Overproduction of recombinant human VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) are a family of proteins that mediate angiogenesis. VEGF165 is a VEGF-A isoform and has been extensively studied owing to its potential use in therapeutic angiogenesis. This study established Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells overexpressing recombinant human VEGF165 (rhVEGF165) protein. The production rate of the established CHO cells was over 80 mg/l of rhVEGF165 protein from a 7-day batch culture process using a 7.5-l bioreactor with a 5-l working volume and serum-free medium. The rhVEGF165 protein was purified to homogeneity from the culture supernatant using a two-step chromatographic procedure that resulted in a 48% recovery rate. The purified rhVEGF165 protein was a glycosylated homodimeric protein with a higher molecular weight (MW) than the protein expressed from insect cells, suggesting that the glycosylation of the rhVEGF165 protein in CHO cells differed from that in insect cells. The purified rhVEGF165 protein in this study was functionally active with a half-maximal effective concentration of 3.8 ng/ ml and specific activity of 2.5 x 105 U/mg.     

rhVEGF165在中国仓鼠卵巢细胞中的稳定表达、纯化及其生物学活性

利用哺乳动物细胞表达系统,稳定表达和纯化高生物学活性的人重组血管内皮生长因子 (VEGF165) 蛋白。将VEGF165克隆于表达载体pCDNA4.0,与T-GS载体共同转染CHO-S (中国仓鼠卵巢细胞) 细胞,MSX (Methionine sulphoximine) 加压筛选高表达细胞株,5 L发酵罐培养,细胞培养上清液通过三步纯化得到rhVEGF165蛋白,通过Western blotting、Biacore和人脐静脉内皮细胞增殖实验等对表达蛋白的特异性、亲和力及生物学活性等进行检测。所建立的细胞     

通过毕赤酵母表达系统获得高纯度的重组人血管内皮生长因子 (rhVEGF165)

血管内皮生长因子 (Vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF165) 是一种高度特异性的促血管内皮细胞生长因子,高纯度的VEGF165对于抗肿瘤药物和生物标志物研发检测试剂必不可少。目前关于VEGF165的异源表达方法,纯化步骤多且产物纯度不高。以毕赤酵母表达系统为基础,构建人血管内皮生长因子 (VEGF165) 多拷贝的表达载体。按照酵母密码子偏好性优化人血管内皮生长因子基因 (vegf165) 的密码子,在毕赤酵母BBPB表达载体基础上,用Biobrick生物积块的方法,构建以Pgap为启动子的五拷贝rhVEGF165表达载体,同时添加组氨酸标签。利用His标签和VEGF165自身的肝素结合结构域,仅用两步亲和层析纯化得到纯度高于98%的rhVEGF165蛋白。rhVEGF165纯化后浓度为0.45 mg/mL,且具有生物学活性。该异源表达策略简化了rhVEGF165的纯化步骤,rhVEGF165具有天然VEGF165的生物学活性,且纯度达到目前文献报道的最高水平。     

胸腺素a1与复合a干扰素融合蛋白的表达及其生物学活性

实验旨在获得具有双重生物学活性的重组胸腺素a1(Thymosin alpha1, TM-a1)与复合a干扰素(IFNa-con)融合蛋白。选择大肠杆菌偏爱的密码子, 将合成的TM-a1与IFNa-con编码序列构成的融和基因克隆至大肠杆菌表达载体pET-22b(+)、在宿主菌BL21(DE3)-Codon plus-RP-X中成功表达了可溶性融合蛋白(TM-a1-IFN-con)。表达量占总蛋白的20%以上。通过硫酸铵沉淀、疏水层析、阴离子交换层析、阳离子交换层析、分子筛层析后, 产品纯度达到96%以上。采用细胞病变抑制法测定融合蛋白的抗病毒活性, 采用细胞增殖实验检测融合蛋白对小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖的影响。结果表明, 融合蛋白的抗病毒活性优于市售的IFNa1b和IFNa2a。对小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖的影响与市售的合成胸腺素a1相同。已有研究证实, 该融合蛋白具有良好的体外抗HBV作用, 其体外抗HBV活性比联合应用TM-a1和干扰素a强, 且细胞毒性明显低于联合应用TM-a1和干扰素a。以上结果表明, 通过大肠杆菌表达的可溶性融合蛋白(TM-a1- IFN-con), 既具有良好的干扰素a抗病毒作用, 也具有胸腺素a1促淋巴细胞增殖作用。     

Expression and characterization of human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165) in insect cells

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the best characterized multifunctional protein which plays a key role in normal and pathologic angiogenesis. The gene encoding the human VEGF165 was cloned from the ovarian carcinoma cell line (OVCAR3) and expressed in insect cells using the baculovirus expression vector system. The recombinant human VEGF165 (rhVEGF165) protein produced by Sf21 (Spodoptera frugiperda) cells underwent a similar processing compared with mammalian cells, including efficient glycosylation, formation of a disulfide-linked dimer and secretion into the media. The rhVEGF165 had a high affinity for heparin and this characteristic was used to purify this form to homogeneity by heparin affinity, Resource S and Resource RPC columns. The biological activity of the purified 42-kDa homodimer was shown by the induction of the proliferation of human umbilical vein derived endothelial cells. These results demonstrate that an angiogenic growth factor whose normal processing requires glycosylation and disulfide-bridge formation can be efficiently expressed in high concentration (up to 20mg/L) in Sf21 cells.     

干扰素与转铁蛋白融合蛋白在毕赤酵母中的表达及鉴定

利用重叠 PCR 技术将干扰素 (interferon , IFN) 基因与转铁蛋白 N 端半分子 (transferrin N-terminal half-molecule , TFN) 基因在体外融合,融合基因和单独的 TFN 基因分别克隆至真核表达载体 pPIC9 中,转化毕赤酵母 GS115 ,得到的转化子经诱导表达后在发酵上清中均获得了表达 . 经 SP Sepharose Fast Flow 阳离子交换层析、 Phenyl Sepharose Fast Flow 疏水层析纯化,获得了纯度大于 93 ％的重组融合蛋白 IFN-TFN 和纯度大于 95 ％的重组 TFN 样品 . 生物活性实验证明融合蛋白 IFN-TFN 具有抗病毒活性 . 铁饱和实验证明融合蛋白 IFN-TFN 和单独的 TFN 具有相同的铁结合能力 . 因而 TFN 可望作为 IFN 的天然运输载体 .     

甲状旁腺激素和转铁蛋白N端半分子融合蛋白在毕赤酵母中的表达

用重叠PCR技术将PTH（parathyroid hormone, 甲状旁腺激素）基因与TFN（transferrin N_terminal half_molecule, 转铁蛋白N端半分子）基因在体外融合,融合基因克隆至真核表达载体pPIC9中,转化毕赤酵母GS115。转化子经甲醇诱导后,融合蛋白得到了表达并分泌到发酵上清液中。经 SP Sepharose F F阳离子交换层析、Phenyl Sepharose Fast Flow疏水层析纯化获得了纯度大于95％的PTH_TFN样品。Western blot分析及腺苷酸环化酶实验证明融合蛋白中的PTH具有与抗PTH抗体结合能力及刺激腺苷酸环化酶的活性,铁饱和实验证明融合蛋白中的TFN和单独的TFN具有相同铁结合能力。因而TFN可望作为PTH的天然运输载体。     

rhVEGF treatment preserves pulmonary vascular reactivity and structure in an experimental model of pulmonary hypertension in fetal sheep

We have previously shown that lung VEGF expression is decreased in a fetal lamb model of PPHN and that VEGF165 inhibition causes severe pulmonary hypertension in fetal lambs. Therefore, we hypothesized that treatment with rhVEGF165 would preserve endothelium-dependent vasodilation and reduce the severity of pulmonary vascular remodeling in an experimental model of PPHN. We studied the effects of daily intrapulmonary infusions of rhVEGF after partial ligation of the ductus arteriosus (DA). We performed surgery in 24 late-gestation fetal lambs and placed catheters in the main pulmonary artery, left atrium, and aorta for pressure measurements and in the left pulmonary artery for drug infusions. A pressure transducer was placed around the LPA to measure blood flow to the left lung (Qp), and the DA was surgically constricted to induce pulmonary hypertension. rhVEGF165 or vehicle was infused for 7 or 14 days. ACh or 8-BrcGMP was infused on days 2 and 13 to assess endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation, respectively. ACh-induced vasodilation was reduced in PPHN lambs after 14 days (change in Qp from baseline, 106% vs. 11%). In contrast, the response to ACh was preserved in lambs treated with rhVEGF (change in Qp, 94% vs. 90%). Pulmonary vasodilation to 8-BrcGMP was not altered in PPHN lambs or enhanced by VEGF treatment. rhVEGF treatment increased expression of lung eNOS protein and decreased pulmonary artery wall thickness by 34% vs. PPHN lambs. We conclude that VEGF165 preserves endothelium-dependent vasodilation, upregulates eNOS expression, and reduces the severity of pulmonary vascular remodeling in experimental PPHN.     

羟胺切割Neurturin融合蛋白表达载体的构建、表达产物纯化及生物活性

 Neurturin (NTN)是新近发现的一种神经营养因子 ,是 GDNF家族的成员之一 .将 5′端引入了羟胺切割位点的 h NTN基因克隆到硫氧还蛋白融合表达载体 p Thio His A,在宿主菌 BL2 1中获得了稳定、高效表达 ,表达产物以包涵体形式存在 .在变性条件下经羟胺切割、柱层析纯化后复性 ,获得纯度达 90 %以上的 rh NTN.经鸡胚背根神经节 (DRG)培养法测定具有生物学活性 .     

Characteristics of the adsorption of immunoglobulin M onto Q Sepharose® Fast Flow ion-exchangers

Measurement of adsorption breakthrough curves in packed beds has shown that the amounts and rates of uptake of immunoglobulin M (IgM) onto the commonly used anionic ion-exchanger Q Sepharose Fast Flow(based on 6% agarose) are severely limited as a result of the large molecular size of this adsorbate(RMM 950000). A similar ion-exchanger based on a more porous 4% agarose, Q Sepharose 4 Fast Flow was evaluated as an alternative adsorbent for the purification of IgM. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms and the effective diffusivities of IgM within these two adsorbents were measured. Q-Sepharose 4 Fast Flow was found to have a maximum capacity for IgM 2.5 times greater than that of Q Sepharose 6 Fast Flow and the effective diffusivity of IgM was found to be between 6 and 7 times greater than with the latter material. Comparison of the breakthrough curves obtained for these adsorbents at a variety of flow velocities confirm that Q Sepharose 4 Fast Flow is a superior adsorbent for the capture and purification of large proteins.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

High-level expression and characterization of an anti-VEGF165 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) by small ubiquitin-related modifier fusion in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

Antibodies currently constitute the most rapidly growing class of human therapeutics; however, the high-yield production of recombinant antibodies and antibody fragments is a real challenge. High expression of active single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) in Escherichia coli has not been successful, as the protein contains three intramolecular disulfide bonds that are difficult to form correctly in the bacterial intracellular environment. To solve this problem, we fused the scFv gene against VEGF165 with a small ubiquitin-related modifier gene (SUMO) by synthesizing an artificial SUMO–scFv fusion gene that was highly expressed in the BL21(DE3) strain. The optimal expression level of the soluble fusion protein, SUMO–scFv, was up to 28.5% of the total cellular protein. The fusion protein was purified by Ni nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) affinity chromatography and cleaved by a SUMO-specific protease to obtain the native scFv, which was further purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The result of the high-performance liquid chromatography showed that the purity of the recombinant cleaved scFv was greater than 98%. The primary structure of the purified scFv was confirmed by N-terminal amino acid sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy analysis. In vitro activity assay demonstrated that the recombinant scFv could dose-dependently inhibit VEGF165-induced human umbilical vein-derived endothelial cell proliferation. The expression strategy presented in this study allows convenient high yield and easy purification of recombinant scFv with native sequences.     

Recombinant human VEGF treatment transiently increases lung edema but enhances lung structure after neonatal hyperoxia

Recent studies suggest that VEGF may worsen pulmonary edema during acute lung injury (ALI), but, paradoxically, impaired VEGF signaling contributes to decreased lung growth during recovery from ALI due to neonatal hyperoxia. To examine the diverse roles of VEGF in the pathogenesis of and recovery from hyperoxia-induced ALI, we hypothesized that exogenous recombinant human VEGF (rhVEGF) treatment during early neonatal hyperoxic lung injury may increase pulmonary edema but would improve late lung structure during recovery. Sprague-Dawley rat pups were placed in a hyperoxia chamber (inspired O(2) fraction 0.9) for postnatal days 2-14. Pups were randomized to daily intramuscular injections of rhVEGF(165) (20 microg/kg) or saline (controls). On postnatal day 14, rats were placed in room air for a 7-day recovery period. At postnatal days 3, 14, and 21, rats were killed for studies, which included body weight and wet-to-dry lung weight ratio, morphometric analysis [including radial alveolar counts (RAC), mean linear intercepts (MLI), and vessel density], and lung endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) protein content by Western blot analysis. Compared with room air controls, hyperoxia increased pulmonary edema by histology and wet-to-dry lung weight ratios at postnatal day 3, which resolved by day 14. Although treatment with rhVEGF did not increase edema in control rats, rhVEGF increased wet-to-dry weight ratios in hyperoxia-exposed rats at postnatal days 3 and 14 (P < 0.01). Compared with room air controls, hyperoxia decreased RAC and increased MLI at postnatal days 14 and 21. Treatment with VEGF resulted in increased RAC by 181% and decreased MLI by 55% on postnatal day 14 in the hyperoxia group (P < 0.01). On postnatal day 21, RAC was increased by 176% and MLI was decreased by 58% in the hyperoxia group treated with VEGF. rhVEGF treatment during hyperoxia increased eNOS protein on postnatal day 3 by threefold (P < 0.05). We conclude that rhVEGF treatment during hyperoxia-induced ALI transiently increases pulmonary edema but improves lung structure during late recovery. We speculate that VEGF has diverse roles in hyperoxia-induced neonatal lung injury, contributing to lung edema during the acute stage of ALI but promoting repair of the lung during recovery.     

Protection of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor to Brain Edema Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Its Involved Mechanisms: Effect of Aquaporin-4

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has protective effects on many neurological diseases. However, whether VEGF acts on brain edema following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is largely unknown. Our previous study has shown aquaporin-4 (AQP4) plays an important role in brain edema elimination following ICH. Meanwhile, there is close relationship between VEGF and AQP4. In this study, we aimed to test effects of VEGF on brain edema following ICH and examine whether they were AQP4 dependent. Recombinant human VEGF165 (rhVEGF165) was injected intracerebroventricularly 1 d after ICH induced by microinjecting autologous whole blood into striatum. We detected perihemotomal AQP4 protein expression, then examined the effects of rhVEGF165 on perihemotomal brain edema at 1 d, 3 d, and 7 d after injection in wild type (AQP4^+/+) and AQP4 knock-out (AQP4^−/−) mice. Furthermore, we assessed the possible signal transduction pathways activated by VEGF to regulate AQP4 expression via astrocyte cultures. We found perihemotomal AQP4 protein expression was highly increased by rhVEGF165. RhVEGF165 alleviated perihemotomal brain edema in AQP4^+/+ mice at each time point, but had no effect on AQP4^−/− mice. Perihemotomal EB extravasation was increased by rhVEGF165 in AQP4^−/− mice, but not AQP4^+/+ mice. RhVEGF165 reduced neurological deficits and increased Nissl’s staining cells surrounding hemotoma in both types of mice and these effects were related to AQP4. RhVEGF165 up-regulated phospharylation of C-Jun amino-terminal kinase (p-JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) and AQP4 protein in cultured astrocytes. The latter was inhibited by JNK and ERK inhibitors. In conclusion, VEGF reduces neurological deficits, brain edema, and neuronal death surrounding hemotoma but has no influence on BBB permeability. These effects are closely related to AQP4 up-regulation, possibly through activating JNK and ERK pathways. The current study may present new insights to treatment of brain edema following ICH.     

Purification of Bovine α-Lactalbumin by Immobilized Metal Ion Affinity Chromatography

ABSTRACT

The milk protein α-lactalbumin was isolated from bovine whey protein concentrate solution by immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (MAC) using Cu(II)-Chelating Sepharose Fast Flow. Stepwise pH (5.5–3.8) changes in sodium acetate buffer were used to elute the protein selectively, at which time it was concentrated and reapplied to an uncharged Chelating Sepharose Fast Flow column to remove the contaminating Cu(II) ions. A purity of 90% and recovery of 80% was achieved. The described method appears to be suitable for isolation of a-lactalbumin in a form adequate for milk formula engineering.     

Construction of a fusion enzyme system by gene splicing as a new molecular recognition element for a sequence biosensor.

A bifunctional fusion enzyme system constructed by gene splicing is proposed as a new model to develop sequence biosensors, taking maltose biosensor as an example. The cDNA fragment of Aspergillus niger glucoamylase (E.C 3.2.1.3, GA) was fused to the 3' end of Aspergillus niger glucose oxidase (E.C 1.1.3.4, GOD) gene with the insertion of a flexible linker peptide [-(Ser-Gly)5-] coding sequence. The fusion gene was cloned into the vector pPIC9 and expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115 under the control of the AOX1 promoter. It was found that a bifunctional hybrid protein with a molecular weight of 430 kDa was secreted after induction with methanol. The fusion enzyme GOD-(Ser-Gly)5-GA (GLG) was purified using Q Sepharose Fast Flow ion-exchange chromatography. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that GLG retained the typical kinetic properties of both GA and GOD. After being immobilized on an aminosilanized glass slide through covalent bonding by glutaraldehyde, GLG showed much higher sequential catalytic efficiency than the mixture of separately expressed GA and GOD (GA/GOD). Maltose biosensors were fabricated with GLG and GA/GOD, respectively. The performance characteristics of the maltose biosensor with respect to reproducibility, signal level, and linearity were effectively improved by using the fusion enzyme. Our findings offer a basis for the development of other sequence biosensors.     

人血清白蛋白和人干扰素α2b的融合蛋白在毕赤酵母中的表达

为了延长IFNα2b在血浆中的半衰期,构建了编码HSA和hIFNα2b的融合基因并在毕赤酵母中获得高效表达,工程菌经5L发酵罐培养后获得的含融合蛋白的培养液经超滤浓缩、蓝色葡聚糖凝胶层析、疏水柱层析以及阴离子柱层析,融合蛋白的纯度达到95%以上。该融合蛋白能与干扰素抗体和人血清白蛋白抗体结合,并表现出与重组干扰素α2b相似的抗病毒活性。以猕猴为动物模型,分别从静脉和皮下单剂量给药,给药浓度为90μg/kg时,在336h后血浆中仍可检测到融合蛋白。其静脉注射的血浆半衰期为101h,皮下注射的半衰期为68.2h。皮下注射的生物利用度为67.9%。IFNα2b与HSA融合后,明显的延长了血浆半衰期,显现了其良好的临床应用前景。     

Purification of histidine-tagged nucleocapsid protein of Nipah virus using immobilized metal affinity chromatography

Nucleocapsid (N) protein of Nipah virus (NiV) is a potential serological marker used in the diagnosis of NiV infections. In this study, a rapid and efficient purification system, HisTrap? 6 Fast Flow packed bed column was applied to purify recombinant histidine-tagged N protein of NiV from clarified feedstock. The optimizations of binding and elution conditions of N protein of NiV onto and from Nickel Sepharose? 6 Fast Flow were investigated. The optimal binding was achieved at pH 7.5, superficial velocity of 1.25 cm/min. The bound N protein was successfully recovered by a stepwise elution with different concentration of imidazole (50, 150, 300 and 500 mM). The N protein of NiV was captured and eluted from an inlet N protein concentration of 0.4 mg/ml in a scale-up immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) packed bed column of Nickel Sepharose? 6 Fast Flow with the optimized condition obtained from the method scouting. The purification of histidine-tagged N protein using IMAC packed bed column has resulted a 68.3% yield and a purification factor of 7.94.