Increased production of human proinsulin in the periplasmic space of Escherichia coli by fusion to DsbA

The production of human proinsulin in its disulfide-intact, native form in Escherichia coli requires disulfide bond formation and the periplasmic space is the favourable compartment for oxidative folding. However, the secretory expression of proinsulin is limited by its high susceptibility to proteolysis and by disulfide bond formation, which is rate-limiting for proinsulin folding. In this report we describe a method for the production of high amounts of soluble, native human proinsulin in E. coli. We fused proinsulin to the C-terminus of the periplasmic disulfide oxidoreductase DsbA via a trypsin cleavage site. As DsbA is the main catalyst of disulfide bond formation in E. coli, we expected increased yields of proinsulin by intra- or intermolecular catalysis of disulfide bond formation. In the context of the fusion protein, proinsulin was found to be stabilised, probably due to an increased solubility and faster disulfide bond formation. To increase the yield of DsbA-proinsulin in the periplasm, several parameters were optimised, including host strains and cultivation conditions, and in particular growth medium composition and supplement of low molecular weight additives. We obtained a further, about three-fold increase in the amount of native DsbA-proinsulin by addition of L-arginine or ethanol to the culture medium. The maximum yield of native human proinsulin obtained from the soluble periplasmic fraction after specific cleavage of the fusion protein with trypsin was 9.2 mg g(-1), corresponding to 1.8% of the total cell protein.     

A novel fusion protein system for the production of native human pepsinogen in the bacterial periplasm

Human pepsinogen is the secreted inactive precursor of pepsin. Under the acidic conditions present in the stomach it is autocatalytically cleaved into the active protease. Pepsinogen contains three consecutive disulfides, and was used here as a model protein to investigate the production of aspartic proteases in the Escherichia coli periplasm. Various N-terminal translocation signals were applied and several different expression vectors were tested. After fusion to pelB, dsbA or ompT signal peptides no recombinant product could be obtained in the periplasm using the T7 promoter. As a new approach, human pepsinogen was fused to E. coli ecotin (E. coli trypsin inhibitor), which is a periplasmic homodimeric protein of 142 amino acids per monomer containing one disulfide bridge. The fusion protein was expressed in pTrc99a. After induction, the ecotin-pepsinogen fusion protein was translocated into the periplasm and the ecotin signal peptide was cleaved. Upon acid treatment, the fusion protein was converted into pepsin, indicating that pepsinogen was produced in its native form. In shake flasks experiments, the amount of active fusion protein present in the periplasm was 100 microg per litre OD 1, corresponding to 70 microg pepsinogen. After large scale cultivation, the fusion protein was isolated from the periplasmic extract. It was purified to homogeneity with a yield of 20%. The purified protein was native. Acid-induced activation of the fusion protein proceeded very fast. As soon as pepsin was present, the ecotin part of the fusion protein was rapidly digested, followed by a further activation of pepsinogen.     

IL-1023-57-PE40分泌表达的初步研究

将IL-1023-57-PE40基因与pelB信号肽融合置于pET-20b构建分泌表达质粒pET-20b-IL-1023-57-PE40,然后将pET-20b-IL-1023-57-PE40分别转化至BL21(DE3),BL21(DE3)pLysS,Rosetta(DE3),E·coliK12TB1,ER2566中。无论是在37℃或是在26℃,亦或在培养基中添加葡萄糖的情况下,IPTG诱导后,IL-1023-57-PE40蛋白只在BL21(DE3)pLysS菌中以可溶分泌形式表达,其中以37℃时培养基中不添加葡萄糖表达量为最高,占菌体蛋白总量的15%,说明蛋白的分泌表达与菌种的选择有关。表达产物经免疫印记检测可被抗PE40的特异抗体识别。通过质粒稳定性实验证明,pET-20b-IL-1023-57-PE40在BL21(DE3)中不稳定,导致蛋白的不表达,在Rosetta(DE3)BL21,E·coliK12TB1,ER2566中稳定但不表达,因此,以Rosetta(DE3)BL21为例,通过SDS-PAGE、DNAStar和ANThewin蛋白分析软件对本室构建的几种PE重组毒素进行比较分析,我们发现:并不是所有PE重组毒素融合信号肽序列后,就能分泌表达,PE重组毒素分泌表达还可能与导向部分的性质有关。     

Evaluation of bottlenecks in proinsulin secretion by Escherichia coli

This work evaluates three potential bottlenecks in recombinant human proinsulin secretion by Escherichia coli: protein stability, secretion capacity and the effect of molecular size on secretion efficiency. A maximum secretion level of 7.2 mg g(-1) dry cell weight was obtained in the periplasm of E. coli JM109(DE3) host cells. This value probably represents an upper limit in the transport capacity of E. coli cells secreting ZZ-proinsulin and similar proteins with the protein A signal peptide. A selective deletion study was performed in the fusion partner and no effect of the molecular size (17-24 kDa) was detected on secretion efficiency. The protective effect against proteolysis provided by the ZZ domain was thoroughly demonstrated in the periplasm of E. coli and it was also shown that a single Z domain is able to provide the same protection level without compromising the downstream processing. The use of this shorter fusion partner enables a 1.6-fold increase in the recovery of the target protein after cleavage of the affinity handle.     

Improved expression characteristics of single-chain Fv fragments when fused downstream of the Escherichia coli maltose-binding protein or upstream of a single immunoglobulin-constant domain

The expression of single-chain Fv fragments (scFv) targeted to the periplasm of Escherichia coli often results in very low yields of soluble protein frequently accompanied by host cell growth arrest and sometimes lysis. Single-chain antibody fragments (scAb) are scFv with a human kappa light chain constant (HuCkappa) domain attached C-terminally and share similar problems of expression. By fusing the E. coli maltose-binding protein (mbp) gene either 3' or 5' to a scAb specific for the herbicide atrazine, a reduction in growth arrest was observed that was dependent on the order of gene fusion. The scAb-mbp fusion delayed the onset of growth arrest following induction while the mbp-scAb fusion appeared to ablate growth arrest completely. Cell fractionation revealed barely detectable levels of scAb-mbp in the periplasm while mbp-scAb was detected at equivalent levels as scAb in the periplasmic compartment, indicating that periplasmic scAb solubility is unrelated to propensity to cause growth arrest. IMAC purification of scAb and mbp-scAb proteins followed by liquid competition ELISA revealed the IC(50) for atrazine to be approximately 1 nM for both proteins demonstrating that 5'-mbp fusion does not alter antigen binding. The equivalent scFv and mbp-scFv vectors expressed far less material in both periplasmic and insoluble fractions indicating that the HuCkappa domain can have a positive effect on scFv expression when expressed either alone or as a mbp fusion. The ablation of growth arrest by a 5'-mbp fusion and enhancement of expression by a 3'-HuCkappa domain fusion were extended to a second scFv specific for the herbicide diuron. Therefore, by expressing scFv as tripartite fusions (mbp-scFv-HuCkappa) enhanced levels of soluble periplasmic expression can be achieved without causing growth arrest of the host cell, realizing the potential for constitutive expression of hapten-binding scFv in the E. coli periplasm.     

一种新型融合蛋白(RGD)3/tTF的基因表达与活性分析

为了发展一种新型的融合蛋白(RGD)3/tTF用于肿瘤血管的选择性栓塞治疗,利用PCR技术重组(RGD)3/tTF融合基因,克隆于pET22b( )载体,表达于E.coliBL21(DE3)。用镍柱纯化融合蛋白。凝血实验与FⅩ活化实验检测融合蛋白tTF组分的活性。间接ELISA分析(RGD)3/tTF与αvβ3的特异结合能力。pET22b( )/(RGD)3/tTF重组质粒成功获得并表达于E.coliBL21(DE3)。纯化蛋白(RGD)3/tTF能有效诱发血液凝固,活化FⅩ。(RGD)3/tTF与αvβ3的特异结合能力比RGD/tTF提高了32%。新型融合蛋白(RGD)3/tTF已在E.coli系统成功表达,表达蛋白保持tTF的活性并显示比RGD/tTF更高的与αvβ3的结合能力。     

MacAB is involved in the secretion of Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin II

The heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) produced by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli is an extracellular peptide toxin that evokes watery diarrhea in the host. Two types of STs, STI and STII, have been found. Both STs are synthesized as precursor proteins and are then converted to the active forms with intramolecular disulfide bonds after being released into the periplasm. The active STs are finally translocated across the outer membrane through a tunnel made by TolC. However, it is unclear how the active STs formed in the periplasm are led to the TolC channel. Several transporters in the inner membrane and their periplasmic accessory proteins are known to combine with TolC and form a tripartite transport system. We therefore expect such transporters to also act as a partner with TolC to export STs from the periplasm to the exterior. In this study, we carried out pulse-chase experiments using E. coli BL21(DE3) mutants in which various transporter genes (acrAB, acrEF, emrAB, emrKY, mdtEF, macAB, and yojHI) had been knocked out and analyzed the secretion of STs in those strains. The results revealed that the extracellular secretion of STII was largely decreased in the macAB mutant and the toxin molecules were accumulated in the periplasm, although the secretion of STI was not affected in any mutant used in this study. The periplasmic stagnation of STII in the macAB mutant was restored by the introduction of pACYC184, containing the macAB gene, into the cell. These results indicate that MacAB, an ATP-binding cassette transporter of MacB and its accessory protein, MacA, participates in the translocation of STII from the periplasm to the exterior. Since it has been reported that MacAB cooperates with TolC, we propose that the MacAB-TolC system captures the periplasmic STII molecules and exports the toxin molecules to the exterior.     

Stabilization of recombinant proteins from proteolytic degradation in Escherichia coli using a dual affinity fusion strategy.

A dual affinity fusion approach has been used to study the expression and secretion of labile recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli. Here we show that three small eukaryotic proteins (human proinsulin, a thioredoxin homologous domain of rat protein disulfide isomerase, and the extracellular domain of the alpha 1.2-chain of a human T-cell receptor) are stabilized in vivo using a dual affinity fusion strategy, where the gene encoding the desired product is fused between two genes encoding two different affinity domains. Relatively high yields of full-length product were obtained for all three proteins as compared to when fused to a single fusion partner. Despite the use of a signal peptide, significant amounts of the disulfide protein isomerase and T-cell receptor gene products were maintained in the cytoplasm, while the proinsulin fusion was efficiently secreted to the periplasm. Interestingly, the E. coli heat shock proteins DnaK and GroEL were associated with the fusion proteins isolated from the cytoplasm.     

Expression of human cardiac-specific homeobox protein in Escherichia coli

Human cardiac-specific homeobox protein cDNA (hCsx) was cloned into expression plasmid pET32a and fused with Escherichia coli thioredoxin (Trx). The Trx-Csx fusion protein was under the control of bacteriophage T7 promoter. When expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3), about half of the recombinant Trx-Csx products existed in the form of insoluble inclusion bodies. When coexpressed with human protein disulfide isomerase, more than 90% of Trx-Csx products accumulated in the soluble form in the cell lysate. The recombinant Csx fusion protein was purified by one-step metal-chelating affinity chromatography.     

还原酶缺陷型大肠杆菌对重组蛋白溶解性的影响

探讨大肠杆菌细胞质氧化还原环境对重组蛋白溶解性的影响。选择含有1对二硫键的牛碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（BbFGF）作为简单蛋白的模式分子,选择含有2对二硫键的人抗HBsAg单链抗体（HBscFv）作为复杂蛋白的模式分子,分别构建表达质粒并转化普通宿主菌和还原酶缺陷型宿主菌E. coli Origami(DE3),比较表达产物的溶解性和纯化产物的活性。结果发现,BbFGF在普通宿主菌中大部分形成包涵体,在Origami(DE3)中为可溶性表达,但表达量降低。两种工程菌的表达产物经离子交换和肝素亲和层析两步纯化后,MTT法测定活性,发现来自还原酶缺陷型宿主菌的BbFGF活性高于普通宿主菌表达产物,二者的ED₅₀分别是1.6 ng/mL和2.2 ng/mL;HBscFv在两种宿主菌中均形成包涵体,包涵体以6 mol/L盐酸胍缓冲液溶解后,镍离子螯合亲和层析纯化并透析复性,间接ELISA测定抗原结合活性,发现二者活性无明显差异,但在Origami(DE3)菌体破碎后的的上清中可检测到HBscFv活性,纯化后产量为1～2 mg/L,而在普通宿主菌破碎后的上清中检测不到HBscFv活性。上述结果说明,改变宿主菌细胞质氧化还原环境对于含有1～2对二硫键的重组蛋白的可溶性表达具有明显促进作用。     

Sumo分子伴侣与富含二硫键的抗真菌肽Drs基因的融合有助于其可溶性表达

利用PCR引物延伸的方法合成了分子伴侣Sumo和抗真菌肽Drosomycin的融合基因,将其插入到表达载体pET-3c中,构建出重组表达质粒pET-3c-SD,并转化至大肠杆茵BL21(DE3)中。筛选重组转化子,进行表达条件的优化和表达产物的可溶性分析。结果表明在30℃条件下,用0.5mM IPTG诱导3h 后,目的蛋白表达量最高,约占菌体总蛋白的22％,其中可溶性蛋白超过了目的蛋白的80%。经过Ni-NTA纯化后,融合蛋白的纯度可达95％以上。抑菌实验表明,该融合蛋白对白僵菌（Beauveria bassiana）具有一定的抑真菌活性。本研究证实了使用分子伴侣Sumo融合表达对具有多个二硫键的小分子多肽的表达是非常有效的。     

The nonconsecutive disulfide bond of Escherichia coli phytase (AppA) renders it dependent on the protein-disulfide isomerase, DsbC

The formation of protein disulfide bonds in the Escherichia coli periplasm by the enzyme DsbA is an inaccurate process. Many eukaryotic proteins with nonconsecutive disulfide bonds expressed in E. coli require an additional protein for proper folding, the disulfide bond isomerase DsbC. Here we report studies on a native E. coli periplasmic acid phosphatase, phytase (AppA), which contains three consecutive and one nonconsecutive disulfide bonds. We show that AppA requires DsbC for its folding. However, the activity of an AppA mutant lacking its nonconsecutive disulfide bond is DsbC-independent. An AppA homolog, Agp, a periplasmic acid phosphatase with similar structure, lacks the nonconsecutive disulfide bond but has the three consecutive disulfide bonds found in AppA. The consecutively disulfide-bonded Agp is not dependent on DsbC but is rendered dependent by engineering into it the conserved nonconsecutive disulfide bond of AppA. Taken together, these results provide support for the proposal that proteins with nonconsecutive disulfide bonds require DsbC for full activity and that disulfide bonds are formed predominantly during translocation across the cytoplasmic membrane.     

Angioarrestin(hARPl)C端FD区的克隆、表达及其免疫活性鉴定

 Angioarrestin是一种具有潜在应用价值的肿瘤血管形成抑制因子.利用DNA重组法构建了angioarrestin C端 hFD cDNA 和麦芽糖结合蛋白(MBP)重组原核表达质粒 pMAL-C2-hFD.将重组质粒转入大肠杆菌E.coli BL21（DE3）,经0.3 mmol/LIPTG 在37℃条件下诱导表达4h,SDS-PAGE 检测,融合蛋白表达量约占细菌总蛋白的20%.Western印迹证实,目的蛋白N端带有MBP标签.取表达上清纯化、透析、浓缩并冻干,以此为抗原免疫Balb/c小鼠制备多克隆抗体.此多抗可以与pET 22b（+）表达系统获得的 hFD重组蛋白发生良好的抗原抗体反应,ELISA检测多抗效价达1∶10240.实验证明：通过基因重组可获得angioarrestin C端hFD在大肠杆菌中的高效表达蛋白,且该蛋白具有较高的免疫活性.以此为抗原制备的抗angioarrestin多克隆抗体为深入研究angioarrestin提供了材料.     

Matrix-assisted refolding of oligomeric small heat-shock protein Hsp26

Recombinant gene expression in the prokaryotic host Escherichia coli is of general interest for both biotechnology and basic research. Use of E. coli is inexpensive and advantageous due to the fully developed genetic accessibility. However, often insoluble target protein (inclusion body) accumulates in the cell. Especially when producing eukaryotic or disulfide bridged proteins in E. coli, inclusion body formation is observed. Nonetheless, insoluble protein can be regained and refolded in vitro. Commonly, renaturation of proteins is accomplished by methods involving dilution and/or dialysis. An interesting alternative is matrix-assisted refolding in which the denatured protein is refolded in the immobilized state. Here, matrix-assisted refolding was applied to refold a double cysteine variant of Hsp26, a small heat-shock protein from Saccharomyces cerevisiae which was insoluble after biosynthesis in E. coli BL21 (DE3) cells. This oligomeric protein was efficiently recovered from the insoluble fraction and refolded to its native oligomeric and chaperone-active state using ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography.     

Codon preference optimization increases heterologous PEDF expression

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is widely known for its neurotrophic and antiangiogenic functions. Efficacy studies of PEDF in animal models are limited because of poor heterologous protein yields. Here, we redesigned the human PEDF gene to preferentially match codon frequencies of E coli without altering the amino acid sequence. Following de novo synthesis, codon optimized PEDF (coPEDF) and the wtPEDF genes were cloned into pET32a containing a 5' thioredoxin sequence (Trx) and the recombinant Trx-coPEDF or Trx-wtPEDF fusion constructs expressed in native and two tRNA augmented E coli hosts - BL21-CodonPlus(DE3)-RIL and BL21-CodonPlus(DE3)-RP, carrying extra copies of tRNAarg,ile,leu and tRNAarg,pro genes, respectively. Trx-PEDF fusion proteins were isolated using Ni-NTA metal affinity chromatography and PEDF purified after cleavage with factor Xα. Protein purity and identity were confirmed by western blot, MALDI-TOF, and UV/CD spectral analyses. Expression of the synthetic gene was ～3.4 fold greater (212.7 mg/g; 62.1 mg/g wet cells) and purified yields ～4 fold greater (41.1 mg/g; 11.3 mg/g wet cell) than wtPEDF in the native host. A small increase in expression of both genes was observed in hosts supplemented with rare tRNA genes compared to the native host but expression of coPEDF was ～3 fold greater than wtPEDF in both native and codon-bias-adjusted E coli strains. ΔGs at -3 to +50 of the Trx site of both fusion genes were -3.9 kcal/mol. Functionally, coPEDF was equally as effective as wtPEDF in reducing oxidative stress, promoting neurite outgrowth, and blocking endothelial tube formation. These findings suggest that while rare tRNA augmentation and mRNA folding energies can significantly contribute to increased protein expression, preferred codon usage, in this case, is advantageous to translational efficiency of biologically active PEDF in E coli. This strategy will undoubtedly fast forward studies to validate therapeutic utility of PEDF in vivo.     

hGH-双精氨酸C肽人胰岛素原基因的克隆表达及纯化研究

旨在提高基因重组人胰岛素在大肠杆菌中表达的稳定性及表达包涵体蛋白的复性水平.在人胰岛素原N端前融合人生长素N端的一段序列来充当前导肽,同时将C肽设计为两个精氨酸,分10段合成长链寡核苷酸链,利用重叠延伸PCR技术(SOE PCR)扩增得到该基因片段.与表达载体PET-30a连接,转化E.coli BL21(DE3),IPTG诱导表达.表达的融合蛋白采用Ni-NTA亲和层析纯化,纯化后的蛋白经复性、冻干等步骤后用胰蛋白酶,羧肽酶B双酶切再过DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow阴离子交换柱,收集洗脱峰.对制备所得的胰岛素用SDS-PAGE,Western blot进行性质鉴定,及皮下注射小鼠测定生物活性.结果显示,目的蛋白在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中得到了表达,表达产物以不溶性包涵体形式纯在,约占大肠杆菌总蛋白的30%.经Ni-NTA亲和层析得到的重组蛋白纯度为85%,DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow阴离子交换纯化得到单组分胰岛素.Western Blot显示制备所得的胰岛素具有胰岛素免疫原性,皮下给药注射小鼠活性测定表明具有明显的降血糖活性.获得了一种高效生产基因重组人胰岛素的方法,为研究胰岛素类似物奠定了前期基础同时也为今后探索胰岛素的非注射给药途径提供了原料.     

破菌时可自动降解宿主核酸的大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)的lpxM突变株构建

研究利用Red同源重组技术对常用大肠杆菌表达宿主菌BL21(DE3)进行改良, 构建破菌时可自动降解宿主核酸的大肠杆菌表达宿主菌, 该菌株可望有助于解决因破菌时宿主菌染色体核酸释放给后续纯化重组蛋白工作带来的困难。将N端连有OmpA的信号肽的S. aureus nucleaseB(nucB)表达框整合至E. coli BL21(DE3)的lpxM位点, 改造后菌株(称为BLN)经诱导能表达nucB、并分泌至周质空间, 这样可使宿主核酸免受该酶“毒性”影响, 菌体裂解后, nucB释放,能自动降解宿主核酸。BLN菌体生长状态以及表达外源重组蛋白的能力与出发菌基本一致。     

生物活性肽Lunasin的原核表达和分离纯化

目的：利用基因工程的方法在大肠杆菌中表达并纯化生物活性肽Lunasin。方法：将合成的Lunasin基因插入原核表达载体pET-32a（＋）的多克隆位点Nde I和Xho I之间,然后将重组载体转化入大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）中,利用IPTG诱导表达蛋白,经SDS-PAGE和Western Blot鉴定蛋白的表达。然后利用亲和层析技术将含有6×His标签的蛋白分离纯化、脱盐、冻干。结果：①鉴定结果表明在6kDa位置出现目的条带Lunasin重组蛋白。②亲和层析在100mM咪唑时得到了洗脱的重组蛋白。结论：在大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）中成功表达并且纯化出了生物活性肽Lunasin。     

Expression of a Chlamydia anticarbohydrate single-chain antibody as a maltose binding fusion protein.

A single-chain antibody fragment has been constructed for an antibody that binds to the Chlamydia specific carbohydrate structure of the lipopolysaccharide. Single-chain protein was expressed and secreted into the periplasmic space of E. coli as a fusion protein with the maltose binding protein. The fusion protein was purified in one step by virtue of its ability to bind to maltose. In a sandwich ELISA, the eluted protein bound Chlamydia lipopolysaccharide, which demonstrates that the single-chain protein domain will function as part of a fusion protein. The expression of maltose binding fusion proteins into the periplasmic space could be used for production of other single-chain antibodies or protein fragments requiring appropriate folding and disulfide bond formation.     

人胸腺素α1在大肠杆菌中的融合表达

利用基因工程表达的方法,在大肠杆菌中通过与GST蛋白融合的方式高效表达了胸腺素α1前体基因,随后经亲和层析和SP强阳离子树脂纯化相结合的方式,得到了胸腺素前体肽段31肽和N端未经乙酰化修饰的28肽。融合蛋白表达量达到菌体总蛋白的35%～40%,样品肽的产量也达到了约200mg/L（肽/发酵液）的产量。经质谱测定,分子量分别为3366和3066。BalB/C小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞体外测活表明,所构建的GSTTα1融合蛋白和纯化后的产物对于淋巴细胞具有比较明显的增殖作用,其中N端未经乙酰化的28肽产物与31肽产物活性相近,均对淋巴细胞具有明显的刺激增殖作用。