Protein reconstitution: methodologies and applications

Reconstitution of hepatitis C virus envelope glycoproteins into liposomes as a surrogate model to study virus attachment

The envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2, of hepatitis C virus (HCV) assemble intracellularly to form a noncovalent heterodimer that is expected to be essential for viral assembly and entry. However, due to the lack of a cell culture system supporting efficient HCV replication, it is very difficult to obtain relevant information on the functions of this glycoprotein oligomer. To get better insights into its biological and biochemical properties, HCV envelope glycoprotein heterodimer expressed by a vaccinia virus recombinant was purified by immunoaffinity. Purified E1E2 heterodimer was recognized by conformation-dependent monoclonal antibodies, showing that the proteins were properly folded. In addition, it interacted with human CD81, a putative HCV receptor, as well as with human low and very low density lipoproteins, which have been shown to be associated with infectious HCV particles isolated from patients. Purified E1E2 heterodimer was also reconstituted into liposomes. E1E2-liposomes were recognized by a conformation-dependent monoclonal antibody as well as by human CD81. Together, these data indicate that E1E2-liposomes are a valuable tool to study the molecular requirements for HCV binding to target cells.

Incorporation of bacterial membrane proteins into liposomes: factors influencing protein reconstitution

Meningococcal and gonococcal outer membrane proteins were reconstituted into liposomes using detergent-mediated dialysis. The detergents octyl glucopyranoside (OGP), sodium cholate and Empigen BB were compared with respect to efficiency of detergent removal and protein incorporation. The rate of OGP removal was greater than for cholate during dialysis. Isopycnic density gradient centrifugation studies showed that liposomes were not formed and hence no protein incorporation occurred during dialysis from an Empigen BB containing reconstitution mixture. Cholate-mediated reconstitution yielded proteoliposomes with only 75% of the protein associated with the vesicles whereas all of the protein was reconstituted into the lipid bilayer during OGP-mediated reconstitution. Essentially complete protein incorporation was achieved with an initial protein-to-lipid ratio of 0.01:1 (w/w) in the reconstitution mixture; however, at higher initial protein-to-lipid ratios (0.02:1) only 75% protein incorporation was achieved. Reconstituted proteoliposomes were observed as large (>300 nm), multilamellar structures using cryo-electron microscopy. Size reduction of these proteoliposomes by extrusion did not result in significant loss of protein or lipid. Extruded proteoliposomes were unilamellar vesicles with mean diameter of about 100 nm.

Properties of HIV membrane reconstituted from its recombinant gp160 envelope glycoprotein

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) membrane has been reconstituted from the recombinant envelope glycoprotein precursor (gp160) by a detergent dialysis technique. Electron microscopy shows that gp160-virosomes are spherical vesicles with a mean diameter identical to that of viral particles. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunogold labeling demonstrate efficient association of gp160 with lipid vesicles and proteolysis treatment reveals an asymmetric insertion with about 90% of glycoproteins having their gp120-moiety pointing outside. Glycoproteins are organized as dimers and tetramers and gp160 retains its ability to specifically bind CD4 receptor after reconstitution into virosome.

Incorporation of hormone-sensitive lipase into phosphatidylcholine vesicles

Enzymatically active, detergent-solubilized purified hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) was incorporated into phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles, using a detergent-dialysis procedure with small PC vesicles, obtained by sonication, as phospholipid source and CHAPS, a zwitterionic bile-salt derivative, as detergent. Association of enzyme protein with the PC vesicles was verified by floatation in a discontinuous dextran gradient and by gel chromatography. An average of 35% of added HSL was incorporated into the vesicles. The vesicles were shown, by quasi-elastic light scattering and electron microscopy, to have a diameter of approximately 160 nm. The vesicle-associated HSL could be phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The vesicles were stable, both with regard to enzyme activity and size, for at least 4 days when stored at 4 degrees C. The preparation of detergent-free, vesicle-associated and stable HSL provides new possibilities to study some of its properties, and supports and extends the previous report (Holm, C., Fredrikson, G., and Belfrage, P., J. Biol. Chem. 261, 15659-15661, 1986) which demonstrated the amphiphilic character of HSL.