Simple approach to reducing proteolysis during secretory production of human parathyroid hormone in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A gene coding for human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) was synthesized and cloned into a yeast expression and secretion vector containing the mating factor alpha pre-pro leader sequence and the galactose-inducible promoter, GAL10. The intact hPTH(1-84) was found to be secreted into the culture medium. As observed in the previous reports on the secretory production of hPTH in yeast, however, the proteolytic cleavage occurred as the culture proceeded, resulting in a significant loss of the intact hPTH. Attempts were therefore made to reduce the extent of proteolysis by simply controlling the culture conditions. The proteolytic cleavage was significantly reduced by the addition of an excess amount of l-arginine (>/=0.2M) to the culture medium, which resulted in a marked improvement in the yield of intact hPTH. To examine whether l-arginine affects the activities of intracellular proteases such as KEX2 endoproteinase or extracellular proteases, the proteolysis experiments were performed by incubating the commercial intact hPTH in a yeast host culture supernatant. The results demonstrated that l-arginine at high concentrations reduced the rate of hPTH proteolysis by inhibiting extracellular proteases.     

Expression and characterization of a recombinant human parathyroid hormone secreted by Escherichia coli employing the staphylococcal protein A promoter and signal sequence

Human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) is a peptide hormone consisting of 84 amino acids (hPTH(1-84)). Employing the promoter and signal sequence of Staphylococcus aureus-protein A we have expressed hPTH in Escherichia coli. The expressed proteins are excreted to the growth medium, allowing for rapid and easy purification of the desired products. By amino acid sequence analysis and mass spectrometry, we have shown that the major excreted product is correctly processed human identical hPTH(1-84). The purified recombinant hPTH(1-84) stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in rat osteosarcoma cell membranes to exactly the same extent as synthetic parathyroid hormone standards, indicating that the recombinant product has full biological activity.     

A new signal peptide useful for secretion of heterologous proteins from yeast and its application for synthesis of hirudin.

The BGL2 gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a beta-glucanase which is localized to the yeast cell wall. The ability of a 23-amino acid (aa) signal peptide derived from the BGL2 gene to direct a heterologous protein to the secretory pathway of yeast has been compared to that of the MF alpha 1-encoded signal peptide in a series of gene fusions. As a model protein, the leech anticoagulant, recombinant hirudin variant 2-Lys47 (HIR) has been studied. From a multicopy plasmid chimaeric proteins were produced which carry the BGL2 signal peptide (or the artificial BGL2 pre-Val7 variant) (i) in front of the MF alpha 1 pro sequence (or modified versions of MF alpha 1 pro), i.e., a prepro signal, or (ii) joined directly to the heterologous protein. Accumulation of active HIR in yeast culture supernatants was observed when the BGL2 (or the BGL2 pre-Val7) signal peptide were used in combination with either of three versions of the MF alpha 1 pro peptide: the authentic MF alpha 1 pro, a partially deleted MF alpha 1 pro-delta 22-61, or a pro bearing an aa change (MF alpha 1 pro-Gly22). In each case the BGL2 signal peptide (or its variant) has proven equally productive to the corresponding MF alpha 1 peptide. Four times more active HIR was detected in the culture supernatant when either signal peptide was fused directly to the recombinant protein, as compared to a prepro protein version. Correct signal peptide cleavage was obtained when HIR was produced as a BGL2 pre-Val7::fusion protein.     

Characterization of a K26Q site-directed mutant of human parathyroid hormone expressed in yeast

Human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) is susceptible to proteolytical cleavage both in humans and when expressed as a secretory product in Escherichia coli (H?gseth, A., Blingsmo, O. R., Saether, O., Gautvik, V. T., Holmgren, E., Hartmanis, M., Josephson, S., Gabrielsen, O. S., Gordeladze, J. O., Alestr?m, P., and Gautvik, K. M. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 7338-7344) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Gabrielsen, O. S., Reppe, S., Saether, O., Blingsmo, O. R., Sletten, K., Gordeladze, J. O., H?gset, A., Gautvik, V. T., Alestr?m, P., Oyen, T. B., and Gautvik, K. M. (1990) Gene (Amst.) 90, 255-262). In the latter system, one major site of cleavage was identified (Arg25-Lys26 decreased Lys27). To produce hPTH resistant to this proteolytic processing, a point mutation changing Lys26 to Gln was introduced, and the modified gene expressed in S. cerevisiae as a fusion protein with the alpha-factor leader sequence. The resulting major form of hPTH secreted to the growth medium was of full length showing that the mutation had eliminated internal processing. Consequently, the yield of the mutant hormone was significantly higher than obtained with the natural peptide. Using improved purification procedures, a significantly higher purity was also obtained. The secreted mutant hPTH-(1-84,Q26) had the correct size, full immunological reactivity with two different hPTH antisera, correct amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence, and correct mass as determined by mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the introduced mutation did not reduce the biological activity of the hormone as judged from its action in three biological assay systems: 1) a hormone-sensitive osteoblast adenylate cyclase assay; 2) an in vivo calcium mobilizing assay in rats; and 3) an in vitro bone resorption assay.     

Expression of human parathyroid hormone-(1-84) in Escherichia coli as a factor X-cleavable fusion protein

Recombinant human parathyroid hormone (hPTH)-(1-84) was obtained from Escherichia coli using a cleavable fusion protein strategy. The fusion protein contains residues 1-138 of human growth hormone as the amino-terminal region and residues 1-84 of hPTH as the carboxyl-terminal region. A 7-residue linker containing the recognition/cleavage sequence of the site-specific blood coagulation protease activated factor X (factor Xa) joins the two regions. Intact hPTH-(1-84) is released from this fusion protein by cleavage in vitro with factor Xa. The fusion protein was produced at a high level and formed inclusion bodies which allowed it to be easily purified by low speed centrifugation, with a yield of approximately 50 mg/liter of culture. After factor Xa cleavage and high performance liquid chromatography purification, highly purified hPTH was obtained, with a final yield of 1.5-3 mg/liter. Physical and biological characterization of the purified hormone demonstrated that it was intact and active hPTH-(1-84).     

Analysis of alpha-factor secretion signals by fusing with acid phosphatase of yeast

In yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the PHO5 gene encodes the repressible acid phosphatase (APase) whose activity can be easily monitored by either the staining of colonies or by colorimetric assay. Therefore, gene fusions to PHO5 provide a convenient system for structural and functional analysis of yeast genes. We have constructed fusions of the PHO5 gene with a MF alpha 1 gene of yeast to delineate the secretion signal(s) in the alpha-factor leader peptide. Gene fusion between MF alpha 1 and PHO5 codes for a hybrid protein in which the alpha-factor leader peptide of 89 amino acids (aa) directed the export of APase, a periplasmic protein, into the medium. Since the hybrid gene is transcribed from the alpha-factor promoter, expression of the APase activity from these hybrid genes showed cell type-specific regulation. Further analyses of another MF alpha 1-PHO5 fusion showed that only the first 22 aa of the 89-aa alpha-factor leader peptide contained sufficient information for the secretion of APase into the medium. This shows that, in addition to the analysis of gene regulation, PHO5 fusions can be used to study signals involved in the proper localization of proteins.     

Isolation and characterization of two biologically active O-glycosylated forms of human parathyroid hormone produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Identification of a new motif for O-glycosylation.

Expression and secretion of human parathyroid hormone in Saccharomyces cerevisiae were achieved by fusing a cDNA encoding the mature human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) to the preproregion of the yeast mating factor alpha. Purified hPTH from yeast-culture medium was found to contain, in addition to the native unglycosylated form, two mannosylated variants with different molecular masses. The three hPTH forms were processed identically, resulting in the same 84 amino acid polypeptides with amino acid sequences identical to the native hormone. In both the O-glycosylated forms that were separated by isocratic reverse-phase HPLC, two mannose-linked residues were localized to Thr79. In addition, the most glycosylated form showed a heterogeneous modification of three, four or five mannosyl residues linked at Ser66. Lysine is N-terminally located to Ser66 and probably stimulates this glycosylation, which introduces a possible new motif for O-glycosylation in yeast. The two glycosylated forms of hPTH had similar biological activity which was identical to the native form of hPTH in a hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase assay in bone sarcoma cells. Thus, a C-terminal O-glycosylation of hPTH with up to seven mannosyl residues/molecule did not affect the biological activity of the hormone, making possible production of hPTH with potential different pharmacokinetic properties.     

Engineering of a Pichia pastoris expression system for secretion of high amounts of intact human parathyroid hormone

Human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) is involved in calcium metabolism, and the unique ability of this hormone to stimulate bone growth makes it a promising agent in the treatment of osteoporosis. We have engineered the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris for the production of over 300 mg intact hPTH per liter growth medium. The presence of 10 mM EDTA in the culture medium was essential to obtain this high hormone yield, indicating that metallopeptidases are mainly responsible for the otherwise instability of hPTH. Furthermore, the secretion process of hPTH was considerably improved by coexpression of Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein disulphide isomerase (ScPDI). Since hPTH does not contain any cystein residues, this effect may be indirect or ascribed to the chaperone activity of PDI. Contrary to the situation in S. cerevisiae, use of a protease-deficient host strain provided no additional advantage. The hormone secreted by P. pastoris was not subjected to proteolytic processing by Kex2p in the two internal tribasic sites, nor were any C-terminal truncated hPTH forms detected. However, the P. pastoris hPTH producing transformants cosecreted ubiquitin to the culture medium, possibly as a result of a stress-related response.     

Studies on the production of human parathyroid hormone by recombinant Escherichia coli

Expression of human parathyroid hormone, hPTH(-1-84), by Escherichia coli N4830: pEX-PPTH was studied in controlled bioreactors. The hPTH is expressed as a fusion protein under control of the bacteriophage p_R promoter. In batch runs, low biomass concentrations but high specific hPTH productivities were obtained with complex TY (bactotryptone and yeast extract) medium whereas high biomass concentration and low specific productivities were found when fructose was used instead of bactotryptone (YF medium). The preinduction temperature was always 30°C; the temperature shift to induce production of fusion protein was varied from 36 to 42°C. Formation of hPTH passed a pronounced maximum as a function of induction temperature when using YF medium. However, the optimum temperature shift was 38°C for both media used. For this temperature increase both media yielded about the same volumetric hPTH productivity (approx. 30 mg hPTH/l per hour). By applying a fedbatch strategy for the YF medium, the productivity of the recombinant protein could be further increased more than fourfold. Compared to shake-flask experiments, the hPTH yield could be increased by a factor larger than 20.     

Large scale preparation of recombinant human parathyroid hormone 1-84 from Escherichia coli

Human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) is a promising agent in the treatment of osteoporosis. The intact recombinant human parathyroid hormone [rhPTH(1-84)] was prepared in a large scale from Escherichia coli using a soluble fusion protein strategy. With degenerate codons, gene of hPTH(1-84) was synthesized, ligated with pET32a(+) vector, and then expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) cells. The soluble fusion protein His(6)-thioredoxin-hPTH(1-84) was harvested after purification by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). Following enterokinase cleavage, ion-exchange-chromatography (IEC) and size-exclusive-chromatography (SEC) were used, and finally, over 300mg/l intact hPTH(1-84) with high purity up to 99% was obtained. The purified rhPTH(1-84) was confirmed by mass spectrometry and N-terminal/C-terminal amino-acid sequence analysis. Additionally, this product stimulated adenylate cyclase in Rat Osteosarcoma Cell UMR-106 at the same extent as hPTH standards, indicating that the purified rhPTH(1-84) has full biological activity. The efficient procedure for expression and purification of rhPTH(1-84) may be useful for the mass production of this important protein.     

A membrane-bound metallo-endopeptidase from rat kidney hydrolyzing parathyroid hormone. Purification and characterization

A metallo-endopeptidase, which appears to be an integral membrane protein of rat kidney, was purified to homogeneity by a series of standard chromatographic procedures. This enzyme significantly hydrolyzed human parathyroid hormone [hPTH(1-84)] and a synthetic substrate Suc-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-Mec (Suc = succinyl, Mec = 4-methyl-coumarinyl-7-amide). The purified enzyme had apparent molecular masses of 250 kDa on gel filtration, and 88 kDa and 245 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing and non-reducing conditions, respectively. Its pH optimum for activity was 8.0-8.5 and its isoelectric point was pH 4.9. Its activity was inhibited by EDTA, EGTA and o-phenanthroline, but not by phosphoramidon. The metal-depleted enzyme was reactivated by the addition of metal ions. The enzyme was also inhibited by chymostatin and eglin C, and by thiol compounds. Of the synthetic substrates examined, the enzyme hydrolyzed only Suc-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-Mec, one of the synthetic substrates for alpha-chymotrypsin. It did not hydrolyze synthetic substrates with less than four amino acid residues with tyrosine in the P1 position. The enzyme hydrolyzed hPTH and reduced hen egg lysozyme but did not hydrolyze azocasein or [3H]methyl-casein. NH2-terminal amino acid sequence analyses of the degradation products of hPTH(1-84) and reduced hen egg lysozyme by the purified enzyme revealed that the enzyme preferentially cleaved these peptides at peptide bonds flanked by hydrophilic amino acid residues. Amino acid analyses showed that the main degradation products of PTH were hPTH(17-29), hPTH(30-38) and hPTH(74-84). The ability of the enzyme to hydrolyze peptide bonds flanked by hydrophilic amino acid residues and its inability to degrade azocasein distinguish it from several other kidney endopeptidases reported, such as endopeptidase 24.11 and meprin.     

Secretion of somatostatin by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Correct processing of an alpha-factor-somatostatin hybrid

Somatostatin is a 14-amino acid peptide hormone that is proteolytically processed from its precursor, prosomatostatin, by a paired-basic-specific protease localized in the Golgi apparatus and secretory vesicles. Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae MAT alpha) synthesize an analogous peptide hormone precursor, pro-alpha-factor, that contains tandem repeats of alpha factor (13 amino acids) flanked by spacers that include paired basic residues. To investigate the role of these two pro regions in mediating intracellular transport and processing, cloned genes specific for preprosomatostatin and prepro-alpha-factor were used to generate recombinants encoding hybrids between the alpha-factor pro region (amino-terminal) and somatostatin (carboxyl-terminal). These recombinants were inserted into yeast expression vectors under control of either the native alpha-factor promoter or the inducible yeast PHO5 (acid phosphatase) promoter. Yeast transformed with these plasmids expressed the hybrid messenger RNAs constitutively (alpha-factor promoter) or when induced in phosphate-deficient medium (PHO5 promoter). Radioimmunoassay of culture media revealed the secretion of up to 200 ng of immunoreactive somatostatin/10(7) cells. Metabolic labeling with [35S]cysteine, followed by immunoprecipitation with anti-somatostatin antibodies revealed two forms of hybrid precursor intracellularly, one of Mr 25,000, containing core carbohydrates, and a second of Mr 11,000, which was unglycosylated. Translation of mRNA extracted from these transformants in the wheat germ cell-free system revealed that the Mr 11,000 form was the primary translation product, whereas the Mr 25,000 species could be generated in vitro by inclusion of mammalian rough microsomes. The secreted immunoreactive material was shown to be authentic somatostatin by high pressure liquid chromatography analysis and protein sequencing. These results demonstrate that the yeast processing enzymes recognize these chimeric precursors, resulting in the secretion of the mature peptide hormone.     

Alpha-transforming growth factor secreted by untransformed bovine anterior pituitary cells in culture. II. Identification using a sequence-specific monoclonal antibody

Untransformed bovine anterior pituitary cells cultured in serum-free defined medium secrete an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like peptide with an amino acid composition similar to rat or human alpha-transforming growth factor (alpha TGF). To further characterize the bovine pituitary alpha TGF, it was compared to a human alpha TGF partially purified from the conditioned medium of a human melanoma cell line. An anti-alpha TGF monoclonal antibody, MF9, was produced from hybridomas derived from mice immunized with a 17-residue synthetic peptide corresponding to the carboxyl-terminal sequence of rat alpha TGF. The hybridoma supernatants were initially screened for the ability to immunoprecipitate 125I-peptide and then tested for recognition of human alpha TGF. Only 2 of 36 antipeptide antibodies recognized the native alpha TGF. The binding of 125I-peptide to MF9 was displaced by human alpha TGF but not by EGF. Bovine pituitary alpha TGF also displaced the binding of 125I-peptide to MF9 in a similar manner to human alpha TGF. Both iodinated human and bovine pituitary alpha TGF were immunoprecipitated by MF9 whereas 125I-EGF was not. Recognition of alpha TGF by MF9 was strongly dependent on sulfhydryl reduction of the growth factors, suggesting that synthetic peptides representing sulfhydryl-rich protein are not ideal immunogens. Tryptic digests of both 125I-alpha TGFs chromatographed to give a single, indistinguishable peak of iodinated material on a reverse-phase C18 high performance liquid chromatography column when eluted with two different solvent systems, suggesting the generation of a single and identical tyrosine-containing tryptic peptide from both alpha TGFs. The comparisons of the bovine pituitary and human melanoma alpha TGF using a sequence-specific monoclonal antibody and peptide mapping suggest that these alpha TGFs are related and that alpha TGF production is not limited to transformed or fetal sources.     

The nature of N-terminal signal sequence determines the type of intracellular distribution and effectiveness of export of human growth hormone in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Various N-terminal signal peptides (SP) were tested to investigate a human growth hormone (hGH) synthesis, processing and intracellular sorting in yeast. Maximal level of hGH was observed in the case when the mature hGH gene was placed under the control of PHO5 promoter. In this case about 90% of hGH was localized in the cytosol, but some portion was trustworthly detected in microsomes and periplasma in spite of the absence of SP. Addition of own or PHO5 SP resulted in lowering of the synthesis and a difficulty in the prehGH processing. In this case the immunoreactive products were localized mainly in periplasma and vacuoles and to a lesser degree in the cytosol. When hGH gene was placed under the control of the yeast MF alpha 1 promoter and alpha-factor preprosegment was used as SP more then a half (67%) of hGH processed correctly was exported in a medium, the rest was detected in vacuole (17%) and periplasma (8%).     

Thrombin and H64A subtilisin cleavage of fusion proteins for preparation of human recombinant parathyroid hormone

Human parathyroid hormone, hPTH, an 84 amino acid polypeptide, was produced intracellularly inEscherichia coli as a fusion protein, linked to the C-terminus of a 15 kD IgG-binding protein. Approximately 100 mg fusion protein was obtained per liter fermentation medium. To test the efficiency of two alternative enzymatic cleavage methods, two fusion proteins differing only in the linker region were constructed. Cleavage of a Phe-Phe-Pro-Arg linker was obtained with bovine thrombin and cleavage of a Phe-Ala-His-Tyr linker with recombinant H64A subtilisin. Both enzmes yielded the correct N-terminus and cleaved their respective linkers quantitatively, although additional internal cleavage sites in hPTH were detected and characterized. The linker cleavage conditions were optimized and hPTH was purified to homogeneity. Thrombin cleavage resulted in a final yield of 5 mg hPTH/L, while H64A subtilisin cleavage was more specific and gave 8 mg/L. The purified recombinant product was identical to native hPTH and exhibited full biological activity in an adenylate cyclase assay.     

Expression of human parathyroid hormone in Escherichia coli

Human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) is a peptide hormone consisting of 84 amino acids. Using the expression plasmid pKK223-3 with the strong tacpromoter, we have produced a variant of hPTH in E. coli. From the expression plasmid construct the expected product was hPTH with an N-terminal extension of Met-Gly. The peptide was extracted from E. coli cells and purified by high performance liquid chromatography. In two different gel electrophoresis systems including identification by immunoblotting the product behaved exactly as an hPTH standard. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the purified product showed traces of Gly-hPTH. At least 90% of the expressed product was N-terminally blocked, suggesting the presence of N-formyl-methionine. This variant of hPTH did not stimulate adenylate cyclase activity in rat osteosarcoma cell membranes.     

High-Level Production of Human Parathyroid Hormone (hPTH) by Induced Expression inSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiaewas used as host for high-level production of intact human parathyroid hormone (hPTH). The yield increased about 30-fold by changing from the constitutive MFα promoter to the inducibleCUP1promoter in the expression cassettes, use of another host strain, and optimization of growth conditions where especially the pH value was crucial. The secreted products consisted mainly of intact hormone, hPTH(1-84). In addition, two C-terminally truncated forms that lacked the four or five last amino acid residues, hPTH(1-80) and hPTH(1-79), were identified. These hPTH forms migrated aberrantly by SDS–PAGE as 14-kDa proteins, while the real masses measured by mass spectrometry on HPLC-purified products were about 9 kDa. Availability of such easily purified truncated forms will be valuable for studies of how the C-terminal residues affect the structure and function of the hormone. Combination of mutations and disruptions of the host genes encoding proteinase A, B, carboxypeptidase Y, and Kex1p or Mkc7p did not influence the C-terminal deletions. The secretion of hPTH could be enhanced by overexpression of the yeast syntaxin geneSSO2, but the total level of the hormone was not improved due to impaired growth.     

Age, strain and species differences in circulating parathyroid hormone

A new, sensitive parathyroid hormone (PTH) radioimmunoassay that appears specific for the intact hormone, and its validation for measuring rat PTH are described. The assay is based on antibody C2-7 from chicken immunized with bovine PTH; it has a detection limit of 6 pg of bPTH per assay tube and measures basal PTH in most rats; it is responsive to provoked changes in endogenous PTH concentration, and the intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation are 6.0% and 7.2%, respectively. Multiple dilutions of rat serum and parathyroid gland extract, result in competitive inhibition curves that are parallel to that of highly purified bPTH. Under our assay conditions the C2-7 antibody cross-reacts well with intact PTH but synthetic fragments of the hormone (1-34bPTH, 1-34hPTH, 28-48hPTH, 44-68hPTH, 53-84hPTH) do not depress tracer (125l-bPTH) binding to the antibody. Studies designed to validate the assay gave predictable results such as enhanced secretion of the hormone in response to EDTA infusion, and failure to detect the hormone in serum following thyroparathyroidectomy. In addition, we made the novel observation that in F344 rats circulating immunoreactive PTH increases progressively with aging.     

Analogues of human parathyroid hormone (1-31)NH(2): further evaluation of the effect of conformational constraint on biological activity

A series of conformationally-restricted analogues of hPTH was prepared, based on the parent peptide agonist, cyclo(Lys(18)-Asp(22))[Ala(1),Nle(8),Lys(18),Asp(22),Leu(27)]hPTH(1-31)NH(2) (2, EC(50)=0.29nM). Truncation of 2 at either the N- or C-termini resulted in peptides with reduced agonist activity as measured by stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in the rat osteosarcoma cell line (ROS 17/2.8). Alanine- and glycine-scanning at the N-terminus of 2 was consistent with data previously obtained on linear hPTH(1-34). Other locations within the primary sequence of hPTH(1-31)NH(2) were evaluated by the placement of the [i, i+4] lactam constraining element. Ring size and lactam orientations at the 18-22 positions were also examined.     

Establishment of a heterologous system for the expression of Canavalia brasiliensis lectin: a model for the study of protein splicing

During its biosynthesis in developing Canavalia brasiliensis seeds, the lectin ConBr undergoes a form of protein splicing in which the order of the N- and C-domains of the protein is reversed. To investigate whether these events can occur in other eukaryotic organisms, an expression system based on Pichia pastoris cells was established. A DNA fragment encoding prepro-ConBr was cloned into the vector pPICZB, and the recombinant plasmid was transformed in P. pastoris strain GS115. Ten clones were screened for effective recombinant protein production. Based on Western blot analysis of the two clones with the highest level of protein expression: 1) diffuse high-molecular mass immunoreactive bands were produced as early as 24 h after induction; 2) a single-, high-molecular mass protein was secreted into the medium, and 3) a significant fraction of the recombinant polypeptides that cross-reacted with anti-ConBr antibodies comprised a band of approximately 34.5 kDa. Diffuse protein bands with high molecular masses are attributed to hyperglycosylation at the single potential N-glycosylation site located in the linker peptide of prepro-ConBr. In contrast, native ConBr is made up of three polypeptides, the intact alpha chain (aa 1-237) and the fragments beta (aa 1-118) and gamma (aa 119-237), which have apparent molecular masses of 30, 16 and 12 kDa, respectively. Apparently, the yeast P. pastoris is not able to carry out all the complex post-translational proteolytic processing necessary for the biosynthesis of ConBr.