Active concentration measurements of recombinant biomolecules using biosensor technology

Whereas the concentration of a biomolecule simply refers to the amount of chemical substance per unit of volume, its active concentration refers to a relational parameter that has meaning only with respect to the molecule's ability to interact specifically with one particular ligand. When proteins are studied in a biological context, it is the biologically active concentration that is relevant, and not the total concentration of correctly and incorrectly folded molecules. Using a biosensor instrument the concentration of active biomolecules in a preparation can be measured by injecting the preparation at different flow rates onto a sensor chip surface presenting a high concentration of a specific ligand. The method can be used under conditions of partial mass transport limitation and does not require a pre-established standard curve. When the method was used to measure the active concentration of several recombinant proteins it was found that the active concentration was much lower than the nominal concentration determined by conventional methods. The active concentration also depended on the ligand used in the binding assay, reflecting the fact that active concentration can only be defined with respect to one specific probe. Such discrepancies in concentration values, if undetected, may lead to erroneous conclusions regarding the properties and behaviour of recombinant proteins tested in different assays.     

Functional analysis of the transmembrane domain and activation cleavage of human corin: design and characterization of a soluble corin

Corin is a cardiac transmembrane serine protease. In cell-based studies, corin converted pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (pro-ANP) to mature ANP, suggesting that corin is potentially the pro-ANP convertase. In this study, we evaluated the importance of the transmembrane domain and activation cleavage in human corin. We showed that a soluble corin that consists of only the extracellular domain was capable of processing recombinant human pro-ANP in cell-based assays. In contrast, a mutation at the conserved activation cleavage site, R801A, abolished the function of corin, demonstrating that the activation cleavage is essential for corin activity. These results allowed us to design, express, and purify a mutant soluble corin, EKsolCorin, that contains an enterokinase recognition sequence at the activation cleavage site. Purified EKsolCorin was activated by enterokinase in a dose-dependent manner. Activated EK-solCorin had hydrolytic activity toward peptide substrates with a preference for Arg and Lys residues in the P-1 position. This activity of EKsolCorin was inhibited by trypsin-like serine protease inhibitors but not inhibitors of chymotrypsin-like, cysteine-, or metallo-proteases. In pro-ANP processing assays, purified active EKsolCorin converted recombinant human pro-ANP to biologically active ANP in a highly sequence-specific manner. The pro-ANP processing activity of EKsolCorin was not inhibited by human plasma. Together, our data indicate that the transmembrane domain is not necessary for the biological activity of corin but may be a mechanism to localize corin at specific sites, whereas the proteolytic cleavage at the activation site is an essential step in controlling the activity of corin.     

Recombinant human retinoic acid receptor alpha. Binding of DNA and synthetic retinoids to the protein expressed in Escherichia coli.

The human retinoic acid receptor alpha was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was found to be very unstable in several E. coli strains, probably due to proteolysis. Conditions were established to obtain reasonable amounts of active protein for ligand and DNA binding studies. The recombinant receptor showed the expected DNA binding activities in gel-retardation assays. Ligand binding properties were measured in a charcoal absorption assay. The dissociation constant for highly specific bound retinoic acid was found to be 0.67 nM. The affinity of several synthetic retinoids to the recombinant protein was determined and compared to their biological activity. Some of the values presented here differ significantly from those published earlier for the receptor or its isolated hormone-binding domain.     

Expression of functional recombinant human factor IX in milk of mice

Human factor IX is synthesized in the liver and secreted in the blood, where it participates in a group of reactions involving coagulation factors and proteins that permit sanguinary coagulation. In this work two lines of transgenic mice were developed to express the FIX gene in the mammalian glands under control of milk β-casein promoter. The founding females secreted the FIX in their milk (3% total soluble protein). The stable integration of transgene was confirmed by southern blot analysis. The presence of the FIX recombinant protein in the milk of transgenic females was confirmed by western blot and the clotting activity was revealed in blood-clotting assays. The coagulation activity in human blood treated with recombinant FIX increased while the time of coagulation decreased. Our results confirm the production of a large amount of recombinant biologically active FIX in the mammary gland of transgenic mice.     

High-level expression of human TFF3 in Escherichia coli

A strategy for expression and purification of recombinant N-terminal human trefoil factor family-domain peptide 3 (hTFF3) in Escherichia coli was established. The gene of hTFF3 was synthesized to substitute the low-usage condons with corresponding high-usage synonymous condons. At the same time, the signal peptide of DsbC was added to the N-terminus of the hTFF3 gene. The mature recombinant hTFF3 was located in the periplasm of E. coli, which can be released by sonication. The protein was further purified by a two-step cation exchange chromatography mentod. The yield is about 14-15 mg/l of culture. The biological activity of purified hTFF3 was analyzed by cell-based apoptosis assay, which shows that the recombinant hTFF3 is biologically active.     

小鼠核因子κB受体活化因子配基(RANKL)活性区cDNA在毕赤酵母中分泌型表达

由小鼠骨组织提取总RNA ,采用RT PCR扩增得到小鼠核因子κB受体活化因子配基(RANKL)活性区域cDNA .将该cDNA片段克隆入表达载体pPIC9,重组载体转化巴斯德毕赤酵母GS115细胞 ,筛选Mut+表型 ,经甲醇诱导实现目的基因的分泌型表达 .Tricine SDS PAGE显示 ,表达产物约 2 6kD ,经Western印迹鉴定 ,表达产物可被RANKL抗体识别 .采用硫酸铵盐析、CM SephadexC 2 5层析纯化重组蛋白 .经测定 ,发酵液上清重组蛋白表达量约 11mg L .采用破骨细胞样细胞(osteoclastlikecell,OLC)诱导分化实验检测重组蛋白的生物活性 ,证实该重组蛋白可以促进OLC的生成 ,并呈现剂量依赖关系     

猪2型圆环病毒原核表达产物的免疫原性测定

目的检测猪2型圆环病毒(PCV2)全基因组原核表达产物的免疫原性。方法根据PCV2JXL株序列(GenBank登录号AY491310),设计合成引物,利用多聚酶链式反应(PCR)从含有PCV2接种猪肾细胞PK15中扩增了Cap蛋白的氨基端片段(737-421nt),克隆入上游带有谷光苷肽-S-转移酶的原核表达载体pGEX-6p-1中,获得重组质粒pGEX-PCV737-421。PCV2Cap蛋白羧基端(426-37nt)和Rep蛋白已在过去的研究中分别融合表达。利用IPTG对3种重组大肠杆菌BL21进行诱导,进行聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分析(SDS-PAGE)以及对PCV2阳性猪多抗血清的蛋白免疫印迹试验,在此基础上,将3种SDS-PAGE分离粗纯的重组表达产物碾碎后分别免疫BALB/c小鼠,用获得的抗鼠血清与PCV2病毒感染PK15细胞做间接免疫荧光抗体试验(IFA)。结果PCV2Cap蛋白的氨基端片段能在大肠杆菌中表达,且Cap蛋白羧基端和Rep蛋白的原核表达产物都能在免疫印迹试验中被PCV2阳性猪血清检测出特异性条带,重组蛋白免疫鼠血清可在IFA试验中观察到特异性的荧光分布,即检测到培养细胞中的病毒抗原。结论PCV2全基因组都可以用原核系统高效表达,且表达产物具有免疫原性。     

Molecular templates for bio-specific recognition by low-energy electron beam lithography

Protein patterning has become an important topic as advances are made in biologically integrated devices and protein chip technology. Versatile and effective patterning requires substrates that can be quantified, with active presentation of proteins and control over protein density and orientation. Herein we describe a model system and the use of low-energy electron beam lithography to pattern molecular templates for immobilization of antibodies through ligand recognition. The templates were patterned over a background of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) modified silicon oxide (SiO _x ). These substrates were exposed to a low-voltage (2 keV) electron beam to remove PEG selectively from exposed regions. These regions were then functionalized with a dinitrophenyl (DNP) ligand and tested for specific binding of fluorescently labeled anti-DNP antibodies. The PEG modified regions in conjunction with ligand-presenting regions in the patterned arrays substantially reduces non-specific adsorption of proteins, yielding a specific/nonspecific ratio of approx 10. The surface coverage of the biologically active DNP groups on SiO _x and the amount of immobilized antibody on DNP were measured with a fluorescence-based, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The specificity of the interaction between DNP ligand and fluorescently labeled anti-DNP antibodies was evaluated with fluorescence microscopy. This approach to patterning of molecular templates and assays for quantification are generally applicable to immobilization of any ligand-receptor pair on a wide range of substrates.     

Expression of ovine gamma interferon in Escherichia coli and Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Bacteria of two species, Escherichia coli and Corynebacterium glutamicum, were used as hosts to express recombinant ovine gamma interferon as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase. The recombinant gamma interferon produced by both bacteria was biologically active in vitro and was recognized by anti-gamma interferon monoclonal antibodies. E. coli produced large amounts of soluble recombinant protein which could be purified by a simple affinity chromatography method. Only a small fraction of the recombinant protein made by C. glutamicum was recovered by this method. Expression of recombinant protein in C. glutamicum was unstable but could be controlled by increased regulation of the tac promoter. Both hosts expressed ovine gamma interferon at high levels, with the recombinant protein making up a significant proportion of the cellular protein content.     

Production of bioactive recombinant human myeloid‐derived growth factor in Escherichia coli and its mechanism on vascular endothelial cell proliferation

Myeloid‐derived growth factor (MYDGF) is a novel protein secreted by bone marrow cells that features important physiological functions. In recent years, MYDGF has gained considerable interest due to their extensive beneficial effect on cardiac repair and protects cardiomyocytes from cell death. However, its precise molecular mechanisms have not been well elucidated. The purpose of this study was to produce sufficient amount of biologically active recombinant human (rh) MYDGF more economically and effectively by using in vitro molecular cloning techniques to study its clinical application. The prokaryotic expression system of Escherichia coli was established for the preparation of rhMYDGF. Finally, a large amount of high biologically active and purified form of recombinant protein was obtained. Moreover, we investigated the potential mechanism of rhMYDGF‐mediated proliferation and survival in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs). Mechanistically, the results suggested that MAPK/STAT3 and the cyclin D1 signalling pathways are indispensable for rhMYDGF‐mediated HCAEC proliferation and survival. Therefore, this study successfully established a preparation protocol for biologically active rhMYDGF and it may be a most economical way to produce high‐quality active rhMYDGF for future clinical application.     

PRODUCTION OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE HUMAN RELA (p65) IN BACULOVIRUS-INFECTED INSECT CELLS

A recombinant baculovirus was constructed to express a cDNA encoding RelA (p65), a member of the NF-κB/Rel family of proteins. Infection of Spodoptera frugiderda insect cells with the recombinant baculovirus resulted in the production of the biologically active protein as measured by immunoblotting using RelA-specific antisera and by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. The recombinant protein bound specifically to an oligonucleotide containing the NF-κB consensus motif but not to that containing the unrelated Oct-1 consensus motif. Thus insect cell-derived RelA possess properties similar to the native protein and may be used in physical, biochemical, and pharmacological studies.     

Engineering of the gut commensal bacterium Bacteroides ovatus to produce and secrete biologically active murine interleukin-2 in response to xylan

AIMS: The aim of this work was to engineer a gut commensal bacterium, Bacteroidesovatus, to produce and secrete a biologically active cytokine in a regulated manner as a basis for novel immunotherapies for chronic gut disorders. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bacteroides ovatus was engineered to produce murine interleukin-2 (MuIL2) intracellularly in response to xylan in culture media by inserting the MuIL2 gene into the xylanase operon of the organism. A second strain was engineered to secrete MuIL2 by adding Bacteroides fragilis enterotoxin secretion signal sequence to the protein. The recombinant strains produced MuIL2 only in the presence of xylan as determined by ELISA of cell lysates and culture supernatants. The IL2-dependent cell line CTLL-2 was used to demonstrate that MuIL2 produced by both B. ovatus strains was biologically active. This activity could be blocked by an anti-IL2 neutralizing antibody. The xylan-inducible nature of this system was demonstrated by RT-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Bacteroides ovatus was successfully engineered to produce and secrete biologically active MuIL2 in a xylan-inducible manner. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The production and secretion of a biologically active mammalian protein by a member of the gut microflora could lead to the development of new long-term immunotherapies for inflammatory gut diseases.     

Determination of the antioxidative activity of substituted 5-aminopyrimidines

The aminopyrimidine structural motif can be found in diverse biologically active compounds. This study aimed to describe the antioxidant activity of a series of di- and tri-substituted 5-aminopyrimidines using in vitro (TEAC, LPO) and cell-based assays. 2,4,6-trisubstituted 5-aminopyrimidines displayed the highest activity in the TEAC and LPO assays whereas compounds with protected 5-aminogroup were active in the cellular assay. This is most likely because of their better membrane permeability and intracellular metabolic activation. In summary, we have identified the antioxidant activity of a series of substituted 5-aminopyrimidines and their potential prodrugs which may have implications in the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases.     

Prokaryotic expression,in vitro folding,and molecular pharmacological characterization of the neuropeptide Y receptor type 2

G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a class of membrane proteins that represent a major target for pharmacological developments. However, there is still little knowledge about GPCR structure and dynamics since high‐level expression and characterization of active GPCRs in vitro is extremely complicated. Here, we describe the recombinant expression and functional folding of the human Y₂ receptor from inclusion bodies of E. coli cultures. Milligram protein quantities were produced using high density fermentation and isolated in a single step purification with a yield of over 20 mg/L culture. Extensive studies were carried out on in vitro refolding and stabilization of the isolated receptor in detergent solution. The specific binding of the ligand, the 36 residue neuropeptide Y (NPY), to the recombinant Y₂ receptors in micellar form was shown by several radioligand affinity assays. In competition experiments, an IC₅₀ value in low nanomolar range could be determined. Further, a K_D value of 1.9 nM was determined from a saturation assay, where NPY was titrated to the recombinant Y₂ receptors. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009     

Ligand specificity of human thrombomodulin. Equilibrium binding of human thrombin, meizothrombin, and factor Xa to recombinant thrombomodulin.

Thrombomodulin is an endothelial glycoprotein that serves as a cofactor for protein C activation. To examine the ligand specificity of human thrombomodulin, we performed equilibrium binding assays with human thrombin, thrombin S205A (wherein the active site serine is replaced by alanine), meizothrombin S205A, and human factor Xa. In competition binding assays with CV-1(18A) cells expressing cell surface recombinant human thrombomodulin, recombinant wild type thrombin and thrombin S205A inhibited 125I-diisopropyl fluorophosphate-thrombin binding with similar affinity (Kd = 6.4 +/- 0.5 and 5.3 +/- 0.3 nM, respectively). However, no binding inhibition was detected for meizothrombin S205A or human factor Xa (Kd greater than 500 nM). In direct binding assays, 125I-labeled plasma thrombin and thrombin S205A bound to thrombomodulin with Kd values of 4.0 +/- 1.9 and 6.9 +/- 1.2 nM, respectively. 125I-Labeled meizothrombin S205A and human factor Xa did not bind to thrombomodulin (Kd greater than 500 nM). We also compared the ability of thrombin and factor Xa to activate human recombinant protein C. The activation of recombinant protein C by thrombin was greatly enhanced in the presence of thrombomodulin, whereas no significant activation by factor Xa was detected with or without thrombomodulin. Similar results were obtained with thrombin and factor Xa when human umbilical vein endothelial cells were used as the source of thrombomodulin. These results suggest that human meizothrombin and factor Xa are unlikely to be important thrombomodulin-dependent protein C activators and that thrombin is the physiological ligand for human endothelial cell thrombomodulin.     

Furin-mediated processing of Pro-C-type natriuretic peptide

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is a member of the natriuretic peptide family that is involved in a variety of homeostatic processes. Here we characterize the processing essential for the conversion of the precursor, human pro-CNP, to the biologically active hormone. In human embryonic kidney 293 and chondrosarcoma SW 1353 cells, recombinant pro-CNP was converted into a mature peptide intracellularly as detected by Western analysis. Expression of recombinant human corin, a proatrial natriuretic peptide convertase, did not enhance the processing of pro-CNP in these cells. The processing of pro-CNP was inhibited in the presence of an inhibitor of the endoprotease furin but was not affected by inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases and tumor necrosis factor-alpha convertase. In furin-deficient human colon adenocarcinoma LoVo cells, no conversion of recombinant pro-CNP to CNP was detected. Expression of recombinant human furin in LoVo cells restored the ability of these cells to process pro-CNP. Furthermore, incubation of purified recombinant human furin with LoVo cell lysate containing pro-CNP led to the conversion of the precursor to a mature peptide. The furin-processed CNP was shown to be biologically active in a cell-based cGMP assay. These results demonstrate that furin is a critical enzyme for the processing of human pro-CNP.     

Purification and characterization of a recombinant G-protein-coupled receptor, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ste2p, transiently expressed in HEK293 EBNA1 cells

The production of milligram quantities of purified, active, folded membrane protein from heterologous expression systems remains a general challenge due to intrinsically low expression levels, misfolding, and instability. Here we report the overexpression and purification of milligram quantities of functional Saccharomyces cerevisiae G-protein-coupled receptor, Ste2p, from transiently transfected human embryonic kidney 293 EBNA1 cells. Fluorescent microscopy indicates localization of Ste2p-GFP and Fc-Ste2p-GFP fusion receptors to the cell membrane. Up to 2 mg (approximately 10 pmol/million cells) of the Fc-Ste2p-GFP fusion and 1 mg of a Ste2p-Strep-TagII/(His)8-tagged version were purified per liter of culture following protein A-Sepharose and Talon metal affinity chromatography, respectively. Two distinct fluorescent labels, the hydrophobic 7-(diethylamino)-3-(4'-maleimidylphenyl)-4-methylcoumarin (CPM) and the more hydrophilic fluorescein-5-maleimide (FM), were individually attached to the C-terminus of the alpha-mating factor ligand by addition of a reactive cysteine residue to produce active fluorescent pheromones. In vitro fluorescent ligand binding assays demonstrated that a high percentage of the recombinant purified receptor is correctly folded and able to bind ligand. KD values of 34 +/- 3 and 300 +/- 20 nM were observed respectively for the CPM- and FM-labeled ligands. These results combined with blue-shifted emission peaks and loss of fluorescent quenching observed for both fluorescent-labeled Cys alpha-factors when bound to receptor support a model in which the C-terminus of the ligand is packed in a hydrophobic pocket at the interface between the transmembrane and extracellular loop domains. Overall, we present an efficient system for recombinant production of milligram quantities of purified Ste2p in a biologically active form with applications to future structure and functional studies.     

Classical ligands interact with native and recombinant tubulin from Onchocerca volvulus with similar rank order of magnitude

The alpha- and beta-tubulin genes from Onchocerca volvulus were individually expressed for the first time in Escherichia coli (DH5alpha). The recombinant tubulins were purified, renatured and reconstituted into oligomers, probably dimers, which were competent to bind three classical tubulin ligands: mebendazole (MBZ), taxol (TAX) and vinblastine (VBN). A new charcoal-dependent binding assay allowed accurate discrimination between specific and non-specific ligand binding in crude cell extracts. To compare the magnitude of binding of both native and recombinant forms of tubulin, we developed an ELISA assay for estimating the amount of tubulin in soluble protein extracts of O. volvulus. Binding assays were performed; both the maximum binding at saturating ligand concentrations (B(max)) and the equilibrium dissociation constants (K(d)) were determined. The B(max) values of the different ligands were significantly different from one another (P<0.05), but the order of the B(max) and K(d) for each drug were VBN > TAX > MBZ for both native and recombinant tubulin. Indeed, B(max) values for MBZ with native and recombinant tubulins were similar. On average, native tubulin had higher or similar binding capacity (B(max)) but a consistently higher affinity (lower K(d)) than the recombinant tubulin. We conclude that at least some of the recombinant molecules form receptors that are similar to those in native tubulin dimers. These data suggest that recombinant tubulin can be used to develop a molecular screen for novel anti-tubulin ligands to develop into drugs against onchocerciasis.     

Expression,purification and characterization of the extracellular domain of human Flt3 ligand in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3 ligand, FL) is a cytokine that affects the growth, survival and/or differentiation of hematopoietic cells through the activation of specific tyrosine kinase receptors, and is potentially useful for in vitro HSC amplification. To express the extracellular domain of human Flt3 ligand (hFL^ext) in Escherichia coli, we cloned hFL^ext and constructed the recombinant expression vector pET32a-hFL^ext. hFL^ext was successfully expressed in E. coli as a Trx fusion protein (Trx-hFL^ext) under IPTG (isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside) induction for 12 h at 30°C. The Trx-hFL^ext protein, expressed in inclusion bodies even at a low induction temperature, was successfully refolded and purified using dialysis and affinity chromatography. The purified hFL^ext was biologically active and could effectively stimulate the proliferation of mouse bone marrow nucleated cells revealed by cell proliferation assay and colony forming assay. In addition, in synergize with G-CSF and TPO, recombinant purified hFL^ext could stimulate ex vivo expansion of murine Lin⁻Sca-1⁺c-Kit⁺ cells. Therefore, using the E. coli expression system and an affinity chromatography system, we successfully expressed, refolded, and purified a biologically active Trx-hFL^ext protein which might be potentially useful for in vitro HSC amplification.