Rat interleukin 6: expression in recombinant Escherichia coli, purification and development of a novel ELISA

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a cytokine involved in many aspects of the acute phase and immune responses. Cloning of rat IL-6 cDNA into the pET-21d expression plasmid under control of a bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase promoter system allowed isopropylthio-galactopyranoside (IPTG)-inducible production of recombinant rat IL-6 in Escherichia coli. The cloning, expression and purification of rat IL-6 is described. In this expression system, rat IL-6 was produced in insoluble inclusion bodies. The protein was solubilized in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride and refolded in a glutathione redox system. Refolded rat IL-6 was purified to homogeneity using anion-exchange chromatography on SP-Trisacryl. The purified recombinant rat IL-6 had a molecular mass of 21 756.38+/-0.25 Da, which is within 0.01% of the predicted value, taking into account cleavage of the N-terminal methionine residue and the formation of two disulfide bridges. Recombinant rat IL-6 was 2-3-fold more bioactive than the human standard preparation in the B9 hybridoma bioassay. Purified rat IL-6 was used to raise polyclonal antibodies in sheep and these reagents were used to develop a novel rat IL-6 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ELISA is sensitive to 10 pg/ml and has been shown to detect IL-6 in plasma from rats injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).     

重组人胰高血糖素样肽-1的表达、纯化及其生物学活性

为获得重组人胰高血糖素样肽 1[recombinanthumanglucagon likepeptide 1(7～ 37) ,rhGLP 1]并研究其生物学活性 ,采用亚磷酸二酯法合成hGLP 1cDNA的 6个寡核苷酸片段 ,拼接成完整的hGLP 1cDNA ,构建重组质粒pGEX hGLP 1,转化大肠杆菌BL2 1(DE3)获得表达菌株 .高密度发酵培养的菌体超声破碎后 ,裂解液用Glutathione Sepharose 4B亲和层析纯化得到GST融合蛋白 .经CNBr裂解、QAE SepharoseFF柱层析和脱盐 ,得到纯度大于 90 %的rhGLP 1,质谱测定分子量结果与理论值一致 .生物学活性分析表明 ,rhGLP 1具有明显的降血糖活性 .     

Small GTP binding proteins: Rab GTPases from the brain of Bombyx mori

From a mRNA of the brain of Bombyx mori, we isolated 8 cDNA clones (BRabs), each of which encodes a different member of Rab-protein family. Four of them have more than 80% amino acid identity to the corresponding members of Drosophila Rab proteins. The other 4 proteins show low sequence similarity to any of the known Rab proteins. However, all of them contain the region conserved in rab protein. Using RACE (Rapid Amplification of cDNA ends), the one full-length cDNA clone (BRab14) was isolated. The clone was expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein. After purification, the fusion protein was cut with protease to remove GST-Tag and applied to a glutathione S-Sepharose column. The protein bound [(3)H]-GDP with association constant of 1.02 x 10(11) M(-1). Further, the protein was phosphorylated by protein kinase. This result suggests that Rab protein in the brain of Bombyx mori binds GDP or GTP and its function is regulated by phosphorylation.     

大鼠RVLG cDNA的克隆、原核表达和小鼠抗RVLG蛋白多克隆抗体的制备

为了识别大鼠卵巢中的生殖细胞,在原核系统中表达和纯化RVLG蛋白并制备了多克隆抗体.采用RT-PCR方法从大鼠睾丸组织中扩增获得RVLG cDNA片段,然后克隆到pMD19-T载体上进行测序,经双酶切回收目的基因片段后,将其插入到原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1上,转入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中诱导表达.纯化后的GST-RVLG融合蛋白免疫昆明(KM)小鼠,最后给小鼠腹腔注射S180细胞制备抗RVLG腹水多克隆抗体.用Western blotting及免疫组织化学法鉴定RVLG腹水多克隆抗体的特异性,间接ELISA法测定该抗体的效价.序列分析表明,所克隆的RVLG cDNA片段比GenBank中报道的大鼠RVLG cDNA(NM_001077647)多60 bp,原因是由于RVLG的可变剪切方式造成的.本研究成功构建了重组表达质粒pGEX-RVLG,且GST-RVLG融合蛋白在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中高效表达,表达的目的蛋白占菌体总蛋白的10%以上.制备的抗体可特异性识别RVLG蛋白,其效价达1:20 000.获得的高效价、高特异性的小鼠抗RVLG蛋白腹水多克隆抗体为下阶段研究RVLG的特异性表达奠定了基础.     

De novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis: cloning, sequencing and expression of a chicken PurH cDNA encoding 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-ribonucleotide transformylase-IMP cyclohydrolase

The purH cDNA, encoding 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-ribonucleotide (AICAR) transformylase-inosine monophosphate cyclohydrolase (ATIC), was cloned by functional complementation of an Escherichia coli purH mutant using a chicken liver cDNA expression library. This represents the first report of the cloning of any eukaryotic ATIC-encoding cDNA (PurH). The avian ATIC mRNA is 2.3 kb long and encodes a protein with an Mr of 64,422. The deduced amino acid sequence is 36% identical to the bacterial purH-encoded enzymes from Bacillus subtilis and E. coli. The avian cDNA was expressed as a glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein that was purified in a single step by affinity chromatography. A novel vector was employed which permits rapid and highly efficient cleavage of the GST fusion protein yielding 10 mg of purified PurH product per liter of bacterial culture. Km values were determined with the purified fusion protein utilizing AICAR and (6-R)N10-formyl-tetrahydrofolate as substrates. These values compare favorably with the isolated avian enzyme, supporting the idea that kinetic, as well as other physical properties of the recombinant fusion protein are similar to the native avian enzyme. Large quantities of purified enzyme and the ability to generate site-directed mutations should make mechanistic studies possible. The recombinant enzyme also affords a simple and reliable approach to identifying new antifolates.     

Production of a biologically active human interleukin 18 requires its prior synthesis as PRO-IL-18

Interleukin (IL-)18 is an activator of NK cells and a co-inducer of Th(1)cytokines, sharing structural features with the IL-1 family of proteins. Unlike most other cytokines, IL-18 and IL-1beta lack a signal peptide, have an all beta-pleated sheet structure and are synthesized as biologically inactive precursors (pro-IL-18 and pro-IL-1beta). These precursors are cleaved by caspase-1 (IL-1beta-converting enzyme, ICE) to form the biologically active mature cytokines. Direct expression of mature recombinant human IL-18 in E. coli resulted in a partially active cytokine. We tested the possibility that correct folding of huIL-18 requires its prior synthesis as pro-IL-18. Because caspase-1 is not readily available, we constructed an expression vector encoding human pro-IL-18 in which the caspase-1 cleavage site was mutated into a factor Xa site. To facilitate purification, the mutated pro-IL-18 cDNA was fused in frame to a glutathione-S-transferase (GST) coding sequence. The GST-pro-IL-18 fusion protein was expressed in E. coli, captured on glutathione agarose and mature human IL-18, exhibiting high biological activity was released upon cleavage with factor Xa. This result indicates that correct folding of huIL-18 occurs at the level of pro-IL-18 and provides a practical way to produce biologically active huIL-18.     

Cloning and characterization of a Schistosoma mansoni 1H and 30S clones as two tegumental vaccine candidate antigens

Two Schistosoma mansoni cDNA clones 30S and 1H were identified by immunoscreening of sporocyst lambdagt11 library and by random sequencing of clones from lambdaZap libraries, respectively. Clone 30S was one of 30 clones identified by an antibody raised against tegument of 3-h schistosomules. The clone was found to encode an 81 amino-acid protein fragment. It was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein of calculated molecular mass of about 35 kDa with C-terminus of Schistosoma japonicum glutathione-S-transferase (Sj26; about 26 kDa). The recombinant fusion protein was specifically recognized by serum of rabbits immunized with irradiated cercariae. Clone 1H is one of 76 expressed sequence tags derived from an adult worm library. It encodes the complete sequence of a tegumental membrane protein, Sm13. The 104 amino-acid open reading frame encodes a protein with a calculated molecular mass of about 11.9 kDa. Clone 1H was expressed in E. coli as an insoluble fusion protein with Sj26 of about 40 kDa. In Western blots, the fusion protein was recognized by serum from rabbits vaccinated with irradiated cercariae but not by preimmune rabbit sera. The cloning, characterization and expression of those proteins are therefore potentially usefull for vaccine development.     

Expression of human cardiac-specific homeobox protein in Escherichia coli

Human cardiac-specific homeobox protein cDNA (hCsx) was cloned into expression plasmid pET32a and fused with Escherichia coli thioredoxin (Trx). The Trx-Csx fusion protein was under the control of bacteriophage T7 promoter. When expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3), about half of the recombinant Trx-Csx products existed in the form of insoluble inclusion bodies. When coexpressed with human protein disulfide isomerase, more than 90% of Trx-Csx products accumulated in the soluble form in the cell lysate. The recombinant Csx fusion protein was purified by one-step metal-chelating affinity chromatography.     

Expression of human interleukin-2 receptor cDNA in E. coli

cDNAs for human interleukin-2 receptor were recently cloned and sequenced (Leonard et al., 1984, Nature 311, 626-631; Nikaido et al., 1984, Nature 311, 631-635; Cosman et al., Nature 312, 768-771). In the studies reported here, we describe the expression of a cDNA clone for the human interleukin-2 receptor in E. coli using an "open reading frame" expression vector pMR100. The inserted cDNA was expressed in E. coli transformants as a tripartite fusion polypeptide fused to the lambda cI protein at its amino terminus and to beta-galactosidase at its carboxy terminus. We demonstrate that the bacterially produced IL-2 receptor protein can bind to IL-2.     

Recombinant expression of biologically active rat leptin in Escherichia coli

Leptin is a 16-kDa nonglycosylated hormone that is produced in mature adipocytes and which acts primarily in the hypothalamus to reduce food intake and body weight. While the rat is a representative laboratory animal model in obesity research, so far recombinant rat leptin was not available. In the present study, rat leptin was recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli and purified in a bioactive form to provide a further tool for the analysis of leptin functions in rats. Leptin cDNA was cloned by RT-PCR from total RNA of SD rat adipocytes, and overexpression was achieved by subcloning the leptin cDNA into the pET-29a vector, which enabled the recombinant expression of rat leptin as an S-peptide-tagged fusion protein. Since the fusion proteins were expressed in inclusion bodies, after purification of the insoluble fraction, leptin proteins were refolded by sequential dialysis into physiological buffers. The biological activity of this recombinant protein was confirmed in proliferation assays using leptin-sensitive rat insulinoma cells as well as a newly developed leptin-sensitive luciferase assay system. The specific binding of the S-tagged leptin to leptin-receptor-expressing cells was further shown by flow cytometry using fluorescence-conjugated S-proteins.     

A Salmonella typhimurium strain genetically engineered to secrete effectively a bioactive human interleukin (hIL)-6 via the Escherichia coli hemolysin secretion apparatus

Human interleukin-6 (hIL-6) cDNA was genetically fused with the Escherichia coli hemolysin secretorial signal ( hlyA_S ) sequence in a plasmid vector. Recombinant E. coli XL-1 Blue and attenuated Salmonella typhimurium secreted a 30 kDa hIL-6-HlyA_S fusion protein, with an additional form of higher apparent molecular mass produced by S. typhimurium . In S. typhimurium cultures hIL-6-HlyA_S concentrations entered a plateau at 500 to 600 ng ml⁻¹ culture supernatant. In contrast to E. coli XL-1 Blue, in S. typhimurium culture supernatants hIL-6-HlyA_S was accumulated faster reaching three-fold higher maximal concentrations. The cell proliferating activity of hIL-6-HlyA_S fusion protein(s) was equivalent to that of mature recombinant hIL-6. Furthermore, hIL-6-secreting S. typhimurium were less invasive than the attenuated control strain. Therefore, the bulky hemolysin secretorial peptide at the C-terminus of the fusion protein does not markably affect hIL-6 activity, suggesting that the hemolysin secretion apparatus provides an excellent system to study immunomodulatory effects of in situ synthesized IL-6 in Salmonella vaccine strains.     

MES23.5细胞酪氨酸羟化酶的种属来源及其重组酶的活性测定

MES 2 3 5细胞作为研究神经变性疾病的工具 ,是一种杂交瘤性多巴胺能神经元细胞系 ,由大鼠胚胎中脑细胞与小鼠神经母细胞瘤 胶质瘤细胞系N18TG2杂交而成 .其酪氨酸羟化酶 (tyrosinehydroxylase ,TH)的动物种属来源不清楚 .应用反转录聚合酶链反应 (RT PCR)法从MES 2 3 5细胞系中克隆了编码TH的cDNA ;结构分析表明 ,其cDNA编码区由 14 97碱基构成 ,共编码 4 98个氨基酸 ,与大鼠和小鼠TH的同源程度分别为 93%和 10 0 % .该杂交瘤细胞系表达小鼠TH .将该cDNA亚克隆至原核表达载体pGEX 4T 1,经原核细胞表达、亲和层析得到了电泳纯的基因重组小鼠TH(recombinantmousetyrosinehydroxylase ,rmTH) .改良和建立了一种体外分析TH活性的新方法 .活性分析证明 ,纯化的rmTH能催化L 酪氨酸发生加单氧反应生成L 3,4 二羟基苯丙氨酸 (L 多巴 ) .rmTH的表观分子量为 5 6kD ;其酶促加单氧反应的最适pH值为 7 0 .乙二胺四乙酸能显著抑制此酶的活性 ,而亚铁离子能明显增强其活性 .     

Molecular cloning of a cDNA for a small GTP binding protein, BRho, from the embryo of Bombyx mori and its characterization after expression and purification

A cDNA clone encoding a small GTP binding protein (Brho) was isolated from an embryonic cDNA library of Bombyx mori that encoded a polypeptide with 202 amino acids sharing 60-80% similarity with the Rho1 family of GTP binding proteins. The effector site and one of the guanine nucleotide binding sites differed from other members of the Rho family. To characterize the biochemical properties of Brho, the clone was expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein. The recombinant protein was purified to homogeneity with glutathione S-Sepharose. The fusion protein bound [(35)S] GTPgammaS and [(3)H] GDP with association constants of 11x10(6) M(-1) and 6.2x10(6) M(-1), respectively. The binding of [(35)S] GTPgammaS was inhibited by GTP and GDP, but by no other nucleotides. The calculated GTP-hydrolysis activity was 89.6 m mol/min/mol of Brho. Bound [(35)S] GTPgammaS and [(3)H] GDP were exchanged with GTPgammaS most efficiently in the presence of 6 mM MgCl(2). These results suggest that Brho has a higher affinity for GTP than GDP, converts from the GTP-bound state into the GDP-bound state by intrinsic GTP hydrolytic activity, and returns to the GTP-bound state with the exchange of GDP with GTP. Arch.     

庚型肝炎病毒NS5 cDNA片段的表达及其免疫原性的研究

一段长度为880 bp的庚型肝炎病毒cDNA在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)菌株中得到表达。此cDNA被插入到表达质粒pGEX-5X-1中,位于编码日本血吸虫谷胱甘肽硫转移酶（GST）的DNA序列下游,并与GST处于同一阅读框。用乳糖在37℃下诱导表达出以包涵体形式存在的GST-NS53融合蛋白,并用脲溶法提取了该蛋白;在20℃诱导时,表达出的蛋白大部分可溶,用谷胱甘肽Sepharose-4B亲和层析柱对可溶性的融合蛋白进行了纯化。免疫印迹实验证明,此融合蛋白能被庚型肝炎病人的血清和自制的抗GST血清特异性地识别。用PCgene软件对NS53氨基酸序列的亲水性和抗原决定簇进行了分析。本研究为庚型肝炎ELISA诊断试剂研制打下了基础。     

重组人MBD4蛋白在大肠杆菌中的表达、纯化及活性分析

为获得重组人MBD4蛋白,将编码MBD4的开放式阅读框（ORF）插入原核表达载体pGEX6P1 GST基因下游的多克隆位点（MCS）.将获得的表达质粒转化入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3) 菌株扩大培养并用IPTG诱导融合蛋白的表达.用谷胱甘肽琼脂糖凝胶 4B亲和介质从菌体裂解液中纯化了GST-MBD4融合蛋白.经过Prescision protease专一性裂解成功去除了融合蛋白上的GST标签.通过Mono Q阴离子交换层析获得了纯度达94%以上的MBD4蛋白,该蛋白具有甲基化DNA结合和糖苷酶生物活性.     

日本血吸虫新基因Sj-MA的克隆、表达及保护性免疫

为发现新基因 ,寻找日本血吸虫病新疫苗候选分子 ,采用Sj雄虫免疫血清筛选Sj成虫cDNA文库。经测序发现新基因Sj MA含有一个完整的阅读框 ,推测其由 2 4 9个氨基酸组成 ,编码分子量为 2 8.8kD的可溶性蛋白质 ,并带有多个能被磷酸化激活的位点 ,提示其可能为一重要的信息传递分子。将Sj MA的cDNA亚克隆至原核表达载体pGEX 5X ,获得Sj MA原核表达的重组体rSj MA/GST ,并在E .coli中高效表达为谷胱甘肽S 转移酶 (GST)融合蛋白 ,分子量为 5 4 .8kD ,Western印迹显示融合蛋白质能被抗雄虫和抗GST血清识别。融合蛋白质免疫小鼠可诱导 34.2 9%的减虫率 ,与对照组有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 0 1 )。表明新基因Sj MA表达的蛋白质能诱导小鼠的抗日本血吸虫的保护性免疫 ,提示其作为日本血吸虫疫苗候选分子的潜在价值     

Heterologous expression, purification, and characterization of human triacylglycerol hydrolase.

Triacylglycerol hydrolase mobilizes stored triacylglycerol some of which is used for very-low-density lipoprotein assembly in the liver. A full-length cDNA coding for a human triacylglycerol hydrolase (hTGH) was isolated from a human liver cDNA library. The cDNA has an open reading frame of 576 amino acids with a cleavable 18-amino-acid signal sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence shows that the protein belongs to the carboxylesterase family. The hTGH was highly expressed in Escherichia coli as a 6xHis-tagged fusion protein, with the tag at the N-terminus in place of the signal peptide. However, the expressed protein was insoluble and inactive. Expression was confirmed by immunoblotting and N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the purified protein. Expression of hTGH with its native signal sequence and a C-terminal 6xHis-tag in Sf9 cells using the baculovirus expression system yielded active enzyme. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the purified expressed protein showed correct processing of the signal peptide. The enzyme also undergoes glycosylation within the endoplasmic reticulum lumen. The results suggest that hTGH expressed in insect cells is properly folded. Therefore, baculovirus expression of hTGH and facile purification of the His-tagged enzyme will allow detailed characterization of the structure/activity relationship.     

Expression of a cDNA encoding a rat liver glutathione S-transferase Ya subunit in Escherichia coli

A full length cDNA clone, pGTB38 (C. B. Pickett et al. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 5182-5188), complementary to a rat liver glutathione S-transferase Ya mRNA has been expressed in Escherichia coli. The cDNA insert was isolated from pGTB38 using MaeI endonuclease digestion and was inserted into the expression vector pKK2.7 under the control of the tac promoter. Upon transformation of the expression vector into E. coli, two protein bands with molecular weights lower than the full-length Ya subunit were detected by Western blot analysis in the cell lysate of E. coli. These lower-molecular-weight proteins most likely result from incorrect initiation of translation at internal AUG codons instead of the first AUG codon of the mRNA. In order to eliminate the problem of incorrect initiation, the glutathione S-transferase Ya cDNA was isolated from the expression vector and digested with Bal31 to remove extra nucleotides from the 5' noncoding region. The protein expressed by this expression plasmid, pKK-GTB34, comigrated with the Ya subunit on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels and was recognized by antibodies against the YaYc heterodimer. The expressed Ya homodimer was purified by S-hexylglutathione affinity and ion-exchange chromatographies. Approximately 50 mg pure protein was obtained from 9 liters of E. coli culture. The expressed Ya homodimer displayed glutathione-conjugating, peroxidase, and isomerase activities, which are identical to those of the native enzyme purified from rat liver cytosol. Protein sequencing indicates that the expressed protein has a serine as the NH2 terminus whereas the NH2 terminus of the glutathione S-transferase Ya homodimer purified from rat liver cytosol is apparently blocked.     

Characterization of a variant rat glutathione S-transferase by cDNA expression in Escherichia coli

We have isolated a glutathione S-transferase Yb1 subunit cDNA from a lambda gt11 cDNA collection constructed from rat testis poly(A) RNA enriched for glutathione S-transferase mRNA activities. This Yb1 cDNA, designated pGTR201, is identical to our liver Yb1 cDNA clone pGTR200 except for a shorter 5'-untranslated sequence. Active glutathione S-transferase is expressed from this Yb1 cDNA driven by the tac promoter on the plasmid construct pGTR201-KK. The expressed glutathione S-transferase protein begins with the third codon (Met) of the cDNA, and is missing the N-terminal proline of rat liver glutathione S-transferase 3-3. Therefore, our Escherichia coli expressed glutathione S-transferase protein represents a variant form of glutathione S-transferase 3-3 (Yb1Yb1), designated GST 3-3(-1). The expressed Yb1 subunits are assembled into a dimer as purified from sonicated E. coli crude extracts. In the absence of dithiothreitol three active isomers can be resolved by ion-exchange chromatography. The pure protein has an extinction coefficient of 9.21 x 10(4) M-1 cm-1 at 280 nm or E0.1% 280 = 1.78 and a pI at 8.65. It has a substrate specificity pattern similar to that of the authentic glutathione S-transferase 3-3. The GST 3-3(-1) has a KM of 202 microM for reduced GSH and of 36 microM for 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. The turnover number for this conjugation reaction is 57 s-1. Results of kinetic studies of this reaction with GST 3-3(-1) are consistent with a sequential substrate binding mechanism. We conclude that the first amino acid proline of glutathione S-transferase 3-3 is not essential for enzyme activities.