Bacterial expression and purification of active hematopoietic cell kinase

Src family kinases (SFKs) are traditionally purified from eukaryotic expression systems. These expression systems can be costly, yield heterogeneously phosphorylated protein samples and present difficulties when metabolic labeling is required for structural studies. Therefore, many attempts have been made to develop bacterial purification systems for SFKs. So far, high-yield bacterial expression systems have only been achieved for SFK kinase domains or for inactive mutants of constructs containing the regulatory SH3 and SH2 domains, but not for their active forms. Herein described is a bacterial expression system for the wild type, active SFK Hck containing SH3, SH2 and kinase domains. Hck plays an important role in phagocyte function as well as the etiology of chronic myeloid leukemia as Hck is an interaction partner of Bcr-Abl. Structural studies of Hck are essential to fully understand the signaling processes involved in host defense and leukemogenesis. Successful bacterial expression of Hck was possible by a dual strategy: (1) co-expression with YopH phosphatase in order to control host toxicity, and (2) expression in a bacterial strain that is RNase E deficient, which dramatically increased overall expression levels. The expressed Hck construct is unphosphorylated and appears to be in an open conformation. Bacterially expressed Hck is capable of autophosphorylation, phosphorylates substrate at rates comparable to insect cell expressed Hck, and can be inhibited by staurosporine and Csk.     

Expression, purification, and characterization of TYK-2 kinase domain, a member of the Janus kinase family

The Janus kinase family consists of four members: JAK-1, -2, -3 and TYK-2. While JAK-2 and JAK-3 have been well characterized biochemically, there is little data on TYK-2. Recent work suggests that TYK-2 may play a critical role in the development of a number of inflammatory processes. We have carried out a series of biochemical studies to better understand TYK-2 enzymology and its inhibition profile, in particular how the TYK-2 phosphorylated forms differ from each other and from the other JAK family members. We have expressed and purified milligram quantities of the TYK-2 kinase domain (KD) to high purity and developed a method to separate the non-, mono- (pY¹⁰⁵⁴) and di-phosphorylated forms of the enzyme. Kinetic studies (k_cat(app)/K_m(app)) indicated that phosphorylation of the TYK-2-KD (pY¹⁰⁵⁴) increased the catalytic efficiency 4.4-fold compared to its non-phosphorylated form, while further phosphorylation to generate the di-phosphorylated enzyme imparted no further increase in activity. These results are in contrast to those obtained with the JAK-2-KD and JAK-3-KD, where little or no increase in activity occurred upon mono-phosphorylation, while di-phosphorylation resulted in a 5.1-fold increase in activity for the JAK-2-KD. Moreover, ATP-competitive inhibitors demonstrated 10-30-fold shifts in potency (K_i(app)) as a result of the TYK-2-KD phosphorylation state, while the shifts for JAK-3-KD were only 2-3-fold and showed little or no change for JAK-2-KD. Thus, the phosphorlyation state imparted differential effects on both activity and inhibition within the JAK family of kinases.     

Protein purification and preliminary crystallographic analysis of human Lyn tyrosine kinase

Lyn is a member of the Src family of non-receptor protein kinase. As well as all members of the Src family, Lyn is thought to participate in signal transduction from cell surface receptors. The crystal structure of Lyn would have a better understanding of Lyn function in various cells. For the purpose of crystallization, C-terminal catalytic segment of human Lyn kinase conjugating hexahistidine purification tag (His-tag) was expressed in Sf21 insect cells. After first step purification utilizing His-tag, an anion-exchange chromatogram yielded four major peaks which had distinguishable phosphorylation manner as judged by Western blot analysis, Native-PAGE analysis and kinase activity measurements. The fractioned samples were separately examined for crystallization screening using a commercial available screening kit. The mono-phosphorylated protein was crystallized with a small rod-shaped and needle clusters. The higher phosphorylated samples corresponding to the other three fractions on the anion-exchange chromatogram were aggregated or precipitated under the above conditions. A crystal of the mono-phosphorylated sample was diffracted to 3.2 Å with synchrotron source at Photon Factory and a complete X-ray diffraction data set was collected. The coarse structure was solved by a molecular replacement method and further structural refinement is currently underway.     

New horizons in drug discovery of lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (Lck) inhibitors: a decade review (2011–2021) focussing on structure–activity relationship (SAR) and docking insights

Lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (Lck), a non-receptor Src family kinase, has a vital role in various cellular processes such as cell cycle control, cell adhesion, motility, proliferation, and differentiation. Lck is reported as a key factor regulating the functions of T-cell including the initiation of TCR signalling, T-cell development, in addition to T-cell homeostasis. Alteration in expression and activity of Lck results in numerous disorders such as cancer, asthma, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, and neuronal diseases. Accordingly, Lck has emerged as a novel target against different diseases. Herein, we amass the research efforts in literature and pharmaceutical patents during the last decade to develop new Lck inhibitors. Additionally, structure-activity relationship studies (SAR) and docking models of these new inhibitors within the active site of Lck were demonstrated offering deep insights into their different binding modes in a step towards the identification of more potent, selective, and safe Lck inhibitors.     

酪氨酸激酶EphB2受体N端球状结构域的表达及纯化

根据酪氨酸激酶ＥｐｈＢ２受体的碱基序列,用ＰＣＲ方法扩增其结合配体的关键结构域Ｎ端球状区,定向克隆到融合表达质粒载体ｒＲＳＥＴ Ａ中,转化大肠杆菌ＪＭ１０９（ＤＥ３）。阳性克隆经ＩＰＴＧ诱导,由Ｔ７启动子调控表达了氨基端带６个连续组氨酸残基的融合蛋白。电泳分析表明,表达的融合蛋白主要以包含体的形式存在,约占细菌总蛋白的１４％。Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ印迹确证,利用Ｎｉ－ＮＴＡ金属螯合亲和色谱法在变性条件下对     

Cloning,expression, and purification of mouse heparanase

Heparanase is an endoglucuronidase that plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. A full-length heparanase gene was cloned from a mouse embryo cDNA library and determined to encode a protein of 535 amino acids that is 77% identical to human heparanase. The full-length mouse gene was stably expressed in NS0 myeloma cells. The recombinant mouse heparanase protein was purified to homogeneity from cell lysates by a combination of Con-A affinity chromatography, heparin affinity chromatography, and size exclusion chromatography. The purified protein consisted of a non-covalent heterodimer of 50- and 8-kDa polypeptides, similar to the human homolog. The protein was enzymatically active in assays using radiolabeled ECM and heparan sulfate as substrates. The maximum heparanase activity was observed at acidic conditions; however, significant activity was also detected at neutral pH. The enzymatic activity of mouse heparanase was blocked by known heparanase inhibitors.     

Absence of Tec family kinases interleukin-2 inducible T cell kinase (Itk) and Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) severely impairs Fc epsilonRI-dependent mast cell responses

Mast cells are critical effector cells in the pathophysiology of allergic asthma and other IgE-mediated diseases. The Tec family of tyrosine kinases Itk and Btk serve as critical signal amplifiers downstream of antigen receptors. Although both kinases are expressed and activated in mast cells following FcεRI stimulation, their individual contributions are not clear. To determine whether these kinases play unique and/or complementary roles in FcεRI signaling and mast cell function, we generated Itk and Btk double knock-out mice. Analyses of these mice show decreased mast cell granularity and impaired passive systemic anaphylaxis responses. This impaired response is accompanied by a significant elevation in serum IgE in Itk/Btk double knock-out mice. In vitro analyses of bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) indicated that Itk/Btk double knock-out BMMCs are defective in degranulation and cytokine secretion responses downstream to FcεRI activation. These responses were accompanied by a significant reduction in PLCγ2 phosphorylation and severely impaired calcium responses in these cells. This defect also results in altered NFAT1 nuclear localization in double knock-out BMMCs. Network analysis suggests that although they may share substrates, Itk plays both positive and negative roles, while Btk primarily plays a positive role in mast cell FcεRI-induced cytokine secretion.     

人生长激素基因的cDNA克隆,原核高效表达及纯化

用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ方法,从含有全长人生长激素（ＨＧＨ）基因的ＣＨＯ细胞中获得ｈｇｈ的ｃＤＮＡ,将其克隆入ｐＥＴ－１１ｂ载体中,在大肠杆菌中获得高效表达,表达量占菌体蛋白总量的２０％。经色谱纯化后,纯度大于９５％。     

Over expression and purification of recombinant human myocilin

Human myocilin is a 55 kDa protein that is implicated in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Understanding the structure and folding of the native protein and the mutants that increase aggregation could lead to possible prevention of the condition. We report here the over expression and purification of the human myocilin in E. coli. The initial expression of recombinant myocilin in E. coli was found to be low. The problem of low yield was found to be due to multiple causes and was overcome using a suitable combination of vectors, tags, host background and expression protocols. The overexpressed human myocilin was purified by affinity column chromatography to yield about 8 mg of protein from 1 l of culture. The protein purity and folding were confirmed using electrophoresis, immunoblotting and fluorescence spectroscopy. Further biophysical characterization and crystallization trials using the recombinant human myocilin will pave the way for better understanding of the structure–aggregation relationship that is involved in causing POAG.     

Vaccinia virus-mediated high level expression and single step purification of recombinant Jak2 protein

Jak2 functions as a non-receptor tyrosine kinase and has been linked to pathologies such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Because of this, many studies have tried to better understand its function. Unfortunately, very little information is known about its catalytic or biochemical properties as purification of significant amounts of functional Jak2 protein has been exceedingly difficult. Here, Jak2 was expressed in BSC-40 cells using a vaccinia virus-mediated expression system. Significant amounts ( approximately 10microg) of Jak2 protein were expressed from a single 100-mm cell culture dish. The protein was first harvested using three different methods of extraction to determine the relative efficiency of each lysis method with respect to Jak2 protein yield and catalytic activity. We found that lysis methods utilizing detergents increased the efficiency of protein extraction about 3-fold when compared to a method lacking detergent. However, with respect to catalytic activity, Jak2 isolated from cells using detergent-containing lysis buffers had significantly less catalytic activity than when compared to the method that was detergent free. Expression was then scaled up and Jak2 protein was purified via a one step immunoaffinity purification scheme using both the detergent-free and a modified detergent-containing method of extraction that maintained catalytic activity. In vitro kinase assays demonstrated that the purified product was highly catalytic as measured by its ability to tyrosine phosphorylate Stat1. Collectively, the results show that (1) Jak2 can be expressed at very high levels in mammalian cells, (2) it can be purified to homogeneity via a single step purification scheme, and (3) the purified product is biologically active.     

Bacterial expression and characterization of molluscan IDO-like myoglobin

The indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)-like myoglobin (Mb) is a unique type of Mb isolated from the buccal mass of several archgastropod species. Here, we expressed Sulculus diversicolor IDO-like Mb as a GST-fusion protein in bacteria. The visible spectrum of GST-fusion IDO-like Mb shows characteristic α- and β-peaks, indicating that it binds oxygen. To identify residues important in heme and oxygen binding, we constructed site-directed mutants. We initially replaced each of the 7 histidines of S. diversicolor IDO-like Mb with alanine. The spectra of three mutants (H74A, H288A, and H332A) revealed a remarkable loss of absorbance around 414 nm, indicating that they cannot bind heme. His⁷⁴, His²⁸⁸, and His³³² were also replaced by arginine or tyrosine. Neither H332R nor H332Y contains heme, suggesting that His³³² is the proximal ligand of IDO-like Mb. In contrast, both H74R and H288Y mutants were isolated in the heme-binding oxy-form. The autoxidation rates of these two mutants showed that they can bind oxygen as stably as wild-type. His⁷⁴ and His²⁸⁸ might be partially associated with heme-binding, but do not act as the distal ligand. The S. diversicolor IDO-like Mb seems to stably bind oxygen in a different manner from normal myoglobins.     

High yield bacterial expression of active c-Abl and c-Src tyrosine kinases

The Abl and Src tyrosine kinases are key signaling proteins that are of considerable interest as drug targets in cancer and many other diseases. The regulatory mechanisms that control the activity of these proteins are complex, and involve large-scale conformational changes in response to phosphorylation and other modulatory signals. The success of the Abl inhibitor imatinib in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia has shown the potential of kinase inhibitors, but the rise of drug resistance in patients has also shown that drugs with alternative modes of binding to the kinase are needed. The detailed understanding of mechanisms of protein-drug interaction and drug resistance through biophysical methods demands a method for the production of active protein on the milligram scale. We have developed a bacterial expression system for the kinase domains of c-Abl and c-Src, which allows for the quick expression and purification of active wild-type and mutant kinase domains by coexpression with the YopH tyrosine phosphatase. This method makes practical the use of isotopic labeling of c-Abl and c-Src for NMR studies, and is also applicable for constructs containing the SH2 and SH3 domains of the kinases.     

Soluble expression and purification of a functional harpin protein in Escherichia coli

The use of harpins in practical agricultural applications may enhance plant growth and induce disease resistance. However, few investigations focused on the optimal expression and purification of harpin. In this work, harpin protein fused with a thioredoxin tag and a hexahistidine tag was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells as a soluble form under the induction of 0.5 mmol/L isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside. The purity of the recombinant harpin was greater than 90% after one-step nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid affinity chromatography. The yield of purified TRX-harpin protein reached 17.1 mg per 100 mL of cell culture. TRX-harpin is thermostable and could trigger the hypersensitive response effect in tobacco, with an efficient dose as low as 30 μg/mL. The root lengths of TRX-harpin treated tobacco and wheat plants were nearly 1.6-fold and 1.8-fold longer, respectively, than plants treated with the empty vector preparation. Thus, using a N-terminal TRX-tagged fusion is an economic way to produce bioactive harpin.     

Undergraduate research in a biotechnology teaching laboratory: expression and purification of a tyrosine kinase

The class consisted of senior molecular biology majors who had previously taken cell biology, microbiology, biochemistry and molecular biology lecture courses but who had little or no previous lab experience. These students were asked to design and create an expression vector and purify the expressed protein. This project provides the students with the opportunity to appreciate interconnections between experiments while learning the necessary techniques. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2000) 24, 359–363. Received 02 April 1999/ Accepted in revised form 10 November 1999     

家蚕吡哆醛激酶的融合表达与纯化

【目的】吡哆醛激酶（pyridoxal kinase, PLK, EC 2.7.1.35）是维生素B6的关键代谢酶。本研究原核表达家蚕Bombyx mori重组PLK, 为进一步开展家蚕PLK的催化作用机制和表达调控机制的研究奠定基础。【方法】构建家蚕PLK基因融合表达质粒, 转化大肠杆菌Escherichia coli诱导表达, 经Ni²⁺ 亲和层析纯化后, 对融合蛋白的催化活性进行分析。【结果】纯化后的家蚕重组PLK经SDS-PAGE鉴定为单一条带, 比活力为1 800 U/mg, 纯化倍数为40倍。在底物过量的条件下, 该重组酶的体外最适反应温度是50℃; 最适pH为5.5~6; Zn²⁺ 是酶促反应有效的激活剂。【结论】重组家蚕PLK与来源于家蚕组织的PLK具有相同的催化性质。     

High-level expression and purification of human thymidine kinase 1: quaternary structure, stability, and kinetics

Human cytosolic thymidine kinase (hTK1) is the key enzyme of the pyrimidine salvage pathway and phosphorylates thymidine to thymidine monophosphate, a precursor building block of the DNA. Wild-type hTK1 (hTK1W) as well as a truncated form of the enzyme (hTK1M) carrying deletions at the N- and C-terminal regions were cloned as His(6)-tagged fusion proteins. Expression, isolation, and purification protocols have been established, leading to high yields of soluble and active wild type (approximately 35 mg) and truncated hTK1 (approximately 23 mg) per liter of culture. The protein was purified to near homogeneity. The chaperone DnaK was identified to be the major contaminant that could be removed by applying an additional ATP-MgCl(2) incubation and washing step. hTK1W was a permanent tetramer in solution, whereas the truncated construct hTK1M appears to be a dimer in absence and presence of substrates. Both hTK1W and hTK1M exhibit pronounced thermal stability with transition temperatures (T(m)) of 71.7 and 73.4 degrees C, respectively, when measured without adding substrates. The presence of substrates stabilized both hTK1W (DeltaT(m) ranging from 5.6 to 12.5 degrees C) and hTK1M (DeltaT(m) ranging from 0.8 to 5.3 degrees C). Both enzymes show high activity over a broad range of pH, temperature, and ionic strength. Kinetic studies determined a K(M) of 0.51 microM and a k(cat) of 0.28 s(-1) for wild-type hTK1. The truncated hTK1M has a K(M) of 0.87 microM and k(cat) of 1.65 s(-1), thus exhibiting increased catalytic efficiency. The availability of recombinant human TK1 will facilitate further biochemical and crystallographic studies.     

Molecular cloning, expression, and purification of pig interleukin-5

 Interleukin-5 (IL-5) is thought to be a key cytokine in allergic inflammation. Pig IL-5 was cloned, sequenced, and expressed to enable us to study of the biological role of IL-5 in pigs used in a model for allergen-induced late-phase reactions. These pigs were sensitized to proteins extracted from Ascaris suum, resulting in hypersensitivity to this antigen in both the skin and airways, and a slight blood eosinophilia. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from antigen-sensitized pigs were isolated and polyclonally stimulated. Total RNA was extracted and reverse transcribed into cDNA. IL-5 primers based on the cow IL-5 cDNA sequence were used to obtain an initial polymerase chain reaction product. 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (3′RACE) and 5′RACE procedures were applied to identify the 3′ and 5′ ends, respectively. The full-length pig IL-5 cDNA is 405 base pairs long. Mature pig IL-5 was expressed in Escherichia coli with a His-tag for purification. The IL-5 protein is 115 amino acids long, has an estimated molecular weight of 14 000 M _r and forms a biologically active homodimer of 28 000 M _r . Pig IL-5 shows 65% amino acid identity to the human IL-5 sequence and 90, 88, 83, 62, and 61% identity to the cow, sheep, horse, mouse, and rat counterparts. Received: 29 June 1999 / Revised: 22 September 1999     

Bacterial expression and purification of human papillomavirus type 18 L1

The human papillomavirus (HPV) 18 L1 gene, which encodes the L1 major capsid protein, was isolated from a female patient in Pusan, Korea Republic and was cloned into pGEX-4T-1 vector. The HPV-18L1 gene was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with a glutathione-S-transferase (GST) tag. The soluble recombinant fusion protein, GST-18 L1 fusion, was isolated to high purity. HPV-18 L1 was purified from the GST-18 L1 fusant after biotinylated thrombin cleavage, and then the treated thrombin was removed serially using streptavidin conjugated resin. The purified HPV-18 L1 was confirmed by western blotting using a rabbit anti-denatured papillomavirus polyclonal antibody. The virus-like particles (VLP) from the purified full-length 18 L1 protein without any extra amino acid sequences was observed through the analysis of the electron microscope. This is the first study to report the expression and purification of HPV-18 L1 in E. coli. This expression and purification system offers a simple method of expressing and purifying HPV L1 protein, and could potentially be an effective route for the development and manufacturing of highly purified HPV-18 L1-based cervical cancer vaccines.