Putting on molecular weight
Enabling cryo-EM structure determination of sub-100-kDa proteins
Koen Wentinck (Student TU Delft)
C. Gogou (TU Delft - BN/Dimphna Meijer Lab, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)
D.H.M. Meijer (Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, TU Delft - BN/Dimphna Meijer Lab)
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Abstract
Significant advances in the past decade have enabled high-resolution structure determination of a vast variety of proteins by cryogenic electron microscopy single particle analysis. Despite improved sample preparation, next-generation imaging hardware, and advanced single particle analysis algorithms, small proteins remain elusive for reconstruction due to low signal-to-noise and lack of distinctive structural features. Multiple efforts have therefore been directed at the development of size-increase techniques for small proteins. Here we review the latest methods for increasing effective molecular weight of proteins <100 kDa through target protein binding or target protein fusion - specifically by using nanobody-based assemblies, fusion tags, and symmetric scaffolds. Finally, we summarize these state-of-the-art techniques into a decision-tree to facilitate the design of tailored future approaches, and thus for further exploration of ever-smaller proteins that make up the largest part of the human genome.
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