牛抗菌肽Bac7-Bac5融合基因在大肠杆菌中的过表达，纯化及抑菌活性

牛抗菌肽Bac7和Bac5是一种线性阳离子小分子多肽,在机体天然免疫和获得性免疫中都发挥着重要作用。本研究根据Gen bank中公布的牛抗菌肽bac7和bac5成熟肽基因序列,人工合成了融合基因Bac7-Bac5片段,克隆于原核表达载体pET32(a+)中构建了重组表达载体（pET-B7-B5）,将其转化于E coli BL21(DE3) 中实现了重组蛋白B7-B5（rB7-B5）的过表达,表达的rB7-B5以包涵体形式存在,rB7-B5表达量约占细菌总蛋白的36.6％,分子量大小为33kD,与预测大小相符。以经Ni亲和层析柱纯化和多步透析法复性的rB7-B5,对猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌和耐药性大肠杆菌具有很好的抑菌活性,本研究为新型抗菌制剂的研制和开发奠定了基础。     

Fusion peptides and the mechanism of viral fusion

Segments of viral fusion proteins play an important role in viral fusion. They are defined by a number of criteria, including the sensitivity of this region of the viral fusion protein to loss of function as a consequence of mutation. In addition, small model peptides designed to mimic this segment of viral fusion proteins often have some membrane perturbing activity. The properties of viral fusion peptides are quite varied. Many are found at the amino terminus of viral fusion proteins. As isolated peptides, they have been found to form both α-helical as well as β-structure. In addition, some viruses have internal fusion peptides. Just as there are several structural motifs for viral fusion peptides, there are also several mechanisms by which they accelerate the process of membrane fusion. These include the promotion of negative curvature, lowering the rupture tension of the lipid monolayer, acting as an anchor to join the fusion membranes, transmitting a force to the membrane or imparting energy to the system by other means. It is not likely that the fusion peptide can fulfill all of these diverse roles and future studies will elucidate which of these mechanisms is most important for the action of individual viral fusion peptides.     

Methodology for identification of pore forming antimicrobial peptides from soy protein subunits β-conglycinin and glycinin

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) inactivate microbial cells through pore formation in cell membrane. Because of their different mode of action compared to antibiotics, AMPs can be effectively used to combat drug resistant bacteria in human health. AMPs can also be used to replace antibiotics in animal feed and immobilized on food packaging films. In this research, we developed a methodology based on mechanistic evaluation of peptide-lipid bilayer interaction to identify AMPs from soy protein. Production of AMPs from soy protein is an attractive, cost-saving alternative for commercial consideration, because soy protein is an abundant and common protein resource. This methodology is also applicable for identification of AMPs from any protein. Initial screening of peptide segments from soy glycinin (11S) and soy β-conglycinin (7S) subunits was based on their hydrophobicity, hydrophobic moment and net charge. Delicate balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions is necessary for pore formation. High hydrophobicity decreases the peptide solubility in aqueous phase whereas high hydrophilicity limits binding of the peptide to the bilayer. Out of several candidates chosen from the initial screening, two peptides satisfied the criteria for antimicrobial activity, viz. (i) lipid-peptide binding in surface state and (ii) pore formation in transmembrane state of the aggregate. This method of identification of antimicrobial activity via molecular dynamics simulation was shown to be robust in that it is insensitive to the number of peptides employed in the simulation, initial peptide structure and force field. Their antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli was further confirmed by spot-on-lawn test.     

BLyS受体TACI、BCMA与人IgG1 Fc融合蛋白在哺乳动物细胞中的表达与鉴定

从人肝脏和肾脏cDNA文库中扩增了人IgG1Fc与B淋巴细胞刺激因子 (BLyS)的受体TACI及BCMA的胞外编码区 ,构建了TACI Fc及BCMA Fc融合表达质粒pSec1 Fc TACI与 pSec1 Fc BCMA ,并使用电穿孔法转染COS 7细胞 ,从 1L无血清培养上清中可纯化得到分泌表达的TACI Fc与BCMA Fc融合蛋白约 2mg。为获得TACI Fc与BCMA Fc的稳定来源 ,构建了TACI Fc与BCMA Fc的CHO稳定表达细胞株。免疫沉淀和ELISA结果显示 ,TACI Fc及BCMA Fc能特异性地结合其配体BLyS而不与BLyS同家族的TNF结合。TACI Fc及BCMA Fc可阻断BLyS对体外培养的小鼠B淋巴细胞的促增殖作用     

Expression,purification and characterization of hepatitis B virus X protein BH3-like motif-linker-Bcl-xL fusion protein for structural studies

Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is a multifunctional protein that interacts directly with many host proteins. For example, HBx interacts with anti-apoptotic proteins, Bcl-2 and Bcl-x_L, through its BH3-like motif, which leads to elevated cytosolic calcium levels, efficient viral DNA replication and the induction of apoptosis. To facilitate sample preparation and perform detailed structural characterization of the complex between HBx and Bcl-x_L, we designed and purified a recombinant HBx BH3-like motif-linker-Bcl-x_L fusion protein produced in E. coli. The fusion protein was characterized by size exclusion chromatography, circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. Our results show that the fusion protein is a monomer in aqueous solution, forms a stable intramolecular complex, and likely retains the native conformation of the complex between Bcl-x_L and the HBx BH3-like motif. Furthermore, the HBx BH3-like motif of the intramolecular complex forms an α-helix. These observations indicate that the fusion protein should facilitate structural studies aimed at understanding the interaction between HBx and Bcl-x_L at the atomic level.     

两种水生动物抗菌肽的原核表达及活性分析

将两种水生动物分泌的抗菌肽基因克隆到原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1上,构建了pGEX-Y18和pGEX-CEC1两个融合蛋白表达载体,转化至E.coli Rosetta 中进行表达,表达的融合蛋白主要以包涵体形式存在。融合蛋白经复性、酶切处理获得抗菌肽Y18和CEC1。抑菌实验结果表明:融合蛋白GST-Y18和GST-CEC1、抗菌肽Y18和CEC1都能有效地抑制E. coli DH5α、S. aureus、B. subtilis和S. cerevisiae的生长。     

Specific and efficient cleavage of fusion proteins by recombinant plum pox virus NIa protease

Site-specific proteases are the most popular kind of enzymes for removing the fusion tags from fused target proteins. Nuclear inclusion protein a (NIa) proteases obtained from the family Potyviridae have become promising due to their high activities and stringencies of sequences recognition. NIa proteases from tobacco etch virus (TEV) and tomato vein mottling virus (TVMV) have been shown to process recombinant proteins successfully in vitro. In this report, recombinant PPV (plum pox virus) NIa protease was employed to process fusion proteins with artificial cleavage site in vitro. Characteristics such as catalytic ability and affecting factors (salt, temperature, protease inhibitors, detergents, and denaturing reagents) were investigated. Recombinant PPV NIa protease expressed and purified from Escherichia coli demonstrated efficient and specific processing of recombinant GFP and SARS-CoV nucleocapsid protein, with site F (N V V V H Q black triangle down A) for PPV NIa protease artificially inserted between the fusion tags and the target proteins. Its catalytic capability is similar to those of TVMV and TEV NIa protease. Recombinant PPV NIa protease reached its maximal proteolytic activity at approximately 30 degrees C. Salt concentration and only one of the tested protease inhibitors had minor influences on the proteolytic activity of PPV NIa protease. Recombinant PPV NIa protease was resistant to self-lysis for at least five days.     

Structure and function of a paramyxovirus fusion protein

Paramyxoviruses initiate infection by attaching to cell surface receptors and fusing viral and cell membranes. Viral attachment proteins, hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN), hemagglutinin (HA), or glycoprotein (G), bind receptors while fusion (F) proteins direct membrane fusion. Because paramyxovirus fusion is pH independent, virus entry occurs at host cell plasma membranes. Paramyxovirus fusion also usually requires co-expression of both the attachment protein and the fusion (F) protein. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has assumed increased importance as a prototype paramyxovirus because crystal structures of both the NDV F protein and the attachment protein (HN) have been determined. Furthermore, analysis of structure and function of both viral glycoproteins by mutation, reactivity of antibody, and peptides have defined domains of the NDV F protein important for virus fusion. These domains include the fusion peptide, the cytoplasmic domain, as well as heptad repeat (HR) domains. Peptides with sequences from HR domains inhibit fusion, and characterization of the mechanism of this inhibition provides evidence for conformational changes in the F protein upon activation of fusion. Both proteolytic cleavage of the F protein and interactions with the attachment protein are required for fusion activation in most systems. Subsequent steps in membrane merger directed by F protein are poorly understood.     

Immobilisation of bovine enterokinase and application of the immobilised enzyme in fusion protein cleavage

Two immobilisation methods for enterokinase were developed, which yielded high remaining activities for the cleavage of the fusion protein MUC1-IgG Fc. Different carrier materials were compared regarding remaining enzyme activity and storage stability. Immobilisation procedures involving support material activation using glutardialdehyde were found to result in low remaining activities. Applying less aggressive activation procedures, remaining activities of approximately 60% were received when immobilising enterokinase on either Estapor paramagnetic microspheres or hexamethylamino Sepabeads. In case of hexamethylamino Sepabeads we were able to increase the half-life time 4.3-fold at 23 degrees C and 3.8-fold at 4 degrees C compared to the free enzyme at the same temperatures. By immobilising the biocatalyst the downstream process is simplified allowing the easy removal of the enzyme from the reaction mixture. The immobilised enterokinase cleaves the fusion protein MUC1-IgG Fc in at least two repeated batches, proving the efficiency of the immobilisation method and the reusability of the biocatalyst.     

Fluorescence anisotropy assay for proteolysis of specifically labeled fusion proteins

A cloning method and plasmid vectors that permit fluorescence-anisotropy-based measurement of proteolysis are reported. The recombinant protein substrates produced by this method contain a tetracysteine motif that can be site-specifically labeled with bis-arsenical fluorophore [Science 281 (1998) 269]. Six protein substrates with an N-terminal fusion of the tetracysteine motif and different protease recognition sites were created and tested for reaction with commercial proteases commonly used to process recombinant fusion proteins. In each case, proteolysis of a single susceptible peptide bond could be monitored in real time and with sufficient data quality to allow numerical analysis of proteolysis reaction kinetics. Measurement of proteolysis extent using fluorescence anisotropy is shown to be comparable to densitometry measurements made on denaturing polyacrylamide gels but with the added advantages implicit in a time-resolved measurement, quantification by a spectroscopic measurement, and facile extensibility to high-throughput formats. The assay was also demonstrated as a general tool for monitoring proteolysis of multidomain fusion proteins containing an internal protease site such as are being created in structural genomics studies worldwide.     

Studies of membranotropic and fusogenic activity of two putative HCV fusion peptides

Over the past decades, membranotropic peptides such as positively charged cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) or amphipathic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have received increasing interest in order to improve therapeutic agent cellular uptake.As far as we are concerned, we were interested in studying HCV fusion peptides as putative anchors. Two peptides, HCV6 and HCV7, were identified and conjugated to a fluorescent tag NBD and tested for their interaction with liposomes as model membranes. DSC and spectrofluorescence analyses demonstrate HCV7 propensity to insert or internalize in vesicles containing anionic lipids DMPG whereas no activity was observed with zwitterionic DMPC. This behavior could be explained by the peptide sequence containing a cationic arginine residue. On the contrary, HCV6 did not exhibit any membranotropic activity but was the only sequence able to induce liposomes' fusion or aggregation monitored by spectrofluorescence and DLS. This two peptides mild activity was related to their inefficient structuration in contact with membrane mimetics, which was demonstrated by CD and NMR experiments.Altogether, our data allowed us to identify two promising membrane-active peptides from E1 and E2 HCV viral proteins, one fusogenic (HCV6) and the other membranotropic (HCV7). The latter was also confirmed by fluorescence microscopy with CHO cells, indicating that HCV7 could cross the plasma membrane via an endocytosis process. Therefore, this study provides new evidences supporting the identification of HCV6 as the HCV fusion peptide as well as insights on a novel membranotropic peptide from the HCV-E2 viral protein.     

鸡源抗菌肽Fowlicidin-2在大肠杆菌中的 重组表达及其生物学活性鉴定

【目的】对抗菌肽Fowlicidin-2基因进行克隆与表达,并鉴定其生物学活性。【方法】根据抗菌肽Fowlicidin-2氨基酸序列,依照大肠杆菌(E.coli)密码子的偏爱性,人工设计合成其编码基因。与质粒pET-32a连接,构建重组表达载体,转化表达宿主菌E.coliBL21(DE3),IPTG诱导表达,融合蛋白经溴化氰裂解后进行纯化,测定重组抗菌肽的抑菌活性。【结果】Fowlicidin-2融合蛋白以包涵体形式表达,经溴化氰裂解后,成功释放出Fowlicidin-2,获得的重组Fowlicidin-2对革兰氏阳性菌和革兰氏阴性菌均有明显的抑菌效果。【结论】实现了抗菌肽Fowlicidin-2的重组表达,为抗菌肽的重组量化制备提供了理论基础与技术手段。     

Effect of physicochemical properties of peptides from soy protein on their antimicrobial activity

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) kill microbial cells through insertion and damage/permeabilization of the cytoplasmic cell membranes and has applications in food safety and antibiotic replacement. Soy protein is an attractive, abundant natural source for commercial production of AMPs. In this research, explicit solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was employed to investigate the effects of (i) number of total and net charges, (ii) hydrophobicity (iii) hydrophobic moment and (iv) helicity of peptides from soy protein on their ability to bind to lipid bilayer and their transmembrane aggregates to form pores. Interaction of possible AMP segments from soy protein with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (POPC/POPG) bilayers, a mimic of bacterial cell membrane, was investigated. Pore formation was insensitive to helicity and occurred for hydrophobicity threshold in the range of −0.3–0 kcal/mol, hydrophobic moment threshold of 0.3 kcal/mol, net charge threshold of 2. Though low hydrophobicity and high number of charges help in the formation of water channel for transmembrane aggregates, insertion of peptides with these properties requires overcome of energy barrier, as shown by potential of mean force calculations, thereby resulting in low antimicrobial activity. Experimental evaluation of antimicrobial activity of these peptides against Gram positive L. monocytogenes and Gram negative E. coli as obtained by spot-on-lawn assay was consistent with simulation results. These results should help in the development of guidelines for selection of peptides with antimicrobial activity based on their physicochemical properties.     

黄鳍金枪鱼抗菌肽YFGAP在大肠杆菌中融合表达及其活性检测

【目的】抗菌肽YFGAP由32个氨基酸组成,分子量为3.4 kD,对革兰氏阳性菌(G+)和革兰氏阴性菌(G?)表现出强效的抑制作用,不具有溶血活性。在大肠杆菌中表达抗菌肽YFGAP,分离纯化抗菌肽并鉴定其生物学活性。【方法】化学合成EK-YFGAP和L-EK-YFGAP基因序列,构建表达载体pET22b-ELP20-EK-YFGAP、pET22b-ELP40-EK-YFGAP和pET22b-ELP40-L-EK- YFGAP,分别转化至大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中诱导表达,可逆相变循环纯化融合蛋白。肠激酶酶切,经Vivaspin Turbo纯化柱纯化,测定重组抗菌肽的抑菌活性和溶血活性。【结果】纯化出两种融合蛋白ELP40-EK-YFGAP和ELP40-L-EK-YFGAP,肠激酶酶切纯化后获得重组抗菌肽YFGAP,对4种病原菌均有抑制效果,溶血活性较低。【结论】以ELPs作为非色谱纯化标签,实现了抗菌肽YFGAP的融合表达,具有操作简单、成本低、易于扩大的优势,为重组抗菌肽的量化制备及应用提供了理论基础和技术支持。     

Interaction of fusogenic peptides with an antisense oligonucleotide in solution and in the presence of micelles: conformational studies

The conformational effect of the interaction between various fusogenic peptides and an 18mer single stranded antisense oligonucleotide (ODN), targeted towards the green fluorescent protein mRNA, has been studied by circular dichroism spectroscopy in water and in the presence of anionic lysolipid micelles. The peptides used were the third helix of Antennapedia homeodomain pAntp-(43-58), the flock house virus FHV-gamma-(364-407) peptide, and its N-terminal gamma1-(364-384) and C-terminal gamma2-(390-407) fragments. The most significant conformational changes were observed in ODN-pAntp-(43-58) and ODN-FHV-gamma2 complexes. The pAntp-(43-58) forms a complex with ODN through electrostatic interaction resulting in profound changes in the conformation of both the peptide and the ODN. In the case of FHV-gamma2 peptide the complex formation takes place without altering the structure of ODN, and the decreased ratio of deltaepsilon208/deltaepsilon222 reflects the insertion of the complexed peptide into the micelle.     

融合表达氨基转移酶DsaD和异构酶DsaE合成L-别异亮氨酸

【背景】L-异亮氨酸(L-isoleucine,L-Ile)和L-别异亮氨酸(L-allo-isoleucine,L-allo-Ile)是自然界中广泛存在的一对同分异构体。抗感染抗生素Desotamides结构中含L-别异亮氨酸结构单元,其生物合成途径中的氨基转移酶DsaD和异构酶DsaE可以协作催化L-异亮氨酸和L-别异亮氨酸相互转化。【目的】通过理性设计,使氨基转移酶DsaD和异构酶DsaE融合表达,研究融合蛋白DsaDE催化异亮氨酸和别异亮氨酸相互转化的功能。【方法】利用PCR分别扩增dsaE基因编码区DNA片段、以及含dsaD基因编码区和114个碱基接头序列的DNA片段dsaD-linker,利用酶切位点KpnI将dsaE和dsaD-linker相连,形成das DE重组序列,并克隆至pET28a(+)中,将重组质粒pET28a-dsaDE转化至Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)中进行融合表达,利用Ni-NTA亲和层析法纯化融合蛋白DsaDE;分别以L-异亮氨酸和L-别异亮氨酸为底物进行融合蛋白的体外酶活性检测,利用高效液相色谱对酶反应产物进行分析。【结果】PCR验证、酶切验证以及测序结果证明pET28a-dsaDE重组载体具有正确序列;N-末端和C-末端融合6个组氨酸标签的融合蛋白DsaDE在E. coli BL21(DE3)中获得可溶性表达,经Ni-NTA亲和层析法一步纯化获得纯度约95%的融合蛋白,纯化的融合蛋白DsaDE具有较好的活性,能够催化L-isoleucine和L-allo-isoleucine间的相互转化。【结论】氨基转移酶DsaD和异构酶DsaE成功融合表达,经一步Ni-NTA亲和层析法纯化即可获得纯度较高的融合蛋白,融合蛋白同时具有氨基转移酶和异构酶的活性,为进一步研究L-别异亮氨酸的工业化生产奠定了基础。     

人呼吸道合胞病毒融合蛋白(F)片段原核表达、纯化和鉴定

目的克隆并表达人呼吸道合胞病毒(Human respiratory syncytial virus,HRSV)兰州株的融合蛋白(F)基因片段。方法利用PCR技术扩增HRSV兰州株的融合蛋白基因片段,克隆于原核表达载体pET-42b(+),转化大肠杆菌(Rosetta),经IPTG诱导表达,镍离子亲和层析柱纯化,SDS-PAGE和Western-blot分析重组蛋白的表达及其反应原性。结果 PCR扩增得到951 bp的DNA片段,重组质粒pET42b-F经酶切鉴定和测序分析,表明质粒构建正确。表达的重组蛋白的相对分子质量为68 710,表达的重组蛋白占总菌体蛋白的7%,纯化后蛋白纯度达80%。经Western-blot分析,重组蛋白与抗RSV的单抗呈专一性强阳性反应。结论成功构建了HRSV兰州株F基因片段原核表达载体,并在大肠杆菌Rosetta中获得了表达,表达的重组蛋白具有反应原性和特异性,为HRSV感染引起的疾病血清学诊断以及试剂盒的研发提供了材料。     

Dimorphic aggregation behavior of a fusion polypeptide incorporating a stable protein domain (EGFP) with an amyloidogenic sequence (retroCspA)

We describe the behavior of a polypeptide consisting of the genetic fusion of a structurally stable single-domain protein, EGFP (an analog of the green fluorescent protein) with an amyloidogenic sequence, retroCspA (known to readily form amyloid fibrils). Refolding of the fusion protein through single-step removal of denaturant and salt results in precipitation into amyloid aggregates displaying fibrillar morphology, thioflavin T binding as well as green fluorescence. Refolding through step-wise reduction of denaturant concentration in the presence of salt yields a soluble aggregate containing a folded, thermally-stable, non-fluorescent EGFP domain. Together, these results indicate that retroCspA forces the fusion protein to aggregate; however, the EGFP domain remains folded in a native-like structural format in both soluble aggregates and precipitates.