Introduction of Bifunctionality into the Multidomain Architecture of the ω-Ester-Containing Peptide Plesiocin

Biochemistry. 2020 Jan 28;59(3):285-289. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00803. Epub 2019 Oct 28.

Abstract

The modular biosynthetic pathway of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) enhances their engineering potential for exploring new structures and biological functions. The ω-ester-containing peptides (OEPs), a subfamily of RiPPs, have distinct side-to-side ester or amide linkages and frequently present more than one macrocyclic domain in a "beads-on-a-string" structure. In an effort to improve the engineering potential of RiPPs, we present here the idea that the multidomain architecture of an OEP, plesiocin, can be exploited to create a bifunctional modified peptide. Characterization of plesiocin variants revealed that strong chymotrypsin inhibition relies on the bicyclic structure of the domain in which a leucine residue in the hairpin loop functions as a specificity determinant. Four domains of plesiocin promote simultaneous binding of multiple enzymes, where the C-terminal domain binds chymotrypsin most efficiently. Using this information, we successfully engineered a plesiocin variant in which two different domains inhibit chymotrypsin and trypsin. This result suggests that the multidomain architecture of OEPs is a useful platform for engineering multifunctional hybrid RiPPs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosynthetic Pathways / drug effects
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chymotrypsin / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Chymotrypsin / chemistry
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Esters / chemistry
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / isolation & purification
  • Protease Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Protein Domains / genetics
  • Protein Engineering*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / genetics
  • Ribosomes / chemistry
  • Ribosomes / genetics
  • Trypsin / chemistry
  • Trypsin / genetics
  • Trypsin Inhibitors / chemistry

Substances

  • Esters
  • Peptides
  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Trypsin Inhibitors
  • plesiocin
  • Chymotrypsin
  • Trypsin