A modular polycistronic expression system for overexpressing protein complexes in Escherichia coli

To facilitate studies of multicomponent protein complexes, I have developed an Escherichia coli expression system which coexpresses up to four polypeptides from a single plasmid. The modular nature of the system enables efficient subcloning of a gene into each of the 4 cassettes in the polycistronic expression vector. Restriction sites present in the polycistronic expression vector allow both affinity tagged and untagged complexes to be overexpressed. I demonstrate successful use of the expression system for binary and ternary complexes, including the reconstitution of the VHL-elonginC-elonginB complex in E. coli and purification of the complex by affinity and ion-exchange chromatography. This polycistronic expression system should provide an important alternative to in vitro reconstitution of multicomponent complexes.     

A versatile phage lambda expression vector system for cloning in Escherichia coli

By integrating fragments from the expression plasmids pJK2 and pJK4 into a derivative of the bacteriophage lambda, we constructed the phage expression vectors lambda JK2 and lambda JK4, which allow efficient cloning of genomic or cDNA either into the 5' end or the 3' end of the lacZ gene of Escherichia coli. Expression of barrier-free DNA in phase may lead to fusion proteins consisting of active beta-galactosidase (beta Gal) plus an additional polypeptide encoded by the inserted DNA. Analysis of distinct recombinant clones is quick and easy, due to the reversible integration of the plasmid into the genome. As an example, we constructed an expression library of genomic Plasmodium falciparum DNA in lambda JK2. We polymerised (amplified) and expressed a synthetic DNA fragment, which codes for a potential antigenic determinant of the 11-1 gene of Plasmodium falciparum as a fusion to the N terminus of active beta Gal. We demonstrate that such chimeric molecules can be affinity-purified and that polypeptides can be separated from the beta Gal part by cleavage with the protease factor Xa.     

A new expression vector for the production of fused proteins in Escherichia coli

Summary The construction of a new expression vector for fused proteins production in Escherichia coli is reported. This new vehicle uses the trp promoter-operator control region for the high level expression of a DNA fragment that codes for the amino terminal fragment of the cI repressor protein. This truncated polypeptide is accumulated as inclusion bodies that are easily purified. To probe the benefits of the system, synthetic DNA that codes for the human insulin B chain, was cloned at the end of the DNA coding region for the cI truncated peptide. The hybrid peptide thus produced after induction, allowed an easy and reproducible purification of active insulin B chain.Abbreviation Ap ampicillin - bp base pairs - kD kilodaltons - Mr migration rate - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - Tc tetracycline - trp tryptophan     

优化的复合自动诱导培养基（CAI-4）对外源蛋白在大肠杆菌中 表达的影响

[目的]原核表达系统是目前最为广泛使用的一种外源蛋白表达系统。在利用原核表达系统表达目的蛋白的过程中,可溶性外源蛋白的产量是决定成本和效率的决定性因素。[方法]本项研究中利用本实验室构建的7种不同的重组质粒(-1、p-2、p-3、p-4、p-5、p-6、p-7),检测其在复合自动诱导培养基中的表达情况,评价哪一种培养基更适合于外源蛋白的表达,提高目的蛋白的产量。[结果]结果显示,这7种重组蛋白在复合自动诱导培养基的表达量是普通LB培养基的4~8倍;并在此基础上,对复合培养基的成份进行进一步优化,形成了一种优化培养基(改良培养基-4),P-1、P-2、P-3这3种融合蛋白在这种改良培养基中的表达量比优化前提高了至少2倍。     

A single-copy promoter-cloning vector for use in Escherichia coli.

We have constructed and tested a single-copy-plasmid vector (pEU720) based on the IncFII-group plasmid, R100, that is useful for cloning promoters in front of lacZ. The vector is 15 kb long and contains a unique XhoI site in front of lacZ.     

Construction of a shuttle vector for inducible gene expression in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis

The construction of a shuttle vector for inducible gene expression allowing fast and easy cloning in Escherichia coli and subsequent transformation of Bacillus subtilis is presented. The expression is based on the regulation of the tac promoter by the Lac repressor which was assayed with the xylE gene from Pseudomonas putida as a marker gene. The lacIq gene, transcribed by the strong spo promoter, allowed full repression of the weak tac promoter.     

A versatile system for the expression of nonmodified bacteriocins in Escherichia coli

AIMS: To develop a method and plasmid vectors suitable for expression of class II bacteriocins from Escherichia coli. METHODS AND RESULTS: The expression vector pSuV1 was constructed by inserting the PelB secretion signal coding sequence and a number of restriction endonuclease sites for cloning, into pTYB1. Codon optimized genes encoding the active mature region of each bacteriocin were constructed and inserted into pSuV1. Transfer of these constructs to a host expressing T7 RNA polymerase allowed for expression of secreted mature or fusion forms of the bacteriocins. Generation of the fusion, to the adjacent intein-chitin-binding domain gene, was achieved by removal of a small intervening BseRI fragment. The bacteriocins BacR1, divercin V41, enterocin P, pediocin PA-1 and piscicolin 126 were expressed from this system. For piscicolin 126, expression levels of 200 microg l(-1) in the mature form and 1100 microg l(-1) when cleaved from the fusion partner were achieved. All expressed bacteriocins displayed antimicrobial activity. CONCLUSIONS: Several class II bacteriocins have been expressed in E. coli using purpose designed plasmid vectors described here. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This method provides a common expression system capable of producing a range of different class II bacteriocins. It allows researchers to study class II bacteriocins without access to the original producer strain, the native bacteriocin gene, or highly specific heterologous producing strains. Resulting expression levels are as high or higher than those previously reported for related bacteriocins.     

TGATG vector: a new expression system for cloned foreign genes in Escherichia coli cells

A TGATG vector system was developed that allows for the construction of hybrid operons with partially overlapping genes, employing the effects of translational coupling to optimize expression of cloned cistrons in Escherichia coli. In this vector system (plasmid pPR-TGATG-1), the coding region of a foreign gene is attached to the ATG codon situated on the vector, to form the hybrid operon transcribed from the phage lambda PR promoter. The cloned gene is the distal cistron of this hybrid operon ('overlappon'). The efficiently translated cro'-cat'-'trpE hybrid cistron is proximal to the promoter. The coding region of this artificial fused cistron [the length of the corresponding open reading frame is about 120 amino acids (aa)] includes the following: the N-terminal portions of phage lambda Cro protein (20 aa), the CAT protein of E. coli (72 aa) and 3' C-terminal codons of the E. coli trpE gene product. At the 3'-end of the cro'-cat'-'trpE fused cistron there is a region for efficient translation reinitiation: a Shine-Dalgarno sequence of the E. coli trpD gene and the overlapping stop and start codons (TGATG). In this sequence, the last G is the first nucleotide of the unique SacI-recognition site (GAGCT decreases C) and so integration of the structural part of the foreign gene into the vector plasmid may be performed using blunt-end DNA linking after the treatment of pPR-TGATG-1 with SacI and E. coli DNA polymerase I or its Klenow fragment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

High-level expression of fully active yeast flavocytochrome b2 in Escherichia coli.

Wild-type flavocytochrome b2 (L-lactate dehydrogenase) from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and three singly substituted mutant forms (F254, R349 and K376) have been expressed in the bacterium Escherichia coli. The enzyme expressed in E. coli contains the protohaem IX and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) prosthetic groups found in the enzyme isolated from yeast, has an electronic absorption spectrum identical with that of the yeast protein and an identical Mr value of 57,500 estimated by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. N-Terminal amino-acid-sequence data indicate that the flavocytochrome b2 isolated from E. coli begins at position 6 (methionine) when compared with mature flavocytochrome b2 from yeast. The absence of the first five amino acid residues appears to have no effect on the enzyme-catalysed oxidation of L-lactate, since Km values for the yeast- and E. coli-expressed wild-type enzymes were identical within experimental error. The F254 mutant enzyme expressed in E. coli also showed kinetic parameters essentially the same as those found for the enzyme from yeast. The R349 and K376 mutant enzymes had no activity when expressed in either yeast or E. coli. The yield of flavocytochrome b2 from E. coli is estimated to be between 500- and 1000-fold more than from a similar wet weight of yeast (this high level of expression results in E. coli cells which are pink in colour). The increased yield has allowed us to verify the presence of FMN in the R349 mutant enzyme. The advantages of E. coli as an expression system for flavocytochrome b2 are discussed.     

A versatile vector system for multiple gene expression in plants

Today, cloning vectors that have been specifically designed to facilitate the fusion, overexpression or down-regulation of a variety of genes in plant cells are available from various sources. In most cases, their basic design allows the cloning of a single target gene, typically under a specific promoter, in parallel with the expression of selection and/or marker genes from the same vector. However, new and versatile systems now exist that expand the user's choice to a large number of promoters and terminators, and various autofluorescent tags confer the ability to express multiple genes from a single transformation vector.     

Construction of a high-copy "ATG vector" for expression in Escherichia coli.

We report the construction of an inducible, high-copy plasmid for the expression of foreign proteins in Escherichia coli. This plasmid, pPB1, combines the trc promoter, beta-galactosidase translation start site, and polylinker of pKK233-2 with the origin of replication region of pUC19. Replacement of the origin of replication of pKK233-2 results in a threefold increase in plasmid copy number of pPB1 compared with pKK233-2. Subclones of the cDNA for rabbit muscle fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (E.C. 4.1.2.13) in the two expression plasmids exhibit a comparable difference in copy number. An increase in protein expression measured by SDS-PAGE and aldolase specific activities reflects the increased copy number. Specific activities of aldolases in bacterial extracts differ approximately sixfold between the two expression plasmids in E. coli JM83. Aldolase A can compose up to 40% of the total protein in E. coli JM83 when expressed in pPB1, from which more than 100 mg of purified enzyme can be obtained per liter culture.     

A two-plasmid Escherichia coli system for expression of Dr adhesins

This paper presents a very efficient expression system for production of Dr adhesins. The system consists of two plasmids. One is the pACYCpBAD-DraC-C-His, which contains the draC gene under the control of the arabinose promoter (pBAD), encoding the DraC usher. The second is the pET30b-syg-DraBE, which contains the draB and draE genes under the control of the T7lac promoter, encoding the DraB chaperone and the DraE adhesin, respectively. Those plasmids have different origin of replication and can therefore coexist in one cell. Since different promoters are present, the protein expression can be controlled. The Dr adhesion expression system constructed opens up a lot of possibilities, and could be very useful in experiments focusing on understanding the biogenesis of Gram-negative bacteria adhesins. For this purpose we showed that the AfaE-III adhesin (98.1% identity between the DraE and the AfaE-III adhesins, with three divergent amino acids within the sequences) was able to pass through the DraC channel in the Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) strain. Immunoblotting analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy showed the presence of AfaE-III on the bacterial cell surface. In addition, the system described can be useful for displaying the immune-relevant sectors of foreign proteins on the bacterial cell. The heterologous epitope sequence of the HSV1 glycoprotein D was inserted into the draE gene in place of the N-terminal region of surface exposed domain 2. Chimeric proteins were exposed on the bacterial surface as evidenced by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence microscopy. The effective display of peptide segments on Dr fimbriae expressed at the bacterial cell surface, can be used for the development of a fimbrial vaccine.     

A spontaneous runaway vector for production-scale expression of bovine somatotropin from Escherichia coli

An Escherichia coli expression vector was constructed for the production-scale fermentation of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST). Gene expression is regulated by a spontaneous increase in copy number at a constant low temperature without the need for an external inducer. This vector, designated pURA-4, contains the ampicillin resistance gene, the replication origin from pBR322, the R1 temperature-inducible runaway replicon, and a gene encoding rBST. Optimized rBST expression levels of >35% total cell protein were achieved at a constant 28 degrees C. Shake-flask analysis of pURA-4 shows that the copy number spontaneously increases approximately 6-fold during rBST production. Investigation into the mechanism of pURA-4 spontaneous runaway shows that the increase in copy number is directed by the pBR322 ori and not by the R1 replicon. Although the R1 temperature-inducible replicon does not mediate spontaneous runaway, it does have a positive effect on rBST expression. Copy number analysis also confirmed the stability of pURA-4 spontaneous runaway from the shake-flask scale through the production scale.     

Efficient expression of the yeast metallothionein gene in Escherichia coli.

The yeast metallothionein gene CUP1 was cloned into a bacterial expression system to achieve efficient, controlled expression of the stable, unprocessed protein product. The Escherichia coli-synthesized yeast metallothionein bound copper, cadmium, and zinc, indicating that the protein was functional. Furthermore, E. coli cells expressing CUP1 acquired a new, inducible ability to selectively sequester heavy metal ions from the growth medium.     

pPSY: a vector for the stable cloning and expression of streptomycete single gene phenotypes in Escherichia coli

pPSY is a 12kb cloning vector derived from the IncW plasmid R388, which provides a rapid and easy way to stably clone phenotypes encoded in DNA segments <10kb. In the present study three different genes were amplified by PCR, cloned into pGEM-T Easy and sub-cloned into the EcoRI site of pPSY. The first gene, vioA, is a FAD-dependent l-tryptophan amino acid oxygenase from the high G+C Gram-negative bacterium Chromobacterium violaceum. VioA is involved in the synthesis of the indolocarbazole antitumour antibiotic violacein. It was found that vioA was strongly expressed in Escherichia coli from its native promoter. Two other genes encoding recombinase A (recA) and an amylase (amyA), derived from the high G+C Gram-positive streptomycete, Streptomyces lividans, were also tested. Despite recA lacking its native promoter sequence, it was strongly expressed in E. coli using the lac promoter of pGEM-T Easy. Similar to vioA, S. lividansamyA was strongly expressed in E. coli from its native promoter. Unlike pGEM-T Easy, pPSY stably maintained all three genes without the requirement for antibiotic selection. These results demonstrate the applicability of pPSY as a stable amplicon cloning vector for the expression of heterologous genes in E. coli.     

Development of a novel Gateway-based vector system for efficient, multiparallel protein expression in Escherichia coli

We describe a cloning and expression system which is based on the Escherichia coli T7 expression system and Gateway recombination technology. We have produced numerous destination vectors with selected fusion tags and an additional set of entry vectors containing the gene of interest and optional labeling tags. This powerful system enables us to transfer a cDNA to several expression vectors in parallel and combine them with various labeling tags. To remove the attached amino terminal tags along with the unwanted attB1 site, we inserted PreScission protease cleavage sites. In contrast to the commercially available destination vectors, our plasmids provide kanamycin resistance, which can be an advantage when expressing toxic proteins in E. coli. Some small-scale protein expression experiments are shown to demonstrate the usefulness of these novel Gateway vectors. In summary, this system has some benefits over the widely used and commercially available Gateway standard system, and it enables many different combinations for expression constructs from a single gene of interest.     

A Constitutive expression vector system driven by the deo P1P2 promoters of Escherichia coli

Summary The P1P2 promoters of Escherichia coli K12 deo operon, residing on an AvaII restriction fragment, were used to construct a new expression vector. To evaluate the potential of the P1P2-driven expression system we have inserted the sequence of human superoxide dismutase (hSOD) downstream of the deo ribosome binding site. Expression of hSOD was evaluated by means of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and enzyme activity. In crude cell extracts hSOD expression levels were found to be high in hosts possessing no deoR or cytR repressors. Highest levels of hSOD expression were obtained with a high-copy-number plasmid regardless of the host used. Expressed hSOD can account for 35%–40% of total protein in E. coli. Offprint requests to: M. Fischer