Patent Application
20200239524
The content of the electronically submitted sequence listing in ASCII text file (Name: 18-1054-PCT_Sequence-Listing_ST25.txt; Size: 32,278 kb; and Date of Creation: Jul. 19, 2019) filed with the application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
There has been considerable progress in the de novo design of stable protein structures based on the principle that proteins fold into their lowest free energy state. These efforts have focused on maximizing the free energy gap between the desired folded structure and all other structures. Designing proteins that can switch conformations is more challenging, as multiple states must have sufficiently low free energies to be populated relative to the unfolded state, and the free energy differences between the states must be small enough that the state occupancies can be toggled by an external input. The de novo design of a protein system which switches conformational state in the presence of an external input has not been achieved.
In a first aspect are disclosed non-naturally occurring polypeptides comprising:
(a) a helical bundle, comprising between 2 and 7 alpha-helices; and
(b) amino acid linkers connecting each alpha helix.
In one embodiment, each helix is independently 18-60, 18-55, 18-50, 18-45, 22-60, 22-55, 22-50, 22-45, 25-60, 25-55, 25-50, 25-45, 28-60, 28-55, 28-50, 28-45, 32-60, 32-55, 32-50, 32-45, 35-60, 35-55, 35-50, 35-45, 38-60, 38-55, 38-50, 38-45, 40-60, 40-58, 40-55, 40-50, or 40-45 amino acids in length. In another embodiment, each amino acid linker is independently between 3-10, 4-10, 5-10, 6-10, 7-10, 8-10, 9-10, 2-9, 3-9, 4-9, 5-9, 6-9, 7-9, 8-9, 2-8, 3-8, 4-8, 5-8, 6-8, 7-8, 2-7, 3-7, 4-7, 5-7, 6-7, 2-6, 3-6, 4-6, 5-6, 2-5, 3-5, 4-5, 2-4, 3-4, 2-3, or 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 amino acids in length, not including any further functional sequences that may be fused to the linker. In a further embodiment, the polypeptide comprises one or more bioactive peptide in at least one of the alpha helices, wherein the one or more bioactive peptides are capable of selectively binding to a defined target, wherein the one or more bioactive peptides may comprise one or more bioactive peptide selected from the non-limiting group consisting of SEQ ID NO:60, 62-64, 66, 27052-27093, and 27118-27119.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides non-naturally occurring polypeptides comprising the polypeptide having at least 40% sequence identity along its length to the amino acid sequence of a cage polypeptide disclosed herein, or selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1-49, 51-52, 54-59, 61, 65, 67-14317, 27094-27117, 27120-27125, 27,278 to 27,321, and cage polypeptides listed in Table 2, Table 3, and/or Table 4, wherein the N-terminal and/or C-terminal 60 amino acids of the polypeptides are optional, wherein the sequence identity requirement does not include optional amino acid residues. In one aspect, the disclosure provides non-naturally occurring polypeptide comprising the polypeptide having at least 40% sequence identity along its length to the amino acid sequence of a cage polypeptide listed in Table 2, Table 3, and/or Table 4, not including optional amino acid residues. In one embodiment, of each of these aspects, the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence having an amino acid sequence having at least 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity, not including optional amino acid residues, along its length to the amino acid sequence elected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:1-91, SEQ ID NOS: 1-49, 51-52, 54-59, 61, 65, 67-14317, 27094-27117, 27120-27125, 27,278 to 27,321, and cage polypeptide listed in Table 2, Table 3, and/or Table 4.
In one embodiment of any of the aspects of the disclosure, the non-naturally occurring polypeptide further comprises one or more bioactive peptides within or replacing the latch region of the polypeptide, wherein the one or more bioactive peptides may comprise one or more bioactive peptide selected from the non-limiting group consisting of SEQ ID NO:60, 62-64, 66, 27052-27093, and 27118-27119.
In another aspect are provided non-naturally occurring polypeptides comprising a polypeptide having at least 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity, not including optional amino acid residues, along its length to the amino acid sequence of a key polypeptide disclosed herein, or a key polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:14318-26601, 26602-27015, and 27016-27051, and key polypeptides listed in Table. In one embodiment, the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having an amino acid sequence having at least 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity, not including optional amino acid residues, along its length to the amino acid sequence of a key protein selected from the group consisting of key polypeptides listed in Table 2, Table 3, and/or Table 4.
In another embodiment, the disclosure provides fusion proteins comprising the cage polypeptide of any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosure fused to the key polypeptide of any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosure.
In other aspects, the disclosure provides nucleic acids encoding the cage polypeptide, key polypeptide, of fusion protein of any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosure; expression vectors comprising the nucleic acids operatively linked to a promoter, and/or host cells comprising the nucleic acids and/or expression vectors. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid or the expression vector is integrated into a host cell chromosome. In another embodiment, the nucleic acid or the expression vector is episomal. In another embodiment, the host cell comprises
(a) a first nucleic acid encoding the cage polypeptide of any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosure operatively linked to a first promoter; and
(b) a second nucleic acid encoding the key polypeptide of any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosure operatively linked to a second promoter, wherein the second nucleic acid encodes a key polypeptide capable of binding to a structural region of the cage polypeptide encoded by the first nucleic acid, and wherein binding of the key polypeptide to the structural region of the cage polypeptide induces a conformational change in the cage polypeptide.
In a further embodiment of the host cells of the disclosure, the first nucleic acid comprises a plurality of first nucleic acids encoding a plurality of different cage polypeptides. In one embodiment, the second nucleic acid comprises a plurality of second nucleic acids encoding a plurality of different key polypeptides, wherein the plurality of different key polypeptides comprise one or more key polypeptides that are capable of binding to and inducing a conformational change in only a subset of the plurality of different cage polypeptides. In another embodiment, the second nucleic acid encodes a single key polypeptide that is capable of binding to and inducing a conformational change in each different cage polypeptide.
In another embodiment, the host cell may comprise
(a) a first nucleic acid encoding a fusion protein according to any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosure operatively linked to a first promoter; and
(b) a second nucleic acid encoding a fusion protein according to any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosure operatively linked to a second promoter, wherein:
In another aspect, the disclosure provides kits comprising
(a) one or more cage polypeptides according to any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosure;
(b) one or more key polypeptides according to any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosure; and
(c) optionally, one or more fusion proteins according to any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosure.
In one aspect, the disclosure provides kits, comprising:
(a) a first nucleic acid encoding one or more cage polypeptides according to any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosure;
(b) a second nucleic acid encoding one or more key polypeptides according to any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosure; and
(c) optionally, a third nucleic acid encoding one or more fusion proteins according to any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosure.
In various embodiments, the first nucleic acid, the second nucleic acid, and/or the third nucleic acid comprise expression vectors.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides LOCKR switches comprising
(a) a cage polypeptide comprising a structural region and a latch region further comprising one or more bioactive peptides, wherein the structural region interacts with the latch region to prevent activity of the one or more bioactive peptides;
(b) an optional key polypeptide that binds to the cage structural region, thereby displacing the latch region and activating the one or more bioactive peptides; and
(c) optionally, one or more effector polypeptide(s) that bind to the one or more bioactive peptides when the one or more bioactive peptides are activated.
In one embodiment, the effector polypeptide is present, and wherein the effector polypeptide comprises an effector polypeptide that selectively binds to the bioactive peptide, including but not limited to Bcl2, GFP1-10, and a protease.
In various embodiments, the host cells, kits, or LOCKR according to any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosure comprise one or more cage polypeptide and one or more key polypeptide having an amino acid sequence having at least 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity, not including optional residues, along its length to a cage polypeptide and a key polypeptide, respectively, in the same row of Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, and/or Table 4, or to a cage polypeptide and a key polypeptide, respectively, in the same row of Table 2, Table 3, and/or Table 4. In further embodiments, the one or more bioactive peptides may comprise one or more bioactive peptide selected from the non-limiting group consisting of SEQ ID NO:60, 62-64, 66, 27052-27093, and 27118-27119.
In other embodiments, the host cells, kits, or LOCKR according to any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosure comprise
(a) the one or more cage polypeptide comprise one or more cage polypeptides having at least 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity, not including optional amino acid residues, along its length to the amino acid sequence of a cage polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1-49, 51-52, 54-59, 61, 65, 67-14317, 27094-27117, 27120-27125, 27,278 to 27,321, and cage polypeptides listed in Table 2, Table 3, and/or Table 4, wherein the N-terminal and/or C-terminal 60 amino acids of the polypeptides are optional; and
(b) the one or more key polypeptide comprise one or more polypeptides selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide having at least 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity, not including optional amino acid residues, along its length to the amino acid sequence of a key polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:14318-26601, 26602-27015, 27016-27051, and key polypeptides listed in Table 2, Table 3, and/or Table 4.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides use of the polypeptides, fusion proteins, nucleic acids, expression vectors, host cells, kits, and/or LOCKR switches disclosed herein to sequester bioactive peptide in the cage polypeptide, holding them in an inactive (“off”) state, until combined with the key polypeptide to induce a conformational change that activates (“on”) the bioactive peptide.
All references cited are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. Within this application, unless otherwise stated, the techniques utilized may be found in any of several well-known references such as: Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (Sambrook, et al., 1989, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press), Gene Expression Technology (Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 185, edited by D. Goeddel, 1991. Academic Press, San Diego, Calif.), “Guide to Protein Purification” in Methods in Enzymology (M. P. Deutshcer, ed., (1990) Academic Press, Inc.); PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications (Innis, et al. 1990. Academic Press, San Diego, Calif.), Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique, 2nd Ed. (R. I. Freshney. 1987. Liss, Inc. New York, N.Y.), Gene Transfer and Expression Protocols, pp. 109-128, ed. E. J. Murray, The Humana Press Inc., Clifton, N.J.), and the Ambion 1998 Catalog (Ambion, Austin, Tex.).
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. “And” as used herein is interchangeably used with “or” unless expressly stated otherwise.
As used herein, the amino acid residues are abbreviated as follows: alanine (Ala; A), asparagine (Asn; N), aspartic acid (Asp; D), arginine (Arg; R), cysteine (Cys; C), glutamic acid (Glu; E), glutamine (Gln; Q), glycine (Gly; G), histidine (His; H), isoleucine (Ile; I), leucine (Leu; L), lysine (Lys; K), methionine (Met; M), phenylalanine (Phe; F), proline (Pro; P), serine (Ser; S), threonine (Thr; T), tryptophan (Trp; W), tyrosine (Tyr; Y), and valine (Val; V).
All embodiments of any aspect of the disclosure can be used in combination, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”. Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural and singular number, respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” and “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of the application.
The description of embodiments of the disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. While the specific embodiments of, and examples for, the disclosure are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.
In a first aspect, the disclosure provides non-naturally occurring polypeptides, comprising:
(a) a helical bundle comprising between 2 and 7 alpha-helices; and
(b) amino acid linkers connecting each alpha helix.
The non-naturally occurring polypeptides of this first aspect of the disclosure can be used, for example, as “cage” polypeptide component (which may also be referred to here as the “lock”) of the novel protein switches disclosed in detail herein. The protein switches can be used, for example, to sequester bioactive peptides in the cage polypeptide, holding them in an inactive (“off”) state, until combined with a second component (the “key” polypeptide) of the novel protein switches disclosed herein; the key polypeptide induces a conformational change that activates (“on”) the bioactive peptide (see
The polypeptides are “non-naturally occurring” in that the entire polypeptide is not found in any naturally occurring polypeptide. It will be understood that components of the polypeptide may be naturally occurring, including but not limited to bioactive peptides that may be included in some embodiments.
The cage polypeptides comprise a helical bundle comprising between 2 and 7 alpha-helices. In various embodiments, the helical bundle comprises 3-7, 4-7, 5-7, 6-7, 2-6, 3-6, 4-6, 5-6, 2-5, 3-5, 4-5, 2-4, 3-4, 2-3, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 alpha helices.
Design of the helical bundle cage polypeptides of the disclosure may be carried out by any suitable means. In one non-limiting embodiment, a BundleGridSampler™ in the Rosetta™ program may be used to generates backbone geometry based on the Crick expression for a coiled-coil and allows efficient, parallel sampling of a regular grid of coiled-coil expression parameter values, which correspond to a continuum of peptide backbone conformations. This may be supplemented by design for hydrogen bond networks using any suitable means, including but not limited to as described in Boyken et. al, (Science 352, 680-687 (2016)), followed by Rosetta™ sidechain design. In a further non-limiting embodiment, best scoring designs, based on total score, number of unsatisfied hydrogen bonds, and lack of voids in the core of the protein may be selected for helical bundle cage polypeptide design.
Each alpha helix may be of any suitable length and amino acid composition as appropriate for an intended use. In one embodiment, each helix is independently 38 to 58 amino acids in length. In various embodiments, each helix is independently between 18-60, 18-55, 18-50, 18-45, 22-60, 22-55, 22-50, 22-45, 25-60, 25-55, 25-50, 25-45, 28-60, 28-55, 28-50, 28-45, 32-60, 32-55, 32-50, 32-45, 35-60, 35-55, 35-50, 35-45, 38-60, 38-55, 38-50, 38-45, 40-60, 40-58, 40-55, 40-50, or 40-45 amino acids in length.
The amino acid linkers connecting each alpha helix can be of any suitable length or amino acid composition as appropriate for an intended use. In one non-limiting embodiment, each amino acid linker is independently between 2 and 10 amino acids in length, not including any further functional sequences that may be fused to the linker. In various non-limiting embodiments, each amino acid linker is independently 3-10, 4-10, 5-10, 6-10, 7-10, 8-10, 9-10, 2-9, 3-9, 4-9, 5-9, 6-9, 7-9, 8-9, 2-8, 3-8, 4-8, 5-8, 6-8, 7-8, 2-7, 3-7, 4-7, 5-7, 6-7, 2-6, 3-6, 4-6, 5-6, 2-5, 3-5, 4-5, 2-4, 3-4, 2-3, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 amino acids in length. In all embodiments, the linkers may be structured or flexible (e.g. poly-GS). These linkers may encode further functional sequences, including but not limited to protease cleavage sites or one half of a split intein system (see sequences below).
The polypeptides of this first aspect include a region, termed the “latch region”, for insertion of a bioactive peptide. The cage polypeptide thus comprises a latch region and a structural region (i.e.: the remainder of the cage polypeptide that is not the latch region). When the latch region is modified to include one or more bioactive peptides, the structural region of the cage polypeptide interacts with the latch region to prevent activity of the bioactive peptide. Upon activation by key polypeptide, the latch region dissociates from its interaction with the structural region to expose the bioactive peptide, allowing the peptide to function.
As used herein, a “bioactive peptide” is any peptide of any length or amino acid composition that is capable of selectively binding to a defined target (i.e.: capable of binding to an “effector” polypeptide). Such bioactive peptides may comprise peptides of all three types of secondary structure in an inactive conformation: alpha helix, beta strand, and loop. The polypeptides of this aspect can be used to control the activity of a wide range of functional peptides. The ability to harness these biological functions with tight, inducible control is useful, for example, in engineering cells (inducible activation of function, engineering complex logic behavior and circuits, etc.), developing sensors, developing inducible protein-based therapeutics, and creating new biomaterials.
The latch region may be present near either terminus of the cage polypeptide. In one embodiment, the latch region is placed at the C-terminal helix so as to position the bioactive peptide for maximum burial of the functional residues that need to be sequestered to maintain the bioactive peptide in an inactive state while simultaneously burying hydrophobic residues and promoting solvent exposure/compensatory hydrogen bonds of polar residues. In various embodiments, the latch region may comprise a part or all of a single alpha helix in the cage polypeptide at the N-terminal or C-terminal portions. In various other embodiments, the latch region may comprise a part or all of a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh alpha helix in the cage polypeptide. In other embodiments, the latch region may comprise all or part of two or more different alpha helices in the cage polypeptide; for example, a C-terminal part of one alpha helix and an N-terminal portion of the next alpha helix, all of two consecutive alpha helices, etc.
In another embodiment, the polypeptides of this first aspect comprise one or more bioactive peptides within the latch region. In this embodiment, the bioactive peptide(s) may replace one or more amino acids in the latch region, or may be added to the latch region without removal of any amino acid residues from the latch region. In various non-limiting embodiments, the bioactive peptides may comprise one or more of the following (all sequences in parentheses are optional), or variants thereof, of SEQ ID NO:60, 62-64, 66, 27052-27093, and 27118-27119:
In one embodiment, the dynamic range of activation by key polypeptides can be tuned by truncating the latch region length to be shorter than the alpha-helices in the structural region, simultaneously weakening the cage polypeptide-latch region interaction and opening an exposed region on the cage polypeptide that the key polypeptide can bind to as a “toehold” (
In a second aspect, the disclosure provides non-naturally occurring polypeptides comprising a polypeptide having at least 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity along its length to the amino acid sequence of a cage polypeptide disclosed herein, not including optional amino acid residues, and optionally not including amino acid residues in the latch region, such as such SEQ ID NOS:1-49, 51-52, 54-59, 61, 65, 67-91, 92-2033 (submitted in U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/700,681 filed Jul. 19, 2018 and/or 62/785,537 filed Dec. 27, 2018 as Appendix 1), SEQ ID NOS:2034-14317 (submitted in U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/700,681 filed Jul. 19, 2018 and/or 62/785,537 filed Dec. 27, 2018 as Appendix 2), 27094-27117, 27120-27125, 27,278 to 27,321, and cage polypeptides listed in Table 2 (polypeptides with an even-numbered SEQ ID NO between SEQ ID NOS: 27126 and 27276), Table 3, and/or Table 4. In each embodiment, the N-terminal and/or C-terminal 60 amino acids of each cage polypeptides may be optional, as the terminal 60 amino acid residues may comprise a latch region that can be modified, such as by replacing all or a portion of a latch with a bioactive peptide. In one embodiment, the N-terminal 60 amino acid residues are optional; in another embodiment, the C-terminal 60 amino acid residues are optional; in a further embodiment, each of the N-terminal 60 amino acid residues and the C-terminal 60 amino acid residues are optional. In one embodiment, these optional N-terminal and/or C-terminal 60 residues are not included in determining the percent sequence identity. In another embodiment, the optional residues may be included in determining percent sequence identity.
As disclosed herein, bioactive peptides to be sequestered by the polypeptides of the disclosure are located within the latch region. The latch region is denoted by brackets in the sequence of each cage polypeptide. The bioactive peptide may be added to the latch region without removing any residues of the latch region, or may replace one or more (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more) amino acid residues in the cage scaffold latch region to produce the final polypeptide. Thus, the latch region may be significantly modified upon inclusion of the bioactive peptide. In one embodiment, the optional residues are not included in determining percent sequence identity. In another embodiment, the latch region residues may be included in determining percent sequence identity. In a further embodiment, each of the optional residues and the latch residues may are not included in determining percent sequence identity.
In one embodiment of this second aspect, the polypeptides are polypeptides according to any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the first aspect and also having the required 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity along its length to the amino acid sequence of the listed reference cage polypeptides disclosed herein. In another embodiment, polypeptides further comprise a bioactive peptide within (or replacing) the latch region of the cage polypeptide.
The cage polypeptide may be a cage scaffold polypeptide (i.e.: without a bioactive peptide) For example, see SEQ ID NOS:1-17, 2034-14317, and certain cage polypeptides listed in Table 2, Table 3, and/or Table 4, or may further include a sequestered bioactive peptide (present as a fusion with the cage scaffold polypeptide) in the latch region of the cage scaffold polypeptide, as described in more detail herein (for example, see SEQ ID NOS:18-49, 51-52, 54-59, 61, 65, 67-2033, 27094-27117, 27120-27125, and certain cage polypeptides listed in Table 2, 3, and/or 4). In a specific embodiment, the cage polypeptides share 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity along their length to the amino acid sequence of a cage polypeptide in Table 2, Table 3, and/or Table 4.
In another specific embodiment, the cage polypeptides share 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity along their length to the amino acid sequence of a cage polypeptide in Table 3. In another specific embodiment, the cage polypeptides share 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity along their length to the amino acid sequence of a cage polypeptide in Table 4. In one embodiment of each of these embodiments, the optional N-terminal and/or C-terminal 60 residues are not included in determining the percent sequence identity. In another embodiment, the optional residues may be included in determining percent sequence identity.
As disclosed in the examples that follow, exemplary cage and key polypeptides of the disclosure have been identified and subjected to mutational analysis. Furthermore, different designs starting from the same exemplary cage and key polypeptides yield different amino acid sequences while maintaining the same intended function. In various embodiments, a given amino acid can be replaced by a residue having similar physiochemical characteristics, e.g., substituting one aliphatic residue for another (such as Ile, Val, Leu, or Ala for one another), or substitution of one polar residue for another (such as between Lys and Arg; Glu and Asp; or Gln and Asn). Other such conservative substitutions, e.g., substitutions of entire regions having similar hydrophobicity characteristics, are known. Polypeptides comprising conservative amino acid substitutions can be tested in any one of the assays described herein to confirm that the desired activity is retained. Amino acids can be grouped according to similarities in the properties of their side chains (in A. L. Lehninger, in Biochemistry, second ed., pp. 73-75, Worth Publishers, New York (1975)): (1) non-polar: Ala (A), Val (V), Leu (L), Ile (I), Pro (P), Phe (F), Trp (W), Met (M); (2) uncharged polar: Gly (G), Ser (S), Thr (T), Cys (C), Tyr (Y), Asn (N), Gln (Q); (3) acidic: Asp (D), Glu (E); (4) basic: Lys (K), Arg (R), His (H). Alternatively, naturally occurring residues can be divided into groups based on common side-chain properties: (1) hydrophobic: Norleucine, Met, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile; (2) neutral hydrophilic: Cys, Ser, Thr, Asn, Gln; (3) acidic: Asp, Glu; (4) basic: His, Lys, Arg; (5) residues that influence chain orientation: Gly, Pro; (6) aromatic: Trp, Tyr, Phe. Non-conservative substitutions will entail exchanging a member of one of these classes for another class. Particular conservative substitutions include, for example; Ala into Gly or into Ser; Arg into Lys; Asn into Gln or into H is; Asp into Glu; Cys into Ser; Gln into Asn; Glu into Asp; Gly into Ala or into Pro; His into Asn or into Gln; Ile into Leu or into Val; Leu into Ile or into Val; Lys into Arg, into Gln or into Glu; Met into Leu, into Tyr or into Ile; Phe into Met, into Leu or into Tyr; Ser into Thr; Thr into Ser; Trp into Tyr; Tyr into Trp; and/or Phe into Val, into Ile or into Leu.
Exemplary Cage Polypeptides (See Also SEQ ID NOS: 92-14317, 27094-27117, 27120-27125, 27,728-27321, and Cage Polypeptides Listed in Table 2, Table 3, and/or Table 4):
DK
RAASLQI
GDAFYAILRALAASEKLSKE]
RSLEEL
KNPSEDALVENNRLNVENNKIIVEVLR
IIAEVLKINAKS
]
KALRELLELIRRGGTKDKIEEKIRRVLEEIKRE
LERQKRKIEDVLRQIKEELYRS
]
LNVENNKIIVEVLRIIAEVLKINAKS
]
EEKIRRVLEEIKRELERQKRKIEDVLRQIKEELYRS
]
TLSWGVQCFARYPDHMKQHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTIFFKDDGNYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIELKGIDFKEDGNIL
GHKLEYNYFSDNVYITADKQKNGIKANFKIRHNIEDGGVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLSTQSKLSKDPN
EKRDHMVLLEFVTAAGITLGMDELYK
GSGCSLQGM)SKEAVTKLQALNIKLAEKLLEAVTKLQALNIKLAEKLLE
LPVPWPTLVTTLGYGVQCFARYPDHMKQHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTIFFKDDGNYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIELKG
IDFKEDGNILGHKLEYNYNSHNVYITADKQKNGIKANFKIRHNIEDGGVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLS
YQSKLSKDPNEKRDHMVLLEFVTAAGITLGMDELYK)
TTLSWGVQCFARYPDHMKQHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTIFFKDDGNYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIELKGIDFKEDGNI
LGHKLEYNYFSDNVYITADKQKNGIKANFKIRHNIEDGGVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLSTQSKLSKDP
NEKRDHMVLLEFVTAAGITLGMDELYK
GSGCSLQGM)SHAAVIKLSDLNIRLLDKLLQAVIKLTELNAELNRKLI
TGKLPVPWPTLVTTLGYGVQCFARYPDHMKQHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTIFFKDDGNYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIE
LKGIDFKEDGNILGHKLEYNYNSHNVYITADKQKNGIKANFKIRHNIEDGGVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNH
YLSYQSKLSKDPNEKRDHMVLLEFVTAAGITLGMDELYK)
TLSWGVQCFARYPDHMKQHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTIFFKDDGNYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIELKGIDFKEDGNIL
GHKLEYNYFSDNVYITADKQKNGIKANFKIRHNIEDGGVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLSTQSKLSKDPN
EKRDHMVLLEFVTAAGITLGMDELYK
GSGCSLQGM)SLEAVLKLAELNLKLSDKLAEAVQKLAALLNKLLEKLSE
GKLPVPWPTLVTTLGYGVQCFARYPDHMKQHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTIFFKDDGNYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIEL
KGIDFKEDGNILGHKLEYNYNSHNVYITADKQKNGIKANFKIRHNIEDGGVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHY
LSYQSKLSKDPNEKRDHMVLLEFVTAAGITLGMDELYK)
TLSWGVQCFARYPDHMKQHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTIFFKDDGNYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIELKGIDFKEDGNIL
GHKLEYNYFSDNVYITADKQKNGIKANFKIRHNIEDGGVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLSTQSKLSKDPN
EKRDHMVLLEFVTAAGITLGMDELYK
GSGCSLQGM)SLEAVLKLFELNHKLSEKLLEAVLKLHALNQKLSQKLLE
GKLPVPWPTLVTTLGYGVQCFARYPDHMKQHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTIFFKDDGNYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIEL
KGIDFKEDGNILGHKLEYNYNSHNVYITADKQKNGIKANFKIRHNIEDGGVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHY
LSYQSKLSKDPNEKRDHMVLLEFVTAAGITLGMDELYK)
YGITLSDDSDHQFLLANQVVVHNC)GGSGGS[DEIWIAQELRRIGDEFNAYYADAERLIREAAAASEKISREAER
LPVPWPTLVTTLTYGVQCFARYPDHMKQHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTISFKDDGTYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIELKG
IDFKEDGNILGHKLEYNFNSHNVYITADKQKNGIKANFKIRHNVEDGSVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLS
TQSVLSKDPNEKRDHMVLLEFVTAAGITHGMDELYKSGSGSGCFAKGTNVLMADGSIECIENIEVGNKVMGKDGR
PREVIKLPRGRETMYSVVQKSQHRAHKSDSSREVPELLKFTCNATHELVVRTPRSVRRLSRTIKGVEYFEVITFE
MGQKKAPDGRIVELVEEVSKSYPISEGPERANELVESYRKASNKAYFEWTIEARDLSLLGSHVRKATYQTYAPIL
YGGSGGSGGGGSGGSGSKKAAKKLQDLNIELARKLLEASTKLQRLNIRLAEALLEAIARLQELNLELVYLAVELT
(6His-MBP-TEV, 6His-TEV, and flexible linker sequences are underlined text)
(Co-localization domain is bolded text)
(Functional peptide is italicized underlined text)
(Positions that can be mutated to any amino acid to tune responsiveness are underlined bolded text)
(C-terminal sequences that can be removed to tune responsiveness are italicized text)
(all sequences in parentheses are optional)
AAGIT
FNAYYA)DAERLIREAAAASEKISREAERLIREAAAASEKISRE]
VGER)SREAERLIR]
IAALKQG
)AERLIR]
IAALEQGG
)ERLIR]
IAALKQGG
)ERLIR]
EK
)VDRLSEELKEWLKDVERVLKELTDKDR]
PDHMKQHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTIFFKDDGNYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIELKGIDFKEDGNILGHKLEYNYFSDN
VYITADEQKNGIKANFKIRHNIEDGGVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLSTQSKLSKDPNEKRDHMVLLEFV
TAAGITLE)LARKLLEASTKLQRLNIRLAEALLEAIARLQELNLELVYLAVELTDPKRIRDEIKEVKDKSKEIIR
VSKGEELFTGVVPILVELDGDVNGHKFSVSGEGEGDATYGKLTLKLICTTGKLPVPWPTLVTTLGYGVQCFARYP
DHMKQHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTIFFKDDGNYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIELKGIDFKEDGNILGHKLEYNYNSHNV
YITADKQKNGIKANFKIRHNIEDGGVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLSYQSKLSKDPNEKRDHMVLLEFVT
AAGITLGMDELYKGSGC)
PDHMKQHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTIFFKDDGNYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIELKGIDFKEDGNILGHKLEYNYFSDN
VYITADKQKNGIKANFKIRHNIEDGGVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLSTQSKLSKDPNEKRDHMVLLEFV
TAAGITL)ELARKLLEASTKLQRLNIRLAEALLEAIARLQELNLELVYLAVELTDPKRIRDEIKEVKDKSKEIIR
PILVELDGDVNGHKFSVSGEGEGDATYGKLTLKLICTTGKLPVPWPTLVTTLGYGVQCFARYPDHMKQHDFFKSA
MPEGYVQERTIFFKDDGNYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIELKGIDFKEDGNILGHKLEYNYNSHNVYITADKQKNGIK
ANFKIRHNIEDGGVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLSYQSKLSKDPNEKRDHMVLLEFVTAAGITLGMDELY
KGSGC)
YRNLVSLGY
)]
In a fourth aspect, the disclosure provides non-naturally occurring polypeptides comprising a polypeptide having at least 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity along its length to the amino acid sequence of a key polypeptide disclosed herein or selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 14318-26601 (submitted in U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/700,681 filed Jul. 19, 2018 and/or 62/785,537 filed Dec. 27, 2018 as Appendix 3), 26602-27015 (submitted in U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/700,681 filed Jul. 19, 2018 and/or 62/785,537 filed Dec. 27, 2018 as 3plus1_GFP11_Key_Cterm_1″ nos. 1-67 and 97-117, 3plus1_GFP11_Key_Nterm_1″ nos. 68-96 and 118-140, 2plus1_GFP11_Key_Cterm_″ nos. 1-173, and GFP11_Key_Nterm_″ nos. 174-274), 27016-27050, 27,322 to 27,358, and key polypeptides in Table 2 (polypeptides with an odd-numbered SEQ ID NO between SEQ ID NOS: 27127 and 27277), Table 3, and/or Table 4, not including optional amino acid residues.
As disclosed herein, the polypeptides of this aspect can be used, for example, as key polypeptides in conjunction with the cage polypeptides to displace the latch through competitive intermolecular binding that induces conformational change, exposing the encoded bioactive peptide or domain and thus activating the system (see, for example,
As noted in the disclosure, key polypeptides may include residues that are optional; these residues are provided in parentheses and in one embodiment are not included in determining the percent sequence identity. In another embodiment, the optional residues may be included in determining percent sequence identity.
In another embodiment, non-naturally occurring polypeptides comprising a polypeptide having at least 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity along its length to the amino acid sequence of a key polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 26602-27050, and 27,322 to 27,358, as detailed below.
LAEVGKKFEKDTGIKVTVEHPDKLEEKFPQVAATGDGPDIIFWAHDRFGGYAQSGLLAEITPDKAFQDKLYPFTW
DAVRYNGKLIAYPIAVEALSLIYNKDLLPNPPKTWEEIPALDKELKAKGKSALMFNLQEPYFTWPLIAADGGYAF
KYENGKYDIKDVGVDNAGAKAGLTFLVDLIKNKHMNADTDYSIAEAAFNKGETAMTINGPWAWSNIDTSKVNYGV
TVLPTFKGQPSKPFVGVLSAGINAASPNKELAKEFLENYLLTDEGLEAVNKDKPLGAVALKSYEEELVKDPRIAA
TMENAQKGEIMPNIPQMSAFWYAVRTAVINAASGRQTVDEALKDAQTNSSGSGLNDIFEAQ
IEWHELEHHHHHH)
NGDKGYNGLAEVGKKFEKDTGIKVTVEHPDKLEEKFPQVAATGDGPDIIFWAHDRFGGYAQSGLLAEITPDKAFQ
DKLYPFTWDAVRYNGKLIAYPIAVEALSLIYNKDLLPNPPKTWEEIPALDKELKAKGKSALMFNLQEPYFTWPLI
AADGGYAFKYENGKYDIKDVGVDNAGAKAGLTFLVDLIKNKHMNADTDYSIAEAAFNKGETAMTINGPWAWSNID
TSKVNYGVTVLPTFKGQPSKPFVGVLSAGINAASPNKELAKEFLENYLLTDEGLEAVNKDKPLGAVALKSYEEEL
VKDPRIAATMENAQKGEIMPNIPQMSAFWYAVRTAVINAASGRQTVDEALKDAQTNSSGSGLNDIFEAQ
IEWHE
LEHHHHHH)
EEGKLVIWINGDKGYNGLAEVGKKFEKDTGIKVTVEHPDKLEEKFPQVAATGDGPDIIFWAHDRFGGYAQSGLLA
EITPDKAFQDKLYPFTWDAVRYNGKLIAYPIAVEALSLIYNKDLLPNPPKTWEEIPALDKELKAKGKSALMFNLQ
EPYFTWPLIAADGGYAFKYENGKYDIKDVGVDNAGAKAGLTFLVDLIKNKHMNADTDYSIAKAAFNKGETAMTIN
GPWAWSNIDTSKVNYGVTVLPTFKGQPSKPFVGVLSAGINAASPNKELAKEFLENYLLTDEGLEAVNKDKPLGAV
ALKSYEEELVKDPRIAATMENAQKGEIMPNIPQMSAFWYAVRTAVINAASGRQTVDEALKDAQTNSSGSGLNDIF
EAQ
IEWHELEHHHHHH)
GDGPDIIFWAHDRFGGYAQSGLLAEITPDKAFQDKLYPFTWDAVRYNGKLIAYPIAVEALSLIYNKDLLPNPPKT
WEEIPALDKELKAKGKSALMFNLQEPYFTWPLIAADGGYAFKYENGKYDIKDVGVDNAGAKAGLTFLVDLIKNKH
MNADTDYSIAEAAFNKGETAMTINGPWAWSNIDTSKVNYGVTVLPTFKGQPSKPFVGVLSAGINAASPNKELAKE
FLENYLLTDEGLEAVNKDKPLGAVALKSYEEELVKDPRIAATMENAQKGEIMPNIPQMSAFWYAVRTAVINAASG
RQTVDEALKDAQTNSGSGSGENLYFQ)DEARKAIARVKRESKRIVEDAERLIREAAAASEKISRE(AERLIREAA
AASEKISRE)
EEGKLVIWINGDKGYNGLAEVGKKFEKDTGIKVTVEHPDKLEEKFPQVAATGDGPDIIFWAHDRFGGYAQSGLLA
EITPDKAFQDKLYPFTWDAVRYNGKLIAYPIAVEALSLIYNKDLLPNPPKTWEEIPALDKELKAKGKSALMFNLQ
EPYFTWPLIAADGGYAFKYENGKYDIKDVGVDNAGAKAGLTFLVDLIKNKHMNADTDYSIAEAAFNKGETAMTIN
GPWAWSNIDTSKVNYGVTVLPTFKGQPSKPFVGVLSAGINAASPNKELAKEFLENYLLTDEGLEAVNKDKPLGAV
ALKSYEEELVKDPRIAATMENAQKGEIMPNIPQMSAFWYAVRTAVINAASGRQTVDEALKDAQTNLEHHHHHH)
EEGKLVIWINGDKGYNGLAEVGKKFEKDTGIKVTVEHPDKLEEKFPQVAATGDGPDIIFWAHDRFGGYAQSGLLA
EITPDKAFQDKLYPFTWDAVRYNGKLIAYPIAVEALSLIYNKDLLPNPPKTWEEIPALDKELKAKGKSALMFNLQ
EPYFTWPLIAADGGYAFKYENGKYDIKDVGVDNAGAKAGLTFLVDLIKNKHMNADTDYSIAKAAFNKGETAMTIN
GPWAWSNIDTSKVNYGVTVLPTFKGQPSKPFVGVLSAGINAASPNKELAKEFLENYLLTDEGLEAVNKDKPLGAV
ALKSYEEELVKDPRIAATMENAQKGEIMPNIPQMSAFWYAVRTAVINAASGRQTVDEALKDAQTNLEHHHHHH)
EEGKLVIWINGDKGYNGLAEVGKKFEKDTGIKVTVEHPDKLEEKFPQVAATGDGPDIIFWAHDRFGGYAQSGLLA
EITPDKAFQDKLYPFTWDAVRYNGKLIAYPIAVEALSLIYNKDLLPNPPKTWEEIPALDKELKAKGKSALMFNLQ
EPYFTWPLIAADGGYAFKYENGKYDIKDVGVDNAGAKAGLTFLVDLIKNKHMNADTDYSIAKAAFNKGETAMTIN
GPWAWSNIDTSKVNYGVTVLPTFKGQPSKPFVGVLSAGINAASPNKELAKEFLENYLLTDEGLEAVNKDKPLGAV
ALKSYEEELVKDPRIAATMENAQKGEIMPNIPQMSAFWYAVRTAVINAASGRQTVDEALKDAQTNLEHHHHHH)
EEGKLVIWINGDKGYNGLAEVGKKFEKDTGIKVTVEHPDKLEEKFPQVAATGDGPDIIFWAHDRFGGYAQSGLLA
EITPDKAFQDKLYPFTWDAVRYNGKLIAYPIAVEALSLIYNKDLLPNPPKTWEEIPALDKELKAKGKSALMFNLQ
EPYFTWPLIAADGGYAFKYENGKYDIKDVGVDNAGAKAGLTFLVDLIKNKHMNADTDYSIAKAAFNKGETAMTIN
GPWAWSNIDTSKVNYGVTVLPTFKGQPSKPFVGVLSAGINAASPNKELAKEFLENYLLTDEGLEAVNKDKPLGAV
ALKSYEEELVKDPRIAATMENAQKGEIMPNIPQMSAFWYAVRTAVINAASGRQTVDEALKDAQTNLEHHHHHH)
EEGKLVIWINGDKGYNGLAEVGKKFEKDTGIKVTVEHPDKLEEKFPQVAATGDGPDIIFWAHDRFGGYAQSGLLA
EITPDKAFQDKLYPFTWDAVRYNGKLIAYPIAVEALSLIYNKDLLPNPPKTWEEIPALDKELKAKGKSALMFNLQ
EPYFTWPLIAADGGYAFKYENGKYDIKDVGVDNAGAKAGLTFLVDLIKNKHMNADTDYSIAKAAFNKGETAMTIN
GPWAWSNIDTSKVNYGVTVLPTFKGQPSKPFVGVLSAGINAASPNKELAKEFLENYLLTDEGLEAVNKDKPLGAV
ALKSYEEELVKDPRIAATMENAQKGEIMPNIPQMSAFWYAVRTAVINAASGRQTVDEALKDAQTNLEHHHHHH)
Key sequences are normal text
(6His-MBP-TEV, 6His-TEV, and flexible linker sequences are underlined text)
(Co-localization domain is bolded text)
(Positions that can be mutated to any amino acid to tune responsiveness are underlined bolded text. These are exemplary but not exhaustive.)
(Any number of consecutive amino acids from the N or C terminus in the non-optional key sequence may be removed to tune responsiveness)
(all sequences in parentheses are optional)
GDGPDIIFWAHDRFGGYAQSGLLAEITPDKAFQDKLYPFTWDAVRYNGKLIAYPIAVEALSLIYNKDLLPNPPKT
WEEIPALDKELKAKGKSALMFNLQEPYFTWPLIAADGGYAFKYENGKYDIKDVGVDNAGAKAGLTFLVDLIKNKH
MNADTDYSIAEAAFNKGETAMTINGPWAWSNIDTSKVNYGVTVLPTFKGQPSKPFVGVLSAGINAASPNKELAKE
FLENYLLTDEGLEAVNKDKPLGAVALKSYEEELVKDPRIAATMENAQKGEIMPNIPQMSAFWYAVRTAVINAASG
RQTVDEALKDAQTNSGSGSGENLYFQ)DEARKAIARVKRESKRIVEDAERLIREAAAASEKISREAERLIREAAA
GDGPDIIFWAHDRFGGYAQSGLLAEITPDKAFQDKLYPFTWDAVRYNGKLIAYPIAVEALSLIYNKDLLPNPPKT
WEEIPALDKELKAKGKSALMFNLQEPYFTWPLIAADGGYAFKYENGKYDIKDVGVDNAGAKAGLTFLVDLIKNKH
MNADTDYSIAEAAFNKGETAMTINGPWAWSNIDTSKVNYGVTVLPTFKGQPSKPFVGVLSAGINAASPNKELAKE
FLENYLLTDEGLEAVNKDKPLGAVALKSYEEELVKDPRIAATMENAQKGEIMPNIPQMSAFWYAVRTAVINAASG
RQTVDEALKDAQTNSGSGSGENLYFQ)DEARKAIARVKRESKRIVEDAERLIREAAAASEKISREAERLIR
GDGPDIIFWAHDRFGGYAQSGLLAEITPDKAFQDKLYPFTWDAVRYNGKLIAYPIAVEALSLIYNKDLLPNPPKT
WEEIPALDKELKAKGKSALMFNLQEPYFTWPLIAADGGYAFKYENGKYDIKDVGVDNAGAKAGLTFLVDLIKNKH
MNADTDYSIAEAAFNKGETAMTINGPWAWSNIDTSKVNYGVTVLPTFKGQPSKPFVGVLSAGINAASPNKELAKE
FLENYLLTDEGLEAVNKDKPLGAVALKSYEEELVKDPRIAATMENAQKGEIMPNIPQMSAFWYAVRTAVINAASG
RQTVDEALKDAQTNSGSGSGENLYFQ)DEARKAIARVKRESKRIVEDAERLIREAAQASEKISREARELIERAAQ
GDGPDIIFWAHDRFGGYAQSGLLAEITPDKAFQDKLYPFTWDAVRYNGKLIAYPIAVEALSLIYNKDLLPNPPKT
WEEIPALDKELKAKGKSALMFNLQEPYFTWPLIAADGGYAFKYENGKYDIKDVGVDNAGAKAGLTFLVDLIKNKH
MNADTDYSIAEAAFNKGETAMTINGPWAWSNIDTSKVNYGVTVLPTFKGQPSKPFVGVLSAGINAASPNKELAKE
FLENYLLTDEGLEAVNKDKPLGAVALKSYEEELVKDPRIAATMENAQKGEIMPNIPQMSAFWYAVRTAVINAASG
RQTVDEALKDAQTNSGSGSGENLYFQ)DEARKAIARVKRESKRIVEDAERLIREAAQASEKISREAERLIR
VAATGDGPDIIFWAHDRFGGYAQSGLLAEITPDKAFQDKLYPFTWDAVRYNGKLIAYPIAVEALSLIYNKDLLPN
PPKTWEEIPALDKELKAKGKSALMFNLQEPYFTWPLIAADGGYAFKYENGKYDIKDVGVDNAGAKAGLTFLVDLI
KNKHMNADTDYSIAEAAFNKGETAMTINGPWAWSNIDTSKVNYGVTVLPTFKGQPSKPFVGVLSAGINAASPNKE
LAKEFLENYLLTDEGLEAVNKDKPLGAVALKSYEEELVKDPRIAATMENAQKGEIMPNIPQMSAFWYAVRTAVIN
AASGRQTVDEALKDAQTNSGSGSGENLYFQ)DEARKAIARVKRESKRIVEDAERLIREAAAASEKISREAERLIR
VAATGDGPDIIFWAHDRFGGYAQSGLLAEITPDKAFQDKLYPFTWDAVRYNGKLIAYPIAVEALSLIYNKDLLPN
PPKTWEEIPALDKELKAKGKSALMFNLQEPYFTWPLIAADGGYAFKYENGKYDIKDVGVDNAGAKAGLTFLVDLI
KNKHMNADTDYSIAEAAFNKGETAMTINGPWAWSNIDTSKVNYGVTVLPTFKGQPSKPFVGVLSAGINAASPNKE
LAKEFLENYLLTDEGLEAVNKDKPLGAVALKSYEEELVKDPRIAATMENAQKGEIMPNIPQMSAFWYAVRTAVIN
AASGRQTVDEALKDAQTNSGSGSGENLYFQ)DEARKAIARVKRESKRIVEDAERLIREAAAASEKISREAERLIR
VPWPTLVTTLTYGVQCFARYPDHMKQHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTISFKDDGTYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIELKGID
FKEDGNILGHKLEYNFNSHNVYITADKQKNGIKANFKIRHNVEDGSVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLSTQ
SVLSKDPNEKRDHMVLLEFVTAAGITHGMDELYKSGSGSGCFAKGTNVLMADGSIECIENIEVGNKVMGKDGRPR
EVIKLPRGRETMYSVVQKSQHRAHKSDSSREVPELLKFTCNATHELVVRTPRSVRRLSRTIKGVEYFEVITFEMG
QKKAPDGRIVELVKEVSKSYPISEGPERANELVESYRKASNKAYFEWTIEARDLSLLGSHVRKATYQTYAPILYG
GSGGS)DEARKAIARVKRESKRIVEDAERLIREAAAASEKISREAERLIREAAAASEKISRE
QVVVHNCGSGGSVSKGEEDNMAIIKEFMRFKVHMEGSVNGHEFEIEGEGEGRPYEGTQTAKLKVTKGGPLPFAWD
ILSPQFMYGSKAYVKHPADIPDYLKLSFPEGFKWERVMNFEDGGVVTVTQDSSLQDGEFIYKVKLRGTNFPSDGP
VMQKKTMGWEASSERMYPEDGALKGEIKQRLKLKDGGHYDAEVKTTYKAKKPVQLPGAYNVNIKLDITSHNEDYT
IVEQYERAEGRHSTGGMDELYK)
(Cognate Keys for 2plus1 and 3plus1 STREPII-LOCKR Functional Cage Designs):
In a specific embodiment, the key polypeptides share 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity along their length to the amino acid sequence of a key polypeptide in Table 2 (polypeptides with an odd-numbered SEQ ID NO between SEQ ID NOS: 27127 and 27277), Table 3, and/or Table 4. In another specific embodiment, the key polypeptides share 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity along their length to the amino acid sequence of a key polypeptide in Table 3. In another specific embodiment, the key polypeptides share 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity along their length to the amino acid sequence of a key polypeptide in Table 4. In one embodiment of each of the above, the percent identify may be determined without the optional N- and C-terminal 60 amino acids; in another embodiment, the percent identify may be determined with the optional N- and C-terminal 60 amino acids.
The polypeptides of the disclosure (i.e.: cage polypeptides and key polypeptides) may include additional residues at the N-terminus, C-terminus, internal to the polypeptide, or a combination thereof; these additional residues are not included in determining the percent identity of the polypeptides of the invention relative to the reference polypeptide. Such residues may be any residues suitable for an intended use, including but not limited to tags. As used herein, “tags” include general detectable moieties (i.e.: fluorescent proteins, antibody epitope tags, etc.), therapeutic agents, purification tags (His tags, etc.), linkers, ligands suitable for purposes of purification, ligands to drive localization of the polypeptide, peptide domains that add functionality to the polypeptides, etc. Examples are provided herein.
In one embodiment, the polypeptides are fusion proteins that comprise a cage polypeptide disclosed herein fused to a key polypeptide disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the fusion protein comprises a cage polypeptide fused to a key polypeptide, wherein the cage polypeptide is not activated by the key polypeptide. As noted herein, orthogonal LOCKR designs (see
In one embodiment of the fusion proteins disclosed herein, the cage polypeptide and the key polypeptide components of the fusion protein comprise at least one cage polypeptide and at least one key polypeptide having an amino acid sequence having at least 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity along its length to a cage polypeptide and a key polypeptide, respectively, in different rows of Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, and/or Table 4 (i.e.: each cage polypeptide in row 1 column 1 of the table can be fused with any key polypeptide in row 1 column 2, and so on).
As used throughout the present application, the term “polypeptide” is used in its broadest sense to refer to a sequence of subunit amino acids. The polypeptides of the invention may comprise L-amino acids+glycine, D-amino acids+glycine (which are resistant to L-amino acid-specific proteases in vivo), or a combination of D- and L-amino acids+glycine. The polypeptides described herein may be chemically synthesized or recombinantly expressed. The polypeptides may be linked to other compounds to promote an increased half-life in vivo, such as by PEGylation, HESylation, PASylation, glycosylation, or may be produced as an Fc-fusion or in deimmunized variants. Such linkage can be covalent or non-covalent as is understood by those of skill in the art.
In a fifth aspect the disclosure provides nucleic acids encoding the polypeptide of any embodiment or combination of embodiments of each aspect disclosed herein. The nucleic acid sequence may comprise single stranded or double stranded RNA or DNA in genomic or cDNA form, or DNA-RNA hybrids, each of which may include chemically or biochemically modified, non-natural, or derivatized nucleotide bases. Such nucleic acid sequences may comprise additional sequences useful for promoting expression and/or purification of the encoded polypeptide, including but not limited to polyA sequences, modified Kozak sequences, and sequences encoding epitope tags, export signals, and secretory signals, nuclear localization signals, and plasma membrane localization signals. It will be apparent to those of skill in the art, based on the teachings herein, what nucleic acid sequences will encode the polypeptides of the disclosure.
In a sixth aspect, the disclosure provides expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid of any aspect of the disclosure operatively linked to a suitable control sequence. “Expression vector” includes vectors that operatively link a nucleic acid coding region or gene to any control sequences capable of effecting expression of the gene product. “Control sequences” operably linked to the nucleic acid sequences of the disclosure are nucleic acid sequences capable of effecting the expression of the nucleic acid molecules. The control sequences need not be contiguous with the nucleic acid sequences, so long as they function to direct the expression thereof. Thus, for example, intervening untranslated yet transcribed sequences can be present between a promoter sequence and the nucleic acid sequences and the promoter sequence can still be considered “operably linked” to the coding sequence. Other such control sequences include, but are not limited to, polyadenylation signals, termination signals, and ribosome binding sites. Such expression vectors can be of any type, including but not limited plasmid and viral-based expression vectors. The control sequence used to drive expression of the disclosed nucleic acid sequences in a mammalian system may be constitutive (driven by any of a variety of promoters, including but not limited to, CMV, SV40, RSV, actin, EF) or inducible (driven by any of a number of inducible promoters including, but not limited to, tetracycline, ecdysone, steroid-responsive). The expression vector must be replicable in the host organisms either as an episome or by integration into host chromosomal DNA. In various embodiments, the expression vector may comprise a plasmid, viral-based vector, or any other suitable expression vector.
In a seventh aspect, the disclosure provides host cells that comprise the nucleic acids or expression vectors (i.e.: episomal or chromosomally integrated) disclosed herein, wherein the host cells can be either prokaryotic or eukaryotic. The cells can be transiently or stably engineered to incorporate the expression vector of the disclosure, using techniques including but not limited to bacterial transformations, calcium phosphate co-precipitation, electroporation, or liposome mediated-, DEAE dextran mediated-, polycationic mediated-, or viral mediated transfection. In one embodiment, the recombinant host cells comprise:
(a) a first nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide of any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the cage polypeptides of aspects 1-3 of the disclosure, operatively linked to a first promoter; and
(b) a second nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide of any embodiment or combination of embodiments of the key polypeptide of aspect 4 of the disclosure, wherein the key polypeptide is capable of binding to a structural region of the cage polypeptide to induce a conformational change in the cage polypeptide, wherein the second nucleic acid is operatively linked to a second promoter.
The recombinant host cells may comprise a single cage polypeptide encoding nucleic acid and a single key polypeptide encoding nucleic acid, or may comprise a plurality (i.e.: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more) first and second nucleic acidsin one such embodiment, each second nucleic acid may encode a key polypeptide capable of binding to a structural region and inducing a conformational change of a different cage polypeptide encoded by the plurality of first nucleic acids. In another embodiment, each second nucleic acid may encode a key polypeptide capable of binding to a structural region and inducing a conformational change of more than one of the cage polypeptides encoded by the plurality of first nucleic acids.
Thus, in one embodiment the first nucleic acid comprises a plurality of first nucleic acids encoding a plurality of different cage polypeptides. In one such embodiment, the second nucleic acid comprises a plurality of second nucleic acids encoding a plurality of different key polypeptides, wherein the plurality of different key polypeptides comprise one or more key polypeptides that are capable of binding to and inducing a conformational change in only a subset of the plurality of different cage polypeptides. In another such embodiment, the second nucleic acid encodes a single key polypeptide that is capable of binding to and inducing a conformational change in each different cage polypeptide.
In another embodiment, the host cells comprise nucleic acids encoding and/or expression vectors capable of expressing the fusion proteins disclosed herein, wherein the host cells comprise:
(a) a first nucleic acid encoding a first fusion protein (i.e.: cage polypeptide fused to key polypeptide) linked to a first promoter; and
(b) a second nucleic acid encoding a second fusion protein operatively linked to a second promoter, wherein:
In all these embodiments, the first and/or second nucleic acids may, for example, be in the form of an expression vector. In other embodiments, the first and/or second nucleic acids may be in the form of nucleic acid integrated into the host cell genome.
A method of producing a polypeptide according to the disclosure is an additional part of the disclosure. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of (a) culturing a host according to this aspect of the disclosure under conditions conducive to the expression of the polypeptide, and (b) optionally, recovering the expressed polypeptide. The expressed polypeptide can be recovered from the cell free extract or recovered from the culture medium. In another embodiment, the method comprises chemically synthesizing the polypeptides.
In an eight aspect, the disclosure provides kits. In one embodiment, the kits comprise:
(a) one or more polypeptides of any embodiment or combination of embodiments of aspects 1-3 of the disclosure (i.e.: the cage polypeptides);
(b) one or more polypeptides of any embodiment or combination of embodiments of aspect 4 of the disclosure (i.e.: the key polypeptides); and
(c) optionally, one or more fusion proteins of any embodiment disclosed herein.
In another embodiment, the kits comprise:
(a) a first nucleic acid encoding the cage polypeptide of any embodiment or combination of embodiments of aspects 1-3 of the disclosure;
(b) a second nucleic acid encoding the key polypeptides of any embodiment or combination of embodiments of aspect 4 of the disclosure; and
(c) optionally, a third nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein of any embodiment disclosed herein.
In another embodiment, the kit comprises:
(a) a first expression vector comprising a first nucleic acid encoding the cage polypeptide of any embodiment or combination of embodiments of aspects 1-3 of the disclosure, wherein the first nucleic acid is operatively linked to a first promoter; and
(b) a second expression vector comprising a second nucleic acid encoding the key polypeptides of any embodiment or combination of embodiments of aspect 4 of the disclosure, wherein the second nucleic acid is operatively linked to a second promoter.
In each of the kit embodiments, the first nucleic acid, the second nucleic acid, the first expression vector, and/or the second expression vector may comprise a single nucleic acid encoding or expression vector capable of expressing the cage or key polypeptide, or may comprise a plurality (i.e.: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more) of first nucleic acids, second nucleic acids, first expression vectors, and/or the second expression vectors. In various such embodiments, each second nucleic acid may encode, or each second expression vector may be capable of expressing, a key polypeptide capable of binding to a structural region and inducing a conformational change of a different cage polypeptide encoded by the plurality of first nucleic acids or capable of being expressed by the plurality of first expression vectors. In other embodiments, each second nucleic acid may encode, or each second expression vector may be capable of expressing, a key polypeptide capable of binding to a structural region and inducing a conformational change of more than one of the cage polypeptides encoded by the plurality of first nucleic acids or capable of being expressed by the plurality of first expression vectors.
In one embodiment, the promoters operatively linked to the cage polypeptide-encoding nucleic acids (first promoters) are different than the promoters operatively linked to the key polypeptide-encoding nucleic acids (second promoters), allowing tunable control of the cage polypeptides and any functional polypeptide domains by controlling expression of the key polypeptide. In other embodiments, the promoters operatively linked to the cage polypeptide-encoding nucleic acids (first promoters) are the same as the promoters operatively linked to the key polypeptide-encoding nucleic acids (second promoters). In other embodiments, the first promoters and/or second promoters may be inducible promoters.
In a ninth aspect, the disclosure provides a LOCKR switch comprising
(a) a cage polypeptide comprising a structural domain and a latch domain further comprising one or more bioactive peptides, wherein the structural domain interacts with the latch domain to prevent activity of the bioactive peptide(s);
(b) an optional key polypeptide that binds to the cage structural domain, thereby displacing the latch domain and activating the bioactive peptide(s); and
(c) optionally, an effector polypeptide(s) that binds to the bioactive peptide(s) when the bioactive peptide(s) is(are) activated.
The cage polypeptides and its structural and latch regions are discussed above, as are bioactive peptides, effector polypeptides, and key polypeptides. Any embodiment of the cage polypeptides, bioactive peptides, and key polypeptides disclosed herein may be used in the LOCKR switches and kits of the disclosure. For example, in one embodiment, the cage polypeptide comprises:
(a) a helical bundle comprising between 2 and 7 alpha-helices; and
(b) amino acid linkers connecting each alpha helix;
In one embodiment, the key polypeptide is present, and may comprise the key polypeptide of any embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed herein.
In another embodiment, the effector polypeptide is present, and comprises a polypeptide that selectively binds to the bioactive peptide. Any suitable effector polypeptide can be used depending on the bioactive peptide of interest. In various non-limiting embodiments, the effector peptide may comprise Bcl2, GFP1-10, a protease, etc.
The present disclosure also provides a LOCKR switch comprising a cage polypeptide described herein and a key polypeptide. In some aspects, a LOCKR switch comprises (a) a cage polypeptide comprising a structural region and a latch region further comprising one or more bioactive peptides, and (b) a key polypeptide that binds to the cage structural region. In some aspects, a LOCKR switch comprises (a) a cage polypeptide comprising a structural region and a latch region further comprising one or more bioactive peptides, and (b) a key polypeptide that binds to the cage structural region, wherein the one or more bioactive peptides in the latch region bind to or interact with one or more effector polypeptide(s). In other aspects, a LOCKR switch comprises (a) a cage polypeptide comprising a structural region and a latch region further comprising one or more bioactive peptides, wherein the structural region interacts with the latch region to prevent activity of the one or more bioactive peptides; (b) a key polypeptide that binds to the cage structural region, thereby displacing the latch region and activating the one or more bioactive peptides. In some other aspects, the LOCKR further comprises one or more effector polypeptide(s) that bind to the one or more bioactive peptides when the one or more bioactive peptides are activated.
In some aspects, both a latch region and a key polypeptide can bind to or interact with a structural region in the corresponding cage polypeptide. The interaction between a latch region and a structural region in a cage polypeptide can be intramolecular interaction, and the interaction between a key polypeptide and a structural region of the corresponding cage polypeptide can be intermolecular interaction. However, in some aspects, the affinity of the latch region to the structural region of the cage polypeptide is higher than the affinity of the key polypeptide to the structural region of the cage polypeptide in the absence of an effector polypeptide.
In some aspects, the affinity of the latch region to the structural region of the cage polypeptide is at least about 1.5 fold, at least about 2 fold, at least about 3 fold, at least about 4 fold, at least about 5 fold, at least about 6 fold, at least about 7 fold, at least about 8 fold, at least about 9 fold, at least about 10 fold, at least about 11 fold, at least about 12 fold, at least about 13 fold, at least about 14 fold, at least about 15 fold, at least about 16 fold, at least about 17 fold, at least about 18 fold, at least about 19 fold, at least about 20 fold, at least about 21 fold, at least about 22 fold, at least about 23 fold, at least about 24 fold, at least about 25 fold, at least about 26 fold, at least about 27 fold, at least about 28 fold, at least about 29 fold, or at least about 30 fold higher than the affinity of the key polypeptide to the structural region of the cage polypeptide in the absence of an effector polypeptide. In some aspects, the affinity of the latch region to the structural region of the cage polypeptide is at least about 1.1 fold, at least about 1.2 fold, at least about 1.3 fold, at least about 1.4 fold, at least about 1.5 fold, at least about 1.6 fold, at least about 1.7 fold, at least about 1.8 fold, at least about 1.9 fold, at least about 2.0 fold, at least about 2.1 fold, at least about 2.2 fold, at least about 2.3 fold, at least about 2.4 fold, at least about 2.5 fold, at least about 2.6 fold, at least about 2.7 fold, at least about 2.8 fold, at least about 2.9 fold, or at least about 3.0 fold higher than the affinity of the key polypeptide to the structural region of the cage polypeptide in the absence of an effector polypeptide. In some aspects, the affinity of the latch region to the structural region of the cage polypeptide is at least about 30 fold, at least about 40 fold, at least about 50 fold, at least about 60 fold, at least about 70 fold, at least about 80 fold, at least about 90 fold, at least about 100 fold, at least about 110 fold, at least about 120 fold, at least about 130 fold, at least about 140 fold, at least about 150 fold, at least about 160 fold, at least about 170 fold, at least about 180 fold, at least about 190 fold, at least about 200 fold, at least about 210 fold, at least about 220 fold, at least about 230 fold, at least about 240 fold, at least about 250 fold, at least about 260 fold, at least about 270 fold, at least about 280 fold, at least about 290 fold, at least about 300 fold, e.g., about 30 fold to about 300 fold, e.g., about 100 fold to about 300 fold, about 50 fold to about 100 fold, higher than the affinity of the key polypeptide to the structural region of the cage polypeptide in the absence of an effector polypeptide.
In other embodiments, the intramolecular Latch-Cage affinity is higher than the intermolecular Key-Cage affinity, and in the presence of the Effector protein, the intermolecular Key-Cage affinity is higher than the intramolecular Latch-Cage affinity. As a result, the function of the bioactive peptide is dependent on the presence of Cage, Key, and Effector protein.
In certain embodiments, the intermolecular Key-Cage interaction may outcompete the Latch-Cage interaction in the absence of Effector protein. In the absence of Key, the Latch-Cage affinity is higher than the Latch-Effector protein affinity (via binding of the Bioactive peptide to the Effector protein), and in the presence of Key, the Latch-Effector protein affinity (via binding of the Bioactive peptide to the Effector protein) is higher than the Latch-Cage affinity. As a result, the function of the bioactive peptide is dependent on the presence of Cage, Key, and Effector protein.
As disclosed herein, the cage polypeptides can be used together with the key polypeptides by using the cage polypeptides to sequester a bioactive peptide in the latch region, where it remains inactive until the key polypeptide displaces the latch through competitive intermolecular binding that induces conformational change, exposing the encoded bioactive peptide or domain and activating the system (see
In another embodiment, the nomenclature for the cage is identified by 1fix-short and 1fix-latch, indicating similar, yet distinct, embodiments of Cagea as defined above. They are all activated by Keya. The functional group encoded in the latch is identified by the third portion of the name while the suffix indicates the presence of a toehold. For example, 1fix-short-Bim-t0 encodes Bim on the 1fix-short scaffold with no toehold. In another example, 1fix-latch_Mad1SID_T0_2 indicates that the 1fix-latch scaffold was used to encode Mad1SID with no residues. The suffix 2 indicates that there are two versions where the functional sequence is encoded in different locations on the latch region.
In one embodiment of the eighth and ninth aspects of the disclosure, the one or more cage polypeptide and the one or more key polypeptide comprise at least one cage polypeptide and at least one key polypeptide in the same row of Tables 1, 2, 3, and/or 4. As will be understood by those of skill in the art based on the teachings herein, such kits may include multiple (i.e.: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 50, 100, or more) cage and key polypeptide pairs that can be used together as a LOCKR switch.
In one embodiment of the kits or switches disclosed herein, the one or more cage polypeptide and the one or more key polypeptide comprise at least one cage polypeptide and at least one key polypeptide having an amino acid sequence having at least 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity along its length to a cage polypeptide and a key polypeptide, respectively, in the same row of Table 1, 2, 3 and/or 4.
In a tenth aspect, the disclosure provides use of the polypeptides, kits, and/or LOCKR switches disclosed herein to sequester bioactive peptide in the cage polypeptide, holding them in an inactive (“off”) state, until combined with the key polypeptide to induce a conformational change that activates (“on”) the bioactive peptide. Details of exemplary such uses and methods are disclosed throughout.
In one embodiment of the kits or switches disclosed herein, the one or more cage polypeptide and the one or more key polypeptide comprise at least one cage polypeptide and at least one key polypeptide having an amino acid sequence having at least 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity along its length to a cage polypeptide and a key polypeptide, respectively, in the same row of Table 1, 2, 3, and/or 4.
In another embodiment of the eighth and ninth aspects of the disclosure, the one or more cage polypeptide and the one or more key polypeptide comprise at least one cage polypeptide and at least one key polypeptide that are matched by identification numbers in the naming conventions used herein. As noted above, orthogonal LOCKR designs (see
In some embodiments the cage and key polypeptide names include the prefix 2plus1 or 3plus1 defines the helix architecture with the first number defining the number of helices in the structural region, with the second number defining the number of helices in the latch region. The Nterm or Cterm suffix defines if the latch on the cage component of the kit encompasses the N or C terminus respectively, as is denoted by brackets [ ]. The Nterm versus Cterm and numerical suffix corresponds to the same suffix on the key with which it is activated from. For example, cage 2plus1_Cage_Cterm_2406 (SEQ ID NO:27126) is activated by 2plus2_Key_Cterm_2406 (SEQ ID NO:27127).
We have developed a general approach to design novel protein switches that can sequester bioactive peptides and/or binding domains, holding them in an inactive (“off”) state, until combined with a second designed polypeptide called the Key, which induces a conformational change that activates (“on”) the bioactive peptide or binding domain.
Nomenclature and Structural Features that Define LOCKR Switches:
These designs comprise the first ever de novo designed proteins that can undergo conformational switching in response to protein binding. They are modular in that they can encode bioactive peptides of all three types of secondary structure in an inactive conformation: alpha helix, beta strand, loop, and are tunable in that their responsiveness can be tuned over a large dynamic range by varying length (length of Cage scaffold and/or Latch Toehold), and/or mutating residues in the Cage-Latch interface. Designed LOCKR switches can be used to control the activity of a wide range of functional peptides. The ability to harness these biological functions with tight, inducible control is useful, for example, in engineering cells (inducible activation of function, engineering complex logic behavior and circuits), developing sensors, developing inducible protein-based therapeutics, and creating new biomaterials.
We set out to design de novo switchable protein systems guided by the following general considerations. First, the free energy tuning required to achieve maximal dynamic range upon addition of the switch-triggering input is more straightforward in a system governed by competition between inter- and intra-molecular interactions at the same site rather than at distant sites (as is common in allosteric biological systems). Second, a stable protein framework with an extended binding surface available for the competing interactions has advantages over a framework that only becomes ordered upon binding, as the former is more programmable and less likely to engage in off-target interactions. These features are described by the abstract system depicted in
To design such a switchable system, we chose structural features amenable to tuning of the affinities of the cage-latch and cage-key interactions over a wide dynamic range. Alpha helices have advantages over beta strands because inter-helical interfaces are dominated by sidechain-sidechain interactions, which can be more readily tuned than the cooperative backbone hydrogen bonding necessary for beta sheets. To allow fine control over the relative affinities of the cage-latch and cage-key interactions, we chose to design interfaces containing buried hydrogen bond networks: as illustrated by Watson Crick base pairing, considerable specificity can be obtained with relatively minor changes in the positions of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors4,5. We selected as a starting point a designed homo-trimer of α-helical hairpins with hydrogen bond network-mediated subunit-subunit interaction specificity (5L6HC3_1)5. By designing short unstructured loops connecting the subunits, we generated monomeric protein frameworks with five or six helices and 40 residues per helix (
The five helix (cage) and six helix (cage plus latch) designs were soluble when recombinantly expressed in E. coli, and the purified proteins were largely monomeric by size-exclusion chromatography with multi-angle light scattering, and very thermostable, remaining folded at upwards of 95° C. and 5 M guanidine hydrochloride (
To install function into LOCKR, we selected the Bim-Bcl2 interaction central to apoptosis as a model system, seeking to cage Bim such that binding to Bcl2 only occurred in the presence of key. We designed constructs with two possible Bim-related sequences designed onto the latch: a designed Bcl2-binding peptide (aBcl2LOCKR) or just the Bim residues crucial for Bcl2 binding (pBimLOCKR). Each has a different affinity for Bcl2, allowing us to sample a range of KLT values in the initial series of designs. Bim-related sequences were grafted onto the latch by sampling different helical registers such that residues involved in binding to Bcl2 are sequestered in the cage-latch interface (data not shown), optimizing for the burial of hydrophobic residues and surface exposure of polar residues. Kopen can be tuned by non-optimal interactions between the cage and Bim residues or by changing the length of the latch (
We hypothesized that the system could be improved by extending the interface area presented on the cage: extending the latch could increase the affinity for the cage (decrease Kopen) to make the system more “off” in absence of key, while extending the key to be longer could allow it to outcompete the latch (decrease KCK relative to Kopen), making the system more inducible. Taking advantage of the modular nature of de novo parametric helical bundles, the cage, latch and key were each extended by 5, 9 or 18 residues. To enable the key to outcompete the latch, the latter was truncated by four to nine residues to access a range of Kopen values; this creates a “toehold” on the cage for the key to bind). The 18-residue extension with a 9 residue toehold resulted in strongly inducible binding (
The range of key concentrations over which BimLOCKR is activated can be controlled by tuning KCK by varying the length of the key since the interaction energy is roughly proportional to the total surface area of interacting residues. The EC50 for the 58-length designed key is 55.6+/−34 nM (
We next sought to design a series of orthogonal LOCKR systems with the goal of engineering multiple switches able to be activated selectively in a heterogeneous mixture. Specificity was designed for using different hydrogen bond networks at the cage-key interface. The latch helix was deleted from the original extended LOCKRa model and backbones for a new sixth helix were generated by parametrically sampling the radius, helical phase, and z-offset of the new latch/key helix. The resulting structures were scanned for new hydrogen bond networks spanning the interface between the new sixth helix and cage with all buried polar atoms participating in hydrogen bonds; the remaining interface around the networks was subjected to full sequence and sidechain rotamer optimization using Rosetta™ design. Five designs were selected based on packing quality, sequence dissimilarity, and lack of buried polar atoms not participating in hydrogen bonds. Truncations and toehold variants were assayed for cognate and off target key binding using the GFP pulldown assay from
The original LOCKR switch design (
gfpLOCKR (GFP11-LOCKR)
Using the asymmetric designs as a starting point, we successful encoded the 11th strand of GFP into designed LOCKR switches (
Designed LOCKR switch, with Cage component encoding the VMAc Intein, shows successful activation when mixed with designed Key fused to sfGFP and VMAn Intein (
The original LOCKR switch design (
These 2plus1 and 3plus1 LOCKR switches have smaller payload than the original designs (advantageous for cell engineering efforts), and due to lack of symmetry, are likely to be well-behaved and not aggregation-prone. (See Methods section for details of computational design and experimental testing).
strepLOCKR (STREPII-LOCKR)
Using the new 2+1 and 3+1 LOCKR scaffolds from the large-scale high-throughput design, we designed and tested new LOCKR scaffolds that encode and control the STREPII sequence, (N)WSHPQFEK (SEQ ID NO:63) (see Methods section for details). The designs (
The data in
The data in
Here we demonstrate the power of the LOCKR platform by caging protein-protein interactions that can be inducibly activated by key. We show in vitro data caging the Bim peptide from binding its family members, GFP strand11 from completing the truncated 1-10 construct, and an anti-StrepTag™II antibody from binding caged StrepTag™II. The modularity and hyperstability of de novo designed proteins enables tuning of switch activation over a broad dynamic range by tuning the strength of the competing cage-key and cage-latch interfaces. Using this approach, we can now design switches beyond these proof-of-concept designs to cage peptides for more complex applications. LOCKR is useful for controlling native signaling networks, and in general for controlling biological function through fully synthetic networks of de novo signaling molecules.
LOCKR brings to proteins the modularity of DNA switching technology, but with advantages of being able to control, and be coupled to, the wide range of biochemical functions that can be carried out by proteins and bioactive peptides (which are much more diverse and wide ranging than nucleic acids).
All primers for mutagenesis were ordered from Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT). Mutagenic primers were designed to anneal >18 bp on either side of the site for mutagenesis with the desired mutation encoded in the primer. PCR was used to create fragments upstream and downstream of the mutation site with >20 bp overlap with the desired pET vector. The resulting amplicons were isothermally assembled into either pET21b, pET28b, or pET29b restriction digested with XhoI and NdeI and transformed into chemically competent E. coli XL1-Blue cells. Monoclonal colonies were sequenced with Sanger sequencing. Sequence verified plasmid was purified using Qiagen miniprep kit and transformed into chemically competent E. coli BL21(DE3)Star, BL21(DE3)Star-pLysS cells (Invitrogen), or Lemo21(DE3) cells (NEB) for protein expression.
Synthetic genes were ordered from Genscript Inc. (Piscataway, N.J., USA) and delivered in pET 28b+, pET21b+, or pET29b+ E. coli expression vectors, inserted at the NdeI and XhoI sites of each vector. For pET28b+ constructs, synthesized DNA was cloned in frame with the N-terminal hexahistidine tag and thrombin cleavage site and a stop codon was added at the C-terminus. For pET21b+ constructs, a stop codon was added at the C-terminus such that the protein was expressed with no hexahistidine tag. For pET29b+ constructs, the synthesized DNA was cloned in frame with the C-terminal hexahistidine tag. Plasmids were transformed into chemically competent E. coli BL21(DE3)Star, BL21(DE3)Star-pLysS cells (Invitrogen), or Lemo21(DE3) cells (NEB) for protein expression.
Starter cultures were grown in Lysogeny Broth (LB) or Terrific™ Broth II (TBII) overnight in the presence of 50 μg/mL carbenicillin (pET21b+) or 30 μg/mL (for LB) to 60 μg/mL (for TBII) kanamycin (pET28b+ and pET29b+). Starter cultures were used to inoculate 500 mL of Studier TBM-5052 autoinduction media containing antibiotic and grown at 37° C. for 24 hours. Cells were harvested by centrifugation at 4000 rcf for 20 minutes at 4° C. and resuspended in lysis buffer (20 mM Tris, 300 mM NaCl, 20 mM Imidazole, pH 8.0 at room temperature), then lysed by microfluidization in the presence of 1 mM PMSF. Lysates were cleared by centrifugation at 24,000 rcf for at least 30 minutes at 4° C. Supernatant was applied to Ni-NTA (Qiagen) columns pre-equilibrated in lysis buffer. The column was washed twice with 15 column volumes (CV) of wash buffer (20 mM Tris, 300 mM NaCl, 40 mM Imidazole, pH 8.0 at room temperature), followed by 15 CV of high-salt wash buffer (20 mM Tris, 1M NaCl, 40 mM Imidazole, pH 8.0 at room temperature) then 15 CV of wash buffer. Protein was eluted with 20 mM Tris, 300 mM NaCl, 250 mM Imidazole, pH 8.0 at room temperature. Proteins were further purified by gel filtration using FPLC and a Superdex™ 75 Increase 10/300 GL (GE) size exclusion column, pooling fractions containing monomeric protein.
SEC-MALS experiments used a Superdex™ 75 Increase 10/300 GL (GE) size exclusion column connected to a miniDAWN™ TREOS multi-angle static light scattering and an Optilab T-rEX™ (refractometer with Extended range) detector (Wyatt Technology Corporation, Santa Barbara Calif., USA). Protein samples were injected at concentrations of 3-5 mg/mL in TBS (pH 8.0). Data was analyzed using ASTRATM™ (Wyatt Technologies) software to estimate the weight average molar mass (Mw) of eluted species, as well as the number average molar mass (Mn) to assess monodispersity by polydispersity index (PDI)=Mw/Mn.
CD wavelength scans (260 to 195 nm) and temperature melts (25 to 95 C) were measured using an AVIV model 420 CD spectrometer. Temperature melts monitored absorption signal at 222 nm and were carried out at a heating rate of 4° C./min. Protein samples were at 0.3 mg/mL in PBS pH 7.4 in a 0.1 cm cuvette. Guanidinium chloride (GdmCl) titrations were performed on the same spectrometer with an automated titration apparatus in PBS pH 7.4 at 25 C, monitored at 222 nm with protein sample at 0.03 mg/mL in a 1 cm cuvette with stir bar. Each titration consisted of at least 40 evenly distributed concentration points with one minute mixing time for each step. Titrant solution consisted of the same concentration of protein in PBS+GdmCl. GdmCl concentration was determined by refractive index.
Samples were exchanged into SAXS buffer (20 mM Tris, 150 mM NaCl, 2% glycerol, pH 8.0 at room temperature) via gel filtration. Scattering measurements were performed at the SIBYLS 12.3.1 beamline at the Advanced Light Source. The X-ray wavelength (λ) was 1.27 Å and the sample-to-detector distance of the Mar165 detector was 1.5 m, corresponding to a scattering vector q (q=4π*sin(θ/λ) where 2θ is the scattering angle) range of 0.01 to 0.59 ↑−1. Data sets were collected using 34 0.2 second exposures over a period of 7 seconds at 11 keV with protein at a concentration of 6 mg/mL. Data were also collected at a concentration of 3 mg/mL to determine concentration-dependence; all presented data was collected at the higher concentration as no concentration-dependent aggregation was observed. Data from 32 exposures was averaged separately over the Gunier, Parod, and Wide-q regions depending on signal quality over each region and frame. The averages were analyzed using the ScÅtter software package to analyze data and report statistics. FoXS was used to compare design models to experimental scattering profiles and calculate quality of fit (X) values. The hexahistidine tags and thrombin cleavage sites on the N-terminii of LOCKR proteins were modeled using Rosetta Remodel™ so that the design sequence matched that of the experimentally tested protein. To capture conformational flexibility of these residues, 100 independent models were generated, clustered, and the cluster center of the largest cluster was selected as a representative model for FoXS fitting without bias.
His-tagged LOCKR was expressed per the above protocol from pET28b+ while the key was expressed fused to superfolder GFP (sfGFP) without a his-tag in pET21b+. The his-tagged LOCKR was purified to completion and dialyized into TBS (20 mM Tris, 150 mM NaCl, pH 8.0 at room temperature); the key-GFP remained as lysate for this assay. 100 μL LOCKR at >1 uM was applied to a 96-well black Pierce® Nickel Coated Plate (ThermoFisher) and incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. Sample was discarded from the plate and washed 3× with 200 μL TBST (TBS+0.05% Tween-20). 100 μL of lysate containing key-GFP was added to each well and incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. Sample was discarded from the plate and washed 3× with 200 μL TBST (TBS+0.05% Tween-20). The plate was washed 1× with TBS, and 100 μL of TBS was added to each well. sfGFP fluorescence was measured on a Molecular Devices SpectraMax™ M5 plate reader or BioTek Synergy Neo2 plate reader; fluorescence was measured at 485 nm excitation and 530 nm emission, with a bandwidth of 20 nm for excitation and emission.
BLI measurements were made on an Octet® RED96 System (ForteBio) with streptavidin (SA) coated biosensors and all analysis was performed within ForteBio Data Analysis Software version 9.0.0.10. Assays were performed with protein diluted into HBS-EP+ Buffer from GE (10 mM HEPES, 150 mM NaCl, 3 mM EDTA, 0.05% v/v Surfactant P20, 0.5% non-fat dry milk, pH7.4 at room temperature). Biotinylated Bcl2 was loaded onto the SA tips to a threshold of 0.5 nm programmed into the machine's protocol. Baseline was obtained by dipping the loaded biosensors into HBS-EP+buffer; association kinetics were observed by dipping into wells containing defined concentrations of LOCKR and key, then dissociation kinetics were observed by dipping into the buffer used to obtain the baseline. Kinetic constants and response at equilibrium were computed by fitting a 1:1 binding model.
The thermodynamic model in
K
open=[Switchopen]/[Switchclosed]
K
CK=[Switchopen][Key]/[Switch-Key]=[Switch-Target][Key]/[Switch-Key-Target]
K
LT=[Switch-Key][Target]/[Switch-Key-Target]=[Switchopen][Target]/[Switch-Target]
The total amount of each component (Switch, Key, and Target) is also constant and constrains the values of each species at equilibrium. This introduces the following equations to the model.
[Switch]total=[Switchopen]+[Switchaosed]+[Switch-Key]+[Switch-Target]+[Switch-Key-Target]
[Key]total=[Key]+[Switch-Key]+[Switch-Key-Target]
[Target]total=[Target]+[Switch-Target]+[Switch-Key-Target]
These six equations were fed into sympy.nsolve( ) to find solutions given the six constants (three equilibrium constants, three total concentrations). Fraction bound was extracted from this solution and plotted for the corresponding figures.
Grafting Functional Sequence onto LOCKR Using Rosetta
Models of functional LOCKRs were made by grafting bioactive sequences onto the latch were designed using Rosetta™ XML to sample grafts starting at every helical register on the latch. This protocol uses two Rosetta movers, SimpleThreadingMover to change the amino acid sequence on the latch, and FastRelax™ with default settings to find the lowest energy structure given the functional mutations. Designs were selected by eye in PyMol™ 2.0 and high quality grafts had important binding residues interacting with the cage and minimized the number of buried unsatisfied hydrogen bonding residues.
Redesign of LOCKRa to orthogonal cage-key pairs using was carried out using Rosetta with score function beta_nov16. We extracted a model of the five-helix cage from the extended LOCKR model and used the Rosetta™ BundleGridSampler module to generate an ensemble of backbones for new latch geometries. The BundleGridSampler generates backbone geometry based on the Crick mathematical expressions for a coiled-coil, and allows efficient, parallel sampling of a regular grid of coiled-coil expression parameter values, which correspond to a continuum of peptide backbone conformations. For each parametrically-generated latch conformation sampled, Rosetta™ residue selectors specified the interface of the cage and latch for design of hydrogen bonding networks (HBNet) followed by Rosetta™ sidechain design. Residues were selected for design through Rosetta residue selectors by selecting the interface of the latch and cage via the InterfaceByVector residue selector. This residue selection was passed into both HBNet and sidechain design to strictly design the switching interface while leaving the cage with its original LOCKR sequence. Hydrogen Bond networks were designed using HBNetStapleInterface on the residues selected at the interface. The output contained designs with two or three hydrogen bond networks which span the three helices that make up the interface. All output from HBNet was then designed using PackRotamersMover to place residues at the interface while maintaining the hydrogen bond networks. Two rounds of design were done. The first used beta soft to aggressively pack the interface with potentially clashing rotamers while optimizing the interaction energy at the interface, then the structure was minimized using beta to resolve potential clashing atoms according to the full Rosetta score function. The final round of design placed rotamers with the full beta Rosetta score function to finally optimize the interactions across the cage-latch interface.
Candidate orthogonal LOCKR designs were selected based on lacking unsatisfied buried hydrogen bonding residues, the count of alanine residues as a proxy for packing quality, and sequence dissimilarity as a metric to find polar/hydrophobic patterns dissimilar enough to be orthogonal. Unsatisfied hydrogen bonding atoms were filtered out using the BuriedUnsatHbonds filter allowing no unsatisfied polar atoms according to the filter's metrics. Packing quality was determined by counting alanine residues at the interface because high alanine count means poor interdigitation of residues. A maximum of 15 alanine residues were allowed in the entire three helix interface. Pairwise sequence dissimilarity of every designed latch was scored with BLOSUM62 by aligning sequences using the Bio.pairwise2 package from BioPython as shown in seq_alignment.py. Alignment was performed disallowing gaps within the sequence through large opening and extension penalties which is analogous to a structural alignment of two helices to find the most similar superposition based on hydrophobic-polar patterning. Each score was subtracted from the maximum score to convert scores into a distance metric; the most diverse sequences has the lowest BLOSUM62 score which converts to the largest distance. The sequences were then clustered using HeirClust_fromRMSD.py and clustered with a cutoff of 170, resulting in 13 clusters. The center of each cluster was picked by maximizing distance between the 13 centers selected. The 13 candidates were then filtered by eye in PyMol™ 2.0 for unsatisfied hydrogen bonding atoms and qualitative packing quality. The five best designs by these three metrics were ordered as LOCKRb-f.
The original LOCKRa switch was redesigned using Rosetta™ with HBNet; residues known to be important for LOCKR function were kept fixed, and remaining residues were optimized to preserve hydrophobic packing while introducing sequence diversity that minimized the number of repeating amino acid sequences and motifs. Synthetic DNA coding for the designs was obtained as described previously and designs were expressed, purified, and biophysically characterized as described previously. Crystallization trials were set up as described in the next section.
Purified protein samples were concentrated to 12-50 mg/ml in 20 mM Tris pH 8.0 and 100 mM NaCl. Samples were screened with a 5-position deck Mosquito crystal (ttplabtech) with an active humidity chamber, utilizing the following crystallization screens: JCSG+ (Qiagen), JCSG Core I-IV (Qiagen), PEG/Ion (Hampton Research), and Morpheus (Molecular Dimensions). The optimal conditions for crystallization of the different designs were found as follows:
The crystals of the designed proteins were looped and placed in the corresponding reservoir solution, containing 20% (v/v) glycerol if the reservoir solution did not contain cryoprotectant, and flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen. The X-ray data sets were collected at the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory with beamlines 8.2.1 and 8.2.2. Data sets were indexed and scaled using either XDS35 or HKL200036. Initial models were generated by the molecular-replacement method with the program PHASER™ 37 within the Phenix™ software suite38, using the design models as the initial search models. Efforts were made to reduce model bias through refinement with simulated annealing using Phenix.refine, or, if the resolution was sufficient, by using Phenix.autobuild40 with rebuild-in-place set to false, simulated annealing and prime-and-switch phasing. Iterative rounds of manual building in COOT and refinement in Phenix™ were used to produce the final models. Due to the high degree of self-similarity inherit in coiled-coil-like proteins, datasets for the reported structures suffered from a high degree of pseudo translational non-crystallographic symmetry, as report by Phenix.Xtriage™, which complicated structure refinement and may explain the higher than expected R values reported. RMSDs of bond lengths, angles and dihedrals from ideal geometries were calculated with Phenix™. The overall quality of all final models was assessed using the program MOLPROBITY™.
gfpLOCKR: (GFP11-LOCKR) Switch Design and Characterization
Using the asymmetrized LOCKRa design scaffold, the 11th strand of GFP was encoded into the Latch sequence of the Cage as described in the section above “Grafting Functional Sequence onto LOCKR using Rosetta™”, and synthetic genes coding for the designed proteins obtained as described above. Proteins were purified and biophysically characterized as described above. To test for induction of fluorescence upon addition of Key, the proteins were mixed by pipetting and immediately assayed in a black 96-well plate using a Biotek Synergy Neo2 plate reader to monitor relative GFP fluorescence (Ex: 488, Em: 508, 10 minutes between reads). Cage leakiness was evaluated by measuring GFP fluorescence over time in the absence of Key
In Vitro Co-Localization-Dependent Switching with gfpLOCKR (GFP11-LOCKR)
The GfpLOCKR Cage was cloned with SpyCatcher™ fused to its N-terminus via a floppy linker, the gfpLOCKR Key was cloned with SpyTag™ fused to its C-terminus via a floppy linker, and GFP1-10 was cloned into its own pET21 vector. These proteins were expressed in E. coli Lemo21 cells with Studier's autoinduction media overnight at 18 C. After expression, the producer cells were harvested by centrifugation and lysed by microfluidizer. The desired proteins were purified from clarified lysates by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and quantitated by A280 on a nanodrop. Proteins were diluted to final concentrations in PBS (GFP1-10: 1.9 uM in all samples; Cage: 1.5 uM, 0.8 uM, 0.4 uM, 0.2 uM, 0.094 uM; Key: 1.5 uM, 0.8 uM, 0.4 uM, 0.2 uM, 0.094 uM) and pooled as follows: SpyCatcher™-Cage alone (no Key), SpyCatcher™-Cage with naked Key (no SpyTag™), and SpyCatcher-Cage with SpyTag-Key. The proteins were mixed by pipetting and immediately assayed in a black 96-well plate using a Biotek Synergy Neo2 plate reader to monitor relative GFP fluorescence (Ex: 488, Em: 508, 10 minutes between reads). Cage leakiness was evaluated by measuring GFP fluorescence over time in the absence of Key. Co-localization dependence was confirmed by showing that SpyTag™-Key activated GFP fluorescence faster than did naked Key.
The VMAc intein sequence was designed to be encoded into the Latch of LOCKRa. The VMAn intein sequence was fused to Keya. Constructs were cloned and purified as previous LOCKR designs described above. Intein activity (splicing) was assessed by SDS-PAGE.
The computational pipeline to design of thousands of new LOCKR switch scaffolds from scratch is as follows: backbones were exhaustively sampled using Crick helical parameters for 3-helix bundles (denoted 2plus1 or 2+1 because of a 2-helix scaffold plus 1-helix latch) and 4-helix bundles (denoted 3plus1 or 3+1 because of 3-helices plus 1-helix latch); parameters sampled include z-offset (−1.51, 0 and 1.51), helical phase every 10 degrees between 0 and 100, and superhelical radii for each helix ranging from 5-10 angstroms from the central superhelical axis (z-axis); based on the success of the original LOCKR design, we focused on designs with straight helices and no supercoiling (superhelical twist fixed to 0.0). Each generated helix is 58 residues in length; Rosetta loop closure methods were used to add loops connecting all helices into a single polypeptide chain (Cage scaffold). Sequence and sidechain design was carried out using HBNet, MC-HBNet, and RosettaDesign™. Additional designs were generated by truncating the helical bundles into shorter scaffolds, making versions with the Latch as either the N-terminal or C-terminal helix, and by trying different toehold lengths (truncations of Latch helix that end in a polar residue and remove at least one or two hydrophobic packing residues from the original design). Designs were selected based on computational methods learned from iterative testing and design of previous LOCKR scaffolds and HBNet helical bundles: important metrics include secondary structure shape complementarity (ss_sc)>0.65 (best designs had ss_sc>0.7); RosettaHoles™ filter in regions surrounding hydrogen bond networks to eliminate designs with large cavities adjacent to hydrogen bond networks in the core of the scaffolds; designs were required to have at least 2 distinct hydrogen bond networks that spanned all helices of the design model (i.e. each helix must contribute at least one amino acid sidechain to the network); the number of Ile, Leu, and Val residues, and number of contacts made by these amino acid types, as compared to Ala (smaller amino acid) also serves as a proxy that correlates well with designs that have tight, interdigitated hydrophobic packing, which is important for generating a stable protein scaffold.
strepLOCKR (STREPII-LOCKR) Computational Design:
LOCKR switches encoding the STREPII tag, (N)WSHPQFEK (SEQ ID NO:63), were designed using the 2plus1 and 3plus1 switches from the large-scale high-throughput LOCKR design set. This sequence is difficult to encode because of the Pro (which kinks alpha helices) and the Trp and His, which if buried must likely participate in hydrogen bonds. To address these issues, rather than sampling all helical residues, the large-scale design set was mined to find LOCKR scaffolds that already contained Trp (W), His (H) already pre-organized into hydrogen bond networks of the designs. Designs with pre-organized Phe (F) were also considered.
strepLOCKR (STREPII-LOCKR) Experimental Testing:
The purified proteins were tested for their ability to sequester the STREPII sequence in absence of Key, and activate in presence of Key using biolayer interferometry (Octet® RED96 System, PALL ForteBio): THE™ NWSHPQFEK (SEQ ID NO:63) Tag Antibody (mAb mouse, Genscript A01732-200) was loaded onto Anti-Mouse IgG Fc Capture (AMC) Biosensors (PALL ForteBio); tips were preconditioned by cycling between Glycine pH 1.65 and Octet assay buffer: HBS-EP+Buffer from GE (10 mM HEPES, 150 mM NaCl, 3 mM EDTA, 0.05% v/v Surfactant P20, 0.5% non-fat dry milk, pH7.4 at room temperature). Protein samples were diluted into Octet assay buffer, keeping dilution factors consistent as to minimize noise. The antibody-loaded tips were reused up to 8 times using the recommended regeneration protocol of cycling between Glycine pH 1.65 and Octet assay buffer (minimal loss in loading was observed when the tips were preconditions, and a signal threshold was set to ensure consistent loading of the tips each time).
The THE™ NWSHPQFEK (SEQ ID NO:63) Tag Antibody (mAb mouse, Genscript A01732-200) was used at a concentration of 5 ug/mL in Octet assay buffer; stocks of antibody were made up to 0.5 mg/mL with 400 ul mqH2O, aliquoted and stored at −80 C, thawed immediately before use.
Purification of Proteins from Bacterial Preps not Already Described Above:
Starter cultures were grown at 37° C. in either Luria-Bertani (LB) medium overnight, or in Terrific Broth for 8 hours, in the presence of 50 μg/ml carbenicillin (pET21-NESG) or 50 μg/ml kanamycin (pET-28b+). Starter cultures were used to inoculate 500 mL of LB (induced with 0.2 mM IPTG at OD600 of ˜0.6-0.9) or Studier auto-induction media containing antibiotic. Cultures were expressed overnight at 18° C. (many designs were also later expressed at 37° C. for 4 hours with no noticeable difference in yield). Cells were harvested by centrifugation for 15 minutes at 5000 rcf 4° C. and resuspended in lysis buffer (20 mM Tris, 300 mM NaCl, 20 mM Imidazole, pH 8.0 at room temperature), then lysed by sonication in presence of lysozyme, DNAse, and EDTA-free cocktail protease inhibitor (Roche) or 1 mM PMSF. Lysates were cleared by centrifugation at 4° C. 18,000 rpm for at least 30 minutes and applied to Ni-NTA (Qiagen) columns pre-equilibrated in lysis buffer. The column was washed three times with 5 column volumes (CV) of wash buffer (20 mM Tris, 300 mM NaCl, 40 mM Imidazole, pH 8.0 at room temperature), followed by 3-5 CV of high-salt wash buffer (20 mM Tris, 1 M NaCl, 40 mM Imidazole, pH 8.0 at room temperature), and then 5 CV of wash buffer. Protein was eluted with 20 mM Tris, 300 mM NaCl, 250 mM Imidazole, pH 8.0 at room temperature. No reducing agents were added, as none of the designed proteins contained cysteines.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Nos. 62/700,681 filed Jul. 19, 2018, 62/785,537 filed Dec. 27, 2018, and 62/788,398 filed Jan. 4, 2019, each incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62700681 | Jul 2018 | US | |
| 62785537 | Dec 2018 | US | |
| 62788398 | Jan 2019 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US2019/042651 | Jul 2019 | US |
| Child | 16796009 | US |
