The twin-arginine translocation system and its capability for protein secretion in biotechnological protein production

The biotechnological production of recombinant proteins is challenged by processes that decrease the yield, such as protease action, aggregation, or misfolding. Today, the variation of strains and vector systems or the modulation of inducible promoter activities is commonly used to optimize expression systems. Alternatively, aggregation to inclusion bodies may be a desired starting point for protein isolation and refolding. The discovery of the twin-arginine translocation (Tat) system for folded proteins now opens new perspectives because in most cases, the Tat machinery does not allow the passage of unfolded proteins. This feature of the Tat system can be exploited for biotechnological purposes, as expression systems may be developed that ensure a virtually complete folding of a recombinant protein before purification. This review focuses on the characteristics that make recombinant Tat systems attractive for biotechnology and discusses problems and possible solutions for an efficient translocation of folded proteins.     

Incorporation of the Tat cell‐penetrating peptide into nanofibers improves the respective antitumor immune response

A major challenge for the development of anticancer vaccines is the induction of a safe and effective immune response, particularly mediated by CD8+ T lymphocytes, in an adjuvant‐free manner. In this respect, we present a simple strategy to improve the specific CD8+ T cell responses using KFE8 nanofibers bearing a Class I (Kb)‐restricted peptide epitope (called E. nanofibers) without the use of adjuvant. We demonstrate that incorporation of Tat, a cell‐penetrating peptide (CPP) of the HIV transactivator protein, into E. nanofibers remarkably enhanced tumor‐specific CD8+ T cell responses. E. nanofibers containing 12.5% Tat peptide (E.Tat_12.5 nanofiber) increased antigen cross‐presentation by bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells as compared with E. nanofibers, or E. nanofibers containing 25 or 50% the Tat peptide. Uptake of KFE8.Tat_12.5 nanofibers by dendritic cells (DCs) was significantly increased compared with KFE8 nanofiber lacking Tat. Peritoneal and lymph node DCs of mice immunized with E.Tat_12.5 nanofibers exhibited increased presentation of the H2kb‐epitope (reminiscent for cross‐presentation) compared with DCs obtained from E. nanofiber vaccinated mice. Tetrameric and intracellular cytokine staining revealed that vaccination with E.Tat_12.5 triggered a robust and specific CD8+ T lymphocyte response, which was more pronounced than in mice vaccinated with E. nanofibers alone. Furthermore, E.Tat_12.5 nanofibers were more potent than E. nanofiber to induce antitumor immune response and tumor‐infiltrating IFN‐γ CD8 T lymphocyte. In terms of cancer vaccine development, we propose that harnessing the nanofiber‐based vaccine platform with incorporated Tat peptide could present a simple and promising strategy to induce highly effective antitumor immune response.     

Escherichia coli “TatExpress” strains export several g/L human growth hormone to the periplasm by the Tat pathway

Escherichia coli is a heavily used platform for the production of biotherapeutic and other high-value proteins, and a favored strategy is to export the protein of interest to the periplasm to simplify downstream processing and facilitate disulfide bond formation. The Sec pathway is the standard means of transporting the target protein but it is unable to transport complex or rapidly folding proteins because the Sec system can only transport proteins in an unfolded state. The Tat system also operates to transport proteins to the periplasm, and it has significant potential as an alternative means of recombinant protein production because it transports fully folded proteins. Here, we have tested the Tat system's full potential for the production of biotherapeutics for the first time using fed-batch fermentation. We expressed human growth hormone (hGH) with a Tat signal peptide in E. coli W3110 “TatExpress” strains that contain elevated levels of the Tat apparatus. This construct contained four amino acids from TorA at the hGH N-terminus as well as the initiation methionine from hGH, which is removed in vivo. We show that the protein is efficiently exported to the periplasm during extended fed-batch fermentation, to the extent that it is by far the most abundant protein in the periplasm. The protein was shown to be homogeneous, disulfide bonded, and active. The bioassay showed that the yields of purified periplasmic hGH are 5.4 g/L culture whereas an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay gave a figure of 2.39 g/L. Separate analysis of a TorA signal peptide linked to hGH construct lacking any additional amino acids likewise showed efficient export to the periplasm, although yields were approximately two-fold lower.     

HIV-1 Tat蛋白对人类疱疹病毒8型复制的影响

用HindⅢ将HIV-1Tat101蛋白编码基因从pEV质粒中切出,BamHI、NotⅠ将绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)编码基因从表达质粒pcDNA3．1 ／GFP中切出,分别插入到质粒LZRSpBMN-Z中,构建成重组反转录病毒表达质粒LZRS—Tat101和LZRS—GFP。采用磷酸钙转染法将两重组质粒转染到含反转录病毒env,gal和pol编码基因的包装细胞Phoenix(φNX)中,嘌呤霉素筛选获得稳定细胞系。分别收集稳定细胞系分泌的病毒上清,并感染体外培养的原发性渗出性淋巴瘤(PEL)BC2BL-1细胞。收集LZRS—GFP重组病毒感染的BCBL-1细胞进行流式细胞计数,检测GFP表达水平。收集LZRS—Tat101重组病毒感染的BCBL-1细胞,提取蛋白作Western blot,检测Tat蛋白表达状况;取细胞总RNA作Northem blot和定量PCR,检查HHV-8次要衣壳蛋白ORF26 mRNA转录水平。重组LZRS—Tat101病毒进一步感染HL3T1细胞(HeLa细胞包含HIV-1-LTR／CAT报告基因),收集感染细胞提取蛋白,检测CAT活性,评价Tat生物学功能。PCR扩增HHV-8复制和转录激活蛋白Rta启动子区上游序列,并克隆至pGL-3载体中,构建Rta启动子 虫荧光素酶(Luciferase)报告基因重组质粒。此重组质粒进一步电转染预先感染了LZRS—Tat101病毒的BC-3细胞,TPA刺激后收集细胞,检测Luciferase活性。结果显示：①重组反转录病毒感染BCBL-1细胞,一次感染效率达56％;②重组LZRS—Tat101毒能够在其感染的BCBL-1细胞中表达Tat蛋白,且表达蛋白具有转录激活功能;③Tat蛋白不能有效上调HHV-8Rta启动子活性;④细胞内HIV-1Tat蛋白诱导HHV-8可溶性周期复制的能力较弱。提示,单纯HIV-1Tat蛋白并不能激活潜伏感染的HHV-8。     

HIV-1 Tat蛋白神经毒作用的研究进展

HIV-1感染者常并发神经系统损伤,患者主要表现为运动功能障碍,认知和行为受损等。研究表明,HIV-1多种蛋白参与上述病理过程,其中Tat蛋白发挥了极为重要的作用。外周Tat蛋白可透过血脑屏障进入脑组织,与脑内感染细胞分泌或释放至胞外的Tat共同作用于NMDAR、mGluR1、多巴胺转运蛋白等,损伤神经系统。该文主要对Tat蛋白的神经毒作用作一综述。     

Cu-NirK from Haloferax mediterranei as an example of metalloprotein maturation and exportation via Tat system

The green Cu-NirK from Haloferax mediterranei (Cu-NirK) has been expressed, refolded and retrieved as a trimeric enzyme using an expression method developed for halophilic Archaea. This method utilizes Haloferax volcanii as a halophilic host and an expression vector with a constitutive and strong promoter. The enzymatic activity of recombinant Cu-NirK was detected in both cellular fractions (cytoplasmic fraction and membranes) and in the culture media. The characterization of the enzyme isolated from the cytoplasmic fraction as well as the culture media revealed important differences in the primary structure of both forms indicating that Hfx. mediterranei could carry out a maturation and exportation process within the cell before the protein is exported to the S-layer. Several conserved signals found in Cu-NirK from Hfx. mediterranei sequence indicate that these processes are closely related to the Tat system. Furthermore, the N-terminal sequence of the two Cu-NirK subunits constituting different isoforms revealed that translation of this protein could begin at two different points, identifying two possible start codons. The hypothesis proposed in this work for halophilic Cu-NirK processing and exportation via the Tat system represents the first approximation of this mechanism in the Halobacteriaceae family and in Prokarya in general.     

噬菌体展示HIV-1 Tat38-61碱性区51和55位随机突变体文库的构建

为了构建噬菌体展示Tat38-61(51N/55N) 碱性区突变体文库,进一步研究HIV-1 Tat38-61表位的分子进化筛选,采用含随机核苷酸序列的引物,通过Overlap PCR的方法获得51和55位氨基酸随机突变的全长Tat编码序列,再以此为模板PCR扩增出两端含有Xba I识别序列的Tat38-61突变体片段HIV-1 Tat38-61(51N/55N),克隆至噬菌体展示载体pCANTAB5S上,转化大肠杆菌TG1,经M13K07辅助噬菌体拯救,构建噬菌体展示Tat38-61(51N/55N) 碱性区突变体文库。结果显示文库的库容量为5.0×106,滴度为2.65×1012 TU/mL,阳性克隆率为56.50％;序列分析显示文库中51、55位核苷酸与氨基酸均呈随机性分布,达到了对文库进行分子进化筛选的要求,为获得可用作疫苗候选物的新型Tat突变体奠定基础。