Purification and scale-up of a recombinant heavy chain fragment C of botulinum neurotoxin serotype E in Pichia pastoris GS115

A recombinant C-terminus heavy chain fragment from botulinum neurotoxin serotype E (BoNT/E) is proposed as a vaccine against the serotype E neurotoxin. This fragment, rBoNTE(Hc), was produced intracellular in Pichia pastoris GS115 by a three-step fermentation process, i.e., glycerol batch phase and a glycerol fed-batch phase to achieve high cell densities, followed by a methanol fed-batch induction phase. The rBoNTE(Hc) protein was purified from the soluble fraction of cell lysates using three ion-exchange chromatography steps (SP Sepharose Fast Flow, Q Sepharose Fast Flow, Sp Sepharose High Performance) and polished with a hydrophobic charge induction chromatography step (MEP HyperCel). Method development at the bench scale was achieved using 7-380 mL columns and the process was performed at the pilot scale using 0.5-3.1 L columns in preparation for technology transfer to cGMP manufacturing. The purification process resulted in greater than 98% pure rBoNTE(Hc) based on HPLC and yielded up to 1.01g of rBoNTE(Hc)/kg cells at the bench scale and 580mg vaccine/kg cells at the pilot scale. N-terminal sequencing showed that the purified rBoNTE(Hc) N-terminus is intact and was found to protect mice against a challenge of 1000 mouse intraperitoneal LD50's of BoNT/E.     

Purification of a recombinant heavy chain fragment C vaccine candidate against botulinum serotype C neurotoxin [rBoNTC(H(c))] expressed in Pichia pastoris

A purification process for the manufacture of a recombinant C-terminus heavy chain fragment from botulinum neurotoxin serotype C [rBoNTC(H_c)], a potential vaccine candidate, has been defined and successfully scaled-up. The rBoNTC(H_c) was produced intracellularly in Pichia pastoris X-33 using a three step fermentation process, i.e., glycerol batch phase, a glycerol fed-batch phase to achieve high cell densities, followed by a methanol induction phase. The rBoNTC(H_c) was captured from the soluble protein fraction of cell lysate using hydrophobic charge induction chromatography (HCIC; MEP HyperCel?), and then further purified using a CM 650M ion exchange chromatography step followed by a polishing step using HCIC once again. Method development at the bench scale was achieved using 5–100 mL columns and the process was performed at the pilot scale using 0.6–1.6 L columns in preparation for technology transfer to cGMP manufacturing. The process yielded approximately 2.5 g of rBoNTC(H_c)/kg wet cell weight (WCW) at the bench scale and 1.6 g rBoNTC(H_c)/kg WCW at the pilot scale. The purified rBoNTC(H_c) was stable for at least 3 months at 5 and ?80 °C as determined by reverse phase-HPLC and SDS–PAGE and was stable for 24 months at ?80 °C based on mouse potency bioassay. N-Terminal amino acid sequencing confirmed that the N-terminus of the purified rBoNTC(H_c) was intact.     

Scale-up of the fermentation and purification of the recombinant heavy chain fragment C of botulinum neurotoxin serotype F, expressed in Pichia pastoris

A recombinant heavy chain fragment C of botulinum neurotoxin serotype F (BoNTF(Hc)) has been expressed in Pichia pastoris for use as an antigen in a proposed human vaccine. P. pastoris cells were grown using glycerol batch, glycerol fed-batch, and methanol fed-batch methods to achieve high cell densities. The total cellular protein recovered after homogenization was 72 mg/g of cell paste. BoNTF(Hc) was purified from soluble Pichia cell lysate employing ion-exchange chromatographic (IEC) and hydrophobic interaction chromatographic (HIC) methods developed at the bench scale using 10-100 mL columns. The process was performed at the pilot scale using 1-4L columns for evaluation of scale up. The purification process resulted in greater than 98% pure product consisting of at least three forms of BoNTF(Hc) based on mass spectrometry and yielded up to 205 mg/kg cells at the bench scale and 170 mg/kg cells at the pilot scale. Full-length BoNTF(Hc) is present based on mass spectrometry and SDS-PAGE, however is postulated to be N-terminally blocked by acetylation. N-terminal sequencing showed that two of the three forms are missing the first 11 (80%) and 14 (20%) amino acids of the N-terminus from the full-length form. The ratios of the two clipped forms were consistent from the bench to pilot scales. Purified BoNTF(Hc) at the pilot scale was found to sufficiently protect mice against a high dose of BoNTF neurotoxin.     

Production and purification of the heavy chain fragment C of botulinum neurotoxin, serotype A, expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris

A recombinant H(C) fragment of botulinum neurotoxin, serotype A (rBoNTA(H(C))), has been successfully expressed in a Mut(+) strain of the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris for use as an antigen in a proposed human vaccine. Fermentation employed glycerol batch, glycerol-fed batch, and methanol-fed batch phases to achieve high cell density. Induction times were short to maximize rBoNTA(H(C)) production while minimizing proteolytic degradation. Concentration of rBoNTA(H(C)) in yeast cell lysates was generally 1-2% of the total protein based on ELISA analysis. The H(C) fragment was purified from cell lysates using a multistep ion-exchange (IEC) chromatographic process, including SP, Q, and HS resins. The zwitterionic detergent Chaps was included in the buffer system to combat possible interactions, such as protein-protein or protein-DNA interactions. Following IEC was a hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) polishing step, using phenyl resin. The H(C) fragment was purified to >95% purity with yields up to 450 mg/kg cells based on ELISA and Bradford protein assay. The purified H(C) fragment of serotype A was stable, elicited an immune response in mice, and was protected upon challenge with native botulinum type A neurotoxin.     

Modeling Pichia pastoris growth on methanol and optimizing the production of a recombinant protein, the heavy-chain fragment C of botulinum neurotoxin, serotype A

An unstructured growth model for the recombinant methylotrophic yeast P. pastoris Mut(+) expressing the heavy-chain fragment C of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A [BoNT/A(H(c))], was successfully established in quasi-steady state fed-batch fermentations with varying cell densities. The model describes the relationships between specific growth rate and methanol concentration, and the relationships between specific methanol and ammonium consumption rates and specific growth rate under methanol-limited growth conditions. The maximum specific growth rate (mu) determined from the model was 0.08 h(-1) at a methanol concentration of 3.65 g/L, while the actual maximum mu was 0.0709 h(-1). The maximum specific methanol consumption rate was 0.0682 g/g WCW/h. From the model, growth can be defined as either methanol-limited or methanol-inhibited and is delineated at a methanol concentration of 3.65 g/L. Under inhibited conditions, the observed biomass yield (Y(X/MeOH)) was lower and the maintenance coefficient (m(MeOH)) was higher than compared to limited methanol conditions. The Y(X/MeOH) decreased and m(MeOH) increased with increasing methanol concentration under methanol-inhibited conditions. BoNT/A(H(c)) content in cells (alpha) under inhibited growth was lower than that under limited growth, and decreased with increasing methanol concentration. A maximum alpha of 1.72 mg/g WCW was achieved at a mu of 0.0267 h(-1) and induction time of 12 h.     

响应面分析优化产木聚糖酶毕赤酵母基因工程菌培养条件

研究不同碳源、氮源和无机盐对毕赤酵母AX181菌株产木聚糖酶的影响。实验表明,分别采用葡萄糖和玉米浆干粉为碳源和氮源可以明显提高木聚糖酶的产量。无机盐单因子优化实验显示添加适量的（NH4）2SO4、KH2PO4、MnSO4·H2O、FeSO4·7H2O也可以部分提高木聚糖酶产量。在此基础上利用响应面法优化毕赤酵母产木聚糖酶培养基,利用12次实验的Plackett—Burman设计实验筛选出影响产木聚糖酶的3个主要因素,即玉米浆干粉、MnSO4·H2O和FeSO4·7H20。并进一步通过最陡爬坡路径逼近最大响应区域,采用中心组合实验设计确定最佳条件。优化后的产木聚糖酶培养基组分为（g/L）：葡萄糖40．00,玉米浆干粉80．84,（NH4）2SO46．25,KH2PO41．25、MnSO4·H2O0．35,FeS04-7H2O1．31。培养基优化后,实际产酶2883．86u／mL,是优化前YPD培养基产酶的2．51倍。     

Response surface optimization of fermentation conditions for xylanase production by recombinant Pichia pastoris

研究不同碳源、氮源和无机盐对毕赤酵母AX181菌株产木聚糖酶的影响.实验表明,分别采用葡萄糖和玉米浆干粉为碳源和氮源可以明显提高木聚糖酶的产量.无机盐单因子优化实验显示添加适量的(NH4)2SO4、KH2 PO4、MnSO4·H2O、FeSO4·7H2O也可以部分提高木聚糖酶产量.在此基础上利用响应面法优化毕赤酵母产木聚糖酶培养基,利用12次实验的Plackett - Burman设计实验筛选出影响产木聚糖酶的3个主要因素,即玉米浆干粉、MrSO4 ·H2O和FeSO4·7H2O.并进一步通过最陡爬坡路径逼近最大响应区域,采用中心组合实验设计确定最佳条件.优化后的产木聚糖酶培养基组分为(g/L):葡萄糖40.00,玉米浆干粉80.84,(NH4)2SO4 6.25,KH2PO4 1.25、MnSO4·H2O 0.35,FeSO4 ·7H2O 1.31.培养基优化后,实际产酶2 883.86 U/mL,是优化前YPD培养基产酶的2.51倍.     

Production of recombinant humanized anti-HBsAg Fab fragment from Pichia pastoris by fermentation

In this report, we describe the high-yield secretory expression of the recombinant human anti-HBsAg Fab fragment from Pichia pastoris that was achieved by co-integration of the genes encoding the heavy and light chains (both under the control of alcohol oxidase promoter) into the genome of the yeast cells. The fed-batch fermentations were carried out in a 5 L scale. Both chains of the Fab were successfully expressed upon methanol induction. The absorbance (OD600) of the broth can reach 350 approximately 500 at the end of fed-batch phase. After the induction, the expression level of the recombinant Fab (soluble) reached 420 approximately 458 mg/L. The recombinant Fab fragment was purified from the crude culture supernatant by ion exchange chromatography and the purity of the recombinant Fab fragment was over 95%. The affinity activities of the crude fermentation supernatant and the purified Fab were analyzed by indirect ELISA, which showed that the purified recombinant Fab fragment had high affinity activity with hepatitis B surface antigen.     

Phytase production by fermentation of recombinant Pichia pastoris in monosodium glutamate wastewater

A novel method is proposed to produce both phytase and single-cell protein in recombinant Pichia pastoris fermentation using monosodium glutamate wastewater (MSGW) as the basal medium. Recombinant P. pastoris MR33 transformed with a phytase gene (AppA-m) from Escherichia coli was constructed and showed capability to utilize ammonium as the only nitrogen source. The fermentation medium was optimized in shake flasks by single-factor test and response surface methodology. A fed-batch system containing 30% MSGW, 50 g/l glucose, 1.58 g/l CaSO₄, 5.18 g/l MgSO₄ and 6.67 g/l KH₂PO₄ was developed in a 3.7-l bioreactor. The maximum phytase activity in the MSGW medium reached 3,380 U/ml, 84.2% of that in chemically defined medium, and the dry cell weight was 136 g/l. The single-cell protein (SCP; 46.66% dry cell weight) contains a variety of amino acids and is low in fat, which is ideal for utilization in animal feed. Thus, it is feasible to use MSGW medium for the production of enzymes that can be expressed in P. pastoris.     

Improvement of recombinant hirudin production by controlling NH4 + concentration in Pichia pastoris fermentation

In recombinant Pichia pastoris fermentation for hirudin production in a 5 l fermenter, a new strategy was explored to match the short fermentation time at low NH4+ concentration with decreased hirudin degradation at high NH4+ concentration. A combination of a defined medium containing initial 0.025 m NH4+ with NH4+ addition up to 0.6 m in the growth phase was achieved in both the improvement of hirudin production and the repression of hirudin degradation. Intact and total hirudin reached 2.63 g l(-1) and 4.25 g l(-1), respectively.     

重组毕赤酵母产青霉素G酰化酶的分批发酵动力学研究

构建了重组毕赤酵母产青霉素G酰化酶的分批发酵动力学模型。实验考察了分批发酵过程中甘油消耗、甲醇浓度、菌体浓度、溶氧、补料时间对青霉素G酰化酶活力的影响。应用Matlab软件,对菌体生长、基质消耗和产物生成方程进行最优参数估算和非线性拟合,得到相应的动力学模型。模型的计算值与实验值能较好地拟合,表明所建模型能较好反映重组毕赤酵母产青霉素G酰化酶的分批发酵过程。     

Epitope regions in the heavy chain of Clostridium botulinum type E neurotoxin recognized by monoclonal antibodies.

Seventeen monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were previously established against the heavy chain (Hc) of botulinum type E neurotoxin in BALB/c mice immunized with the type E toxoid. Five MAbs (LE15-5, LE34-6, EK19-7, EK21-4, and AE27-9) showed toxin-neutralizing activity in mice. Two of the five MAbs, EK19-7 and EK21-4, recognized the regions located at amino acid positions 731 to 787 and 811 to 897, respectively. One of the remaining three antibodies (LE34-6) reacted with the amino acid sequence VIKAIN, at amino acid positions 663 to 668, closed by the ion channel-forming domain. It is suggested that the ion channel-forming domain may also be associated with the blocking of acetylcholine release. Furthermore, the amino acid sequence YLTHMRD within 30 residues of the C-terminal region of the Hc component seemed to be recognized by LE15-5. It has been reported that the binding domain of the type E toxin is located on the C-terminal half of the Hc component. Therefore, the neutralizing activity of LE15-5 antibody may be attributed to its ability to block the binding of neurotoxin to the receptor of target cells.     

Cloning,high level expression and immunogenicity of 1163-1256 residues of C-terminal heavy chain of C. botulinum neurotoxin type E

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) inhibit neurotransmitter release from peripheral cholinergic synapses. BoNTs consist of a toxifying light chain and a heavy chain (HC) linked through a disulfide bond. In the present study we explored the immunogenicity and protective capability of the most effective part corresponding to 1163-1256 residues of botulinum type E neurotoxin HC gene. DNA encoding the 93 C-terminal amino acid of HC residues was synthesized with optimal codon usage for expression. These DNA fragments were ligated into a pLivSelect vector and subcloned into expression vector pET32a. Recombinant plasmids were then transformed into Escherichia coli strain BL21 DE3. The recombinant protein was purified by nickel affinity gel column chromatography. The HC1163-1256 was identified by antibodies raised against BoNT/E. HC1163-1256 was shown to bind with synaptotagmin and gangliosides, indicating that the expressed and purified HC1163-1256 protein retains a functionally active conformation. The immunization with recombinant protein induced a protection level in mice. The immunization with 2 μg of the recombinant protein induced a significant protection level in mice. In conclusion, availability of the recombinant protein provides an effective system to study the biochemical and physical interactions involved during BoNT binding to nerve cells and protection against its toxicity.     

Toxoplasma gondii: serological characterization and immunogenicity of recombinant surface antigen 2 (SAG2) expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris

The full length surface antigen 2 (SAG2) gene of the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii was cloned and intracellularly expressed in the Pichia pastoris expression system. The molecular weight of the expressed recombinant SAG2 (36 kDa) was much larger than the native SAG2 (22 kDa). This discrepancy in size was due to hyperglycosylation, as deglycosylation assay reduced the size of the recombinant SAG2 to 22 kDa. Despite being hyperglycosylated, the recombinant SAG2 reacted strongly with pooled anti-Toxoplasma human serum, pooled anti-Toxoplasma mouse serum and a SAG2-specific monoclonal antibody. The glycosylated recombinant SAG2 was further evaluated in Western blot and in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using 80 human serum samples, including confirmed early acute (IgM positive, IgG negative; n = 20), acute (IgM positive, IgG positive; n = 20) and chronic (IgM negative, IgG positive; n = 20) toxoplasmosis patients, and toxoplasmosis negative control patients (n = 20). Results of the Western blot showed that the recombinant SAG2 reacted with all 60 samples of the toxoplasmosis cases but not with the Toxoplasma-negative samples. The sensitivity of in-house ELISA was 80%, 95% and 100% for early acute, acute and chronic patients’ serum samples, respectively. Vaccination study showed that serum from mice immunised with the glycosylated recombinant SAG2 reacted specifically with the native SAG2 of T. gondii. The mice were significantly protected against lethal challenge with live T. gondii RH strain tachyzoites (P < 0.01) and their survival time was increased compared to controls. Therefore, the present study shows that the P. pastoris-derived recombinant SAG2 was specific and suitable for use as antigen for detecting anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. The vaccination study showed that recombinant SAG2 protein was immunoprotective in mice against lethal challenge.     

Integrating metabolic modeling and population heterogeneity analysis into optimizing recombinant protein production by Komagataella (Pichia) pastoris

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - The methylotrophic yeast Komagataella (Pichia) pastoris has become one of the most utilized cell factories for the production of recombinant proteins over...     

Biochemical characterization of recombinant Drosophila type 1 serine/threonine protein phosphatase (PP1c) produced in Pichia pastoris.

The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris was used to express Drosophila melanogaster type 1beta serine/threonine phosphoprotein phosphatase catalytic subunit (PP1beta9C). A construct encoding PP1beta9C with a short NH(2)-terminal fusion including six histidine residues was introduced into the X-33 and KM71H strains of P. pastoris by homologous recombination. Recombinant protein was purified from cell free extracts 24 h after methanol induction. PP1beta9C was purified to a specific activity of 12,077 mU/mg by a three-step purification method comprising (NH(4))(2)SO(4)-ethanol precipitation followed by Ni(2+)-agarose affinity chromatography and Mono Q anion-exchange chromatography. This purification scheme yielded approximately 80 microg of active, soluble PP1beta9C per 1 L of culture. In contrast to recombinant PP1beta9C overexpressed in bacteria, which differs from native PP1c in several biochemical criteria including the requirement for divalent cations, sensitivity to vanadate, and p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) phosphatase activity, recombinant PP1beta9C produced in P. pastoris has native-like properties. P. pastoris thus provides a reliable and convenient system for the production of active, native-like recombinant PP1beta9C.     

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。     

Large-scale production and purification of recombinant Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris

The gene coding for agglutinin from Galanthus nivalis (GNA) was expressed in, and secreted by, the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris. Transformants of P. pastoris were selected and a process to produce and purify gram quantities of recombinant GNA was developed. GNA was secreted at approximately 80 mg l^–1 at the 200 l scale and was purified to 95% homogeneity using hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The recombinant protein was similar to the protein synthesised in plant with respect to structure and biological activity.