Fast isolation of recombinant baculovirus by antibody screening

We describe a rapid and efficient scheme for the isolation and purification of recombinant baculoviruses. The method is based on the detection of foreign proteins in cellular lysates of baculovirus-infected insect cells by antibody screening. The recombinant virus is purified by repeated serial dilutions. The method allows the identification and purification of recombinant viruses within 2 to 3 wk. This procedure selects for recombinant baculoviruses that highly overproduce the desired protein product.     

Tab2, a novel recombinant polypeptide tag offering sensitive and specific protein detection and reliable affinity purification

The detection and purification of proteins are often time-consuming and frequently involve complicated protocols. The addition of a peptide tag to recombinant proteins can make this process more efficient. Many of the commonly used tags, such as Flag™, Myc, HA and V5 are recognized by specific monoclonal antibodies and therefore, allow immunoaffinity-based purification. Enhancing the current scope of flexibility in using diverse peptide tags, we report here the development of a novel, short polypeptide tag (Tab2) for detection and purification of recombinant proteins. The Tab2 epitope corresponds to the NH₂-terminal seven amino acid residues of human TGF. A monoclonal anti-Tab2 antibody was raised and characterized. To investigate the potential of this peptide sequence as a novel tag for recombinant proteins, we expressed several different recombinant proteins containing this tag in E. coli, baculovirus, and mammalian cells. The data presented demonstrates the Tab2 tag–anti-Tab2 antibody combination is a reliable tool enabling specific Western blot detection, FACS analysis, and immunoprecipitation as well as non-denaturing protein affinity purification.     

Enhanced expression,detection and purification of recombinant proteins using RNA stem loop and tandem fusion tags

The creation of a double His-tag fusion that forms a RNA stem loop in the mRNA encoding the N-terminus of the target protein is a novel approach for the enhancement of expression, purification, and detection of a recombinant protein. Compared to a single His-tag fusion, a tandem His-tag fusion RNA stem loop, located downstream of the constitutive groE and Ch promoters, enhanced heterologous gene expression in Brucella, Salmonella, and Escherichia. We demonstrated one-step detection and purification of recombinant green fluorescence protein (GFP) directly from Brucella spp. without using Escherichia coli as an expression host. The amount of purified GFP using the tandem His-tag RNA stem loop increased more than threefold; moreover, the sensitivity of detection increased more than fourfold in comparison to the single His-tag fusion form. This method has the potential to significantly improve heterologous gene expression and high-throughput protein synthesis and purification.     

An automated small-scale protein expression and purification screening provides beneficial information for protein production

One of the first key steps in structural genomics is high-throughput expression and rapid screening to select highly soluble proteins, the preferred candidates for crystal production. Here we describe the methodology used at the Berkeley Structural Genomics Center (BSGC) for automated parallel expression and small-scale purification of fusion proteins using a 96-well format. Our robotic method includes cell lysis, soluble fraction separation and purification with affinity resins. For detection of His-tagged proteins in the soluble fractions and after affinity resin elution, a dot-blot procedure with an anti-His-antibody is used. The expression level and molecular mass of recombinant proteins are checked by SDS-PAGE. With this approach, we are able to obtain beneficial information to be used for large-scale protein expression and purification.     

Real-time detection and quantification of adenosine triphosphate sulfurylase activity by a bioluminometric approach.

A real-time, sensitive, and simple assay for detection and quantification of adenosine triphosphate sulfurylase (ATP:sulfate adenylytransferase, EC 2.7.7.4) activity has been developed. The method is based on detection of ATP generated in the ATP sulfurylase reaction between APS and PPi by the firefly luciferase system. For the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATP sulfurylase, the concentrations of APS and PPi at the half-maximal rate were found to be about 0.5 and 7 microM, respectively. The assay is sensitive and yields linear response between 0.1 microU and 50 mU. The method can be used for monitoring and quantification of recombinant ATP sulfurylase activity in Escherichia coli lysate, as well as for detection of the activity during different purification procedures.     

Genetic immunization for the recovery and purification of recombinant proteins

A system that uses genetic immunization for recombinant protein recovery and purification is described. The genetic sequence encoding a target protein is subcloned into both a eukaryotic and a prokaryotic vector. With the eukaryotic construct, a rabbit is genetically immunized and specific polyclonal antibodies to the encoded protein raised. The prokaryotic construct is used for bacterial transformation and expression of recombinant protein. Recovery and purification of target recombinant protein are obtained by passing the lysate of expressing bacteria through an immunoaffinity column prepared with the polyclonal antibodies raised in the genetically immunized animal. This method allows purification of recombinant protein without fusion tails and can be applied to purify any protein whose encoding genetic sequence is known.     

NMR monitoring of accumulation and folding of 15N-labeled protein overexpressed in Pichia pastoris.

Postgenomic studies have led to an increasing demand for isotope-labeled proteins. We present a method for producing large quantities of truly native (15)N-labeled protein. Based on the secretion capabilities of the yeast Pichia pastoris, the recombinant protein is easily purified in a single step as it is secreted. Control of all nitrogen sources permits very high labeling yields. As a result, accumulation and folding of the recombinant protein can be monitored by heteronuclear NMR without purification. Comparison of sample spectra with the spectrum of the purified recombinant protein allows detection of the secreted protein in the culture and monitoring of its folding, from the start of the induction phase. The detection limit for a (15)N-labeled protein is estimated as 20 microM and corresponds, for a 10-kDa protein, to a load of 40 mg/liter in the fermentor. This concentration is reached by most reported preparations in P. pastoris. Further concentration by ultrafiltration would compensate for lower production. This procedure may be useful in many structural genomics and combinatorial chemistry screening projects where most protein productions meet the requirements for this method.     

青杄FKBP12基因原核表达和多克隆抗体的制备

目的:制备青杄FKBP12基因的多克隆抗体,为进一步分析FKBP12的蛋白定位、表达等提供基础。方法:采用PCR方法扩增FKBP12基因得到其全长cDNA序列,并将其克隆至原核表达载体pET-48b中,转化入BL21菌株。经IPTG诱导,表达了分子量约为33kD的重组蛋白,SDS-PAGE和Western blotting检测鉴定表达产物。此蛋白经亲和纯化后,作为抗原注射新西兰兔,进行抗体制备。结果:成功获取了多克隆抗体,制备的FKBP12兔抗血清效价在1∶729 000以上,ELISA结果表明融合蛋白具良好的免疫原性。间接ELISA法检测纯化后抗体效价,表明纯化后抗FKBP蛋白兔多克隆抗体效价高,检测灵敏度为16ng/mL。结论:所制备的抗体能满足后续试验要求的效价值,为进一步研究提供基础。     

A new tagging system for production of recombinant proteins in Drosophila S2 cells using the third domain of the urokinase receptor

The use of protein fusion tag technology greatly facilitates detection, expression and purification of recombinant proteins, and the demands for new and more effective systems are therefore expanding. We have used a soluble truncated form of the third domain of the urokinase receptor as a convenient C-terminal fusion partner for various recombinant extracellular human proteins used in basic cancer research. The stability of this cystein-rich domain, which structure adopts a three-finger fold, provides an important asset for its applicability as a fusion tag for expression of recombinant proteins. Up to 20mg of intact fusion protein were expressed by stably transfected Drosophila S2 cells per liter of culture using this strategy. Purification of these secreted fusion proteins from the conditioned serum free medium of S2 cells was accompanied by an efficient one-step immunoaffinity chromatography procedure using the immobilized anti-uPAR monoclonal antibody R2. An optional enterokinase cleavage site is included between the various recombinant proteins and the linker region of the tag, which enables generation of highly pure preparations of tag-free recombinant proteins. Using this system we successfully produced soluble and intact recombinant forms of extracellular proteins such as CD59, C4.4A and vitronectin, as well as a number of truncated domain constructs of these proteins. In conclusion, the present tagging system offers a convenient general method for the robust expression and efficient purification of a variety of recombinant proteins.     

In-process monitoring of protein purification with thin film silicon sensor technology

We have developed a rapid and sensitive thin film assay for in-process monitoring of target protein purification. This novel biosensor method provides rapid (5-min) visual evaluation of column purification fractions. The method can be used to monitor the efficiency of purification and potential loss of protein if the column binding capacity is exceeded. The eluted fractions containing the highest yield of target protein can be quickly identified, pooled, and processed. This convenient platform, known as the SILAS product, is a thin-film detection technology in which specific molecular interactions are transduced into visible color changes based on changes in the optical thickness of layers on a silicon surface. The results are interpreted without instrumentation. Proteins eluted from a purification column are adsorbed to the assay surface, and the ligand of interest (target) can be identified with specific binding reagents. Here we demonstrate two protein purification applications for the SILAS technology product: monitoring antibody elution from a Protein G column and evaluating the efficiency of purification of a glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-tagged recombinant protein through each step of the purification process.     

A novel method for the purification of low soluble recombinant C-type lectin proteins

Snake venoms contain a complex mixture of many biological molecules including proteins. The purification of recombinant proteins is a key step in studying their function and structure with affinity chromatography as the common method used in their purification. In bacterial expression systems, hydrophobic recombinant proteins are usually precipitated into inclusion bodies, and contaminants are typically associated with tagged proteins after purification. The purpose of this study was to develop a procedure to purify hydrophobic recombinant proteins without an affinity tag. Snake venom mature C-type lectin-like proteins (CLPs) with a tag were cloned, expressed, and purified by repeated sonication and wash steps. The effects of the signal peptide on the expression and solubility of the recombinant protein were investigated. The CLPs in washed inclusion bodies were solubilized and refolded by dialysis. The CLPs without a tag were successfully purified with a yield 38 times higher than the traditional method, and inhibited blood platelet aggregation with an IC(50) of 100.57μM in whole blood. This novel procedure is a rapid, and inexpensive method to purify functional recombinant hydrophobic CLPs from snake venoms useful in the development of drug therapies.     

HaloTag-based purification of functional human kinases from mammalian cells

Although cultured mammalian cells are preferred for producing functional mammalian proteins with appropriate post-translational modifications, purification of recombinant proteins is frequently hampered by low expression. We have addressed this by creating a new method configured specifically for mammalian cell culture that provides rapid detection and efficient purification. This approach is based on HaloTag, a protein fusion tag designed to bind rapidly, selectively and covalently to a series of synthetic ligands that can carry a variety of functional groups, including fluorescent dyes for detection or solid supports for purification. Since the binding of HaloTag to the HaloLink resin is essentially irreversible, it overcomes the equilibrium-based binding limitations associated with affinity tags and enables efficient capture and purification of target protein, even at low expression levels. The target protein is released from the HaloLink resin by specific cleavage using a TEV protease fused to HaloTag (HaloTEV), leaving both HaloTag and HaloTEV permanently attached to the resin and highly pure, tag-free protein in solution. HaloTag fluorescent ligands enable fluorescent labeling of HaloTag fusion proteins, providing a convenient way to monitor expression, and thus facilitate the identification of optimal transient transfection conditions as well as the selection of high expression stable cell lines. The capabilities of this method have been demonstrated by the efficient purification of five functional human kinases from HEK293T cells. In addition, when purifications using FLAG, 3xFLAG, His(6)Tag and HaloTag were performed in parallel, HaloTag was shown to provide significantly higher yields, purity and overall recovery of the expressed proteins.     

New purification method for glucocorticoid receptors

In this report, we describe a new purification method for activated recombinant glucocorticoid receptor (GR) utilizing a cation-exchanger (Mono S) at pH8.4. This method is based upon a new finding that activated GR binds to both Mono Q and Mono S columns at the same pH. This method enables us to purify recombinant GR within 3 h. The purified GR represents more than 97% of the eluted proteins. Purified recombinant GR is able to bind specifically to a DNA fragment containing the glucocorticoid response element. Recombinant GR has no tag sequence that can be utilized for purification. Thus, this separation method is also applicable to purification of native GR.     

Purification methods for recombinant Lactobacillus casei thymidylate synthase and mutants: a general, automated procedure.

General procedures for the rapid, large-scale purification of recombinant Lactobacillus casei thymidylate synthase and its mutants have been established. An effective method employs sequential phosphocellulose and hydroxylapatite chromatography. Crude cell extracts are directly applied to phosphocellulose, and the enzyme is obtained in a nearly pure state by stepwise elution with KCl. The eluate is directly applied to hydroxylapatite, and the homogeneous enzyme is eluted with a gradient of potassium phosphate. The method has been successful for the purification of recombinant wild-type enzyme and all mutants thus far examined. The entire purification procedure has been automated using a commonly available FPLC system and can be performed in several hours with minimal operator time.     

重组鹦鹉热衣原体主要外膜蛋白的抗原性研究

构建了鹦鹉热衣原体主要外膜蛋白的原核表达载体,并对其进行了诱导表达,经过纯化,复性,获得了重组蛋白。用Westen-blotting和胶体金方法检测,此蛋白具有衣原体的免疫原性。经兔免疫接种实验,获得了多抗血清,用ELISA方法检测,其抗体滴度为1：2000。     

Degradation of C-terminal tag sequences on domain antibodies purified from E. coli supernatant

Expression of recombinant proteins often takes advantage of peptide tags expressed in fusion to allow easy detection and purification of the expressed proteins. However, as the fusion peptides most often are flexible appendages at the N- or C-terminal, proteolytic cleavage may result in removal of the tag sequence. Here, we evaluated the functionality and stability of 14 different combinations of commonly used tags for purification and detection of recombinant antibody fragments. The tag sequences were inserted in fusion with the c-terminal end of a domain antibody based on the HEL4 scaffold in a phagemid vector. This particular antibody fragment was able to refold on the membrane after blotting, allowing us to detect c-terminal tag breakdown by use of protein A in combination with detection of the tags in the specific constructs. The degradation of the c-terminal tags suggested specific sites to be particularly prone to proteolytic cleavage, leaving some of the tag combinations partially or completely degraded. This specific work illustrates the importance of tag design with regard to recombinant antibody expression in E. coli, but also aids the more general understanding of protein expression.     

Degradation of C-terminal tag sequences on domain antibodies purified from E. coli supernatant

Expression of recombinant proteins often takes advantage of peptide tags expressed in fusion to allow easy detection and purification of the expressed proteins. However, as the fusion peptides most often are flexible appendages at the N- or C-terminal, proteolytic cleavage may result in removal of the tag sequence. Here, we evaluated the functionality and stability of 14 different combinations of commonly used tags for purification and detection of recombinant antibody fragments. The tag sequences were inserted in fusion with the c-terminal end of a domain antibody based on the HEL4 scaffold in a phagemid vector. This particular antibody fragment was able to refold on the membrane after blotting, allowing us to detect c-terminal tag breakdown by use of protein A in combination with detection of the tags in the specific constructs. The degradation of the c-terminal tags suggested specific sites to be particularly prone to proteolytic cleavage, leaving some of the tag combinations partially or completely degraded. This specific work illustrates the importance of tag design with regard to recombinant antibody expression in E. coli, but also aids the more general understanding of protein expression.     

拟蜘蛛拖丝蛋白基因重组蛋白的纯化及其抗血清制备

为了制备可用于拟蜘蛛拖丝蛋白体外检测的抗血清,利用前期工作中获得的蜘蛛拖丝蛋白基因重组原核表达载体2S-pET-52b( + ),采用原核表达方法获得大量重组蜘蛛拖丝蛋白2S-His,对此重组蛋白进行His标签特异性的亲和纯化,再依次经SDS-PAGE、切胶和与佐剂混合后作为抗原;皮下多点注射法将抗原注入新西兰大白兔皮...     

Efficient recovery of recombinant proteins using membrane-based immunoaffinity chromatography (MIC)

A systematic approach to the design and development of membrane-based immunoaffinity systems for the purification of recombinant proteins is presented. The preparation and characterization of immunoaffinity membranes are described. The immunoaffinity purification process for recombinant interferon-alpha2a is used as a model system to determine the operational parameters in membrane-based immunoaffinity chromatography. The high volumetric throughput of membranes, combined with the typically fastbinding kinetics of antigen-antibody interactions, enable the purification of recombinant proteins from dilute feed stream in less time, using less antibody than conventional systems. Three recombinant proteins, human interferon-alpha2a, interleukin-2, and interleukin-2 receptor, have been purified efficiently employing membrane-based immunoaffinity chromatography. Overall, membrane-based immunoaffinity chromatography is shown to be a viable and scalable method, ideal for the industrial-scale production of recombinant proteins. (c) 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rapid method for the detection of genetically engineered microorganisms by polymerase chain reaction from soil and sediments

A rapid and sensitive method for the detection of genetically engineered microorganisms in soil and sediments has been devised by in vitro amplification of the target DNAs by a polymerase chain reaction. A cloned catechol 2,3-dioxygenase gene located on the recombinant plasmid pOH101 was transferred to Pseudomonas putida MMB2442 by triparental crossing and used as a target organism. For the polymerase chain reaction from soil and sediment samples, the template DNA was released from a 100-mg soil sample. Bacterial seeded soil samples were washed with Tris-EDTA buffer (pH 8.0) and treated with a detergent lysis solution at 100°C. After addition of 1% polyvinylpolypyrrolidine solution, the samples were boiled for 5 min. Supernatant containing nucleic acid was purified with a PCR purification kit. The purified DNA was subjected to polymerase chain reaction, using two specific primers designed for the amplification of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase gene sequences. The detection limit was 10² cells per gram of soil. This method is rapid and obviates the need for lengthy DNA purification from soil samples. Received 28 February 1997/ Accepted in revised form 23 November 1997