Optimized Production and Analysis of Recombinant Protein-Filled Vesicles from E. coli.

This innovative system, using a short peptide tag, that exports multiple recombinant proteins in membrane bound vesicles from E. coli, provides an effective solution to a range of problems associated with bacterial recombinant protein expression. These recombinant vesicles compartmentalise proteins within a micro-environment that facilitates the production of otherwise challenging, toxic, insoluble, or disulfide-bond containing proteins from bacteria. Protein yield is increased considerably when compared to typical bacterial expression in the absence of the vesicle-nucleating peptide tag. The release of vesicle-packaged proteins supports isolation from the culture medium and permits long-term active protein storage. This technology gives rise to increased yields of vesicle-packaged, functional proteins for simplified downstream processing for a diverse range of applications from applied biotechnology to discovery science and medicine. In the present article and the associated video, a detailed protocol of the method is provided, which highlights key steps in the methodology to maximize recombinant protein-filled vesicle production.

Controlling the structure of supramolecular fibre formation for benzothiazole based hydrogels with antimicrobial activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest threats to human health. Gram-positive methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), in both its planktonic and biofilm form, is of particular concern. Herein we identify the hydrogelation properties for a series of intrinsically fluorescent, structurally related supramolecular self-associating amphiphiles and determine their efficacy against both planktonic and biofilm forms of MRSA. To further explore the potential translation of this hydrogel technology for real-world applications, the toxicity of the amphiphiles was determined against the eukaryotic multicellular model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. Due to the intrinsic fluorescent nature of these supramolecular amphiphiles, material characterisation of their molecular self-associating properties included; comparative optical density plate reader assays, rheometry and widefield fluorescence microscopy. This enabled determination of amphiphile structure and hydrogel sol dependence on resultant fibre formation.

High-yield vesicle-packaged recombinant protein production from E. coli.

We describe an innovative system that exports diverse recombinant proteins in membrane-bound vesicles from E. coli. These recombinant vesicles compartmentalize proteins within a micro-environment that enables production of otherwise challenging insoluble, toxic, or disulfide-bond containing proteins from bacteria. The release of vesicle-packaged proteins supports isolation from the culture and allows long-term storage of active protein. This technology results in high yields of vesicle-packaged, functional proteins for efficient downstream processing for a wide range of applications from discovery science to applied biotechnology and medicine.

Topological analysis of a bacterial DedA protein associated with alkaline tolerance and antimicrobial resistance.

Maintaining membrane integrity is of paramount importance to the survival of bacteria as the membrane is the site of multiple crucial cellular processes including energy generation, nutrient uptake and antimicrobial efflux. The DedA family of integral membrane proteins are widespread in bacteria and are associated with maintaining the integrity of the membrane. In addition, DedA proteins have been linked to resistance to multiple classes of antimicrobials in various microorganisms. Therefore, the DedA family are attractive targets for the development of new antibiotics. Despite DedA family members playing a key physiological role in many bacteria, their structure, function and physiological role remain unclear. To help illuminate the structure of the bacterial DedA proteins, we performed substituted cysteine accessibility method (SCAM) analysis on the most comprehensively characterized bacterial DedA protein, YqjA from Escherichia coli. By probing the accessibility of 15 cysteine residues across the length of YqjA using thiol reactive reagents, we mapped the topology of the protein. Using these data, we experimentally validated a structural model of YqjA generated using evolutionary covariance, which consists of an α-helical bundle with two re-entrant hairpin loops reminiscent of several secondary active transporters. In addition, our cysteine accessibility data suggest that YqjA forms an oligomer wherein the protomers are arranged in a parallel fashion. This experimentally verified model of YqjA lays the foundation for future work in understanding the function and mechanism of this interesting and important family.