Modular assembly of proteins on nanoparticles

Nat Commun. 2018 Apr 16;9(1):1489. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03931-4.

Abstract

Generally, the high diversity of protein properties necessitates the development of unique nanoparticle bio-conjugation methods, optimized for each different protein. Here we describe a universal bio-conjugation approach which makes use of a new recombinant fusion protein combining two distinct domains. The N-terminal part is Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) from Schistosoma japonicum, for which we identify and characterize the remarkable ability to bind gold nanoparticles (GNPs) by forming gold-sulfur bonds (Au-S). The C-terminal part of this multi-domain construct is the SpyCatcher from Streptococcus pyogenes, which provides the ability to capture recombinant proteins encoding a SpyTag. Here we show that SpyCatcher can be immobilized covalently on GNPs through GST without the loss of its full functionality. We then show that GST-SpyCatcher activated particles are able to covalently bind a SpyTag modified protein by simple mixing, through the spontaneous formation of an unusual isopeptide bond.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Gene Expression
  • Glutathione Transferase / chemistry*
  • Glutathione Transferase / genetics
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Helminth Proteins / chemistry*
  • Helminth Proteins / genetics
  • Helminth Proteins / metabolism
  • Kinetics
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical
  • Protein Conformation, beta-Strand
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Schistosoma japonicum / chemistry
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / chemistry
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Helminth Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • SpyCatcher peptide
  • Gold
  • Glutathione Transferase