新型抗菌肽Perinerin在大肠杆菌中的融合表达

为了获得新型抗菌肽 perinerin在大肠杆菌中的高效和可溶表达,实验首先采用SOE 法(重叠 PCR 法)获得的 perinerin 基因序列,对目的基因密码子优化,然后将其连接到 pET32a 载体中获得重组表达载体 pET32a-PEN,通过改变诱导时间和温度、诱导剂 IPTG 浓度以及诱变工程菌株等条件和方法,观察重组蛋白的表达效果,并运用金属螯合层析对融合蛋白进行纯化.SDS-PAGE 显示重组菌诱导后表达的融合蛋白分子量约为 26kD,采用变异重组菌株 MUT 3诱导表达,在 2×YT 培养基培养条件下,30 ℃诱导4 h 可获得高效表达的 perinerin 融合蛋白,其表达量约占菌体总蛋白的 50 % 左右,重组蛋白主要以可溶性表达形式存在,可溶性产物最高可达重组蛋白总表达量的 60 %.融合蛋白运用金属螯合层析一步纯化,纯度可达 90 % 以上.     

Expression in Escherichia coli of chemically synthesized gene for a novel opiate peptide alpha-neo-endorphin

Chemically synthesized alpha-neo-endorphin gene was fused to the Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase gene on the plasmid pKO13. The resulting recombinant DNA was used to transform E. coli cells. Radioimmunoassay for alpha-neo-endorphin in CNBr-treated bacterial cells showed that alpha-neo-endorphin was synthesized at approximately 5 x 10(5) molecules per single E. coli cell. One of the transformants, WA802/p alpha NE2, was used for alpha-neo-endorphin purification. From 10.9 g of wet cells, we isolated 4 mg of chemically pure and biologically active alpha-neo-endorphin.     

Monoclonal antibodies to Escherichia coli 50S ribosomes.

Hybridoma cell lines that produce monoclonal antibodies directed against 50S Ribosomal proteins have been isolated. Spleen cells (from BALB/c mice immunized with 50S ribosomal subunits extracted from Escherichia coli) were fused to mouse myeloma cell line SP2/O-Ag 14. The initial screening for antibody producing hybridomas was carried out by a double antibody sandwich method; hybridomas were subsequently cloned in soft agar. Antibodies were characterized by their specific binding to individual 50S ribsomal proteins separated on phosphocellulose columns and in two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels. The assignments were confirmed with purified single ribosomal proteins. Of four clones analyzed thus far, two are identical with specificity for r-protein L5. The other clones produce two different antibodies directed against r-protein L20. Each monoclonal antibody formed ribosome dimers visualizable in the electron microscope. Dimers could be reacted with a different second antibody to form chains containing 8 or more ribosomes, which may be useful for structural studies.     

Monoclonal antibodies inhibiting RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli

Monoclonal hybridoma antibodies directed against RNA polymerase from E. coli have been obtained. Only a few have been found to inhibit the enzyme activity. Antibodies produced by two clones, PYN-1 and PYN-2, inhibit RNA polymerase at the stage of RNA chain elongation. The PYN-1 antibodies react with the beta'-subunit of the enzyme. The PYN-2 antibodies react with the beta-subunit and with its 130 kDa amber fragment.     

Monoclonal antibodies directed to chemically synthesized lactogangliotetraosylceramide, a leukemia-associated antigen having a novel branching structure

Murine leukemia cells (M1), in their undifferentiated state, have been characterized by the presence of cancer-associated lactoganglio-series glycolipids, one of which was identified as lactogangliotetraosylceramide (LcGg4) having a novel branching at the II-Gal of lactosylceramide through GlcNAc beta 1----3 and GalNAc beta 1----4 linkage, as shown below (Kannagi, R., Levery, S.B., and Hakomori, S. (1984) J. Biol. Chem., 259, 8444-8451): GalNAc beta 1----4 Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1Cer GlcNac beta 1----3 Since this glycolipid is a very minor component, it has been difficult to obtain enough of the purified glycolipid for the preparation of a monoclonal antibody. We developed a method to chemically synthesize this glycolipid using a lactose unit, a ceramide unit, and two hexosamine donors as synthons and made the synthetic glycolipid available as an immunogen. The two monoclonal antibodies we obtained (YI328-18 and YI328-51, both IgG3) specifically recognized the novel branching structure and had no cross-reactivity with gangliotriaosylceramide or lactotriaosylceramide. Thus, the antibodies were found to be useful probes to detect lactogangliotetraosylceramide expressed in undifferentiated M1 leukemia cells, which disappears on induced differentiation. The results of this study indicate a new strategy to establish monoclonal antibody directed to novel minor glycolipid markers or their artificially designed analogs, employing chemically synthesized glycolipid antigens.     

High expression of a recombinant human calcitonin precursor peptide in Escherichia coli

Human calcitonin (hCT) is a C-terminus -amidated peptide hormone consisting of 32 amino acids. The amidated structure is essential for its biological activities, and the C-terminal-glycine-extended precursor peptide, hCT[G], is converted to bioactive hCT by a C-terminus--amidating enzyme. An efficient production method is described for the hCT[G] peptide, as a part of the fusion protein consisting of a modified E. coli -galactosidase, linker amino acids and hCT[G]. Stable inclusion bodies of the fusion protein in E. coli were expressed by focusing on the amino acid charge, and the fusion protein was modified by inserting a basic amino acid sequence into its linker region. This modification greatly affected the formation of inclusion bodies. E. coli strain W3110/pG97S4DhCT [G]R4 could produce a large amount of stable inclusion bodies, and the hCT[G] peptide was released quantitatively from the fusion protein by S. aureus V8 protease. This enabled a large-scale production method to be established for the hCT[G] precursor peptide in E. coli to produce mature hCT.     

Human metallothionein-II is synthesized as a stable membrane-localized fusion protein in Escherichia coli

A synthetic gene encoding human metallothionein-II (HMT) was cloned into the specially constructed high-copy-number expression vector, pUA7, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The plasmid construct includes the promoter/operator and regulatory sequences of the Salmonella typhimurium ara operon and part of the 5'-coding and all of the 3'-noncoding regions of the E. coli lpp. Upon induction with arabinose, the resulting Lpp::HMT fusion protein was produced 75,000-fold over uninduced cells, with a relatively stable mRNA (T1/2 of 8.3 min) and a completely stable protein. In addition, over 95% of the final fusion protein was localized in the outer membrane and was capable of binding heavy metals (especially cadmium) in vitro. Cells producing Lpp::HMT bioaccumulated heavy metals (e.g., cadmium) 66-fold over nonproducing cells.     

A C-terminal glycine suppresses production of pleurocidin as a fusion peptide in Escherichia coli

The winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) antimicrobial peptide pleurocidin was produced in Escherichia coli using a synthetic gene constructed by PCR. The gene expresses pleurocidin from pET21a fused to the C-terminus of an insoluble carrier peptide. Once expressed, the fusion peptide formed inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm that were collected, solubilized in guanidine-HCl, and chemically cleaved using hydroxylamine at a unique asparaginyl-glycyl dipeptide. This released recombinant pleurocidin (r-pleurocidin), which was purified using ultrafiltration followed by reverse phase chromatography. The r-pleurocidin peptide resolved as a single band (2.7 kDa) when analyzed by Tris-Tricine buffered SDS-PAGE, and its amino acid sequence was confirmed using tandem mass spectrometry. Extending the pleurocidin sequence with a C-terminal glycine (r-pleurocidin-G) suppressed production of the fusion peptide 15-fold. When pleurocidin was extended further to include aspartate (r-pleurocidin-GD), the same effect was observed, and when pleurocidin was extended with aspartate alone, no effect was observed. Expression of fusion peptide containing either r-pleurocidin-G or r-pleurocidin-GD with low concentrations of inductant caused E. coli to enter stationary phase prematurely, but did not affect overall growth rates. A partial production recovery of r-pleurocidin-G was achieved by inducing expression in stationary phase cells. We observed r-pleurocidin-G to have enhanced antimicrobial activity compared with r-pleurocidin, and we propose that this activity interferes with E. coli metabolism during expression. This antimicrobial effect is probably facilitated by residual solubility of the fusion peptide and by a C-terminal cap structure, which stabilizes the r-pleurocidin-G alpha-helix that is thought to be important for activity.     

Two molecular forms of penicillin amidase synthesized by Escherichia coli

The Swatek's method was further simplified for the assay of penicillin amidase activity. The absorbance of colour obtained during determination of 6-aminopenicillanic acid was dependent on concentration of 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde and on temperature. Antiodies induced in rabbits with one molecular form of penicillin amidase from E. coli PCM 271 (PA-1 or PA-2) did not cross-react with the other amidase form. No differences in substrate specificity on inactivation with SDS and in alkaline medium between the two amidase forms were observed. Concentrated urea inactivated PA-2 irreversibly and PA-1 reversibly. N-Bromosuccinimide inactivated almost completely only PA-1. Two E. coli PCM 271 strain variants were separated by microbial selection. Each of them produced only one amidase form. Also two amidase forms were found in cells of E. coli ATCC 11105, whereas E. coli ATCC 9636 and ATCC 9637 synthesize only PA-1.     

Monoclonal antibodies to surface glycoconjugates in Chlamydomonas eugametos recognize strain-specific O-methyl sugars

Monoclonal antibodies are described that are directed against cell surface components of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas eugametos. These antibodies recognize strain-specific epitopes which occur at the surface of vegetative and gametic cells. Two different groups of epitopes are distinguished that are never detectable together in one clonal cell culture. Evidence is presented showing that the antigenicity of cell surface molecules is a consequence of the presence of particular O-methylated sugars. Monoclonal antibodies reacting with one group of epitopes were studied in more detail, and immunoprecipitation and Western-blot studies showed that these epitopes can be arranged into four classes. The use of these monoclonal antibodies as strain-specific markers in light- and electron-microscopical techniques is illustrated.Abbreviations ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - mt ^+/- mating type plus or minus - PAS periodic acid Schiff - Mab monoclonal antibody - PBS phosphate-buffered saline     

Monoclonal antibodies to the human laminin receptor recognize structurally distinct sites

Laminin, a glycoprotein of basement membranes, binds to a specific receptor on the surface of neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells. The laminin receptor purified from human breast carcinoma plasma membranes was used as an antigen to generate two types of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Both types of mAbs bind to (a) the purified receptor coated on a solid phase; (b) isolated breast carcinoma plasma membranes; and (c) the surface of cultured MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells by immunohistology. Using immunoblotting, both types of mAbs recognize a single 67 000 Dalton protein among all the proteins extracted from breast carcinoma plasma membranes. The mAbs differed in their ability to block binding of laminin to the plasma membrane receptor. Antibody LR1 inhibited virtually 100% of the specific binding of laminin to both the isolated human breast carcinoma plasma membranes or the living MCF-7 cells. In contrast, antibody LR2 had no effect on laminin binding under identical conditions. Thus, the two types of mAbs may recognize structurally distinct sites on the laminin receptor. These mAbs should be useful to dissect the biology and the molecular genetics of the laminin receptor.     

Design and production of a novel antimicrobial fusion protein in Escherichia coli

In recent years, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have attracted increasing attention. The microbial cells provide a simple, cost-effective platform to produce AMPs in industrial quantities. While AMP production as fusion proteins in microorganisms is commonly used, the recovery of AMPs necessitates the use of expensive proteases and extra purification steps. Here, we develop a novel fusion protein DAMP4-F-pexiganan comprising a carrier protein DAMP4 linked to the AMP, pexiganan, through a long, flexible linker. We show that this fusion protein can be purified using a non-chromatography approach and exhibits the same antimicrobial activity as the chemically synthesized pexiganan peptide without any cleavage step. Activity of the fusion protein is dependent on a long, flexible linker between the AMP and carrier domains, as well as on the expression conditions of the fusion protein, with low-temperature expression promoting better folding of the AMP domain. The production of DAMP4-F-pexiganan circumvents the time-consuming and costly steps of chromatography-based purification and enzymatic cleavages, therefore shows considerable advantages over traditional microbial production of AMPs. We expect this novel fusion protein, and the studies on the effect of linker and expression conditions on its antimicrobial activity, will broaden the rational design and production of antimicrobial products based on AMPs.

     

Purification of human alpha-L-fucosidase precursor expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein

Alpha-L-fucosidase (FUC) is a glycosidase involved in the degradation of fucose-containing glycoconjugates. A cDNA representing the complete sequence of human FUC was inserted into the prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-2T. High levels of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein were detected in Escherichia coli cells after induction with isopropyl thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside. The GST-FUC protein was mostly found as inclusion bodies and attempts to optimise its expression as a soluble form were unsuccessful. Nevertheless, the recombinant protein was purified by affinity chromatography on glutathione-sepharose and its fucosidase activity was characterised. After thrombin cleavage of the GST tag, the FUC precursor protein was purified by electro-elution.     

Expression of a cytotoxic cationic antibacterial peptide in Escherichia coli using two fusion partners

It has been reported that it is difficult to express cationic antibacterial peptides in engineered bacteria because such peptides are highly toxic to the host bacteria cells and sensitive to intracellular proteases. Antibacterial peptide CM4 (ABP-CM4) is a small cationic peptide with broad-spectrum activities against bacteria, fungi and tumor cells, which may possibly be used as an antimicrobial agent. Here we tried to express ABP-CM4 in Escherichia coli cells using either the GST fusion system or the intein-mediated fusion expression system. In order to investigate the possible use of these two fusion partners in cationic small peptide expression and purification, a mutant ABP-CMt, which is a highly positively charged peptide with +9 charges at neutral pH, was designed. In the present study, we have shown that both ABP-CM4 and ABP-CMt peptides can be expressed and purified by the intein-mediated expression system but not by the GST fusion expression system. Thus the intein-mediated peptide expression and purification system potentially could be employed for the production of recombinant protease-sensitive and cytotoxic peptides.     

Monoclonal antibodies to poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) recognize different structures

Two hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies to poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) [poly(ADP-Rib)] were established. One antibody, 10H (IgG3, kappa), bound to most of the poly(ADP-Rib) preparation, which consisted of molecules of various sizes of more than 20 ADP-Rib residues. The binding of this antibody was inhibited by not only poly-(ADP-Rib) but also a monomer unit of poly(ADP-Rib), Ado(P)-Rib-P. The sites protected by antibody 10H were isolated and analyzed by hydrolysis with alkaline phosphomonoesterase and then snake venom phosphodiesterase. The sites contained the same amounts of monomer units and branched portions [Ado(P)-Rib(P)-Rib-P] as the original poly(ADP-Rib) molecules but a lower average number of branched portions per molecule than in the original molecules. The other antibody, 16B (IgM, lambda), reacted with only 50% of the radioactive poly(ADP-Rib), and its binding was not inhibited by a monomer unit. This antibody protected 25% of all the poly(ADP-Rib) molecules from hydrolysis by snake venom phosphodiesterase. The protected sites contained twice as many branched portions per molecule as the original poly(ADP-Rib) molecules. These results show that the two monoclonal antibodies recognize different structures of poly-(ADP-Rib); 10H antibody recognizes the linear structure with ribose-ribose linkages, and 16B antibody may recognize specific structures, including the branched portions of poly-(ADP-Rib).     

Expression of a bioactive fusion protein of Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin B subunit to a synapsin peptide

The B subunit of Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin (LTB) may function as an efficient carrier molecule for the delivery of genetically coupled antigens across the mucosal barrier. We constructed vectors for the expression of LTB and LTBSC proteins. LTBSC is a fusion protein that comprises the amino acid sequence from the C-domain of rat synapsin fused to the C-terminal end of LTB. Both constructions have a coding sequence for a 6His-tag fused in-frame. LTBSC was expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies. The inclusion bodies were isolated and purified by Ni²⁺-chelating affinity chromatography under denaturing condition. Purified LTBSC was diluted in several refolding buffers to gain a soluble and biologically active protein. Refolded LTBSC assembled as an active oligomer which binds to the GM1 receptor in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Soluble LTB in the E. coli lysate was also purified by Ni²⁺-chelating affinity chromatography and the assembled pentamer was able to bind with high affinity to GM1 in vitro. LTBSC and LTB were fed to rats and the ability to induce antigen-specific tolerance was tested. LTBSC inhibited the specific delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response and induced decreased antigen-specific in vivo and in vitro cell proliferation more efficiently than LTB. Thus, the novel hybrid molecule LTBSC when orally delivered was able to elicit a systemic immune response. These results suggest that LTBSC could be suitable for exploring further therapeutic treatment of autoimmune inflammatory diseases involving antigens from central nervous system.     

Microcin 25, a novel antimicrobial peptide produced by Escherichia coli.

Microcin 25, a peptide antibiotic excreted by an Escherichia coli strain isolated from human feces, was purified to homogeneity and characterized. Composition analysis and data from gel filtration indicated that microcin 25 may contain 20 amino acid residues. It has a blocked amino-terminal end. Microcin synthesis and immunity are plasmid determined, and the antibiotic was produced in minimal medium when the cultures entered the stationary phase of growth. The peptide appears to interfere with cell division, since susceptible cells filamented when exposed to it. This response does not seem to be mediated by the SOS system.     

Purification of an L-asparaginase-atrial natriuretic peptide fusion protein expressed in Escherichia coli

A novel fusion protein designed to facilitate protein purification was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified separately by two different chromatography methods. L-Asparaginase from Erwinia chrysanthemi is fused to the N-terminus of a model peptide, alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide (alpha-hANP). L-Asparaginase was chosen because of its selective affinity for L-asparagine and because of its unusually high isoelectric point(8.6). A gene construction without the L-asparaginase native signal sequence caused expression at a level of 8% of total cell protein, while gene construction with the native signal sequence resulted in over five time less expression. The hybrid protein expressed without the signal sequence was purified from clarified cell lysate byeither L-asparagine affinity chromatography or cation exchange chromatography. After digestion of the fusion protein with factor Xa protease, a peptide with a molecular weight corresponding to the theoretical molecular weight of alpha-hANP was observed by coupled HPLC/mass spectrometry. (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons Inc.     

Biosynthetic arginine decarboxylase in Escherichia coli is synthesized as a precursor and located in the cell envelope.

The biosynthetic form of arginine decarboxylase (ADC) catalyzes the synthesis of agmatine, a precursor of putrescine, in Escherichia coli. Selective disruption of the cell envelope and an assessment of ADC activity or immunoprecipitable ADC in various fractions demonstrated its location between the cytoplasmic membrane and peptidoglycan layer. Expression in minicells of the speA gene encoding ADC resulted in the production of two immunoprecipitable species (74 and 70 kilodaltons). Studies in vivo with a pulse and chase of radiolabeled amino acid into the two species suggest a precursor-product relationship. This relationship was corroborated by demonstrating the accumulation of the 74-kilodalton species in a strain of E. coli unable to process signal sequences. Peptide mapping experiments with V8 protease, trypsin, and alpha-chymotrypsin demonstrated that the two species of ADC were very similar except for a minor difference. These data were used to substantiate the compartmentalization hypothesis as to how exogenous arginine can be channeled preferentially into putrescine.