High-level expression and characterization of fully active recombinant conger eel galectins in Eschericia coli

An expression system for recombinant conger eel galectins, congerins I and II, were constructed using the pTV 118N plasmid vector and Escherichia coli. Recombinant congerins I and II could be obtained in the soluble active form with high quantitative yield. Mutation of codons for Val and Leu located in the N-terminal region of Con I increased the expression efficiency. Purification of recombinant proteins were done by only two chromatographical steps from E. coli extract. The purified recombinant congerins were found to be almost the same as the native ones except for the acetyl group at the N-terminus; that is, they showed the same structures and carbohydrate binding activities, suggesting that N-terminal acetyl groups of congerins were not significant for activity.     

纯化标签的不同位置对Δ6脂肪酸脱饱和酶异源表达的影响

【背景】目前利用酵母表达系统已鉴定了多种物种中的Δ6脂肪酸脱饱和酶(FADS6)。由于FADS6是一种具有多个跨膜螺旋的膜蛋白,使得其大量表达和纯化具有挑战性。【目的】探索FADS6的高效表达策略,研究纯化标签添加的位置对高山被孢霉FADS6I (Ma FADS6I)重组表达效率的影响。【方法】在毕赤酵母表达载体中插入串联亲和标签HRV 3C-Protein A-His,利用改造后的载体构建带有N端或C端标签的Ma FADS6I表达载体;通过电转化获得毕赤酵母重组表达菌株;利用斑点印迹杂交(DotBlot)、聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PolyacrylamideGelElectrophoresis,SDS-PAGE)和免疫印迹(Western Blot)分析重组蛋白的表达水平,并利用气相色谱-质谱(Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry,GC-MS)分析检测Ma FADS6I催化生成的脂肪酸。【结果】通过大量的毕赤酵母转化子筛选,最终获得高效表达Ma FADS6I的毕赤酵母重组菌,证实各转化子的表达具有差异性,Ma FADS6I的C端带有纯化标签较N端更有利于表达。【结论】在Ma FADS6I的C端添加纯化标签比在N端添加更有利于该蛋白在酵母系统中的表达以及底物的转化,为进一步探究FADS6高效表达和结构功能奠定了基础。     

A novel cellulase gene from the mulberry longicorn beetle, Apriona germari: gene structure, expression, and enzymatic activity

We have previously cloned a cellulase [β-1,4-endoglucanase (EGase), EC 3.2.1.4] cDNA (Ag-EGase I) belonging to glycoside hydrolase family (GHF) 45 from the mulberry longicorn beetle, Apriona germari. We report here the gene structure, expression and enzyme activity of an additional celluase (Ag-EGase II) from A. germari and also described the gene structure of Ag-EGase I. The Ag-EGase II gene spans 1033 bp and consisted of two introns and three exons coding for 239 amino acid residues. The 2713-bp-long genomic DNA of Ag-EGase I also consisted of two introns and three exons. The Ag-EGase II showed 61% protein sequence identity to Ag-EGase I and 51% to another beetle, Phaedon cochleariae, cellulase, belonging to GHF 45. The catalytic sites of GHF 45 are conserved in Ag-EGase II. The Ag-EGase II has 14 conserved cysteine residues and three putative N-glycosylation sites. Northern blot analysis confirmed midgut-specific expression of Ag-EGase II, suggesting that the midgut is the prime site for cellulase synthesis in A. germari larvae. The cDNA encoding Ag-EGase II was expressed as a 36-kDa polypeptide in baculovirus-infected insect Sf9 cells and the enzyme activity of the purified recombinant Ag-EGase II was approximately 812 U/mg of recombinant Ag-EGase II. The enzymatic properties of the purified recombinant Ag-EGase II showed the highest activity at 50 °C and pH 6.0, and were stable at 60 °C at least for 10 min.     

Alteration in expression of the rat mitochondrial ATPase 6 gene during Pneumocystis carinii infection

Background

Norwalk virus causes outbreaks of acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis in humans. The virus capsid is composed of a single 60 kDa protein. In a previous study, the capsid protein of recombinant Norwalk virus genogroup II was expressed in an E. coli system and monoclonal antibodies were generated against it. The analysis of the reactivity of those monoclonal antibodies suggested that the N-terminal domain might contain more antigenic epitopes than the C-terminal domain. In the same study, two broadly reactive monoclonal antibodies were observed to react with genogroup I recombinant protein.

Results

In the present study, we used the recombinant capsid protein of genogroup I and characterized the obtained 17 monoclonal antibodies by using 19 overlapping fragments. Sixteen monoclonal antibodies recognized sequential epitopes on three antigenic regions, and the only exceptional monoclonal antibody recognized a conformational epitope. As for the two broadly reactive monoclonal antibodies generated against genogroup II, we indicated that they recognized fragment 2 of genogroup I. Furthermore, genogroup I antigen from a patient's stool was detected by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using genogroup I specific monoclonal antibody and biotinated broadly reactive monoclonal antibody.

Conclusion

The reactivity analysis of above monoclonal antibodies suggests that the N-terminal domain may contain more antigenic epitopes than the C-terminal domain as suggested in our previous study. The detection of genogroup I antigen from a patient's stool by our system suggested that the monoclonal antibodies generated against E. coli expressed capsid protein can be used to detect genogroup I antigens in clinical material.     

Research

Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus gordonii, a human oral commensal, was engineered to display a single-chain Fv (scFv) antibody fragment at the cell surface. The previously developed host-vector system allowed expression of the Guy’s 13 scFv as a fusion with the streptococcal surface protein M6. Surface expression of the 515-amino acid M6/scFv fusion protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis on cellular fractions and flow cytometric analysis. Guy’s 13 scFv was derived from the Guy’s 13 monoclonal antibody, which was raised against streptococcal antigen I/II (SA I/II), the major adhesin of the caries-producing bacterium Streptococcus mutans. Surface plasmon resonance was used to test binding of scFv-expressing S. gordonii to SA I/II. Whole cells of recombinant S. gordonii were found to specifically bind to immobilised SA I/II and binding was inhibited by fluid-phase SA I/II in a dose-dependent manner. Production of a functional scFv in S. gordonii is the first step towards the development of genetically engineered commensal bacteria that, by colonizing mucosal surfaces, may provide the host with sustained delivery of recombinant antibodies.     

Accelerated evolution in the protein-coding region of galectin cDNAs, congerin I and congerin II, from skin mucus of conger eel (Conger myriaster).

Two cDNAs encoding galectins named congerins I and II from the skin mucus of conger eel (Conger myriaster) were isolated and sequenced. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of congerins I and II showed that the sequence similarities of the 5' and 3' untranslated regions (86 and 88%, respectively) were much higher than those of the protein-coding region (73%). The numbers of nucleotide substitutions per site (KN) for the untranslated regions are smaller than the numbers of nucleotide substitutions per synonymous site (KS) for the protein coding region. Furthermore, nonsynonymous nucleotide substitutions have accelerated more frequently than synonymous nucleotide substitutions in the protein coding region (KA/KS = 2.57). These results suggest that accelerated substitutions have occurred in the protein-coding regions of galectin genes to generate diverse galectins with different molecular properties. Northern blot analysis showed that both congerins were expressed not only in the skin tissues but also in the stomach of conger eel.     

A cDNA clone encoding an IgE-binding protein from Brassica anther has significant sequence similarity to Ca2+-binding proteins

Thirteen cDNA clones encoding IgE-binding proteins were isolated from expression libraries of anthers of Brassica rapa L. and B. napus L. using serum IgE from a patient who was specifically allergic to Brassica pollen. These clones were divided into two groups, I and II, based on the sequence similarity. All the group I cDNAs predicted the same protein of 79 amino acids, while the group II predicted a protein of 83 amino acids with microheterogeneity. Both of the deduced amino acid sequences contained two regions with sequence similarity to Ca²⁺-binding sites of Ca²⁺-binding proteins such as calmodulin. However flanking sequences were distinct from that of calmodulin or other Ca²⁺-binding proteins. RNA-gel blot analysis showed the genes of group I and II were preferentially expressed in anthers at the later developmental stage and in mature pollen. The recombinant proteins produced in Escherichia coli was recognized in immunoblot analysis by the IgE of a Brassica pollen allergic patient, but not by the IgE of a non-allergic patient. The cDNA clones reported here, therefore, represent pollen allergens of Brassica species.     

Studies on the turnover of exogenous mannose-terminal glucocerebrosidase in rat liver lysosomes

We have cloned the full coding cDNA sequence of chicken annexin V and of a mutant lacking 8 amino acid residues of the N-terminal tail for prokaryotic expression. Both proteins were synthesized in Escherichia coli upon induction with isopropyl thio-β-D-galactoside, and were purified following two different protocols: one based on the ability of these proteins to interact reversibly with liposomes in the presence of calcium, and the other based on two sequential ion-exchange chromatographic steps. Spectroscopical analysis of recombinant annexin V revealed that binding of calcium did not change the circular dichroism spectra indicating no significant changes on the secondary structure; however, a conformational change affecting the exposition to the solvent of the tryptophan residue 187 was detected by analysis of fluorescence emission spectra. Recombinant annexin V binds with high affinity to collagen types II and X, and with lower affinity to collagen type I in a calcium-independent manner. Heat denaturing of collagen decreases this interaction while pepsin-treatment of collagen almost completely abolishes annexin V binding. Mutated annexin V interacts with collagen in a similar way as the nonmutated recombinant protein, indicating that the N-terminal tail of annexin V is not essential for collagen binding.     

Cloning of the thaumatin I cDNA and characterization of recombinant thaumatin I secreted by Pichia pastoris

Thaumatin is a sweet-tasting protein comprising a mixture of some variants. The major variants are thaumatins I and II. Although the amino acid sequence of thaumatin I was known and the nucleotide sequence of cDNA of thaumatin II was elucidated, the nucleotide sequence of thaumatin I has been controversial. We have cloned two thaumatin cDNAs from the fruit of Thaumatococcus daniellii Benth. One is the same nucleotide sequence as that of thaumatin II already reported, and the other is a novel nucleotide sequence. The amino acid sequence deduced from the novel cDNA was the same amino acid sequence as that of thaumatin I, the only exception being the residue at position 113 (Asp instead of Asn), indicating that the novel thaumatin cDNA is that for thaumatin I. This thaumatin I cDNA was transformed into Pichia pastoris X-33, and the recombinant thaumatin I expressed was purified and characterized. The threshold value of sweetness of the recombinant thaumatin I was the same as that of the plant thaumatin I, although several unexpected amino acid residues were attached to the N-terminal of the recombinant thaumatin I. These indicate that the N-terminal portion of thaumatin is not critical for the elicitation of sweetness.     

Morrenain b I,a papain-like endopeptidase from the latex of Morrenia brachystephana Griseb. (Asclepiadaceae)

A new cysteine endopeptidase (morrenain b I) has been purified and characterized from the latex of stems and petiols of Morrenia brachystephana Griseb. (Asclepiadaceae). Morrenain b I was the minor proteolytic component in the latex but showed higher specific activity than morrenain b II, which was the main active fraction. Both enzymes showed similar pH profiles and molecular masses, but kinetic parameters and N-terminal sequences were quite distinct, demonstrating that they are different enzymes instead of different forms of the same enzyme.     

Purification,Characterization, and Crystallization of Two Types of Lipase from Rhizopus niveus

The purification and some properties of two types of lipase (Lipase I and Lipase II) from Rhizopus niveus are described. The enzymes were purified to homogeneity by column chromatographies on DEAE-Toyopearl (1 pass) and CM-Toyopearl (2 passes). Lipase I consists of two polypeptide chains [a small peptide with sugar moiety (A-chain) and a large peptide of molecular weight 34,000 (B-chain)]. Lipase II has a molecular weight of 30,000 consisting of a single polypeptide chain. Lipase I appeared to be converted to Lipase II by limited proteolysis by a specific protease a small amount of which is in the culture supernatant from Rh. niveus, because one of the peptides formed has the same N-terminal sequence and C-terminal amino acid as Lipase II, as well as the molecular mass estimated by SDS-PAGE. Lipase I had a pH optimum of 6.0–6.5 and a temperature optimum of 35°C, while, for Lipase II these values were pH 6.0 and 40°C. Both enzymes were obtained in the crystalline state using the hanging drop method of vapor diffusion and PEG as the precipitating agents.     

Aryl alcohol oxidases from the white-rot basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus

 Three aryl alcohol oxidases (AAOs; EC 1.1.3.7) I, II, and III from the culture filtrate of a strain of white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus were purified by multistep chromatography. Each of the purified AAOs I, II, and III had the same molecular masses of 70 kDa and 72 kDa on gel filtration chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively. Their optimum temperature was 40°C, but their optimum pHs differed slightly. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of AAOs I, II, and III was determined to be Ala-Asp-Lys-Asp-Tyr-Ile-Val-Val-Gly-Ala, which showed significant similarity to those of Pleurotus eryngii (80% identity) and Pleurotus ostreatus Florida (60% identity). Received: May 30, 2002 / Accepted: July 10, 2002 Acknowledgment This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for the Encouragement of Young Scientists (no. 12760117) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. Correspondence to:K. Okamoto     

Designing structural-motifs for the preparation of acylated proinsulin and their regiospecific conversion into insulin modified at Lys29 (K29)

Eight proinsulin encoding genes were prepared and their translation products, when treated with a cocktail of trypsin and carboxypeptidase B, analyzed for the following features. One, their ability to undergo facile removal of the N-terminal linker, generating the phenylalanine residue destined to be the N-terminal of the B-chain of insulin, at a rate similar to that involved in the removal of the C-peptide. Two, processing of diarginyl insulin, produced in the latter process, by carboxypeptidase B then needed to be rapid to remove the two arginine residues, Three, both these operations were to be efficient whether the N-terminal methionine was acylated or not. Four, the proinsulin constructs needed to contain a minimum number of sites for acylation. The aforementioned features were monitored by mass spectrometry and the proinsulin derivative containing MRR at the N-terminal and K⁶⁴ mutated to Q⁶⁴, designated as MRR-(Q⁶⁴) human proinsulin [MRR-(Q⁶⁴) hpi] optimally fulfilled these requirements. The derivative was smoothly acylated with reagents of two chain lengths (acetyl and dodecanoyl) to give acetyl/dodecanoyl MRR-(Q⁶⁴) hpi. Acetyl MRR-(Q⁶⁴) hpi, using the cocktail of the two enzymes, was smoothly converted into, acetyl insulin. However, when dodecanoyl MRR-(Q⁶⁴) hpi was processed with the above cocktail, carboxypeptidase B (whether from animal pancreas or recombinant) showed an unexpected specificity of acting on the K²⁹-T³⁰ bond of the insulin derivatives when K²⁹ contained a large hydrophobic acyl group, generating dodecanoyl des-30 insulin.     

Characterization of swine leukocyte antigen alleles and haplotypes on a novel miniature pig line,Microminipig

Microminipigs are extremely small‐sized, novel miniature pigs that were recently developed for medical research. The inbred Microminipigs with defined swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) haplotypes are expected to be useful for allo‐ and xenotransplantation studies and also for association analyses between SLA haplotypes and immunological traits. To establish SLA‐defined Microminipig lines, we characterized the polymorphic SLA alleles for three class I (SLA‐1, SLA‐2 and SLA‐3) and two class II (SLA‐DRB1 and SLA‐DQB1) genes of 14 parental Microminipigs using a high‐resolution nucleotide sequence‐based typing method. Eleven class I and II haplotypes, including three recombinant haplotypes, were found in the offspring of the parental Microminipigs. Two class I and class II haplotypes, Hp‐31.0 (SLA‐1*1502–SLA‐3*070102–SLA‐2*1601) and Hp‐0.37 (SLA‐DRB1*0701–SLA‐DQB1*0502), are novel and have not so far been reported in other pig breeds. Crossover regions were defined by the analysis of 22 microsatellite markers within the SLA class III region of three recombinant haplotypes. The SLA allele and haplotype information of Microminipigs in this study will be useful to establish SLA homozygous lines including three recombinants for transplantation and immunological studies.     

Protein engineering of conger eel galectins by tracing of molecular evolution using probable ancestral mutants

Background  

Conger eel galectins, congerin I (ConI) and congerin II (ConII), show the different molecular characteristics resulting from accelerating evolution. We recently reconstructed a probable ancestral form of congerins, Con-anc. It showed properties similar to those of ConII in terms of thermostability and carbohydrate recognition specificity, although it shares a higher sequence similarity with ConI than ConII.     

Robust expression in yeast cells of a reporter gene driven by rumen protozoal promoter sequences

The objectives of this study were the identification of genes that show relatively strong levels of expression in the rumen protozoan, Isotricha intestinalis, and the demonstration that promoters from such genes can be used in the construction of recombinant expression vectors. In order to identify highly expressed genes, a cDNA library was constructed for I. intestinalis, and RNA expression analysis conducted on 62 clones using a filter array hybridization assay. Expression levels for individual clones ranged from easily detectable to below the detection threshold of the technique. Eleven cDNAs showed relatively intense hybridization signals, and the gene for one of these clones, I87, was characterized in detail. The ability of the I87 promoter to drive the expression of recombinant genes was tested by linking it to the luciferase reporter gene in a yeast shuttle vector and transforming Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells for expression analysis. The results showed that a rumen protozoal gene promoter is capable of directing the expression of a reporter gene in S. cerevisiae. Accession numbers: I87 gene, AY247961, Isotricha sp. BBF-2003 ESTs, CB305319–CB305329     

Penicillium purpurogenum produces a family 1 acetyl xylan esterase containing a carbohydrate-binding module: characterization of the protein and its gene

At least three acetyl xylan esterases (AXE I, II and III) are secreted by Penicillium purpurogenum. This publication describes more detailed work on AXE I and its gene. AXE I binds cellulose but not xylan; it is glycosylated and inactivated by phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride, showing that it is a serine esterase. The axe1 gene presents an open reading frame of 1278 bp, including two introns of 68 and 61 bp; it codes for a signal peptide of 31 residues and a mature protein of 351 amino acids (molecular weight 36,693). AXE I has a modular structure: a catalytic module at the amino terminus belonging to family 1 of the carbohydrate esterases, a linker rich in serines and threonines, and a family 1 carboxy terminal carbohydrate binding module (CBM). The CBM is similar to that of AXE from Trichoderma reesei, (with a family 5 catalytic module) indicating that the genes for catalytic modules and CBMs have evolved separately, and that they have been linked by gene fusion. The promoter sequence of axe1 contains several putative sequences for binding of gene expression regulators also found in other family 1 esterase gene promoters. It is proposed that AXE I and II act in succession in xylan degradation; first, xylan is attacked by AXE I and other xylanases possessing CBMs (which facilitate binding to lignocellulose), followed by other enzymes acting mainly on soluble substrates.     

Characterization of the regulatory subunit of Yarrowia lipolytica cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Evidences of a monomeric protein

cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) catalytic (C) and regulatory (R) subunits from Yarrowia lipolytica are encoded by single genes, TPK1 and RKA1, respectively. Here we performed the heterologous expression, purification and characterization of the R subunit from Y. lipolytica yeast cells, and explored the main biochemical features of the PKA. The purified recombinant R, active and capable to interact with C subunit was used to prepare highly specific polyclonal antiserum. Sucrose-gradient centrifugation and gel filtration analysis of both recombinant and native R revealed the monomeric nature of this subunit. Hydrodynamic parameters of the holoenzyme indicated that Y. lipolytica PKA is a dimer of 90 kDa composed of an R subunit of 42 kDa and a C subunit of 39 kDa. The identification of the N-terminal sequence was carried out by mass spectrometry analysis of the purified native R subunit. The differences between N-terminal sequences of R subunits from Y. lipolytica and other organisms, particularly a short linker that spans the inhibitory site, were discussed as the possible cause of the lack of dimerization. R was identified as a type II subunit since our results indicated that it was phosphorylated in vivo by C at S124 identified by anti-phospho-PKA substrate (RRXS/T) antibody.     

Expression and purification of recombinant hemoglobin I from Lucina pectinata

Hemoglobin I (HbI) from Lucina pectinata reacts with hydrogen sulfide to form the ferric sulfide complex needed to transport H₂S to the bacterial endosymbiont. To further study HbI, expression studies of this protein were performed in Escherichia coli. This is the first time that the recombinant HbI was produced using a recombinant DNA expression system. Hemoglobin I cDNA was amplified and cloned into the TOPO-P_BAD expression vector, which contains a fusion tag of six histidine residues (6XHis tag). Plasmid clone sequence analysis was carried out in order to ensure that the insert was in the correct reading frame for proper protein expression in E. coli. The expression of recombinant HbI was optimal when induced for 5 hr with 0.002% of l-arabinose as detected by Western blot analysis. The proto-porphyrin group was inserted into the recombinant HbI. Purification of the heme-bound recombinant protein was performed under native conditions by affinity chromatography using Ni-NTA and Probond resins. The sodium dithionite-reduced recombinant protein presented a shift from the Soret band at 413-435 nm, indicating the presence of the heme group in the adequate amino acid environment of HbI. These results indicate that recombinant HbI from Lucina pectinata can be successfully expressed in a prokaryotic system retaining its activity toward reduction, oxidation, and ligand binding.