scholarly journals A cell-free biosynthesis platform for modular construction of protein glycosylation pathways

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weston Kightlinger ◽  
Katherine E. Duncker ◽  
Ashvita Ramesh ◽  
Ariel H. Thames ◽  
Aravind Natarajan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Glycosylation ◽  
Human Antibody ◽  
Modular Construction ◽  
One Pot ◽  
Free System ◽  
Putative Protein ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Mix And Match ◽  
Cell Free Protein Synthesis

AbstractGlycosylation plays important roles in cellular function and endows protein therapeutics with beneficial properties. However, constructing biosynthetic pathways to study and engineer protein glycosylation remains a bottleneck. To address this limitation, we describe a modular, versatile cell-free platform for glycosylation pathway assembly by rapid in vitromixing and expression (GlycoPRIME). In GlycoPRIME, crude cell lysates are enriched with glycosyltransferases by cell-free protein synthesis and then glycosylation pathways are assembled in a mix-and-match fashion to elaborate a single glucose priming handle installed by an N-linked glycosyltransferase. We demonstrate GlycoPRIME by constructing 37 putative protein glycosylation pathways, creating 23 unique glycan motifs. We then use selected pathways to design a one-pot cell-free system to synthesize a vaccine protein with an α-galactose motif and engineered Escherichia coli strains to produce human antibody constant regions with minimal sialic acid motifs. We anticipate that our work will facilitate glycoscience and make possible new glycoengineering applications.

scholarly journals A cell-free biosynthesis platform for modular construction of protein glycosylation pathways

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weston Kightlinger ◽  
Katherine E. Duncker ◽  
Ashvita Ramesh ◽  
Ariel H. Thames ◽  
Aravind Natarajan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Protein Glycosylation ◽  
Human Antibody ◽  
Modular Construction ◽  
Protein Vaccine ◽  
One Pot ◽  
Protein Targets ◽  
Free System ◽  
Putative Protein ◽  
A Cell

AbstractGlycosylation plays important roles in cellular function and endows protein therapeutics with beneficial properties. However, constructing biosynthetic pathways to study and engineer precise glycan structures on proteins remains a bottleneck. Here, we report a modular, versatile cell-free platform for glycosylation pathway assembly by rapid in vitro mixing and expression (GlycoPRIME). In GlycoPRIME, glycosylation pathways are assembled by mixing-and-matching cell-free synthesized glycosyltransferases that can elaborate a glucose primer installed onto protein targets by an N-glycosyltransferase. We demonstrate GlycoPRIME by constructing 37 putative protein glycosylation pathways, creating 23 unique glycan motifs, 18 of which have not yet been synthesized on proteins. We use selected pathways to synthesize a protein vaccine candidate with an α-galactose adjuvant motif in a one-pot cell-free system and human antibody constant regions with minimal sialic acid motifs in glycoengineered Escherichia coli. We anticipate that these methods and pathways will facilitate glycoscience and make possible new glycoengineering applications.

scholarly journals Reconstituted cell-free protein synthesis using in vitro transcribed tRNAs

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keita Hibi ◽  
Kazuaki Amikura ◽  
Naoki Sugiura ◽  
Keiko Masuda ◽  
Satoshi Ohno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Genetic Code ◽  
Active Protein ◽  
Free System ◽  
Free Protein ◽  
Pure System ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Cell Free Protein Synthesis ◽  
Decoding Fidelity

AbstractEntire reconstitution of tRNAs for active protein production in a cell-free system brings flexibility into the genetic code engineering. It can also contribute to the field of cell-free synthetic biology, which aims to construct self-replicable artificial cells. Herein, we developed a system equipped only with in vitro transcribed tRNA (iVTtRNA) based on a reconstituted cell-free protein synthesis (PURE) system. The developed system, consisting of 21 iVTtRNAs without nucleotide modifications, is able to synthesize active proteins according to the redesigned genetic code. Manipulation of iVTtRNA composition in the system enabled genetic code rewriting. Introduction of modified nucleotides into specific iVTtRNAs demonstrated to be effective for both protein yield and decoding fidelity, where the production yield of DHFR reached about 40% of the reaction with native tRNA at 30°C. The developed system will prove useful for studying decoding processes, and may be employed in genetic code and protein engineering applications.

scholarly journals Cross-talk between IRAK-4 and the NADPH oxidase1

2007 ◽  
Vol 403 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandrine Pacquelet ◽  
Jennifer L. Johnson ◽  
Beverly A. Ellis ◽  
Agnieszka A. Brzezinska ◽  
William S. Lane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Nadph Oxidase ◽  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Interleukin 1 ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Free System ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Tlr4 Activation

Exposure of neutrophils to LPS (lipopolysaccharide) triggers their oxidative response. However, the relationship between the signalling downstream of TLR4 (Toll-like receptor 4) after LPS stimulation and the activation of the oxidase remains elusive. Phosphorylation of the cytosolic factor p47phox is essential for activation of the NADPH oxidase. In the present study, we examined the hypothesis that IRAK-4 (interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-4), the main regulatory kinase downstream of TLR4 activation, regulates the NADPH oxidase through phosphorylation of p47phox. We show that p47phox is a substrate for IRAK-4. Unlike PKC (protein kinase C), IRAK-4 phosphorylates p47phox not only at serine residues, but also at threonine residues. Target residues were identified by tandem MS, revealing a novel threonine-rich regulatory domain. We also show that p47phox is phosphorylated in granulocytes in response to LPS stimulation. LPS-dependent phosphorylation of p47phox was enhanced by the inhibition of p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), confirming that the kinase operates upstream of p38 MAPK. IRAK-4-phosphorylated p47phox activated the NADPH oxidase in a cell-free system, and IRAK-4 overexpression increased NADPH oxidase activity in response to LPS. We have shown that endogenous IRAK-4 interacts with p47phox and they co-localize at the plasma membrane after LPS stimulation, using immunoprecipitation assays and immunofluorescence microscopy respectively. IRAK-4 was activated in neutrophils in response to LPS stimulation. We found that Thr133, Ser288 and Thr356, targets for IRAK-4 phosphorylation in vitro, are also phosphorylated in endogenous p47phox after LPS stimulation. We conclude that IRAK-4 phosphorylates p47phox and regulates NADPH oxidase activation after LPS stimulation.

scholarly journals Efficacy of a Potential Trivalent Vaccine Based on Hc Fragments of Botulinum Toxins A, B, and E Produced in a Cell-Free Expression System

2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 784-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Zichel ◽  
A. Mimran ◽  
A. Keren ◽  
A. Barnea ◽  
I. Steinberger-Levy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Expression System ◽  
Free Expression ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Botulinum Toxins ◽  
Free System ◽  
Toxin Complex ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Cell Free Expression System

ABSTRACT Botulinum toxins produced by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum are the most potent biological toxins in nature. Traditionally, people at risk are immunized with a formaldehyde-inactivated toxin complex. Second generation vaccines are based on the recombinant carboxy-terminal heavy-chain (Hc) fragment of the neurotoxin. However, the materialization of this approach is challenging, mainly due to the high AT content of clostridial genes. Herein, we present an alternative strategy in which the native genes encoding Hc proteins of botulinum toxins A, B, and E were used to express the recombinant Hc fragments in a cell-free expression system. We used the unique property of this open system to introduce different combinations of chaperone systems, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), and reducing/oxidizing environments directly to the expression reaction. Optimized expression conditions led to increased production of soluble Hc protein, which was successfully scaled up using a continuous exchange (CE) cell-free system. Hc proteins were produced at a concentration of more than 1 mg/ml and purified by one-step Ni+ affinity chromatography. Mice immunized with three injections containing 5 μg of any of the in vitro-expressed, alum-absorbed, Hc vaccines generated a serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) titer of 105 against the native toxin complex, which enabled protection against a high-dose toxin challenge (103 to 106 mouse 50% lethal dose [MsLD50]). Finally, immunization with a trivalent HcA, HcB, and HcE vaccine protected mice against the corresponding trivalent 105 MsLD50 toxin challenge. Our results together with the latest developments in scalability of the in vitro protein expression systems offer alternative routes for the preparation of botulinum vaccine.

scholarly journals A cell-free platform for rapid synthesis and testing of active oligosaccharyltransferases

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Schoborg ◽  
Jasmine Hershewe ◽  
Jessica C. Stark ◽  
Weston Kightlinger ◽  
James E. Kath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Cellular Membrane ◽  
Production Method ◽  
Protein Glycosylation ◽  
Campylobacter Coli ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Target Proteins ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Campylobacter Lari

AbstractProtein glycosylation, or the attachment of sugar moieties (glycans) to proteins, is important for protein stability, activity, and immunogenicity. However, understanding the roles and regulations of site-specific glycosylation events remains a significant challenge due to several technological limitations. These limitations include a lack of available tools for biochemical characterization of enzymes involved in glycosylation. A particular challenge is the synthesis of oligosaccharyltransferases (OSTs), which catalyze the attachment of glycans to specific amino acid residues in target proteins. The difficulty arises from the fact that canonical OSTs are large (>70 kDa) and possess multiple transmembrane helices, making them difficult to overexpress in living cells. Here, we address this challenge by establishing a bacterial cell-free protein synthesis platform that enables rapid production of a variety of OSTs in their active conformations. Specifically, by using lipid nanodiscs as cellular membrane mimics, we obtained yields of up to 440 µg/mL for the single-subunit OST enzyme, ‘Protein glycosylation B’ (PglB) from Campylobacter jejuni, as well as for three additional PglB homologs from Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter lari, and Desulfovibrio gigas. Importantly, all of these enzymes catalyzed N-glycosylation reactions in vitro with no purification or processing needed. Furthermore, we demonstrate the ability of cell-free synthesized OSTs to glycosylate multiple target proteins with varying N-glycosylation acceptor sequons. We anticipate that this broadly applicable production method will advance glycoengineering efforts by enabling preparative expression of membrane-embedded OSTs from all kingdoms of life.

A somatic cell-derived system for studying both early and late mitotic events in vitro

1989 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-462
Author(s):  
J. Nakagawa ◽  
G.T. Kitten ◽  
E.A. Nigg
Keyword(s):  
Chromatin Condensation ◽  
Nuclear Lamina ◽  
Free System ◽  
Cell Free System ◽  
Protein Substrates ◽  
Nuclear Envelope Breakdown ◽  
Biochemical Fractionation ◽  
A Cell

We describe a cell-free system for studying mitotic reorganization of nuclear structure. The system utilizes soluble extracts prepared from metaphase-arrested somatic chicken cells and supports both the disassembly and subsequent partial reassembly of exogenous nuclei. By fluorescence microscopy, biochemical fractionation, protein phosphorylation assays and electron microscopy, we show that chicken embryonic nuclei incubated in extracts prepared from metaphase-arrested chicken hepatoma cells undergo nuclear envelope breakdown, lamina depolymerization and chromatin condensation. These prophase-like events are strictly dependent on ATP and do not occur when nuclei are incubated in interphase extracts. Compared to interphase extracts, metaphase extracts show increased kinase activities toward a number of nuclear protein substrates, including lamins and histone H1; moreover, they specifically contain four soluble phosphoproteins of Mr 38,000, 75,000, 95,000 and 165,000. Following disassembly of exogenous nuclei in metaphase extracts, telophase-like reassembly of a nuclear lamina and re-formation of nuclear membranes around condensed chromatin can be induced by depletion of ATP from the extract. We anticipate that this reversible cell-free system will contribute to the identification and characterization of factors involved in regulatory and mechanistic aspects of mitosis.

Transcription of adenovirus type 2 genes in a cell-free system: apparent heterogeneity of initiation at some promoters

1981 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
pp. 635-651
Author(s):  
D C Lee ◽  
R G Roeder
Keyword(s):  
Adenovirus Type ◽  
Free System ◽  
Ribonucleic Acids ◽  
Cell Free System ◽  
Cell Extracts ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Adenovirus Type 2

We examined the transcription of a variety of adenovirus type 2 genes in a cell-free system containing purified ribonucleic acid polymerase II and a crude extract from cultured human cells. The early EIA, EIB, EIII, and EIV genes and the intermediate polypeptide IX gene, all of which contain a recognizable TATAA sequence upstream from the cap site, were actively transcribed in vitro, albeit with apparently different efficiencies, whereas the early EII (map position 74.9) and IVa2 genes, both of which lack a TATAA sequence, were not actively transcribed. A reverse transcriptase-primer extension analysis showed that the 5' ends of the in vitro transcripts were identical to those of the corresponding in vivo ribonucleic acids and that, in those instances where initiation was heterogeneous in vivo, a similar kind of heterogeneity was observed in the cell-free system. Transcription of the polypeptide IX gene indicated that this transcript was not terminated at, or processed to, the polyadenylic acid addition site in vitro. We also failed to observe, using the in vitro system, any indication of transcriptional regulation based on the use of adenovirus type 2-infected cell extracts.

N6-methyladenosine residues in an intron-specific region of prolactin pre-mRNA

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 4456-4465
Author(s):  
S M Carroll ◽  
P Narayan ◽  
F M Rottman
Keyword(s):  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Specific Sequence ◽  
Free System ◽  
Consensus Sequences ◽  
Neplanocin A ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Steady State Levels ◽  
Precursor Rna

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) residues occur at internal positions in most cellular and viral RNAs; both heterogeneous nuclear RNA and mRNA are involved. This modification arises by enzymatic transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine to the central adenosine residue in the canonical sequence G/AAC. Thus far, m6A has been mapped to specific locations in eucaryotic mRNA and viral genomic RNA. We have now examined an intron-specific sequence of a modified bovine prolactin precursor RNA for the presence of this methylated nucleotide by using both transfected-cell systems and a cell-free system capable of methylating mRNA transcripts in vitro. The results indicate the final intron-specific sequence (intron D) of a prolactin RNA molecule does indeed possess m6A residues. When mapped to specific T1 oligonucleotides, the predominant site of methylation was found to be within the consensus sequence AGm6ACU. The level of m6A at this site is nonstoichiometric; approximately 24% of the molecules are modified in vivo. Methylation was detected at markedly reduced levels at other consensus sites within the intron but not in T1 oligonucleotides which do not contain either AAC or GAC consensus sequences. In an attempt to correlate mRNA methylation with processing, stably transfected CHO cells expressing augmented levels of bovine prolactin were treated with neplanocin A, an inhibitor of methylation. Under these conditions, the relative steady-state levels of the intron-containing nuclear precursor increased four to six times that found in control cells.

Enhancement by Activated Protein C of tPA-induced Lysis in a Cell-free System

1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
J C Fredenburgh ◽  
D Collen ◽  
M E Nesheim
Keyword(s):  
Protein C ◽  
Activated Protein C ◽  
Protein S ◽  
Plasminogen Activation ◽  
Free System ◽  
Cell Free System ◽  
Normal Plasma ◽  
Lysis Time ◽  
A Cell

The profibrinolytic activity of human activated protein C (APC) was studied in a cell-free system using human plasma. Normal and Ba+* citrate adsorbed human plasmas were dialyzed against 150mM NaCl, 20mM Hepes, pH 7.4 and diluted to an A280 of 16. Reactions were initiated by the addition of aliquots of plasma to cuvettes containing human melanoma tPA and human thrombin at final concentrations of 1 and 30nM, respectively. The effects of Ca+* and varying concentrations of APC on clotlysis times were examined by monitoring turbidity at 600nM while maintaining the temperature at 37°C. The lysis time, defined as the midpoint of turbidity change, was 128 min for normal plasma containing 10 mM Ca+* and showed progressive and saturable shortening to about 90 min at > 50nM APC. In the absence of Ca+*, lysis time was 55 min for normal plasma and did not shorten in response to APC. With Ba+* citrate adsorbed plasma, the lysis time was 82 min in the presence of 10mM Ca+*, and shortened to 42 min without Ca+*. APC had no effect on lysis time in Ba+* adsorbed plasma either with or without Ca+*. Both bovine and human APC were equally potent. Electrophoresis in DodSO4 and autoradiography of plasma samples containing 125I-labelled plasminogen indicated enhanced rates of plasminogen activation in the presence of APC. These data indicate that APC decreases lysis time in vitro at the level of plasminogen activation. This effect is dependent on Ca+* and may involve additional vitamin K-dependent protein ( s).

scholarly journals Ligand-dependent and -independent activation of the transcription factor γRF-1 in a cell-free system

1995 ◽  
Vol 310 (2) ◽  
pp. 461-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
C A Feghali ◽  
T M Wright
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Tyrosine Phosphatase ◽  
Cell Fractionation ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Sodium Orthovanadate ◽  
Ifn Gamma ◽  
Free System ◽  
Cell Free System ◽  
A Cell

gamma RF-1 is a recently identified transcription factor induced by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) which binds to a unique palindromic enhancer, gamma RE-1, in the promoter of the mig gene. This paper describes the ligand-dependent and ligand-independent activation of gamma RF-1 in a cell-free system. gamma RF-1 activity was induced by IFN-gamma in a time-dependent manner from 5 to 60 min in lysates prepared from the human monocytic leukaemia line THP-1 and the human epidermoid carcinoma line A431. The activation of gamma RF-1 in vitro required both ATP and an inhibitor of tyrosine phosphatases (sodium orthovanadate or pervanadate). In the presence of limiting concentrations (micromolar) of ATP, activation was also dependent upon stimulation with IFN-gamma, whereas at millimolar concentrations of ATP, gamma RF-1 was activated by either sodium orthovanadate or pervanadate in the absence of ligand. Based on cell fractionation studies, both membrane and cytosol components were essential for activation of gamma RF-1 in vitro. Consistent with a role for one or more tyrosine kinases in the activation of gamma RF-1, its DNA binding activity was blocked by monoclonal anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies and by the tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein, lavendustin A and herbimycin A. A comparison with recently described pathways of IFN-mediated transcription factor regulation indicates that the in vitro activation of gamma RF-1 is unique, requiring both membrane and cytosol fractions and inhibition of endogenous tyrosine phosphatase activity.

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