Human pS2/trefoil factor 1: production and characterization in Pichia pastoris

The recombinant protein human trefoil factor 1 (hTFF1), formerly called hpS2, has been produced for the first time in a yeast-based expression in Pichia pastoris. hTFF1 was secreted in large amounts in the extracellular medium of P. pastoris under the control of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter. The fermentation broth containing hTFF1 was concentrated by tangential flow filtration prior to purification by anion- and cation-exchange chromatography, followed by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. The resulting hTFF1 was found to be intact by Western blot analysis. Further analysis revealed mainly the presence of the monomeric form of the hTFF1 peptide. Finally, in vitro, the recombinant hTFF1 was shown to decrease proliferation of the HCT116 cancer cells.