Expression and characterization of the chick nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit in insect cells using a baculovirus vector

A baculovirus transfer vector was constructed containing an entire cDNA copy of the chick nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) alpha-subunit under control of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) polyhedrin gene promoter. Recombinant baculovirus was obtained by co-transfection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells with infectious, wild-type AcNPV DNA and the transfer vector. Polyhedrin-negative, recombinant viruses were identified which expressed the nAChR alpha-subunit. The insect cell-expressed alpha-subunit protein had a molecular mass of 42 kDa and was shown to be targeted to the plasma membrane by fluorescence microscopy and toxin-binding assays. The levels of expression were low, approximately 1-2% of cell proteins, when compared with the levels of natural polyhedrin protein. The expressed receptor alpha-subunit was recognised by polyclonal antisera raised against purified Torpedo nAChR alpha-subunit and carried the binding site for the snake venom toxin, alpha-bungarotoxin. Bound alpha-bungarotoxin was displaced in competition binding assays by alpha-cobra toxin, carbamylcholine and d-tubocurarine, and thus had a similar pharmacological profile to that obtained with authentic receptors in muscle cells and receptors expressed in other systems i.e. Xenopus oocytes and mammalian cells. We have also shown that when the chick nAChR alpha-subunit is expressed in the absence of other receptor subunits, unexpectedly high concentrations of nicotine (10 mM) were required to displace bound alpha-bungarotoxin.     

Expression of the influenza virus haemagglutinin in insect cells by a baculovirus vector.

The insect baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) has played a major role in studies on the molecular biology of insect DNA viruses. Recently, this system has been effectively adapted as a highly efficient vector in insect cells for the expression of several mammalian genes. A cDNA sequence of the influenza (fowl plague) virus haemagglutinin gene has been inserted into the BamHI site of the pAc373 polyhedrin vector. Spodoptera frugiperda cells were co-transfected with this construct, pAc-HA651, and authentic AcNPV DNA. Recombinant virus was selected by adsorption of transfected cells to erythrocytes followed by serial plaque passages on S. frugiperda cells. We have determined the site of insertion of the haemagglutinin gene into the AcNPV genome by restriction enzyme cleavage and Southern blot hybridization analyses using haemagglutinin cDNA as a probe. The influenza haemagglutinin gene is located in the polyhedrin gene of AcNPV DNA. Immunofluorescent labelling, immunoprecipitation and immunoblot analyses with specific antisera revealed that S. frugiperda cells produce immune reactive haemagglutinin after infection with the recombinant virus. The haemagglutinin is expressed at the cell surface and has haemolytic capacity that has been activated by post-translational proteolytic cleavage. When chickens were immunized with S. frugiperda cells expressing haemagglutinin, they developed haemagglutinin-inhibiting and neutralizing antibodies and were protected from infection with fowl plague virus. These observations demonstrate that the haemagglutinin is processed in insect cells in a similar fashion as in fowl plaque virus-infected vertebrate cells and that it has full biological activity.     

Expression of the cardiac Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger in insect cells using a baculovirus vector.

We constructed a recombinant baculovirus containing cardiac Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger cDNA under control of the polyhedrin promoter. When either Sf9 or Sf21 insect cells are infected with the recombinant baculovirus, both Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger protein and Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange activity are expressed at high level. The exchanger protein can be detected either by immunoblot or by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of whole cell lysate. At maximal expression, the exchanger protein comprises about 3-5% of total cell protein. The Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger can be purified by alkaline extraction of infected cells followed by elution from a Bio-Rad Prep Cell. The expressed exchanger, in contrast to the native sarcolemmal exchanger, is not glycosylated. Sf9 cells expressing the exchanger are intensely stained by anti-exchanger antibodies as observed by immunofluorescence. The expressed exchanger is predominantly in the cell plasma membrane since it is susceptible to extracellular trypsin. In 45Ca2+ flux experiments, the expressed Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange activity is about 4-fold higher than that in cultured neonatal rat heart cells. The expressed exchanger was also analyzed electrophysiologically using whole cell patch clamp techniques. The characteristics of inward exchange currents in infected Sf21 cells are very similar to those of ventricular myocytes, although of a larger magnitude.     

Expression of the human EGF receptor with ligand-stimulatable kinase activity in insect cells using a baculovirus vector.

The mechanism by which the binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to specific cell surface receptors induces a range of biological responses remains poorly understood. An important part of the study of signal transduction in this system involves the production of sufficient native and mutant EGF receptor species for X-ray crystallographic and spectroscopic analysis. Baculovirus vectors containing the cDNA encoding the human EGF receptor protein have here been utilized to infect insect cells. This results in expression of a 155-kb transmembrane protein which is recognized by four antibodies against different regions of the human EGF receptor. Studies with tunicamycin, monensen and endoglycosidase H show the difference in size between the recombinant and the native receptor is due to alterations in glycocsylation. Studies of [125I] EGF binding shows a Kd of 2 X 10(-9) M in intact infected insect cells which falls to 2 X 10(-7) M upon detergent solubilization. The recombinant protein exhibits an EGF-stimulated tyrosine protein kinase activity and an analysis of tryptic peptides shows that the phosphate acceptor sites are similar to those of the EGF receptor isolated from A431 cells. These observations indicate that functional EGF receptor can be expressed in insect cells, and furthermore, this system can be used for large-scale production.     

Production of native creatine kinase B in insect cells using a baculovirus expression vector

A full-length human creatine kinase B (B-CK) cDNA was used to produce a recombinant baculovirus (AcDZ1-BCK). Sf9 cells infected with this recombinant expressed a homodimeric protein composed of 43 kDa subunits which, under optimal conditions, formed up to 30% of the total soluble cellular protein. Upon analysis by PAGE, zymogram assay and gel filtration chromatography the recombinant protein behaved like authentic dimeric human BB-CK protein. Studies with a newly produced monoclonal antibody (CK-BYK/21E10) directed against an epitope in the N-terminus of the protein confirmed the identity of the product. The recombinant BB-CK protein was purified to over 99% homogeneity from the total protein extract of AcDZ1-CKB infected cells in one single step involving anion exchange column chromatography on MonoQ in FPLC. Dialysed protein had a specific activity of 239 U/mg protein.     

Active human tissue plasminogen activator secreted from insect cells using a baculovirus vector

A baculovirus expression vector was constructed with the tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) cDNA under the control of the viral polyhedrin promoter. After infection of insect cells with the recombinant baculovirus, active TPA was secreted into the medium in which these cells were grown. TPA was isolated from the conditioned media using metal chelate affinity chromatography followed by immunoaffinity purification using mouse monoclonal anti-human TPA coupled to Sepharose. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions and sequence analysis of recombinant human TPA have revealed a two-chain form of the enzyme. The N-terminal amino acid was identified to be serine, indicating that it was processed at its N-terminus by the insect cell culture in a manner similar to that observed for mammalian cells. The relative specific activity of recombinant TPA from insect cells is comparable to that of Bowes melanoma TPA standard. Its activity is stimulated in the presence of fibrinogen fragments, but by a factor about 2.3-fold lower than the Bowes melanoma TPA. The apparent molecular weight of recombinant TPA from insect cells was about 60K by fibrin agar activity gels, suggesting less complex glycosylation than recombinant TPA from mammalian cells.     

Expression of human pyruvate carboxylase in insect cells using the baculovirus system

Constructs containing cDNA encoding human pyruvate carboxylase (PC) with and without a hexahistidine (6x His) tag at the N-terminal of the mature enzyme have been cloned under the control of the polyhedrin promoter. These two constructs were co-transfected with the baculovirus genome into Sf9 cells to produce recombinant baculoviruses harbouring human PC cDNA. The expression of human PC under the control of the polyhedrin promoter was found to be at its highest level at 4 days post-infection. The expressed material accounted for up to 70% of total cellular protein with 5% of this expressed material being found in the soluble fraction. The recombinant human 6x His-PC isolated with a purity of approximately 50% using a Ni-NTA agarose column was found to have the specific activity of 7U/mg, which was similar to that produced from a 293T stable line [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 266 (1999) 512]. This is the first report of a heterologous expression system for recombinant human PC.     

Expression of the human retinoblastoma gene product pp110RB in insect cells using the baculovirus system

The product of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene (RB) was overproduced in cultured insect cells using the baculovirus expression system. Upon insertion of the cloned human RB complementary DNA sequence into the viral genome downstream of the promoter of the polyhedrin gene, full-length RB protein with an apparent molecular weight of 110,000 was expressed in the insect cells. This protein was found to be phosphorylated, located in the nuclei of the infected cells, and immunologically indistinguishable from pp110RB of human cells as assayed by several anti-RB antibodies. Following cell disruption and a one-step immunoaffinity chromatographic purification, 6-12 mg of soluble pp110RB with approximately 95% purity were obtained per liter of infected suspension culture. Characterization of the two known biochemical properties of RB protein showed that this purified protein from insect cells behaved similarly to the authentic human pp110RB. First, it bound to DNA, and second, it could form a specific complex with SV40 T antigen in vitro. Prompt translocation of the protein from cytoplasm to nucleus after microinjection further indicated that the purified RB protein may be active. The availability of soluble, intact, and presumably active pp110RB in large quantity represents a significant advance for studying the biochemical and biophysical properties of the RB gene product as well as its potential biological function in cancer suppression.     

Purification and characterization of human alpha-galactosidase A expressed in insect cells using a baculovirus vector

Fabry disease is an X-linked inborn error of glycolipid metabolism caused by deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase A. The enzyme is responsible for the hydrolysis of terminal alpha-galactoside linkages in various glycolipids. To perform more extensive biochemical characterization and to develop new approaches for enzyme therapy, a method of producing and purifying recombinant alpha-galactosidase A suitable for scale-up manufacture for use in humans is needed. Previously, a catalytically active recombinant human alpha-galactosidase A was expressed using a baculovirus vector and purified using conventional chromatography. However, the level of expression was too low to permit economical production and the chromatographic techniques used for enzyme purification were not suitable for enzyme to be used in humans. Therefore, the cDNA of the enzyme was cloned to an improved baculovirus vector and the enzyme was expressed in a 15-liter bioreactor using optimized growth conditions. Infection of insect cells by the baculovirus resulted in a significant fivefold increase in the level of secreted recombinant alpha-galactosidase A activity that is compatible with economic manufacturing. The recombinant alpha-galactosidase A was purified to homogeneity using ion exchange (Poros 20-CM, Poros 20-HQ) and hydrophobic chromatography (Toso-ether, Toso-butyl) using the BioCAD HPLC workstation. These chromatographic steps are readily scalable to larger volumes and are appropriate for the purification of the recombinant human alpha-galactosidase A to be used in clinical trials of enzyme replacement therapy for Fabry disease patients.     

Expression of human tyrosine hydroxylase cDNA in invertebrate cells using a baculovirus vector

A human cDNA containing the complete coding sequence for a human tyrosine hydroxylase (EC 1.14.16.2, form 2) was introduced into the genome of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) downstream to the polyhedrin promoter. Infection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells (SF9) with recombinant virus resulted in the expression of human tyrosine hydroxylase in these invertebrate cells. Characterization of tyrosine hydroxylase activity in infected SF9 cells demonstrated both substrate and cofactor kinetics that were characteristic of those previously reported for the native human enzyme. Both 3-iodotyrosine and alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine competitively inhibited the recombinantly produced tyrosine hydroxylase with Ki values of 1.2 and 16 microM, respectively, similar to those previously reported for the rat and human enzymes. Western blot analysis of extracts of SF9 cells infected with the recombinant baculovirus containing human tyrosine hydroxylase cDNA revealed a major immunoreactive band with an apparent Mr of 60 kDa, identical to the size of the immunoreactive protein from rat adrenal and caudate nucleus. The use of the baculovirus expression system to produce abundant quantities of each of the multiple forms of active human tyrosine hydroxylase in eukaryotic cells should facilitate structural analysis and help clarify the physiological significance of each of the isoenzymes.     

昆虫细胞制备AAV-ITR基因表达微载体

AAV-ITR基因表达微载体是只含有腺相关病毒(Adeno-associated virus,AAV)倒置末端重复序列(Inverted terminal repeats,ITR)、基因表达顺式元件和目的基因,而不含有其他外源DNA序列的双链或单链DNA。本研究利用杆状病毒表达系统,制备得到两种重组杆状病毒Bac-ITR-EGFP和Bac-inrep,并将二者的P3代病毒共同感染昆虫细胞Spodoptera frugiperda(Sf9),抽提小分子量DNA,获得AAV-ITR-EGFP基因表达微载体,2×107的Sf9细胞抽提可以得到100μg AAV-ITR-EGFP基因表达微载体,核酸电泳显示AAV-ITR-EGFP基因表达微载体主要以单体和二聚体的形式存在。将AAV-ITR-EGFP基因表达微载体通过polyethylenimine(PEI)转染HEK 293T细胞,24 h后荧光显微镜观察有EGFP表达,48 h后达到高峰,转化效率达到65%。     

Renaturation of protein phosphatase 1 expressed at high levels in insect cells using a baculovirus vector

The catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), a key enzyme in the regulation of many cellular functions, has been expressed in insect cells using a baculovirus vector containing PP1 alpha cDNA. The expressed protein had the same apparent molecular mass as PP1 from rabbit skeletal muscle and comprised up to 25% of the total cellular protein. About 5% of expressed PP1 alpha was present as a soluble active species, representing a 15-fold increase over the endogenous activity. Insoluble protein, comprising about 95% of the expressed PP1 was dissolved in 6 M guanidinium chloride and could be fully reactivated by extensive and rapid dilution with buffers containing Mn2+. By a number of criteria (specific activity towards phosphorylase, interaction with inhibitor-1, inhibitor-2 and okadaic acid), this reactivated species was indistinguishable from authentic PP1, and could be concentrated and purified to homogeneity by a single chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose. This procedure yielded about 10 mg active PP1/1 culture, which will facilitate future structural analyses of native and mutant protein phosphatases.     

Genetic modification of a baculovirus vector for increased expression in insect cells

Generating large amounts of recombinant protein in transgenic animals is often challenging and has a number of drawbacks compared to cell culture systems. The baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) uses virus-infected insect cells to produce recombinant proteins to high levels, and these are usually processed in a similar way to the native protein. Interestingly, since the development of the BEVS, the virus most often used (Autographa californica multi-nucleopolyhedovirus; AcMNPV) has been little altered genetically from its wild-type parental virus. In this study, we modified the AcMNPV genome in an attempt to improve recombinant protein yield, by deleting genes that are non-essential in cell culture. We deleted the p26, p10 and p74 genes from the virus genome, replacing them with an antibiotic selection cassette, allowing us to isolate recombinants. We screened and identified recombinant viruses by restriction enzyme analysis, PCR and Western blot. Cell viability analysis showed that the deletions did not improve the viability of infected cells, compared to non-deletion viruses. However, expression studies showed that recombinant protein levels for the deletion viruses were significantly higher than the expression levels of non-deletion viruses. These results confirm that there is still great potential for improving the BEVS, further increasing recombinant protein expression yields and stability in insect cells.     

利用多基因缺失型杆状病毒在昆虫细胞中生产腺相关病毒

腺相关病毒(adeno-associated virus, AAV)是基因治疗领域最常使用的病毒载体之一,产量低、成本高是该产业面临的关键瓶颈问题。本研究旨在基于多基因缺失型杆状病毒,建立双病毒感染昆虫细胞以生产AAV的技术体系。首先,进行AAV生产用多基因缺失型重组杆状病毒的构建和扩增,并检测杆状病毒滴度及其感染细胞的效果;然后,使用双杆状病毒共感染昆虫细胞,并优化感染条件;最后,基于优化条件进行AAV生产,并检测评估产量、质量等相关指标。结果表明,AAV生产用多基因缺失型杆状病毒滴度较野生型无差异,感染后细胞存活率下降明显减缓。使用双病毒路线进行AAV优化生产,Bac4.0-1的基因组滴度为1.63×10¹¹ VG/mL,Bac5.0-2的基因组滴度为1.02×10¹¹ VG/mL,较野生型产量分别提升了240%和110%。电镜下,3组均具有正常的AAV病毒形态,且转导活性相近。本研究建立了基于多基因缺失型杆状病毒感染昆虫细胞的AAV生产体系,显著提高了AAV产量,具有一定的应用价值。     

Expression and purification of polyhistidine-tagged firefly luciferase in insect cells--a potential alternative for process scale-up

The coleopteran firefly, Photinus pyralis, luciferase was produced in lepidopteran Trichoplusia ni insect cells using a baculovirus expression vector. The recombinant protein was equipped with a polyhistidine affinity tag at the carboxyl terminus and purified by immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography in combination with an expanded bed adsorption system. This approach enabled an efficient, one-step purification protocol of a genetically modified luciferase with properties similar to those of the authentic counterpart. According to light emission measurements, the final yield of highly purified protein was 23 mg l(-1) of cell culture. In addition, no specific interaction of interfering substances, such as, ATP, adenylate kinase, nucleoside diphosphokinase, as well as, creatine kinase of the final preparation were identified. Together, the results presented here clearly show that the baculovirus expression system in combination with immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography is a potential strategy for process scale-up of polyhistidine tagged insect luciferase.     

Active human erythropoietin expressed in insect cells using a baculovirus vector: a role for N-linked oligosaccharide

Biologically active recombinant human erythropoietin has been expressed at high levels in an insect cell background. Expression involved the preparation of a human erythropoietin cDNA, the transfer of this cDNA to the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) genome under the polyhedrin gene promoter, and the subsequent infection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells with recombinant AcNPV. Erythropoietin cDNA was prepared through the expression of the human erythropoietin gene in COS cells using pSV2 and the construction of a COS cell cDNA library in bacteriophage Lambda GT10. Prior to transfer to the AcNPV genome, erythropoietin cDNA isolated from this library was modified at the 3'-terminus in order to replace genomic erythropoietin for SV40 cDNA derived from pSV2. Transfer of this cDNA to AcNPV and the infection of S. frugiperda cells with cloned recombinant virus led to the secretion of erythropoietin: based on bioassay, rates of hormone secretion (over 40 U/ml per h) were 50-fold greater than observed for COS cells. The purified recombinant product possessed full biological activity (at least 200,000 U/mg), but was of lower Mr (23,000) than human erythropoietin produced in COS cells (30,000) or purified from urine (30,000 to 38,000). This difference was attributed to the glycosylation of erythropoietin in S. frugiperda cells with oligosaccharides of only limited size. Further removal of N-linked oligosaccharides from this Mr 23,000 hormone using N-Glycanase yielded an apo-erythropoietin (Mr 18,000) which possessed substantially reduced biological activity. These results indicate that glycosylation, but not the normal processing of oligosaccharides to complex types, is required for the full hormonal activity of human erythropoietin during red cell development.     

Expression of human papillomavirus type 6b E2 gene product with DNA-binding activity in insect (Bombyx mori) cells using a baculovirus expression vector

Human papillomavirus type 6b (HPV6b) has been shown to be a major etiologic agent of genital condylomas. The E2 gene, one of the early genes, has been shown to activate the enhancer element in trans in cells transformed with bovine papillomavirus type 1a (BPV1a) but the E2 gene product of any HPV has not been identified. The E2 gene of HPV6b was inserted into the polyhedrin gene of a Baculovirus, Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV), 156 bp downstream from the translational start codon, and transferred into BmNPV by allelic replacement in a cotransfected Bombyx mori cell line, Bm-N. The predicted 46-kDa protein was produced by a recombinant virus in the infected Bm-N cells at a high level under the control of the polyhedrin promoter. We obtained the antibody against the putative E2-polyhedrin fusion protein by immunizing a rabbit with this protein. This protein reacted with the antibodies against polyhedrin and the fusion protein. This protein did specifically bind to the upstream regulatory region of the HPV6b and BPV1a genomes. This DNA binding activity was blocked by the antibody against this protein.