大肠杆菌K1致病株外膜蛋白T体外功能

纤溶酶原激活及水解抗菌肽利于致病菌侵袭及体内存活。【目的】构建大肠杆菌K1致病株E44的ompT基因缺失突变株,证实E44外膜蛋白T(OmpT)体外激活纤溶酶原及水解抗菌肽鱼精蛋白的活性。【方法】采用基因同源重组技术敲除大肠杆菌K1株E44中的ompT基因,构建ompT缺失突变株;二步柱层析纯化E44外膜组分,S-2251发色底物法测定其纤溶酶原激活活性;考察野生株E44、ompT基因敲除株E44ompT及转化带有ompT完整阅读框的质粒pUCT的E44ompT/pUCT三者对0.1mg/mL阳离子抗菌肽鱼精蛋白的敏感程度。【结果】利用自杀性载体pCVD442和同源重组的原理构建E44的ompT基因敲除株E44ompT;纯化得到约37kDa的E44外膜组分,S-2251发色底物法证实其具有纤溶酶原激活活性,纤溶酶原激活与膜组分的加入量呈一定量效关系;与野生株E44相比,ompT敲除株E44ompT对0.1mg/mL鱼精蛋白敏感,转化入带有ompT完整序列的质粒pUCT有一定的回补作用,E44ompT部分恢复抗鱼精蛋白能力。【结论】外膜蛋白T在致病株E44中有表达,并具有激活纤溶酶原及水解鱼精蛋白的活性。     

蛇毒金属蛋白酶Alfimeprase在大肠杆菌中的表达、纯化及活性检测

目的:应用大肠杆菌表达系统表达纤溶性蛇毒金属蛋白酶Alfimeprase。方法:运用PCR技术扩增人工合成的目的基因,引入Nde Ⅰ、EcoR Ⅰ双酶切位点;目的基因经Nde Ⅰ、EcoR Ⅰ双酶切后,克隆到pET22b载体上,然后将重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)进行胞内表达,对获得的包涵体进行体外透析复性;应用纤维蛋白原水解法、纤维蛋白平板法和纤维蛋白层叠法检测复性后蛋白的降纤活性。结果:目的蛋白以包涵体形式在大肠杆菌中获得高表达,复性后的蛋白具有降解纤维蛋白(原)的活性。结论:Alfimeprase包涵体可以通过复性获得活性产物。     

重组人BMP-2生物活性的鉴定

目的鉴定在大肠杆菌中表达的重组人骨形态发生蛋白2（recombinant human bone morphogeneticprotein-2,rhBMP-2）的生物学活性。方法构建重组人BMP-2的原核表达质粒,在大肠杆菌中诱导表达目的蛋白,纯化复性后,采用细胞及动物实验对其生物活性进行鉴定。结果细胞实验表明,重组人BMP-2具有诱导MC3T3-E1前成骨细胞向成骨细胞分化的特性。动物实验显示,重组人BMP-2在大鼠肌肉内具有诱导异位成骨功能。结论制备的重组人BMP-2具有较好的生物学活性。     

乙内酰脲水解酶基因在大肠杆菌中的克隆表达

节杆菌BT801的乙内酰脲酶系能够水解5-苄基乙内酰脲生成L-苯丙氨酸,其中乙内酰脲水解酶负责乙内酰脲的水解开环。乙内酰脲水解酶的表达对于乙内酰脲酶的催化机制研究及氨基酸的生物不对称合成都具有重要意义。通过PCR技术扩增得到乙内酰脲水解酶基因(hyuH),置于表达载体pT221的,17启动子下游,将构建的重组质粒引入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)。SDS-PAGE分析在相对分子量50kD处有一较强的表达带,经薄层扫描分析目的蛋白占全菌蛋白的40％,主要以可溶性形式存在,活性分析表明表达产物具有天然的酶活性。     

以MMP酶切位点为连接臂构建Vasostatin和TRAIL的融合蛋白及其生物学活性分析

以基质金属蛋白酶(MMP)酶切位点（PLGLWA）为连接臂,采用重组PCR技术获得血管形成抑制素(vasostatin,V）和肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体(TRAIL,T）的融合蛋白质编码序列,将该融合编码序列插入原核表达载体pMAL-c2中,重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21,IPTG诱导表达,分别得到MBP-VT和MBP-TV融合蛋白,Amylose Resin亲和层析柱纯化.初步纯化的融合蛋白MBP-VT在体外内皮细胞增殖抑制实验、肿瘤细胞凋亡诱导实验中显示了明显的活性,而MBP-TV的作用不明显;体外酶切实验和培养肿瘤细胞上清酶切融合蛋白的免疫印迹分析,证实融合蛋白MBP-VT皆能被正确酶切.上述结果表明成功表达了融合蛋白VT,该融合蛋白具有双重抗肿瘤活性,并可在肿瘤高表达的MMP作用下裂解为V和T.     

重组人RGD-sTRAIL的表达、纯化及抗肿瘤活性研究

利用PCR技术构建RGD短肽与人肿瘤坏死因子凋亡配体(胞外区114-281)的融合基因,将该DNA片段克隆到原核表达载体pET-11a中。重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),IPTG诱导后可表达相对分子质量约为20000的目的蛋白,占菌体蛋白的20％左右,且大多数重组蛋白以不溶的包涵体形式存在。Western印迹表明目的蛋白具有人sTRAIL的抗原性。表达产物经变性、复性、离子交换层析和分子筛等步骤,可以得到纯度大干95％的RGD-sTRAIL重组蛋白。肿瘤细胞体外实验发现,纯化后的RGD-sTRAIL重组蛋白能明显抑制人肺癌细胞A549生长,并呈剂量依赖性。研究结果表明,通过复性,包涵体中的RGD-sTRAIL蛋白得到正确的折叠,并在体外具有杀伤肿瘤细胞的活性,从而为进一步研究体内靶向性杀伤肿瘤细胞奠定了基础。     

蓝藻抗病毒蛋白-N基因的克隆、表达、纯化及活性鉴定

蓝藻抗病毒蛋白-N(Cyanovirin-N,CVN)具有强效抗HIV及其他包膜病毒活性,该蛋白序列特殊,难以重组制备,在大肠杆菌细胞质中形成包涵体。本研究根据大肠杆菌密码子偏好性对CVN原始核苷酸序列进行优化,通过多次PCR合成SUMO-CVN的全长DNA序列,构建pET3c-SUMO-CVN重组表达质粒,重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),获得表达菌株。通过对诱导剂浓度和诱导时间的优化,发现以0.5mmol/LIPTG在20℃诱导24h可获得最高表达,SDS-PAGE结果显示,SUMO-CVN为可溶性表达,表达量占菌体总蛋白的28%;经特异性的SUMO蛋白酶对融合蛋白进行酶切及两步Ni-NTA凝胶亲和层析可以得到纯度较高的重组CVN蛋白。ELISA结果表明,重组蛋白CVN与gp120蛋白有较高的亲和力。体外抗病毒活性实验表明,重组蛋白CVN在纳摩尔浓度具有很好的抗HSV-1和HIV-1/ⅢB活性;这为开发基于CVN的新型、高效抗病毒药物打下了基础。     

融合蛋白GST-Ulp1p在大肠杆菌中的高效可溶性表达及其活性鉴定

利用基因工程技术,体外重组小分子类泛素修饰蛋白酶1(Ulp1)的活性片段,获得高表达、高特异性重组蛋白酶。从酿酒酵母Saccharomyces cerevisia中提取Ulp1编码第403到621个氨基酸残基之间的DNA片段(Ulp1p),在其C端加入6×His并连接到大肠杆菌表达载体pGEX中,构建重组表达质粒pGEX-Ulp1p-his6。将重组质粒转化至大肠杆菌Rosetta(DE3)中,氨苄青霉素抗性筛选转化子。表达、纯化后,以SUMO融合蛋白检测其活性。经过优化,该蛋白可溶性表达,表达量占菌体总蛋白的40.12%。可通过谷胱甘肽琼脂糖凝胶柱或Ni-NTA凝胶亲和层析纯化得到纯度98%的蛋白。经酶切分析,比活力为1.375×104U/mg。融合蛋白GST-Ulp1p-His6无需切除谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GST)标签,具有很高的活性,制备简易;6×His标签,有利于底物蛋白切割后纯化,减少蛋白损失。本研究为制备高活力的SUMO蛋白酶提供了一个新方法。     

单纯疱疹病毒1型囊膜糖蛋白gD在大肠杆菌中的表达、纯化及其免疫活性的鉴定

目的:在大肠杆菌中表达1型单纯疱疹病毒(HSV-1)囊膜糖蛋白gD,纯化重组蛋白并对其免疫活性进行鉴定。方法:将HSV-1 gD 基因克隆入原核表达载体pET-28b,利用异丙基-B-D-硫代吡喃半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导重组质粒转化的大肠杆菌,探讨IPTG浓度、诱导时间、诱导温度对重组蛋白表达的影响;盐酸胍裂解变性包涵体,镍柱亲和层析法纯化gD蛋白,并对纯化后的蛋白进行透析复性;Western blot和ELISA检测gD蛋白的免疫活性。结果:酶切和测序结果表明gD基因克隆入pET-28b载体。该重组质粒转化的大肠杆菌经IPTG诱导后重组蛋白主要以包涵体形式存在,大小约40kDa。gD蛋白诱导表达的最佳条件为0.5mmol/L IPTG于37℃诱导8h。镍柱亲和层析法纯化获得的gD蛋白总量为3.1mg/L,透析复性后获得的gD蛋白总量为1.3mg/L,复性率为41.37%。Western blot及ELISA检测表明表达的gD蛋白具有免疫活性。结论:在大肠杆菌中表达并纯化获得具有免疫活性的HSV-1 gD蛋白,为进一步制备HSV-1诊断试剂和预防疫苗奠定了基础。     

重组人组织型纤溶酶原激活剂突变体基因的克隆、表达与生物活性鉴定

目的：研究重组人组织型纤溶酶原激剂突变体(reteplase,r-PA)基因的克隆和表达,并对表达产物进行活性鉴定。方法：通过PCR的方法从t-PA基因上扩增得到r-PA基因的编码序列,并克隆到pUC19载体中,经DNA测序正确后,将该基因克隆到含有,T7启动子的高效表达质粒pJZ-100中,转化E．coli BL21(DE3),得到含有r-PA基因的工程菌。工程菌经IPTG诱导表达,SDS-PAGE检测表达情况。提取包涵体,经过体外稀释法复性,亲和色谱层析纯化,测定产物的活性。结果：表达的重组蛋白约占可溶性总蛋白的20％,复性并纯化后测定活性为58000IU/mg。结论：成功构建了重组r-PA的表达质粒,表达产物具有良好的生物活性。     

OmpT expression and activity increase in response to recombinant chloramphenicol acetyltransferase overexpression and heat shock in E. coli

The activity of a 35 kDa protease increased in response to induced expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) in E. coli. This protease was partially purified, extensively characterized, and identified via the use of zymogram gels as the outer membrane protease, OmpT. In experiments targeting the overlap of well-characterized stress responses, OmpT activity was found to increase in response to heat shock but was only minimally affected by amino acid limitation. The largest increase in activity was found after induction of CAT. OmpT expression levels also increased in response to induction of recombinant CAT overexpression and heat shock. This is the first report of increased activity and expression of an outer membrane protease during cytoplasmic overexpression of a recombinant protein.     

ompT encodes the Escherichia coli outer membrane protease that cleaves T7 RNA polymerase during purification.

Bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase is stable in Escherichia coli but very susceptible to cleavage by at least one endoprotease after cell lysis. The major source of this endoprotease activity was found to be localized to the outer membrane of the cell. A rapid whole-cell assay was developed to screen different strains for the presence of this proteolytic activity. Using this assay, we identified some common laboratory strains that totally lack the protease. Genetic and Southern analyses of these null strains allowed us to conclude that the protease that cleaves T7 RNA polymerase is OmpT (formerly termed protein a), a known outer membrane endoprotease, and that the null phenotype results from deletion of the OmpT structural gene. A recombinant plasmid carrying the ompT gene enables these deletion strains to synthesize OmpT and converts them to a protease-positive phenotype. The plasmid led to overproduction of OmpT protein and protease activity in the E. coli K-12 and B strains we used, but only weak expression in the E. coli C strain, C1757. This strain-dependent difference in ompT expression was investigated with respect to the known influence of envZ on OmpT synthesis. A small deletion in the ompT region of the plasmid greatly diminishes the amount of OmpT protein and plasmid-encoded protease present in outer membranes. Use of ompT deletion strains for production of T7 RNA polymerase from the cloned gene has made purification of intact T7 RNA polymerase routine. Such strains may be useful for purification of other proteins expressed in E. coli.     

Prevalence of ompT among Escherichia coli isolates of human origin

OmpT is a protease associated with the outer membrane of Escherichia coli and possesses a high degree of homology to the plasminogen activator, Pla, of Yersinia pestis. We show here that OmpT from intact cells can indeed activate plasminogen. Clinical specimens of E. coli were examined for protease activity and for the ompT gene. Few isolates (12%) were found to be positive for OmpT activity, whereas most (77%) carried the ompT gene and expressed the cloned protease gene. In this report we present evidence suggesting that the surface architecture of E. coli influences the activity of OmpT and that OmpT may be indicative of the pathogenic potential of the organism.     

Substrate specificity of the Escherichia coli outer membrane protease OmpP

Escherichia coli OmpP is an F episome-encoded outer membrane protease that exhibits 71% amino acid sequence identity with OmpT. These two enzymes cleave substrate polypeptides primarily between pairs of basic amino acids. We found that, like OmpT, purified OmpP is active only in the presence of lipopolysaccharide. With optimal peptide substrates, OmpP exhibits high catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(m) = 3.0 x 10(6) M(-1)s(-1)). Analysis of the extended amino acid specificity of OmpP by substrate phage revealed that both Arg and Lys are strongly preferred at the P1 and P1' sites of the enzyme. In addition, Thr, Arg, or Ala is preferred at P2; Leu, Ala, or Glu is preferred at P4; and Arg is preferred at P3'. Notable differences in OmpP and OmpT specificities include the greater ability of OmpP to accept Lys at the P1 or P1', site as well as the prominence of Ser at P3 in OmpP substrates. Likewise, the OmpP P1 site could better accommodate Ser; as a result, OmpP was able to cleave a peptide substrate between Ser-Arg about 120 times more efficiently than was OmpT. Interestingly, OmpP and OmpT cleave peptides with three consecutive Arg residues at different sites, a difference in specificity that might be important in the inactivation of cationic antimicrobial peptides. Accordingly, we show that the presence of an F' episome results in increased resistance to the antimicrobial peptide protamine both in ompT mutants and in wild-type E. coli cells.     

Lipopolysaccharide regions involved in the activation of Escherichia coli outer membrane protease OmpT.

OmpT is an integral outer membrane protease of Escherichia coli. Overexpression of OmpT in E. coli and subsequent in vitro folding of the produced inclusion bodies yielded protein with a native-like structure. However, enzymatically active protease was only obtained after addition of the outer membrane lipid lipopolysaccharide (LPS). OmpT is the first example of an enzyme that requires LPS for activity. In this study, we investigated the nature of this activation. Circular dichroism analysis showed that binding of LPS did not lead to large structural changes. Titration of OmpT with LPS and determining the resulting OmpT activity with a fluorimetric assay yielded a dissociation constant of 10-4 m for E. coli K-12 LPS. Determining the dissociation constants for different LPS chemotypes revealed that a fully acylated lipid A part is minimally required for activation of OmpT. The heptose-bound phosphates in the inner core region were also important for activation. The affinity for LPS was not dependent on the concentration of substrate, neither was affinity for the substrate influenced by the concentration of LPS. This indicated that LPS most likely does not act at the level of substrate binding. We hypothesize that LPS induces a subtle conformational change in the protein that is required for obtaining a native active site geometry.     

Identification of essential acidic residues of outer membrane protease OmpT supports a novel active site

Escherichia coli outer membrane protease OmpT has previously been classified as a serine protease with Ser(99) and His(212) as active site residues. The recently solved X-ray structure of the enzyme was inconsistent with this classification, and the involvement of a nucleophilic water molecule was proposed. Here, we substituted all conserved aspartate and glutamate residues by alanines and measured the residual enzymatic activities of the variants. Our results support the involvement of a nucleophilic water molecule that is activated by the Asp(210)/His(212) catalytic dyad. Activity is also strongly dependent on Asp(83) and Asp(85). Both may function in binding of the water molecule and/or oxyanion stabilization. The proposed mechanism implies a novel proteolytic catalytic site.     

In vivo degradation of secreted fusion proteins by the Escherichia coli outer membrane protease OmpT.

The Escherichia coli outer membrane protease OmpT (protease VII) has been shown to degrade several proteins in vitro, but its function in vivo is uncertain. We demonstrate that OmpT participates in the degradation of a fusion protein secreted into the periplasmic space. A strain with mutations in degP (K.L. Strauch and J. Beckwith, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:1576-1580, 1988) and ompT exhibits a cumulative decrease in protein degradation and should be useful for the expression of proteolytically sensitive secreted proteins.     

Identification of active site serine and histidine residues in Escherichia coli outer membrane protease OmpT

Escherichia coli outer membrane protease OmpT has been characterised as a serine protease based on its inhibitor profile, but serine protease consensus sequences are absent. By site-directed mutagenesis we substituted all conserved serines and histidines. Substitution of His(101) and His(212) by Ala, Asn or Gln resulted in variant enzymes with 0.01 and 9-20% residual enzymatic activity towards a fluorogenic pentapeptide substrate, respectively. The mutations S140A and S201A did not decrease activity, while variants S40A and S99A yielded 0.5 and 0.2% residual activities, respectively. When measured with a dipeptide substrate the variant S40A demonstrated full activity, whereas variant S99A displayed at least 500-fold reduced activity. We conclude that Ser(99) and His(212) are essential active site residues. We propose that OmpT is a novel serine protease with Ser(99) as the active site nucleophile and His(212) as general base.     

Comparison of Escherichia coli K-12 outer membrane protease OmpT and Salmonella typhimurium E protein.

The predicted amino acid sequence of OmpT, an Escherichia coli outer membrane protease, was found to be highly homologous to that predicted for the pgtE gene product of Salmonella typhimurium. In this paper, it is shown that pgtE codes for a protein functionally homologous to OmpT as judged by its ability to proteolyze T7 RNA polymerase and to localize in the outer membrane of E. coli.     

Abridged region from Escherichia coli periplasmic stress sensor DegS acts as plasminogen activator in vitro

It is well known that the Escherichia coli inner membrane-bound protease DegS is a periplasmic stress sensor for unfolded outer membrane proteins (OMPs). Previous studies have also shown that the outer membrane protease OmpT activates plasminogen in vitro and this may be exploited by bacteria in the course of pathogenesis. However, there has been no research on the plasminogen activation ability of the important periplasmic protein DegS. Accordingly, in this study, the whole-length and truncated degS genes were separately overexpressed in Escherichia coli, the recombinant proteins purified by affinity chromatography, and their plasminogen activator role tested in vitro. The results suggested that the whole-length DegS was able to activate plasminogen on a plasma plate. The truncated form of DegS (residues 80-345), designated delta DegS, also acted as a plasminogen activator, as confirmed by different assays. The serine protease property of delta DegS was verified based on the complete inhibition of its enzyme activity by PMSF (phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride). Therefore, the present results indicate that DegS is a plasminogen activator in vitro.