “AUG”s differed significantly among the most and least efficiently translated genes in P. falciparum, as did the average “GC” content of the 5′ untranslated regions. Using exemplars from highly translated and poorly translated mRNAs, multiple putative upstream elements were interrogated for impact on translational efficiency. Upstream “AUG”s were found to repress translation to varying degrees, depending on their position and context, while combinations of upstream “AUG”s had non-additive effects. The base composition of the 5′ untranslated regions also impacted translation, but to a lesser degree. Surprisingly, the effects of cis-acting sequences were remarkably conserved between P. falciparum and humans. Conclusions While translational regulation is inherently complex, this work contributes toward a more comprehensive understanding of parasite and human translational regulation by examining the impact of discrete cis-acting features, acting alone or in context.

Impact of nanodisc lipid composition on cell-free expression of proton-coupled folate transporter

The Proton-Coupled Folate Transporter (PCFT) is a transmembrane transport protein that controls the absorption of dietary folates in the small intestine. PCFT also mediates uptake of chemotherapeutically used antifolates into tumor cells. PCFT has been identified within lipid rafts observed in phospholipid bilayers of plasma membranes, a micro environment that is altered in tumor cells. The present study aimed at investigating the impact of different lipids within Lipid-protein nanodiscs (LPNs), discoidal lipid structures stabilized by membrane scaffold proteins, to yield soluble PCFT expression in an E. coli lysate-based cell-free transcription/translation system. In the absence of detergents or lipids, we observed PCFT quantitatively as precipitate in this system. We then explored the ability of LPNs to support solubilized PCFT expression when present during in-vitro translation. LPNs consisted of either dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC), palmitoyl-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC), or dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DMPG). While POPC did not lead to soluble PCFT expression, both DMPG and DMPC supported PCFT translation directly into LPNs, the latter in a concentration dependent manner. The results obtained through this study provide insights into the lipid preferences of PCFT. Membrane-embedded or solubilized PCFT will enable further studies with diverse biophysical approaches to enhance the understanding of the structure and molecular mechanism of folate transport through PCFT.

A Cytosolic Reductase Pathway is Required for Efficient N-Glycosylation of an STT3B-Dependent Acceptor Site

N-linked glycosylation of proteins entering the secretory pathway is an essential modification required for protein stability and function. Previously, it has been shown that there is a temporal relationship between protein folding and glycosylation, which influences the occupancy of specific glycosylation sites. Here we use an in vitro translation system that reproduces the initial stages of secretory protein translocation, folding and glycosylation under defined redox conditions. We found that the efficiency of glycosylation of hemopexin was dependent upon a robust NADPH-dependent cytosolic reductive pathway, which could also be mimicked by the addition of a membrane impermeable reducing agent. The identified hypoglycosylated acceptor site is adjacent to a cysteine involved in a short range disulfide, which has been shown to be dependent on the STT3B-containing oligosaccharyl transferase. We also show that efficient glycosylation at this site is influenced by the cytosolic reductive pathway acting on both STT3A and STT3B-dependent glycosylation. Our results provide further insight into the important role of the ER redox conditions in glycosylation site occupancy and demonstrate a link between redox conditions in the cytosol and glycosylation efficiency.

Clinically observed deletions in SARS-CoV-2 Nsp1 affect protein stability and its ability to inhibit translation

Nonstructural protein 1 (Nsp1) is a major pathogenicity factor of SARS-CoV-2. It inhibits host-cell translation, primarily through a direct interaction between its C-terminal domain and the mRNA entry channel of the 40S small ribosomal subunit, with an N-terminal β-barrel domain fine-tuning the inhibition and promoting selective translation of viral mRNA. SARS-CoV-2 nsp1 is a target of recurring deletions, some of which are associated with altered COVID-19 disease progression. To provide the biochemical basis for this, it is essential to characterize the efficiency of translational inhibition by the said protein variants. Here, we use an in vitro translation system to investigate the translation inhibition capacity of a series of clinically observed Nsp1 deletion variants. We find that a frequently observed deletion of residues 79-89 destabilized the N-terminal domain (NTD) and severely reduced the capacity of Nsp1 to inhibit translation. Interestingly, shorter deletions in the same region have been reported to effect the type I interferon response but did not affect translation inhibition, indicating a possible translation-independent role of the Nsp1 NTD in interferon response modulation. Taken together, our data provide a mechanistic basis for understanding how deletions in Nsp1 influence SARS-CoV-2 induction of interferon response and COVID-19 progression.

Formation and function of bacterial outer membrane proteins- incorporated liposomes using an in vitro translation system

Outer membrane proteins (OMPs), located on the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, have a β-strand structure and form nanopores, which allow passage of ions, sugars, and small molecules. Recently, OMPs have been used as sensing elements to detect biological molecules. OMPs are normally expressed and purified from E. coli.. Although the cell-free synthesis of OMPs, such as OmpA and OmpG, is achieved in the presence of liposomes and periplasmic chaperones, the amount of OmpA and OmpG incorporated into the nano-sized liposomes is not clear. In this study, after in vitro translation, the incorporation of OmpG into purified nano-sized liposomes, with various lipid compositions, was investigated. Liposomes containing the synthesized OmpG were purified using a stepwise sucrose density gradient. We report that liposomes prepared with the E. coli lipid extract (PE/PG) had the highest amount of OmpG incorporated compared to liposomes with other lipid compositions, as detected by recording the current across the OmpG containing liposomes using the patch clamp technique. This study reveals some of the requirements for the insertion and refolding of OMPs synthesized by the in vitro translation system into lipid membranes, which plays a role in the biological sensing of various molecules.

In virto and in vivo Phosphorylation of a Coat Protein of Potato Virus X

At the present stage of development of plant virology the study of molecular mechanisms of regulation, translation and replication of viral RNA is of great interest. Potato virus X (PVX) RNA in viral particles is not available for in vitro translation, but acquires the ability to be translated as a result of shell protein phosphorylation. The aim of our study was to investigate the conditions of phosphorylation of the PVX coat protein in in vitro and in vivo systems, as well as the effect of EDTA and CaCl2 on the phosphorylation in vitro. Methods. The PVX coat protein was obtained by the guanidine chloride method. The kinase activity of PVX protein in vitro was determined in a standard reaction mixture containing Mn2+ ions, 0.8 mM EDTA, and 2 micro Ci 32P ATP (3000 Ci/mM). Phosphorylation of the protein in vivo was carried out by immersing Datura stramonium leaves with symptoms of PVX infection in water containing К3PO4 32P. After isolation of PVX from the leaves, the viral coat protein was fractionated by SDS-PAAG electrophoresis. Fractions of the protein were transferred from the gel by contact manner on a nitrocellulose filter. The PVX coat protein was detected by immunoblotting using immunoglobulins to PVX coat protein and rabbit antibodies labeled with peroxidase. The inclusion of labeled phosphorus in the PVX protein was detected by radioautography. Results. The PVX coat protein was phosphorylated in vitro in a standard incubation medium containing (gamma -32P) ATP. In contrast, the PVX coat protein cannot be phosphorylated in the same conditions in the presence of (alpha-32P) ATP. In vivo phosphorylated PVX coat protein was detected by exposing nitrocellulose filter with immunoblot on X-ray film. Additionally, it was found that the presence of 10 mm EDTA and 10 mm CaCl2 inhibited the process of the PVX coat protein phosphorylation in vitro. Conclusions. The coat protein of potato virus X is able to phosphorylate in vitro and in vivo systems. The terminal ATP phosphate plays a major role in the phosphorylation of the PVX coat protein. The presence of EDTA and Ca2+ influences on the process of protein phosphorylation in vitro. These agents are able to inhibit the process of phosphorylation of the PVX coat protein. Thus, the phenomenon of phosphorylation of the PVX coat protein apparently indicates about its participation in the regulation of the virus reproduction in the infected cell.

DDX3X and DDX3Y are redundant in protein synthesis

DDX3 is a DEAD-box RNA helicase that regulates translation and is encoded by the X- and Y-linked paralogs DDX3X and DDX3Y. While DDX3X is ubiquitously expressed in human tissues and essential for viability, DDX3Y is male-specific and shows lower and more variable expression than DDX3X in somatic tissues. Heterozygous genetic lesions in DDX3X mediate a class of developmental disorders called DDX3X syndrome, while loss of DDX3Y is implicated in male infertility. One possible explanation for female-bias in DDX3X syndrome is that DDX3Y encodes a polypeptide with different biochemical activity. In this study, we use ribosome profiling and in vitro translation to demonstrate that the X- and Y-linked paralogs of DDX3 play functionally redundant roles in translation. We find that transcripts that are sensitive to DDX3X depletion or mutation are rescued by complementation with DDX3Y. Our data indicate that DDX3X and DDX3Y proteins can functionally complement each other in the context of mRNA translation in human cells. DDX3Y is not expressed in a large fraction of the central nervous system. These findings suggest that expression differences, not differences in paralog-dependent protein synthesis, underlie the sex-bias of DDX3X-associated diseases.

Alteration in H-bond strength affects the stability of codon-anticodon interaction at in-frame UAG stop codon during in vitro translation

We have studied the decoding ability of a non-standard nucleobase modified tRNA for non-natural amino acid mutagenesis. The insertion of 2, 6-diaminopurine (D) base at the 3rd position of a tRNA anticodon enabled us to evaluate the effect of an additional hydrogen bond during translation. The presence of D at the tRNA anticodon led to stabilization of the codon-anticodon interaction due to an additional H-bond between the N2-exocyclic amine of D and the C2 carbonyl group of uracil during protein translation. While decoding UAG codons using stop codon suppression methodology, the enhanced codon-anticodon interaction improved codon readthrough and synthesis of modified protein with a non-natural amino acid at multiple sites. Our findings imply that the number of hydrogen bonds at the tRNA-mRNA duplex interface is an important criterion during mRNA decoding and improves protein translation at multiple UAG stop sites. This work provides valuable inputs towards improved non-natural amino acid mutagenesis for creating functional proteins.

Alteration in H-bond strength affects the stability of codon-anticodon interaction at in-frame UAG stop codon during in vitro translation

We have studied the decoding ability of a non-standard nucleobase modified tRNA for non-natural amino acid mutagenesis. The insertion of 2, 6-diaminopurine (D) base at the 3rd position of a tRNA anticodon enabled us to evaluate the effect of an additional hydrogen bond during translation. The presence of D at the tRNA anticodon led to stabilization of the codon-anticodon interaction due to an additional H-bond between the N2-exocyclic amine of D and the C2 carbonyl group of uracil during protein translation. While decoding UAG codons using stop codon suppression methodology, the enhanced codon-anticodon interaction improved codon readthrough and synthesis of modified protein with a non-natural amino acid at multiple sites. Our findings imply that the number of hydrogen bonds at the tRNA-mRNA duplex interface is an important criterion during mRNA decoding and improves protein translation at multiple UAG stop sites. This work provides valuable inputs towards improved non-natural amino acid mutagenesis for creating functional proteins.