Salmonella-based platform for efficient delivery of functional binding proteins to the cytosol

Commun Biol. 2020 Jul 3;3(1):342. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-1072-4.

Abstract

Protein-based affinity reagents (like antibodies or alternative binding scaffolds) offer wide-ranging applications for basic research and therapeutic approaches. However, whereas small chemical molecules efficiently reach intracellular targets, the delivery of macromolecules into the cytosol of cells remains a major challenge; thus cytosolic applications of protein-based reagents are rather limited. Some pathogenic bacteria have evolved a conserved type III secretion system (T3SS) which allows the delivery of effector proteins into eukaryotic cells. Here, we enhance the T3SS of an avirulent strain of Salmonella typhimurium to reproducibly deliver multiple classes of recombinant proteins into eukaryotic cells. The efficacy of the system is probed with both DARPins and monobodies to functionally inhibit the paradigmatic and largely undruggable RAS signaling pathway. Thus, we develop a bacterial secretion system for potent cytosolic delivery of therapeutic macromolecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cytosol / metabolism*
  • HCT116 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Salmonella typhimurium / genetics
  • Salmonella typhimurium / growth & development
  • Salmonella typhimurium / metabolism*
  • Type III Secretion Systems / genetics
  • Type III Secretion Systems / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Type III Secretion Systems