Effect of copy number on the expression levels of hepatitis B surface antigen in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris

High-level expression and efficient assembly of hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) has been reported in Pichia pastoris by integrating a single copy of the HBsAg gene under control of the AOX1 promoter. To fully utilize the expression potential of the P. pastoris expression system, we investigated the influence of gene copy number on the expression of HBsAg in this yeast. A panel of Pichia clones carrying progressively increasing copies of the heterologous gene expression cassette was created using an in vitro multimerization approach. Using this strategy, constructs containing up to a maximum of eight direct repeats of the HBsAg-expressing cassettes could be created. These expression cassettes were targeted for integration into the genome of the host strain GS115 with simultaneous elimination of the resident AOX1 gene. Deletion of the AOX1 gene was intended to create Mut(s) (methanol utilization slow) transformants that are known to have an increased ability to generate HBsAg in particulate form. A systematic investigation of the resultant clones demonstrated that the increase in copy number results in a proportional elevation in the steady-state levels of the HBsAg-specific mRNA, which in turn is closely paralleled by a corresponding increase in the total levels of the HBsAg protein. Virtually all the recombinant protein in the soluble fraction was present in the particulate form based on particle-specific ELISA and sedimentation behavior. Further, our studies also revealed the continued physical and functional integrity of the HBsAg-expressing cassettes during the course of an extended induction phase spanning 6 days.     

Effects of gene dosage, promoters, and substrates on unfolded protein stress of recombinant Pichia pastoris

The expression of heterologous proteins may exert severe stress on the host cells at different levels. Depending on the specific features of the product, different steps may be rate-limiting. For the secretion of recombinant proteins from yeast cells, folding and disulfide bond formation were identified as rate-limiting in several cases and the induction of the chaperone BiP (binding protein) is described. During the development of Pichia pastoris strains secreting human trypsinogen, a severe limitation of the amount of secreted product was identified. Strains using either the AOX1 or the GAP promoter were compared at different gene copy numbers. With the constitutive GAP promoter, no effect on the expression level was observed, whereas with the inducible AOX1 promoter an increase of the copy number above two resulted in a decrease of expression. To identify whether part of the product remained in the cells, lysates were fractionated and significant amounts of the product were identified in the insoluble fraction containing the endoplasmic reticulum, while the soluble cytosolic fraction contained product only in clones using the GAP promoter. An increase of BiP was observed upon induction of expression, indicating that the intracellular product fraction exerts an unfolded protein response in the host cells. A strain using the GAP promoter was grown both on glucose and methanol and trypsinogen was identified in the insoluble fractions of both cultures, but only in the soluble fraction of the glucose grown cultures, indicating that the amounts and distribution of intracellularly retained product depends on the culture conditions, especially the carbon source.     

Stable overproducer of hepatitis B surface antigen in the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha due to multiple integration of heterologous auxotrophic selective markers and defect in peroxisome biogenesis

Two methods of multicopy integrant selection in the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha based on the use of heterologous yeast auxotrophic genes have been used to isolate effective overproducers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). One selection marker was described earlier for this yeast, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae URA3 gene, whereas the second selection marker was developed by us, the Pichia pastoris ADE1 gene with shortened native promoter. Sequential use of both selection markers produced stable transformants containing up to 30 integration cassettes with HBsAg gene. Deletion of PEX3 gene coding for peroxine involved in the early step of peroxisome formation substantially increased the production of HBsAg in glucose medium as compared to the parental strain. Maximal production of HBsAg in Δpex3 strain was nearly 8–9 % of the total cell protein.     

Constitutive expression of alkaline β-mannanase in recombinant Pichia pastoris

Alkaline β-mannanase has important applications for specific industrial processes like pulp bleaching and the detergent industry. The low yield of alkaline β-mannanase produced from native microbes such as alkaliphilic Bacillus limits its applications. Pichia pastoris is the most efficient heterologous system to produce alkaline mannanase. However, the previous use of the AOX system required large amount of methanol and sophisticated operation strategy, which are undesirable in large scale production. In this study, we established a safe and simple constitutive expression process for mannanase production in P. pastoris. The mannanase gene was successfully expressed under the control of GAP promoter. Sequential optimization of the constructed strains was also performed including the copy number optimization and co-expression of chaperone genes. A two-stage feeding strategy was then applied for the finally optimized strain. After 96 h fermentation, a production level of 2980 U/mL was finally reached, illustrating the potential of the GAP constitutive expression system for industrial scale preparation of alkaline β-mannanase.     

乳酸菌素Gassericin T基因的人工合成及其组成型表达载体的构建

目的:为了研究乳酸菌素Gassericin T的作用机制及应用价值,人工合成Gassericin T基因并构建能高效表达外源蛋白的毕赤酵母组成型表达载体。方法:应用PCR方法从毕赤酵母染色体中扩增GAP启动子,经测序正确后与已线性化的不含pAOX1启动子的毕赤酵母诱导型表达载体pPIC9K连接,转化大肠杆菌DH5α。根据Gassericin T的基因序列,把Gassericin T的结构基因gatA的密码子转换成毕赤酵母偏爱的形式,设计了6条59nt的寡聚核苷酸引物,通过3次连续PCR反应,人工合成gatA片段(简称gat基因),经测序正确后插入pGAP9K质粒的多克隆位点。结果:用GAP启动子(pGAP)取代了pPIC9K上的pAOX1,构建了毕赤酵母组成型表达载体pGAP9K;PCR拼接获得250bp的目的基因序列,将目的基因克隆于pGAP9K,获得组成型表达载体pGAP9K-gat。结论:为下一步在毕赤酵母中组成型表达外源蛋白,研究其作用机理和遗传机制奠定了基础。     

Gassericin T基因的合成及其组成型表达载体的构建

目的:构建Gassericin T基因毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris)组成型表达载体。方法:根据乳酸菌素Gassericin T的基因序列,把Gassericin T的结构基因gatA编码的氨基酸的密码子转换成P.pastoris偏爱的形式,设计了6条59nt的寡聚核苷酸引物,通过3次连续PCR反应,获得了250bp左右的gat A片段(简称gat基因)。应用PCR方法从P.pastoris染色体中扩增了GAP启动子,大小为500bp左右,以其取代诱导型表达载体pPIC9K上的pAOX1,构建了组成型表达载体pGAP9K。将合成的gat基因克隆到pGAP9K质粒的多克隆位点中。结果:获得的gat及gap基因与预期结果一致,序列无碱基突变,构建的表达载体pGAP9K-gat经PCR、酶切鉴定完全正确。结论:成功构建了Gassericin T基因P.pastoris组成型表达载体,为下一步高效表达Gassericin T蛋白,进一步研究其作用机理及应用价值打下基础。     

用GAP启动子在毕节酵母中组成型表达人血管抑制素

为探索用GAP启动子(PGAP)取代AOX1启动子(PAOX1),在毕节酵母(P．pastortis)中组成型表达外源蛋白的可能性,应用PCR方法从P．pastoris染色体中扩增了GAP启动子,以其取代诱导型表达载体pPIC9K上的PAOX1,构建了组成型表达载体pGAP9K。将人血管抑制素(AS)基因重组于pGAP9K的多克隆位点,获得含As基因的重组质粒pGAP9K-AS。转化P．pastorisGSll5,对获得的高拷贝转化子P．pastorisGSll5(pGAP9K-AS)进行组成型表达,同时以诱导型转化子P．pastoris GSll5(pPIC9K-AS)作为对照。SDS-PAGE结果显示：组成型转化子于培养4d后AS的表达水平已达到高峰,分泌量为58mg／L;而诱导型转化子诱导4d后表达的AS仅是组成型表达的70％,诱导6d后达到高峰,表达量也只是组成型表达系统表达高峰时(4d)的86％。CAM分析和抗癌实验结果显示：P．pastortis GS115(pGA．P9K-S)和P．pastoris GS115(pPIC9K-AS)表达的AS均具有抑制血管生成和C57BL／6J实验小鼠的B16黑色素瘤的生长,其平均瘤重抑制率分别达到90．61％和90．54％。以上结果表明,以GAP启动子构建的组成型表达系统具有发酵时间较短、表达水平较高、不用甲醇诱导、操作系统比较简单等优点,PGAP可以取代PAOX1在P．pastoris中表达AS及其他外源蛋白。     

毕赤酵母组成型表达脂肪酶及其高通量筛选方法

【目的】获得组成型表达脂肪酶毕赤酵母,建立利用橄榄油罗丹明B平板高通量筛选组成型表达华根霉脂肪酶基因的有效方法。【方法】运用PCR技术从pGAPZαA表达载体上扩增得到GAP启动子片段,插入到表达载体pPIC9K-proRCL中,构建组成型表达载体pGAPK-proRCL。在保留含有同源双交换重组序列的诱导型启动子AOX1序列的基础上,电转化后华根霉Rhizopus chinensis CCTCC M201021脂肪酶基因proRCL表达盒在毕赤酵母基因组上发生双交换整合事件,从而组成型表达单拷贝的华根霉脂肪酶基因。【结果】重组菌发酵144 h后,脂肪酶最高酶活为130 U/mL。利用橄榄油罗丹明B平板高通量筛选组成型表达华根霉脂肪酶基因。【结论】该方法将初筛时间从12 d缩短为3 d,排除了多拷贝突变株的干扰,为后续脂肪酶的定向进化及筛选奠定了基础。     

Molecular genetic manipulation of Pichia pastoris SEC4 governs cell growth and glucoamylase secretion

We have previously engineered a recombinant Pichia pastoris GS115 transformant, MSPGA-7, harboring seven copies of glucoamylase (GA) fused with modified signal peptide. High yield secretion of GA was achieved as an extra copy of SEC4 was integrated to the transformant. To elucidate the physiological role of SEC4, a dominant-negative mutant of SEC4, SEC4(S28N), was overexpressed under the control of alchohol oxidase 1 (AOX1) promoter in P. pastoris strain MSPGA-7 as well as a set of host cells harboring multi-copy of wild type SEC4. We found that SEC4(S28N) mutation in the key guanine nucleotide binding domain reduced guanine nucleotide binding affinity, hence it blocked the transport of vesicles required for targeting and fusion to the plasma membrane. The inhibitory levels of cell growth and GA secretion were correlated with the dosage of SEC4(S28N) gene. In addition, overexpression of SEC4 driven by AOX1 promoter in MSPGA-7 improved the secretory production of GA, but demonstrated the delay of cell growth by increased gene dosage of SEC4. Interestingly, a limited level of Sec4p did not disturb the cell growth. It was because expression of only one copy of SEC4 resulted in delay of cell growth at an early stage while still maintaining high level Sec4p at long-term incubation. Accordingly, as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter was used to substitute AOX1 promoter to drive the SEC4 expression, enhanced GA secretion but not inhibition of cell growth was achieved. Taken together, our results demonstrate that SEC4 is essential for P. pastoris in regulating cell growth and heterologous protein secretion in a dosage-dependent manner.     

Characterization of Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase Cel7A secreted from Pichia pastoris using two different promoters

Heterologous expression of T. reesei cellobiohydrolase Cel7A in a methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris was tested both under the P. pastoris alcohol oxidase (AOX1) promoter and the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP) promoter in a fermentor. Production of Cel7A with the AOX1 promoter gave a better yield, although part of the enzyme expressed was apparently not correctly folded. Cel7A expressed in P. pastoris is overglycosylated at its N-glycosylation sites as compared to the native T. reesei protein, but less extensive than Cel7A expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The k(cat) and K(m) values for the purified protein on soluble substrates are similar to the values found for the native Trichoderma Cel7A, whereas the degradation rate on crystalline substrate (BMCC) is somewhat reduced. The measured pH optimum also closely resembles that of purified T. reesei Cel7A. Furthermore, the hyperglycosylation does not affect the thermostability of the enzyme monitored with tryptophane fluorescence and activity measurements. On the other hand, CD measurements indicate that the formation of disulfide bridges is an important step in the correct folding of Cel7A and might explain the difficulties encountered in heterologous expression of T. reesei Cel7A. The constitutive GAP promoter expression system of P. pastoris is nevertheless well suited for activity screening of cellulase activities in microtiter plates. With this type of screening method a faster selection of site-directed and random mutants with, for instance, an altered optimum pH is possible, in contrast to the homologous T. reesei expression system.     

毕赤酵母中表达透明颤菌血红蛋白提高重组脂肪酶的表达

解脂耶氏酵母胞外脂肪酶Lip2(YlLip2)是一种具有广泛应用前景的工业酶.为了改善高密度发酵生产Y1Lip2过程中的溶氧限制,提高Y1Lip2的表达量,将YlLip2基因lip2和透明颤菌血红蛋白(VHb)基因vgb分别置于AOXl启动子和PsADH2启动子的调控之下,进行YlLip2和VHb在毕赤酵母中的共表达.PsADH2启动子来源于树干毕赤酵母Pichia stipitis,在低氧条件下能被激活.SDS-PAGE和CO-差式光谱分析表明,Y1Lip2和VHb在重组菌中成功实现了共表达.在氧限制性条件下,VHb表达的细胞(VHb+,GS 115/9Klip2-pZPVT)与对照细胞(VHb-,GS 115/9Klip2)相比,摇瓶和10 L发酵罐中YlLip2表达量分别提高了25％和83％.此外,在低氧条件下,VHb+细胞在10 L发酵罐中的生物量也比VHb-细胞高.文中也获得了一株表达了VHb的并携带有多个lip2基因拷贝的克隆子GS 115/9Klip2-pZP VTlip2 49#,在低氧条件下,该克隆子在10L发酵罐中的最高脂肪酶水解活力达33 900 U/mL.因此,在毕赤酵母中用PsADH2启动子表达VHb,同时增加lip2基因的拷贝数是提高YlLip2表达量的一种有效策略.     

Heterologous protein expression in Pichia thermomethanolica BCC16875, a thermotolerant methylotrophic yeast and characterization of N-linked glycosylation in secreted protein

This study describes Pichia thermomethanolica BCC16875, a new methylotrophic yeast host for heterologous expression. Both methanol-inducible alcohol oxidase (AOX1) and constitutive glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP) promoters from Pichia pastoris were shown to drive efficient gene expression in this host. Recombinant phytase and xylanase were expressed from both promoters as secreted proteins, with the former showing different patterns of N-glycosylation dependent on the promoter used and culture medium. In addition, growth temperature also had an effect on N-glycan modification of cell wall mannoproteins. The major glycoprotein oligosaccharide species produced from P.?thermomethanolica BCC16875 is Man(8-12) GlcNAc(2) , which is similar to that from other methylotrophs. Moreover, mannosylphosphate and α-1,6- and α-1,2-linked mannose modifications of heterologous secreted protein were also detected. The attainably high level of protein production in complement to distinctive thermotolerance rarely found in other industrial yeasts makes this microorganism an attractive host for large-scale fermentation.     

Improved expression of Rhizopus oryzae α-amylase in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris

In our previous study, the α-amylase from Rhizopus oryzae (RoAmy) was expressed in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae but the obtained recombinant RoAmy (rRoAmy) yields were too low. The aim of the present research was to obtain high-level expressions of RoAmy in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. To this end, we constructed P. pastoris strains with the capability to express recombinant α-amylase under the control of constitutive glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP) and methanol-inducible alcohol oxidase 1 promoters. The levels of inducibly expressed rRoAmy were higher than those of constitutively expressed. The maximal inducible rRoAmy expression levels for the Mut(+) strains (41.1mg/l) were approximately eight times higher than those for the Mut(s) strains and 24 times higher than those expressed under the control of the GAP promoter. For both inducible and constitutive expressions, the S. cerevisiae α-prepro sequence and the native signal sequence of RoAmy were used separately to direct the secretion of rRoAmy into the culture medium of P. pastoris. Low levels of intracellular amylase activities that had been detected after shake-flask fermentation indicated that both signal sequences could effectively direct the secretion of rRoAmy under all studied conditions. In addition, the secretion levels of rRoAmy directed with its own signal peptide were 7-10% higher than those directed by the α-prepro sequence.     

High-level expression of the native barley alpha-amylase/subtilisin inhibitor in Pichia pastoris

An expression system for high-level expression of the native Hordeum vulgare alpha-amylase/subtilisin inhibitor (BASI) has been developed in Pichia pastoris, using the methanol inducible alcohol oxidase 1 (AOX1) promoter. To optimize expression, two codon-optimized coding regions have been designed and expressed alongside the wild-type coding region. To ensure secretion of the native mature protein, a truncated version of the alpha mating factor secretion signal from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used. In order to be able to compare expression levels from different clones, single insertion transformants generated by gene replacement of the AOX1 gene was selected by PCR screening. Following methanol induction, expression levels reached 125 mgL(-1) from the wild-type coding region while expression from the two codon-optimized variants reached 65 and 125 mgL(-1), respectively. The protein was purified and characterized by Edman degradation, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and insoluble blue starch assay, and was shown to possess the same characteristics as wild-type protein purified from barley grains.     

增加植酸酶基因appA-m的拷贝提高其在巴斯德毕赤酵母的表达量

为了进一步提高植酸酶的发酵效价,降低植酸酶生产成本,对毕赤酵母表达载体pGAPZα-A进行了改造。将表达载体pPIC9的AOX1启动子序列引入pGAPZα-A,使之成为甲醇可诱导型表达载体pAOXZα,插入植酸酶基因appA-m后得到重组载体pAOXZα-appA-m。以染色体上带有一个拷贝的appA-m基因、发酵效价可达到7.5×106IU/mL发酵液的重组酵母菌株74#为受体菌进行转化,在该重组菌株的染色体上的另一位点整合含有植酸酶基因的表达盒,经筛选到高表达植酸酶的重组子。通过PCR进行验证,植酸酶基因被整合到重组酵母的染色体上,且受体菌中原有的植酸酶基因结构未改变。重组菌在5L发酵罐经甲醇诱导120h植酸酶蛋白表达量达到4mg/mL发酵液,酶活性(发酵效价)达到1.2×107IU/mL发酵液以上,较含单拷贝植酸酶基因的受体菌株表达量有较大程度提高。PCR检测及表达量分析证明改良的菌株具有很好的遗传稳定性和表达稳定性。     

Expression and purification of Dengue virus type 2 envelope protein as a fusion with hepatitis B surface antigen in Pichia pastoris

The methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris, has been used as a host to express the envelope protein (Den2E) of dengue type 2 virus (NGC strain) as a chimera with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg): a protein known to self assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs) and to be efficiently expressed in P. pastoris. The Den2E gene used in this study is a truncated version encoding the first 395 amino acid (aa) residues of the mature Den2E protein; the HBsAg gene encodes the full length 226 aa HBsAg protein. Two in-frame gene fusions were constructed for intracellular expression in P. pastoris. The first one contains the HBsAg gene as the 5' partner and the Den2E gene as the 3'partner (HBsAg-Den2E). In the second one, the relative positions of the two partners of the gene fusion were reversed to create the hybrid Den2E-HBsAg gene. These fusion genes were integrated into the genome of P. pastoris under the control of the methanol-inducible alcohol oxidase (AOX1) promoter. Of the two fusions, the Den2E-HBsAg gene was expressed at higher levels in P. pastoris based on Northern analysis. The hybrid protein ( approximately 68 kDa) expressed by this clone was purified to near homogeneity using a combination of acid precipitation, hydrophobic interaction, and immunoaffinity chromatographic steps. Final purification achieved was approximately 1400-fold with a yield of approximately 26%. The chimeric protein was found to possess the ability to assemble into high molecular weight aggregates (akin to HBsAg particles). The recombinant fusion protein eluted close to the void volume of a Sepharose CL-4B column indicating its macromolecular nature. On a CsCl density gradient the recombinant fusion protein sedimented to a position very similar to that of HBsAg VLPs. The hybrid protein is recognized by the two neutralizing monoclonals against the two components of the chimeric protein.