SYNZIP Domain Mediated NRPS Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional methods for engineering non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) are cumbersome and time-consuming due to the size and repetitive nature of these multimodular enzyme complexes, requiring complex cloning strategies like yeast cloning and LLHR or ExoCET recombination, which are often plagued by technical issues.

Innovation Solution

The development of modified SYNZIP sequences that enable post-translational assembly of NRPS/PKS domains via protein-protein interactions, allowing for the creation of synthetic fusion proteins and complexes with improved assembly efficiency by using truncated SYNZIP amino acid sequences and linker sequences composed of glycine and serine repeats.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional cloning strategies (yeast cloning, LLHR, ExoCET) are used to engineer NRPS, then complete NRPS assembly is achieved, but the process becomes extremely time-consuming and technically problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNRPS assembly completenessVSAvoidEngineering time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the NRPS engineering process into two independent stages: (1) domain assembly via post-translational protein-protein interactions using SYNZIP domains, and (2) functional validation. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex cloning strategies while maintaining assembly completeness, reducing engineering time from months to weeks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The SYNZIP domain acts as an intermediary component that mediates the assembly of NRPS domains through post-translational protein-protein interactions. This intermediary approach allows domains to self-assemble into functional complexes without requiring complex in vitro recombination strategies, thereby simplifying the engineering process and reducing time requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If complex cloning strategies are employed to assemble NRPS domains, then functional NRPS complexes are produced, but the device complexity and technical difficulty increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNRPS functionalityVSAvoidCloning strategy complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The SYNZIP domain serves as a standardized intermediary module that simplifies domain assembly. By incorporating SYNZIP domains into NRPS constructs, researchers can use simple co-expression strategies instead of complex cloning protocols, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining NRPS functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The SYNZIP domain provides a universal assembly interface that can be applied to any NRPS domain combination. This multi-functional approach allows the same SYNZIP-mediated assembly mechanism to work across different NRPS variants, eliminating the need for custom complex cloning strategies for each case and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If full-length NRPS proteins are engineered using traditional methods, then complete functionality is achieved, but the repetitive nature and size make the process cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNRPS activityVSAvoidEngineering ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the NRPS engineering process into domain-level modular units that can be independently expressed and assembled. This segmentation allows researchers to work with smaller, more manageable domain constructs rather than full-length repetitive NRPS proteins, significantly improving ease of manufacture while maintaining complete NRPS activity through post-translational assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The NRPS domains equipped with SYNZIP motifs perform self-assembly into functional complexes through post-translational protein-protein interactions. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex manual assembly procedures, allowing the system to automatically form functional NRPS complexes from individual domain subunits, thereby greatly enhancing ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach simplifies the assembly of NRPS/PKS complexes, significantly reducing the complexity and time required for engineering, leading to higher production titers and increased biocombinatorial potential, with optimized SYNZIP truncations and linker insertions enhancing productivity to near or above wild-type levels.

Implementation Method 1

modified SYNZIP sequences that enable post-translational assembly of NRPS/PKS domains via protein-protein interactions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectProtein-protein interaction:

Data Source

PatentEP4424820A1Designed synzip protein domains for generating artificial nonribosomal peptide synthetases and hybrids thereof
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 MYRIA BIOSCIENCES AG
  • EP4424820A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4424820A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4424820A1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)

AI summary

The invention is based on newly derivatized protein interaction adaptor protein sequences based on SYNZIP protein domains. The improved SYNZIP domain variants of the invention were designed to be suitable for interconnecting domains of non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) or domains of polyketide synthases (PKS), such as for generating NRPS-PKS hybrid complexes. The invention provides the SYNZIP derivative sequences, NRPS domains containing them, NRPS domain libraries thereof, as well as methods for the production and use in peptide design, screening and production.