高活性重组hG-CSF的制备

我们构建了新的硫氧还蛋白（Ｔｈｉｏｒｅｄｏｘｉｎ）融合表达载体ｐＥＴＴｒｘＬ和ｐＥＴＴｒｘ－ＨｉｓＬ,它们可使功能蛋白在大肠杆菌胞质中以可溶性形式高效表达。利用此表达系统成功地获得的ｈＧ－ＣＳＦ－硫氧还蛋白融合蛋白的高效可溶性表达,表达水平达总细胞可溶蛋白的４１％以上。所表达的ｈＧ－ＣＳＦ－硫氧还蛋白融合蛋白可通过Ｃｕ２＋－ＩＤＡＳｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅＦＦ固相金属螯合层析柱,方便地从细胞破碎可溶上清中直接纯化。所获得的融合蛋白具有ｈＧ－ＣＳＦ特异的生物活性,其比活性达到０．５－１．３３×１０７ｕ／ｍｇ融合蛋白。这样表达的ｈＧ－ＣＳＦ融合蛋白能被ＩｇＡ蛋白酶特异地切割,将ｈＧ－ＣＳＦ从融合蛋白上切下获得与天然蛋白一级结构完全一致的重组ｈＧ－ＣＳＦ 。     

双顺反子翻译偶联表达载体的构建及蚓激酶基因F238在大肠杆菌中的可溶性表达

为了实现外源蛋白在大肠杆菌中的可溶性表达,利用硫氧还蛋白作为分子伴侣构建双顺反子翻译偶联表达载体pDICT。将大肠杆菌硫氧还蛋白基因插入到pET22b载体NdeI和EcoR I位点之间,同时在硫氧还蛋白编码基因的终止密码子前加入核糖体结合位点,构建成双顺反子翻译偶联表达载体pDICT。将蚓激酶基因F238克隆到该载体,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)并诱导表达。SDS-PAGE结果表明,所表达的蚓激酶F238是可溶性蛋白。利用血纤维蛋白法对表达产物进行活性测定,重组蚓激酶F238不仅具有纤溶酶活性,而且具有激活纤溶酶原的激酶活性。该双顺反子翻译偶联表达载体的构建,为在大肠杆菌中可溶性表达外源蛋白提供了新方法。     

New fusion protein systems designed to give soluble expression in Escherichia coli.

Three native E. coli proteins-NusA, GrpE, and bacterioferritin (BFR)-were studied in fusion proteins expressed in E. coli for their ability to confer solubility on a target insoluble protein at the C-terminus of the fusion protein. These three proteins were chosen based on their favorable cytoplasmic solubility characteristics as predicted by a statistical solubility model for recombinant proteins in E. coli. Modeling predicted the probability of soluble fusion protein expression for the target insoluble protein human interleukin-3 (hIL-3) in the following order: NusA (most soluble), GrpE, BFR, and thioredoxin (least soluble). Expression experiments at 37 degrees C showed that the NusA/hIL-3 fusion protein was expressed almost completely in the soluble fraction, while GrpE/hIL-3 and BFR/hIL-3 exhibited partial solubility at 37 degrees C. Thioredoxin/hIL-3 was expressed almost completely in the insoluble fraction. Fusion proteins consisting of NusA and either bovine growth hormone or human interferon-gamma were also expressed in E. coli at 37 degrees C and again showed that the fusion protein was almost completely soluble. Starting with the NusA/hIL-3 fusion protein with an N-terminal histidine tag, purified hIL-3 with full biological activity was obtained using immobilized metal affinity chromatography, factor Xa protease cleavage, and anion exchange chromatography.     

Expression and purification of cytokine receptor homology domain of human granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor receptor fusion protein in Escherichia coli

Direct expression of the cytokine receptor homology (CRH) domain of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor is lethal to Escherichia coli. For the efficient and stable production of an active CRH domain in E. coli, we fused the CRH domain with different proteins, such as maltose-binding protein (MalE), glutathione S-transferase, and thioredoxin (Trx). Among these, Trx appeared to be the best in terms of the protein expression level, purification efficiency by affinity chromatography, and binding activity to its ligand, G-CSF. The yield of active Trx-CRH fusion protein increased about 200-fold compared to that of previously reported MalE-CRH fusion.     

枯草杆菌谷氨酰胺转胺酶的克隆及其在大肠杆菌中的融合表达

利用PCR技术 ,从枯草杆菌DB40 3染色体上扩增出谷氨酰胺转胺酶基因 ,将其克隆到大肠杆菌载体pET32a( + )中 ,成功构建谷氨酰胺转胺酶表达载体pET32-BTGase ,并转化大肠杆菌BL2 1 (DE3)。重组克隆在IPTG诱导下 ,表达出硫氧还蛋白 谷氨酰胺转胺酶 (Trx-BTGase)融合蛋白 ,表达量占细菌总蛋白量的 2 6%。利用金属螯合层析纯化菌体裂解上清中表达的融合蛋白 ,纯度超过 80 %,再通过分子筛层析进一步纯化得到融合蛋白纯品。酶活性分析表明表达的Trx-BTGase融合蛋白具有交联蛋白的活性 ,并发现Trx-BTGase融合蛋白和经凝血酶酶切后得到的BTGase单体都能催化牛血清白蛋白的聚合反应     

hTNFR1在大肠杆菌中可溶性表达及纯化

将人源肿瘤坏死因子Ⅰ型受体（hTNFR1）基因克隆到pET-22b表达载体,成功构建了重组表达质粒pETH1,电转到Escherichia coli BL21（DE3）表达菌株中进行摇瓶发酵。实现了hTNFR1在大肠杆菌表达系统中的重组表达。但目的蛋白全部以包涵体的形式存在于沉淀中。为了提高hTNFR1在大肠杆菌中的可溶性表达,融合标签和分子伴侣两种策略被实施用于辅助hTNFR1的可溶性表达。结果表明,在hTNFR1的N端融合NusA标签后,hTNFR1的可溶性有一定提高;在NusA-hTNFR1基础上,过表达了7种分子伴侣,筛选出tig分子伴侣对hTNFR1蛋白可溶性表达有明显的促进作用,可溶性表达量约占总量的90％;对优化后的hTNFR1表达系统的可溶性蛋白进行Ni-NTA亲和层析纯化后,TEV蛋白酶酶切去除N端的NusA标签,结合Western blot分析鉴定,获得了大量高纯度的hTNFR1蛋白。研究结果为进一步研究hTNFR1的生理学活性及其在疾病治疗方面的应用奠定了良好基础。     

Novel approach to obtain biologically active recombinant heterodimeric proteins in Escherichia coli

The strategy described in this paper provides a novel approach for recombinant expression of heterodimeric proteins, and is especially suitable for the production of proteins whose characteristics lead to aggregation in E. coli expression systems. Pheromaxein, a steroid-binding protein isolated from boar saliva, is a heterodimeric protein consisting of 10x10(3) rel. mol. mass units (pheromaxein A) and 8x10(3) rel. mol. mass units (pheromaxein C) subunits. Expression of pheromaxein subunits in E. coli resulted in extensive insoluble aggregation. The difficulty faced in obtaining soluble recombinant pheromaxein subunits was clearly evident when native pheromaxein immediately formed aggregates when it was separated into its individual subunits. An increase in soluble pheromaxein expression in E. coli was obtained when the subunits were expressed as fusion proteins with thioredoxin. Pheromaxein genes were inserted separately into pET32a+ vectors at the NcoI site, resulting in thioredoxin, S.Tag and His.Tag coding regions being upstream of the inserted gene. Soluble pheromaxein A-thioredoxin (pheroA/trx) and pheromaxein C-thioredoxin (pheroC/trx) fusions were purified to homogeneity, using a laboratory scale S-protein agarose affinity column. Cleavage of thioredoxin under normal conditions was not feasible due to the extensive aggregation problems experienced when pheromaxein subunits exist separately. PheroA/trx and pheroC/trx were therefore mixed together and cleaved from thioredoxin simultaneously so that pheromaxein subunits were given an instant opportunity to associate under oxido-shuffling conditions. The glutathione oxido-shuffling system allowed the disulphide bridges between pheromaxein A and C to rearrange until the correct native structure was formed. This novel approach combines affinity purification with a coupled fusion protein-cleavage and refolding technique.     

Comparison of SUMO fusion technology with traditional gene fusion systems: enhanced expression and solubility with SUMO

Despite the availability of numerous gene fusion systems, recombinant protein expression in Escherichia coli remains difficult. Establishing the best fusion partner for difficult-to-express proteins remains empirical. To determine which fusion tags are best suited for difficult-to-express proteins, a comparative analysis of the newly described SUMO fusion system with a variety of commonly used fusion systems was completed. For this study, three model proteins, enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP), matrix metalloprotease-13 (MMP13), and myostatin (growth differentiating factor-8, GDF8), were fused to the C termini of maltose-binding protein (MBP), glutathione S-transferase (GST), thioredoxin (TRX), NUS A, ubiquitin (Ub), and SUMO tags. These constructs were expressed in E. coli and evaluated for expression and solubility. As expected, the fusion tags varied in their ability to produce tractable quantities of soluble eGFP, MMP13, and GDF8. SUMO and NUS A fusions enhanced expression and solubility of recombinant proteins most dramatically. The ease at which SUMO and NUS A fusion tags were removed from their partner proteins was then determined. SUMO fusions are cleaved by the natural SUMO protease, while an AcTEV protease site had to be engineered between NUS A and its partner protein. A kinetic analysis showed that the SUMO and AcTEV proteases had similar KM values, but SUMO protease had a 25-fold higher kcat than AcTEV protease, indicating a more catalytically efficient enzyme. Taken together, these results demonstrate that SUMO is superior to commonly used fusion tags in enhancing expression and solubility with the distinction of generating recombinant protein with native sequences.     

一种含ELP60基因的载体pRELPN促进大肠杆菌的外源基因的高表达

类弹性蛋白多肽（ELP）为含有人工合成的ELP60基因的表达载体pRELPN,能促使外源基因在大肠杆菌中的高表达。当ELP60在大肠杆菌表达载体pET28a的多克隆位点被克隆后,其自身的表达低,也不与目的基因构成ELP融合蛋白质,而是促进克隆在ELP60基因后的含起始密码ATG的外源目的基因独立高表达。外源目的基因表达量占宿主蛋白的20% ～ 60%,比用pET28a载体表达的外源基因表达量高2～10倍。此类表达载体pRELPN适合于表达包括抗体、抗原、酶、重组蛋白质、多肽及ELP融合蛋白质等的外源基因的独立高表达。这些结果表明,pRELPN代表了一种有效的表达载体,有助于解决在原核表达中,所受限的普通载体对外源基因低表达或不表达所导致的不能产业化的问题。     

Codon preference optimization increases heterologous PEDF expression

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is widely known for its neurotrophic and antiangiogenic functions. Efficacy studies of PEDF in animal models are limited because of poor heterologous protein yields. Here, we redesigned the human PEDF gene to preferentially match codon frequencies of E coli without altering the amino acid sequence. Following de novo synthesis, codon optimized PEDF (coPEDF) and the wtPEDF genes were cloned into pET32a containing a 5' thioredoxin sequence (Trx) and the recombinant Trx-coPEDF or Trx-wtPEDF fusion constructs expressed in native and two tRNA augmented E coli hosts - BL21-CodonPlus(DE3)-RIL and BL21-CodonPlus(DE3)-RP, carrying extra copies of tRNAarg,ile,leu and tRNAarg,pro genes, respectively. Trx-PEDF fusion proteins were isolated using Ni-NTA metal affinity chromatography and PEDF purified after cleavage with factor Xα. Protein purity and identity were confirmed by western blot, MALDI-TOF, and UV/CD spectral analyses. Expression of the synthetic gene was ～3.4 fold greater (212.7 mg/g; 62.1 mg/g wet cells) and purified yields ～4 fold greater (41.1 mg/g; 11.3 mg/g wet cell) than wtPEDF in the native host. A small increase in expression of both genes was observed in hosts supplemented with rare tRNA genes compared to the native host but expression of coPEDF was ～3 fold greater than wtPEDF in both native and codon-bias-adjusted E coli strains. ΔGs at -3 to +50 of the Trx site of both fusion genes were -3.9 kcal/mol. Functionally, coPEDF was equally as effective as wtPEDF in reducing oxidative stress, promoting neurite outgrowth, and blocking endothelial tube formation. These findings suggest that while rare tRNA augmentation and mRNA folding energies can significantly contribute to increased protein expression, preferred codon usage, in this case, is advantageous to translational efficiency of biologically active PEDF in E coli. This strategy will undoubtedly fast forward studies to validate therapeutic utility of PEDF in vivo.     

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 screening of fusion partners from an E. coli genome for soluble expression of recombinant proteins in a cell-free protein synthesis system

While access to soluble recombinant proteins is essential for a number of proteome studies, preparation of purified functional proteins is often limited by the protein solubility. In this study, potent solubility-enhancing fusion partners were screened from the repertoire of endogenous E. coli proteins. Based on the presumed correlation between the intracellular abundance and folding efficiency of proteins, PCR-amplified ORFs of a series of highly abundant E. coli proteins were fused with aggregation-prone heterologous proteins and then directly expressed for quantitative estimation of the expression efficiency of soluble translation products. Through two-step screening procedures involving the expression of 552 fusion constructs targeted against a series of cytokine proteins, we were able to discover a number of endogenous E. coli proteins that dramatically enhanced the soluble expression of the target proteins. This strategy of cell-free expression screening can be extended to quantitative, global analysis of genomic resources for various purposes.     

Eukaryotic integral membrane protein expression utilizing the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> glycerol-conducting channel protein (GlpF)

A fusion protein expression system is described that allows for production of eukaryotic integral membrane proteins in Escherichia coli (E. coli). The eukaryotic membrane protein targets are fused to the C terminus of the highly expressed E. coli inner membrane protein, GlpF (the glycerol-conducting channel protein). The generic utility of this system for heterologous membrane-protein expression is demonstrated by the expression and insertion into the E. coli cell membrane of the human membrane proteins: occludin, claudin 4, duodenal ferric reductase and a J-type inwardly rectifying potassium channel. The proteins are produced with C-terminal hexahistidine tags (to permit purification of the expressed fusion proteins using immobilized metal affinity chromatography) and a peptidase cleavage site (to allow recovery of the unfused eukaryotic protein).     

Accurate disulfide formation in Escherichia coli: overexpression and characterization of the first domain (HF6478) of the multiple Kazal-type inhibitor LEKTI

The human hemofiltrate peptide HF6478, a putative serine proteinase inhibitor, which is part of the precursor protein LEKTI, was cloned, overexpressed, and purified. HF6478 contains two disulfide bridges with 1-4, 2-3 connectivity, sharing partial homology to Kazal-type domains and other serine proteinase inhibitors. It was expressed as thioredoxin (Trx) fusion protein, and disulfide formation occurred in the oxidative cytoplasm of Escherichia coli Origami (DE3) strain which carries a trxB(-)/gor522(-) double mutation. The soluble fusion protein was purified using metal-chelating affinity chromatography. Cleavage of the Trx fusion protein with factor Xa and subsequent purification yielded the final product in amounts sufficient for structural studies. Characterization of recombinant HF6478 was done by amino acid sequencing, mass spectrometry, capillary zone electrophoresis, and CD spectroscopy. Taking the blood filtrate peptide HF6478 as example, we present a strategy which should facilitate the expression of different extracellular proteins in the E. coli cytoplasm.     

Expression, purification and characterization of human urodilatin in E. coli

Urodilatin is a 32-amino acid peptide hormone synthesized in kidney to regulate natriuresis and diuresis. It has been shown clinically useful for the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure. A synthetic deoxyoligonucleotide encoding urodilatin was cloned into a pET32a vector immediately after the thioredoxin encoding sequence with a hexa-hisditine tag and an enterokinase recognition site incorporated in between. The fusion protein was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, which constituted 28% of the total cell proteins. More than 85% of Trx-urodilatin was soluble and purified nearly homogenous by Ni-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Urodilatin was then released from the fusion protein by the enterokinase treatment and separated from the fusion partner by the subtractive chromatography using Ni-Sepharose once again. The urodilatin sample was further purified with reverse phase HPLC. Via a biological activity assayed in vitro, it was found that urodilatin had a potent vasodilatory effect on rabbit aortic strips with an EC50 of (2.02+/-0.36)x10(-6)mg/ml, which was similar to that of the synthetic urodilatin standard. The method described here promises to produce about 4.5mg fully active recombinant urodilatin with homogeneity over 97% from one liter shaking flask culture of E. coli.     

Secretion of heterologous gene products to the culture medium of Escherichia coli.

Different constructs containing fragments of the Staphylococcal protein A gene have been introduced in Escherichia coli and the effect on expression and translocation of the various heterologous gene products have been studied. By reversing the orientation of the different protein A gene constructions in the plasmid vector, a dramatic 20-fold difference in expression was obtained, accompanied with secretion of the gene product to the culture medium. Similar results were obtained by "heat-shock" treatment of the E.coli host cells. These results suggest the presence in the protein A gene of a stress induced promoter, functional in E.coli. The system was used to efficiently secrete a fusion protein consisting of a protein A fragment and human insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) to the culture medium of E.coli HB101. The fusion protein was purified from the culture medium by IgG affinity chromatography in a one-step procedure giving more than 95% yield.     

Intracellular and extracellular production of proteins in Aspergillus under the control of expression signals of the highly expressed Aspergillus nidulans gpdA gene.

The expression in Aspergillus is described of genes, coding for intracellular and extracellular proteins controlled by the promoter region of the constitutively and efficiently expressed glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (gpdA) of Aspergillus nidulans. Both the homologous gpdA and the heterologous Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase (lacZ) and beta-glucuronidase (uidA) genes could be expressed intracellularly at levels as high as 10-25% of total soluble protein. Efficient extracellular production of A. niger glucoamylase could be achieved with a fusion-gene containing the region of the glucoamylase gene coding for the mature protein preceded by a synthetic fungal signal sequence. Extracellular production of a heterologous protein, E. coli beta-glucuronidase, with such a fusion was much less efficient. Only very low levels of beta-glucuronidase were detected in the culture fluid, whereas considerable enzyme activity was detected in the mycelium.     

Synthesis of 32P-labelled protein probes using a modified thioredoxin fusion protein expression system in Escherichia coli

The thioredoxin fusion protein expression system from invitrogen was modified so that 32P-labelled recombinant proteins can be easily obtained in large quantities for functional studies. Proteins that are prone to form the inclusion bodies can be functionally expressed as thioredoxin fusion proteins in Escherichia coli. After expression, the recombinant proteins can be easily phosphorylated with 32P-gamma ATP and the 32P-labelled protein can be obtained functionally via a mild proteolytic digestion to cleave off the thioredoxin moiety. A deletion construct of the Ah receptor nuclear translocator protein was used as an example to illustrate how this protein expression system works.     

Expression and characterization of human proinsulin fused to thioredoxin in Escherichia coli

Native proinsulin (PI) belongs to the class of the difficult-to-express proteins in Escherichia coli. Problems mainly arise due to its high proteolytic decay and troubles to reproduce the native disulphide pattern. In the present study, human PI was produced in E. coli as a fusion thioredoxin protein (Trx-PI). Such chimeric protein was obtained from the intracellular soluble fraction, and it was purified in one step by affinity chromatography on immobilized phenylarsine oxide. Trx-PI was also recovered from inclusion bodies and purified by anion exchange chromatography. The product identity and integrity were verified by mass analysis (22,173.5 Da) and mapping with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. Native PI folding was evaluated by biochemical and also by immunochemical analysis using specific sera from PI antibody-positive diabetic patients that recognise conformational discontinue epitopes. Dose-response curves showed identity between standard PI and Trx-PI. Moreover, surface plasmon resonance technique verified the correct conformation of the recombinant protein. The biochemical and immunochemical assays demonstrated the integrity of the chimera and the epitopes involved in the interaction with antibodies. In conclusion, it was possible to obtain with high-yield purified human PI as a fusion protein in E. coli and useful for analytical purposes.