Purification of a pyrogen-free human growth hormone antagonist

Human growth hormone (hGH) is a polypeptide with 191 amino acids and a molecular mass of 22 kilodaltons. With the aid of computer molecular simulation, an hGH analog was created by altering an hGH gene to reflect the change of one amino acid (glycine [G] 120 to arginine [R]) within the third alpha-helix of the hGH molecule. This hGH analog, named hGHG120R, was found to be an hGH antagonist. It may have important implications in treating human conditions in which hGH levels are abnormally high, as found in type I diabetics. Several hundred milligrams of purified hGHG120R were needed to determine the biological activity of the antagonist in animal models. A multistep downstream process was developed to purify hGHG120R from cultured mouse L cells transfected with the hGHG120R gene. The process consisted of cell clarification, salt precipitation, membrane ultrafiltration, reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography, phase separation, and lyophiliation. This work discusses the rationale for the design of the process and experimental results on the purification of hGHG120R using the process. (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Utilization of protein splicing for purification of the human growth hormone

Developing simple and reliable methods to purify recombinant proteins is among the most important problems of modern biotechnology. It is of particular interest to take advantage of protein splicing for this purpose. Affinity tagging of inteins allows the use of regular protocols for protein purification. Autocatalytic excision of the tagged intein yields the pure protein lacking N-terminal formylmethionine. A new purification technique was developed on the basis of protein splicing for the human growth hormone. The Mxe GyrA intein with the histidine tag or cellulose-binding domain was used as a self-removable affinity unit. The resulting two-step purification protocol makes it possible to obtain the human growth hormone having the native N terminus with minimal losses.     

Identification of a region critical for proteolysis of the human growth hormone receptor.

Release of soluble growth hormone binding protein (GHBP) corresponding to the extracellular domain of the GH receptor (GHR) occurs via distinct mechanisms depending on species. In human, proteolysis of full length GHR results in liberation of GHBP into the extracellular medium. A putative protease responsive for GHR cleavage has been identified, however, the residues involved are still unknown. In this study, using the mutational approach to the extracellular domain of the human GHR, we demonstrated that deletion of three residues located close to the transmembrane domain abolishes constitutive GHBP shedding without change in cellular GH binding. Deletion also significantly decreased the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced release of GHBP and the accumulation of membrane-anchored remnant proteins. Taken together, these results suggest that integrity of the juxtamembrane region of GHR is necessary for its biochemical cleavage and that a common mechanism is involved in constitutive and PMA-induced shedding.     

Comparison of the intermediate complexes of human growth hormone bound to the human growth hormone and prolactin receptors.

The crystal structures of complexes of human growth hormone (hGH) with the growth hormone and prolactin receptors (hGHR and hPRLR, respectively), together with the mutational data available for these systems, suggest that an extraordinary combination of conformational adaptability, together with finely tuned specificity, governs the molecular recognition processes operative in these systems. On the one hand, in the active 1:2 ligand-receptor complexes, 2 copies of the same receptor use the identical set of binding determinants to recognize topographically different surfaces on the hormone. On the other hand, comparing the 1:1 hGH-hGHR and hGH-hPRLR complexes, 2 distinct receptors use this same set of binding determinants to interact with the identical binding site on the ligand, even though few residues among the binding determinants are conserved. The structural evidence demonstrates that this versatility is accomplished by local conformational flexibility of the binding loops, allowing adaptation to different binding environments, together with rigid-body movements of the receptor domains, necessary for the creation of specific interactions with the same binding site.     

Computational stabilization of human growth hormone

Recombinant human growth hormone (hGH) is used worldwide for the treatment of pediatric hypopituitary dwarfism and in children suffering from low levels of hGH. It has limited stability in solution, and because of poor oral absorption, is administered by injection, typically several times a week. Development has therefore focused on more stable or sustained-release formulations and alternatives to injectable delivery that would increase bioavailability and make it easier for patients to use. We redesigned hGH computationally to improve its thermostability. A more stable variant of hGH could have improved pharmacokinetics or enhanced shelf-life, or be more amenable to use in alternate delivery systems and formulations. The computational design was performed using a previously developed combinatorial optimization algorithm based on the dead-end elimination theorem. The algorithm uses an empirical free energy function for scoring designed sequences. This function was augmented with a term that accounts for the loss of backbone and side-chain conformational entropy. The weighting factors for this term, the electrostatic interaction term, and the polar hydrogen burial term were optimized by minimizing the number of mutations designed by the algorithm relative to wild-type. Forty-five residues in the core of the protein were selected for optimization with the modified potential function. The proteins designed using the developed scoring function contained six to 10 mutations, showed enhancement in the melting temperature of up to 16 degrees C, and were biologically active in cell proliferation studies. These results show the utility of our free energy function in automated protein design.     

Preparation and characterization of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres for controlled release of human growth hormone

The purpose of this research was to assess the physicochemical properties of a controlled release formulation of recombinant human growth hormone (rHGH) encapsulated in poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) composite microspheres. rHGH was loaded in poly(acryloyl hydroxyethyl) starch (acHES) microparticles, and then the protein-containing microparticles were encapsulated in the PLGA matrix by a solvent extraction/evaporation method. rHGH-loaded PLGA microspheres were also prepared using mannitol without the starch hydrogel microparticle microspheres for comparison. The detection of secondary structure changes in protein was investigated by using a Fourier Transfer Infrared (FTIR) technique. The composite microspheres were spherical in shape (44.6±2.47 μm), and the PLGA-mannitol microspheres were 39.7±2.50 μm. Drug-loading efficiency varied from 93.2% to 104%. The composite microspheres showed higher overall drug release than the PLGA/mannitol microspheres. FTIR analyses indicated good stability and structural integrity of HGH localized in the microspheres. The PLGA-acHES composite microsphere system could be useful for the controlled delivery of protein drugs.     

Expression of correctly processed human growth hormone in seeds of transgenic tobacco plants

Human growth hormone was expressed in transgenic tobacco seeds using the monocot tissue-specific promoter from sorghum -kafirin seed storage protein gene. During tobacco seed ripening, the expressed hormone was directed to the endoplasmic reticulum by a signal peptide from a Coix prolamin and was secreted into the apoplastic space, where it accounted for 0.16% of total soluble seed protein. The expressed hormone has the same amino acid sequence and receptor-binding properties as the native mature hormone.     

A thermodynamic study on the interaction between magnesium ion and human growth hormone

A thermodynamic study on the interaction between magnesium ion and human growth hormone (hGH) was studied at 27 degrees C in NaCl solution (50 mM) using different techniques. Two techniques of ionmetry using a Mg2+selective membrane electrode and isothermal titration calorimetry were applied to obtain the binding isotherm for hGHMg2+; results obtained by both techniques were found to be in good agreement. There is a set of three identical and noninteracting binding sites for magnesium ions. The intrinsic dissociation equilibrium constant and the molar enthalpy of binding are 46 microM and -17.7 kJ/mol, respectively. Temperature scanning UV-visible spectroscopy was applied to elucidate the effect of Mg2+ binding on the protein stability, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy was used to show the structural change of hGH due to the metal ion interaction. Magnesium ion binding increased the protein thermal stability by increasing the alpha-helix content as well as decreasing both beta and random coil structures. However, the secondary structural change of the protein returns to its native form, including a small change in the tertiary structure, in high concentrations of magnesium ion.     

High-yield production of authentic human growth hormone using a plant virus-based expression system

We describe here a high-yield transient expression system for the production of human growth hormone (hGH, or somatotropin) in transfected Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The system is based on a recently described plant virus-based modular expression vector [Gleba, Y., Marillonnet, S. and Klimyuk, V. (2004) Engineering viral expression vectors for plants: the 'full virus' and the 'deconstructed virus' strategies. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 7, 182-188; Marillonnet, S., Giritch, A., Gils, M., Kandzia, R., Klimyuk, V. and Gleba, Y. (2004) In planta engineering of viral RNA replicons: efficient assembly by recombination of DNA modules delivered by Agrobacterium. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 101, 6852-6857], and represents a simple and fast alternative to stable transformation. By using various combinations of provector modules, hGH was produced in three compartments of the cell: the apoplast, the chloroplast and the cytosol. We found that targeting to the apoplast provided the highest amount of correctly processed and biologically active hGH, with a yield of up to 10% of total soluble protein or 1 mg per gram of fresh weight leaf biomass. These results indicate that the use of viral vectors for high-yield production of human therapeutic proteins in plants by transient expression provides an attractive alternative to production protocols using standard expression vectors in transgenic or transplastomic plants.     

Selective removal of N-terminal methionine from recombinant human growth hormone by an aminopeptidase isolated from Aspergillus flavus

An aminopeptidase was isolated from a soil fungus, which specifically cleaves the unnatural N-terminal methionine in recombinant human growth hormone. Reaction mixtures with different ratios of aminopeptidase to recombinant methionyl human growth hormone showed that the removal of N-terminal methionine was complete at 1:200 (w/w), and more than 90% complete at ratios up to 1:2000 (w/w) when incubated for 24 h at 37°C. The data indicate that the aminopeptidase we have purified can be used for the efficient conversion of unnatural recombinant proteins to their natural form. Received 18 September 1997/ Accepted in revised form 17 April 1998     

Regulation of hepatic growth hormone receptors by insulin.

Induction of diabetes in the rat with streptozotocin caused a decrease in the specific binding of human growth hormone to liver receptors. The decrease was due to a loss of binding sites, with no change in the affinity constant for growth hormone (5.6 × 10⁹M^?1). A highly significant correlation was seen between serum insulin levels and hepatic growth hormone binding. Specific insulin binding to hepatic receptors was increased in diabetes, with a highly significant negative correlation between serum insulin levels and insulin binding. The loss of growth hormone receptors was reversed by treating diabetic rats with insulin. Since hormones which bind to “lactogenic” binding sites in the liver are reported to regulate somatomedin levels, the insulin dependence of human growth hormone receptors might account for the decrease in serum somatomedin in diabetes.     

Thermodynamic characterization of an intermediate state of human growth hormone.

The thermal denaturation of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD). The thermal unfolding is reversible only below pH 3.5, and under these conditions a single two-state transition was observed between 0 and 100 degrees C. The magnitudes of the deltaH and deltaCp of this transition indicate that it corresponds to a partial unfolding of rhGH. This is also supported by CD data, which show that significant secondary structure remains after the unfolding. Above pH 3.5 the thermal denaturation is irreversible due to the aggregation of rhGH upon unfolding. This aggregation is prevented in aqueous solutions of alcohols such as n-propanol, 2-propanol, or 1,2-propanediol (propylene glycol), which suggests that the self-association of rhGH is caused by hydrophobic interactions. In addition, it was found that the native state of rhGH is stable in relatively high concentrations of propylene glycol (up to 45% v/v at pH 7-8 or 30% at pH 3) and that under these conditions the thermal unfolding is cooperative and corresponds to a transition from the native state to a partially folded state, as observed at acidic pH in the absence of alcohols. In higher concentrations of propylene glycol, the tertiary structure of rhGH is disrupted and the cooperativity of the unfolding decreases. Moreover, the CD and DSC data indicate that a partially folded intermediate with essentially native secondary structure and disordered tertiary structure becomes significantly populated in 70-80% propylene glycol.     

转人生长激素鼠胚成纤维细胞的暂态表达方法的初步确立

探讨作为转基因克隆动物核供体的、不具备分泌人生长激素（hGH）功能的转hGH鼠胚胎成纤维细胞（tEF）体外表达人生长激素的简便的暂态表达方法。首先,转染,3d后筛选出G418,与无hGH分泌的人乳腺癌细胞株（MCF-7）在聚乙二醇（PEG）作用下融合,培养1～2d,放射免疫分析方法检测相同数量的MCF-7组、转染MCF-7组、tEF组以及融合细胞共4组培养液中hGH的表达。结果显示tEF组和MCF-7组均无hGH表达;二者的融合细胞组培养液中hGH表达量可高达0.84mIU/L。可见,不表达hGH的tEF与MCF-7融合形成的杂种细胞,可作为暂态表达系统检测转基因细胞的表达。     

Apparatus and method for preparative gel electrophoresis

A new apparatus for preparative gel electrophoresis with continuous elution which includes a miniaturized electrode and elution chamber system is described. The design provides high resolution, high yield, applicability for small and large amounts of peptide material, and easy operation. Furthermore, the apparatus enables a very accurate gel column or gel gradient to be formed. A method for preparative gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate which allows the purification of peptides and proteins without concurrently modifying tryptophane residues or blocking N-terminal α-amino groups is also described.     

Optimization of a recombinant human growth hormone purification process using quality by design

This work describes a strategy to optimize a downstream processing of a recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) by incorporating a quality by design approach toward meeting higher quality specifications. The optimized process minimized the presence of impurities and degradation by-products during manufacturing by the establishment of in-process controls. Capillary zone electrophoresis, reverse phase, and size-exclusion chromatographies were used as analytical techniques to establish new critical process parameters for the solubilization, capture, and intermediate purification steps aiming to maintain rhGH quality by complying with pharmacopeial specifications. The results indicated that the implemented improvements in the process allowed the optimization of the specific recovery and purification of rhGH without compromising its quality. In addition, this optimization facilitated the stringent removal of the remaining impurities in further polishing stages, as demonstrated by the analysis of the obtained active pharmaceutical ingredient.     

SEC-HPLC法测定重组人生长激素注射液中苯酚含量

采用SEC-HPLC法测定重组人生长激素注射液中苯酚的含量。色谱柱为TSK G2000SWxL（7.8×300mm,5μ）,流动相为PB（pH值7.0）-异丙醇（97∶3）,流速0.6 mL/min,检测波长214nm,柱温25℃。苯酚在0.10～1.00 mg/mL浓度范围内线性关系良好,r=0.99915;最低检测限为0.5 ng/mL;平均回收率101.48%,RSD=0.58%（n=9）;3批重组人生长激素注射液中苯酚的含量分别为2.98、3.02和2.96 mg/mL,分别为标示量的99.33%、100.67%和98.67%。SEC-HPLC法环保、准确、快速、可靠,可用于重组人生长激素注射液中苯酚含量的测定。     

Escherichia coli “TatExpress” strains super‐secrete human growth hormone into the bacterial periplasm by the Tat pathway

Numerous high‐value proteins are secreted into the Escherichia coli periplasm by the General Secretory (Sec) pathway, but Sec‐based production chassis cannot handle many potential target proteins. The Tat pathway offers a promising alternative because it transports fully folded proteins; however, yields have been too low for commercial use. To facilitate Tat export, we have engineered the TatExpress series of super‐secreting strains by introducing the strong inducible bacterial promoter, ptac , upstream of the chromosomal tatABCD operon, to drive its expression in E. coli strains commonly used by industry (e.g., W3110 and BL21). This modification significantly improves the Tat‐dependent secretion of human growth hormone (hGH) into the bacterial periplasm, to the extent that secreted hGH is the dominant periplasmic protein after only 1 hr induction. TatExpress strains accumulate in excess of 30 mg L^?1 periplasmic recombinant hGH, even in shake flask cultures. A second target protein, an scFv, is also shown to be exported at much higher rates in TatExpress strains.

     

Properties of human growth hormone binding sites solubilized from female rabbit kidney

Human growth hormone binding sites from female rabbit kidney microsomes were solubilized by treatment with the nonionic detergent Triton X-100. The binding of ¹²⁵I-labelled human growth hormone to the solubilized sites retains many of the properties observed in the particulate fraction, such as saturability, reversibility, high affinity and structural specificity. The association and the dissociation process are time- and temperature-dependent. The association rate constant, k₁, is 1.6·10⁷ mol^?1·l·min^?1 at 25°C, and the dissociation rate constant, k_?1, is 2.8·10^?4 min^?1 at 25°C. Solubilization causes an increase in affinity as well as in binding capacity. Scatchard plots from saturation curves suggest the presence of a single class of binding site with a dissociation equilibrium constant, K_d, of 1.3·10^?11 M and a binding capacity of 133 fmol/mg of protein. Similar results were obtained from competition experiments. Specificity studies revealed the lactogenic characteristics of the solubilized sites. The Stokes radii of the free binding sites and of the ¹²⁵I-labelled human growth hormone-binding site complex, determined on a Sepharose CL-6B column, are 57 and 53 Å, respectively.     

NMR studies of the backbone flexibility and structure of human growth hormone: a comparison of high and low pH conformations

(15)N NMR relaxation parameters and amide (1)H/(2)H-exchange rates have been used to characterize the structural flexibility of human growth hormone (rhGH) at neutral and acidic pH. Our results show that the rigidity of the molecule is strongly affected by the solution conditions. At pH 7.0 the backbone dynamics parameters of rhGH are uniform along the polypeptide chain and their values are similar to those of other folded proteins. In contrast, at pH 2.7 the overall backbone flexibility increases substantially compared to neutral pH and the average order parameter approaches the lower limit expected for a folded protein. However, a significant variation of the backbone dynamics through the molecule indicates that under acidic conditions the mobility of the residues becomes more dependent on their location within the secondary structure units. In particular, the order parameters of certain loop regions decrease dramatically and become comparable to those found in unfolded proteins. Furthermore, the HN-exchange rates at low pH reveal that the residues most protected from exchange are clustered at one end of the helical bundle, forming a stable nucleus. We suggest that this nucleus maintains the overall fold of the protein under destabilizing conditions. We therefore conclude that the acid state of rhGH consists of a structurally conserved, but dynamically more flexible helical core surrounded by an aura of highly mobile, unstructured loops. However, in spite of its prominent flexibility the acid state of rhGH cannot be considered a "molten globule" state because of its high stability. It appears from our work that under certain conditions, a protein can tolerate a considerable increase in flexibility of its backbone, along with an increased penetration of water into its core, while still maintaining a stable folded conformation.     

Expression system for recombinant human growth hormone production from Bacillus subtilis

We demonstrate for the first time, an expression system mimicking serine alkaline protease synthesis and secretion, producing native form of human growth hormone (hGH) from Bacillus subtilis. A hybrid‐gene of two DNA fragments, i.e., signal (pre‐) DNA sequence of B. licheniformis serine alkaline protease gene (subC) and cDNA encoding hGH, were cloned into pMK4 and expressed under deg‐promoter in B. subtilis. Recombinant‐hGH (rhGH) produced by B. subtilis carrying pMK4::pre(subC)::hGH was secreted. N‐terminal sequence and mass spectrometry analyses of rhGH confirm the mature hGH sequence, and indicate that the signal peptide was properly processed by B. subtilis signal‐peptidase. The highest rhGH concentration was obtained at t = 32 h as C_rhGH = 70 mg L^?1 with a product yield on substrate Y_rhGH/S = 9 g kg^?1, in a glucose based defined medium. Fermentation characteristics and influence of hGH gene on the rhGH production were investigated by comparing B. subtilis carrying pMK4::pre(subC)::hGH with that of carrying merely pMK4. Excreted organic‐acid concentrations were higher by B. subtilis carrying pMK4::pre(subC)::hGH, whereas excreted amino‐acid concentrations were higher by B. subtilis carrying pMK4. The approach developed is expected to be applicable to the design of expression systems for heterologous protein production from Bacillus species. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009