Identification of improved signal peptides for heterologous expression in Saccharomyces using a screen that exploits Gaussia luciferase

Abstract A high-throughput and sensitive screen for the improved expression of gene targets in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is described that is based upon the activity of the luciferase from Gaussia princeps. Using the Unspecific Peroxygenase (UPO) from Agrocybe aegerita (AaeUPO) as a model protein, im...

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Main Authors: Ginevra Camboni, Jared Cartwright, Gideon Grogan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09669-6
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author Ginevra Camboni
Jared Cartwright
Gideon Grogan
author_facet Ginevra Camboni
Jared Cartwright
Gideon Grogan
author_sort Ginevra Camboni
collection DOAJ
description Abstract A high-throughput and sensitive screen for the improved expression of gene targets in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is described that is based upon the activity of the luciferase from Gaussia princeps. Using the Unspecific Peroxygenase (UPO) from Agrocybe aegerita (AaeUPO) as a model protein, improvements in expression, effected through error-prone PCR-based mutation within the signal peptide (SP) domain, can be detected using fusion of the target to Gaussia luciferase encoded downstream of the first folded domain of the AaeUPO protein and luminescent assay of expression supernatants. In this way, previously undiscovered mutations within the SP of AaeUPO that improve expression were revealed, and then applied to the expression of full-length AaeUPO in S. cerevisiae. The system was validated against control expression constructs that were well or poorly expressed and indicated a 13.9-fold improvement in expression for the best mutant over the wild-type SP sequence. It is envisaged that this protocol may be applied generally to the high-throughput detection of improved expression in S. cerevisiae for constructs that are engineered using directed evolution techniques.
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spelling doaj-art-21d2e12ed5d1400dabcbf8bec6b7a5fa2025-08-20T03:03:36ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-09669-6Identification of improved signal peptides for heterologous expression in Saccharomyces using a screen that exploits Gaussia luciferaseGinevra Camboni0Jared Cartwright1Gideon Grogan2Department of Chemistry, University of YorkDepartment of Biology, University of YorkDepartment of Chemistry, University of YorkAbstract A high-throughput and sensitive screen for the improved expression of gene targets in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is described that is based upon the activity of the luciferase from Gaussia princeps. Using the Unspecific Peroxygenase (UPO) from Agrocybe aegerita (AaeUPO) as a model protein, improvements in expression, effected through error-prone PCR-based mutation within the signal peptide (SP) domain, can be detected using fusion of the target to Gaussia luciferase encoded downstream of the first folded domain of the AaeUPO protein and luminescent assay of expression supernatants. In this way, previously undiscovered mutations within the SP of AaeUPO that improve expression were revealed, and then applied to the expression of full-length AaeUPO in S. cerevisiae. The system was validated against control expression constructs that were well or poorly expressed and indicated a 13.9-fold improvement in expression for the best mutant over the wild-type SP sequence. It is envisaged that this protocol may be applied generally to the high-throughput detection of improved expression in S. cerevisiae for constructs that are engineered using directed evolution techniques.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09669-6Komagataella phaffiiPichia pastorisGaussia luciferaseSignal peptideUnspecific peroxygenaseDirected evolution
spellingShingle Ginevra Camboni
Jared Cartwright
Gideon Grogan
Identification of improved signal peptides for heterologous expression in Saccharomyces using a screen that exploits Gaussia luciferase
Scientific Reports
Komagataella phaffii
Pichia pastoris
Gaussia luciferase
Signal peptide
Unspecific peroxygenase
Directed evolution
title Identification of improved signal peptides for heterologous expression in Saccharomyces using a screen that exploits Gaussia luciferase
title_full Identification of improved signal peptides for heterologous expression in Saccharomyces using a screen that exploits Gaussia luciferase
title_fullStr Identification of improved signal peptides for heterologous expression in Saccharomyces using a screen that exploits Gaussia luciferase
title_full_unstemmed Identification of improved signal peptides for heterologous expression in Saccharomyces using a screen that exploits Gaussia luciferase
title_short Identification of improved signal peptides for heterologous expression in Saccharomyces using a screen that exploits Gaussia luciferase
title_sort identification of improved signal peptides for heterologous expression in saccharomyces using a screen that exploits gaussia luciferase
topic Komagataella phaffii
Pichia pastoris
Gaussia luciferase
Signal peptide
Unspecific peroxygenase
Directed evolution
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09669-6
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