Enhanced productivity and functionality of Modified Ribosomally Produced Peptides (M-RIPPs)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of St Andrews
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Ribosomally Produced Peptides (RIPPs) are widely recognised as one of the most promising classes of compounds with the potential to treat many diseases including infection, cancer & inflammation. They are of great interest to the pharma industry, but are extremely costly to produce/modify - even in milligram amounts. Through the utilisation of cutting-edge techniques in combinatorial synthetic biology, this project sets out to achieve a world first; namely, to produce bespoke libraries of Modified RIPPs (M-RIPPs) in sufficient quantities to permit drug discovery screening. The project combines the fundamental knowledge of the natural processes involved in RIPP biosynthesis of the two premier UK academic groups active in the field with the applied expertise in industrial biosynthesis of a leading UK IB company. It will deliver a versatile yet robust technology platform for the production of M-RIPPs that will be transferred to a spinoff company to be formed around 18 months after project start.
Technical Summary
Ribosomally Produced Peptides (RIPPs) as a biosynthetic class contains many different families such as the cyanobactins, lanthipeptides, proteusins and lasso peptides amongst others. They have a range of biological activities and have a common biosynthesis in which a the core peptide, a small sequences within a larger precursor peptide is modified by tailoring enzymes. The modified core peptide is freed from the leader and additional signal sequences and often undergoes further modification (macrocycle formation, heterocycle oxidation, O/N prenylation) to produce the final modified peptide. The common RIPP biosynthetic pathway indicates that it should be possible to apply multiple types of chemical tailoring from different RIPP families to core peptides, thus generating hybrid molecules with features from multiple RIPPs. This project aims to generate such modified RIPPs (M-RIPPS) and overcome several barriers to their scaleable production. We will incorporate modifications common in cyanobactins (heterocycles, macrocycles, O/N prenylation), lanthipeptides (lanthionine and labionin bridges) and lass peptides. We will use this methodology to generate libraries of unique compounds with novel bioactivities. To assist with M-RIPPS that may not be producible using standard expression systems, we will also use one alternative expression system. We will scale up production to 1-3 L scale and improve downstream processing using a variety of methods, including the incorporation of a cyclic peptide exporter in the producing cells and cultivating them in a biphasic system to allow easy compound extraction and subsequent purification. The final step is technical marketing in consultation with big Pharma with a view to establishing a spinoff company based on this technology.
Planned Impact
As described in proposal submitted to IUK
People |
ORCID iD |
James Naismith (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Gao S
(2018)
Oxidation of the Cyanobactin Precursor Peptide Is Independent of the Leader Peptide and Operates in a Defined Order.
in Biochemistry
Oueis E
(2017)
Synthesis of Hybrid Cyclopeptides through Enzymatic Macrocyclization.
in ChemistryOpen
Oueis E
(2016)
Enzymatic Macrocyclization of 1,2,3-Triazole Peptide Mimetics.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Description | We have crystallised several new macrocyclase enzymes and are beinning to understand ring size control. We transferred this grant from St Andrews to Oxford. We completed the work in Oxford. We have also made hybrid macrocycles with un-natural amino acids.We have made hydrid molecules |
Exploitation Route | Yes they could serve as new start points for drugs. We have formed a company, GyreOx. |
Sectors | Chemicals Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | They are being used by our commercial partner Ingenza in their products. We are taking forward this work in our company, GyreOx for which we are seeking funding. |
First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
Sector | Healthcare |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | Ingenza |
Organisation | Ingenza Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Our task was to improve the macrocyclisation of peptides. Having identified the enzymes we modified their behaviour in order for them to work on more chemically relevant problems. |
Collaborator Contribution | Ingenza were able to construct polycistronic sequences with individual genes under the control of different promoters. This enabled the organisms |
Impact | We created new technology for macrocyclising peptides |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Primary school visit toHamilton |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | I spent a whole day with primary school children conducting science experiments. The initial focus was for children with special educational needs. The visit was carried at St John Primary School in Hamilton. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Schools open day at Harwelll |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The purpose is to showcase the work of the Harwell campus to regional school children. Each year we run this event changing the focus slightly. Pupils get hands on experiments, tours and talks. It is a very popular event for which we have to ration attendance. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
Description | Visit to local School (Newbury) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | I spoke with prospective A level students about chemical biology and enzymes as part of their course choice. This was a chance for them to see chemistry in a more rounded way than taught at school. Around 12 to 20 pupils attended. I showed them how to use the web to look at enzymes and talked through mechanism. A show of hands indicated an increased interest in studying chemistry and an appreciation of its role in biology. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |