Improving the monitoring of methanol concentration during high cell density fermentation of Pichia pastoris

The Pichia pastoris expression system is widely used for the production of recombinant proteins. A simple and efficient experimental set-up allowing on-line monitoring of the methanol concentration during the fermentation of P. pastoris based on the detection of the methanol vapor concentration in the exhaust air from fermenter by a tin dioxide (SnO2) semiconductor sensor is described. An experimental procedure to allow precise calibration of the system and to reduce methanol sensor's interferences (>95% reduction) are also presented and discussed. Accuracy and measurement error were estimated about 0.05 g x l(-1) and 6%, respectively. The efficient monitoring of methanol will help to advanced control of recombinant protein production and process optimization.     

Pathway analysis of Pichia pastoris to elucidate methanol metabolism and its regulation for production of recombinant proteins

This research rationally analyzes metabolic pathways of Pichia pastoris to study the metabolic flux responses of this yeast under methanol metabolism. A metabolic model of P. pastoris was constructed and analyzed by elementary mode analysis (EMA). EMA was used to comprehensively identify the cell's metabolic flux profiles and its underlying regulation mechanisms for the production of recombinant proteins from methanol. Change in phenotypes and flux profiles during methanol adaptation with varying feed mixture of glycerol and methanol was examined. EMA identified increasing and decreasing fluxes during the glycerol–methanol metabolic shift, which well agreed with experimental observations supporting the validity of the metabolic network model. Analysis of all the identified pathways also led to the determination of the metabolic capacities as well as the optimum metabolic pathways for recombinant protein synthesis during methanol induction. The network sensitivity analysis revealed that the production of proteins can be improved by manipulating the flux ratios at the pyruvate branch point. In addition, EMA suggested that protein synthesis is optimum under hypoxic culture conditions. The metabolic modeling and analysis presented in this study could potentially form a valuable knowledge base for future research on rational design and optimization of P. pastoris by determining target genes, pathways, and culture conditions for enhanced recombinant protein synthesis. The metabolic pathway analysis is also of considerable value for production of therapeutic proteins by P. pastoris in biopharmaceutical applications. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:28–37, 2014     

Recombinant protein expression in Pichia pastoris

The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris is now one of the standard tools used in molecular biology for the generation of recombinant protein. P. pastoris has demonstrated its most powerful success as a large-scale (fermentation) recombinant protein production tool. What began more than 20 years ago as a program to convert abundant methanol to a protein source for animal feed has been developed into what is today two important biological tools: a model eukaryote used in cell biology research and a recombinant protein production system. To date well over 200 heterologous proteins have been expressed in P. pastoris. Significant advances in the development of new strains and vectors, improved techniques, and the commercial availability of these tools coupled with a better understanding of the biology of Pichia species have led to this microbe's value and power in commercial and research labs alike.     

A model-based feeding strategy for fed-batch fermentation of recombinant Pichia pastoris

A two stage, exponential feeding strategy with mixed glycerol/methanol substrate was used in a fed-batch recombinant Pichia pastorisfermentation. The feeding strategy was developed using a simple model based on mass balances, Monod-type growth kinetics, and constant specific heterologous protein production rate. The model accurately predicted cell growth, and demonstrated the usefulness of a rational, model-based approach for improving the productivity of recombinant P. pastoris fermentation.     

里氏木霉纤维二糖水解酶Ⅱ在毕赤酵母中的高效表达

本工作采用巴氏毕赤酵母Pichiapastoris表达系统进行了里氏木霉Trichodermareesei纤维二糖水解酶Ⅱ(CellobiohydrolaseII)的表达。用RT-PCR的方法从经稻草粉诱导的里氏木霉培养物中分离出纤维二糖水解酶Ⅱ的基因,将其插入到巴氏毕赤酵母的表达载体pPICZαA中,并使之处于α-因子信号肽序列的下游,得到重组质粒pPICZαA-cbh2。通过电穿孔的方法用线性化的pPICZαA-cbh2转化巴氏毕赤酵母GS115菌株,经过大量筛选后得到可以高效表达纤维二糖水解酶的毕赤酵母菌株P.pastorisCBHⅡ1。在甲醇诱导的条件下培养P.pastorisCBHⅡ1,培养液中的CMC活性可达到3.82U/mL,SDS-PAGE分析结果表明纤维二糖水解酶在P.pastorisCBHⅡ1中的表达量远远高于里氏木霉。对表达产物进行了LC-MS分析,结果表明所表达的蛋白为里氏木霉的纤维二糖水解酶。     

Expression, purification, and activity identification of Alfimeprase in Pichia pastoris

Alfimeprase (ALF) is a truncated form of non-hemorrhagic zinc metalloproteinase fibrolase. In order to achieve a high level secretion and full activity expression of ALF, the Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris) expression system was used. ALF coding sequence fused with a 6 *histidine tag and an enterokinase recognition site at the N-terminus was cloned into the expression vector pPIC9K and then expressed in P. pastoris strains of GS115 and KM71 by methanol induction. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis showed that the secreted recombinant ALF (rALF) had a molecular weight of 23.8 kDa and was bound specifically to mouse anti-His. tag monoclonal antibody. Under the optimized culture parameters of pH value, initial A(600) value, methanol daily addition concentration and induction time length, the production of rALF reached up to 510 mg/L and 465 mg/L of the GS115 and KM71 transformants, respectively. It also appeared that KM71 was producing a more pure protein than GS115 while GS115 was producing more rALF per unit volume. Through one-step affinity chromatography, the purity of rALF was as high as 96%. The fibrinolytic activity of rALF revealed by the modified fibrin plate method indicated that the protein was efficiently secreted and functionally expressed, and thrombolysis of rALF was demonstrated to be dose-dependent and time-relative. The improved expression system will facilitate further studies and industrial production of ALF.     

重组人GALNT3-sol蛋白在毕赤酵母中的高效表达和活性鉴定

目的:为了获得有催化活性的人乙酰半乳糖胺转移酶3(GALNT3),构建了GALNT3可溶性区域(GALNT3-sol)的真核分泌表达载体,在巴斯德毕赤酵母中表达并纯化GALNT3-sol蛋白,体外检测其转糖基活性。方法:以构建好的pET15b/GALNT3-sol为模板进行PCR,扩增编码人GALNT3-sol的cDNA片段(1 755 bp),将其克隆至真核表达载体pPIC9K,载体线性化后采用电击法转化毕赤酵母GS115。通过MD平板和G418平板筛选出阳性高拷贝重组菌株。阳性菌株经过甲醇诱导表达人GALNT3-sol重组蛋白,表达上清进行Ni-NAT分离纯化。分别采用SDS-PAGE和Western blot鉴定纯化的重组蛋白,并使用HPLC和MALDI-TOF/MS分析其转糖基化反应的活性。结果:成功构建了能够分泌表达GALNT3-sol的毕赤酵母菌株。阳性表达菌株在BMMY培养基(pH 6.0)中20℃培养,经0.5%甲醇诱导表达96 h,摇瓶表达量可达5mg/L。SDS-PAGE和Western blot结果显示表达重组蛋白为糖基化形式。活性检测显示表达的重组蛋白具有转糖基活性。结论:成功获得可以高效分泌表达具有活性的人GALNT3-sol蛋白的毕赤酵母菌株,为进一步研究人GALNT3的性质及其应用提供了基础。     

Impact of methanol concentration on secreted protein production in oxygen-limited cultures of recombinant Pichia pastoris

The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris is a powerful system for production of recombinant proteins, showing high ability to secrete properly folded proteins. A major plus is the strong AOX1 promoter highly induced by methanol. During growth on methanol, however, oxygen readily becomes limiting. In oxygen-limited cultivations of recombinant Pichia pastoris, the methanol concentration had a strong impact on the production of a single-chain antibody fragment (scFv). High methanol concentrations were required to compensate the lack of oxygen and fully induce recombinant protein production, at the same time reducing gratuitous biomass formation due to a lower biomass yield. Product concentrations of 60, 150, and 350 mg/L were obtained with methanol concentrations of 0.3, 1, and 3% (v/v). Moreover, accumulation of a putative product fragment that cannot be removed during affinity purification was prevented at high methanol concentrations. Cell vitality after 100 h was maintained above 98% and 96% of the culture with 0.3% and 3% methanol, respectively. In cultivations supplemented with oxygen, in contrast, methanol concentration between 0.3% and 3% did not influence the product yield of 300-400 mg/L. Thus, efficient recombinant protein production under oxygen-limitation seems to require high methanol concentrations, enabling product concentration as high as otherwise obtained only with expensive supply of pure oxygen.     

A comparative study of glycerol and sorbitol as co-substrates in methanol-induced cultures of Pichia pastoris: temperature effect and scale-up simulation

Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology - The production of recombinant proteins by Pichia pastoris under AOX1 promoter is usually performed using methanol together with either...     

细极链格孢菌peaT2基因在毕赤酵母中的表达及蛋白功能确定

从细极链格孢菌表达文库获得阳性克隆子,序列分析表明,克隆的DNA片段中含有完整的开放阅读框架,将该基因命名为peaT2(GenBank登录号为EF212880)。用PCR法扩增peaT2基因的编码序列并亚克隆到毕赤酵母表达系统的表达载体pPIC9K上,得到重组质粒pPIC9K/peaT2。重组质粒经SacⅠ线性化后用电穿孔法导入到毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris)GS115中,采用MD、G418-YPD平板和PCR法筛选Mut+表型,获得了分泌表达的重组毕赤酵母。随机挑取一菌株作为表达菌,用甲醇诱导PeaT2蛋白表达。SDS-PAGE及Western blot检测结果均表明PeaT2在毕赤酵母中成功地分泌表达。用peaT2基因的表达蛋白处理小麦种子,生物测定表明,表达蛋白能明显促进小麦的生长,具有蛋白激发子作用。     

Synthesis of Drosophila melanogaster acetylcholinesterase gene using yeast preferred codons and its expression in Pichia pastoris

To improve the expression level of recombinant Drosophila melanogaster AChE (R-DmAChE) in Pichia pastoris, the cDNA of DmAChE was first optimized and synthesized based on the preferred codon usage of P. pastoris. The synthesized AChE cDNA without glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) signal peptide sequence was then ligated to the P. pastoris expression vector, generating the plasmid pPIC9K/DmAChE. The linearized plasmid was homologously integrated into the genome of P. pastoris GS115 via electrotransformation. Finally seven transformants with high expression level of R-DmAChE activity were obtained. The highest production of R-DmAChE in shake-flask culture after 5-day induction by methanol was 718.50units/mL, which was about three times higher than our previous expression level of native DmAChE gene in P. pastoris. Thus, these new strains with the ability to secret R-DmAChE in the medium could be used for production of R-DmAChE to decrease the cost of the enzyme expense for rapid detection of organophosphate and carbamate insecticide residues.     

Enhanced heterologous protein production in Pichia pastoris under increased air pressure

Pichia pastoris is a widely used host for the production of heterologous proteins. In this case, high cell densities are needed and oxygen is a major limiting factor. The increased air pressure could be used to improve the oxygen solubility in the medium and to reach the high oxygen demand of methanol metabolism. In this study, two P. pastoris strains producing two different recombinant proteins, one intracellular (β‐galactosidase) and other extracellular (frutalin), were used to investigate the effect of increased air pressure on yeast growth in glycerol and heterologous protein production, using the methanol AOX1‐inducible system. Experiments were carried out in a stainless steel bioreactor under total air pressure of 1 bar and 5 bar. The use of an air pressure raise of up to 5 bar proved to be applicable for P. pastoris cultivation. Moreover, no effects on the kinetic growth parameters and methanol utilization (Mut) phenotype of strains were found, while an increase in recombinant β‐galactosidase‐specific activity (ninefold) and recombinant frutalin production was observed. Furthermore, the air pressure raise led to a reduction in the secreted protease specific activity. This work shows for the first time that the application of an air pressure of 5 bar may be used as a strategy to decrease protease secretion and improve recombinant protein production in P. pastoris. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:1040–1047, 2014     

不同甲醇流加策略对重组毕赤醇母高密度发酵生产水蛭素的影响

考察了不同甲醇流加策略对毕赤酵母高密度发酵生产水蛭素的影响。溶氧控制法不能有效地防止甲醇的过量流加。气相色谱离线检测法虽然防止了甲醇流加过量 ,但甲醇浓度的波动较大。利用甲醇传感器在线检测控制甲醇的流加可维持较恒定的甲醇浓度。在流加甲醇的同时 ,以限制性速率流加甘油可以增加表达期间的能量供应 ,提高产物的表达量。经优化后 ,采用甲醇甘油混合流加时细胞干重达到 16 2g L ,水蛭素活性达到 2 4×10 4ATU mL ,即 1 7g L。     

Assessing viability and cell-associated product of recombinant protein producing Pichia pastoris with flow cytometry

This paper describes the establishment of flow cytometric methods for recombinant Pichia pastoris strains, and their application to a lab scale fed batch fermentation. Using a strain which secretes human trypsinogen, the viability and the product which remained associated to the cell were measured with propidium iodide and immunofluorescent staining, respectively. Viability decreases significantly below 70% during the methanol fed batch phase, indicating a stress situation triggered by the fermentation conditions. Cell associated product is accumulated earlier after methanol induction than secreted product. These data demonstrate that flow cytometry is a powerful tool for the analysis and optimization of recombinant protein production processes, and they indicate the need to further improve a widely used fermentation protocol for P. pastoris.     

毕赤酵母表达重组人白细胞介素11的连续培养研究

对毕赤酵母表达重组人白细胞介素11(rhIL11)工程菌的连续培养进行了工艺研究。连续培养在10L工作体积的发酵罐中进行,整个发酵过程历时约20天,发酵上清中rhIL11表达浓度约400mgml。在稀释率D=005h下,菌浓OD600达到100以上。     

人源抗HBsAg单链抗体在巴氏毕赤酵母中的表达

在P.pastoris中分泌表达非融合抗HBsAg单链抗体（HBscFv）。设计引物从pGEMHBscFv上扩增目的基因,亚克隆至P.pastoris表达载体pPICZαA中,线性化后转化P. pastorisGS115;转化子经菌落PCR、高浓度Zeocin抗性筛选鉴定后,甲醇诱导目的蛋白表达。结果发现,重组HBscFv可以在α因子的引导下,分泌至培养基中,产量为80mg/L;分泌至培养基中的HBscFv具有结合HBsAg活性,活性总量在诱导培养72h后达最高峰,在诱导培养后期,HBscFv活性下降;PAS糖显色结果表明,酵母表达HBscFv是一种低糖基化蛋白或非糖基化蛋白。     

石斑鱼-防御素的酵母表达及其产物抗菌活性分析

防御素是一类阳离子抗菌肽。研究从石斑鱼垂体SMART cDNA 文库中扩增出129 bp 石斑鱼-防御素成熟肽序列, 将其克隆到毕赤酵母表达载体pPCIZA 中, 构建了石斑鱼-防御素的真核表达载体, 电击转化毕赤酵母GS115。Western Blot 分析表明石斑鱼-防御素在酵母菌中获得了表达。体外抗菌实验表明纯化的重组蛋白具有抑制大肠杆菌以及嗜水气单胞菌的作用, 但是对革兰氏阳性菌, 如金黄色葡萄球菌和藤黄微球菌的生长没有抑制作用。实验结果表明酵母表达的石斑鱼-防御素能够特异地抑制革兰氏阴性菌的生长。       

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。     

Cloning and optimized expression of a GH-11 xylanase from Fusarium oxysporum in Pichia pastoris

The endo-1,4-β-xylanase gene xyn11a from Fusarium oxysporum, member of the fungal glycosyl hydrolase (GH) family 11, was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris. The mature xylanase gene, which generates after the excision of one intron and the secreting signal peptide, was placed under the control of an alcohol oxidase promoter (AOX1) in the plasmid pPICZαC. The final construction was integrated into the genome of the methylotrophic yeast P. pastoris X33 and the ability to produce xylanase activity was evaluated in flask cultures. Recombinant P. pastoris efficiently secreted xylanase into the medium and produced high level of enzymatic activity (110 U/ml) after 216 hours of growth, under methanol induction. To achieve higher enzyme production, the influence of initial pH, methanol concentration, agitation and flask design was evaluated. Under optimum culture conditions, production of the recombinant xylanase increased by 50%, reaching a final yield of 170 U/ml, underpinning aeration as the most important factor in improving enzyme production.