Highly stable Saccharomyces cerevisiae L-BC capsids with versatile packing potential

Area of Science:

• Nanobiotechnology
• Vaccine Development
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Virus-like particles (VLPs) are advanced nanoscaffolds with broad applications in vaccines and nanodelivery.
• VLP integrity is crucial for their successful application in nanobiotechnology.
• Production and functionalization of VLPs are key areas of research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the stability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae L-BC VLPs.
• To compare the stability of bacterial-derived versus yeast-derived L-BC VLPs.
• To assess the encapsulation capabilities of L-BC VLPs for functionalization.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and purification of L-BC VLPs from Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
• Stability testing of VLPs under varying ionic strength, pH, and temperature conditions.
• Encapsulation of red fluorescent protein mCherry via gene engineering and nisin via passive diffusion.

Main Results:

• L-BC VLPs exhibited significant size stability across a range of ionic strengths, pH levels, and magnesium ion concentrations up to 37°C.
• Yeast-derived VLPs demonstrated enhanced stability under acidic pH, high ionic strength, and elevated temperatures compared to bacteria-derived VLPs.
• Successful encapsulation of mCherry and nisin into L-BC VLPs was achieved, showcasing functionalization potential.

Conclusions:

• L-BC VLPs possess high long-term stability, making them suitable for nanodelivery systems.
• Yeast-derived L-BC VLPs offer superior thermal stability over bacterial-derived counterparts.
• These findings underscore the potential of L-BC VLPs as versatile nanodelivery platforms.