IMPACT-TWIN蛋白纯化系统的机制及其应用

IMPACT-TWIN系统是一种新型的蛋白融合表达及纯化系统,已被应用到蛋白质工程的众多领域。此系统中目的蛋白与蛋白自剪接元件intein及几丁质结合蛋白域CBD构成融合蛋白,利用几丁质亲和层析柱,通过诱导内含肽的肽键裂解活性,使目的蛋白释放出来,而内含肽与几丁质结合蛋白仍结合在几丁质介质上,实现了单柱分离纯化蛋白。本文主要阐述了IMPACT-TWIN蛋白表达纯化系统的机制、特点,以及其在蛋白表达纯化方面应用的最新进展。     

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。     

重组Maxadilan的制备与鉴定

为利用基因工程技术获得重组Maxadilan(RMMAX), 根据Maxadilan的氨基酸序列, 设计并人工合成了在原核表达的基因。克隆到表达载体pKYB, 重组质粒pKYB-MAX转化表达宿主菌Escherichia coli strain ER2566, 构建表达工程菌。用诱导剂IPTG诱导由目的多肽、内含肽和几丁质结合域(Chitin binding domain, CBD)组成的“三元”融合蛋白表达; 用几丁质珠亲和层析纯化了裂解液中的融合蛋白, 用b-巯基乙醇切割融合蛋白, 获得目的蛋白。所得的多肽经激光飞行质谱测定分子量结果与理论值相符, 生物活性分析表明, 重组Maxadilan有显著的提升血糖的作用。     

基于PHA颗粒-PhaP标签和内含肽元件的极端嗜盐古菌蛋白的表达纯化系统

【目的】建立一个基于PHA颗粒-PhaP标签的简便实用的极端嗜盐古菌蛋白表达纯化系统,并探讨嗜盐古菌内含肽在该系统优化中的应用。【方法】以嗜盐古菌-大肠杆菌穿梭载体pWL502为基本骨架,构建带有嗜盐古菌强启动子和PhaP融合标签的表达载体;在地中海富盐菌phaP缺陷株(ΔphaP)中融合表达目的基因,通过蔗糖密度梯度离心分离纯化结合于PHA颗粒上的PhaP融合蛋白;在phaP基因与多克隆位点之间引入特定的嗜盐古菌内含肽元件,尝试通过定点突变改变该内含肽的剪切活性。【结果】成功构建了以PhaP作为N端融合标签的表达载体pPM以及作为C端融合标签的载体pIP;在phaP基因簇强启动子控制下,二者均实现了目标蛋白的高效表达;通过PHA颗粒介导的蛋白分离纯化策略,实现了以PhaP为融合标签的目标蛋白的分离纯化;发现内含肽序列Hbt21在地中海富盐菌中保持了高效的剪接活性,通过定点突变其C端末位氨基酸天冬酰胺(N182)及邻位的丝氨酸(S183)失活了该内含肽的C端剪接活性。【结论】首次建立了一个基于PHA颗粒-PhaP标签的简便节约的极端嗜盐古菌蛋白表达纯化系统,并确定了嗜盐古菌型内含肽C端剪接的活性位点,为该内含肽将来应用于PhaP融合蛋白的标签去除奠定了基础。     

PSA启动子中RFA调节序列结合蛋白的初步研究

为了确定前列腺特异抗原(PSA)启动子中与雄激素调节相关的序列, 发现PSA启动子ARE上游一段15 bp的区域(-396～-382 bp), 是雄激素受体(AR)对PSA启动子激活所必需的, 将其命名为RFA. 转染和CAT分析显示该序列中某些核苷酸置换可显著降低雄激素对PSA基因启动子的诱导活性, 体外竞争结合实验证实某些前列腺细胞核内的非受体蛋白因子可与其特异结合, 但其突变型则丧失了这种能力, 该序列可能是一个新的辅助性顺式元件. 以RFA为探针, 利用亲和层析分离纯化了RFA结合蛋白, SDS-PAGE和蛋白质初步鉴定结果表明, 该蛋白与已知的多功能蛋白hnRNPA1, A2高度同源. RFA结合蛋白可能作为辅激活因子协同AR对PSA启动子的反式激活作用. 研究结果有助于深入理解PSA启动子的作用机制和组织特异性.     

重组阳离子抗肿瘤肽AIK的原核表达、纯化及活性测定

利用Gateway克隆技术构建重组抗瘤肽AIK的原核表达体系,建立表达及纯化重组AIK的最优条件,为深入研究和利用AIK奠定基础。首先,设计含AttB重组位点的引物,通过重叠PCR技术扩增出Att B-TEV-FLAG-AIK序列,利用BP重组反应将目的序列TEV-FLAG-AIK克隆到供体载体pDONR223中,构建入门载体,再通过LR重组反应,将目的序列转移到目的载体pDEST15中,构建GST-AIK融合蛋白原核表达质粒。随后,在BL21(DE3)工程菌中优化诱导融合蛋白表达的条件。以谷胱甘肽磁珠纯化GST-AIK融合蛋白,再以rTEV酶切除GST,获得FLAG-AIK重组蛋白。最后以MTS法检测FLAG-AIK对白血病细胞HL-60的细胞毒性。菌液PCR验证和测序分析表明成功构建了重组抗瘤肽AIK的入门质粒和原核表达质粒。在BL21(DE3)工程菌中实现了GST-AIK融合蛋白的高效可溶性表达。并测得在37℃下以0.1 mmol/L IPTG诱导工程菌(OD600=1.0)4 h,重组蛋白表达量占菌体总蛋白的30%以上。经GST亲和层析、rTEV酶切除GST标签及二次GST亲和层析获得纯度高于95%的FLAG-AIK蛋白。MTS法测得所制备的FLAG-AIK蛋白抑瘤活性与化学合成的AIK相当。总之,本课题应用Gateway克隆系统成功构建了抗瘤肽AIK的原核表达质粒,实现了GST-AIK融合蛋白的高效可溶性表达,经亲和层析获得了有生物活性的重组AIK多肽,为后续深入研究和大规模制备奠定了基础。     

胸腺肽α1-Spl DnaX内含肽融合蛋白的切割动力学研究

目的:研究胸腺肽α1(Tα1)与Spl DnaX内含肽融合蛋白AS的体外切割动力学。方法:构建Tα1和SplDnaX内含肽的融合表达载体pET-AS,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),经乳糖诱导获得可溶性表达的融合蛋白AS,用镍亲和层析纯化该蛋白;综合评价温度、β-巯基乙醇(β-ME)浓度和诱导切割时间对Spl DnaX内含肽介导融合蛋白AS自切割释放Tα1的影响。结果:在大肠杆菌中诱导表达了融合蛋白AS,经镍柱纯化获得该蛋白;随着温度升高和β-ME浓度增加,诱导切割时间延长,Spl DnaX内含肽介导的切割率逐渐增大;最终采用300 mmol/Lβ-ME切割24 h,融合蛋白的硫解切割率大于90%。结论:通过对Spl DnaX内含肽的诱导切割条件进行摸索,确定了最适宜的切割条件,为利用该方法制备Tα1和其他小分子多肽提供了技术基础。     

雄激素受体的结构和功能

雄激素受体(AR)属于核受体超家族中的类固醇受体.AR一般由四个结构域组成:N端转录激活区(NTD)、DNA结合区(DBD)、铰链区和配体结合区(LBD).AR的配体,雄激素是主要的内源性性类固醇激素,而更多的研究却表明雄激素在鱼类性分化过程中不起作用,AR在此过程中的作用尚不清楚.本文讨论了雄激素受体的起源、进化,并着重阐述了雄激素受体各个结构域的功能.     

蜘蛛多肽毒素JZTX-51和JZTX-26的重组表达和纯化

为建立一种简便、快速且能大量获得富含二硫键的蜘蛛多肽毒素JZTX-26 (35 aa)和JZTX-51 (27 aa)的有效方法,利用PCR的方法克隆成熟肽编码基因并插入至大肠杆菌Escherichia coli表达载体pMAL-p2x中与MBP(麦芽糖结合蛋白)标签融合,构建重组表达质粒pMAL-jz26和pMAL-jz51。在受体菌TB1和BL21(DE3)中对两个重组表达质粒分别进行IPTG诱导表达,通过Amylose亲和层析柱纯化并进行SDS-PAGE分析;采用因子X对融合蛋白进行酶切后通过分子筛以及反相高效液相色谱对两种重组蛋白进行纯化。通过MALDI-TOF-TOF质谱鉴定,表达产物的分子量与预期的多肽理论分子量一致。1L表达培养液中能获得大约5mg纯化的目的蛋白JZTX-26或JZTX-51。结果表明利用该原核表达体系可对蜘蛛毒素基因jztx-26和jztx-51进行融合表达,并对重组蛋白进行亲和层析,为采用基因工程的手段大量获得蜘蛛多肽毒素奠定了基础。     

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。     

Enhanced in vitro refolding of fibroblast growth factor 15 with the assistance of SUMO fusion partner

Fibroblast growth factor 15 (Fgf15) is the mouse orthologue of human FGF19. Fgf15 is highly expressed in the ileum and functions as an endocrine signal to regulate liver function, including bile acid synthesis, hepatocyte proliferation and insulin sensitivity. In order to fully understand the function of Fgf15, methods are needed to produce pure Fgf15 protein in the prokaryotic system. However, when expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli), the recombinant Fgf15 protein was insoluble and found only in inclusion bodies. In the current study, we report a method to produce recombinant Fgf15 protein in E. coli through the use of small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) fusion tag. Even though the SUMO has been shown to strongly improve protein solubility and expression levels, our studies suggest that the SUMO does not improve Fgf15 protein solubility. Instead, proper refolding of Fgf15 protein was achieved when Fgf15 was expressed as a partner protein of the fusion tag SUMO, followed by in vitro dialysis refolding. After refolding, the N-terminal SUMO tag was cleaved from the recombinant Fgf15 fusion protein by ScUlp1 (Ubiquitin-Like Protein-Specific Protease 1 from S. cerevisiae). With or without the SUMO tag, the refolded Fgf15 protein was biologically active, as revealed by its ability to reduce hepatic Cyp7a1 mRNA levels in mice. In addition, recombinant Fgf15 protein suppressed Cyp7a1 mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. In summary, we have developed a successful method to express functional Fgf15 protein in prokaryotic cells.     

A dual protease approach for expression and affinity purification of recombinant proteins

We describe a new method for affinity purification of recombinant proteins using a dual protease protocol. Escherichia coli maltose binding protein (MBP) is employed as an N-terminal tag to increase the yield and solubility of its fusion partners. The MBP moiety is then removed by rhinovirus 3C protease, prior to purification, to yield an N-terminally His₆-tagged protein. Proteins that are only temporarily rendered soluble by fusing them to MBP are readily identified at this stage because they will precipitate after the MBP tag is removed by 3C protease. The remaining soluble His₆-tagged protein, if any, is subsequently purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). Finally, the N-terminal His₆ tag is removed by His₆-tagged tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease to yield the native recombinant protein, and the His₆-tagged contaminants are removed by adsorption during a second round of IMAC, leaving only the untagged recombinant protein in the column effluent. The generic strategy described here saves time and effort by removing insoluble aggregates at an early stage in the process while also reducing the tendency of MBP to “stick” to its fusion partners during affinity purification.     

Construction of intein-mediated hGMCSF expression vector and its purification in Pichia pastoris

As a novel attempt for the intracellular recombinant protein over expression and easy purification from Pichia pastoris, the therapeutic cytokine human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (hGMCSF) gene was fused to an intein-chitin-binding domain (gene from pTYB11 vector) fusion tag by overlap extension PCR and inserted into pPICZB vector, allowing for the purification of a native recombinant protein without the need for enzymatic cleavage. The fusion protein under the AOX1 promoter was integrated into the P. pastoris genome (SMD 1168) and the recombinant Pichia clones were screened for multicopy integrants. Expression of hGMCSF was done using glycerol and methanol based synthetic medium by three stage cultivation in a bioreactor. Purification of the expressed hGMCSF fusion protein was done after cell disruption and binding of the solubilized fusion protein to chitin affinity column, followed by DTT induced on column cleavage of hGMCSF from the intein tag. In this study, final biomass of 89 g dry cell weight/l and purified hGMCSF of 120 mg/l having a specific activity of 0.657 x 10(7) IU/mg was obtained. This strategy has an edge over the other--His or--GST based fusion protein purification where non-specific protein binding, expensive enzymatic cleavage and further purification of the enzyme is required. It distinguishes itself from all other purification systems by its ability to purify, in a single chromatographic step.     

利用EDA融合标签高效表达猪圆环病毒2型壳蛋白

原核生物作为宿主细胞被广泛应用于异源蛋白质的重组表达,并且为生物活性蛋白质的制备提供了一种高效、经济的方法,因而在分子生物学中得到普遍的应用。然而,病毒蛋白在使用原核重组表达系统进行重组表达时,会出现病毒蛋白溶解性差和表达量低等问题。因此,通过使用各种融合标签以增加目的重组蛋白的表达量和溶解性成为有效的方法。本研究通过使用3种融合标签（EDA标签、MBP标签和GST标签）以获得表达量高的可溶性重组表达猪圆环病毒2型壳蛋白;并比较3种融合标签对该蛋白表达量、溶解性和稳定性的影响。研究结果表明,EDA标签可以显著提高重组表达的猪圆环病毒2型壳蛋白表达量,并且能够增强该蛋白的稳定性;MBP标签可增强重组表达的猪圆环病毒2型壳蛋白表达量,但是不能改善该蛋白的稳定性;GST标签能够增强该重组表达蛋白的表达量,但是不能增强该蛋白的溶解性和稳定性。本研究将EDA作为PCV2-CP蛋白的融合标签,显著提高PCV2-CP-EDA重组蛋白的表达量和增强该重组蛋白的稳定性,为病毒蛋白的可溶性重组表达提供了一种新的融合标签。     

Human glutaredoxin 2 affinity tag for recombinant peptide and protein purification

Recombinant proteins are commonly expressed in fusion with an affinity tag to facilitate purification. We have in the present study evaluated the possible use of the human glutaredoxin 2 (Grx2) as an affinity tag for purification of heterologous proteins. Grx2 is a glutathione binding protein and we have shown in the present study that the protein can be purified from crude bacterial extracts by a one-step affinity chromatography on glutathione-Sepharose. We further showed that short peptides could be fused to either the N- or C-terminus of Grx2 without affecting its ability to bind to the glutathione column. However, when Grx2 was fused to either the 27 kDa green fluorescent protein or the 116 kDa beta-galactosidase, the fusion proteins lost their ability to bind glutathione-Sepharose. Insertion of linker sequences between the Grx2 and the fusion protein did not restore binding to the column. In summary, our findings suggest that Grx2 may be used as an affinity tag for purification of short peptides and possibly also certain proteins that do not interfere with the binding to glutathione-Sepharose. However, the failure of purifying either green fluorescent protein or beta-galactosidase fused to Grx2 suggests that the use of Grx2 as an affinity tag for recombinant protein purification is limited.     

SUMO蛋白酶活性片段的表达、纯化及活性测定

利用PCR技术人工合成编码酿酒酵母泛素样特异性蛋白酶1 (Ubiquitin-like specific protease 1,Ulp1)第403到621个氨基酸残基之间的DNA片段Ulp1p,并连接到大肠杆菌表达载体pET-3c中,构建出重组表达质粒pET-Ulp1p。将重组质粒转化至大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中,氨苄青霉素抗性筛选转化子。经IPTG诱导4h后, SDS-PAGE结果显示,Ulp1p为可溶性表达,表达量占菌体总蛋白的50.8%。通过Ni-NTA凝胶亲和层析和G-25凝胶层析联用可以获得纯度大于95%的Ulp1p。Western-blotting分析表明,Ulp1p能与6xHis抗体产生免疫反应。以重组蛋白SUMO-hEGF(人表皮生长因子)和GST-SUMO-MT(金属硫蛋白)为底物进行酶切分析,结果显示,Ulp1p能特异性水解这两种SUMO融合蛋白,其比活为1.386 x104U/mg。     

Use of the Nanofitin Alternative Scaffold as a GFP-Ready Fusion Tag

With the continuous diversification of recombinant DNA technologies, the possibilities for new tailor-made protein engineering have extended on an on-going basis. Among these strategies, the use of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a fusion domain has been widely adopted for cellular imaging and protein localization. Following the lead of the direct head-to-tail fusion of GFP, we proposed to provide additional features to recombinant proteins by genetic fusion of artificially derived binders. Thus, we reported a GFP-ready fusion tag consisting of a small and robust fusion-friendly anti-GFP Nanofitin binding domain as a proof-of-concept. While limiting steric effects on the carrier, the GFP-ready tag allows the capture of GFP or its blue (BFP), cyan (CFP) and yellow (YFP) alternatives. Here, we described the generation of the GFP-ready tag from the selection of a Nanofitin variant binding to the GFP and its spectral variants with a nanomolar affinity, while displaying a remarkable folding stability, as demonstrated by its full resistance upon thermal sterilization process or the full chemical synthesis of Nanofitins. To illustrate the potential of the Nanofitin-based tag as a fusion partner, we compared the expression level in Escherichia coli and activity profile of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) constructs, fused to a SUMO or GFP-ready tag. Very similar expression levels were found with the two fusion technologies. Both domains of the GFP-ready tagged TNFα were proved fully active in ELISA and interferometry binding assays, allowing the simultaneous capture by an anti-TNFα antibody and binding to the GFP, and its spectral mutants. The GFP-ready tag was also shown inert in a L929 cell based assay, demonstrating the potent TNFα mediated apoptosis induction by the GFP-ready tagged TNFα. Eventually, we proposed the GFP-ready tag as a versatile capture and labeling system in addition to expected applications of anti-GFP Nanofitins (as illustrated with previously described state-of-the-art anti-GFP binders applied to living cells and in vitro applications). Through a single fusion domain, the GFP-ready tagged proteins benefit from subsequent customization within a wide range of fluorescence spectra upon indirect binding of a chosen GFP variant.     

Increased solubility of integrin betaA domain using maltose-binding protein as a fusion tag

In proteomics research, generation of recombinant proteins in their native, soluble form with large quantity is often a challenging task. To tackle the expression difficulties, different expression vectors with distinct affinity fusion tags, i.e. pET-43.1a (N-utilization substance A tag), pMAL-cRI (maltose binding protein tag) (MBP tag), pGEX-4T-2 (glutathione S-transferase tag), and pET-15b (hexahistidine tag) were compared for their effects on the productivity and solubility, which were assessed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting, of the integrin betaA domain. The incubation temperatures were tested for its effects on these parameters. Our data suggested that MBP tag enhanced the yield and solubility of the betaA domain protein, which can also be recognized using an anti-CD18 antibody, at room temperature incubation. Thus, the nature of fusion partner chosen for expression in bacteria and its incubation temperature would significantly affect the yield and solubility of the recombinant target protein.