Secretion of active recombinant human tissue plasminogen activator derivatives in Escherichia coli

The DNA fragment coding for kringle 2 plus serine protease domains (K2S) of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) was inserted into a phagemid vector, pComb3HSS. In the recombinant vector, pComb3H-K2S, the K2S gene was fused to gpIII of PhiM13 and linked to the OmpA signal sequence. The resulting gene, rK2S-gpIII, was inducibly expressed in Escherichia coli XL-1 Blue. The protein was presented on the phage particle. To stop the expression of gpIII, a stop codon between K2S and the gpIII gene was inserted by site-directed mutagenesis. This mutated vector, MpComb3H-K2S, was transformed in XL-1 Blue. After induction with IPTG (isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside), rK2S was found both in the periplasm as an inactive form of approximately 32% and in the culture supernatant as an active form of approximately 68%. The secreted form of rK2S was partially purified by ammonium sulfate (55%) precipitation. The periplasmic form was isolated from whole cells by chloroform extraction. The fibrin binding site of kringle 2 was demonstrated in all expressed versions (phage-bound, periplasmic, and secreted forms) using the monoclonal anti-kringle 2 antibody (16/B). Only the secreted form of rK2S revealed a fibrinogen-dependent amidolytic activity with the specific activity of 236 IU/microg. No amidolytic activity of rK2S was observed in either the periplasmic or the phage-bound form. The secretion of rK2S as an active enzyme offers a novel approach for the production of the active-domain deletion mutant tPA, rK2S, without any requirements for bacterial compartment preparation and in vitro refolding processes. This finding is an important technological advance in the development of large-scale, bacterium-based tPA production systems.     

Leishmania tarentolae: purification and characterization of tubulin and its suitability for antileishmanial drug screening

Previously, tubulin has been purified from Leishmania amazonensis and used to identify novel molecules with selective antimitotic activity. However, L. amazonensis is pathogenic and requires a relatively expensive medium for large-scale cultivation. Herein, the purification and characterization of tubulin from the non-pathogenic Leishmania tarentolae is reported, together with the sequence of alpha- and beta-tubulin from this organism. This protein was purified by sonication, diethylaminoethyl-Sepharose chromatography, and one assembly disassembly cycle in 1% overall recovery based on total cellular protein. Leishmania tarentolae tubulin was indistinguishable from the corresponding L. amazonensis protein in terms of binding affinity for dinitroaniline sulfanilamides and sensitivity to assembly inhibition by these compounds. The amino acid sequences derived from the L. tarentolae alpha- and beta-tubulin genes were 99.6 and 99.4% identical to the corresponding amino acid sequences from the Leishmania major Friedlin strain. These results indicate that tubulin from L. tarentolae is suitable for use in drug screening.     

Cloning,characterization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of Leishmania hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase

Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) (EC 2.4.2.8) is an important enzyme involved in the recycling of purine nucleotides in all cells. Parasitic protozoa of the order Kinetoplastida are unable to synthesize purines de novo and use the salvage pathway for the synthesis of nucleotides; therefore, this pathway is an attractive target for antiparasitic drug design. The hgprt gene was cloned from a Leishmania tarentolae genomic library and the sequence determined. The L. tarentolae hgprt gene contains a 633-nucleotide open reading frame that encodes a 23.4-kDa protein. A pairwise alignment of the different HGPRT's sequences revealed a 26%-53% sequence identity with the Leishmania sequences and 87% identity to the HGPRT of Leishmania donovani. A recombinant protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity and found to retain enzymatic activity. The steady-state kinetic parameters were determined for the recombinant enzyme and the enzyme is active as a homodimer in solution. Single crystals were obtained for the L. tarentolae HGPRT representing the first Leishmania HGPRT crystallized and initial crystallographic data were collected. The crystals obtained belong to the orthorhombic space group (P2(1)2(1)2(1)) with unit cell parameters a=58.104 A, b=85.443 A and c=87.598 A and diffract to a resolution of 2.3 A. The availability of the HGPRT enzyme from Leishmania and its crystallization suitable for X-ray diffraction data collection should provide the basis for a functional and structural analysis of this enzyme, which has been proposed as a potential target for rational drug design, in a Leishmania model system.     

Identification of a gp63 surface glycoprotein in Leishmania tarentolae

The promastigote stage of most if not all Leishmania species possesses an abundant surface glycoprotein of 63 kDa (gp63) that has protease activity. We show that the lizard parasite Leishmania tarentolae appears to lack the surface protease activity. L. tarentolae does, however, possess an approximately 63-kDa molecule that is antigenically cross-reactive with the L. major gp63. Additionally, the genome of L. tarentolae contains sequences that hybridise at high stringency to a L. major gp63 gene probe.     

Purification and characterization of active recombinant rat kallikrein rK9.

The rat tissue kallikrein rK9 is most abundant in the submandibular gland and the prostate. It has been successfully expressed in the Pichia pastoris yeast expression system. A full-length cDNA coding for the mature rK9 was fused in frame with yeast alpha-factor cDNA. The fusion protein was secreted into the medium with high yield without being processed by the yeast KEX2 signal peptidase. Mature rK9 was efficiently released from the fusion protein by trypsin and was purified to homogeneity by one-step affinity chromatography using soya bean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) as affinity ligand. The identity of the recombinant enzyme was checked by N-terminal amino acid sequencing, Western blot analysis and kinetic studies. The dual trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like enzymatic specificity of rK9 was assessed by determining specificity constants (k(cat)/K(m)) for the hydrolysis of fluorogenic substrates, the peptide sequences of which were derived from proparathyroid hormone (pro-PTH) and from semenogelin-I. Our results confirmed the presence of an extended binding site in the rK9 active site. We also identified a far more sensitive substrate of this enzyme than those previously described, Abz-VKKRSARQ-EDDnp, which was hydrolysed with a catalytic efficiency k(cat)/K(m) of 420000 M(-1)s(-1). Finally, we showed that four of the five major proteins contained in secretions of rat seminal vesicles were rapidly degraded by recombinant rK9.     

Increased expression of recombinant human tissue plasminogen activator in Leishmania tarentolae

Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is one of the most important thrombolytic agents for treating cardiovascular obstructions such as stroke. Glycoprotein rt-PA is a serine protease, consisting of 527 amino acids of which 35 are cysteine residues. A variety of recombinant protein expression systems have been developed for heterologous gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts. In recent years, Leishmania tarentolae has been considered because of its safety aspects and special attributes in expression of complex proteins. In this study, two expression cassettes, each one including two copies of t-PA cDNA, were used for integration into the L. tarentolae genome by electroporation. Transformed clones were selected in the presence of appropriate antibiotics. Expression of active rt-PA was confirmed by Western blot and Zymography tests. Real-time PCR analysis was applied to investigate the presence of multiple t-PA gene copies in the parasite genome. Correlation of t-PA gene dosage and production rate was confirmed with real-time PCR. It was shown that the expression level of rt-PA in L. tarentolae is at least 480 IU/mL of culture media. This concentration of rt-PA is seven times higher than what was reported in previous studies in L. tarentolae and some other eukaryotic systems.     

苜蓿夜蛾丝氨酸蛋白酶基因cDNA序列的克隆与原核表达研究

【目的】丝氨酸蛋白酶(Serine protease,SP)是以丝氨酸为活性中心的重要的蛋白水解酶。在昆虫中,丝氨酸蛋白酶参与消化、发育、先天免疫反应和组织重建等重要的生理过程。本试验以苜蓿夜蛾Heliothis viriplaca为材料,克隆其丝氨酸蛋白酶基因的cDNA序列,再对该基因进行原核表达并对表达产物进行活性测定研究。【方法】从苜蓿夜蛾中肠中提取总RNA,通过RT-PCR和RACE技术,扩增获得丝氨酸蛋白酶基因cDNA全长序列,用大肠杆菌E.coli表达系统进行表达;再对表达的重组蛋白进行变性、纯化与复性,并以BTEE为底物进行活性测定。【结果】克隆得到的苜蓿夜蛾中肠丝氨酸蛋白酶基因命名为Hv SP,该基因已登录Gen Bank,登录号为KT907053。该基因全长1 017 bp,开放阅读框为886 bp,编码295个氨基酸,分子量约为30.8 ku,等电点为8.27,推导的氨基酸序列与其他昆虫丝氨酸蛋白酶氨基酸序列相似性在46%~92%之间。在Tris-HCl缓冲液中,p H为8.5时,复性的重组蛋白活性最高,为28.7 U/m L。荧光定量PCR结果表明,Hv SP基因的m RNA在苜蓿夜蛾的多个组织中特异性表达,且在中肠中表达量最高,但在唾腺中未检测到Hv SP的m RNA表达。【结论】该研究克隆了一个新的苜蓿夜蛾丝氨酸蛋白酶基因的cDNA序列,且原核表达后的重组蛋白经过变性、纯化及复性后具有活性,为进一步探索丝氨酸蛋白酶在昆虫体内的生理生化功能奠定了基础。     

Structural determinants of the noncatalytic chain of tissue-type plasminogen activator that modulate its association rate with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1

In order to identify the regions of recombinant (r) tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) that mediate its kinetically relevant interaction with r-plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (rPAI-1), we have determined the second-order association rate (k1) constants of domain-altered variants of tPA with rPAI-1, at 10 degrees C. With two-chain, wild-type recombinant tPA (tcwt-rtPA), obtained by expression of the human cDNA for tPA in five different cell systems (viz. insect cells, human kidney 293 cells, Chinese hamster ovary cells, human melanoma cells, and mouse C127 cells), the average k1 was 1.45 x 10(7) M-1 s-1 (range, 1.34 10(7) M-1 s-1-1.68 x 10(7) M-1 s-1). Since this value was not significantly different for the different tcwt-rtPA preparations, it appears as though the nature of the glycosylation of tPA plays little role in its initial interaction with PAI-1. The k1 determined for tcwt-rtPA was slightly higher than that of 0.87 x 10(7) M-1 s-1, obtained for a similar inhibition of human urokinase by rPAI-1. The k1 value obtained for single-chain (sc) wt-rtPA was approximately 6-fold lower than that of the two-chain molecules, results consistent with previous conclusions on this matter. The k1 value for tcwt-rtPA was not influenced by the presence of epsilon-aminocaproic acid, suggesting that the lysine-binding site associated with the kringle 2 (K2) region of tPA does not modulate the rate of its initial interaction with rPAI-1. Removal of the K2 domain from tPA, by recombinant DNA technology, results in a protein, F-E-K1-P (tc-r delta K2-tPA), containing only the finger (F), growth factor (E), kringle 1 (K1), and serine protease (P) domains. This variant protein was more rapidly inhibited by rPAI-1 (k1 = 3.00 x 10(7) M-1 s-1) than its wild-type counterparts. Deletion of both the K1 and K2 domains resulted in a variant molecule, F-E-P (tc-r delta K1 delta K2-tPA), that was slightly more rapidly inhibited by rPAI-1 (k1 = 2.01 x 10(7) M-1 s-1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Diagnostic value of rK39 dipstick in zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in Turkey

K39 is a repetitive immunodominant epitope in a kinesin-related protein expressed predominantly in the amastigotes of visceral Leishmania spp. Enzyme immunoassays of patient's sera with recombinant K39 (rK39) proved to be highly specific and sensitive for diagnosis of active visceral leishmaniasis (VL, kala-azar). The same assays in dipstick format were also found effective for diagnosis of both human VL (HVL) and canine VL (CanVL) in most endemic areas of these diseases. Fifty-eight human patients and 22 dogs, clinically suspected of kala-azar, were screened with rK39 dipstick in comparison with the conventional methods of diagnosis, i.e., microscopic examinations of bone marrow and lymph node aspirates and immunofluorescent antibody tests (IFAT), respectively. Sixteen patients and 12 dogs were found to be rK39 dipstick positive. The results were corroborated with those of parasitological examinations, except 1, rK39-positive but smear-negative, case in each group. IFAT of the 2 discordant cases gave positive results. The rK39 dipstick is thus reliable for diagnosis of both HVL and canVL cases in Turkey.     

Expression, purification, and characterization of the recombinant kringle 1 domain from tissue-type plasminogen activator.

A novel fusion protein expression plasmid that allows ready purification and subsequent facile release of the target molecule has been constructed and employed to express in Escherichia coli and purify the tissue plasminogen activator kringle 1 domain ([K1tPA] residues C92-C173). The resulting plasmid encodes the tight lysine-binding kringle (K)1 domain of human plasminogen ([K1HPg]) followed by a peptide (PfXa) containing a factor Xa-sensitive bond, downstream of which [K1tPA] was inserted. The recombinant (r) [K1HPg]PfXa[K1tPA] fusion polypeptide was purified from various cell fractions in one step by Sepharose-lysine affinity chromatography. After cleavage with fXa, the mixture was repassaged over Sepharose-lysine, whereupon the r-[K1tPA]-containing polypeptide passed unretarded through the column. A homogeneous preparation of this material was then obtained after a simple step employing fast protein liquid chromatography. The purified r-[K1tPA], which contained the amino acid sequence SNAS[K1tPA]S, provided an amino-terminal amino acid sequence, through at least 20 amino acid residues, that was identical to that predicted from the cDNA sequence. The molecular mass of r-SNAS[K1tPA]S, determined by electrospray mass spectrometry, was 9621.9 +/- 4.0 (expected molecular mass, 9623.65). 1H-NMR spectroscopy and thermal stability studies of r-SNAS[K1tPA]S revealed that the purified material was properly folded and similar to other isolated kringle domains. Additionally, employment of this methodology revealed that only a very weak interaction between epsilon-aminocaproic acid and the isolated r-[K1tPA] domain occurred.     

苜蓿夜蛾中肠丝氨酸蛋白酶cDNA的克隆、序列分析及原核表达

【目的】本研究旨在从苜蓿夜蛾Heliothis viriplaca中肠克隆出丝氨酸蛋白酶（serine protease, SP）基因的cDNA序列,测定原核表达后的蛋白经纯化及复性后的活性。【方法】运用RT-PCR和cDNA末端快速扩增方法（rapid amplification of cDNA ends, RACE）克隆苜蓿夜蛾幼虫中肠丝氨酸蛋白酶cDNA全序列,用大肠杆菌Escherichia coli表达系统进行表达。重组蛋白经纯化后,利用梯度透析法进行复性,以BApNA为底物,进行活性测定。【结果】克隆获得的苜蓿夜蛾中肠丝氨酸蛋白酶基因命名为HvSP（GenBank登录号：JX866720）,该基因全长880 bp,开放阅读框长762 bp,编码254个氨基酸,推测分子量和pI值分别为26.9 kDa和9.49。由HvSP推导的氨基酸与鳞翅目昆虫SP氨基酸序列的一致性在52%~95%之间,其中与棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera SP（GenBank登录号：CAA72962）的氨基酸序列一致性最高,达95%。成功构建重组载体pET21b-HvSP进行原核表达,Western-blot鉴定确定为目的蛋白。蛋白可溶性分析发现重组蛋白为包涵体。在Glycine-NaOH缓冲液中,当pH为10.0时,复性的重组蛋白活性达到最高,为35.74 U/mL。【结论】本研究在苜蓿夜蛾体内获得了一个新的丝氨酸蛋白酶基因,且原核表达后的重组蛋白经过变性、纯化及复性后具有活性。该结果为进一步研究丝氨酸蛋白酶在鳞翅目昆虫体内的生理功能奠定了基础。     

Molecular characterization of a gene encoding extracellular serine protease isolated from a subtilisin inhibitor-deficient mutant of Streptomyces albogriseolus S-3253.

An extracellular serine protease produced by a mutant, M1, derived from Streptomyces albogriseolus S-3253 that no longer produces a protease inhibitor (Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor [SSI]) was isolated. A 20-kDa protein was purified by its affinity for SSI and designated SAM-P20. The amino acid sequence of the amino-terminal region of SAM-P20 revealed high homology with the sequences of Streptomyces griseus proteases A and B, and the gene sequence confirmed the relationships. The sequence also revealed a putative amino acid signal sequence for SAM-P20 that apparently functioned to allow secretion of SAM-P20 from Escherichia coli carrying the recombinant gene. SAM-P20 produced by E. coli cells was shown to be sensitive to SSI inhibition.     

Subcellular localization of an intracellular serine protease of 68 kDa in Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis promastigotes

Here we report the subcellular localization of an intracellular serine protease of 68 kDa in axenic promastigotes of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, using subcellular fractionation, enzymatic assays, immunoblotting, and immunocytochemistry. All fractions were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy and the serine protease activity was measured during the cell fractionation procedure using alpha-N-r-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester (L-TAME) as substrate, phenylmethylsulphone fluoride (PMSF) and L-1-tosylamino-2-phenylethylchloromethylketone (TPCK) as specific inhibitors. The enzymatic activity was detected mainly in a membranous vesicular fraction (6.5-fold enrichment relative to the whole homogenate), but also in a crude plasma membrane fraction (2.0-fold). Analysis by SDS-PAGE gelatin under reducing conditions demonstrated that the major proteolytic activity was found in a 68 kDa protein in all fractions studied. A protein with identical molecular weight was also recognized in immunoblots by a polyclonal antibody against serine protease (anti-SP), with higher immunoreactivity in the vesicular fraction. Electron microscopic immunolocalization using the same polyclonal antibody showed the enzyme present at the cell surface, as well as in cytoplasmic membranous compartments of the parasite. Our findings indicate that the internal location of this serine protease in L. amazonensis is mainly restricted to the membranes of intracellular compartments resembling endocytic/exocytic elements.     

Development and evaluation of Leishmania infantum rK26 ELISA for serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran

The purpose of this study was to prepare recombinant K26 antigen from Leishmania infantum and evaluate its performance by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in endemic regions of Iran. The results were compared with those obtained by direct agglutination test (DAT) and whole cell ELISA using crude parasite antigen. Of 93 sera from patients with confirmed VL, 90 sera were positive with rK26 ELISA (sensitivity=96.8%), whereas 85 sera were positive with DAT (sensitivity=91.4%) and 89 sera were positive with whole cell ELISA (sensitivity=95.7%). Of 130 subjects who either had other infectious diseases (n=30) or were healthy (n=100), rK26 ELISA were negative in all cases (specificity=100%), whereas DAT were negative in 116 cases (specificity=89.2%) and whole cell ELISA was negative in 114 cases (specificity=87.7%). The results of this study indicate that the rK26 ELISA is more sensitive and specific than conventional methods and could be used for reliable diagnosis of VL caused by Leishmania infantum.