Phage display and selection of lanthipeptides on the carboxy-terminus of the gene-3 minor coat protein

Nat Commun. 2017 Nov 15;8(1):1500. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-01413-7.

Abstract

Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are an emerging class of natural products with drug-like properties. To fully exploit the potential of RiPPs as peptide drug candidates, tools for their systematic engineering are required. Here we report the engineering of lanthipeptides, a subclass of RiPPs characterized by multiple thioether cycles that are enzymatically introduced in a regio- and stereospecific manner, by phage display. This was achieved by heterologous co-expression of linear lanthipeptide precursors fused to the widely neglected C-terminus of the bacteriophage M13 minor coat protein pIII, rather than the conventionally used N-terminus, along with the modifying enzymes from distantly related bacteria. We observe that C-terminal precursor peptide fusions to pIII are enzymatically modified in the cytoplasm of the producing cell and subsequently displayed as mature cyclic peptides on the phage surface. Biopanning of large C-terminal display libraries readily identifies artificial lanthipeptide ligands specific to urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and streptavidin.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacteriophage M13 / genetics*
  • Bacteriophage M13 / metabolism
  • Capsid Proteins / chemistry
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics*
  • Capsid Proteins / metabolism
  • Models, Genetic
  • Peptide Library*
  • Peptides / genetics*
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • Peptide Library
  • Peptides
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • coat protein, Bacteriophage M13