OaAEP1-Mediated Enzymatic Synthesis and Immobilization of Polymerized Protein for Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy

J Vis Exp. 2020 Feb 5:(156). doi: 10.3791/60774.

Abstract

Chemical and bio-conjugation techniques have been developed rapidly in recent years and allow the building of protein polymers. However, a controlled protein polymerization process is always a challenge. Here, we have developed an enzymatic methodology for constructing polymerized protein step by step in a rationally-controlled sequence. In this method, the C-terminus of a protein monomer is NGL for protein conjugation using OaAEP1 (Oldenlandia affinis asparaginyl endopeptidases) 1) while the N-terminus was a cleavable TEV (tobacco etch virus) cleavage site plus an L (ENLYFQ/GL) for temporary N-terminal protecting. Consequently, OaAEP1 was able to add only one protein monomer at a time, and then the TEV protease cleaved the N-terminus between Q and G to expose the NH2-Gly-Leu. Then the unit is ready for next OaAEP1 ligation. The engineered polyprotein is examined by unfolding individual protein domain using atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (AFM-SMFS). Therefore, this study provides a useful strategy for polyprotein engineering and immobilization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / chemistry
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Endopeptidases / chemistry
  • Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Immobilized Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Oldenlandia / enzymology*
  • Polymerization*
  • Potyvirus / enzymology
  • Protein Biosynthesis*
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Single Molecule Imaging / methods*
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Substances

  • Immobilized Proteins
  • Endopeptidases
  • TEV protease
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • asparaginylendopeptidase

Supplementary concepts

  • Tobacco etch virus