Upon heterologous overexpression, many proteins misfold or aggregate, thus resulting in low functional yields. Human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE), an enzyme mediating synaptic transmission, is a ...typical case of a human protein that necessitates mammalian systems to obtain functional expression. We developed a computational strategy and designed an AChE variant bearing 51 mutations that improved core packing, surface polarity, and backbone rigidity. This variant expressed at ∼2,000-fold higher levels in E. coli compared to wild-type hAChE and exhibited 20°C higher thermostability with no change in enzymatic properties or in the active-site configuration as determined by crystallography. To demonstrate broad utility, we similarly designed four other human and bacterial proteins. Testing at most three designs per protein, we obtained enhanced stability and/or higher yields of soluble and active protein in E. coli. Our algorithm requires only a 3D structure and several dozen sequences of naturally occurring homologs, and is available at http://pross.weizmann.ac.il.
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•A new computational method is used to stabilize five recalcitrant proteins•Designed variants show higher expression and stability with unmodified function•A designed human acetylcholinesterase variant expresses solubly in bacteria•The method is fully automated and implemented on a webserver
Heterologous expression of proteins and their mutants often results in misfolding and aggregation. Goldenzweig et al. (2016) developed an automated algorithm for protein stabilization requiring minimal experimental testing; for instance, the five tested variants of human acetylcholinesterase showed ≥100-fold higher soluble bacterial expression and higher melting temperatures than wild-type.
Molecular manipulations, including DNA cloning and mutagenesis are basic tools used on a routine basis in all life-science disciplines. Over the last decade new methodologies have emerged that ...facilitated and expanded the applications for DNA cloning and mutagenesis. Ligation-Independent Cloning (LIC) techniques were developed and replaced the classical Ligation Dependent Cloning (LDC) platform. Restriction Free (RF) cloning was originally developed for introduction of foreign DNA into a plasmid at any predetermined position. RF cloning is based on PCR amplification of a DNA fragment, which serves as a mega-primer for the linear amplification of the vector and insert. Here we present several novel applications of the Restriction Free (RF) cloning platform for DNA cloning and mutagenesis. The new applications include simultaneous cloning of several DNA fragments into distinct positions within an expression vector, simultaneous multi-component assembly, and parallel cloning of the same PCR product into a series of different vectors. In addition, we have expanded the application of the RF cloning platform for multiple alterations of the target DNA, including simultaneous multiple-site mutagenesis and simultaneous introduction of deletions and insertions at different positions. We further demonstrate the robustness of the new applications for facilitating recombinant protein expression in the Escherichia coli system.
Fluorescent molecular probes have become valuable tools in protein research; however, the current methods for using these probes are less suitable for analysing specific populations of proteins in ...their native environment. In this study, we address this gap by developing a unimolecular fluorescent probe that combines the properties of small-molecule-based probes and cross-reactive sensor arrays (the so-called chemical 'noses/tongues'). On the one hand, the probe can detect different proteins by generating unique identification (ID) patterns, akin to cross-reactive arrays. On the other hand, its unimolecular scaffold and selective binding enable this ID-generating probe to identify combinations of specific protein families within complex mixtures and to discriminate among isoforms in living cells, where macroscopic arrays cannot access. The ability to recycle the molecular device and use it to track several binding interactions simultaneously further demonstrates how this approach could expand the fluorescent toolbox currently used to detect and image proteins.
Molecular manipulations, including DNA cloning and mutagenesis, are currently employed on a routine basis in all life science disciplines. Over the last decade new methodologies have emerged that ...expanded and facilitated the applications for DNA cloning. The classical Ligation-Dependent Cloning (LDC) is gradually replaced by Ligation-Independent Cloning (LIC) techniques. The Restriction-Free (RF) cloning was originally developed for introduction of a foreign DNA into a plasmid at any desired position. The RF methodology is based on generation of a PCR product, which serves as a set of mega-primers for subsequent incorporation into any desired position within a circular plasmid. We have expanded the applications of the RF methodology for multiple simultaneous alterations of a target DNA and for multicomponents assembly. In the current manuscript we describe a step-by-step protocol for application of the RF methodology for simultaneous multiple DNA fragments assembly in tandem and at distinct positions within an expression vector.
Gene editing by CRISPR/Cas9 is commonly used to generate germline mutations or perform in vitro screens, but applicability for in vivo screening has so far been limited. Recently, it was shown that ...in Drosophila, Cas9 expression could be limited to a desired group of cells, allowing tissue-specific mutagenesis. Here, we thoroughly characterize tissue-specific (ts)CRISPR within the complex neuronal system of the Drosophila mushroom body. We report the generation of a library of gRNA-expressing plasmids and fly lines using optimized tools, which provides a valuable resource to the fly community. We demonstrate the application of our library in a large-scale in vivo screen, which reveals insights into developmental neuronal remodeling.
Antibodies developed for research and clinical applications may exhibit suboptimal stability, expressibility, or affinity. Existing optimization strategies focus on surface mutations, whereas natural ...affinity maturation also introduces mutations in the antibody core, simultaneously improving stability and affinity. To systematically map the mutational tolerance of an antibody variable fragment (Fv), we performed yeast display and applied deep mutational scanning to an anti-lysozyme antibody and found that many of the affinity-enhancing mutations clustered at the variable light-heavy chain interface, within the antibody core. Rosetta design combined enhancing mutations, yielding a variant with tenfold higher affinity and substantially improved stability. To make this approach broadly accessible, we developed AbLIFT, an automated web server that designs multipoint core mutations to improve contacts between specific Fv light and heavy chains (http://AbLIFT.weizmann.ac.il). We applied AbLIFT to two unrelated antibodies targeting the human antigens VEGF and QSOX1. Strikingly, the designs improved stability, affinity, and expression yields. The results provide proof-of-principle for bypassing laborious cycles of antibody engineering through automated computational affinity and stability design.
Knowledge about the structural and dynamic properties of proteins that form membrane-less organelles in cells via liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) is required for understanding the process at a ...molecular level. We used spin labeling and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to investigate the dynamic properties (rotational diffusion) of the low complexity N-terminal domain of cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding-4 protein (CPEB4NTD) across its LLPS transition, which takes place with increasing temperature. We report the coexistence of three spin labeled CPEB4NTD (CPEB4*) populations with distinct dynamic properties representing different conformational spaces, both before and within the LLPS state. Monomeric CPEB4* exhibiting fast motion defines population I and shows low abundance prior to and following LLPS. Populations II and III are part of CPEB4* assemblies where II corresponds to loose conformations with intermediate range motions and population III represents compact conformations with strongly attenuated motions. As the temperature increased the population of component II increased reversibly at the expense of component III, indicating the existence of an III ⇌ II equilibrium. We correlated the macroscopic LLPS properties with the III ⇌ II exchange process upon varying temperature and CPEB4* and salt concentrations. We hypothesized that weak transient intermolecular interactions facilitated by component II lead to LLPS, with the small assemblies integrated within the droplets. The LLPS transition, however, was not associated with a clear discontinuity in the correlation times and populations of the three components. Importantly, CPEB4NTD exhibits LLPS properties where droplet formation occurs from a preformed microscopic assembly rather than the monomeric protein molecules.
Allosteric activation of vinculin by talin Franz, Florian; Tapia-Rojo, Rafael; Winograd-Katz, Sabina ...
Nature communications,
07/2023, Letnik:
14, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
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The talin-vinculin axis is a key mechanosensing component of cellular focal adhesions. How talin and vinculin respond to forces and regulate one another remains unclear. By combining single-molecule ...magnetic tweezers experiments, Molecular Dynamics simulations, actin-bundling assays, and adhesion assembly experiments in live cells, we here describe a two-ways allosteric network within vinculin as a regulator of the talin-vinculin interaction. We directly observe a maturation process of vinculin upon talin binding, which reinforces the binding to talin at a rate of 0.03 s
. This allosteric transition can compete with force-induced dissociation of vinculin from talin only at forces up to 10 pN. Mimicking the allosteric activation by mutation yields a vinculin molecule that bundles actin and localizes to focal adhesions in a force-independent manner. Hence, the allosteric switch confines talin-vinculin interactions and focal adhesion build-up to intermediate force levels. The 'allosteric vinculin mutant' is a valuable molecular tool to further dissect the mechanical and biochemical signalling circuits at focal adhesions and elsewhere.
The genus Solanum comprises three food crops (potato, tomato, and eggplant), which are consumed on daily basis worldwide and also producers of notorious anti-nutritional steroidal glycoalkaloids ...(SGAs). Hydroxylated SGAs (i.e. leptinines) serve as precursors for leptines that act as defenses against Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say), an important pest of potato worldwide. However, SGA hydroxylating enzymes remain unknown. Here, we discover that 2-OXOGLUTARATE-DEPENDENT-DIOXYGENASE (2-ODD) enzymes catalyze SGA-hydroxylation across various Solanum species. In contrast to cultivated potato, Solanum chacoense, a widespread wild potato species, has evolved a 2-ODD enzyme leading to the formation of leptinines. Furthermore, we find a related 2-ODD in tomato that catalyzes the hydroxylation of the bitter α-tomatine to hydroxytomatine, the first committed step in the chemical shift towards downstream ripening-associated non-bitter SGAs (e.g. esculeoside A). This 2-ODD enzyme prevents bitterness in ripe tomato fruit consumed today which otherwise would remain unpleasant in taste and more toxic.
The GroE chaperonin system in Escherichia coli comprises GroEL and GroES and facilitates ATP-dependent protein folding in vivo and in vitro. Proteins with very similar sequences and structures can ...differ in their dependence on GroEL for efficient folding. One potential but unverified source for GroEL dependence is frustration, wherein not all interactions in the native state are optimized energetically, thereby potentiating slow folding and misfolding. Here, we chose enhanced green fluorescent protein as a model system and subjected it to random mutagenesis, followed by screening for variants whose in vivo folding displays increased or decreased GroEL dependence. We confirmed the altered GroEL dependence of these variants with in vitro folding assays. Strikingly, mutations at positions predicted to be highly frustrated were found to correlate with decreased GroEL dependence. Conversely, mutations at positions with low frustration were found to correlate with increased GroEL dependence. Further support for this finding was obtained by showing that folding of an enhanced green fluorescent protein variant designed computationally to have reduced frustration is indeed less GroEL-dependent. Our results indicate that changes in local frustration also affect partitioning in vivo between spontaneous and chaperonin-mediated folding. Hence, the design of minimally frustrated sequences can reduce chaperonin dependence and improve protein expression levels.
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