Accelerated Nucleation of Hydroxyapatite Using an Engineered Hydrophobin Fusion Protein

Biomacromolecules. 2016 May 9;17(5):1716-26. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b00135. Epub 2016 Apr 5.

Abstract

Calcium phosphate mineralization is of particular interest in dental repair. A biomimetic approach using proteins or peptides is a highly promising way to reconstruct eroded teeth. In this study, the screening of several proteins is described for their binding and nucleating activities toward hydroxyapatite. Out of 27 tested candidates, only two hydrophobin fusion proteins showed binding abilities to hydroxyapatite in a mouthwash formulation and an increased nucleation in artificial saliva. Using a semirational approach, one of the two candidates (DEWA_5), a fusion protein consisting of a truncated section of the Bacillus subtilis synthase YaaD, the Aspergillus nidulans hydrophobin DEWA, and the rationally designed peptide P11-4 described in the literature, could be further engineered toward a faster mineral formation. The variants DEWA_5a (40aaYaaD-SDSDSD-DEWA) and DEWA_5b (40aaYaaD-RDRDRD-DEWA) were able to enhance the nucleation activity without losing the ability to form hydroxyapatite. In the case of variant DEWA_5b, an additional increase in the binding toward hydroxyapatite could be achieved. Especially with the variant DEWA_5a, the protein engineering of the rationally designed peptide sequence resulted in a resemblance of an amino acid motif that is found in nature. The engineered peptide resembles the amino acid motif in dentin phosphoprotein, one of the major proteins involved in dentinogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Durapatite / chemistry
  • Durapatite / metabolism*
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism*
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Protein Engineering / methods*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism*
  • Saliva, Artificial / chemistry*
  • Sialoglycoproteins
  • Tooth / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DEWA protein, Asperigillus nidulans
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Saliva, Artificial
  • Sialoglycoproteins
  • dentin sialophosphoprotein
  • Durapatite