Technical refolding of proteins: Do we have freedom to operate?

Expression as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli is a widely used method for the large-scale production of therapeutic proteins that do not require post-translational modifications. High expression yields and simple recovery steps of inclusion bodies from the host cells are attractive features industrially. However, the value of an inclusion body-based process is dominated by the solubilization and refolding technologies. Scale-invariant technologies that are economical and applicable for a wide range of proteins are requested by industry. The main challenge is to convert the denatured protein into its native conformation at high yields. Refolding competes with misfolding and aggregation. Thus, the yield of native monomer depends strongly on the initial protein concentrations in the refolding solution. Reasonable yields are attained at low concentrations (≤0.1 mg/mL). However, large buffer tanks and time-consuming concentration steps are required. We attempt to answer the question of the extent to which refolding of proteins is protected by patents. Low-molecular mass additives have been developed to improve refolding yields through the stabilization of the protein in solution and shielding hydrophobic patches. Progress has been made in the field of high-pressure renaturation and on-column refolding. Mixing times of the denatured protein in the refolding buffer have been reduced using newly developed devices and the introduction of specific mixers. Concepts of continuous refolding have been introduced to reduce tank sizes and increase yields. Some of the patents covering refolding of proteins will soon expire or have already expired. This gives more freedom to operate.     

The pathogenicity of Aeromonas strains relative to genospecies and phenospecies identification

A high yield of Escherichia coli outer membrane proteins OmpA (about 200 mg/l) and OmpF (about 100 mg/l) was obtained in Bacillus subtilis when produced intracellularly. The yield was more than 100-fold higher than the yield of these proteins by a similar vector containing the complete signal sequence of alpha-amylase of B. amyloliquefaciens. Both proteins isolated after breakage of the B. subtilis cells by low-speed centrifugation were about 70% pure and could be solubilized by Sarkosyl, SDS and guanidine hydrochloride.     

蛋白质的排阻色谱复性的新进展

外源蛋白在大肠杆菌中高效表达时 ,常常形成不溶的、无活性的包涵体 ,包涵体蛋白的复性是重组蛋白生产过程中的一个技术难题。排阻色谱 (sizeexclusionchromatography ,SEC)用于蛋白复性是一种较新的、适用于任何一种蛋白的方法 ,与常用的稀释复性法相比 ,它能在高的起始蛋白浓度下对蛋白进行复性 ,活性回收率较高 ,同时又能使目标蛋白得到一定程度的纯化。对使用SEC复性的进展进行了评述 ,其内容包括SEC复性的原理及其复性过程中的影响因素 ,并对其未来发展进行了展望。     

Employment of colorimetric enzyme assay for monitoring expression and solubility of GST fusion proteins targeted to inclusion bodies

High levels of recombinant protein expression can lead to the formation of insoluble inclusion bodies. These complex aggregates are commonly solubilized in strong denaturants, such as 6–8 M urea, although, if possible, solubilization under milder conditions could facilitate subsequent refolding and purification of bioactive proteins. Commercially available GST-tag assays are designed for quantitative measurement of GST activity under native conditions. GST fusion proteins accumulated in inclusion bodies are considered to be undetectable by such assays. In this work, solubilization of recombinantly produced proteins was performed in 4 M urea. The activity of rGST was assayed in 2 M urea and it was shown that rGST preserves 85% of its activity under such denaturing conditions. A colorimetric GST activity assay with 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) was examined for use in rapid detection of expression targeted to inclusion bodies and for the identification of inclusion body proteins which can be solubilized in low concentrations of chaotropic agents. Applicability of the assay was evaluated by tracking protein expression of two GST-fused allergens of biopharmaceutical value in E. coli, GST-Der p 2 and GST-Mus a 5, both targeted to inclusion bodies.     

Inactivation of Escherichia coli by citral

Aims: The aim was to evaluate (i) the resistance of Escherichia coli BJ4 to citral in a buffer system as a function of citral concentration, treatment medium pH, storage time and initial inoculum size, (ii) the role of the sigma factor RpoS on citral resistance of E. coli, (iii) the role of the cell envelope damage in the mechanism of microbial inactivation by citral and (iiii) possible synergistic effects of mild heat treatment and pulsed electric fields (PEF) treatment combined with citral. Methods and Results: The initial inoculum size greatly affected the efficacy of citral against E. coli cells. Exposure to 200 μl l^?1 of citral at pH 4·0 for 24 h at 20°C caused the inactivation of more than 5 log₁₀ cycles of cells starting at an inoculum size of 10⁶ or 10⁷ CFU ml^?1, whereas increasing the cell concentration to 10⁹ CFU ml^?1 caused <1 log₁₀ cycle of inactivation. Escherichia coli showed higher resistance to citral at pH 4·0 than pH 7·0. The rpoS null mutant strain E. coli BJ4L1 was less resistant to citral than the wild‐type strain. Occurrence of sublethal injury to both the cytoplasmic and outer membranes was demonstrated by adding sodium chloride or bile salts to the recovery media. The majority of sublethally injured cells by citral required energy and lipid synthesis for repair. A strongly synergistic lethal effect was shown by mild heat treatment combined with citral but the presence of citral during the application of a PEF treatment did not show any advantage. Conclusions: This work confirms that cell envelope damage is an important event in citral inactivation of bacteria, and it describes the key factors on the inactivation of E. coli cells by citral. Significance and Impact of the Study: Knowledge about the mechanism of microbial inactivation by citral helps establish successful combined preservation treatments.     

Inactivation of endotoxin by Limulus amoebocyte lysate.

The inactivation of bacterial endotoxin by aqueous extracts (Limulus amoebocyte lysate) of the circulating blood cells (amoebocytes) of the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, is described. Active extracts were obtained by heating Limulus amoebocyte lystate (LAL) to 60°C for 20 min to denature the clotting enzyme, rendering the LAL incapable of gel formation in the presence of endotoxin. Endotoxin inactivation was assayed using the Limulus amoebocyte lysate test and by rabbit bioassay. Inactivation of endotoxin with heated extracts of LAL was suggestive of enzymatic mediation, as indicated by dependence on time, temperature, pH, and the kinetics of inactivation. Endotoxin inactivation occurred over a broad pH range, 4.5–8.5, with the optimum at a pH of 6.1. Temperature optima were between 37° and 50°C, with observed activity between 0° and 65°C. Ionized calcium was inhibitory to endotoxin inactivation with heated extracts of LAL, with partial inhibition at 0.001 m calcium and complete inhibition at 0.02 m calcium. Other divalent cations (Mg, Ba, Mn, and Cu) were also found to inhibit the inactivation of endotoxin. Similarities between the endotoxin-inactivating system of L. polyphemus and those described to be present in mammalian and lower vertebrate sera are discussed.     

A rapid method for analyzing recombinant protein inclusion bodies by mass spectrometry

The identification and characterization of a protein overexpressed in insoluble inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli are the first crucial and time-limiting steps in recombinant protein expression. Here, a straightforward approach to the analysis of recombinant proteins in inclusion bodies is presented. Inclusion bodies were dissolved in 8M urea and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)-time of flight mass spectrometry without prior desalting. Mass determination was achieved by direct spotting of the samples onto the MALDI target and serial dilution in the matrix. The masses of four different proteins, expressed in inclusion bodies, were determined with a mass accuracy better than 0.1%. Furthermore, protein modifications, such as N-terminal processing of single amino acids or artificial cyanylation caused by incubation of the inclusion bodies with urea at elevated temperatures, could be detected. Similarly, tryptic digests were directly analyzed in 2M urea to obtain peptide mass fingerprints for identification and more detailed information on the primary protein structure and secondary modifications. Due to the presence of ammonia in the urea-containing buffers, no Na(+) adducts were observed in the peptide mass fingerprint analysis. Taken together, the rapid and robust procedures presented here greatly facilitate the analysis of recombinant proteins.     

大肠杆菌周质蛋白提取工艺的改进

介绍一种简捷高效的大肠杆菌周质蛋白提取工艺,即用含一定浓度溶菌酶的细胞裂解缓冲液一步提取周质蛋白,与传统的高渗和低渗两步提取法相比,不仅操作简单快捷,并且显著的提高了大肠杆菌周质蛋白的提取率.     

Inactivation of the Escherichia coli K-12 twin-arginine translocation system promotes increased hydrogen production

The effect of deleting the genes encoding the twin-arginine translocation (Tat) system on H2 production by Escherichia coli strain MC4100 and its formate hydrogenlyase upregulated mutant (DeltahycA) was investigated. H2 evolution tests using two mutant strains defective in Tat transport (DeltatatC and DeltatatA-E) showed that the rate doubled from 0.88+/-0.28 mL H2 mg dry weight-1 L culture-1 in the parental strain, to 1.70+/-0.15 and 1.75+/-0.18 mL H2 mg dry weight-1 L culture-1, respectively, in the DeltatatC and DeltatatA-E strains. This increase was comparable to that of a previously characterized hydrogen over-producing E. coli strain carrying a DeltahycA allele. Construction of a tatC, DeltahycA double deletion strain did not increase hydrogen production further. Inactivation of the Tat system prevents correct assembly of the uptake hydrogenases and formate dehydrogenases in the cytoplasmic membrane and it is postulated that the subsequent loss of basal levels of respiratory-linked hydrogen and formate oxidation accounts for the observed increases in formate-dependent hydrogen evolution.     

Recognition of the colicin A N-terminal epitope 1C11 in vitro and in vivo in Escherichia coli by its cognate monoclonal antibody

Abstract We demonstrate that the 1C10 monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against the N-terminal domain of the colicin A recognizes a 13 residue-region (¹³Thr-Gly-Trp-Ser-Ser-Glu-Arg-Gly-Ser-Gly-Pro-Asp-Pro²⁵). When this peptide is inserted into a protein in the amino-terminal or an internal position, the tagged protein is efficiently detected by the 1C11 mAb either by immunoblotting or immunoprecipitation. In vitro, the minimal structure required for detection using the pepscan system is ¹⁹Arg-Gly-Ser-Gly-Pro-Glu-Pro²⁵, indicating that in vivo the proper exposure of the epitope requires additional residues. The construction of a versatile vector allowing overproduction of tagged proteins is described. Various applications of the 1C11 epitope are mentioned. This epitope did not alter the function of any of the proteins so far tested.     

Atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli genomic background allows the acquisition of non-EPEC virulence factors

Atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC) has been associated with infantile diarrhea in many countries. The clonal structure of aEPEC is the object of active investigation but few works have dealt with its genetic relationship with other diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC). This study aimed to evaluate the genetic relationship of aEPEC with other DEC pathotypes. The phylogenetic relationships of DEC strains were evaluated by multilocus sequence typing. Genetic diversity was assessed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The phylogram showed that aEPEC strains were distributed in four major phylogenetic groups (A, B1, B2 and D). Cluster I (group B1) contains the majority of the strains and other pathotypes [enteroaggregative, enterotoxigenic and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC)]; cluster II (group A) also contains enteroaggregative and diffusely adherent E. coli ; cluster III (group B2) has atypical and typical EPEC possessing H6 or H34 antigen; and cluster IV (group D) contains aEPEC O55:H7 strains and EHEC O157:H7 strains. PFGE analysis confirmed that these strains encompass a great genetic diversity. These results indicate that aEPEC clonal groups have a particular genomic background – especially the strains of phylogenetic group B1 – that probably made possible the acquisition and expression of virulence factors derived from non-EPEC pathotypes.     

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis of the conformational quality of recombinant proteins within inclusion bodies

The solubility of recombinant proteins produced in bacterial cells is considered a key issue in biotechnology as most overexpressed polypeptides undergo aggregation in inclusion bodies, from which they have to be recovered by solubilization and refolding procedures. Physiological and molecular strategies have been implemented to revert or at least to control aggregation but they often meet only partial success and have to be optimized case by case. Recent studies have shown that proteins embedded in inclusion bodies may retain residual structure and biological function and question the former axiom that solubility and activity are necessarily coupled. This allows for a switch in the goals from obtaining soluble products to controlling the conformational quality of aggregated proteins. Central to this approach is the availability of analytical methods to monitor protein structure within inclusion bodies. We describe here the use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for the structural analysis of inclusion bodies both purified from cells and in vivo. Examples are reported concerning the study of kinetics of aggregation and structure of aggregates as a function of expression levels, temperature and co-expression of chaperones.     

表达载体pHsh对大肠杆菌热休克系统中负调控机制的影响

pHsh是一种由σ32识别和启动外源基因表达的新型高效的大肠杆菌表达载体。正常E.coli细胞在热激诱导条件下,σ32的浓度在5 min内到达高峰,随后被3个负调控蛋白Dnak、DnaJ、GrpE结合导致失活或降解,整个热休克反应持续约12min。在携带有外源基因的高拷贝pHsh 的E.coli细胞中,外源基因却能持续高效表达4～10 h,这一现象表明了此时细胞中的σ32比没有携带质粒的细胞内σ32的浓度要高。σ32浓度的增高有可能是由于3个负调控蛋白Dnak、DnaJ、GrpE在细胞内的含量比正常情况下降低的结果。为了验证这一推测,从E.coli中克隆了Dnak、DnaJ、GrpE的编码基因,表达并初步纯化了其重组蛋白以作分子标记,采用双向电泳技术,分析携带质粒（pHsh+）和不携带质粒的E.coli(pHsh-)细胞在热休克后胞内蛋白质组的差异。该项实验通过与检索到的标准的E.coli蛋白质组图谱进行比较鉴别出的两个蛋白Dnak、GrpE,并通过对比目标点的大小和深浅发现pHsh+中的Dnak均少于pHsh─中的目标蛋白,所得结果与上述假设一致。     

Sequence and characterization of the Escherichia coli genome between the ndk and gcpE genes

Abstract The region of the chromosome immediately upstream of the Escherichia coli gene gcpE has been cloned and sequenced. This region contains two functional open reading frames, orf 384 and orf 337, encoding proteins of 43082 and 36189 Da, respectively. Sequencing analysis (this paper) and the isolation of a DNA fragment containing a functional promoter (Talukder, A.A., Yanai, S., and Yamada, M. (1994) Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 58, 117–120) indicate that orf 337 is in an operon with gcpE . The gene orf 384 is immediately downstream of the gene ndk , which encodes nucleoside diphosphate kinase.     

大肠杆菌周质蛋白提取工艺的研究

研究了精氨酸缓冲液在不同浓度、pH值及提取时间下的周质蛋白提取率,并以溶菌酶法、渗透压休克法作为对比。结果表明浓度0.4 mol/L,pH值8.0,提取时间为45 min时,周质目的蛋白达到0.89 mg/g湿菌,相比其他方法,周质蛋白提取率分别提高93%、187%。实验得到一种高效、方便的大肠杆菌周质蛋白提取工艺,为周质表达的重组蛋白大规模生产奠定了基础。     

Multiple mechanisms of membrane anchoring of Escherichia coli penicillin-binding proteins

Abstract: The major penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of Escherichia coli play vital roles in cell wall biosynthesis and are located in the inner membrane. The high M _r PBPs 1A, 1B, 2 and 3 are essential bifunctional transglycosylases/transpeptidases which are thought to be type II integral inner membrane proteins with their C-terminal enzymatic domains projecting into the periplasm. The low M _r PBP4 is a DD-carboxypeptidase/endopeptidase, whereas PBPs 5 and are DD-carboxypeptidases. All three low M _r , PBPs act in the modification of peptidoglycan to allow expansion of the sacculus and are thought to be periplasmic proteins attached with varying affinities to the inner membrane via C-terminal amphiphilic α-helices. It is possible that the PBPs and other inner membrane proteins form a peptidoglycan synthesizing complex to coordinate their activities.