Search

The display of complex proteins on the surface of cells is of great importance for protein engineering and other fields of biotechnology. Herein, we describe a modular approach, in which the membrane anchor protein Lpp‐OmpA and a protein of interest (passenger) are expressed independently as genetically fused SpyCatcher and SpyTag units and assembled in situ by post‐translational coupling. Using fluorescent proteins, we first demonstrate that this strategy allows the construct to be installed on the surface of E. coli cells. The scope of our approach was then demonstrated by using three different functional enzymes, the stereoselective ketoreductase Gre2p, the homotetrameric glucose 1‐dehydrogenase GDH, and the bulky heme‐ and diflavin‐containing cytochrome P450 BM3 (BM3). In all cases, the SpyCatcher‐SpyTag method enabled the generation of functional whole‐cell biocatalysts, even for the bulky BM3, which could not be displayed by conventional fusion with Lpp‐OmpA. Furthermore, by using a GDH variant carrying an internal SpyTag, the system could be used to display an enzyme with unmodified N‐ and C‐termini., Room for independent folding. A surface display method employs the SpyCatcher‐SpyTag system for post‐translational in situ coupling of independently expressed and properly folded passenger enzymes and membrane anchors. The efficient surface display of delicate and complex enzymes expands the toolbox for the fabrication of productive whole‐cell biocatalysts.

The chromatin reader protein Spindlin1 plays an important role in epigenetic regulation, through which it has been linked to several types of malignant tumors. In the current work, we report on the development of novel analogs of the previously published lead inhibitor A366. In an effort to improve the activity and explore the structure–activity relationship (SAR), a series of 21 derivatives was synthesized, tested in vitro, and investigated by means of molecular modeling tools. Docking studies and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to analyze and rationalize the structural differences responsible for the Spindlin1 activity. The analysis of MD simulations shed light on the important interactions. Our study highlighted the main structural features that are required for Spindlin1 inhibitory activity, which include a positively charged pyrrolidine moiety embedded into the aromatic cage connected via a propyloxy linker to the 2-aminoindole core. Of the latter, the amidine group anchor the compounds into the pocket through salt bridge interactions with Asp184. Different protocols were tested to identify a fast in silico method that could help to discriminate between active and inactive compounds within the A366 series. Rescoring the docking poses with MM-GBSA calculations was successful in this regard. Because A366 is known to be a G9a inhibitor, the most active developed Spindlin1 inhibitors were also tested over G9a and GLP to verify the selectivity profile of the A366 analogs. This resulted in the discovery of diverse selective compounds, among which 1s and 1t showed Spindlin1 activity in the nanomolar range and selectivity over G9a and GLP. Finally, future design hypotheses were suggested based on our findings.

We present a facile method for the combined synthesis and purification of protein-decorated DNA origami nanostructures (DONs). DONs bearing reductively cleavable biotin groups in addition to ligands for ligation of recombinant proteins are bound to magnetic beads. Protein immobilization is conducted with a large protein excess to achieve high ligation yields. Subsequent to cleavage from the solid support, pure sample solutions are obtained which are suitable for direct AFM analysis of occupation patterns. We demonstrate the method's utility using three different orthogonal ligation methods, the "halo-based oligonucleotide binder" (HOB), a variant of Halo-tag, the "SpyTag/SpyCatcher" (ST/SC) system, and the enzymatic "ybbR tag" coupling. We find surprisingly low efficiency for ST/SC ligation, presumably due to electrostatic repulsion and steric hindrance, whereas the ybbR method, despite its ternary nature, shows good ligation yields. Our method is particularly useful for the development of novel ligation methods and the synthesis of mechanically fragile DONs that present protein patterns for surface-based cell assays.

The establishment of microfluidic enzyme cascades is a topical field of research and development, which is currently hampered by the lack of methodologies for mild and efficient immobilization of isolated enzymes. We here describe the use of self-immobilizing fusion enzymes for the modular configuration of microfluidic packed-bed reactors. Specifically, three different enzymes, the (R)-selective alcohol dehydrogenase LbADH, the (S)-selective methylglyoxal reductase Gre2p and the NADP(H) regeneration enzyme glucose 1-dehydrogenase GDH, were genetically fused with streptavidin binding peptide, Spy and Halo-based tags, to enable their specific and directional immobilization on magnetic microbeads coated with complementary receptors. The enzyme-modified beads were loaded in four-channel microfluidic chips to create compartments that have the capability for either (R)- or (S)-selective reduction of the prochiral CS-symmetrical substrate 5-nitrononane-2,8-dione (NDK). Analysis of the isomeric hydroxyketone and ...