Part:BBa_K3113302

pCAG_Gag-HiBiT-L7Ae

This plasmid codes for the coat protein of gag fused to a split luciferase fused to an RNA binding protein. This construct forms virus-like particles which can be detected via a split luciferase assay. Through the RNA binding protein, the vesicles can be loaded with RNA.

Usage

pCAG_GAG-HiBit-L7Ae construct is a Composite part that has been designed to achieve VLP formation inside HEK293T/MIN6-K8 cells and enable the transport of chosen RNA information inside vesicles through L7Ae-C/D box interaction (together with construct BBa_K3113301 and BBa_K3113303).

Biology

Gag-p24 is the group specific antigen from the lentivirus HIV. It assembles at the plasma membrane and leads to the budding of vesicles.
“The Nano-Glo® HiBiT Lytic Detection System quantifies cellular protein in minutes with high sensitivity and a broad dynamic range using a simple add-mix-read assay format.” The HiBiT peptide is an 11 amino acid long tag that can be added to the protein of interest. The tagged protein can be measured with the Nano-Glo® HiBiT Detection Reagent which contains the LbBiT. Together the HiBiT and the LgBiT form a functioning luminescent NanoBiT® enzyme.
The archaeal L7Ae and eukaryotic 15.5kD protein homologs are members of the L7Ae/15.5kD protein family that characteristically recognize K-turn motifs found in both archaeal and eukaryotic RNAs. In Archaea, the L7Ae protein uniquely binds the K-loop motif found in box C/D. The k-turn is a ubiquitous structural motif in RNA forming a very tight kink in the axis of helical RNA that plays an important role in many aspects of RNA function. L7Ae is a member of a superfamily of proteins that bind k-turns in RNA, stabilizing the tightly kinked conformation. They are extremely widespread and are important in the assembly of RNA–protein complexes central to translation, splicing and site-specific RNA modification.

Characterization

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

Evidently, VLP formation from cells has been observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), proving the presence of the construct as the cause of VLP formation. GAG protein, encoded on the construct, is the main structural part of vesicle assembly.

Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)

To confirm the size of VLPs calculated with the TEM pictures, we performed an analysis with dynamic light scattering.

Split-luciferase bioluminescent assay: The HiBiT Assay

To prove that the BioBrick Part we designed works as expected, we performed a HiBit split-luciferase assay, which shows luminescent signal detected in fully formed VLPs. On the graph below the data shows that engineered Gag protein has been expressed in HEK293T cell line. Further on, based on this data, we have calculated the export to be in approx. 50% for transfection with as well as without adapter construct. With this, we report that Gag has successfully assembled into VLPs.

Figure 3:Secretion efficiency of exosome vesicles calculated from HiBiT-measurements. Loaded vesicles containing the adapter L7Ae as well as empty exosomes lacking the RNA binding protein (RBP) were secreted from HEK293T cells with efficiencies of more than 100 pmol HiBiT-equivalent. In contrast, control samples transfected with mock DNA did not show any secretion. Measurements were performed for n = 6 biological replicates in a 96-well format.

Affinity Purification

qPCR Analysis

Finally, the BioBrick Part we designed works as expected since chosen RNA information is successfully transported into VLPs through L7Ae-C/D box interaction. This has been proven through qPCR analysis of VLP content. FLuc mRNA is calculated with delta Ct analysis, where GAPDH housekeeping gene is used as background. Also taking cell confluency (70-80%) into account, we can calculate the accurate amount of Fluc RNA content/cell. On the graph below you can observe a 100-fold increase in FLuc signal/cell with our validated VLP BioBrick Part, compared to control. Furthermore, this part performs 20-fold better than a parallel construct used for exosomes.

Figure 6: FLuc mRNA detection in cells producing exosomes (blue) and VLPs (red). All cells transfected with FLuc mRNA show detectable expression levels inside cells, which was significantly higher than for untransfected mock controls. Measurements were performed in technical duplicates (n = 2) with EEJ primer. Quantification was done via ͍deltaCt method.

Sequence and Features

Assembly Compatibility:

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  Illegal BglII site found at 3019
  
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  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
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  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]
• 1000
  INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]

  Illegal BsaI.rc site found at 2319