Heterologous expression, purification, and characterization of recombinant rat cysteine dioxygenase

Cysteine dioxygenase (CDO, EC 1.13.11.20) catalyzes the oxidation of cysteine to cysteine sulfinic acid, which is the first major step in cysteine catabolism in mammalian tissues. Rat liver CDO was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli as a 26.8-kDa N-terminal fusion protein bearing a polyhistidine tag. Purification by immobilized metal affinity chromatography yielded homogeneous protein, which was catalytically active even in the absence of the secondary protein-A, which has been reported to be essential for activity in partially purified native preparations. As compared with those existing purification protocols for native CDO, the milder conditions used in the isolation of the recombinant CDO allowed a more controlled study of the properties and activity of CDO, clarifying conflicting findings in the literature. Apo-protein was inactive in catalysis and was only activated by iron. Metal analysis of purified recombinant protein indicated that only 10% of the protein contained iron and that the iron was loosely bound to the protein. Kinetic studies showed that the recombinant enzyme displayed a K(m) value of 2.5 +/- 0.4 mm at pH 7.5 and 37 degrees C. The enzyme was shown to be specific for l-cysteine oxidation, whereas homocysteine inhibited CDO activity.     

Heterologous expression, purification, and characterization of human triacylglycerol hydrolase.

Triacylglycerol hydrolase mobilizes stored triacylglycerol some of which is used for very-low-density lipoprotein assembly in the liver. A full-length cDNA coding for a human triacylglycerol hydrolase (hTGH) was isolated from a human liver cDNA library. The cDNA has an open reading frame of 576 amino acids with a cleavable 18-amino-acid signal sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence shows that the protein belongs to the carboxylesterase family. The hTGH was highly expressed in Escherichia coli as a 6xHis-tagged fusion protein, with the tag at the N-terminus in place of the signal peptide. However, the expressed protein was insoluble and inactive. Expression was confirmed by immunoblotting and N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the purified protein. Expression of hTGH with its native signal sequence and a C-terminal 6xHis-tag in Sf9 cells using the baculovirus expression system yielded active enzyme. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the purified expressed protein showed correct processing of the signal peptide. The enzyme also undergoes glycosylation within the endoplasmic reticulum lumen. The results suggest that hTGH expressed in insect cells is properly folded. Therefore, baculovirus expression of hTGH and facile purification of the His-tagged enzyme will allow detailed characterization of the structure/activity relationship.     

菊粉酶基因的异源表达、分离纯化及酶学性质

为进一步提高菊粉酶在生物技术领域的应用,研究了来源于马克斯克鲁维酵母Kluyveromyces marxianus YX01的菊粉酶性质。通过在毕赤酵母GS115宿主细胞中异源表达该菊粉酶基因(inu),获得了一种外切型菊粉酶,经聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)验证其分子量为86.0 k Da。进一步在该菊粉酶上增加6个His标签,采用聚乙二醇(PEG)20 000透析浓缩和Ni-NTA Agarose静态亲和吸附作用的方法,完成菊粉酶的分离纯化,纯化倍数和酶回收率分别为3.6和33.1%。比较发现粗酶液与纯酶的酶学性质相似,且菊粉酶的最适反应温度为60℃,最适p H值为4.62,并测得该酶的Km和Vmax值,以菊粉为底物时,Km和Vmax值分别为80.53 g/L和4.49 g/(L·min);以蔗糖底物时,Km和Vmax值分别为183.10 g/L和20.20 g/(L·min)。金属离子Mn2+、Ca2+、Cu2+、Zn2+和Fe2+对酶活力具有不同程度的抑制作用,其中Cu2+、Zn2+和Fe2+的抑制作用最为显著。这些研究为进一步提高菊粉酶在工业化的应用奠定了基础。     

Heterologous expression, purification, and characterization of a highly active xylose reductase from Neurospora crassa

A xylose reductase (XR) gene was identified from the Neurospora crassa whole-genome sequence, expressed heterologously in Escherichia coli, and purified as a His6-tagged fusion in high yield. This enzyme is one of the most active XRs thus far characterized and may be used for the in vitro production of xylitol.     

蜡样芽胞杆菌磷脂酶C在乳酸克鲁维酵母中重组表达、纯化及酶学性质分析

【目的】构建蜡样芽胞杆菌(Bacillus cereus)磷脂酶C(Phospholipase C,PLC)的重组乳酸克鲁维酵母(Kluyveromyces lactis)菌株、纯化重组蛋白并对其进行酶学性质分析。【方法】以B.cereus基因组DNA为模板,PCR扩增得到磷脂酶C基因(bcplc),构建重组乳酸克鲁维酵母表达质粒并转化到乳酸克鲁维酵母中,实现bcplc基因的表达。利用镍柱亲和层析纯化和脱盐柱得到电泳纯的重组磷脂酶C(rbcPLC)。【结果】成功构建产磷脂酶C的重组乳酸克鲁维酵母并纯化了重组磷脂酶C,纯化后rbcPLC经SDS-PAGE分析在40 kDa附近出现显性条带。NPPC法测得rbcPLC酶活为19251 U/mg,最适反应温度为80°C,最适pH为9.0。在低于40°C时,pH 7.0-8.0时,rbcPLC重组酶较稳定。Cu~(2+)和Co~(2+)对其有明显的抑制作用;Zn~(2+)、Mn~(2+)、Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)对其有明显的促进作用。【结论】首次实现了对蜡样芽胞杆菌来源的磷脂酶C在乳酸克鲁维酵母中的重组表达、纯化及其酶学性质分析,为其它食品安全性微生物来源的磷脂酶C的研究提供了借鉴意义。     

Heterologous expression and purification of membrane-bound pyrophosphatases

Membrane-bound pyrophosphatases (M-PPases) are enzymes that couple the hydrolysis of inorganic pyrophosphate to pumping of protons or sodium ions. In plants and bacteria they are important for relieving stress caused by low energy levels during anoxia, drought, nutrient deficiency, cold and low light intensity. While they are completely absent in mammalians, they are key players in the survival of disease-causing protozoans making these proteins attractive pharmacological targets. In this work, we aimed at the purification of M-PPases in amounts suitable for crystallization as a first step to obtain structural information for drug design. We have tested the expression of eight integral membrane pyrophosphatases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, six from bacterial and archaeal sources and two from protozoa. Two proteins originating from hyperthermophilic organisms were purified in dimeric and monodisperse active states. To generate M-PPases with an increased hydrophilic surface area, which potentially should facilitate formation of crystal contacts, phage T4 lysozyme was inserted into different extramembraneous loops of one of these M-PPases. Two of these fusion proteins were active and expressed at levels that would allow their purification for crystallization purposes.     

Heterologous expression,purification, and enzymatic characterization of the acyclic carotenoid 1,2-hydratase from Rubrivivax gelatinosus

The carotenoid 1,2-hydratase CrtC from Rubrivivax gelatinosus has been expressed in Escherichia coli in an active form and purified by affinity chromatography. The enzyme catalyzes the conversion of various acyclic carotenes including 1-hydroxy derivatives. This broad substrate specificity reflects the participation of CrtC in 1'-HO-spheroidene and in spirilloxanthin biosynthesis. Enzyme kinetic studies including the determination of substrate specificity constants indicate that among the alternative biosynthetic routes to 1'-HO-spheroidene the one via spheroidene is the dominating pathway. In contrast to CrtC from Rvi. gelatinosus, the equivalent enzyme from Rhodobacter capsulatus, a closely related bacterium which lacks the biosynthetic branch to spirilloxanthin and accumulates spheroidene instead of substantial amounts of 1'-HO-spheroidene, is extremely poor in converting 1-HO-carotenoids. The individual catalytic properties of both carotenoid 1,2-hydratases reflect the in situ carotenogenic pathways in both purple photosynthetic bacteria.     

Heterologous expression of heterodimeric laccase from Pleurotus ostreatus in Kluyveromyces lactis

Among the laccases produced by the white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus, there are two closely related atypical isoenzymes, POXA3a and POXA3b. These isoenzymes are endowed with quaternary structure, consisting of two subunits very different in size. The POXA3 large subunit is clearly homologous to other known laccases, while the small subunit does not show significant homology with any protein in data banks. To investigate on the singular structure of the POXA3 complex, a new system for recombinant expression of heterodimer proteins in the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis has been set up. A unique expression vector has been used and the cDNAs encoding the two subunits have been cloned under the control of the same bi-directionally acting promoter. Expression of the large subunit alone and co-expression of both subunits in the same host have been demonstrated and the properties of the recombinant proteins have been compared. Clones expressing the large subunit alone exhibited always notably lower activity than those expressing both subunits. In addition to the activity increase, the presence of the small subunit led to a significant increase of laccase stability. Therefore, a role of the small subunit in POXA3 stabilisation is suggested.     

Heterologous expression,purification, and functional characterization of recombinant ovine angiotensinogen in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris

Angiotensinogen (AGT), a glycosylated plasma noninhibitory serpin, serves as a precursor for angiotensin peptides which regulate blood pressure and electrolyte balance. AGT is specifically cleaved by renin to produce angiotensin-I, the first product of the angiotensin-processing cascade. Ovine angiotensinogen (oAGT) is considered an effective substrate for human renin and consequently finds application in clinical renin assays. In this study, oAGT was cloned into the genome of Pichia pastoris and expressed under the control of alcohol oxidase (AOX1) promoter for high-level production. Compared to the shake flask study, the high cell density cultivation in bioreactor resulted in multifold increase in oAGT titer (420 ± 9.26 mg/L), which is its highest reported titer to date. We purified recombinant oAGT to homogeneity using two chromatography steps. The characterization studies revealed oAGT underwent a two-state transition during thermal denaturation process as assessed by differential scanning fluorimetry, and the melting temperature (T_m) of the purified oAGT from P. pastoris was 48.3°C. Renin reactivity with recombinant oAGT from P. pastoris (0.51 nM angiotensin-I/min) was slightly lower than the renin reactivity for recombinant oAGT from Escherichia coli (0.67 nM angiotensin-I/min), possibly because of its mannosylated N-glycan content. Enhanced production of functionally active recombinant oAGT using P. pastoris expression system reported in this study envisage the effective utilization of oAGT in clinical studies related to renin in near future.     

Human cytochrome P450 4F11: Heterologous expression in bacteria, purification, and characterization of catalytic function

Human cytochrome P450 (P450) 4F11 is still considered an “orphan” because its function is not well characterized. A bacterial expression system was developed for human P450 4F11, producing ∼230 nmol P450 from a 3-l culture of Escherichia coli. P450 4F11 was purified and utilized for untargeted substrate searches in human liver extract using a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry-based metabolomic and isotopic labeling approach (Tang et al., 2009 [19]). Four fatty acids—palmitic, oleic, arachidonic, and docosahexaenoic—were identified in human liver and verified as substrates of P450 4F11. The products were characterized as ω-hydroxylated fatty acids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of their trimethylsilyl derivatives. Kinetic analysis of the oxidation products confirmed that the fatty acids are substrates oxidized by P450 4F11. P450 4F11 also exhibited low activity for some drug N-demethylation reactions but none for activation of several pro-carcinogens.     

Heterologous expression, purification, and properties of a chymotrypsin inhibitor isolated from potatoes

The PKPIJ-B gene encoding a chymotrypsin inhibitor from a subfamily of potato Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitors (PKPI) in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Yubilei Zhukova) was cloned into a pET23a vector and then expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant PKPIJ-B protein obtained in the inclusion bodies was denatured, purified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on Mono Q under denaturing conditions, and renaturated. The renaturated protein was additionally purified using HPLC on DEAE-ToyoPearl. The PKPIJ-B protein efficiently suppressed chymotrypsin activity, had a weaker effect on trypsin, and inhibited the growth and development of phytopathogenic microorganisms affecting potato plants.     

Heterologous expression,purification, and enzymatic activity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis NAD(+) synthetase

The enzyme NAD(+) synthetase (NadE) catalyzes the last step of NAD biosynthesis. Given NAD vital role in cell metabolism, the enzyme represents a valid target for the development of new antimycobacterial agents. In the present study we expressed and purified two putative forms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis NAD(+) synthetase, differing in the polypeptide chain length (NadE-738 and NadE-679). Furthermore, we evaluated several systems for the heterologous expression and large scale purification of the enzyme. In particular, we compared the efficiency of production, the yield of purification, and the catalytic activity of recombinant enzyme in different hosts, ranging from Escherichia coli strains to cultured High Five (Trichoplusia ni BTI-TN-5B1-4) insect cells. Among the systems assayed, we found that the expression of a thioredoxin-NadE fusion protein in E. coli Origami(DE3) is the best system in obtaining highly pure, active NAD(+) synthetase. The recombinant enzyme maintained its activity even after proteolytic cleavage of thioredoxin moiety. Biochemical evidence suggests that the shorter form (NadE-679) may be the real M. tuberculosis NAD(+) synthetase. These results enable us to obtain a purified product for structure-function analysis and high throughput assays for rapid screening of compounds which inhibit enzymatic activity.     

Heterologous expression and purification of SpaB involved in subtilin biosynthesis

Lantibiotic peptides contain thioether bridges termed lanthionines that are putatively generated by dehydration of Ser and Thr residues followed by Michael addition of cysteine residues within the peptide. The LanB and LanC proteins have been proposed to catalyze the dehydration and formation of the thioether rings, respectively. We report here the first heterologous overexpression in Escherichia coli of SpaB, the putative dehydratase for subtilin. Sequence analysis of spaB revealed several nucleotide differences with current gene database entries. The solubility of SpaB was increased dramatically when co-expressed with GroEL/ES, and soluble His(6)-tagged SpaB was purified. The protein is at least a dimer, and interaction between SpaB and SpaC was observed. SpaS the putative substrate for SpaB was overexpressed in E. coli as an intein fusion protein, and after cleavage, the peptide was obtained in good yield.     

Heterologous expression and characterization of mouse spermine oxidase

Polyamine oxidases are key enzymes responsible of the polyamine interconversion metabolism in animal cells. Recently, a novel enzyme belonging to this class of enzymes has been characterized for its capability to oxidize preferentially spermine and designated as spermine oxidase. This is a flavin adenine dinucleotide-containing enzyme, and it has been expressed both in vitro and in vivo systems. The primary structure of mouse spermine oxidase (mSMO) was deduced from a cDNA clone (Image Clone 264769) recovered by a data base search utilizing the human counterpart of polyamine oxidases, PAOh1. The open reading frame predicts a 555-amino acid protein with a calculated M(r) of 61,852.30, which shows a 95.1% identity with PAOh1. To understand the biochemical properties of mSMO and its structure/function relationship, the mSMO cDNA has been subcloned and expressed in secreted and secreted-tagged forms into Escherichia coli BL21 DE3 cells. The recombinant enzyme shows an optimal pH value of 8.0 and is able to oxidize rapidly spermine to spermidine and 3-aminopropanal and fails to act upon spermidine and N(1)-acetylpolyamines. The purified recombinant-tagged form enzyme (M(r) approximately 68,000) has K(m) and k(cat) values of 90 microm and 4.5 s(-1), respectively, using spermine as substrate at pH 8.0. Molecular modeling of mSMO protein based on maize polyamine oxidase three-dimensional structure suggests that the general features of maize polyamine oxidase active site are conserved in mSMO.     

Prokaryotic expression, purification and characterization of nattokinase

Nattokinase is a fibrinolytic enzyme that is considered to be a promising agent for thrombosis therapy. In this study, nattokinase was purified from fermentation broth of a Bacillus subtilis strain by ammonium sulfate salting-out, gel filtration chromatography, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography with a purification fold of 5.2 and at a yield of 46.3%. The purified enzyme has molecular mass of 28 kDa and fibrinolytic activity of 4 580 U/mg. Since the concentration of nattokinase on fermentation broth was quite low, we cloned nattokinase gene from B. subtilis and expressed it in E. coli BL21 (DE3). Nattokinase was actively expressed in the recombinant strain. The yield of nattokinase was increased significantly, but the activity of the protein produced by recombinant strain was low.     

Heterologous expression,purification and characterization of a highly thermolabile endoxylanase from the Antarctic fungus Cladosporium sp.

Numerous endoxylanases from mesophilic fungi have been purified and characterized. However, endoxylanases from cold-adapted fungi, especially those from Antarctica, have been less studied. In this work, a cDNA from the Antarctic fungus Cladosporium sp. with similarity to endoxylanases from glycosyl hydrolase family 10, was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris. The pure recombinant enzyme (named XynA) showed optimal activity on xylan at 50 °C and pH 6–7. The enzyme releases xylooligosaccharides but not xylose, indicating that XynA is a classical endoxylanase. The enzyme was most active on xylans with high content of arabinose (rye arabinoylan and wheat arabinoxylan) than on xylans with low content of arabinose (oat spelts xylan, birchwood xylan and beechwood xylan). Finally, XynA showed a very low thermostability. After 20–30 min of incubation at 40 °C, the enzyme was completely inactivated, suggesting that XynA would be the most thermolabile endoxylanase described so far in filamentous fungi. This is one of the few reports describing the heterologous expression and characterization of a xylanase from a fungus isolated from Antarctica.     

Heterologous high-level E. coli expression, purification and biophysical characterization of the spine-associated RapGAP (SPAR) PDZ domain

Spine-associated RapGAP (SPAR) is a 1783 residue, multidomain scaffolding protein which is a component of the NMDA receptor/PSD-95 complex in the post-synaptic density (PSD) of dendritic spines. Using a parallel expression screening approach, we identified a strategy to solubly express the SPAR PDZ domain in Escherichia coli. We show that maltose binding protein is required for the production of solubly expressed protein. We also show that small changes in construct length (2-5 residues) result in differential susceptibilities of the expressed proteins to proteolytic digestion, required for the expression tag removal. This has allowed us to identify a large-scale E. coli expression and purification protocol that results in the production of mg quantities of the SPAR PDZ domain. This is the first time that any of the multiple SPAR functional domains have been expressed in E. coli in quantities suitable for biophysical and biochemical studies, allowing us to investigate the role of the PDZ domain in SPAR function within the PSD.     

Heterologous expression, purification, and properties of a potato protein inhibitor of serine proteinases

The gene PKPI-B10 [AF536175] encoding in potato (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Istrinskii) a Kunitz-type protein inhibitor of proteinases (PKPI) has been cloned into the pET23a vector and then expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein PKPI-B10 obtained as inclusion bodies was denatured, separated from admixtures by ion-exchange fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) on MonoQ under denaturing conditions, and renatured. The native protein was additionally purified by ion-exchange FPLC on DEAE-Toyopearl. The PKPI-B10 protein effectively inhibits the activity of trypsin, significantly weaker suppresses the activity of chymotrypsin, and has no effect on other serine proteinases: human leukocyte elastase, subtilisin Carlsberg, and proteinase K, and also the plant cysteine proteinase papain.     

Heterologous expression, purification, and properties of human cytochrome P450 27C1

Cytochrome P450 (P450) 27C1 is one of the "orphan" P450 enzymes without a known biological function. A human P450 27C1 cDNA with a nucleotide sequence modified for Escherichia coli usage was prepared and modified at the N-terminus, based on the expected mitochondrial localization. A derivative with residues 3-60 deleted was expressed at a level of 1350nmol/L E. coli culture and had the characteristic P450 spectra. The identity of the expressed protein was confirmed by mass spectrometry of proteolytic fragments. The purified P450 was in the low-spin iron state, and the spin equilibrium was not perturbed by any of the potential substrates vitamin D(3), 1alpha- or 25-hydroxy vitamin D(3), or cholesterol. P450s 27A1 and 27B1 are known to catalyze the 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D(3) and the 1alpha-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxy vitamin D(3), respectively. In the presence of recombinant human adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase, recombinant P450 27C1 did not catalyze the oxidation of vitamin D(3), 1alpha- or 25-hydroxy vitamin D(3), or cholesterol at detectable rates. P450 27C1 mRNA was determined to be expressed in liver, kidney, pancreas, and several other human tissues.     

Selenoprotein P expression, purification, and immunochemical characterization

Most selenoproteins contain a single selenocysteine residue per polypeptide chain, encoded by an in-frame UGA codon. Selenoprotein P is unique in that its mRNA encodes 10-12 selenocysteine residues, depending on species. In addition to the high number of selenocysteines, the protein is cysteine- and histidine-rich. The function of selenoprotein P has remained elusive, in part due to the inability to express the recombinant protein. This has been attributed to presumed inefficient translation through the selenocysteine/stop codons. Herein, we report for the first time the expression of recombinant rat selenoprotein P in a transiently transfected human epithelial kidney cell line, as well as the endogenously expressed protein from HepG2 and Chinese hamster ovary cells. The majority of the expressed protein migrates with the predicted 57-kDa size of full-length glycosylated selenoprotein P. Based on the histidine-rich nature of selenoprotein P, we have purified the recombinant and endogenously expressed proteins using nickel-agarose affinity chromatography. We show that the recombinant rat and endogenous human proteins react in Western blotting and immunoprecipitation assays with commercial anti-histidine antibodies. The ability to express, purify, and immunochemically detect the recombinant protein provides a foundation for investigating the functions and efficiency of expression of this intriguing protein.