Cryo-EM structure determination of small proteins by nanobody-binding scaffolds (Legobodies).

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Source:

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Volume 118, Issue 41 (2021)

Keywords:

Binding Sites, COVID-19, Cryoelectron Microscopy, HEK293 Cells, Humans, Models, Molecular, Protein Binding, Protein Domains, SARS-CoV-2, Single-Domain Antibodies, Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus

Abstract:

<p>We describe a general method that allows structure determination of small proteins by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The method is based on the availability of a target-binding nanobody, which is then rigidly attached to two scaffolds: 1) a Fab fragment of an antibody directed against the nanobody and 2) a nanobody-binding protein A fragment fused to maltose binding protein and Fab-binding domains. The overall ensemble of &sim;120 kDa, called Legobody, does not perturb the nanobody-target interaction, is easily recognizable in EM images due to its unique shape, and facilitates particle alignment in cryo-EM image processing. The utility of the method is demonstrated for the KDEL receptor, a 23-kDa membrane protein, resulting in a map at 3.2-Å overall resolution with density sufficient for de novo model building, and for the 22-kDa receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, resulting in a map at 3.6-Å resolution that allows analysis of the binding interface to the nanobody. The Legobody approach thus overcomes the current size limitations of cryo-EM analysis.</p>

PDB: 
7R9D
Detector: 
PILATUS
Beamline: 
24-ID-E