Doubling the cross-linking interface of a rationally designed beta roll peptide for calcium-dependent proteinaceous hydrogel formation

Biomacromolecules. 2014 Oct 13;15(10):3617-24. doi: 10.1021/bm500870a. Epub 2014 Sep 26.

Abstract

We have rationally engineered a stimulus-responsive cross-linking domain based on a repeats-in-toxin (RTX) peptide to enable calcium-dependent formation of supramolecular hydrogel networks. The peptide isolated from the RTX domain is intrinsically disordered in the absence of calcium. In calcium rich environments, the peptide binds Ca(2+) ions and folds into a beta roll (β-roll) secondary structure composed to two parallel β-sheet faces. Previously, we mutated one of the faces to contain solvent exposed leucine side chains which are localized only in the calcium-bound β-roll conformation. We demonstrated the ability of this mutant peptide to self-assemble into hydrogels in the presence of calcium with the aid of additional peptide-based cross-linking moieties. Here, we have expanded this approach by engineering both β-roll faces to contain leucine residues, thereby doubling the cross-linking interface for each monomeric building block. These leucine rich surfaces impart a hydrophobic driving force for self-assembly. Extensive characterization was performed on this double-faced mutant to ensure the retention of calcium affinity and subsequent structural rearrangement similar to that of the wild type domain. We genetically fused an α-helical leucine zipper capable of forming tetrameric coiled-coil bundles to the peptide and the resulting chimeric protein self-assembles into a hydrogel only in calcium rich environments. Since this new mutant peptide enables cross-linking on both surfaces simultaneously, a higher oligomerization state was achieved. To further investigate the cross-linking capability, we constructed concatemers of the β-roll with maltose binding protein (MBP), a monomeric globular protein, without the leucine zipper domains. These concatemers show a similar sol-gel transition in response to calcium. Several biophysical techniques were used to probe the structural and mechanical properties of the mutant β-roll domain and the resulting supramolecular networks including circular dichroism, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, bis-ANS binding, and microrheology. These results demonstrate that the engineered β-roll peptides can mediate calcium-dependent cross-linking for protein hydrogel formation without the need for any other cross-linking moieties.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Calcium / chemistry*
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / chemistry*
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Leucine / chemistry
  • Leucine Zippers
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Polymers
  • Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate
  • Leucine
  • Calcium