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。     

幽门螺杆菌Dps蛋白的表达、纯化及活性测定

[目的]表达及纯化重组幽门螺杆菌(Helicobacter pylori) Dps(DNA protection during starvation)蛋白并测定其活性。[方法]依照Dps蛋白的基因序列,设计PCR引物,并以幽门螺杆菌基因组DNA为模板扩增Dps基因。将扩增产物回收后连接到p ET15b然后转化大肠杆菌,涂布在抗性平板,37℃过夜培养,然后使用PCR和测序验证阳性菌落。使用IPTG诱导重组Dps蛋白表达,并通过Ni~(2+)亲和层析纯化。测试Dps蛋白的亚铁氧化酶活性和抗氧化功能。[结果]通过PCR获得全长为438 bp的Dps基因,成功构建重组质粒p ET15b-Dps,它能编码分子量为18. 9 k Da的重组Dps蛋白。使用IPTG诱导目的蛋白表达,然后纯化得到Dps蛋白。Dps蛋白能够快速催化亚铁离子生成铁离子。与对照BSA蛋白相比,Dps蛋白具有较强的抑制氧自由基生成的活性。[结论]构建了重组质粒p ET15b-Dps,纯化获得Dps蛋白并测定了其亚铁氧化酶活性和抗氧化活性。     

噬菌体gp17基因2种重组产物的抗菌效应比较

通过重组技术获得大肠埃希菌噬菌体内溶素纯化蛋白和表面展示噬菌体,并观察产物的生物效应。将肠侵袭性大肠埃希菌EIEC 8401噬菌体LSB-1内溶素基因gp17构建到质粒pET300中,并在大肠埃希菌BL21中诱导表达,通过Ni柱纯化系统纯化产物;利用噬菌体展示技术构建T7-LSB-gp17重组噬菌体,通过双层琼脂法纯化噬菌体,并观察2种产物的抗菌效应。2 139 bp的gp17基因通过重组技术表达出78.3 ku的可溶性蛋白,纯化后浓度为2.38 mg/mL,其对EIEC8401有良好的抑菌活性,但对其他试验菌无抗性;通过噬菌体展示技术构建的重组噬菌体T7-LSB-gp17通过SDS-PAGE电泳显示在78 ku处有表达增强,对EIEC8401无感染、裂解作用,但对EIEC8401及其他试验菌有明显溶菌作用,宿主谱增加。通过重组技术获得的噬菌体LSB-1内溶素基因gp17的产物对LSB-1噬菌体原宿主具有明显的抑制效应。其中gp17表达的纯化蛋白具有明显的宿主专一性,重组噬菌体悬液有较宽种类的抗菌作用。这可能是因为gp17蛋白与噬菌体表面复杂空间结构的相互作用产生的生物效应。     

结核分枝杆菌16-kDa α晶体蛋白的原核表达及纯化

目的:利用基因工程技术原核表达并纯化结核分枝杆菌α晶体蛋白(Acr)。方法:以结核分枝杆菌H37Rv株基因组DNA为模板,通过PCR方法扩增Acr的编码基因,以pCold为载体构建重组质粒,再转化到表达宿主菌大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中,用IPTG诱导表达,经SDS-PAGE和Western印迹分析和纯化该表达产物。结果:构建了具有正确基因序列的Acr重组表达质粒,重组Acr在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中经低温诱导得到可溶性表达;分别用6×His的单克隆抗体和16-kDa单克隆抗体对表达产物进行Western印迹分析,结果显示在相对分子质量约19 000处均有特异性条带,与预计大小吻合;纯化后蛋白纯度达90%,浓度达0.8 mg/mL。结论:表达了重组可溶性Acr,为深入研究该蛋白的生物学、免疫学活性奠定了基础。     

片球菌素pedA基因的原核表达、纯化及生物信息学分析

旨在构建片球菌素PA-1结构基因pedA的原核表达载体,在大肠杆菌体系中实现PA-1的外源表达,运用生物信息学手段分析重组蛋白的理化性质及分子结构。以戊糖片球菌C-2-1的DNA为模板,扩增pedA基因,扩增产物克隆入pET28a(+)原核表达载体,构建pET28a-ped A重组质粒,转入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中;30℃,以1 mmol/L IPTG诱导表达5 h;采用Ni-NTA树脂亲和层析纯化重组蛋白,检测纯化后重组蛋白的抑菌活性;利用生物信息学手段探究重组蛋白的理化性质及分子结构信息。结果显示,pET28a-ped A重组质粒构建成功,带有His标签的PA-1重组片球菌素在大肠杆菌中实现了可溶性表达,利用Ni-NTA亲和层析获得纯化的重组蛋白,Tricine-SDS-PAGE电泳分析表明纯化后的重组蛋白分子量约为7.8 k D,与理论值相符。琼脂扩散法抑菌活性实验抑菌圈效果明显,表明纯化的重组片球菌素具有抑菌活性。生物信息学方法对比分析其蛋白结构发现,获得的重组蛋白含有信号肽,α螺旋占23.53%,疏水性提高,可能促进了重组蛋白的可溶性表达。该实验成功构建了片球菌素PA-1的原核表达载体,实现了在大肠杆菌中的可溶性表达,该表达可能与其含有信号肽及信号肽疏水性有关,纯化后的重组蛋白抑菌活性明显。     

中国家蚕抗菌肽ABP-CM4在E.coli中的融合表达及活性分析

参照天然抗菌肽CM4(ABP-CM4)氨基酸序列和大肠杆菌偏爱密码子,采用rPCR法获得CM4基因后重组到表达载体pET32a上,在E.coli中融合表达。表达产物以可溶性存在,经Ni2 -NTA琼脂糖亲和层析获得融合蛋白,再经甲酸切割、亲和层析和阳离子交换层析,得到纯化的重组抗菌肽。琼脂糖扩散法和液相测定法证明了纯化的抗菌肽具有抗菌活性。     

莫洛尼鼠白血病病毒逆转录酶的原核表达纯化及其生物学活性

利用基因重组技术及简易的纯化方法快速制备莫洛尼鼠白血病病毒逆转录酶(MMLV-RT)。设计带有酶切位点的引物, PCR获得MMLV-rt基因片段; 再通过定点突变将目的基因的五个可溶性位点进行突变, 测序正确后, 插入到表达载体pET15b中构建成重组表达质粒pET15b-MMLV-rt; 表达产物的纯品通过金属离子(Ni3+)配体亲和纯化系统得到。用SDS-PAGE分析所纯化产物的大小和纯度, 再用RT-PCR 对其活性进行鉴定。构建的重组表达质粒pET15b-MMLV-rt 经IPTG诱导得到N端带有6His的RT融合蛋白, 通过Ni3+的亲和层析得到纯品蛋白, SDS-PAGE分析表明其纯度可达96%, RT-PCR实验表明具有较高的生物学活性。由此得出利用原核表达及简易的纯化系统可获得纯度为96%的逆转录酶纯品, 为大规模生产该酶提供了可靠的保证。     

莫洛尼鼠白血病病毒逆转录酶的原核表达纯化及其生物学活性

利用基因重组技术及简易的纯化方法快速制备莫洛尼鼠白血病病毒逆转录酶(MMLV-RT)。设计带有酶切位点的引物, PCR获得MMLV-rt基因片段; 再通过定点突变将目的基因的五个可溶性位点进行突变, 测序正确后, 插入到表达载体pET15b中构建成重组表达质粒pET15b-MMLV-rt; 表达产物的纯品通过金属离子(Ni3+)配体亲和纯化系统得到。用SDS-PAGE分析所纯化产物的大小和纯度, 再用RT-PCR 对其活性进行鉴定。构建的重组表达质粒pET15b-MMLV-rt 经IPTG诱导得到N端带有6His的RT融合蛋白, 通过Ni3+的亲和层析得到纯品蛋白, SDS-PAGE分析表明其纯度可达96%, RT-PCR实验表明具有较高的生物学活性。由此得出利用原核表达及简易的纯化系统可获得纯度为96%的逆转录酶纯品, 为大规模生产该酶提供了可靠的保证。     

核糖核酸酶抑制蛋白变体RIv在大肠杆菌和家蚕细胞中的表达

人源的核糖核酸酶抑制蛋白 (ribonucleaseinhibitor,RI)是一种富含亮氨酸和半胱氨酸残基的酸性蛋白质 ,分子量为 5 0kD。从人胚胎肝cDNA文库中克隆到一个核糖核酸酶抑制蛋白RI基因的变体 (ribonucleaseinhibitorvari ant,RIv)。序列分析表明 ,与RI相比较 ,RIv序列中仅有Arg359Ala和Leu36 5Pro两个氨基酸突变 ,而核苷酸同源性较低 ,为 78%。将RIv克隆于pET2 8a( ) ,并转化大肠杆菌BL2 1(DE3) ,IPTG诱导表达 ,利用 6×His亲和层析柱纯化得到了His RIv重组蛋白。将RIv克隆于转移载体pBacPAK8,利用家蚕核型多角体病毒 (BmNPV)表达系统表达得到重组RIv。体外活性测定实验表明 ,重组RIv具有抑制牛胰RNaseA酶解 2 8S和 18SrRNA的作用。     

提高大肠杆菌可溶性重组蛋白表达产率的研究进展

大肠杆菌表达重组蛋白相比真核细胞具有成本低廉、大规模发酵容易、条件易于自动化控制等优点,通过大肠杆菌表达重组蛋白是一种高效、经济的途径,重组蛋白表达量可达到大肠杆菌总蛋白质量的50%。具有正常生化活性的重组蛋白通常为可溶性形式,因而对于以得到活性产物(如抗体、酶等)为目的的研究,通常采用可溶性表达途径。目前已有多种以可溶性重组蛋白为活性物质的治疗性药物经批准上市,但并非所有外源基因均能实现可溶性高表达,因此重组蛋白的可溶性高表达具有重要研究价值。在总结近年提高经大肠杆菌可溶性表达重组蛋白产率研究的基础上,从启动子的选择、SD序列的引入、信号肽的优化、宿主细胞的选择、共表达其他蛋白质,高密度发酵等方面阐释在大肠杆菌中提高可溶性重组蛋白表达产率的方法。     

Studies on the interaction of ribonuclease inhibitor with pancreatic ribonuclease involving differential labeling of cysteinyl residues.

Ribonuclease inhibitor (RI) is a protein that forms a very tight complex with ribonucleases (RNases) of the pancreatic type. RI contains 30 thiol groups, some of which are important for the enzyme-inhibitor interaction. To examine which thiols are affected by the binding of RNase, differential labeling experiments were performed. Reaction of porcine RI with the cysteine-specific labeling reagent 4-N,N-dimethylaminoazobenzene-4'-iodoacetamido-2'-sulfonic acid resulted in labeling of an average of 7.4 of the 30 cysteinyl residues. Binding of bovine pancreatic RNase A caused a 3.2-fold reduction in the extent of modification. Peptide mapping showed that in free RI, Cys-57, -371, and -404 were labeled to the greatest extent (yield, 0.4-0.6 mol/mol). RNase A did not protect Cys-57 against modification, whereas the labeling of Cys-371 and -404 was reduced by more than 90%. A second group of residues was labeled to a lesser extent in free RI (yield, 0.04-0.2 mol/mol). Within this group 11 residues were protected by RNase A by more than 90%, 2 were not affected at all, and 7 were protected between 10 and 90%. Seven cysteinyl residues in RI that were protected in the RI.RNase A complex were no longer protected in the RI.S-protein complex. These residues were mainly present in the N-terminal region of RI. However, when the S-peptide was included to yield the RI.RNase S complex, the same pattern of labeling was obtained as with the RI.RNase A complex. Addition of the S-peptide alone had no effect on the labeling. The implications of these observations with respect to RNase binding areas of RI are discussed in relation to the results obtained from the analysis of active RI molecules that contain deletions.     

Disruption of shape-complementarity markers to create cytotoxic variants of ribonuclease A

Onconase (ONC), an amphibian member of the bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) superfamily, is in phase III clinical trials as a treatment for malignant mesothelioma. RNase A is a far more efficient catalyst of RNA cleavage than ONC but is not cytotoxic. The innate ability of ONC to evade the cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitor protein (RI) is likely to be a primary reason for its cytotoxicity. In contrast, the non-covalent interaction between RNase A and RI is one of the strongest known, with the RI.RNase A complex having a K(d) value in the femtomolar range. Here, we report on the use of the fast atomic density evaluation (FADE) algorithm to identify regions in the molecular interface of the RI.RNase A complex that exhibit a high degree of geometric complementarity. Guided by these "knobs" and "holes", we designed variants of RNase A that evade RI. The D38R/R39D/N67R/G88R substitution increased the K(d) value of the pRI.RNase A complex by 20 x 10(6)-fold (to 1.4 microM) with little change to catalytic activity or conformational stability. This and two related variants of RNase A were more toxic to human cancer cells than was ONC. Notably, these cytotoxic variants exerted their toxic activity on cancer cells selectively, and more selectively than did ONC. Substitutions that further diminish affinity for RI (which has a cytosolic concentration of 4 microM) are unlikely to produce a substantial increase in cytotoxic activity. These results demonstrate the utility of the FADE algorithm in the examination of protein-protein interfaces and represent a landmark towards the goal of developing chemotherapeutics based on mammalian ribonucleases.     

Ribonuclease inhibitor as an intracellular sentry

Onconase® (ONC) is a homolog of RNase A that is in clinical trials as a cancer chemotherapeutic agent. The toxicity of ONC and RNase A variants relies on their ability to evade the cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitor protein (RI) and degrade cellular RNA. We find that these ribonucleases are more toxic for more rapidly growing cells. The enhanced cytotoxicity does not arise from variation in the endogenous level of RI, which is virtually constant. Overproduction of RI diminishes the potency of toxic RNase A variants, but has no effect on the cytotoxicity of ONC. Thus, RI constrains the cytotoxicity of RNase A. These data provide new insights for the development of an optimal ribonuclease-based cancer chemotherapy.     

Fluorescence assay for the binding of ribonuclease A to the ribonuclease inhibitor protein

Ribonuclease A (RNase A) and the ribonuclease inhibitor protein (RI) form one of the tightest known protein-protein complexes. RNase A variants and homologues, such as G88R RNase A, that retain ribonucleolytic activity in the presence of RI are toxic to cancer cells. Herein, a new and facile assay is described for measuring the equilibrium dissociation constant (K(d)) and dissociation rate constant (k(d)) for complexes of RI and RNase A. This assay is based on the decrease in fluorescence intensity that occurs when a fluorescein-labeled RNase A binds to RI. To allow time for equilibration, the assay is most readily applied to those complexes with K(d) values in the nanomolar range or higher. Using this assay, the value of K(d) for the complex of RI with fluorescein-labeled G88R RNase A was determined to be 0.55 +/- 0.03 nM. In addition, the value of K(d) was determined for the complex of RI with unlabeled G88R RNase A to be 0.57 +/- 0.05 nM by using a competition assay with fluorescein-labeled G88R RNase A. Finally, the value of k(d) for the complex of RI with fluorescein-labeled G88R RNase A was determined to be (7.5 +/- 0.4) x 10(-3) s(-1) by monitoring the increase in fluorescence intensity upon dissociation. This assay can be used to characterize complexes of RI with a wide variety of RNase A variants and homologues, including those with cytotoxic activity.     

KFERQ sequence in ribonuclease A-mediated cytotoxicity.

Onconase(ONC) is an amphibian ribonuclease that is in clinical trials as a cancer chemotherapeutic agent. ONC is a homolog of ribonuclease A (RNase A). RNase A can be made toxic to cancer cells by replacing Gly(88) with an arginine residue, thereby enabling the enzyme to evade the endogenous cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitor protein (RI). Unlike ONC, RNase A contains a KFERQ sequence (residues 7-11), which signals for lysosomal degradation. Here, substitution of Arg(10) of the KFERQ sequence has no effect on either the cytotoxicity of G88R RNase A or its affinity for RI. In contrast, K7A/G88R RNase A is nearly 10-fold more cytotoxic than G88R RNase A and has more than 10-fold less affinity for RI. Up-regulation of the KFERQ-mediated lysosomal degradation pathway has no effect on the cytotoxicity of these ribonucleases. Thus, KFERQ-mediated degradation does not limit the cytotoxicity of RNase A variants. Moreover, only two amino acid substitutions (K7A and G88R) are shown to endow RNase A with cytotoxic activity that is nearly equal to that of ONC.     

Preparation of potent cytotoxic ribonucleases by cationization: enhanced cellular uptake and decreased interaction with ribonuclease inhibitor by chemical modification of carboxyl groups.

Carboxyl groups of bovine RNase A were amidated with ethylenediamine (to convert negative charges of carboxylate anions to positive ones), 2-aminoethanol (to eliminate negative charges), and taurine (to keep negative charges), respectively, by a carbodiimide reaction. Human RNase 1 was also modified with ethylenediamine. Surprisingly, the modified RNases were all cytotoxic toward 3T3-SV-40 cells despite their decreased ribonucleolytic activity. However, their enzymatic activity was not completely eliminated by the presence of excess cytosolic RNase inhibitor (RI). As for native RNase A and RNase 1 which were not cytotoxic, they were completely inactivated by RI. More interestingly, within the cytotoxic RNase derivatives, cytotoxicity correlated well with the net positive charge. RNase 1 and RNase A modified with ethylenediamine were more cytotoxic than naturally occurring cytotoxic bovine seminal RNase. An experiment using the fluorescence-labeled RNase derivatives indicated that the more cationic RNases were more efficiently adsorbed to the cells. Thus, it is suggested that the modification of carboxyl groups could change complementarity of RNase to RI and as a result endow RNase cytotoxicity and that cationization enhances the efficiency of cellular uptake of RNase so as to strengthen its cytotoxicity. The finding that an extracellular human enzyme such as RNase 1 could be effectively internalized into the cell by cationization suggests that cationization is a simple strategy for efficient delivery of a protein into cells and may open the way of the development of new therapeutics.     

A ribonuclease A variant with low catalytic activity but high cytotoxicity

Onconase, a homolog of ribonuclease A (RNase A) with low ribonucleolytic activity, is cytotoxic and has efficacy as a cancer chemotherapeutic. Here variants of RNase A were used to probe the interplay between ribonucleolytic activity and evasion of the cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitor protein (RI) in the cytotoxicity of ribonucleases. K41R/G88R RNase A is a less active catalyst than G88R RNase A but, surprisingly, is more cytotoxic. Like Onconase, the K41R/G88R variant has a low affinity for RI, which apparently compensates for its low ribonucleolytic activity. In contrast, K41A/G88R RNase A, which has the same affinity for RI as does the K41R/G88R variant, is not cytotoxic. The nontoxic K41A/G88R variant is a much less active catalyst than is the toxic K41R/G88R variant. These data indicate that maintaining sufficient ribonucleolytic activity in the presence of RI is a requirement for a homolog or variant of RNase A to be cytotoxic. This principle can guide the design of new chemotherapeutics based on homologs and variants of RNase A.     

Engineering receptor-mediated cytotoxicity into human ribonucleases by steric blockade of inhibitor interaction

Several nonmammalian members of the RNase A superfamily exhibit anticancer activity that appears to correlate with resistance to the cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitor (RI). We mutated two human ribonucleases-pancreatic RNase (hRNAse) and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN)-to incorporate cysteine residues at putative sites of close contact to RI, but distant from the catalytic sites. Coupling of Cys89 of RNase and Cys87 of EDN to proteins at these sites via a thioether bond produced enzymatically active conjugates that were resistant to RI. To elicit cellular targeting as well as to block RI binding, transferrin was conjugated to a mutant human RNase, rhRNase(Gly89)-->Cys) and a mutant EDN (Thr87-->Cys). The transferrin-rhRNase(Gly89-->Cys) thioether conjugate was 5000-fold more toxic to U251 cells than recombinant wild-type hRNase. In addition, transferrin-targeted EDN exhibited tumor cell toxicities similar to those of hRNase. Thus, we endowed two human RI-sensitive RNases with greater cytotoxicity by increasing their resistance to RI. This strategy has the potential to generate a novel set of recombinant human proteins useful for targeted therapy of cancer.     

Tandemization endows bovine pancreatic ribonuclease with cytotoxic activity

Due to their ability to degrade RNA, selected members of the bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) superfamily are potent cytotoxins. These cytotoxic ribonucleases enter the cytosol of target cells, where they degrade cellular RNA and cause cell death. The cytotoxic activity of most RNases, however, is abolished by the cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitor (RI). Consequently, the development of RNase derivatives with the ability to evade RI binding is a desirable goal. In this study, tandem enzymes consisting of two RNase A units that are bound covalently via a peptide linker were generated by gene duplication. As deduced from the crystal structure of the RNase A.RI complex, one RNase A unit of the tandem enzyme can still be bound by RI. The other unit, however, should remain unbound because of steric hindrance. This free RNase A unit is expected to maintain its activity and to act as a cytotoxic agent. The study of the influence of the linker sequence on the conformation and stability of these constructs revealed that tandemization has only minor effects on the activity and stability of the constructs in comparison to monomeric RNase A. Relative activity was decreased by 10-50% and the melting temperature was decreased by less than 2.5 K. Furthermore, the cytotoxic potency of the RNase A tandem enzymes was investigated. Despite an in vitro inhibition by RI, tandemization was found to endow RNase A with remarkable cytotoxic activity. While monomeric RNase A is not cytotoxic, IC(50) values of the RNase A tandem variants decreased to 70.3-12.9 microM. These findings might establish the development of a new class of chemotherapeutic agents based on pancreatic ribonucleases.     

Intraspecies regulation of ribonucleolytic activity

The evolutionary rate of proteins involved in obligate protein-protein interactions is slower and the degree of coevolution higher than that for nonobligate protein-protein interactions. The coevolution of the proteins involved in certain nonobligate interactions is, however, essential to cell survival. To gain insight into the coevolution of one such nonobligate protein pair, the cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitor (RI) proteins and secretory pancreatic-type ribonucleases from cow (Bos taurus) and human (Homo sapiens) were produced in Escherichia coli and purified, and their physicochemical properties were analyzed. The two intraspecies complexes were found to be extremely tight (bovine Kd = 0.69 fM; human Kd = 0.34 fM). Human RI binds to its cognate ribonuclease (RNase 1) with 100-fold greater affinity than to the bovine homologue (RNase A). In contrast, bovine RI binds to RNase 1 and RNase A with nearly equal affinity. This broader specificity is consistent with there being more pancreatic-type ribonucleases in cows (20) than humans (13). Human RI (32 cysteine residues) also has 4-fold less resistance to oxidation by hydrogen peroxide than does bovine RI (29 cysteine residues). This decreased oxidative stability of human RI, which is caused largely by Cys74, implies a larger role for human RI as an antioxidant. The conformational and oxidative stabilities of both RIs increase upon complex formation with ribonucleases. Thus, RI has evolved to maintain its inhibition of invading ribonucleases, even when confronted with extreme environmental stress. That role appears to take precedence over its role in mediating oxidative damage.