Very efficient extracellular production of cholera toxin B subunit using Bacillus brevis

Abstract We have constructed a very efficient synthesis and secretion system for cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) of Vibrio cholerae 569B using Bacillus brevis . The constructed expression-secretion vector has the multiple promoters and the signal peptide coding region of the mwp gene, a structural gene for one of the major cell wall proteins of B. brevis strain 47, directly followed by the gene encoding the mature CTB. A large amount of mature CTB (1.4 g per liter of culture) was secreted into the medium. It had the same amino terminal amino acid sequence as that of authentic CTB and was fully active in GM1 ganglioside binding assay.