ProNGF在大肠杆菌中的表达、纯化和复性

将含有前导肽的人神经生长因子基因(proNGF)克隆在原核表达载体pET15b中, 转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)pLysS, 经IPTG诱导实现了目标融合蛋白的高效表达。SDS-PAGE分析表明表达蛋白占全菌总蛋白的20%左右, 表达蛋白主要以包涵体的形式存在。用6 mol/L的盐酸胍溶解包涵体后, 通过Ni2+-NTA柱纯化, 获得纯化的目标融合蛋白, 电泳谱带扫描分析表明蛋白纯度可达90%以上。Western blotting检测显示, 表达产物有较强的免疫学活性。经肠激酶作用后得到proNGF非融合蛋白, 分子量为27 kD, 100 mL表达菌液可获得13.1 mg proNGF蛋白。用透析复性的方法将目的蛋白重折叠, 复性率为18%, 在重折叠过程中前导肽发挥了一定的积极作用。用PC12细胞进行生物活性鉴定, 结果显示复性后的proNGF蛋白具有良好的生物活性。     

包涵体复性研究进展(英文)

用基因工程技术在大肠杆菌高水平表达重组蛋白时,通常形成无生物活性的包涵体。包涵体在体外经分离、溶解与重折叠后可实现复性,表现为具有生物活性的蛋白。总结了包涵体的相关复性技术,重点介绍重折叠的最新进展情况 。     

大肠杆菌表达Trx-rPA融合蛋白的复性纯化

大肠杆菌高密度发酵以包涵体形式表达融合蛋白Trx-rPA,表达量22%。包涵体蛋白洗涤后经金属螯合层析纯化,纯度达80%以上。经胱氨酸衍生,以脉冲加样形式复性,复性率可高达30%。经ETI-Sepharose纯化,复性的融合蛋白生物活性可达3.5×105IU/mgPr.。融合蛋白可被rEK酶切释放rPA,酶切效率达85%以上。酶切液经IDA-Sepharose和SP-Sepharose层析纯化,rPA纯度达98%以上,生物活性50万IU/mgPr.。1L发酵液经分离、复性及纯化后,可得高纯度rPA300mg以上。     

重组融合蛋白Trx-IFN-CSP复性工艺研究

旨在建立并优化融合蛋白Trx-IFN-CSP的复性工艺。对重组融合Trx-IFN-CSP进行体外复性研究,考查p H、温度、蛋白浓度、氧化还原体系及辅助复性小分子等复性条件对融合蛋白重折叠的影响。结果显示,适合Trx-IFN-CSP复性的方法为,反复冻融联合超声破菌获得包涵体;用含有1%Triton X-100、2 mol/L尿素、2%DOC洗涤液初步纯化包涵体;再用6 mol/L盐酸胍溶解液变性包涵体;脉冲加样稀释变性液后4℃条件下梯度透析复性,使用L-Arg辅助复性。经肠激酶切去Trx标签后,每升发酵液最终获得110-130 mg肝靶向干扰素,每批蛋白纯度都在95%以上,比活性在1.9-2.4×108 U/mg之间,制备工艺稳定。     

包涵体蛋白体外复性的研究进展

外源基因在大肠杆菌中高水平表达时 ,通常会形成无活性的蛋白聚集体即包涵体。包涵体富含表达的重组蛋白 ,经分离、变性溶解后须再经过一个合适的复性过程实现变性蛋白的重折叠 ,才能够得到生物活性蛋白。近年来 ,发展了许多特异的策略和方法来从包涵体中复性重组蛋白。最近的进展包括固定化复性以及用一些低分子量的添加剂等来减少复性过程中蛋白质的聚集 ,提高活性蛋白的产率。     

包含体的体外复性策略

外源基因在大肠杆菌中高水平表达时,通常会形成不溶性、无活性的蛋白聚集体即包含体。包含体富含表达的重组蛋白,经分离、变性溶解后须再经过一个合适的复性过程实现变性蛋白的重折叠,才能够得到生物活性蛋白。近年来,发展了许多特异的策略和方法来从包含体中复性重组蛋白。介绍稀释法、透析及分子排阻、固定化金属离子亲和层析、疏水层析复性等策略和进展;物理化学因素、前导肽协助蛋白折叠;人工分子伴侣辅助蛋白折叠及反胶束、多聚物用于蛋白复性。     

人白介素-4与大肠杆菌二硫键异构酶DsbC在大肠杆菌中的融合表达及羟胺切割后共复性

目的:通过融合表达、羟胺切割、与二硫键异构酶共复性,获得高表达、高纯度、高生物活性的重组人白细胞介素-4(rhIL-4)。方法:将5端引入了羟胺切割位点的hIL-4基因克隆到大肠杆菌二硫键异构酶DsbC的原核表达载体pET-DsbC中,IPTG诱导表达,对包涵体进行纯化,然后在变性条件下经羟胺切割,利用DsbC的分子伴侣功能与hIL-4进行共复性,最后利用阳离子交换层析纯化获得rhIL-4蛋白。结果:融合蛋白DsbC-hIL-4的表达量占细菌总蛋白的40%以上,以包涵体形式存在;纯化后得到的rhIL-4的相对分子量为15×103,与预期一致,电泳纯度达95%;细胞学实验测定其具有良好的生物学活性。结论:通过融合表达的方法可以提高hIL-4的原核表达量;利用共复性的方式极大地提高了hIL-4的复性率和生物活性。     

包涵体蛋白复性的几种方法

外源基因在大肠杆菌中高水平表达时,通常会形成无活性的蛋白聚集体即包涵体。包涵体富含表达的重组蛋白,经分离、变性溶解后须再经过一个合适的复性过程实现变性蛋白的重折叠,才能够得到生物活性蛋白。     

病原诱导的小麦ERF转录因子TaERF1b的原核表达及纯化

为了得到纯化的TaERFlb活性蛋白,将TaERFlb基因含有AP2／ERF结构域的片段插入原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1的多克隆位点中,构建GST-TaERFlb融合蛋白表达载体,并转化到犬肠杆菌BL21（DE3）中。0．1mmol／L1PTG即能诱导融合蛋白表达,37℃诱导4h或30℃诱导8h,融合蛋白均以包涵体的形式表达,16℃诱导12h,融合蛋白不表达。包涵体经溶解及稀释复性后,过GST亲和层析柱,获得纯化的融合蛋白,考马斯亮蓝法测得纯化蛋白的浓度约为0．5ug／ul,凝胶阻滞实验表明包涵体复性成功．所得蛋白具有生物活性：     

人血小板衍生生长因子BB亚型包涵体复性与纯化

目的:优化人血小板衍生生长因子BB亚型(PGDF-BB)包涵体复性方法与纯化条件,获得具有较好生物活性的重组PGDF-BB蛋白。方法:对PGDF-BB包涵体以梯度尿素进行变性,选择最佳包涵体变性浓度;比较不同复性条件下的复性率,稳定PGDF-BB包涵体复性方法;参照该蛋白的理化性质,选择适合PGDF-BB重组蛋白的纯化方法。结果:原核系统内实现了PGDF-BB的高表达;通过优化包涵体复性方法,重组蛋白的包涵体复性率可达40%以上;经过多个纯化方法相结合,PGDF-BB的纯度达到95%。结论:通过实验条件的优化,提高了PGDF-BB包涵体复性率,获得高纯度、高生物活性的重组PGDF-BB蛋白。     

The nerve growth factor precursor proNGF exhibits neurotrophic activity but is less active than mature nerve growth factor

Nerve growth factor (NGF) promotes neuronal survival and differentiation and stimulates neurite outgrowth. NGF is synthesized as a precursor, proNGF, which undergoes post-translational processing to generate mature beta-NGF. It has been assumed that, in vivo, NGF is largely processed into the mature form and that mature NGF accounts for the biological activity. However, we recently showed that proNGF is abundant in CNS tissues whereas mature NGF is undetectable, suggesting that proNGF has biological functions beyond its role as a precursor. To determine whether proNGF exhibits biological activity, we mutagenized the precursor-processing site and expressed unprocessed, cleavage-resistant proNGF protein in insect cells. Survival and neurite outgrowth assays on murine superior cervical ganglion neurons and PC12 cells indicated that proNGF exhibits neurotrophic activity similar to mature 2.5S NGF, but is approximately fivefold less active. ProNGF binds to the high-affinity receptor, TrkA, as determined by cross-linking to PC12 cells, and is also slightly less active than mature NGF in promoting phosphorylation of TrkA and its downstream signaling effectors, Erk1/2, in PC12 and NIH3T3-TrkA cells. These data, coupled with our previous report that proNGF is the major form of NGF in the CNS, suggest that proNGF could be responsible for much of the biological activity normally attributed to mature NGF in vivo.     

Overproduction of biologically-active human nerve growth factor in Escherichia coli.

A gene coding for human nerve growth factor (hNGF) was constructed for expression under control of the trp promoter in E. coli. The plasmid pTRSNGF contained a synthetic hNGF gene fused, in frame, to the region encoding the beta-lactamase signal peptide. The plasmid pTRLNGF contained the same coding sequence as hNGF attached downstream from the N-terminal fragment of the trp L gene. E. coli cells harboring pTRSNGF produced an amount of hNGF constituting 4% of the total cellular protein, and removed the beta-lactamase signal peptide. The mature protein hNGF was biologically active in the PC12h bioassay for neurite outgrowth. This biological activity was comparable to that of authentic mouse NGF. E. coli cells harboring pTRLNGF produced an amount of fusion protein hNGF constituting 25% of the total cellular protein. Although the fusion protein hNGF formed inclusion bodies in cells, dissolved fusion protein hNGF was active in neurite outgrowth from PC12h cells.     

SH2B1beta (SH2-Bbeta) enhances expression of a subset of nerve growth factor-regulated genes important for neuronal differentiation including genes encoding urokinase plasminogen activator receptor and matrix metalloproteinase 3/10

Previous work showed that the adapter protein SH2B adapter protein 1beta (SH2B1) (SH2-B) binds to the activated form of the nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor TrkA and is critical for both NGF-dependent neurite outgrowth and maintenance. To identify SH2B1beta-regulated genes critical for neurite outgrowth, we performed microarray analysis of control PC12 cells and PC12 cells stably overexpressing SH2B1beta (PC12-SH2B1beta) or the dominant-negative SH2B1beta(R555E) [PC12-SH2B1beta(R555E)]. NGF-induced microarray expression of Plaur and Mmp10 genes was greatly enhanced in PC12-SH2B1beta cells, whereas NGF-induced Plaur and Mmp3 expression was substantially depressed in PC12-SH2B1beta(R555E) cells. Plaur, Mmp3, and Mmp10 are among the 12 genes most highly up-regulated after 6 h of NGF. Their protein products [urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), and MMP10] lie in the same pathway of extracellular matrix degradation; uPAR has been shown previously to be critical for NGF-induced neurite outgrowth. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed SH2B1beta enhancement of NGF induction of all three genes and the suppression of NGF induction of all three when endogenous SH2B1 was reduced using short hairpin RNA against SH2B1 and in PC12-SH2B1beta(R555E) cells. NGF-induced levels of uPAR and MMP3/10 and neurite outgrowth through Matrigel (MMP3-dependent) were also increased in PC12-SH2B1beta cells. These results suggest that SH2B1beta stimulates NGF-induced neuronal differentiation at least in part by enhancing expression of a specific subset of NGF-sensitive genes, including Plaur, Mmp3, and/or Mmp10, required for neurite outgrowth.     

Human ProNGF: biological effects and binding profiles at TrkA, P75NTR and sortilin

Nerve growth factor (NGF) promotes cell survival via binding to the tyrosine kinase receptor A (TrkA). Its precursor, proNGF, binds to p75(NTR) and sortilin receptors to initiate apoptosis. Current disagreement exists over whether proNGF acts neurotrophically following binding to TrkA. As in Alzheimer's disease the levels of proNGF increase and TrkA decrease, it is important to clarify the properties of proNGF. Here, wild-type and cleavage-resistant mutated forms (M) of proNGF were engineered and their binding characteristics determined. M-proNGF and NGF bound to p75(NTR) with similar affinities, whilst M-proNGF had a lower affinity than NGF for TrkA. M-proNGF behaved neurotrophically, albeit less effectively than NGF. M-proNGF addition resulted in phosphorylation of TrkA and ERK1/2, and in PC12 cells elicited neurite outgrowth and supported cell survival. Conversely, M-proNGF addition to cultured cortical neurons initiated caspase 3 cleavage. Importantly, these biological effects were shown to be mediated by unprocessed M-proNGF. Surprisingly, binding of the pro region alone to TrkA, at a site other than that of NGF, caused TrkA and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Our data show that M-proNGF stimulates TrkA to a lesser degree than NGF, suggesting that in Alzheimer brain the increased proNGF : NGF and p75(NTR) : TrkA ratios may permit apoptotic effects to predominate over neurotrophic effects.     

Protein Kinase Inhibitor H-7 Differentially Affects Early and Delayed Nerve Growth Factor Responses in PC12 Cells

Abstract: The effects of the protein kinase inhibitor H-7 on early and delayed responses to nerve growth factor (NGF) were investigated in PC12 cells. H-7 reduced the NGF-induced expression of c-Fos in a dose-dependent manner without affecting the time course of c-Fos appearance. Conversely, H-7 potentiated delayed NGF effects, i.e., neurite outgrowth and Ca²⁺/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (PKC) induction, but not choline acetyltransferase induction. Long-term treatment with NGF resulted in an increase of at least four tyrosine-phosphorylated protein bands with molecular masses between 39 and 48 kDa, which was also potentiated by H-7. In the absence of NGF, H-7 had no significant effect on c-Fos expression, tyrosine phosphorylation of the 45 kDa protein, or choline acetyltransferase activity. However, 4 days of exposure to H-7 alone induced PKC activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of the 39-kDa protein. The action of H-7 derivatives on neurite outgrowth did not correlate with their inhibition profile of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases. Down-regulation of PKC activity by prolonged exposure to phorbol ester did not completely abolish the effects of NGF and H-7 on induction of c-Fos, choline acetyltransferase activity, and neurite outgrowth, indicating that PKC-independent pathways contribute to these actions. These results suggest that additional pathway(s) sensitive to H-7 may exist, which induce immediate early gene expression and suppress neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells.     

Differences in gene expression profile among SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma subclones with different neurite outgrowth responses to nerve growth factor

Nerve growth factor (NGF) plays a key role in the differentiation of neurons. In this study, we established three NGF-induced neurite-positive (NIN+) subclones that showed high responsiveness to NGF-induced neurite outgrowth and three NGF-induced neurite-negative (NIN-) subclones that abolished NGF-induced neurite outgrowth from parental SH-SY5Y cells, and analyzed differences in the NGF signaling cascade. The NIN+ subclones showed enhanced responsiveness to FK506-mediated neurite outgrowth as well. To clarify the mechanism behind the high frequency of NGF-induced neurite outgrowth, we investigated differences in NGF signaling cascade among subclones. Expression levels of the NGF receptor TrkA, and NGF-induced increases in mRNAs for the immediate-early genes (IEGs) c-fos and NGF inducible (NGFI) genes NGFI-A, NGFI-B and NGFI-C, were identical among subclones. Microarray analysis revealed that the NIN+ cell line showed a very different gene expression profile to the NIN- cell line, particularly in terms of axonal vesicle-related genes and growth cone guidance-related genes. Thus, the difference in NGF signaling cascade between the NIN+ and NIN- cell lines was demonstrated by the difference in gene expression profile. These differentially expressed genes might play a key role in neurite outgrowth of SH-SY5Y cells in a region downstream from the site of induction of IEGs, or in a novel NGF signaling cascade.     

Testing the in vivo role of protein kinase C and c-fos in neurite outgrowth by microinjection of antibodies into PC12 cells.

To define the molecular bases of growth factor-induced signal transduction pathways, antibodies known to block the activity of either protein kinase C (PKC) or the fos protein were introduced into PC12 cells by microinjection. The antibody against PKC significantly inhibited neurite outgrowth when scored 24 h after microinjection and exposure to nerve growth factor (NGF). Microinjection of antibodies to fos significantly increased the percentage of neurite-bearing cells after exposure to either NGF or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) but inhibited the stimulation of DNA synthesis by serum, suggesting that in PC12 cells, fos is involved in cellular proliferation. Thus, activation of PKC is involved in the induction of neurite outgrowth by NGF, but expression of the fos protein, which is induced by both NGF and bFGF, is not necessary and inhibits neurite outgrowth.     

Schwann cells promote neurite outgrowth of dorsal root ganglion neurons through secretion of nerve growth factor

The transplantation of Schwann cells (SCs) could successfully promote axonal regeneration. This is likely to attribute to the adhesion molecules expression and growth factors secretion of SCs. But which factor(s) play a key role has not been precisely studied. In this study, an outgrowth assay using dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neuron-SC co-culture system in vitro was performed. Co-culture of SCs or application of SC-conditioned medium (CM) substantially and significantly increased DRG neurite outgrowth. Further, nerve growth factor and NGF receptor (TrkA) mRNA were highly expressed in Schwann cells and DRG neuron, respectively. The high concentration of NGF protein was detected in SC-CM. When K-252a, a specific inhibitor of NGF receptor was added, DRG neurite outgrowth was significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. These data strongly suggest that SCs play important roles in neurite outgrowth of DRG neurons by secreted NGF.