HypE-specific nanobodies as tools to modulate HypE-mediated target AMPylation

The covalent addition of mono-AMP to target proteins (AMPylation) by Fic domain-containing proteins is a poorly understood, yet highly conserved post-translational modification. Here, we describe the generation, evaluation, and application of four HypE-specific nanobodies: three that inhibit HypE-mediated target AMPylation in vitro and one that acts as an activator. All heavy chain-only antibody variable domains bind HypE when expressed as GFP fusions in intact cells. We observed localization of HypE at the nuclear envelope and further identified histones H2-H4, but not H1, as novel in vitro targets of the human Fic protein. Its role in histone modification provides a possible link between AMPylation and regulation of gene expression.