Production and detection of coliphage T4 endonuclease V polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies using staphylococcal protein-A hybrid proteins

To facilitate the production of antibodies against endonuclease V, a pyrimidine dimer-specific DNA glycosylase produced in bacteriophage T4-infected Escherichia coli, we constructed plasmids containing protein-A-endonuclease V fusion genes under control of the E. coli tac promoter. Induction with isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside produced large amounts of fusion proteins, which could easily be purified on human IgG agarose columns. The affinity-purified fusion proteins were injected into rabbits and mice to produce polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, and also used for the screening of the monoclonal antibodies. These antibodies recognized endonuclease V on immunoblots, and also inhibited the DNA-glycosylase activity in vitro. Epitope mapping of monoclonal antibodies showed that they all (6/6) recognized determinants in the C-half of endonuclease V. A convenient way to detect primary antibodies on nitrocellulose was also developed using a crude protein extract containing protein-A-beta-galactosidase fusion protein and subsequent detection with a mixture of dyes.     

Overproduction, preparation of monoclonal antibodies and purification of E. coli asparagine synthetase A.

In order to explore the structure--function relationship of the Escherichia coli asparagine synthetase A it was necessary to devise a system for overexpression of the gene and purification of the gene product. The E. coli asparagine synthetase A structural gene was fused to the 3' end of the human carbonic anhydrase II structural gene and overexpressed in E. coli. The gene product, a 66 kDa fusion protein, which exhibited asparagine synthetase activity, was purified in a single step by affinity chromatography and used as the antigen for the production of monoclonal antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies were screened by ELISA. Colonies were chosen which were positive for purified fusion protein and negative for purified human carbonic anhydrase II. The E. coli asparagine synthetase A gene was then overexpressed and the gene product was used without purification for the final screen. The antibodies selected were used for immunoaffinity chromatography to purify the recombinant overexpressed E. coli asparagine synthetase A. Thus, a procedure is now available so that asparagine synthetase A can be purified to homogeneity in a single step.     

Expression in Escherichia coli of DNA coding for human tumor necrosis factor

The variants of expression in Escherichia coli of artificial DNA coding for human tumor necrosis factor, an important immune modulator with selective cytotoxic action on a number of transformed cell lines have been described. The DNA was placed under control of either phage M13 promoter of gene for main coat protein or tandem of pair of E. coli tryptophane promoters. It has been shown that E. coli cells harbouring plasmids described with artificial TNF gene provide good level of protein biosynthesis. The protein has been purified by anion exchange chromatography near to homogeneity and used for preparation of monoclonals. As result three hybridomas effectively produced high affinity monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies have been obtained and characterized.     

An alternate form of Ku80 is required for DNA end-binding activity in mammalian mitochondria

Mammalian mitochondrial DNA end-binding activity is nearly indistinguishable from that of nuclear Ku. This observation led to the hypothesis that mitochondrial DNA end-binding activity is in part dependent upon Ku80 gene expression. To test this hypothesis, we assayed for Ku activity in mitochondrial extracts prepared from the xrs-5 hamster cell line that lacks Ku80 mRNA expression. Mitochondrial protein extracts prepared from this cell line lacked the DNA end-binding activity found in similar extracts prepared from wild-type cells. Azacytidine-reverted xrs-5 cells that acquired nuclear DNA end-binding activity also acquired mitochondrial DNA end-binding activity. Western blot analysis of human mitochondrial protein extracts using a monoclonal antibody specific for an N-terminal epitope of Ku80 identified a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 68 kDa. This mitochondrial protein was not detected by a monoclonal antibody specific for an epitope at the C-terminal end of Ku80. Consistently, while both the N- and C-terminal Ku80 monoclonal antibodies supershifted the nuclear DNA end-binding complex on an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, only the N-terminal monoclonal antibody supershifted the mitochondrial DNA end-binding complex. To confirm that the 68 kDa Ku protein was not a consequence of nuclear protein contamination of mitochondrial preparations, highly purified intact nuclei and mitochondria were treated with proteinase K which traverses the pores of intact nuclei but gains limited access into intact mitochondria. Ku80 in purified intact nuclei was sensitive to treatment with this protease, while the 68 kDa Ku protein characteristic of purified intact mitochondria was resistant. Further, immunocytochemical analysis revealed the co-localization of the N-terminal specific Ku80 monoclonal antibody with a mitochondrial-targeted green fluorescence protein. Mitochondrial localization of the C-terminal Ku80 monoclonal antibody was not observed. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that a C-terminally truncated form of Ku80 is localized in mammalian mitochondria where it functions in a DNA end-binding activity.     

Expression and characterization of UDPGlc dehydrogenase (KfiD), which is encoded in the type-specific region 2 of the Escherichia coli K5 capsule genes.

Region 2 of the Escherichia coli K5 capsule gene cluster contains four genes (kfiA through -D) which encode proteins involved in the synthesis of the K5 polysaccharide. A DNA fragment containing kfiD was amplified by PCR and cloned into the gene fusion vector pGEX-2T to generate a GST-KfiD fusion protein. The fusion protein was isolated from the cytoplasms of IPTG (isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside)-induced recombinant bacteria by affinity chromatography and cleaved with thrombin. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the cleavage product KfiD' corresponded to the predicted amino acid sequence of KfiD with an N-terminal glycyl-seryl extension from the cleavage site of the fusion protein. Anti-KfiD antibodies obtained with KfiD' were used to isolate the intact KfiD protein from the cytoplasms of E. coli organisms overexpressing the kfiD gene. The fusion protein, its cleavage product (KfiD'), and overexpressed KfiD converted UDPGlc to UDPGlcA. The KfiD protein could thus be characterized as a UDPglucose dehydrogenase.     

Direct expression of the extracellular portion of human FcepsilonRIalpha chain as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli

The extracellular portion of the alpha chain of the human high-affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRIalpha) was expressed as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli. In immunoblot analysis, two bands were reactive to human IgE and mouse anti-human FcepsilonRIalpha monoclonal antibodies. N-terminal sequencing showed that the two bands were equivalent to the soluble FcepsilonRIalpha with a methionine residue at the N-terminus (Met-1-172) and 23-172, in which the N-terminal 22 residues of the soluble FcepsilonRIalpha have been removed, possibly by degradation in E. coli cells. IgE-binding to CHO cells expressing FcepsilonRI was inhibited by the addition of the recombinant products prepared by the refolding procedure from inclusion bodies. The system for the expression of soluble human FcepsilonRIalpha in E. coli presented in this study and its further improvement would be useful for the production of the protein as a potent therapeutic and for analysis of the IgE-FcepsilonRIalpha interaction.     

炭疽毒素保护性抗原第四结构域在大肠杆菌中的可溶性表达

人工优化设计并合成炭疽毒素保护性抗原第四结构域基因,并与噬菌体gⅢ蛋白N端结构域基因融合,在大肠杆菌中可溶性表达融合蛋白。结果表明合成了炭疽毒素保护性抗原第四结构域基因,并在大肠杆菌中获得了高效可溶性融合表达,可溶性表达产物占细菌总蛋白量的36％左右;经亲和层析纯化获得了重组蛋白;Western印迹分析表明,表达产物能与His单抗（重组蛋白羧基端带有6xHis）发生特异性结合反应。以上结果表明获得了炭疽毒素保护性抗原第四结构域,为利用人抗体库进行筛选抗炭疽毒素的人源性中和抗体奠定了基础。     

重组FAS分子的表达、纯化及抗体制备

用ＰＣＲ法扩增出编码人ＦＡＳ分子胞外区的ｃＤＮＡ片段,直接克隆到ｐＧＥＭ－Ｔ载体上,经ＤＮＡ序列测定后,再插入到谷胱甘肽转硫酶（ＧＳＴ）融合蛋白表达载体ｐＧＥＸ－ＫＧ的ＥｃｏＲⅠ和ＳａｌⅠ位点之间,构成重组质粒ｐＫＧ－ｈＦＡＳ,将此质粒导入大肠杆菌,经ＩＰＴＧ诱导后获得ＧＳＴ－ｈＦＡＳ重组融合蛋白的表达,用谷胱甘肽偶联的Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ４Ｂ经亲合层析获得纯化的ＧＳＴ－ｈＦＡＳ蛋白,经凝血酶酶切和二次亲合层析去除ＧＳＴ部分,得到纯化的ＦＡＳ蛋白．用纯化的ＦＡＳ抗原免疫家兔制备了抗ＦＡＳ抗体,经检测发现抗ＦＡＳ抗体能诱导Ｕ９３７细胞发生细胞凋亡     

High-level expression in Escherichia coli of calcium-binding domains of an embryonic sea urchin protein

A plasmid expression vector is described having features that facilitate high-level expression of eukaryotic DNA in Escherichia coli. The vector, designated pMAM17, carries the ColE1 rop gene under the control of the thermally inducible lambda PL promoter. The rop gene product is a negative regulator of ColE1 DNA replication, and its high-level expression is lethal to cells. However, cells harboring a plasmid with an insert in the rop gene grow normally under these conditions. pMAM17 has been used to investigate the properties of a family of proteins expressed in the dorsal ectoderm of sea urchin embryos. The coding sequences of these proteins (termed Spec proteins) have homology to the troponin C superfamily. Large amounts of the Rop-Spec fusion protein were produced at 42 degrees C in E. coli. Unfractionated E. coli extracts containing the fusion protein could be used to produce antibodies that were highly specific for Spec proteins present in crude extracts of sea urchin embryos. Analysis of the Rop-Spec fusion protein on SDS-polyacrylamide gels in the presence and absence of EGTA indicated that the fusion protein bound calcium ions in a manner characteristic of proteins of the troponin C superfamily. This behavior provides biochemical evidence that the Spec proteins are functionally homologous to other members of this superfamily.     

人Src蛋白N端区段的表达、纯化和体外豆蔻酰化底物活性

利用RT PCR技术 ,从来源于人结肠癌Caco 2细胞总RNA中 ,扩增得到编码人Src蛋白N端 147氨基酸的DNA序列片段。进而构建T7启动子控制下的C端His tag融合的表达质粒pMF SrcHT ,并转化大肠杆菌BL2 1(DE3)。通过SDS PAGE等分析结果显示 ,在 37°C培养条件下经IPTG诱导 ,C端His tag融合的人Src蛋白N端区段 (命名为SrcHT ,2 1kD)得到高效表达 ,并且主要以可溶性形式存在。进一步利用Ni IDA亲和层析分离 ,从表达菌裂解上清液中一步纯化获得重组蛋白SrcHT ,SDS PAGE分析纯度达 95 %以上。在此基础上 ,以 [3H]豆蔻酰 CoA为同位素标记底物进行SrcHT的体外NMT豆蔻酰化反应测定。SDS PAGE分离和放射自显影分析结果表明 ,SrcHT蛋白可被NMT有效豆蔻酰化而具有NMT的底物活性。这些为深入详细研究Src蛋白豆蔻酰化作用和构建以Src蛋白豆蔻酰化为靶标的分子筛药体系等打下了重要基础。     

降钙素原的原核表达及单克隆抗体制备

目的:高效表达与纯化可溶性重组人PCT蛋白,制备高灵敏度和高特异性的抗人PCT医用诊断单克隆抗体。方法:大肠杆菌表达重组人PCT蛋白后,利用饱和硫酸铵沉淀和亲和层析方法纯化PCT蛋白后,经质谱、Western blot和间接ELISA法进行性质鉴定和分析重组蛋白的表达与免疫反应性;重组蛋白免疫小鼠,经细胞融合及筛选制备抗PCT单克隆抗体(m Ab)。结果:在大肠杆菌中高效表达了人PCT蛋白;重组人PCT蛋白具有良好的免疫反应性与免疫原性;经筛选获得7株抗PCT单克隆抗体细胞株,经ELISA鉴定,筛选抗体可与PCT抗原有良好的特异性反应。结论:利用重组人PCT蛋白免疫制备了抗人PCT单克隆抗体,为进一步研发PCT快速诊断试剂提供了原料。     

Cloning a synthetic gene for human stefin B and its expression in E. coli

A gene coding for human stefin B was synthesized by the solid-phase phosphite method and cloned in the pUC8 cloning vector. The insert with the verified DNA sequence was subcloned into two expression vectors and expressed in E. coli as a fusion protein with beta-galactosidase and as a native protein. The CNBr cleaved fusion protein and the native recombinant stefin B were inhibitory to papain and reacted with antibodies against human stefin B.     

Gene synthesis, expression in Escherichia coli and purification of immunoreactive human insulin-like growth factors I and II. Application of a modified HPLC separation technique for hydrophobic proteins

We have expressed synthetic genes encoding human insulin-like growth factors I and II in large quantities in Escherichia coli as fusion proteins with the 300 N-terminal amino acids of the E. coli trpE gene product. The resulting hybrid proteins were purified from the insoluble fraction of crude bacterial lysates using a rapid HPLC separation procedure employing a C8 reversed-phase column and a gradient of 2-propanol in formic acid. With the procedure we obtained in volatile solvents highly purified fusion proteins that were used for further biochemical and immunological procedures. Here we describe biochemical characteristics of the bacterially expressed fusion proteins and demonstrate that these proteins share substantial antigenic properties with the native polypeptides allowing the establishment of highly specific monoclonal antibodies.     

Japanese encephalitis virus fusion protein with protein A expressed in Escherichia coli confers protective immunity in mice.

A complementary DNA (cDNA) that codes C-terminal, one-third of envelope glycoprotein (E) and N-terminal 65 amino acids of NS1 protein of Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus was inserted into Escherichia coli expression vector pRIT2T. The inserted gene was expressed as a fusion protein with protein A, and the expressed protein was intraperitoneally injected into mice. The immunized mice produced anti-JE antibodies measured by the hemagglutination-inhibition and neutralization tests as well as ELISA and were protected from the lethal challenge of JE virus by intraperitoneal inoculation.     

Generation of monoclonal antibodies for the assessment of protein purification by recombinant ribosomal coupling

We recently described a conceptually novel method for the purification of recombinant proteins with a propensity to form inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli. Recombinant proteins were covalently coupled to the E. coli ribosome by fusing them to ribosomal protein 23 (rpL23) followed by expression in an rpL23 deficient strain of E. coli. This allowed for the isolation of ribsomes with covalently coupled target proteins which could be efficiently purified by centrifugation after in vitro proteolysis at a specific site incorporated between rpL23 and the target protein. rpL23-GFP-His is among the fusion proteins used in our previous study for ribosomal coupling of C-terminally His-tagged green fluorescent protein. To assess the efficiency of separation of target protein from ribosomes, by site-specific proteolysis, we required monoclonal antibodies directed against rpL23 and GFP. We therefore purified rpL23-GFP-His, rpL23-His and GFP from E. coli recombinants using affinity, ion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. These proteins could be purified with yields of 150, 150 and 1500 microg per gram cellular wet weight, respectively. However, rpL23-GFP-His could only be expressed in a soluble form and subsequently purified, when cells were cultivated at reduced temperatures. The purified rpL23-GFP-His fusion protein was used to immunize balb/c mice and the hybridoma cell lines resulting from in vitro cell fusion were screened by ELISA using rpL23-His and GFP to select for monoclonal antibodies specific for each protein. This resulted in 20 antibodies directed against rpL23 and 3 antibodies directed against GFP. Antibodies were screened for isotypes and their efficiency in western immunoblots. The most efficient antibody against rpL23 and GFP were purified by Protein G Sepharose affinity chromatography. The purified antibodies were used to evaluate the separation of ribosomes from GFP, streptavidin, murine interleukin-6, a phagedisplay antibody and yeast elongation factor 1A by centrifugation, when ribosomes with covalently coupled target protein were cleaved at specific proteolytic cleavage sites. We conclude that the generated antibodies can be used to evaluate ribosomal coupling of recombinant target proteins as well as the efficiency of their separation from the ribosome.     

Recombinant human monoclonal antibodies. Basic principles of the immune system transferred to E. coli.

To produce human monoclonal antibodies in bacteria, a gene repertoire of IgM variable regions was isolated from human peripheral B lymphocytes by the polymerase chain reaction. Alternatively, synthetic antibody genes with random hypervariable regions are being generated that may provide libraries of even higher complexity. For the selection of specific monoclonal antibodies from these libraries, we have developed two E. coli vector systems that facilitate the surface display of an antibody physically linked to its own gene. The phagemid pSEX encodes a fusion protein of an antigen binding domain (Fv-antibody) with the docking protein (pIII) of filamentous phages. Specific antibody genes can therefore be enriched by antigen affinity chromatography. The plasmid pAP1 encodes a fusion protein of an Fv-antibody with a bacterial cell-wall protein. Bacteria carrying this plasmid express functional Fv-antibodies tightly bound to their surface. This should enable the selection of single cells with a fluorescence-assisted cell sorter (FACS) using labeled antigen or by adsorption to immobilized antigen. These vectors permit three major principles of the antibody response to be mimicked in E. coli: 1. Generation of a highly complex antibody repertoire; 2. Clonal selection procedures for library screening; and 3. The possibility of increasing a given affinity by repeated rounds of mutation and selection.     

炭疽芽孢杆菌保护性抗原在大肠杆菌中的表达及纯化

按照炭疽芽孢杆菌保护性抗原（PA）基因成熟肽编码序列设计引物,从炭疽杆菌pOX1质粒中扩增出PA基因片段,将该片段定向插入到原核表达载体pET-28a中,获得了pET-PA原核表达重组质粒,限制性酶切分析和DNA序列测定均证实该克隆插入片段为PA基因的成熟呔编码序列。将该重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）,经IPTG诱导,重组蛋白在大肠杆菌表达系统中获得了高效表达;Western印迹分析表明表达产物具有良好的免疫学活性。     

Expression of the cell-binding domain of human fibronectin in E. coli. Identification of sequences promoting full to minimal adhesive function

Two cDNA subfragments containing the cell-attachment site of human fibronectin (FN) were expressed as beta-galactosidase fusion proteins in E. coli. The products were purified to homogeneity by monoclonal antibody affinity chromatography and assayed for activity in a standard cell-adhesion assay. A fusion protein containing an 80 kDa fragment of human FN appeared functionally equivalent to intact FN purified from human plasma, whereas a truncated fusion protein of 33 kDa still containing a previously postulated cell-attachment site was approx. 50-fold less active. Our study establishes a system for analyzing adhesive protein function by DNA manipulation, rules out any major role for eukaryotic post-translational modifications in FN adhesive function, and localizes additional functional activity to a 1.3 kb region.     

Human neutrophil response to recombinant neisserial Opa proteins

Interactions of human neutrophils with recombinant Escherichia coli expressing gonococcal outer membrane Opa proteins were examined using chemiluminescent and biological assays. Seven opa loci from Neisseria gonorrhoeae MS11 4.8 were expressed as beta-lactamase-Opa fusion proteins that contained all but the mature N-terminal amino acid of the full-length Opa protein fused to three N-terminal amino acids derived from the mature beta-lactamase. The Opa fusion proteins were exported and assembled in the outer membrane of E. coli in a manner similar to that of Opa in N. gonorrhoeae, as evaluated by antibody binding and in situ proteolytic cleavage. All fusion proteins exhibited the characteristic heat-modifiable migration in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis that typifies Opa proteins of neisseriae. Opa fusion proteins conferred on E. coli the ability to stimulate a chemiluminescent response from human neutrophils in the absence of antibody or complement. The nature of the response in terms of chemiluminescence, phagocytosis, and killing was in all cases analogous to that seen using N. gonorrhoeae expressing the equivalent Opa protein. Neither E. coli nor gonococci expressing OpaA elicited a response from neutrophils. Use of E. coli expressing Opa fusions should be useful in defining their biological activities and pathogenic roles.     

GST-HAI-1融合蛋白的表达及抗人HAI-1单克隆抗体的制备

制备抗人肝细胞生长因子激活物抑制因子（HAI-1）单克隆抗体,为对HAI-1进行进一步的研究打下基础。将人HAI-1 cDNA分段克隆,构建GST-HAI-1融合蛋白原核表达载体,转化大肠杆菌后加IPTG诱导融合蛋白表达,经制备型SDS-PAGE法分离表达的GST-HAI-1融合蛋白,通过割胶、电洗脱回收融合蛋白,并以此为抗原免疫BALB/c小鼠,应用细胞融合技术制备产生抗人HAI-1单克隆抗体的杂交瘤,以ELISA、Western blot和免疫组织化学染色进行鉴定。最终获得抗人HAI-1单克隆抗体杂交瘤细胞株ZMC6,产生的单克隆抗体可特异性地与表达的GST-HAI-1融合蛋白反应,并可识别大肠组织中的膜型及脱落型HAI-1蛋白。该单克隆抗体的制备成功,为深入研究HAI-1的功能提供了有力工具。