Combining machine learning with structure-based protein design to predict and engineer post-translational modifications of proteins.

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins play a vital role in their function and stability. These modifications influence protein folding, signaling, protein-protein interactions, enzyme activity, binding affinity, aggregation, degradation, and much more. To date, over 400 types of PTMs h...

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Main Authors: Moritz Ertelt, Vikram Khipple Mulligan, Jack B Maguire, Sergey Lyskov, Rocco Moretti, Torben Schiffner, Jens Meiler, Clara T Schoeder
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-03-01
Series:PLoS Computational Biology
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011939&type=printable
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author Moritz Ertelt
Vikram Khipple Mulligan
Jack B Maguire
Sergey Lyskov
Rocco Moretti
Torben Schiffner
Jens Meiler
Clara T Schoeder
author_facet Moritz Ertelt
Vikram Khipple Mulligan
Jack B Maguire
Sergey Lyskov
Rocco Moretti
Torben Schiffner
Jens Meiler
Clara T Schoeder
author_sort Moritz Ertelt
collection DOAJ
description Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins play a vital role in their function and stability. These modifications influence protein folding, signaling, protein-protein interactions, enzyme activity, binding affinity, aggregation, degradation, and much more. To date, over 400 types of PTMs have been described, representing chemical diversity well beyond the genetically encoded amino acids. Such modifications pose a challenge to the successful design of proteins, but also represent a major opportunity to diversify the protein engineering toolbox. To this end, we first trained artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict eighteen of the most abundant PTMs, including protein glycosylation, phosphorylation, methylation, and deamidation. In a second step, these models were implemented inside the computational protein modeling suite Rosetta, which allows flexible combination with existing protocols to model the modified sites and understand their impact on protein stability as well as function. Lastly, we developed a new design protocol that either maximizes or minimizes the predicted probability of a particular site being modified. We find that this combination of ANN prediction and structure-based design can enable the modification of existing, as well as the introduction of novel, PTMs. The potential applications of our work include, but are not limited to, glycan masking of epitopes, strengthening protein-protein interactions through phosphorylation, as well as protecting proteins from deamidation liabilities. These applications are especially important for the design of new protein therapeutics where PTMs can drastically change the therapeutic properties of a protein. Our work adds novel tools to Rosetta's protein engineering toolbox that allow for the rational design of PTMs.
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spelling doaj-art-77e6f2dca787462c97d0b815eb05045b2025-08-20T02:14:01ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Computational Biology1553-734X1553-73582024-03-01203e101193910.1371/journal.pcbi.1011939Combining machine learning with structure-based protein design to predict and engineer post-translational modifications of proteins.Moritz ErteltVikram Khipple MulliganJack B MaguireSergey LyskovRocco MorettiTorben SchiffnerJens MeilerClara T SchoederPost-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins play a vital role in their function and stability. These modifications influence protein folding, signaling, protein-protein interactions, enzyme activity, binding affinity, aggregation, degradation, and much more. To date, over 400 types of PTMs have been described, representing chemical diversity well beyond the genetically encoded amino acids. Such modifications pose a challenge to the successful design of proteins, but also represent a major opportunity to diversify the protein engineering toolbox. To this end, we first trained artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict eighteen of the most abundant PTMs, including protein glycosylation, phosphorylation, methylation, and deamidation. In a second step, these models were implemented inside the computational protein modeling suite Rosetta, which allows flexible combination with existing protocols to model the modified sites and understand their impact on protein stability as well as function. Lastly, we developed a new design protocol that either maximizes or minimizes the predicted probability of a particular site being modified. We find that this combination of ANN prediction and structure-based design can enable the modification of existing, as well as the introduction of novel, PTMs. The potential applications of our work include, but are not limited to, glycan masking of epitopes, strengthening protein-protein interactions through phosphorylation, as well as protecting proteins from deamidation liabilities. These applications are especially important for the design of new protein therapeutics where PTMs can drastically change the therapeutic properties of a protein. Our work adds novel tools to Rosetta's protein engineering toolbox that allow for the rational design of PTMs.https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011939&type=printable
spellingShingle Moritz Ertelt
Vikram Khipple Mulligan
Jack B Maguire
Sergey Lyskov
Rocco Moretti
Torben Schiffner
Jens Meiler
Clara T Schoeder
Combining machine learning with structure-based protein design to predict and engineer post-translational modifications of proteins.
PLoS Computational Biology
title Combining machine learning with structure-based protein design to predict and engineer post-translational modifications of proteins.
title_full Combining machine learning with structure-based protein design to predict and engineer post-translational modifications of proteins.
title_fullStr Combining machine learning with structure-based protein design to predict and engineer post-translational modifications of proteins.
title_full_unstemmed Combining machine learning with structure-based protein design to predict and engineer post-translational modifications of proteins.
title_short Combining machine learning with structure-based protein design to predict and engineer post-translational modifications of proteins.
title_sort combining machine learning with structure based protein design to predict and engineer post translational modifications of proteins
url https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011939&type=printable
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