效应蛋白LepB的表达,纯化及其亚克隆片段的结晶研究

为了研究嗜肺军团菌通过其效应蛋白发挥的致病机理,效应蛋白的结构和生物学功能研究是至关重要的。我们构建了效应蛋白LepB全长载体PFastBac1,应用Bac-to-Bac杆状病毒表达系统成功表达了全长LepB蛋白,并构建9个LepB亚克隆的原核表达载体PGEX-1,通过GST亲和层析,离子交换层析,凝胶过滤层析,纯化得到了纯度较高的蛋白片段。通过悬滴气相扩散法进行蛋白结晶筛选,获得了效应蛋白LepB片段480~679的蛋白晶体,为解析效应蛋白LepB的结构和生物学功能研究奠定基础。     

酿酒酵母二腺苷四磷酸磷酸解酶Ⅰ片段的表达、纯化及晶体培养研究

[目的]为了培养用于X-衍射的酿酒酵母二腺苷四磷酸磷酸解酶Ⅰ的蛋白晶体,为研究该酶的三维结构和功能打下基础;[方法]构建了表达酿酒酵母二腺苷四磷酸磷酸解酶Ⅰ片段(Apaldn16)的表达质粒,用核苷酸序列分析证明了克隆片段的正确性.将重组载体转化大肠杆菌表达菌株BL21(DE3),经.IPTG诱导后,用SDS-PAGE检测了蛋白的表达情况.将粗蛋白用Ni-NTA亲和层析分离,收集组分进一步用Superdex 75分子筛纯化.纯化后的蛋白用SDS-PAGE和质谱检验其纯度和正确性,然后用悬滴气相扩散法进行了蛋白结晶条件的初筛.[结果]成功地用大肠杆菌可溶性地高效表达了Apaldn16蛋白.得到了分子量约为36 kD的单一蛋白条带,纯度在95%以上.质谱结果证明该蛋白纯度高,分子量正确.将纯化后的蛋白用悬滴气相扩散法进行晶体初筛,得到了针状簇晶.此晶体经SDS-PAGE检测,证明为Apaldn16蛋白晶体.[结论]利用大肠杆菌高效表达体系可以正确表达Apalan16蛋白,蛋白经过纯化后,用悬滴气相扩散法可以生长出针状晶体,适合于进一步的三维结构研究.     

6-羟基-3-琥珀酰吡啶单加氧酶的纯化与结晶条件

【目的】在大肠杆菌中克隆表达尼古丁降解关键的6-羟基-3-琥珀酰吡啶单加氧酶基因hspB,纯化重组HspB蛋白并进行结晶条件的初步研究。【方法】从恶臭假单胞菌S16基因组中PCR扩增hspB基因,构建重组表达载体pET28a-hspB,并在E.coli BL21(DE3)中诱导表达,利用亲和层析和凝胶过滤层析纯化重组蛋白。利用悬滴扩散法对HspB蛋白进行结晶条件筛选和优化。【结果】本文成功构建重组质粒pET28a-hspB并纯化获得达到结晶纯度的HspB蛋白。结晶条件初筛和优化后获得可培养HspB蛋白晶体的条件为0.2 mol/L NaCl、0.1 mol/L HEPES pH 7.5、1.1 mol/L(NH4)2SO4、4°C、加晶种。【结论】HspB蛋白纯化体系的构建和结晶条件的初步研究为从结构生物学的角度进一步研究HspB结构与功能的关系、定向进化提高HspB催化效率奠定了基础。     

灵芝免疫调节蛋白LZ-8的制备和晶体分析

LZ-8蛋白是从灵芝菌丝中分离到的真菌免疫调节蛋白,具有多种免疫调节功能,然而这一蛋白的作用机制尚不清楚。通过蛋白质晶体结构的解析,能够得到蛋白质空间结构特点,从而阐述蛋白质功能的机制。旨在得到LZ-8蛋白的晶体,并获得空间结构数据。以pET21a为表达载体,获得诱导表达的rLZ-8,通过亲和层析、分子筛凝胶层析和阴离子交换层析纯化,蛋白纯度在98%以上,采用悬滴气相扩散法得到蛋白晶体,并获得3.2?数据,为进一步对真菌免疫调节蛋白功能和结构的研究奠定了基础。     

棉铃虫细胞色素P450 337B3(CYP337B3)的表达、纯化及结晶

【目的】以抗性棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera体内发现的一种基因重组导致的嵌合型P450酶CYP337B3作为研究对象,通过基因克隆、体外重组表达、蛋白质结晶等技术手段,获得CYP337B3(△23)的晶体结构,为深入了解棉铃虫P450酶CYP337B3的结构与功能奠定基础。【方法】对CYP337B3编码基因进行了密码子优化,通过基因重组,将其转化至BL21(DE3)感受态细胞中进行原核表达尝试,通过亲和层析及RESOURCETM Q离子交换层析对CYP337B3(△23)进行体外纯化,利用气相悬滴结晶方法对CYP337B3(△23)进行结晶条件的筛选及X射线晶体衍射。【结果】通过密码子优化,实现了CYP337B3(△23)在大肠杆菌原核表达系统内的大量表达,经过体外纯化及十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳检测,CYP337B3(△23)蛋白纯度可达到95%左右,我们对CYP337B3(△23)进行了蛋白结晶条件的筛选,最终获得了CYP337B3(△23)的结晶条件和蛋白晶体。【结论】本文利用气相悬滴结晶方法获得了CYP337B3(△23)的蛋白晶体,为今后CYP337B3的三维结构解析、功能研究以及最终阐述该种新型的棉铃虫抗药机制奠定了良好的基础。     

限制性内切酶Mlu I蛋白及其硒代衍生物的制备

【背景】限制性内切酶Mlu I是一种常用的工具酶,在分子生物学领域发挥着重要的作用,其三维结构尚未被解析。【目的】在大肠杆菌中克隆表达、纯化重组Mlu I蛋白及其硒代蛋白,并进行结晶条件的研究。【方法】构建重组表达载体pET28b-Mlu I,在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)pLysS中诱导表达,利用亲和层析和凝胶过滤层析纯化重组Mlu I蛋白和硒代Mlu I蛋白。对蛋白进行质谱检测、圆二色谱检测以及酶活检测,利用坐滴法进行结晶条件的筛选。【结果】构建了重组表达载体pET28b-Mlu I并纯化获得达到结晶纯度的蛋白,通过质谱检测确定硒代Mlu I蛋白中的8个甲硫氨酸全部被取代,结合酶活测试及圆二色谱检测确定了硒代对Mlu I蛋白的活性、结构无明显影响。采用坐滴法进行初步的晶体生长研究,重组蛋白目前已在1种条件下获得针状晶体并进行初步衍射,获得分辨率在0.32 nm左右的衍射数据。【结论】Mlu I蛋白及硒代Mlu I蛋白纯化体系的构建和结晶条件的研究,可为下一步解析Mlu I三维结构、作用机制的探讨及定向改造奠定基础。     

限制性内切酶Mlu Ⅰ蛋白及其硒代衍生物的制备

【背景】限制性内切酶Mlu Ⅰ是一种常用的工具酶,在分子生物学领域发挥着重要的作用,其三维结构尚未被解析。【目的】在大肠杆菌中克隆表达、纯化重组Mlu Ⅰ蛋白及其硒代蛋白,并进行结晶条件的研究。【方法】构建重组表达载体pET28b-Mlu Ⅰ,在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)pLysS中诱导表达,利用亲和层析和凝胶过滤层析纯化重组Mlu Ⅰ蛋白和硒代Mlu Ⅰ蛋白。对蛋白进行质谱检测、圆二色谱检测以及酶活检测,利用坐滴法进行结晶条件的筛选。【结果】构建了重组表达载体pET28b-Mlu Ⅰ并纯化获得达到结晶纯度的蛋白,通过质谱检测确定硒代Mlu Ⅰ蛋白中的8个甲硫氨酸全部被取代,结合酶活测试及圆二色谱检测确定了硒代对Mlu Ⅰ蛋白的活性、结构无明显影响。采用坐滴法进行初步的晶体生长研究,重组蛋白目前已在1种条件下获得针状晶体并进行初步衍射,获得分辨率在0.32 nm左右的衍射数据。【结论】Mlu Ⅰ蛋白及硒代Mlu Ⅰ蛋白纯化体系的构建和结晶条件的研究,可为下一步解析Mlu Ⅰ三维结构、作用机制的探讨及定向改造奠定基础。     

脂联素及其球状区在大肠杆菌中的可溶性表达

目的:克隆表达有生物学活性的脂联素及其球状区蛋白,并制备抗体。方法:以pQE30-adiponectin质粒为模板,PCR扩增脂联素及其球状区蛋白基因片段,插入pGEX-4T-2载体,转化大肠杆菌BL21后获得表达,用GSTrap柱亲和纯化可溶性表达的蛋白。用纯化的蛋白免疫家兔制备多抗,Westernblot鉴定抗体与人血清中脂联素的反应性。结果:PCR扩增脂联素基因片段长约710bp,脂联素球状区基因片段长约430bp。表达的GST-脂联素融合蛋白表观Mr约51000,GST-脂联素球状区融合蛋白表观Mr约42000,纯化后纯度高于90%。免疫产生的抗体与人血清中的脂联素能特异性结合。结论:表达获得的脂联素蛋白和制备的抗体为脂联素的检测及对其功能的研究奠定了基础。     

粘膜系统鳞状细胞癌(SCC)相关蛋白(DCUN1D1)的表达、纯化和晶体生长

目的:SCCRO/RP42/DCUN1D1是粘膜系统鳞片状细胞癌(SCC)发生时人类基因组3q区域扩增的潜在靶标之一,其蛋白作用机制尚不清楚,本文拟通过表达并大量纯化SCC相关蛋白DCUN1D1用于蛋白结晶以求获得其三维结构。方法:使用人肝脑组织RNA反转录产物为模板扩增出DCUN1D1基因cDNA片断并将其克隆至原核表达载体PGEX-6P-1中,通过IPTG诱导获得大量可溶性表达,再经过GST亲和层析和Sephadex G-200层析柱纯化。结果:获得了纯度95%以上的蛋白,采用悬滴气相扩散法筛选蛋白晶体,获得显微镜下可见的微晶。结论:初步得出DCUN1D1晶体生长条件及范围,为解析DCUN1D1的三维结构并进一步认识其生物功能奠定了基础。     

凝胶过滤与镍柱亲和纯化金葡菌α-溶血素重组蛋白的生物学特性比较

以在宿主菌株BL21(DE3)中成功表达的重组金黄色葡萄球菌α-溶血素蛋白为研究对象,分析比较通过凝胶过滤层析(Gel filtration chromatography)和镍柱亲和层析纯化试剂盒(Ni-NTA spin columns)纯化所得到的重组蛋白的蛋白含量和生物特性方面的差异.SDS-PAGE分析检测纯化产物,Bradford法测定蛋白含量,兔红细胞测定半数溶血效价,结果显示这2种方法得到的纯化产物在53 kD处均呈现单一清晰带,达电泳级纯度.与此同时,凝胶过滤对目的蛋白的纯化率为14.04%,蛋白含量为0.337 mg/mL,溶血活性为1519 HU/mg;镍柱亲和层析的纯化率为17.5%,蛋白含量为0.35 mg/mL.溶血活性为1463 HU/mg.由此可见,凝胶过滤得到的纯化产物在蛋白含量和蛋白活性方面丝毫不亚于镍柱亲和层析纯化试剂盒.     

Affinity purification of fibrinogen using an Affimer column

BackgroundFibrinogen is an abundant plasma protein with an essential role in blood coagulation and haemostasis thus receiving significant research interest. However, protein purification is time consuming and commercial preparations often have protein contaminants. The aim of this study was to develop a new method to purify high quality and functional fibrinogen.MethodsFibrinogen-specific Affimer protein, isolated using phage display systems, was immobilised to SulfoLink resin column and employed for fibrinogen purification from plasma samples. Fibrinogen was eluted using a high pH solution. Commercial human fibrinogen was also further purified using the Affimer column. Fibrinogen purity was determined by SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry, while functionality was assessed using turbidimetric analysis.ResultsAffimer-purified fibrinogen from human plasma showed purity at least comparable to commercially available preparations and was able to form physiological fibrin networks. Further purification of commercially available fibrinogen using the Affimercolumn eliminated multiple contaminant proteins, a significant number of which are key elements of the coagulation cascade, including plasminogen and factor XIII.ConclusionsThe Affimercolumn represents a proof of concept novel, rapid method for isolating functional fibrinogen from plasma and for further purification of commercially available fibrinogen preparations.General significanceOur methodology provides an efficient way of purifying functional fibrinogen with superior purity without the need of expensive pieces of equipment or the use of harsh conditions.     

Ni2+-Based Immobilized Metal Ion Affinity Chromatography of Lactose Operon Repressor Protein from Escherichia Coli

Abstract

A two-step chromatographic sequence is described for the purification of native lactose operon repressor protein from Escherichia coli cells. The first step involves Ni²⁺-based immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography of the soluble cytoplasmic extract. This method provides superior speed, resolution and yield than the established phosphocellulose cation-exchange chromatographic procedure. Anion-exchange chromatography is used for further purification to >95% purity. The identity and purity of the lactose repressor protein were demonstrated using sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide electrophoresis, crystallization, tryptic finger-printing mass spectrometry, and inducer binding assays. The purified lac repressor exhibited inducer sensitivity for operator DNA binding and undergoes a conformational change upon inducer binding. By all these extensive biochemical criteria, the purified protein behaves exactly as that described for the Escherichia coli lactose operon repressor.     

Understanding water equilibration fundamentals as a step for rational protein crystallization

Background

Vapor diffusion is the most widely used technique for protein crystallization and the rate of water evaporation plays a key role on the quality of the crystals. Attempts have been made in the past to solve the mass transfer problem governing the evaporation process, either analytically or by employing numerical methods. Despite these efforts, the methods used for protein crystallization remain based on trial and error techniques rather than on fundamental principles.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Here we present a new theoretical model which describes the hanging drop method as a function of the different variables that are known to influence the evaporation process. The model is extensively tested against experimental data published by other authors and considering different crystallizing conditions. Aspects responsible for the discrepancies between the existing theories and the measured evaporation kinetics are especially discussed; they include the characterization of vapor-liquid equilibrium, the role of mass transfer within the evaporating droplet, and the influence of the droplet-reservoir distance.

Conclusions/Significance

The validation tests show that the proposed model can be used to predict the water evaporation rates under a wide range of experimental conditions used in the hanging drop vapor-diffusion method, with no parameter fitting or computational requirements. This model combined with protein solubility data is expected to become a useful tool for a priori screening of crystallization conditions.     

First attempts to crystallize a non-homogeneous sample of thioredoxin from Litopenaeus vannamei: What to do when you have diffraction data of a protein that is not the target?

The importance of sample homogeneity and purity in protein crystallization is essential to obtain high-quality diffracting crystals. Here, in an attempt to determine the crystal structure of thioredoxin 1 from whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (LvTrx), we inadvertently crystallized the hexameric inorganic pyrophosphatase of Escherichia coli (E-PPase) from a non-homogeneous sample product during the initial over-expression steps and partial purification of LvTrx. The structure determination and identification of the crystallized protein were derived from several clues: the failures in the Molecular Replacement (MR) trials using LvTrx coordinates as a search model, the unit cell parameters and space group determination, and essentially by the use of the program BALBES. After using the previously deposited E-PPase structure (PDB entry 1mjw) as a search model and the correct space group assignation, the MR showed an E-PPase complexed with SO₄^?2 with small changes in the sulfate ion binding region when it compares to previously deposited E-PPases in the PDB. This work stresses the importance of protein purity to avoid the risk of crystallizing a contaminant protein or how pure need to be a protein sample in order to increase the possibility to obtain crystals, but also serves as a reminder that crystallization is by itself a purification process and how the program BALBES can be useful in the crystal structure determination of previously deposited structures in the PDB.     

Use of layer silicate for protein crystallization: effects of Micromica and chlorite powders in hanging drops

Two kinds of layer silicate powder, Micromica and chlorite, were used to aid protein crystallization by the addition to hanging drops. Using appropriate crystallization buffers, Micromica powder facilitated crystal growth speed for most proteins tested in this study. Furthermore, the addition of Micromica powder to hanging drops allowed the successful crystallization of lysozyme, catalase, concanavalin A, and trypsin even at low protein concentrations and under buffer conditions that otherwise would not generate protein crystals. Except for threonine synthase and apoferritin, the presence of chlorite delayed crystallization but induced the formation of large crystals. X-ray analysis of thaumatin crystals generated by our novel procedure gave better quality data than did that of crystals obtained by a conventional hanging drop method. Our results suggest that the speed of crystal growth and the quality of the corresponding X-ray data may be inversely related, at least for the formation of thaumatin crystals. The effect of Micromica and chlorite powders and the application of layer silicate powder for protein crystallization are discussed.     

螺旋藻别藻蓝蛋白的纯化、理化特性与结晶

硫酸铵分级沉淀结合多种层析技术,从螺旋藻（SP—Dz）中纯化到电泳纯别藻蓝蛋白（Allophycocyanin,APC）,纯度（A650／A280）达4．83。APC在30min内的荧光扫描曲线为直线;30min连续光照其相对荧光强度仍为原来的98％以上,其抗荧光淬灭能力强于同样条件下的藻蓝蛋白（PC）及荧光素TRITC。用悬滴气相扩散法培养获得了APC晶体。     

Purification and preliminary crystallographic studies of CutC, a novel copper homeostasis protein from Shigella flexneri

CutC is a novel copper homeostasis protein containing 248 amino acids. Here we report the cloning, expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of CutC from Shigella flexneri 2a. Purification of CutC and its selenomethionine (SeMet) derivate were done using immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography, size-exclusion and ion-exchange chromatography. The purified proteins were crystallized using the hanging drop vapor diffusion method. The diffraction data for the native and SeMet CutC, respectively, have been collected with resolution of 1.7 A and 2.1 A. They belong to the space group C2221 and similar cell dimension. The native protein crystals have cell parameters: a=75.3267, b=97.6718, c=132.6910.     

Purification and crystallization of ferric enterobactin receptor protein, FepA, from the outer membranes of Escherichia coli UT5600/pBB2

The ferric enterobactin receptor protein, FepA, was isolated and purified from the outer membranes of a genetically transformed strain of Escherichia coli (UT5600/pBB2) using anion-exchange chromatography, chromatofocusing and gel filtration. The purified protein was found to crystallize from 25 mM sodium phosphate buffer in the presence of 0.8% beta-D-octylglucoside under a range of conditions. The protein formed mostly small rods and needle-shaped crystals in the hanging drop method.