High-level expression of recombinant human paraoxonase 1 Q in silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori)

Human serum paraoxonase 1 (hPON1) belongs to a family of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of a broad range of esters and lactones. Although the very first identification of hPON1 might have been as a calcium-dependent paraoxonase/arylesterase, PON1 is in fact a lactonase associated with high-density lipoprotein and strongly stimulated by apoA-I. PON1 hydrolyzes various organophosphates, including insecticides and nerve gases. PON1 also plays a key role in prevention of atherosclerosis. Mediation of cholesterol efflux from macrophage is a key in vivo function of PON1. In present study, the hPON1 Q gene was cloned into baculovirus transfer vector pVL1392 and expressed in silkworm expression system. The rhPON1 Q presented two bands with every near molecular weight of about 40 and 43 kDa according to sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting analysis. The expression level was up to 1,256 mg/L in haemolymph, about 50 times as high as that from BmN cells (24.8 mg/L). After purified by two chromatography steps (DEAE-Sepharose and HiTrap Chelating HP), the purity of rhPON1 Q was up to 90%, and the enzymatic properties are similar to serum hPON1.