An effective scheme to produce recombinant uracil-DNA glycosylase of Escherichia coli for PCR diagnostics

An effective scheme has been developed to produce recombinant uracil-DNA glycosylase of Escherichia coli K12 intended to be used for PCR diagnostics, making it possible to achieve a high yield of the end product using a two-stage purification. The gene encoding this enzyme was cloned into the pCWori vector within the same reading frame with six residues of histidine in the C-terminal sequence. Using this vector and the E. coli DH5α, a host-vector expression system has been developed and conditions for protein synthesis have been optimized. To purify the protein, metal affinity chromatography with further dialysis was used to remove imidazole. The enzyme yield was no less than 60 mg of the end protein per 1 L of the culture medium. The concordance between amino acid sequences of the recombinant and native enzymes was proved by peptide mass fingerprinting and mass spectrometry. A rapid test to determine the activity of the enzyme preparation was suggested. It was found that the activity of 1.0 mg of the recombinant protein is no less than 3 × 10³ units. The recombinant enzyme was most stable at pH 8.0 and an ionic strength of the solution equal to 200 mM; it lost its activity completely for 10 min at 60°C. Storage during 1 year at ?20°C resulted in the loss of no more than 30% of activity. In the enzyme preparation, the activity of DNase was absent. The free energy of the unfolding of the protein globule of the recombinant uracil-DNA glycosylase is 23.1 ± 0.2 kJ/mol. The data obtained indicate that the recombinant enzyme may be recommended for use in PCR diagnostics to prevent the appearance of false positive results caused by pollution of the reaction mixture by products of the preceding reactions.     

A novel protein modification generating an aldehyde group in sulfatases: its role in catalysis and disease

In multiple sulfatase deficiency, a rare human lysosomal storage disorder, all known sulfatases are synthesized as catalytically poorly active polypeptides. Analysis of the latter has shown that they lack a protein modification that was detected in all members of the sulfatase family. This novel protein modification generates a 2-amino-3-oxopropanoic acid (Cα-formylglycine) residue by oxidation of the thiol group of a cysteine that is conserved among all eukaryotic sulfatases. The oxidation occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum at a stage when the nascent polypeptide is not yet folded. The aldehyde is part of the catalytic site and is likely to act as an aldehyde hydrate. One of the geminal hydroxyl groups accepts the sulfate during sulfate ester cleavage leading to the formation of a covalently sulfated enzyme intermediate. The other hydroxyl is required for the subsequent elimination of the sulfate and regeneration of the aldehyde group. In some prokaryotic members of the sulfatase gene family, the DNA sequence predicts a serine residue, and not a cysteine. Analysis of one of these prokaryotic sulfatases, however, revealed the presence of the Cα-formylglycine indicating that the aldehyde group is essential for all members of the sulfatase family and that it can be generated from either cysteine or serine. BioEssays 20 :505–510, 1998. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Differential fusion expression and purification of a cystatin in two different bacterial strains

To date, the identification of the novel multifunctional properties of cysteine proteinase inhibitors “known as cystatins” is the great of interests for molecular biologists. The efficient production, purification and correctly folded form of these proteins are the most important requirements for their any basic research. To the best of our knowledge, maltose-binding protein (MBP) fusion tags are being used to overcome the impediment to their heterologous recombinant expression in Escherichia coli as insoluble and bio-inactive inclusion bodies. In the present work, to evaluate the expression efficiency of a cystatin molecule in E. coli cells by using MBP tags, the expression of Celosia cystatin was studied in two different strains of this bacterium. The quantitative analysis results based on the one-step purification yield of the fused product showed the excellency of the E. coli TB1 strain in comparison to E. coli DH5α for the high-level production of active product.     

Characterization of a recombinant N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase produced in E. coli for enzyme replacement therapy of Morquio A disease

Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA) is a lysosomal storage disease caused by the deficiency of N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase (GALNS) enzyme. Currently, specific therapies are not available for MPS IVA patients. In this study, a biologically active recombinant GALNS enzyme (rGALNS) produced in Escherichia coli was purified through a two-step chromatography process. The effect of temperature and pH on purified rGALNS stability was evaluated, as well as the stability in human serum. Finally, the uptake of rGALNS by HEK 293 cells and MPS IVA fibroblasts was evaluated. The use of a semi-continuous process allowed the production of an active extracellular rGALNS, which was used for protein purification. The purified rGALNS showed a specific activity of 0.29 U mg^?1 and a production yield of 0.78 mg L^?1. The rGALNS presented an optimal pH of 5.5 and was stable for 8 days at 4 °C. In human serum it was stable for up to 6 h. rGALNS was not taken up by the cultured cells, suggesting that N-linked oligosaccharides are not necessary for the production of an active enzyme or enzyme stability but for the cell uptake of protein. This study shows the first characterization of rGALNS produced by E. coli, and provides important information about purification, stability, and glycosylations effect for this type of enzymes.     

Edwardsiella tarda DnaK: expression, activity, and the basis for the construction of a bivalent live vaccine against E. tarda and Streptococcus iniae

Edwardsiella tarda and Streptococcus iniae are important aquaculture pathogens that affect many species of farmed fish. In this study, we analyzed the expression, activity, and immunoprotective potential of E. tarda heat shock protein DnaK. We found that dnaK expression was upregulated under conditions of heat shock, oxidative stress, and infection of host cells. Recombinant DnaK (rDnaK) purified from Escherichia coli exhibited ATPase activity and induced protection in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) against lethal E. tarda challenge. On the basis of these results and our previous observation that a protective S. iniae antigen Sia10 which, when expressed heterogeneously in E. coli DH5α, is secreted into the extracellular milieu, we constructed a chimeric antigen by fusing DnaK to Sia10. The resulting fusion protein Sia10-DnaK was expressed in DH5α via the plasmid pTDK. Western blot analysis indicated that Sia10-DnaK was detected in the culture supernatant of DH5α/pTDK. When flounder were vaccinated with live DH5α/pTDK, strong protection was observed against both E. tarda and S. iniae. ELISA analysis detected specific serum antibody production in fish vaccinated with rDnaK and DH5α/pTDK. Taken together, these results indicate that rDnaK is an intrinsic ATPase with immunoprotective property and that Sia10-DnaK delivered by a live bacterial host is an effective bivalent vaccine candidate against E. tarda and S. iniae infection.     

Construction and Application of Strains that Constitutively Express the Arginase I Gene

Suicide vectors typically contain an ori that can replicate only under specific conditions. The suicide plasmid pRE112 has a conditional R6K ori, requiring the π protein. As the Escherichia coli DH5α cells cannot secrete the π protein and this plasmid can survive only by integrating into the genome. In our study, insertion mutants were constructed using a method based on the suicide plasmid pRE112. After constructing a recombinant suicide plasmid pRE112 that included the arginase I gene, the vector was transformed into E. coli DH5α cells, producing the strain that constitutively expressed the arginase I gene. The E. coli strains were screened to determine the highest enzyme activity levels. Comparison of arginase I-induced expressed strains BL21/pET21a-ARG and BL21/pET35b-ARG constructed by our laboratory with the constitutively expressed strain did not reveal any significant differences in enzyme activity levels. The conversion efficiency of L-Arg was 97.8% under the optimum conditions (60°C, pH 9.5, 1 mM of Mn²⁺, 100 mg/g of wet cell weight, 3% L-Arg and 1 h of reaction time). After purification with macroreticular cation exchange resin 001×7, the purity of obtained L-Orn was 98.7%. Compared with induced expression, constitutive expression has improved economic benefits, convenience, stability and simplicity in preparation, thus overcoming the processing defects that lose plasmids. This approach may improve benefits in preserving the cultures in industrial production processes.     

High-level synthesis of endochitinase ChiA74 in Escherichia coli K12 and its promising potential for use in biotechnology

In the present study, we expressed the chiA74 gene of Bacillus thuringiensis in Escherichia coli K12 and demonstrated that the active ChiA74 enzyme was produced at a high level in this strain. The ChiA74 enzymatic activity (in units per milliliter) was approximately 500 % greater in E. coli K12 when compared to that produced in E. coli DH5α. Moreover, we showed that, when using our protocol, ChiA74 preparations obtained from recombinant E. coli K12 did not contain live bacteria, although transformable DNA (erm, bla genes) was detected. Nucleic acids were subsequently easily eliminated when samples were treated with magnesium. Importantly, ChiA74 was secreted by E. coli K12 and the active enzyme was shown to generate chitin-derived oligosaccharides (C-OGS) with degrees of polymerization of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. From an applied perspective, the C-OGS showed activity against various pathogenic bacteria. In addition, we demonstrated that ChiA74 was not toxic to Hek 293 and 3T3 L1 cells, i.e., the enzyme did not induce apoptosis or affect normal cellular cycle and also did not produce abnormal changes in cell morphology. The potential biotechnological use of producing endochitinase of B. thuringiensis in a microorganism recognized as safe (i.e., E. coli K12) is discussed.     

Solubilization and partial purification of steroid sulfatase from rat liver: characterization of estrone sulfatase.

Steroid sulfatase, a membrane-bound enzyme present in many mammalian tissues, was extracted from rat liver microsomes by treatment with Miranol H2M, a zwitterion detergent, and sonication. It has been purified approximately 33-fold. All steps of the purification, which included salt and solvent fractionation, hydroxylapatite treatment, ion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration were performed in the presence of Miranol H2M, most of which was removed from the final preparation by gel filtration. The final preparation did not contain any detectable NADPH-cytochrome c reductase or glucose-6-phosphate phophatase activities. According to the elution volume on a Sephadex G-200 column, steroid sulfatase has a molecular weight of approximately 130,000. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in the presence of Miranol H2M revealed one major protein band which was enzymatically active. Purified steroid sulfatase hydrolyzes all the sulfate esters of estrone, dehydroepiandrosterone, pregnenolone, testosterone, and cholesterol as well as p-nitrophenyl sulfate, the substrate for arylsulfatase C, during the purification. However, estrone sulfatase and arylsulfatase C activities were enriched more than the others. Analysis of kinetic data and the effects of different buffers and of Miranol H2M also suggested that estrone sulfatase and arylsulfatase C are identical but that they are distinct from the other sulfatases. Competitive inhibition studies suggest that estrone sulfatase also catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sulfate esters of other estrogens.     

Molecular basis of multiple sulfatase deficiency,mucolipidosis II/III and Niemann–Pick C1 disease — Lysosomal storage disorders caused by defects of non-lysosomal proteins

Multiple sulfatase deficiency (MSD), mucolipidosis (ML) II/III and Niemann–Pick type C1 (NPC1) disease are rare but fatal lysosomal storage disorders caused by the genetic defect of non-lysosomal proteins. The NPC1 protein mainly localizes to late endosomes and is essential for cholesterol redistribution from endocytosed LDL to cellular membranes. NPC1 deficiency leads to lysosomal accumulation of a broad range of lipids. The precise functional mechanism of this membrane protein, however, remains puzzling. ML II, also termed I cell disease, and the less severe ML III result from deficiencies of the Golgi enzyme N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphotransferase leading to a global defect of lysosome biogenesis. In patient cells, newly synthesized lysosomal proteins are not equipped with the critical lysosomal trafficking marker mannose 6-phosphate, thus escaping from lysosomal sorting at the trans Golgi network. MSD affects the entire sulfatase family, at least seven members of which are lysosomal enzymes that are specifically involved in the degradation of sulfated glycosaminoglycans, sulfolipids or other sulfated molecules. The combined deficiencies of all sulfatases result from a defective post-translational modification by the ER-localized formylglycine-generating enzyme (FGE), which oxidizes a specific cysteine residue to formylglycine, the catalytic residue enabling a unique mechanism of sulfate ester hydrolysis. This review gives an update on the molecular bases of these enigmatic diseases, which have been challenging researchers since many decades and so far led to a number of surprising findings that give deeper insight into both the cell biology and the pathobiochemistry underlying these complex disorders. In case of MSD, considerable progress has been made in recent years towards an understanding of disease-causing FGE mutations. First approaches to link molecular parameters with clinical manifestation have been described and even therapeutical options have been addressed. Further, the discovery of FGE as an essential sulfatase activating enzyme has considerable impact on enzyme replacement or gene therapy of lysosomal storage disorders caused by single sulfatase deficiencies.     

Somatic homologous recombination in planta: The recombination frequency is dependent on the allelic state of recombining sequences and may be influenced by genomic position effects

The Escherichia coli sodA gene encoding the antioxidant enzyme Mn-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), was cloned in the expression vector pMG36e. This vector has a multiple cloning site down-stream of a promoter and Shine-Dalgarno sequences derived from Lactococcus. The protein-coding region of sodA from E. coli was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, using a thermocycler and Taq DNA polymerase before cloning into pMG36e. When introduced into E. coli, the recombinant plasmid expressed the predicted fusion protein, both in the presence and absence of oxygen. The expression of the fusion protein in E. coli was verified by SOD assays, activity gels and Western blots. The recombinant plasmid was also introduced into Lactococcus lactis, which contains a resident SOD, and into Lactobacillus gasseri, which is devoid of SOD. Transformed lactococci expressed an active SodA fusion protein plus an active hybrid protein composed of subunits of the Lactococcus and the recombinant E. coli enzymes. Transformants of L. gasseri expressed only the fusion SodA protein, which was enzymatically active.     

Cloning, expression, and purification of Helicobacter pylori L-asparaginase

Asparaginase from Helicobacter pylori (HpA) has been cloned and expressed in E. coli cells. The recombinant strain stably expressed catalytically active HpA. Optimization of culturing and expression conditions resulted in the expression level of the recombinant enzyme amounting up to 6% of total protein of the producer strain. A method developed for HpA purification included a single chromatographic stage and provided more than 60%-yield of the active enzyme. Specific asparaginase activity was 92 U/mg of protein, whereas the rate of glutamine hydrolysis was just 8.3 × 10^?3 U/mg, respectively. Data obtained indicate that due to low glutaminase specificity HpA may be employed as a non-toxic enzyme preparation for treatment of leukemia.     

Purification and characterization of recombinant Bacillus subtilis 168 catalase using a basic polypeptide from ribosomal protein L2

An efficient purification system for purifying recombinant Bacillus subtilis 168 catalase (KatA) expressed in Escherichia coli was developed. The basic region containing 252–273 amino acids derived from E. coli ribosomal protein L2 was used as an affinity tag while the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) was introduced as one specific protease cleavage site between the target protein and the purification tags. L2 (252–273)–SUMO fusion protein purification method can be effectively applied to purify the recombinant catalase using cation exchange resin. This purification procedure was used to purify the KatA and achieved a purification fold of 30.5, a specific activity of 48,227.2 U/mg and an activity recovery of 74.5%. The enzyme showed a Soret peak at 407 nm. The enzyme kept its activity between pH 5 and 10 and between 30 °C and 60 °C, with the highest activity at pH 8.0 and 37 °C. The enzyme displayed an apparent Km of 39.08 mM for hydrogen peroxide. These results agree well with the previous reports about B. subtilis catalase. L2 (252–273)–SUMO fusion protein purification technique provides a novel and effective fusion expression system for the production of recombinant proteins.     

Characterization of Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) Sulfatases from the Human Gut Symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron Reveals the First GAG-specific Bacterial Endosulfatase

Despite the importance of the microbiota in human physiology, the molecular bases that govern the interactions between these commensal bacteria and their host remain poorly understood. We recently reported that sulfatases play a key role in the adaptation of a major human commensal bacterium, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, to its host (Benjdia, A., Martens, E. C., Gordon, J. I., and Berteau, O. (2011) J. Biol. Chem. 286, 25973–25982). We hypothesized that sulfatases are instrumental for this bacterium, and related Bacteroides species, to metabolize highly sulfated glycans (i.e. mucins and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)) and to colonize the intestinal mucosal layer. Based on our previous study, we investigated 10 sulfatase genes induced in the presence of host glycans. Biochemical characterization of these potential sulfatases allowed the identification of GAG-specific sulfatases selective for the type of saccharide residue and the attachment position of the sulfate group. Although some GAG-specific bacterial sulfatase activities have been described in the literature, we report here for the first time the identity and the biochemical characterization of four GAG-specific sulfatases. Furthermore, contrary to the current paradigm, we discovered that B. thetaiotaomicron possesses an authentic GAG endosulfatase that is active at the polymer level. This type of sulfatase is the first one to be identified in a bacterium. Our study thus demonstrates that bacteria have evolved more sophisticated and diverse GAG sulfatases than anticipated and establishes how B. thetaiotaomicron, and other major human commensal bacteria, can metabolize and potentially tailor complex host glycans.     

Heparin trisaccharides with nonreducing 2-amino-2-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranosyl end-groups suitable as substrates for catabolic enzymes

Heparin trisaccharides having the sequence O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→4)-O-α-l-idopyranosyluronic acid-(1→4)-2,5-anhydro-d-[1-³H]mannitol have been prepared, as substrate models for studying sulfatases of heparan sulfate catabolism, by α-l-iduronidase cleavage of previously reported heparin tetrasaccharides, with additional chemical and enzymic modification as required. Three series are described, including isomeric sulfate esters of that trisaccharide with no N-substituent, with N-acetyl substitution, and with N-sulfate substitution. New features of the substrate specificity of the hydrolases used, including iduronate sulfatase, α-l-iduronidase, glucosamine 6-sulfate sulfatase, and heparin sulfamidase, were observed, and simple procedures for partial purification of these hydrolases are reported. The structures assigned to the trisaccharides are supported by the mode of preparation, reactions, regularities in electrophoretic behavior, and identities of the products of deamination.     

Cloning of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> K12 xylose isomerase (glucose isomerase) gene and studying the enzymatic properties of its expression product

The coding region of Escherichia coli K12 xylose (glucose) isomerase gene was inserted into the pRAC expression vector and cloned in E. coli BL21(DE3) cells. After induction of expression of the cloned gene, the proportion of recombinant xylose isomerase accounted for 40% of the total protein content. As a result of one-stage purification by affinity chromatography, a protein preparation of 90% purity was obtained. The recombinant enzyme catalyzed the isomerization of glucose to fructose and exhibited maximum activity (0.8 U/mg) at 45°C and pH 6.8. The enzyme required Mg²⁺ ions as a cofactor. When Mg²⁺ and Co²⁺ ions were simultaneously present in the reaction medium, the enzyme activity increased by 15–20%. Complete replacement of Mg²⁺ with Co²⁺ decreased the enzyme activity. In the presence of Ca²⁺ at concentrations comparable to the concentration of Mg²⁺, the enzyme was not inhibited, although published data reported inhibition of similar enzymes by Ca²⁺. The recombinant enzyme exhibited a very low thermostability: it underwent a slow inactivation when incubated at 45°C and was completely inactivated after incubation at 65°C for 1 h.     

The multiple sulfatase deficiency gene encodes an essential and limiting factor for the activity of sulfatases

In multiple sulfatase deficiency (MSD), a human inherited disorder, the activities of all sulfatases are impaired due to a defect in posttranslational modification. Here we report the identification, by functional complementation using microcell-mediated chromosome transfer, of a gene that is mutated in MSD and is able to rescue the enzymatic deficiency in patients' cell lines. Functional conservation of this gene was observed among distantly related species, suggesting a critical biological role. Coexpression of SUMF1 with sulfatases results in a strikingly synergistic increase of enzymatic activity, indicating that SUMF1 is both an essential and a limiting factor for sulfatases. These data have profound implications on the feasibility of enzyme replacement therapy for eight distinct inborn errors of metabolism.     

Thermolysis of recombinant Escherichia coli for recovering a thermostable enzyme

The development of recombinant DNA has made it feasible to produce a wide range of valuable protein products in the bacterium Escherichia coli. Extraction of intracellular protein from E. coli is traditionally achieved by mechanical, chemical or enzymatic disruption technology. In this study, thermolysis, which differs from the traditional ones, is presented for disruption of E. coli cells to release recombinant thermostable enzyme. Heat treatment of E. coli at 80 °C is highly effective to destroy the integrity of the bacterial cell wall and release the recombinant thermostable enzyme. At the same time of disruption, the recombinant thermostable enzyme was partially purified. Moreover, thermolysis was carried out in fermentation broth in situ, which may make it a more applicable approach for industrial-scale processes.     

Expression of a keratinase (kerA) gene from Bacillus licheniformis in Escherichia coli and characterization of the recombinant enzymes

The gene kerA (1,047 bp) encoding the main keratinase from Bacillus licheniformis was cloned into two conventional vectors, pET30α and pET32α, and expressed in Escherichia coli. From SDS-PAGE analysis, the recombinant keratinases were 45 and 55 kDa. They had different optimal pH values (7.5 and 8.5) but the same optimum temperature of 50 °C. The recombinant keratinase produced in E. coli pET30α-kerA was more stable than that produced in E. coli pET32α-kerA, and retained approx. 70 % of its total enzyme activity after 30 min at 70 °C.     

The α-galactosidase from Escherichia coli K12

Growth of Escherichia coli on melibiose requires the induced synthesis of α-galactoside permease and α-galactosidase. Hydrolysis of the chromogenic substrate p-nitrophenyl-σ-galactoside by whole bacteria is dependent on intact oxidative metabolism. The α-galactosidase from E. coli was isolated for the first time as a soluble enzyme. In cell-free extracts p-nitrophenyl-α-galactoside hydrolisis was observed only at high protein concentrations and the activity decreased exponentially with the square of the dilution. The reason for this behaviour was shown to be that, unlike other known α-galactosidases, the enzyme of E. coli requires NAD. For optimal activity the enzyme also requires Mn²⁺, a high concentration of 2-mercaptoethanol, and a pH of 8.1. The approximate molecular weight of the active from of α-galactosidase as determined by sedimentation in a sucrose gradient is 200 000. Due to the instability of the enzyme, its purification has not been achieved.