Analysis of single-chain antibody production in Pichia pastoris using on-line methanol control in fed-batch and mixed-feed fermentations.

In the last few years the Pichia pastoris expression system has been gaining more and more interest for the expression of recombinant proteins. Many groups have employed fermentation technology in their investigations because the system is fairly easy to scale up and suitable for the production in the milligram to gram range. A large number of heterologous proteins from different sources has been expressed, but the fermentation process technology has been investigated to a lesser extent. A large number of fermentations are carried out in standard bioreactors that may be insufficiently equipped to meet the demands of high-cell-density fermentations of methylotrophic yeasts. In particular, the lack of on-line methanol analysis leads to fermentation protocols that may impair the optimal expression of the desired products. We have used a commercially available methanol sensor to investigate in detail the effects of supplementary glycerol feeding while maintaining a constant methanol concentration during the induction of a Mut(+) strain of Pichia pastoris. Specific glycerol feed rates in the range of 38-4.2 mg. g(-1). h(-1) (mg glycerol per gram fresh weight per hour) were investigated. Expression of the recombinant scFv antibody fragment was only observed at specific feed rates below 6 mg. g(-1). h(-1). At low specific feed rates, growth was even lower than with methanol as the sole carbon source and the harvest expression level of the scFv was only half of that found in the control fermentation. These results show that glycerol inhibits expression driven by the AOX1 promoter even at extremely limited availability and demonstrate the benefits of on-line methanol control in Pichia fermentation research.     

Expression of xylA genes encoding xylose isomerases from Escherichia coli and Streptomyces coelicolor in the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha

The thermotolerant methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha is able to ferment xylose to ethanol at high temperatures. H. polymorpha xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase are involved during the first steps of this fermentation. In this article, expression of bacterial xylA genes coding for xylose isomerases from Escherichia coli or Streptomyces coelicolor in the yeast H. polymorpha was shown. The expression was achieved by integration of the xylA genes driven by the promoter of the H. polymorpha glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene ( HpGAP) into the H. polymorpha genome. Expression of the bacterial xylose isomerase genes restored the ability of the H. polymorpha Deltaxyl1 mutant to grow in a medium with xylose as the sole carbon source. This mutant has a deletion of the XYL1 gene encoding xylose reductase and is not able to grow in the xylose medium. The H. polymorpha Deltaxyl1(xylA) transformants displayed xylose isomerase activities, which were near 20% of that of the bacterial host strain. The transformants did not differ from the yeast wild-type strain with respect to ethanol production in xylose medium.     

Properties of the Hansenula polymorpha-derived constitutive GAP promoter, assessed using an HSA reporter gene

The glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter, P(GAP), was employed to direct the constitutive expression of recombinant human serum albumin (HSA) in Hansenula polymorpha. A set of integration vectors containing the HSA cDNA under the control of P(GAP) was constructed and the elemental parameters affecting the expression of HSA from P(GAP) were analyzed. The presence of a 5'-untranslated region derived from the HSA cDNA and the integration of the expression vector into the GAP locus were shown to improve the expression of HSA under P(GAP). Glycerol supported a higher level of HSA expression from P(GAP) along with a higher cell density than either glucose or methanol. The growth at high glycerol concentrations up to 12% did not cause any significant repression of the cell growth. A high cell density culture, up to 83 g l(-1) dry cell weight with a HSA production of 550 mg l(-1), was obtained in less than 32 h of cultivation in a fed-batch fermentation employing intermittent feeding with 12% glycerol. The GAP promoter-based HSA expression system showed a higher specific production rate and required a much simpler fermentation process than the MOX promoter-based system, demonstrating that P(GAP) can be a practical alternative of the MOX promoter in the large-scale production of HSA from H. polymorpha.     

Glucose-induced production of recombinant proteins in Hansenula polymorpha mutants deficient in catabolite repression

The most commonly used expression platform for production of recombinant proteins in the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha relies on the strong and strictly regulated promoter from the gene encoding peroxisomal enzyme alcohol (or methanol) oxidase (P(MOX)). Expression from P(MOX) is induced by methanol and is partially derepressed in glycerol or xylose medium, whereas in the presence of hexoses, disaccharides or ethanol, it is repressed. The need for methanol for maximal induction of gene expression in large-scale fermentation is a significant drawback, as this compound is toxic, flammable, supports a slow growth rate and requires extensive aeration. We isolated H. polymorpha mutants deficient in glucose repression of P(MOX) due to an impaired HpGCR1 gene, and other yet unidentified secondary mutations. The mutants exhibited pronounced defects in P(MOX) regulation only by hexoses and xylose, but not by disaccharides or ethanol. With one of these mutant strains as hosts, we developed a modified two-carbon source mode expression platform that utilizes convenient sugar substrates for growth (sucrose) and induction of recombinant protein expression (glucose or xylose). We demonstrate efficient regulatable by sugar carbon sources expression of three recombinant proteins: a secreted glucose oxidase from the fungus Aspergillus niger, a secreted mini pro-insulin, and an intracellular hepatitis B virus surface antigen in these mutant hosts. The modified expression platform preserves the favorable regulatable nature of P(MOX) without methanol, making a convenient alternative to the traditional system.     

Overexpression of bacterial xylose isomerase and yeast host xylulokinase improves xylose alcoholic fermentation in the thermotolerant yeast Hansenula polymorpha

The thermotolerant methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha is able to ferment xylose to ethanol. To improve characteristics of xylose fermentation, the recombinant strain Delta xyl1 Delta xyl2-ADelta xyl2-B, with deletions of genes encoding first enzymes of xylose utilization (NAD(P)H-dependent xylose reductase and NAD-dependent xylitol dehydrogenases, respectively), was constructed and used as a recipient for co-overexpression of the Escherichia coli xylA gene coding for xylose isomerase and endogenous XYL3 gene coding for xylulokinase. The expression of both genes was driven by the H. polymorpha glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter. Xylose isomerase activities of obtained transformants amounted to approximately 80% of that of the bacterial host strain. Xylulokinase activities of the transformants increased twofold when compared with the parental strain. The recombinant strains displayed improved ethanol production during the fermentation of xylose.     

Heterologous protein expression in Pichia thermomethanolica BCC16875, a thermotolerant methylotrophic yeast and characterization of N-linked glycosylation in secreted protein

This study describes Pichia thermomethanolica BCC16875, a new methylotrophic yeast host for heterologous expression. Both methanol-inducible alcohol oxidase (AOX1) and constitutive glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP) promoters from Pichia pastoris were shown to drive efficient gene expression in this host. Recombinant phytase and xylanase were expressed from both promoters as secreted proteins, with the former showing different patterns of N-glycosylation dependent on the promoter used and culture medium. In addition, growth temperature also had an effect on N-glycan modification of cell wall mannoproteins. The major glycoprotein oligosaccharide species produced from P.?thermomethanolica BCC16875 is Man(8-12) GlcNAc(2) , which is similar to that from other methylotrophs. Moreover, mannosylphosphate and α-1,6- and α-1,2-linked mannose modifications of heterologous secreted protein were also detected. The attainably high level of protein production in complement to distinctive thermotolerance rarely found in other industrial yeasts makes this microorganism an attractive host for large-scale fermentation.     

The Hansenula polymorpha (strain CBS4732) genome sequencing and analysis

The methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha is a recognised model system for investigation of peroxisomal function, special metabolic pathways like methanol metabolism, of nitrate assimilation or thermostability. Strain RB11, an odc1 derivative of the particular H. polymorpha isolate CBS4732 (synonymous to ATCC34438, NRRL-Y-5445, CCY38-22-2) has been developed as a platform for heterologous gene expression. The scientific and industrial significance of this organism is now being met by the characterisation of its entire genome. The H. polymorpha RB11 genome consists of approximately 9.5 Mb and is organised as six chromosomes ranging in size from 0.9 to 2.2 Mb. Over 90% of the genome was sequenced with concomitant high accuracy and assembled into 48 contigs organised on eight scaffolds (supercontigs). After manual annotation 4767 out of 5933 open reading frames (ORFs) with significant homologies to a non-redundant protein database were predicted. The remaining 1166 ORFs showed no significant similarity to known proteins. The number of ORFs is comparable to that of other sequenced budding yeasts of similar genome size.     

甲醇酵母代谢工程研究进展

甲醇酵母由于独特优点被认为是绿色生物制造的潜在宿主。特别是其天然甲醇利用性能有望建立甲醇生物转化路线,拓展生物炼制底物,具有重要经济价值和环保意义。文中综述了代谢工程改造甲醇酵母合成蛋白质和化学品的最新研究进展,并比较了其与模式生物酿酒酵母作为细胞工厂的优缺点。随后,分析了甲醇酵母代谢工程改造面临的挑战,并展望了潜在解决方案。随着基因操作工具开发和细胞代谢阐释,甲醇酵母将在未来绿色生物制造发挥越来越重要的作用。     

Hyperosmotic stress response by strains of bakers' yeasts in high sugar concentration medium

Four strains of bakers' yeast were analysed for their hyperosmotic responses when in media that mimic conditions occurring in bread doughs. Two of the strains produced strong fermentative activity in medium with low osmotic stress, but produced considerably less ethanol in high sucrose concentration medium. Two other strains produced more similar fermentation activities across the range of media tested. The strains that were inhibited by high sucrose concentration were unable to produce significant amounts of glycerol under hyperosmotic conditions. By contrast, the yeasts that were not inhibited significantly by high sucrose produced a considerable amount of glycerol. The strains that produced significant glycerol exhibited efficient expression of the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene GPD1. These novel data on the molecular responses of industrially relevant strains of bakers' yeasts are prerequisite to designing strategies for improving the performance of industrial yeasts in high sugar concentration media.     

毕赤酵母中海藻糖的积累

毕赤酵母是甲基营养型酵母属中较常见的酵母,可用甲醇作为唯一碳源,进行蛋白质的表达.在发酵过程中菌体内含有少量的海藻糖,在40℃高温下,海藻糖的含量与30℃下比较,可提高20%以上.该数据为毕赤酵母表达后再利用提供了一定的依据.     

NAD- and co-substrate (GSH or factor)-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenases from methylotrophic microorganisms act as a class III alcohol dehydrogenase

Abstract The methylotrophic yeasts, Hansenula polymorpha and Candida boidinii , and the methylotrophic Gram-negative bacteria, Paracoccus denitrificans and Thiobacillus versutus (but not Methylophaga marina ), contain NAD/GSH-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase when grown on C₁-compounds. The enzymes appeared to be similar to each other and to the mammalian counterparts with respect to substrate specificity, including the ability to act as an alcohol dehydrogenase class III. The Gram-positive bacteria, Amycolatopsis methanolica and Rhodococcus erythropolis , possess NAD/Factor-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase when grown on C₁-compounds or on C₁-unit-containing substrates, respectively. These enzymes also exhibit alcohol dehydrogenase class III activity. Thus, like the mammalian ones, methylotrophic formaldehyde dehydrogenases show dual substrate specificity, suggesting that this is an inherent property of the enzyme.     

多形汉逊酵母研究进展

作为研究甲醇代谢、过氧化物酶体稳态和硝酸盐吸收的模式生物,多形汉逊酵母近年来在基础研究领域日益受到重视。在工程应用领域,利用多形汉逊酵母表达真核外源基因有特殊的优势。譬如容易得到高拷贝,在含油酸的培养条件下能够表达膜蛋白等。已有多种外源蛋白在多形汉逊酵母系统中得到表达。本文综述了多形汉逊酵母的基本生物学性质、基础研究领域概况及其在外源基因表达方面的特点和进展。     

Variations in protein glycosylation in Hansenula polymorpha depending on cell culture stage

A simple way to prevent protein hyperglycosylation in Hansenula polymorpha was found. When glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger and carboxymethyl cellulase from Bacillus subtilis were expressed under the control of an inducible methanol oxidase (MOX) promoter using methanol as a carbon source, hyperglycosylated forms occurred. In contrast, MOX-repressing carbon sources (e.g., glucose, sorbitol, and glycerol) greatly reduced the extent of hyperglycosylation. Carbon source starvation of the cells also reduced the level of glycosylation, which was reversed to hyperglycosylation by the resumption of cell growth. It was concluded that the proteins expressed under actively growing conditions are produced as hyperglycosylated forms, whereas those under slow or nongrowing conditions are as short-glycosylated forms. The prevention of hyperglycosylation in the Hansenula polymorpha expression system constitutes an additional advantage over the traditional Saccharomyces cerevisiae system in recombinant production of glycosylated proteins.     

Cellular microbiosensors for methanol and ethanol determination on the basis of pH-sensitive field transistors]

Cellular sensors for methanol and ethanol determination were developed using immobilized mutant cells of methylotrophic yeasts Hansenula polymorpha and Pichia pinus (able to extrude protons in the presence of alcohol) and pH-sensitive field effect transistors (pH-SFETs). The intact cells of yeasts were immobilized in Ca-alginate gel to obtain a biomembrane. The minimal detectable response was obtained to approximately 0.5 mM of methanol and ethanol, a linear dependence of biosensor's response on the logarithmic alcohol concentration was observed in the range from 5 to 100 mM for both types of alcohol. The prospects for application of biosensors to determine alcohols in the analytical practice are discussed.     

Development of a set of expression vectors in Hansenula polymorpha

Four expression vectors based on formate dehydrogenase promoter (FMDp) and methanol oxidase promoter (MOXp) from Hansenula polymorpha were developed to express heterologous genes in Hansenula polymorpha. A secretion signal sequence of the mating factor-alpha from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was inserted in the secretory expression plasmids for efficient secretion. A modified green fluorescent protein (mGFP5) was used as the marker of expression for the first time in H. polymorpha NCYC495 (leu 1.1) to determine the expression ability of these plasmids. The mGFP5 thus expressed retained its biochemical and physiological properties, such as accumulation inside cells and efficient secretion into the culture media. These results indicated that the four integrative vectors are useful expression systems which could be directly applied for production of heterologous proteins of interests in H. polymorpha.     

Combined use of proteomic analysis and enzyme activity assays for metabolic pathway analysis of glycerol fermentation by Klebsiella pneumoniae

The fed-batch fermentation of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol by Klebsiella pneumoniae displayed an unusual dynamic behavior that can be clearly divided into four distinct phases according to cell growth and CO(2) evolution rate. Metabolism changed significantly during the different phases as reflected by the varied specific rates of substrate consumption and product formation. An assay of activities of the three initial enzymes of glycerol metabolism, namely glycerol dehydratase (GDHt), glycerol dehydrogenase (GDH), and 1,3-propanediol-oxidoreductase (PDOR), showed apparently different patterns of expression. To understand the culture dynamics and patterns of enzyme formation at a more systemic level we analyzed the expression patterns of intracellular proteins of K. pneumoniae from different phases of the fed-batch fermentation using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE). Two new enzymes, namely a phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent dihydroxyacetone kinase (DHAK II) and a hypothetical oxidoreductase (HOR), which are directly related to glycerol metabolism and 1,3-propanediol formation, were identified among the highly expressed proteins. The changes in expression of these new enzymes and several other proteins identified from the 2DE analysis helped to understand not only the dynamic behavior of the fed-batch fermentation reported in this work but also some previously insufficiently understood phenomena related to this fermentation process. In particular, we demonstrated the combined use of proteomic analysis and enzyme activity assay data for metabolic pathway analysis and for a better identification of targets for bioprocess improvement.     

Isolation of the Melanization and Reddish Coloration Hormone (MRCH) of the Armyworm,Leucania separata,from the Silkworm,Bombyx mori

Two types of glycerol dehydrogenase (GDH) were found on DEAE-cellulose column chromatography of cell-free extracts of methylotrophic yeasts. One type, designated as GDH I, showed only the reductive activity which was detected in the reaction system containing dihydroxyacetone and NADH, at pH 6.0. The other type, designated as GDH II, showed the oxidative activity which was detected in the system containing glycerol and NAD ⁺, at pH 9.0, together with the reductive activity.

Candida boidinii No. 2201, which possesses the phosphorylative pathway for glycerol dissimilation, had only GDH I when grown on glycerol or methanol as the carbon source. Hansenula ofunaensis, which has the oxidative pathway, had both GDH I and GDH II when grown on glycerol, but only GDH I when grown on methanol. Hansenula polymorpha Dl-1, which has both pathways, had both GDH I and GDH II when grown on glycerol or methanol.     

A Novel Class of Fungicides: α-Benzylidene-γ-valerolactones

Enzyme activities involved in the initial step of glycerol metabolism were determined in cells of methylotrophic yeasts grown on glycerol, methanol or glucose. In Candida boidinii (Kloeckera sp.) No. 2201, the activities of glycerol kinase and dihydroxyacetone kinase were detected in cells grown on glycerol and methanol, respectively. The activity of NAD⁺-linked glycerol dehydrogenase of Hansenula polymorpha dl-1 was induced by glycerol and methanol, while that of Hansenula ofunaensis was induced by glycerol. The enzymes of both strains were subject to catabolite repression by glucose.

The yeasts tested were divided into three groups as to the glycerol dissimilation patterns. Strains of the genera Candida, Saccharomyces, Pichia and Torulopsis had the phosphorylative pathway, in which glycerol is first phosphorylated. H. ofunaensis had the oxidative pathway, in which glycerol is first oxidized. H. polymorpha dl-1 had both the phosphorylative and oxidative pathways.