High-level expression and purification of human epidermal growth factor with SUMO fusion in Escherichia coli

Human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) can stimulate the division of various cell types and has potential clinical applications. However, the high expression of active hEGF in Escherichia coli has not been successful, as the protein contains three intra-molecular disulfide bonds that are difficult to form correctly in the bacterial intracellular environment. To solve this problem, we fused the hEGF gene with a small ubiquitin-related modifier gene (SUMO) by synthesizing an artificial SUMO-hEGF fusion gene that was highly expressed in Origami (DE3) strain. The optimal expression level of the soluble fusion protein, SUMO-hEGF, was up to 38.9% of the total cellular protein. The fusion protein was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and cleaved by a SUMO-specific protease to obtain the native hEGF, which was further purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The result of the reverse-phase HPLC showed that the purity of the recombinant cleaved hEGF was greater than 98%. The primary structure of the purified hEGF was confirmed by N-terminal amino acid sequencing and MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy analysis. Using the method of methylthiazoletetrazolium, the mitogenic activity on Balb/c 3T3 cells of the purified hEGF was comparable to that of commercial hEGF.     

Structure of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor. Multiple forms, primary structure, and glycosylation of the mature protein.

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a newly described member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family that is mitogenic for BALB/c 3T3 cells, inhibits the binding of 125I-EGF to its receptor, and triggers autophosphorylation of the EGF receptor. HB-EGF was purified from the conditioned medium of U-937 cells using cation exchange, copper affinity, heparin affinity, and two rounds of C4 reversed phase liquid chromatography. The elution profile of the first round of C4 column chromatography contained four growth factor activity peaks with similar specific biological activities. N-terminal and tryptic fragment microsequencing demonstrated that these peaks contained different structural forms of the HB-EGF protein. Some of the differences in the various forms of HB-EGF were found to be due to N-terminal heterogeneity. Microsequencing of tryptic fragments indicated that the mature HB-EGF polypeptide can contain at least 86 of the 208 amino acids predicted by nucleotide sequence to be the HB-EGF precursor molecule. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis indicated that the various forms of HB-EGF have apparent molecular masses of 19-23 kDa. Further analysis of the most predominant form of HB-EGF found in U-937 cell conditioned medium indicated that it has a pI of 7.2-7.8 and is O-glycosylated.     

水稻NADP-苹果酸酶的原核表达、纯化和抗体制备

构建了水稻NADP-ME_2基因cDNA的原核表达载体pQE30,并诱导表达出有生物学功能的融合蛋白。用Ni-NTA琼脂糖亲和层析纯化出NADP-ME_2融合蛋白,并测定了融合蛋白酶学特性(V_(max)、K_m、K_(cat)、底物特异性)。用纯化的NADP- ME_2融合蛋白免疫家兔,制备出抗水稻NADP-ME特异性抗体。全蛋白双向电泳后Western印迹表明水稻中至少有4个NADP-ME家族蛋白质成员。     

Expression and Purification of Human Keratinocyte Growth Factor 2 by Fusion with SUMO

Small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) fusion system has been shown to be efficient for enhancing expression and preventing degradation of the target protein. We showed herein that SUMO fusion to human keratinocyte growth factor 2 (hKGF-2) gene was feasible and it significantly enhanced protein expression and its efficiency. The fusion DNA fragment composed of SUMO gene, which was fused to hexahistidine tag, and hKGF-2 gene was amplified by PCR and inserted into the expression vector pET28a to construct the recombinant plasmid, pET28a-SUMO-hKGF-2. The plasmid was then transformed into Escherichia coli Rosetta^TM2(DE3), and the recombinant fusion protein SUMO-hKGF-2 was expressed at 30°C for 6 h, with the induction of IPTG at the final concentration of 0.4 mM. The expression level of the fusion protein was up to 30% of the total cellular protein. The fusion protein was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. After desalting by Sephadex G-25 size exclusion chromatography, the hexahistidine-SUMO-hKGF-2 was digested by SUMO proteases. The recombinant hKGF-2 was purified again with Ni-NTA column and the purity was about 95% with a total yield of 13.9 mg/l culture. The result of mitogenicity assay suggests that the recombinant hKGF-2 can significantly promote the proliferation of normal rat kidney epithelial (NRK-52E) cells. Xiaoping Wu, and Changjun Nie contributed equally to the work.     

High-level expression and characterization of an anti-VEGF165 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) by small ubiquitin-related modifier fusion in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

Antibodies currently constitute the most rapidly growing class of human therapeutics; however, the high-yield production of recombinant antibodies and antibody fragments is a real challenge. High expression of active single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) in Escherichia coli has not been successful, as the protein contains three intramolecular disulfide bonds that are difficult to form correctly in the bacterial intracellular environment. To solve this problem, we fused the scFv gene against VEGF165 with a small ubiquitin-related modifier gene (SUMO) by synthesizing an artificial SUMO–scFv fusion gene that was highly expressed in the BL21(DE3) strain. The optimal expression level of the soluble fusion protein, SUMO–scFv, was up to 28.5% of the total cellular protein. The fusion protein was purified by Ni nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) affinity chromatography and cleaved by a SUMO-specific protease to obtain the native scFv, which was further purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The result of the high-performance liquid chromatography showed that the purity of the recombinant cleaved scFv was greater than 98%. The primary structure of the purified scFv was confirmed by N-terminal amino acid sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy analysis. In vitro activity assay demonstrated that the recombinant scFv could dose-dependently inhibit VEGF165-induced human umbilical vein-derived endothelial cell proliferation. The expression strategy presented in this study allows convenient high yield and easy purification of recombinant scFv with native sequences.     

抗菌肽Cec4a的重组表达和抗菌活性研究*

目的:构建Cec4a的原核重组表达体系,通过诱导表达、酶切纯化获得重组蛋白,并检测产物的抗菌活性。方法:基于Cec4a的序列设计引物,克隆Cec4a基因的DNA片段。利用原核表达载体(pCold-SUMO)构建重组原核表达质粒,并将其转化到大肠杆菌C41(DE3)等感受态细胞,使用IPTG进行诱导表达。通过Ni-NTA亲和层析柱纯化,获得含有His-SUMO标签的重组Cec4a融合蛋白。在SUMO蛋白酶酶切后,再次使用Ni-NTA亲和层析纯化,得到目的蛋白,最后用鲍曼不动杆菌(ATCC19606)作为指示菌检测表达产物的抗菌活性。结果:成功构建pCold-SUMO-Cec4a原核表达质粒,测序分析其序列与预期结果一致。Cec4a融合蛋白表达量为42.8mg/L,纯化后的Cec4a重组蛋白对鲍曼不动杆菌的MIC为4 μg/mL。结论:通过原核表达,并经Ni-NTA亲和层析纯化,获得了具有抗菌活性的重组蛋白Cec4a,为研究Cec4a的生物活性、抗菌机制及应用奠定了基础。     

人Hepassocin的原核可溶性表达与纯化

目的：构建人Hepassocin的原核表达载体,可溶性表达并纯化得到高纯度的重组人Hepassocino方法：将人Hepassocin基因克隆到原核表达载体pET40b（＋）,转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）,于28℃经0．1mmol／LIPTG诱导6h,表达Ds-bC-Hepassocin融合蛋白,经镍柱纯化可溶性融合蛋白,用肠激酶切除融合蛋白的DsbC-His标签,再用镍柱纯化分离酶切后的Hepassocin,通过超滤进一步纯化并浓缩,用Western blot验证纯化后的Hepassocin。结果：构建了pET40b-Hepassocin原核表达载体,经诱导表达、亲和层析和肠激酶切除融合标签,获得了相对分子质量约32000的可溶性高纯度蛋白,Western blot鉴定证实该蛋白为不含融合标签的重组人Hepassocin。结论：实现了人Hepassocin的原核可溶性表达,通过纯化获得了较高纯度的重组人Hepassocin,为制备其单克隆抗体,进一步研究其生物学功能奠定了基础。     

融合表达氨基转移酶DsaD和异构酶DsaE合成L-别异亮氨酸

【背景】L-异亮氨酸(L-isoleucine,L-Ile)和L-别异亮氨酸(L-allo-isoleucine,L-allo-Ile)是自然界中广泛存在的一对同分异构体。抗感染抗生素Desotamides结构中含L-别异亮氨酸结构单元,其生物合成途径中的氨基转移酶DsaD和异构酶DsaE可以协作催化L-异亮氨酸和L-别异亮氨酸相互转化。【目的】通过理性设计,使氨基转移酶DsaD和异构酶DsaE融合表达,研究融合蛋白DsaDE催化异亮氨酸和别异亮氨酸相互转化的功能。【方法】利用PCR分别扩增dsaE基因编码区DNA片段、以及含dsaD基因编码区和114个碱基接头序列的DNA片段dsaD-linker,利用酶切位点KpnI将dsaE和dsaD-linker相连,形成das DE重组序列,并克隆至pET28a(+)中,将重组质粒pET28a-dsaDE转化至Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)中进行融合表达,利用Ni-NTA亲和层析法纯化融合蛋白DsaDE;分别以L-异亮氨酸和L-别异亮氨酸为底物进行融合蛋白的体外酶活性检测,利用高效液相色谱对酶反应产物进行分析。【结果】PCR验证、酶切验证以及测序结果证明pET28a-dsaDE重组载体具有正确序列;N-末端和C-末端融合6个组氨酸标签的融合蛋白DsaDE在E. coli BL21(DE3)中获得可溶性表达,经Ni-NTA亲和层析法一步纯化获得纯度约95%的融合蛋白,纯化的融合蛋白DsaDE具有较好的活性,能够催化L-isoleucine和L-allo-isoleucine间的相互转化。【结论】氨基转移酶DsaD和异构酶DsaE成功融合表达,经一步Ni-NTA亲和层析法纯化即可获得纯度较高的融合蛋白,融合蛋白同时具有氨基转移酶和异构酶的活性,为进一步研究L-别异亮氨酸的工业化生产奠定了基础。     

Suppression of the biological activities of the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain by the heparin-binding domain of heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor

Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a member of the EGF family of growth factors that has a high affinity for heparin and heparan sulfate. While interactions with heparin are thought to modulate the biological activity of HB-EGF, the precise role of the heparin-binding domain has remained unclear. We analyzed the activity of wild-type HB-EGF and a mutant form lacking the heparin-binding domain (DeltaHB) in the presence or absence of heparin. The activity of the EGF-like domain of HB-EGF was determined by measuring binding to diphtheria toxin (DT) as well as the growth factor activity in EGF receptor-expressing cells. The binding affinity of DeltaHB for DT was much higher than that of wild-type HB-EGF in the absence of heparin. The binding affinity of HB-EGF for DT was increased by addition of exogenous heparin and reached the level close to the affinity of DeltaHB, whereas that of DeltaHB was not affected. Moreover, the growth factor activity of DeltaHB was much higher than that of wild-type HB-EGF in the absence of heparin but was not affected by addition of exogenous heparin, whereas HB-EGF had increased growth factor activity with added heparin. These results indicate that the heparin-binding domain suppresses the activity of the EGF-like domain of HB-EGF and that association of heparin with HB-EGF via this domain removes the suppressive effect. Thus, we conclude that the heparin-binding domain serves as a negative regulator of this growth factor.     

Molecular cloning, expression and characterization of a chitosanase from Microbacterium sp.

A gene encoding a chitosanase (mschito) was cloned from Microbacterium sp. OU01. The ORF consists of 801 bp which encoded a polypeptide of 266 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence shows 98% identity to that of the chitosanase reported in Pseudomonas sp. A-01. In addition, the fusion protein containing MSCHITO was expressed in E. coli and purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The purified rMSCHITO protein degraded the chitosan (the degree of deacetylation of 99%) and produced a mixture of chitooligosaccharides. The MSCHITO is thus an endo-chitosanase.     

Intein介导的重组昆虫毒素BmK IT在大肠杆菌中的可溶性表达、纯化及活性分析

为获得重组蝎昆虫毒素BmKIT,通过PCR方法在BmKIT基因的3′端融合了编码6个组氨酸残基的核苷酸序列,将其插入原核表达载体pTWIN1的内含肽Ssp DnaB Intein基因下游的多克隆位点(MCS)。将获得的表达质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中,用IPTG诱导融合蛋白表达。用Ni-NTA亲和层析柱从菌体裂解液中纯化了CBD-Intein-BmK IThis6融合蛋白,并在柱上诱导Intein自剪切,成功去除融合子CBD-Intein。通过Superdex75凝胶过滤层析获得了纯度达95%以上的BmK IThis6蛋白,该蛋白不仅具有正确的二级结构而且有生物活性。     

一种新型IIa类细菌素的克隆表达和活性鉴定

NB-C1为一种潜在的IIa类细菌素基因,为实现其在大肠杆菌中的高效可溶表达,首先构建了NB-C1蛋白与绿色荧光蛋白 (GFP) 的融合表达载体pIVEX 2.4d-GFP-NB-C1,然后将构建的表达载体转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3) pLysS,经诱导表达后,重组蛋白GFP-NB-C1以可溶的形式存在于细胞内。经Ni-NTA亲和层析柱分离纯化后,重组融合蛋白的纯度大于95％,产量达36.1 mg/L。抑菌试验表明,纯化后的重组蛋白对单核细胞增生李斯特氏菌具有明显的抑制作用。     

SUA41蛋白表达和纯化及其多克隆抗体制备

旨在制备特异性SUA41多克隆抗体,为深入研究其在植物生长发育中的功能提供有力的分子生物学和生物化学的工具。PCR扩增拟南芥SUA41基因中编码280个氨基酸(401-680位氨基酸)的特异片段,经过GATEWAY的DNA重组技术构建了原核表达载体pDEST17-SUA41,用热休克法转化到E.coliBL21(DE3)star感受态细胞,以异丙基β-D-硫代半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导表达出6×His-SUA41融合蛋白,用8 mol/L尿素缓冲液溶解包涵体并且经过水逐级去除尿素获得提纯的融合蛋白,并利用Western blotting鉴定确认。融合蛋白经Ni金属螯合柱亲和层析得以纯化,用SDS-PAGE进一步纯化。纯化的融合蛋白经过SDS-PAGE后切胶回收,免疫小白兔,制备多抗血清,然后用Western blotting进行检测,鉴定血清特异性和效价。结果显示,融合蛋白6×His-SUA41免疫兔,产生特异性的SUA41兔抗血清,可以检测到细菌和拟南芥组织中SUA41蛋白。用水提纯变性剂尿素溶解的包涵体蛋白具有可行性。制备的特异性SUA41兔抗血清效价高,能够有效地识别大肠杆菌表达的和拟南芥的SUA41蛋白。在有合适的对照情况下,该兔抗血清可以用于分析植物中SUA41蛋白的功能。     

Expression and purification of an antitumor-analgesic peptide from the venom of Mesobuthus martensii Karsch by small ubiquitin-related modifier fusion in Escherichia coli

To prevent protein aggregation, some proteins are usually expressed as fusion proteins from which target proteins can be released by proteolytic or chemical reagents. In this report, small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) linked with a hexa-histidine tag was used as a fusion partner for the antitumor-analgesic peptide from the venom of Buthus martensii (Karsch) scorpion (AGAP). The optimal expression level of the soluble fusion protein, SUMO-AGAP, was up to 40% of the total cellular protein. The fusion protein was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and cleaved by a SUMO-specific protease (Ulp1) to obtain the recombinant AGAP (rAGAP), which was further purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The purified final product was >95% pure by SDS-PAGE stained with Coomassie brilliant blue R-250. Mass spectroscopic analysis indicated the protein to be 7142.63 Dalton, which equaled the theoretically expected mass. N-terminal sequencing of rAGAP showed the sequence corresponded to the native protein. MTT assay indicated the rAGAP could significantly inhibit the proliferation of Jurkat and Hut 78 T lymphoma cell lines. The further writhing experiment showed that the rAGAP had an intensive analgesic effect. The expression strategy presented in this study allows convenient high yield and easy purification of the rAGAP with native sequences.     

Purification and characterization of prokaryotically expressed human interferon-λ2

A system for the production of soluble interferon (IFN)-λ2 was developed by fusing the IFN-λ2, NusA protein, polyhistidine and S peptide genes and then expressing the fused product (Nus-His-S-tagged IFN-λ2) in Escherichia coli. The expressed fusion protein was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The fusion tag was removed from recombinant IFN-λ2 by cleavage with enterokinase. N-Terminal sequencing confirmed the identity of the purified protein. When compared with commercial IFN-α2b, IFN-λ2 had similar antiviral activity. The production and characterization of biologically active IFN-λ2 will be beneficial for its potential role in clinical applications.     

The epidermal growth factor precursor isolated from murine kidney membranes. Chemical characterization and biological properties

To understand the biology and the biochemistry of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) precursor in normal tissues we partially purified the EGF precursor from mouse kidney. The precursor was purified by affinity chromatography, using wheat germ lectin and antibodies to murine EGF. The EGF precursor is a glycosylated integral membrane protein of apparent molecular mass of 140-150 kDa. The solubilized EGF precursor is biologically active as evidenced by its ability to compete with 125I-labeled EGF for binding to the EGF receptor in intact fibroblasts and its ability to stimulate the growth of cells dependent on EGF for growth. The EGF precursor from mouse kidney can be proteolytically processed by the EGF-associated arginine esterase into a smaller fragment (97 kDa) that retains both immunologic sensitivity to EGF antiserum and biological activity. Extensive digestion of the EGF precursor with pepsin liberates a biologically and immunologically active protein of approximately the size of mature EGF.     

Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor regulates human extravillous cytotrophoblast development during conversion to the invasive phenotype

Cytotrophoblasts of the anchoring villi convert during human placentation from a transporting epithelium to an invasive, extravillous phenotype that expresses a distinct repertoire of adhesion molecules. Developing extravillous trophoblasts accumulate heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), a multifunctional cytokine, which binds HER1 and HER4 of the human EGF receptor (HER/ErbB) family. HB-EGF is downregulated in placentae of women with preeclampsia, a disorder associated with deficient trophoblast invasion, raising important questions about its physiological impact on cytotrophoblasts. Addition of HB-EGF during explant culture of first-trimester chorionic villi enhanced extravillous trophoblast differentiation and invasive activity. Using a first-trimester human cytotrophoblast line, the potential for autocrine and paracrine regulation of the developing trophoblast was established based on the expression of all four HER isoforms, as well as HB-EGF and related growth factors. HB-EGF did not alter proliferation, but initiated extravillous differentiation, with decreased alpha6 integrin expression, increased alpha1, and elevated cell migration. Function-blocking antibodies against EGF family members reduced basal cell motility and antibody inhibition of either HER1 or HER4 ligation prevented HB-EGF-induced integrin switching. We conclude that HER-mediated autocrine and paracrine signaling by HB-EGF or other EGF family members induces cytotrophoblast differentiation to an invasive phenotype.     

Transient expression, purification and characterization of bioactive human fibroblast growth factor 8b in tobacco plants

cDNA of human fibroblast growth factor 8 isoform b (FGF8b) was cloned for the first time into a plant expression vector with or without endoplasmic reticulum retention signal (KDEL) and was transiently expressed as His tagged fusion protein in Nicotiana tabacum leaves through Agrobacterium mediated gene transfer by vacuum infiltration method. Expression of FGF8b was confirmed by ELISA and Western blot using anti-FGF8b antibody and the expression level was measured as 4.1% of total soluble protein of tobacco leaves. The expressed recombinant protein was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and its molecular weight was determined by MALDI-TOF-MS. Schiff’s test, Concanavalin A (Con A) immunoblot and enzymatic deglycosylation indicated that the high molecular mass was due to glycosylation of the FGF8b expressed in plant cells. Measurement of its biological activity in NIH3T3 cells by thymidine incorporation and MTT assay showed induction of cell proliferation. These results indicate that biologically active recombinant FGF8b could be expressed in tobacco plants. Surya Kumar Potula and Sonal Roy Kathuria contributed equally to this work.