Different site-specific N-glycan types in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) PAP phytase

Phytase activity in grain is essential to make phosphate available to cell metabolism, and in food and feed. Cereals contain the purple acid phosphatase type of phytases (PAPhy). Mature wheat grain is dominated by TaPAPhy_a which, in the present work, has been characterized by extensive peptide and glycopeptide sequencing by mass spectrometry. Seven N-linked glycosylation sites were found. Three of these sites were dominated by variant forms of the XylMan₃FucGlcNAc₂, i.e. the HRP-type of glycan. Complex-type glycans with one or two additional GlcNAc were observed, however in trace amounts only. At four sites the glycan consisted of a single GlcNAc residue. The mature protein is ca. 500 residues in size and appears to be truncated at the N- and C-termini.     

Cloning and characterization of purple acid phosphatase phytases from wheat, barley, maize, and rice

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) possess significant phytase activity in the mature grains. Maize (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza sativa) possess little or virtually no preformed phytase activity in the mature grain and depend fully on de novo synthesis during germination. Here, it is demonstrated that wheat, barley, maize, and rice all possess purple acid phosphatase (PAP) genes that, expressed in Pichia pastoris, give fully functional phytases (PAPhys) with very similar enzyme kinetics. Preformed wheat PAPhy was localized to the protein crystalloid of the aleurone vacuole. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that PAPhys possess four conserved domains unique to the PAPhys. In barley and wheat, the PAPhy genes can be grouped as PAPhy_a or PAPhy_b isogenes (barley, HvPAPhy_a, HvPAPhy_b1, and HvPAPhy_b2; wheat, TaPAPhy_a1, TaPAPhy_a2, TaPAPhy_b1, and TaPAPhy_b2). In rice and maize, only the b type (OsPAPhy_b and ZmPAPhy_b, respectively) were identified. HvPAPhy_a and HvPAPhy_b1/b2 share 86% and TaPAPhya1/a2 and TaPAPhyb1/b2 share up to 90% (TaPAPhy_a2 and TaPAPhy_b2) identical amino acid sequences. despite of this, PAPhy_a and PAPhy_b isogenes are differentially expressed during grain development and germination. In wheat, it was demonstrated that a and b isogene expression is driven by different promoters (approximately 31% identity). TaPAPhy_a/b promoter reporter gene expression in transgenic grains and peptide mapping of TaPAPhy purified from wheat bran and germinating grains confirmed that the PAPhy_a isogene set present in wheat/barley but not in rice/maize is the origin of high phytase activity in mature grains.     

来源于Escherichia coli的高比活植酸酶基因的高效表达

高效表达高比活植酸酶是进一步提高植酸酶发酵效价、降低植酸酶生产成本的一个有效途径。对源于Escherichiacoli的高比活植酸酶基因appA ,按照毕赤酵母 (Pichiapastoris)密码子的偏爱进行了密码子优化改造。该改造后的基因appA m按正确的阅读框架融合到毕赤酵母表达载体pPIC9上的α 因子信号肽编码序列 3′端 ,通过电击转化得到重组转化子。对重组毕赤酵母的Southernblotting分析证实植酸酶基因已整合到酵母基因组中 ,并确定了整合基因的拷贝数。Northernblotting分析证实植酸酶基因得到了正常转录。SDS PAGE分析和表达产物的研究表明 ,植酸酶得到了高效分泌表达 ,在 5L发酵罐中植酸酶蛋白表达量达到 2 5mg mL发酵液 ,酶活性 (发酵效价 )达到 7 5× 10 6 IU mL发酵液以上 ,大大高于目前报道的各种植酸酶基因工程菌株的发酵效价。     

P and Ca digestibility is increased in broiler diets supplemented with the high-phytase HIGHPHY wheat

Around 70% of total seed phosphorus is represented by phytate which must be hydrolysed to be bioavailable in non-ruminant diets. The limited endogenous phytase activity in non-ruminant animals make it common practice to add an exogenous phytase source to most poultry and pig feeds. The mature grain phytase activity (MGPA) of cereal seeds provides a route for the seeds themselves to contribute to phytate digestion, but MGPA varies considerably between species and most varieties in current use make negligible contributions. Currently, all phytases used for feed supplementation and transgenic improvement of MGPA are derived from microbial enzymes belonging to the group of histidine acid phosphatases (HAP). Cereals contain HAP phytases, but the bulk of MGPA can be attributed to phytases belonging to a completely different group of phosphatases, the purple acid phosphatases (PAPhy). In recent years, increased MGPAs were achieved in cisgenic barley holding extra copies of barley PAPhy and in the wheat HIGHPHY mutant, where MGPA was increased to ~6200 FTU/kg. In the present study, the effect of replacing 33%, 66% and 100% of a standard wheat with HIGHPHY wheat was compared with a control diet with and without 500 FTU of supplemental phytase. Diets were compared by evaluating broiler performance, ileal Ca and P digestibility and tibia development, using nine replicate pens of four birds per diet over 3 weeks from hatch. There were no differences between treatments in any tibia or bird performance parameters, indicating the control diet did not contain sufficiently low levels of phosphorus to distinguish effect of phytase addition. However, in a comparison of the two wheats, the ileal Ca and P digestibility coefficients for the 100% HIGHPHY wheat diets are 22.9% and 35.6% higher, respectively, than for the control diet, indicating the wheat PAPhy is functional in the broiler digestive tract. Furthermore, 33% HIGHPHY replacement of conventional wheat, significantly improved Ca and P digestibility over the diet-supplemented exogenous phytase, probably due to the higher phytase activity in the HIGHPHY diet (1804 v. 1150 FTU). Full replacement by HIGHPHY gave 14.6% and 22.8% higher ileal digestibility coefficients for Ca and P, respectively, than for feed supplemented with exogenous HAP phytase at 500 FTU. This indicates that in planta wheat PAPhys has promising potential for improving P and mineral digestibility in animal feed.     

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry peptide sequencing utilizing selective N-terminal bromoacetylation

In tandem mass spectrometric peptide sequencing, simplifying the mass spectrum is often desirable. The b-series ions were distinguished from the y-series ions in the MALDI TOF-TOF spectra by incorporating a bromine-tag to the N-terminal amino group through rapid and selective acetylation using bromoacetic anhydride without blocking the lysine and tyrosine residues. The 51:49 ratio of Br-79 and Br-81 isotopes facilitated identification of ions carrying the tag. With the Br-tag in the b-series ions, N-terminal sequencing of tryptic peptides from hemoglobin as well as model peptides was straightforward. When the b-ions were low in intensity, ions without the Br-tag were identified as y-ions and used for sequencing.     

High level expression of a recombinant acid phytase gene in Pichia pastoris

AIMS: To achieve high phytase yield with improved enzymatic activity in Pichia pastoris. METHODS AND RESULTS: The 1347-bp phytase gene of Aspergillus niger SK-57 was synthesized using a successive polymerase chain reaction and was altered by deleting intronic sequences, optimizing codon usage and replacing its original signal sequence with a synthetic signal peptide (designated MF4I) that is a codon-modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae mating factor alpha-prepro-leader sequence. The gene constructs containing wild type or modified phytase gene coding sequences under the control of the highly-inducible alcohol oxidase gene promoter with the MF4I- or wild type alpha-signal sequence were used to transform Pichia pastoris. The P. pastoris strain that expressed the modified phytase gene (phyA-sh) with MF4I sequence produced 6.1 g purified phytase per litre of culture fluid, with the phytase activity of 865 U ml(-1). The expressed phytase varied in size (64, 67, 87, 110 and 120 kDa), but could be deglycosylated to produce a homogeneous 64 kDa protein. The recombinant phytase had two pH optima (pH 2.5 and pH 5.5) and an optimum temperature of 60 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: The P. pastoris strain with the genetically engineered phytase gene produced 6.1 g l(-1) of phytase or 865 U ml(-1) phytase activity, a 14.5-fold increase compared with the P. pastoris strain with the wild type phytase gene. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The P. pastoris strain expressing the modified phytase gene with the MF4I signal peptide showed great potential as a commercial phytase production system.     

Cloning, expression and characterization of a thermotolerant endoglucanase from Syncephalastrum racemosum (BCC18080) in Pichia pastoris

Endoglucanase is a major cellulolytic enzyme produced by Syncephalastrum racemosum (BCC18080). Preliminary results showed that this endoglucanase is thermotolerant as it retained more than 50% of its activity after incubation at 80 degrees C for an hour. As this property may be of industrial use, we have cloned the full-length BCC18080 endoglucanase gene of 1020 nucleotides. Sequence analysis suggested that it belonged to the glycosyl hydrolase family 45. N-terminal sequencing and analysis by SignalP program suggested that the first 32 amino acid residues encoded the signal peptide. Expression of the recombinant clones with and without its own signal peptide in Pichia pastoris demonstrated that P. pastoris produced active 55 and 30 kDa secreted proteins. N-terminal sequencing suggested that the 55 kDa band was the mature protein while the 30 kDa band was the truncated protein. Glycoprotein analysis showed that the 55 kDa protein was glycosylated; while the smaller protein was not. All recombinant endoglucanases showed optimal temperature of 70 degrees C and optimal pH of 5-6. They retained more than 50% activity for 4h at 70 degrees C. In addition, high k(cat) and low apparent K(m) of these recombinant proteins indicated good properties of this enzyme against carboxylmethylcellulose.     

Functional phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) expressed in Pichia pastoris correct N-terminal processing and secretion of heterologous proteins expressed using the PHA-E signal peptide.

Phytohemagglutinin (Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin; PHA; E- and L-forms) and snowdrop lectin (Galanthus nivalis agglutinin; GNA) were expressed in Pichia pastoris using native signal peptides, or the Saccharomyces alpha-factor preprosequence, to direct proteins into the secretory pathway. PHA and GNA were present as soluble, functional proteins in culture supernatants when expressed from constructs containing the alpha-factor preprosequence. The recombinant lectins, purified by affinity chromatography, agglutinated rabbit erythrocytes at concentrations similar to the respective native lectins. However, incomplete processing of the signal sequence resulted in PHA-E, PHA-L and GNA with heterogenous N-termini, with the majority of the protein containing N-terminal extensions derived from the alpha-factor prosequence. Polypeptides in which most of the alpha-factor prosequence was present were also glycosylated. Inclusion of Glu-Ala repeats at the C-terminal end of the alpha-factor preprosequence led to efficient processing N-terminal to the Glu-Ala sequence, but inefficient removal of the repeats themselves, resulting in polypeptides with heterogenous N-termini still containing N-terminal extensions. In contrast, PHA expressed with the native signal peptide was secreted, correctly processed, and also fully functional. No expression of GNA from a construct containing the native GNA signal peptide was observed. The PHA-E signal peptide directed correct processing and secretion of both GNA and green fluorescent protein (GFP) when used in expression constructs, and is suggested to have general utility for synthesis of correctly processed proteins in Pichia.     

High-level production of yeast (Schwanniomyces occidentalis) phytase in transgenic rice plants by a combination of signal sequence and codon modification of the phytase gene

This study was designed to produce yeast (Schwanniomyces occidentalis) phytase in rice with a view to future applications in the animal feed industry. To achieve high-level production, chimeric genes with the secretory signal sequence of the rice chitinase-3 gene were constructed using either the original full-length or N-truncated yeast phytase gene, or a modified gene whose codon usage was changed to be more similar to that of rice, and then introduced into rice (Oryza sativa L.). When the original phytase genes were used, the phytase activity in the leaves of transgenic rice was of the same level as in wild-type plants, whose mean value was 0.039 U/g fresh weight (g-FW) (1 U of activity was defined as 1 micromol P released per min at 37 degrees C). In contrast, the enzyme activity was increased markedly when codon-modified phytase genes were introduced: up to 4.6 U/g-FW of leaves for full-length codon-modified phytase, and 10.6 U/g-FW for truncated codon-modified phytase. A decrease in the optimum temperature and thermal stability was observed in the truncated heterologous enzyme, suggesting that the N-terminal region plays an important role in enzymatic properties. In contrast, the optimum temperature and pH of full-length heterologous phytase were indistinguishable from those of the benchmark yeast phytase, although the heterologous enzyme was less glycosylated. Full-length heterologous phytase in leaf extract showed extreme stability. These results indicate that codon modification, combined with the use of a secretory signal sequence, can be used to produce substantial amounts of yeast phytase, and possibly any phytases from various organisms, in an active and stable form.     

Expression and characterization of human glycosylated interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in Pichia pastoris

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist is an inhibitor of the pro-inflammatory action of interleukin-1. The gene encoding for interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) was cloned into a Pichia pastoris expression vector pPICzalphaA (Invitrogen, USA) and transformed into P. pastoris strain SMD1168H. Multi-copy selection of the gene produced a high expressing strain of IL-1ra that produced 17mg/L of total secreted purified protein. The IL-1ra produced in P. pastoris was a mixture of glycosylated and non-glycosylated IL-1ra where 70% of the total protein was glycosylated. SP-Sepharose purification allowed for separation of the two expressed forms of IL-1ra, which permits biochemical investigation of glycosylated and non-glycosylated IL-1ra using one expression system. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed the expression of the full-length protein and that the glycosylated IL-1ra contained high mannose glycoforms that ranged from Man(9)GlcNAc(2) to Man(14)GlcNAc(2).     

中国红豆杉细胞色素P450还原酶的基因克隆、表达与活性分析

细胞色素P450还原酶(Cytochrome P450 reductase,CPR)是细胞色素P450羟基化酶电子传递链的组成部分,在生物体内起着重要的电子传递作用。文章从中国红豆杉(Taxuswallichiana var. Chinensis)愈伤组织细胞中克隆CPR基因(TchCPR),TchCPR含有一个2154bp碱基的阅读框,编码717个氨基酸残基;在氨基酸水平上它与裸子植物细胞色素P450还原酶的同源性(82%)高于其他被子植物的细胞色素P450还原酶(74%)。在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中诱导表达了全长和从N-端截短不同数目氨基酸残基的6个融合肽段,经亲和层析纯化,分析了表达的不同长度融合蛋白的电子传递效率。结果表明截短长度大于61个氨基酸残基肽段的胞色素P450还原酶都能够诱导表达,在表达水平上无显著差异,而截短61个氨基酸的CPR融合蛋白电子传递的催化活性(1.6057nmol Cyt Cred/min/μg TchCPR融合蛋白)高于其他4个融合蛋白。     

Expression and characterization of human CB1 cannabinoid receptor in methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris

For the purpose of purification and structural characterization, the CB1 cannabinoid receptors are expressed in methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. The expression plasmid was constructed in which the CB1 gene is under the control of the highly inducible promoter of P. pastoris alcohol oxidase I gene. To facilitate easy detection and purification, a FLAG tag was introduced at the N-terminal, a c-myc epitope and a hexahistidine tag were introduced at the C-terminal of the CB1. In membrane preparations of CB1 gene transformed yeast cells, Western blot analysis detected the expression of CB1 proteins. Radioligand binding assays demonstrated that the tagged CB1 receptors expressed in P. pastoris have a pharmacological profile similar to that of the untagged CB1 receptors expressed in mammalian systems. Furthermore, the tagged CB1 receptors were purified by anti-FLAG M2 affinity chromatography and the identity of the purified CB1 receptor proteins was confirmed by Western blot analysis. MALDI/TOF mass spectrometry analysis of the peptides extracted from tryptic digestions of purified CB1 preparations detected 17 peptide fragments derived from the CB1, thus further confirming the identity of the purified receptor. In conclusion, these data demonstrated for the first time that epitope tagged, functional CB1 cannabinoid receptors can be expressed in P. pastoris for purification and mass spectrometry characterization.     

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt): evidence that the holotoxin is composed of three subunits: CdtA, CdtB, and CdtC

We have shown the Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans produces an immunosuppressive factor encoded by the cytolethal distending toxin (cdt)B gene, which is homologous to a family of Cdts expressed by several Gram-negative bacteria. We now report that the capacity for CdtB to induce G(2) arrest in Jurkat cells is greater in the presence of the other Cdt peptides: CdtA and CdtC. Plasmids containing the cdt operon were constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli; each plasmid contained a modified cdt gene that expressed a Cdt peptide containing a C-terminal His tag. All three Cdt peptides copurified with the His-tagged Cdt peptide. Each of the peptides associated with the complex was truncated; N-terminal amino acid analysis of CdtB and CdtC indicated that the truncation corresponds to cleavage of a previously described signal sequence. CdtA was present in two forms in crude extracts, 25 and 18 kDa; only the 18-kDa fragment copurified with the Cdt complexes. Cdt complexes were also immunoprecipitated from A. actinomycetemcomitans extracts using anti-CdtC mAb. Exposure of Jurkat cells to 40 pg resulted in >50% accumulation of G(2) cells. CdtB and CdtC were detected by immunofluorescence on the cell surface after 2-h exposure to the holotoxin. CdtA was not detected by immunofluorescence, but all three peptides were associated with Jurkat cells when analyzed by Western blot. These studies suggest that the active Cdt holotoxin is a heterotrimer composed of truncated CdtA, CdtB, and CdtC, and all three peptides appear to associate with lymphocytes.     

High level expression and secretion of truncated forms of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 glycoprotein D by the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris

Herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and -2) glycoproteins D (gD-1 and gD-2) play a role in the entry of the virus into the host cell. Availability of substantial amounts of these proteins, or large fragments thereof, will be needed to allow studies at the molecular level. We studied the potency of the Pichia pastoris yeast expression system to produce soluble forms of gD. The DNA sequences encoding the extracellular domains of gD [amino acids 1-314 (gD-1(1-314)) and amino acids 1-254 (gD-1(1-254)) of gD-1 and amino acids 1-314 of gD-2 (gD-2(1-314))] were cloned into the P. pastoris yeast expression vector pPIC9. Two truncated forms of gD-1 were fitted with a His tail (designated as gD-1(1-314His) and gD-1(1-254His)) to facilitate their purification. Large amounts of gD-1(1-314) and gD-1(1-314His) (280-300mg/L induction medium) were produced. The yields of recombinant gD-1(1-254) and gD-1(1-254His) were lower: 20-36mg/L, and the yield of the gD-2(1-314) fragment was much lower: 6mg/L. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed multiple glycosylated species of the larger gD fragments, ranging in apparent molecular weight from 31 to 78kDa. The smaller gD-1(1-254) fragment appeared as two bands with molecular weights of 33 and 31kDa. All recombinant proteins produced by P. pastoris were recognized, as expected, by a panel of MAbs (A16, DL6, A18, DL11, HD1, ABDI, and AP7). In addition, we showed that gD-1(1-314), gD-2(1-314), and gD-1(1-254His) were able to interfere with binding of HSV to susceptible cells. These results indicate that the conformations of the recombinant proteins closely resemble those of native gD.     

来源于柠檬酸杆菌的高比活植酸酶基因在毕赤酵母中的高效表达

柠檬酸杆菌(Citrobacterbraakii)来源的植酸酶是目前报道的比活最高的植酸酶。按照毕赤酵母(Pichiapastoris)对密码子的选择偏向性,对来源于柠檬酸杆菌的高比活植酸酶基因AppA进行了密码子优化改造。改造后的基因AppA(m)按正确的阅读框架融合到毕赤酵母表达载体pPIC9的α-因子信号肽编码序列3′端,通过电击转化得到重组转化子。通过PCR验证,AppA(m)已整合在酵母染色体上。SDS-PAGE分析和表达产物的研究表明,植酸酶得到了高效分泌表达,在5L发酵罐中植酸酶蛋白表达量达到3·2mg/mL发酵液,发酵效价达到每毫升发酵液1·4×107IU以上,高于目前报道的各种植酸酶基因工程菌株的发酵效价。     

Expression of peptidylarginine deiminase from Porphyromonas gingivalis in Escherichia coli: Enzyme purification and characterization

Porphyromonas gingivalis peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) catalyzes the deimination of peptidylarginine residues of various peptides to produce peptidylcitrulline and ammonia. P. gingivalis is associated with adult-onset periodontitis and cardiovascular disease, and its proliferation depends on secretion of PAD. We have expressed two recombinant forms of the P. gingivalis PAD in Escherichia coli, a truncated form with a 43-amino acid N-terminal deletion and the full-length form of PAD as predicted from the DNA sequence. Both forms contain a poly-His tag and Xpress epitope at the N-terminus to aid in detection and purification. The activities and stabilities of these two forms have been evaluated. PAD is cold sensitive; it aggregates within 30 min at 4 °C, and optimal storage conditions are at 25 °C in the presence of a reducing agent. PAD is not a metalloenzyme and does not need a cofactor for catalysis or stability. Multiple l-arginine analogs, various arginine-containing peptides, and free l-arginine were used to evaluate substrate specificity and determine kinetic parameters.     

Role of the hydrophobic segment of diacylglycerol kinase epsilon

Diacylglycerol kinase epsilon (DGKepsilon) is unique among mammalian DGK isoforms in having a segment of hydrophobic amino acids. We have evaluated the contributions of this segment to the membrane interactions and functions of this protein. To test the role of the hydrophobic segment, we have compared the properties of DGKepsilon with those of a truncated form of the protein (DGKDeltaepsilon) lacking the 40 N-terminal amino acids, which includes the hydrophobic segment. The proteins were expressed in COS-7 cells from a gene for human DGKepsilon or from a gene for a truncated form (DGKDeltaepsilon), both of which had a FLAG tag at the amino terminus. Full-length FLAG-DGKepsilon and truncated FLAG-DGKDeltaepsilon were both more specific for 1-stearoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol than for 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol. 1-Stearoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycerol exhibited intermediate specificity for both forms of the enzyme. The results show that the truncated form of the enzyme maintains substrate specificity for lipids with an arachidonoyl moiety present at the sn-2 position. The truncation increases the catalytic rate constant for all three substrates and may suggest a role in the negative regulation of this enzyme. A full-length DGKepsilon with a C-terminal His tag exhibited substrate specificity similar to that of the other two forms of the enzyme, indicating that the nature and position of the epitope tag did not strongly affect this property. Using an ultracentrifugation floatation assay, we showed that at neutral pH DGKDeltaepsilon is extracted with 1.5 M KCl while DGKepsilon remains essentially fully membrane bound. The full-length protein had a weak tendency to oligomerize in the presence of weak detergents. DGKepsilon was monomeric on SDS-PAGE but exhibited partial dimerization with low concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid. The major conclusions of this work are that the hydrophobic domain of DGKepsilon does not contribute to substrate specificity but plays a role in permanently sequestering the enzyme to a membrane.     

Study of membrane orientation and glycosylated extracellular loops of mouse P-glycoprotein by in vitro translation.

Increased expression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) has been demonstrated to cause multidrug resistance (MDR) in vitro, and it may be responsible for chemotherapy failure in a number of human cancers. Pgp is a plasma membrane protein thought to function as an energy-dependent drug transporter. From its deduced protein sequence the topology of Pgp was proposed to contain 12 transmembrane domains with six extracellular loops and two cytoplasmic ATP-binding sites. To investigate further the membrane orientation of Pgp, we have expressed a full length cDNA of mouse mdr1, as well as its truncated forms, in a cell-free system supplemented with dog pancreatic microsomal membranes (RM). We determined which domains of the in vitro-synthesized Pgp had transversed the RM membranes by analyzing their resistance to protease digestion and their glycosylation state. To our surprise, this system revealed that a significant portion of in vitro-synthesized Pgp molecules has an additional glycosylated domain in the C-terminal half. Previously, only the first predicted extracellular loop near the N terminus had been thought to be glycosylated. Furthermore, we discovered that Pgp has at least two functional signal recognition particle/docking protein dependent signal sequences, one at the N-terminal half and the other at the C-terminal half. These findings suggest a new topological model for in vitro synthesized P-glycoprotein which may be relevant to its in vivo topology.     

Determination of the glycosylation patterns, disulfide linkages, and protein heterogeneities of baculovirus-expressed mouse interleukin-3 by mass spectrometry.

The primary structure of mouse interleukin-3 (IL-3) expressed by recombinant baculovirus-infected silkworm (Bombyx mori) larvae was analyzed by subjecting isolated IL-3 derived peptides to liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry. Two species of IL-3 were isolated from the silkworm hemolymph by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. The major component has M(r)20-22 x 10(3) as determined by SDS-PAGE. Liquid secondary ion mass spectrometric analysis was carried out on the reduced tryptic and endopeptidase lysyl-C peptides of glycosylated and deglycosylated IL-3. These studies provided evidence that (1) Asn-16 is heterogeneously glycosylated with four different oligosaccharides, (2) Asn-86 is either nonglycosylated or has attached to it one oligosaccharide, (3) the N-glycosylation sites Asn-44 and Asn-51 are not glycosylated, and (4) there is no O-glycosylation. Liquid secondary ion mass spectrometric analysis of the unreduced tryptic peptides provided evidence for disulfide linkages between Cys-140 and Cys-79 or Cys-80 and between Cys-17 and Cys-79 or Cys-80. In comparison to the major component, a minor IL-3 species (M(r) 17-19 x 10(3) by SDS-PAGE) isolated from the hemolymph showed no difference with respect to the glycosylation pattern or the disulfide linkages, but it was cleaved between Ala-127 and Ser-128, and only a disulfide linkage between Cys-140 and Cys-79 or Cys-80 held the molecule together.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)