Publications by authors named "Zhigang Qian"
Article Synopsis
- Biomolecular condensates are specialized structures within cells that can change their material states, but current methods to control these states are limited.
- This research introduces a chemical method using a noncanonical amino acid (DOPA) to manipulate the state of intrinsically disordered proteins in bacterial cells.
- The study demonstrates that these modifications lead to the formation of gel-like condensates through phase separation, shedding light on biomolecular condensation and presenting new opportunities for exploring cellular behaviors.
IL-33 and its receptor ST2 play crucial roles in tissue repair and homeostasis. However, their involvement in optic neuropathy due to trauma and glaucoma remains unclear. Here, we report that IL-33 and ST2 were highly expressed in the mouse optic nerve and retina.
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- Biomolecular condensates are dynamic, membrane-less structures in eukaryotic cells that organize cellular functions, but such organization has not been observed in prokaryotic cells, which lack organelles.
- The study develops a light-activated condensate system in prokaryotic cells, utilizing genetically engineered proteins that respond to blue light for quick and reversible cargo organization.
- This system effectively controls the location of a cell division inhibitor, enabling adjustable cell shapes and offering a novel method to manipulate cellular processes in prokaryotes using light.
Interleukin-33 (IL-33), secreted by astrocytes, regulates the synapse development in the spinal cord and hippocampus and suppresses autoimmune disease in the central nervous system (CNS). However, the mechanism of unconventional protein secretion of this cytokine remains unclear. In this study, we found that IFN-γ promotes the active secretion of IL-33 from astrocytes, and the active secretion of IL-33 from cytoplasm to extracellular space was dependent on interaction with transmembrane emp24 domain 10 (TMED10) via the IL-1 like cytokine domain in astrocytes.
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- Spider dragline silk is a strong and elastic natural fiber, and its fiber assembly is influenced by how spidroin molecules preassemble before becoming fibers.
- Researchers designed three silk protein variants with different numbers of alanine residues in their repeated structures to study their preassembly in solutions.
- The variant with 8 alanine residues (N15C-8A) formed stable fibrils, leading to the creation of durable synthetic fibers with impressive strength and toughness.
Designer protein compartments for microbial metabolic engineering.
Curr Opin Biotechnol
February 2024
Article Synopsis
- Protein compartments are specialized structures in cells formed by proteins that can self-assemble or separate into different phases, playing crucial roles in regulating cellular metabolism.
- This review focuses on creating synthetic protein compartments to organize specific metabolic pathways, improving efficiency and specificity in those reactions.
- It also discusses strategies for speeding up desired reactions, minimizing toxic byproducts, and switching competing pathways, while highlighting the key challenges faced in utilizing these synthetic compartments for metabolic reprogramming.
Article Synopsis
- - The text discusses the development of innovative soft robots designed for dynamic tasks in water, utilizing unique protein materials for flexible adhesion.
- - It describes how these robots are made from resilient hydrogels that can quickly change from sticky to non-sticky based on temperature changes, incorporating FeO nanoparticles for added control.
- - The potential applications highlighted include repairing artificial blood vessels and transporting various items in water, controlled by infrared light and magnetic fields, showcasing new functionalities for underwater robotics.
IL-33 and HMGB1 modulate the progression of EAE via oppositely regulating each other.
Int Immunopharmacol
September 2023
Interleukin-33 (IL-33) and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) have been reported to play crucial and distinct roles in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, little is known about their interaction in the progression of EAE. In this study, the dynamic expression and release of IL-33 and HMGB1 in different stages of EAE in vivo, and their interaction in vitro were explored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe foliar loss of pesticides causes serious utilization decline and environmental risk. On the basis of biomimetics, pesticide-loaded microcapsules (MCs) with spontaneous deformation on foliar micro/nanostructures, like the snail suction cup, are prepared by interfacial polymerization. By controlling the usage or types of small alcohols in the MC preparation system, the flexibility of MCs is tunable.
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- DOPA (3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine) is a unique amino acid that enhances protein polymers with new functionalities, but incorporating it efficiently into proteins has been challenging, limiting its application in biomaterials.
- This study presents a novel biosynthetic approach that successfully produces large amounts of DOPA-incorporated structural proteins, achieving a high incorporation yield and allowing for the creation of hydrogels with adjustable mechanical properties.
- The resulting hydrogels demonstrated promising characteristics such as self-healing and viscoelasticity, with their properties being influenced by DOPA content and the structure of the proteins, providing valuable insights into DOPA-based gelation systems.
IL-33 Contributes to the Pathological Changes of Hair Follicles in Psoriasis: A Potential Target for Psoriatic Alopecia.
Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol
March 2023
Purpose: IL-33 is constitutively expressed in skin tissues. Alopecia, a T cells-driven disorder of the hair follicles (HFs), is a common complication in the development of psoriasis. However, the role of IL-33 in psoriatic alopecia remains uncovered.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlucansucrase was purified from . The glucansucrase exhibited maximum activity at pH 5.5 and 30 °C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSynthetic biology-guided design and biosynthesis of protein polymers for delivery.
Adv Drug Deliv Rev
March 2023
Article Synopsis
- Genetically engineered protein polymers are gaining popularity in biomedical engineering for their customizable design, strong compatibility with biological systems, and ability to break down naturally.
- The article discusses the current strategies for creating repetitive genes that code for these protein polymers, focusing on synthetic biology techniques.
- It also highlights advanced methods for engineering host organisms to produce these polymers efficiently, and presents examples of how these proteins are used to create delivery vehicles in medical applications.
Article Synopsis
- Protein condensates are specialized structures that form in cells, concentrating molecules through a process called phase separation, which plays a crucial role in regulating cellular functions.
- Recent research has improved our understanding of these condensates, including their composition and how they form, opening up possibilities for engineered applications in biological systems.
- The review emphasizes advancements in designing and manipulating these protein-based structures, leading to the potential creation of new organelle-like structures that can significantly enhance synthetic biology efforts.
Spatially Directed Biosynthesis of Quantum Dots via Spidroin Templating in Escherichia coli.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl
December 2022
Article Synopsis
- Researchers explored how to synthesize quantum dots (QDs) using biomolecular condensates in Escherichia coli, which are membraneless cell compartments.
- They achieved this by overexpressing spider silk protein, allowing it to bind precursor ions and form specific structures, leading to the creation of protein condensates.
- This innovative method not only produced fluorescent QDs but also reduced the harmful effects of precursor heavy metals, suggesting promising applications for nanostructure synthesis inside cells.
Dual role of injectable curcumin-loaded microgels for efficient repair of osteoarthritic cartilage injury.
Front Bioeng Biotechnol
September 2022
Curcumin has been widely used for the treatment of age-associated diseases, and showed chondroprotective potential for post-traumatic osteoarthritis (OA). However, due to the irregular-shaped and large-sized defects on joint cartilage in degenerated OA, the delivery and therapeutic effect of curcumin for effective repair remain challenging. In this study, we first present a PEG-GelMA [Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Dimethacrylate-Gelatin Methacrylate, PGMs] hydrogel microgel-based curcumin delivery system for both improved anti-inflammatory and pro-regenerative effects in treatment for cartilage defects.
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- Spider dragline silk is an exceptionally strong protein fiber better than most materials, and creating a sustainable source isn't practical, so scientists are exploring synthetic versions with similar properties and new functions.
- Researchers have developed a method to enhance these recombinant silk fibers by incorporating nanoparticles into them, resulting in fibers with better strength and unique properties, such as a significant photothermal effect.
- The new fibers not only outperformed natural spider silk in toughness but also offered improved ultraviolet protection, indicating their potential for various high-performance applications.
Article Synopsis
- Research has advanced in thermosensitive protein hydrogels, but controlling their thermal transitions is still difficult due to complex protein structures and interactions.
- The study utilizes a genetic fusion strategy to modify the thermal properties of a spider silk protein, allowing better regulation of its transitions at body temperatures through added bonding interactions.
- The newly created hydrogels show potential for use in preserving and delivering cells, highlighting their applications in biotechnology and cell storage solutions.
Article Synopsis
- The native extracellular matrix's stiffness and fibrous structure are crucial for influencing cell behavior, but replicating these in lab-made hydrogels is challenging.
- This study introduces two types of fibrous and porous hydrogels made from engineered protein polymers that have adjustable stiffness and explores their effects on bone marrow stem cells.
- Results show that increasing stiffness enhances stem cell growth and differentiation, with fibrous hydrogels being more effective; the study also identifies a key role for stiffness and fibrous structure in activating the YAP protein, which is important for endothelial differentiation.
Article Synopsis
- Spider dragline silk is a unique and tough fiber made from proteins called spidroins secreted by spiders, which has led to efforts to produce similar synthetic fibers using microbes.
- Researchers engineered a type of bacteria, Corynebacterium glutamicum, to efficiently secrete a model spidroin, MaSpI16, improving its production and purity significantly.
- The techniques developed not only yield the desired spidroin abundantly but also allow for the creation of strong synthetic fibers, indicating a promising sustainable method for producing valuable fibrous materials.
Background: Current treatments of osteoarthritis are unsatisfied, a new approach towards the treatment of osteoarthritis is urged considering the state at present.
Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of fraxin on knee OA in a rat model and probe into the possible molecular mechanism.
Methods: Primary Murine Chondrocytes were isolated and cell apoptosis analyses were performed.
Article Synopsis
- Electron beam lithography (EBL) is capable of producing high-resolution nanostructures but struggles with creating arbitrary 3D shapes.
- This study introduces a new technique using genetically engineered spider silk proteins as a resist material, allowing for the fabrication of 3D nanostructures with resolutions below 15 nm.
- The method allows for embedding various functions within these structures, paving the way for advances in fields like biomimetics, therapeutic devices, and nanoscale robotics.
Article Synopsis
- Spider dragline silk is made from specialized proteins called spidroins, which have a complex structure that allows them to assemble into strong fibers at tiny scales.
- Researchers created a synthetic version of spider silk (N16C) by including both the amino- and carboxy-terminal domains, which are crucial for forming stable fibril-like structures.
- The presence of these terminal domains led to the production of robust synthetic fibers that are similar in toughness to natural spider silk, while proteins missing these domains resulted in weaker fibers.
Article Synopsis
- Rubberlike protein hydrogels are stretchy and resilient but often lack strength due to disorganized protein chains, limiting their use.
- The text proposes a novel strategy using engineered protein copolymers that combine photo-cross-linkable resilin-like blocks with fibrillizable silklike blocks to enhance the strength of these hydrogels.
- This method allows for controlled fibrillization and reinforcement at both the supramolecular and material levels, resulting in stronger hydrogels suitable for applications like piezoresistive sensors that can detect a wider range of pressure.
Article Synopsis
- - Membraneless organelles, typically seen in eukaryotes, have been successfully created in prokaryotic E. coli through the overexpression of disordered proteins like spider silk and resilin.
- - These organelles form via liquid-liquid phase separation, and experiments mimicking the crowded E. coli environment demonstrated their formation.
- - The study showed that these condensates can be engineered to localize specific proteins, allowing them to function as artificial organelles capable of fluorescing and facilitating biochemical reactions, opening new avenues in synthetic biology.