Active human erythropoietin expressed in insect cells using a baculovirus vector: a role for N-linked oligosaccharide

Erythropoietin and erythropoiesis stimulating agents

Erythropoietin (EPO) is the main hormonal regulator of red blood cell production. Recombinant EPO has become the leading drug for treatment of anaemia from a variety of causes; however, it is sometimes misused in sport with the aim of improving performance and endurance. This paper presents an introductory overview of EPO, its receptor, and a variety of recombinant human EPOs/erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) available on the market (e.g. epoetins and their long acting analogs--darbepoetin alfa and continuous erythropoiesis receptor activator). Recent efforts to improve on EPO's pharmaceutical properties and to develop novel replacement products are also presented. In most cases, these efforts have emphasized a reduction in frequency of injections or complete elimination of intravenous or subcutaneous injections of the hormone (biosimilars, EPO mimetic peptides, fusion proteins, endogenous EPO gene activators and gene doping). Isoelectric focusing (IEF) combined with double immunoblotting can detect the subtle differences in glycosylation/sialylation, enabling differentiation among endogenous and recombinant EPO analogues. This method, using the highly sensitive anti-EPO monoclonal antibody AE7A5, has been accepted internationally as one of the methods for detecting misuse of ESAs in sport.

Recombinant baculovirus-based multiple protein expression platform for Drosophila S2 cell culture

A platform for selective and controllable expression of multiple foreign protein types was developed in insect cell culture. Based on the fact that baculovirus cannot replicate in nonpermissive Drosophila melanogaster Schneider line 2 (S2) cells, S2 cells that stably express human erythropoietin (hEPO) under the control of the S2-derived inducible metallothionein (MT) promoter were infected with three types of recombinant baculoviruses, each of which expressed a different fluorescent protein gene under the control of MT promoter. Addition of copper sulfate as an inducer to infected, stably transfected S2 cells resulted in simultaneous expression of hEPO and three fluorescent proteins. Expression profiles and levels of the three induced fluorescent proteins were similar in all single infected cells. Importantly, expression profiles and levels of hEPO were similar in both non-infected and infected cells, indicating that baculovirus expressed recombinant proteins do not adversely affect expression of host cell recombinant proteins. Expressions of the three fluorescent proteins were able to be selectively regulated by altering combination ratios of the three types of recombinant baculoviruses. Collectively, these data indicate that the baculovirus/stably transfected S2 cell system can be successfully used to express multiple foreign proteins in a controlled and selective manner without the burden of additional selection markers. Such a system would be expected to be attractive as a multiple protein expression platform for engineering metabolic or glycosylation pathways.

Production and N-glycan analysis of secreted human erythropoietin glycoprotein in stably transfected Drosophila S2 cells

Schneider 2 (S2) cells from Drosophila melanogaster have been used as a plasmid-based, non-lytic expression system for foreign proteins. Here, a plasmid encoding the human erythropoietin (hEPO) gene fused with a hexahistidine (His(6)) tag under the control of the Drosophila metallothionein (MT) promoter was stably transfected into Drosophila S2 cells. After copper sulfate induction, transfected S2 cells were found to secrete hEPO with a maximum expression level of 18 mg/L and a secretion efficiency near 98%. The secreted hEPO from Drosophila S2 had an apparent molecular weight of about 23-27 kDa which was significantly lower than a recombinant hEPO expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells (about 36 kDa). N-glycosidase F digestion almost completely eliminated the difference and resulted in the same molecular weight ( approximately 20 kDa) of de-N-glycosylated hEPO proteins. These data suggest that recombinant hEPO from S2 cells was modified with smaller N-glycans. Subsequently, the major N-glycans were identified following glycoamidase A digestion, labeling with 2-aminopyridine (PA), and two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis in concert with exoglycosidase digestion. This analysis of N-glycans revealed that hEPO was modified to include paucimannosidic glycans containing two or three mannose residues with or without core fucose. A similar glycosylation pattern was observed on a recombinant human transferrin expressed in S2 cells. These results provide a detailed analysis of multiple N-glycan structures produced in a Drosophila cell line that will be useful in the subsequent application of these cells for the generation of heterologous glycoproteins.

Production of transgenic cloned piglets from genetically transformed fetal fibroblasts selected by green fluorescent protein

This study was performed to develop a system for porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and to produce human erythropoietin (hEPO)-transgenic cloned piglets. Porcine fetal fibroblasts were transfected with an expression plasmid (phEPO-GFP). In Experiment 1, the effect of transfection of phEPO-GFP transgene on development of porcine SCNT embryos was investigated. Three fetal fibroblast cell lines (two male and one female) with or without transfected with phEPO-GFP trasngene were used as donor cells for SCNT. Lower fusion rates were observed in two lines of transfected cells as compared to those of the control cells. In Experiment 2, the effect was examined of elevated Ca2+ concentration in the fusion/activation medium on development of transfected SCNT embryos. The rates of fusion and blastocyst formation were significantly increased by supplementing 1.0 mM of CaCl2 (versus 0.1 mM) into the fusion/activation medium. In Experiment 3, the effect was studied of a chemical treatment (cytochalasin B) after electric fusion/activation (F/A) on porcine transgenic SCNT embryo development. The electric F/A + cytochalasin B treatment increased total cell number in blastocysts as compared to that of electric F/A treatment alone. In Experiment 4, transgenic cloned embryos were transferred to surrogate mothers and a total of six cloned piglets were born. Transgenic cloned piglets were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis. From a single surrogate mother, female and male transgenic cloned piglets were produced by transferring pooled SCNT embryos derived from female and male transfected donor cells. In conclusion, a system for porcine SCNT was developed and led to the successful production of hEPO transgenic cloned piglets.

Characterization of the oligosaccharide structures associated with the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a plasma membrane-associated glycoprotein. The protein can exist in three different molecular weight forms of approximately 127, 131, and 160 kDa, representing either nonglycosylated, core glycosylated, or fully mature, complex glycosylated CFTR, respectively. The most common mutation in cystic fibrosis (CF) results in the synthesis of a variant (DeltaF508-CFTR) that is incompletely glycosylated and defective in its trafficking to the cell surface. In this study, we have analyzed the oligosaccharide structures associated with the different forms of recombinant CFTR, by expressing and purifying the channel protein from either mammalian Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) or insect Sf9 cells. Using glycosidases and FACE analysis (fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis) we determined that purified CHO-CFTR contained polylactosaminoglycan (PL) sequences, while Sf9-CFTR had only oligomannosidic saccharides with fucosylation on the innermost GlcNAc. The presence of PL sequences on the recombinant CHO-CFTR is consistent with a normal feature of mammalian processing, since endogenous CFTR isolated from T84 cells displayed a similar pattern of glycosylation. The present study also reports on the use of FACE for the qualitative analysis of small amounts of glycoprotein oligosaccharides released enzymatically.

Critical relationship between glycosylation of recombinant lutropin receptor ectodomain and its secretion from baculovirus-infected insect cells

The lutropin receptor ectodomain overexpressed under the control of the powerful polyhedrin promoter in baculovirus-infected Sf9 insect cells, is mainly found in an inactive, intracellularly-aggregated form. It is secreted in an active form under the control of the P10 promoter, a somewhat weaker and earlier promoter, at the price of a lower production. The apparent molecular masses of the two species encoded by the same cDNA are 48 kDa and 60-68 kDa, respectively. The relationship between the extent and type of glycosylation and the extracellular targeting for the recombinant lutropin receptor ectodomains was investigated precisely with endoglycosidases, lectins of various specificities, and a glycosylation inhibitor, and tested with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. The results indicate that the strong polyhedrin promoter probably overwhelms the processing capacity of the ER in Sf9 cells, so that only a high-mannose precursor is expressed in large amounts. Only a minute amount of protein is secreted, which has been processed by Sf9 exoglycosidases/glycosyltransferases and bears complex/hybrid oligosaccharides. The weaker P10 promoter allows secretion of a mature and active receptor ectodomain, bearing complex glycosylation. An important O-linked glycosylation is also added post-translationally on this species. In particular, beta-galactose and sialic acid residues were specifically detected in the secreted species, evidence of the induction of the corresponding glycosyltransferases or of their genes. These results suggest that Sf9 cells should eventually be engineered with chaperones and glycosyltransferases in order to improve the production of demanding glycoproteins such as the porcine lutropin ectodomain, so as to open the way to resolution of the three-dimensional structures of these receptors.

Expression of grass carp growth hormone by baculovirus in silkworm larvae

A total of five recombinant Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (BMNPV) carrying the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) growth hormone (GH) cDNA were constructed in this study. Two of them were able to express the hormone up to a level of 12 microgram/ml medium when cultured B. mori cells were infected for 4 days. Inoculation of the viruses into silkworm (B. mori) host significantly increased the level of GH achievable. The amount of hormone produced per larva was estimated to be around 1 mg. The recombinant grass carp GH had immunological and biological activities similar to the native hormone. The N-terminal sequence of the recombinant hormone was the same as the native one, indicating that the fish signal peptide was correctly processed by the insect cells. Silkworm powder prepared from larvae infected with the recombinant virus was used as food supplement for fish. Compared with the control, this dietary supplement was effective in increasing the growth rate of juvenile carp.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using F(ab')2 fragment for the detection of human pulmonary surfactant protein D in sera

We developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of SP-D in serum using recombinant SP-D as a standard and horseradish peroxidase conjugated F(ab')2 fragment of mouse monoclonal antibody IgG to avoid the interaction of serum factors including rheumatoid factor. The use of F(ab')2 fragment dramatically decreased the value of serum SP-D concentration in rheumatoid arthritis patients without pulmonary complication to the close level of healthy volunteer. In contrast, the patients with collagen disease having interstitial pulmonary pneumonia exhibited consistently elevated levels of serum SP-D. The use of new ELISA with recombinant SP-D and F(ab')2 fragment of anti-SP-D monoclonal antibody gives a greater advantage for the accurate detection of SP-D in sera from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial pneumonia with collagen disease and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis without interference of rheumatoid factor.

Serological and biochemical characterization of recombinant baculovirus carcinoembryonic antigen

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a glycosylated protein of M(r) 180 kDa, is one of the most widely used human tumor markers. A majority of gastrointestinal cancers as well as breast and nonsmall cell lung carcinomas express CEA. We have previously described a recombinant baculovirus BVCEA-140 expressing the full-length human CEA and a variant, BVCEA-16, that encodes only the NH2-terminal domain, as well as a recombinant (BVNCA) expressing the closely related molecule nonspecific cross-reactive antigen (NCA). We have now compared a panel of 24 anti-CEA and anti-NCA monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) for their ability to bind to these recombinant CEA and NCA proteins, as well as with a new 60 kDa subgenomic form designated BVCEA-60. The epitope mapping studies indicate that all the CEA specific MAbs can recognize BVCEA-140. We also compared the sugar composition of BVCEA-140 to native CEA, using a lectin-linked immunoradiometric assay. The results demonstrated that both the native and recombinant baculovirus CEA contain simple high-mannose carbohydrates as well as biantennary and biantennary hybrid complexes. However, native CEA also contains triantennary and tetraantennary complex sugars, while the recombinant CEA molecule does not. Immunogenicity of the recombinant CEA molecules was demonstrated in mice. ELISA and Western blot analyses were used to determine the cross-reactivity of the anti-CEA sera. Mice immunized with BVCEA-140 elicit antibodies that are reactive to native CEA. When the BVCEA-16 was used as an immunogen, the antisera failed to detect native CEA or BVCEA-140. These studies demonstrate that minor sugar differences exist between native and baculovirus-derived CEA. However, epitope mapping with a panel of 24 anti-CEA MAbs (recognizing at least 10 CEA epitopes) stowed virtual immunologic identity between these two molecules. Moreover, BVCEA-140 appears to be a more potent humoral immunogen in mice than native CEA. These purified recombinant proteins can thus serve as standards in CEA serum assays for the possible detection and characterization of cell-mediated immune responses to CEA and as a potential source of immunogen (primary or for boosting) for active specific immunotherapy protocols of human carcinomas.

Production of lymphotoxin (LT alpha) and a soluble dimeric form of its receptor using the baculovirus expression system

Human LT alpha and a fusion protein (p60:Fc) comprised of the extracellular domain of the 60 kDa TNF receptor (TNFR60) fused to the Fc portion of human IgG1 were produced in insect cells infected with recombinant baculoviruses. The p60:Fc fusion produced in insect cells accumulates in culture supernatants to levels > 2 mg/l. Purified p60:Fc binds human TNF and LT alpha with high affinity (200-600 pM) and neutralizes TNF cytolytic activity at equimolar stoichiometric concentration. The data show that p60:Fc is an effective ligand-precipitating reagent which recognizes recombinant LT alpha produced in mammalian or insect cells and naturally occurring LT alpha produced in T cells. The levels of human LT alpha produced in baculovirus-infected insect cells is estimated to be approximately 20 mg/l. Insect cell-derived human LT alpha is biologically active in an L929 cytotoxicity assay and is efficiently neutralized by p60:Fc. These data demonstrate that the baculovirus system is useful for overexpressing biologically active LT alpha and p60:Fc and therefore, may be applicable to other oligomeric cytokines and soluble dimeric cytokine receptors.

Expression of anticardiolipin cofactor, human beta 2-glycoprotein I, by a recombinant baculovirus/insect cell system

A full-length cDNA coding a human beta 2-glycoprotein I (beta 2-GPI) was introduced into the baculovirus genome to construct a recombinant baculovirus. Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells were infected with the recombinant baculovirus. A protein (mol. wt 43,000) reactive with anti-beta 2-GPI antisera was produced in the insect cells and secreted into the culture medium. The recombinant beta 2-GPI was purified from the culture supernatant by sequential cardiolipin (CL)-affinity column chromatography and gel filtration. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the protein was identical to that of the native beta 2-GPI purified from human sera, and a putative signal peptide was cleaved from the secreted form of the recombinant protein. The purified recombinant protein had a cofactor activity which enhances CL binding of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, as well as the native beta 2-GPI. Thus, the beta 2-GPI expressed in insect cells is an immunologically active cofactor.

Phosphorylatable and epitope-tagged human erythropoietins: utility and purification of native baculovirus-derived forms

The hematopoietic glycopeptide erythropoietin (EPO) is a prime regulator of red cell production in mammals, yet the precise nature of its interaction with specific cell surface receptors is poorly understood. Towards defining domains of EPO that are involved in receptor activation, we have developed (i) conditions for the expression of recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) at high levels in SF9 cells using modified 2- and 5-liter stirred reactors, (ii) a two-step procedure for the purification of this EPO without denaturation, and (iii) forms of EPO tagged with either a hemagglutinin influenza virus epitope or a consensus sequence for in vitro phosphorylation. Compared to EPO expressed in mammalian cells, rhEPO from SF9 cells in N-glycosylated with simple, neutral oligosaccharides of limited size, yet as purified presently using nondenaturing procedures, possesses exceptionally high in vitro activity (> or = 500,000 U/mg). Thus, this form of EPO should prove advantageous for direct physicochemical analyses. Regarding epitope-tagged and phosphorylatable EPOs, forms modified at the amino terminus (Ala1) fully retained receptor binding and in vitro biological activities. In contrast, forms modified at the carboxy terminus (Cys161) were inactive and did not compete for receptor binding, indicating that integrity of this domain is essential for receptor recognition. For active amino-terminal-modified forms, the specific binding of MAb 12CA5 to native HAI-EPO and the utility of 32P-labeled PHOS-EPO in receptor binding and internalization studies also were demonstrated. The development of these unique, highly active forms of human EPO should advance studies of essential interactions between this cytokine and its cell surface receptor.

Baculovirus Expression of Alkaline Phosphatase as a Reporter Gene for Evaluation of Production, Glycosylation and Secretion

We have devised a simple and efficient baculovirus expression vector system to evaluate insect tissue culture cells for their capacity to express, glycosylate and secrete foreign proteins. A truncated placental alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) gene was inserted into the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) genome under the transcriptional control of the polyhedrin gene promoter. Production levels, glycosylation, and secretion of the recombinant protein were examined in Trichoplusia ni (BTI-TN-5B1-4) and Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cell lines. The assay for SEAP activity, which is fast, inexpensive, and quantitative to concentrations of 20 picograms per milliliter, was used to assess cell-associated and secreted SEAP activity. The proportion of SEAP which is modified with N-linked oligosaccharide can also be determined due to the difference in mobilities during SDS-PAGE between the glycosylated and nonglycosylated forms of the protein.

Structural role of amino acids 99-110 in recombinant human erythropoietin

Erythropoietin is the prime regulator of red blood cell production. Previous studies demonstrated that antipeptide antibodies to amino acids 99-119 and 111-129 bind to two non-overlapping domains and inhibit the hormone's action (Sytkowski, A.J. & Donahue, K. A. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 1161-1165). Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis now shows that amino acids 99-110 (domain 1) but not 119-129 (domain 2) are important to erythropoietin's structure and function. Mutagenesis of wild-type human erythropoietin cDNA was used to produce a series of mutant proteins with sequential deletion of three adjacent amino acids and insertion of the sequence Glu-Phe across the two domains. Transient expression in COS-7 cells revealed 2.0-kb transcripts encoded by all of the cDNAs. Domain 2 mutants exhibited specific biological activities similar to that of the wild type. In contrast, domain 1 mutants were not secreted. In vitro transcription and translation of the domain 1, domain 2 and wild-type cDNAs resulted in the isolation of 23.5-kDa and 32-kDa proteins in the absence or presence of pancreatic microsomes, respectively, consistent with efficient translation of all of the mutants and equivalent post-translational processing of each protein. The data suggest that mutation within domain 1 results in the intracellular biosynthesis of erythropoietins with altered structure, rendering them subject to rapid degradation. The bioassay of erythropoietins synthesized entirely in vitro demonstrated that domain 1 mutants were inactive, whereas both wild type and domain 2 mutant hormones exhibited biologic activity. The results are consistent with a critical role for amino acids 99-110 in the structure of human erythropoietin.

Expression of two forms of carp gonadotropin alpha subunit in insect cells by recombinant baculovirus

There are two types of cDNA clones (designated alpha 1 and alpha 2) encoding the alpha subunit of carp gonadotropin. These two cDNAs are derived from different genes and encode proteins that differ by seven amino acid residues (three in the signal peptide and four in the mature polypeptide). Expression of these two cDNAs in insect cells by recombinant baculovirus revealed that the alpha 1 subunit, after noncovalent association with the beta subunit, has the same potency as the native alpha subunit purified from the pituitary. In contrast, the alpha 2 subunit can associate with the beta subunit, but only to form an inactive gonadotropin. Competition of the alpha 2 subunit with the alpha 1 subunit for association with the beta subunit decreases the gonadotropin activity of the alpha/beta complex. In addition, both alpha 1 and alpha 2 subunits are secreted into the culture medium by insect cells and have an apparent molecular mass approximately 5 kDa higher than that of the native alpha subunit. These results indicate that the insect cell-derived alpha 1 subunit is biologically active and that those four amino acid changes in the mature of alpha 2 protein affect the biological activity and thus provide valuable clues for the study of the structure-function relationship of the alpha subunit of glycoprotein hormones.

The alpha subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone synthesized in insect cells using a baculovirus vector is biologically active

A recombinant baculovirus, vAc alpha hCG, having a replacement of the viral polyhedrin gene with the cDNA encoding the alpha subunit of hCG was used to express alpha hCG, an extensively glycosylated hormone, in insect cells. Virus-infected cells, 72 h pi, secreted approximately 11.3 micrograms alpha hCG/2 x 10(6) cells/ml which was identical to the native hormonal peptide in terms of electrophoretic mobility, immunoreactivity and bioactivity on association with beta subunit, as evident by its binding to rat testicular cells and induction of steroidogenesis in a mouse Leydig cell bioassay system. The alpha hCG secreted into the medium represented approximately 20-30% of the total hCG synthesized by vAc alpha CG infected insect cells. The implications of using a very late promoter, in a baculovirus expression system, for directing the transcription of a gene whose gene product requires extensive post-translational modifications are discussed.

Biological activity and structural stability of N-deglycosylated recombinant human erythropoietin

Controversy exists regarding the functional role of N-linked oligosaccharides in the hormone erythropoietin. We have now examined the role of carbohydrates in the hormone's action using quantitative enzymatic deglycosylation. N-deglycosylated hormone exhibited full biological activity and potency in vitro. Denaturing with 6M urea and renaturing revealed that both the native and N-deglycosylated forms recovered full activity as long as the intrachain disulfide bonds remained intact. Therefore, receptor recognition, subsequent biological activity and maintenance of tertiary structure are intrinsic properties of the polypeptide chain of erythropoietin.

O-linked sugar chain of human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor protects it against polymerization and denaturation allowing it to retain its biological activity

Human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (hG-CSF) is a glycoprotein carrying one O-linked sugar chain. To clarify the role of the oligosaccharide in hG-CSF, some biological and physicochemical properties of the deglycosylated hG-CSF and the intact factor were compared. Recombinant hG-CSF produced in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells was sequentially digested with neuraminidase and endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase. The deglycosylated hG-CSF was one-third as active as the intact form in the colony-forming assay, but it was almost as active as the intact hG-CSF in the cell proliferation assay using NFS-60 cells (NFS-60 bioassay). Inactivation of the deglycosylated hG-CSF was also found by NFS-60 bioassay after incubation for 2 days at pH values from 7 to 8 and at 37 degrees C. This inactivation was accompanied by polymerization of the factor which did not occur with the glycosylated factor. Circular dichroic and calorimetric analyses demonstrated that the deglycosylated hG-CSF is more sensitive to heat denaturation than the intact form and that the inactivation of both forms of hG-CSF was accompanied by conformational change of the proteins. From these results, it was concluded that the O-linked sugar chain of hG-CSF contributes to the stability of the factor by suppressing polymerization and/or its conformational changes.

Oligosaccharide processing in the expression of human plasminogen cDNA by lepidopteran insect (Spodoptera frugiperda) cells

A comparison has been made between the Asn289-linked oligosaccharide structures of human plasma plasminogen and a recombinant human plasminogen, expressed in lepidopteran insect (Spodoptera frugiperda) cells, after infection of these cells with a recombinant baculovirus containing the entire human plasminogen cDNA. Using anion-exchange liquid chromatography mapping of the oligosaccharide units cleaved from the proteins by glycopeptidase F, compared with elution positions of standard oligosaccharide structures, coupled with monosaccharide compositional analysis, we find that the human plasma protein contained only bisialo-biantennary complex-type carbohydrate and asialo-biantennary complex carbohydrate, confirming earlier work published by this laboratory. The glycosylation pattern of the insect cell expressed recombinant human plasminogen showed considerable microheterogeneity, with identifiable high-mannose carbohydrate (Man9GlcNAc2) and truncated high-mannose oligosaccharide (Man5GlcNAc2, Man4GlcNAc2, and Man3GlcNAc2). Of major importance, approximately 40% of the oligosaccharide population consisted of complex carbohydrate (bisialo-biantennary), identical in structure with that of the human plasma protein. This is the first direct identification of complex carbohydrate in proteins produced in insect cells and demonstrates that trimming and processing of high-mannose carbohydrate into complex-type oligosaccharide can occur. Our data indicate that both normal and alternate pathways exist in these cells for incorporation and trimming of high-mannose oligosaccharides and that mannosidases, as well as galactosyl-, hexosaminidasyl-, and sialyltransferases are present, and/or can be induced, in these cells. From these observations, we conclude that amino acid sequences and/or protein conformational properties can control oligosaccharide processing events.

Structure of O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides synthesized by the insect cell line Sf9

The O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides on the pseudorabies virus (PRV) glycoprotein gp50 synthesized by three different cell lines were studied. The intact membrane protein (gp50) was expressed in Vero cells and in the insect cell line Sf9. In addition, a truncated, secreted form lacking the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains (gp50T), was expressed in CHO and Sf9 cells. The protein, both in intact and truncated form, synthesized by the two mammalian cells contained only the disaccharide Gal beta 1-3GalNAc, either unsubstituted or substituted with one or two sialic acid residues. By contrast, the major O-linked structure on gp50 and gp50T synthesized by Sf9 cells was the monosaccharide GalNAc. The Sf9 cells also linked lower amounts of Gal beta 1-3GalNAc to gp50 (12%) and gp50T (26%). None of the structures synthesized by Sf9 cells contained sialic acid. Measurements of the two relevant glycosyltransferases revealed that while all three cell lines contain comparable levels of UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide, N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase activity, there is a greater variation in the levels of UDP-Gal:N-acetylgalactosamine, beta 1-3 galactosyltransferase, with the Sf9 cells containing the lowest level.

Human acidic fibroblast growth factor overexpressed in insect cells is not secreted into the medium

We have overexpressed human acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) in Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 cells from a cDNA clone under the control of the promoter of the polyhedrin gene of the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus. A 16.5-kD product was made in recombinant virus-infected cells that specifically reacted in immunoblots with various antibodies prepared against aFGF. Recombinant aFGF was mitogenic for BHK21 cells and its activity was stimulated by heparin. The mechanism of release of FGF from mammalian cells is unknown. Both acidic and basic FGF lack classical amino-terminal signal sequences for secretion, and they are very inefficiently released from cells. Sf9 cells infected with the recombinant virus produced 10-20 mg aFGF/10(9) cells, corresponding to about 10-20 pg/cell. Despite this high level of expression, only about 0.5 and 1.3% of the total aFGF was found in the culture medium at 48 and 72 hr postinfection, respectively. This indicates that aFGF is not actively secreted out of the cells either via the normal exocytic pathway or directly through the plasma membrane in this heterologous cell system.

Relationship between sugar chain structure and biological activity of recombinant human erythropoietin produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Two forms of erythropoietin, EPO-bi and EPO-tetra, with different biological activities were isolated from the culture medium of a recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cell line, B8-300, into which the human erythropoietin gene had been introduced. EPO-bi, an unusual form, showed only one-seventh the in vivo activity and 3 times higher in vitro activity of the previously described recombinant human EPO (standard EPO). In contrast, EPO-tetra showed both in vivo and in vitro activities comparable to those of the standard EPO. EPO-bi, EPO-tetra, and the standard EPO had the same amino acid composition and immunoreactivity. However, structural analyses of their N-linked sugar chains revealed that EPO-bi contains the biantennary complex type as the major sugar chain, while EPO-tetra and the standard EPO contain the tetraantennary complex type as the major sugar chain. From examination of various preparations of recombinant human EPO, we found a positive correlation between the in vivo activity of EPO and the ratio of tetraantennary to biantennary oligosaccharides. These results suggest that higher branching of the N-linked sugar chains is essential for effective expression of in vivo biological activity of EPO.

Cell-surface expression and purification of human CD4 produced in baculovirus-infected insect cells

CD4 is an integral membrane glycoprotein that acts as the cellular receptor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A cDNA encoding full-length CD4 was inserted into the genome of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus under transcriptional regulation of the viral polyhedrin gene promoter. The recombinant virus was used to infect insect cells, which resulted in the abundant expression of CD4 as evaluated by flow cytometry and immunoblot analysis. Recombinant CD4 expressed on the surface of infected insect cells was immunologically indistinguishable from human CD4 when using 11 different anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies. The extraction of infected cells by phase-transition separation with Triton X-114 followed by immunoaffinity chromatography yielded a single protein detected by NaDodSO4/PAGE using silver staining. N-terminal sequence analysis of the purified recombinant protein showed that CD4 produced in Sf9 cells is efficiently cleaved from the precursor protein. Immunoblot analysis under nondenaturing conditions showed that the purified protein reacted with the anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody Leu-3a. The potential use of the recombinant membrane-associated CD4 in anti-HIV therapy is discussed.

Expression and purification of biologically active v-sis/platelet-derived growth factor B protein by using a baculovirus vector system

Malignant transformation induced by simian sarcoma virus is mediated by its v-sis protein, the monkey homolog of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) B chain. By use of an appropriately engineered baculovirus expression vector, the v-sis protein was expressed in the insect cell line Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) at a level 50- to 100-fold higher than that observed with overexpression in mammalian-cell transfectants. The sis protein produced by Sf9 cells underwent processing similar to that observed in mammalian cells, including efficient disulfide-linked dimer formation. Moreover, the recombinant sis protein was capable of binding PDGF receptors and inducing DNA synthesis as efficiently as PDGF-B synthesized by mammalian cells. A significant fraction of sis protein was released from Sf9 cells, which made possible a one-step immunoaffinity purification to near homogeneity with a 40% recovery of biological activity. These results demonstrate that a protein whose normal processing requires both intrachain and interchain disulfide-bridge formation can be efficiently expressed in a biologically active form in insect cells by using a baculovirus vector system.

Glycosylation and secretion of human tissue plasminogen activator in recombinant baculovirus-infected insect cells

Cell lines established from the lepidopteran insect Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm; Sf9) are used routinely as hosts for the expression of foreign proteins by recombinant baculovirus vectors. We have examined the pathway of protein glycosylation and secretion in these cells, using human tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) as a model. t-PA expressed in Sf9 cells was both N glycosylated and secreted. At least a subset of the N-linked oligosaccharides in extracellular t-PA was resistant to endo-beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase H, which removes immature, high-mannose-type oligosaccharides. This refutes the general conclusion from previous studies that Sf9 cells cannot process immature N-linked oligosaccharides to an endo-beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase H-resistant form. A nonglycosylated t-PA precursor was not detected in Sf9 cells, even with very short pulse-labeling times. This suggests that the mammalian signal sequence of t-PA is efficiently recognized in Sf9 cells and that it can mediate rapid translocation across the membrane of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, where cotranslational N glycosylation takes place. However, t-PA was secreted rather slowly, with a half-time of about 1.6 h. Thus, a rate-limiting step(s) in secretion occurs subsequent to translocation and N glycosylation of the t-PA polypeptide. Treatment of Sf9 cells with tunicamycin, but not with inhibitors of oligosaccharide processing, prevented the appearance of t-PA in the extracellular medium. This suggests that N glycosylation per se, but not processing of the N-linked oligosaccharides, is required directly or indirectly in baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells for the secretion of t-PA. Finally, the relative efficiency of secretion decreased dramatically with time of infection, suggesting that the Sf9 host cell secretory pathway is compromised during the later stages of baculovirus infection.

Glycosylation and secretion of human tissue plasminogen activator in recombinant baculovirus-infected insect cells

Cell lines established from the lepidopteran insect Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm; Sf9) are used routinely as hosts for the expression of foreign proteins by recombinant baculovirus vectors. We have examined the pathway of protein glycosylation and secretion in these cells, using human tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) as a model. t-PA expressed in Sf9 cells was both N glycosylated and secreted. At least a subset of the N-linked oligosaccharides in extracellular t-PA was resistant to endo-beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase H, which removes immature, high-mannose-type oligosaccharides. This refutes the general conclusion from previous studies that Sf9 cells cannot process immature N-linked oligosaccharides to an endo-beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase H-resistant form. A nonglycosylated t-PA precursor was not detected in Sf9 cells, even with very short pulse-labeling times. This suggests that the mammalian signal sequence of t-PA is efficiently recognized in Sf9 cells and that it can mediate rapid translocation across the membrane of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, where cotranslational N glycosylation takes place. However, t-PA was secreted rather slowly, with a half-time of about 1.6 h. Thus, a rate-limiting step(s) in secretion occurs subsequent to translocation and N glycosylation of the t-PA polypeptide. Treatment of Sf9 cells with tunicamycin, but not with inhibitors of oligosaccharide processing, prevented the appearance of t-PA in the extracellular medium. This suggests that N glycosylation per se, but not processing of the N-linked oligosaccharides, is required directly or indirectly in baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells for the secretion of t-PA. Finally, the relative efficiency of secretion decreased dramatically with time of infection, suggesting that the Sf9 host cell secretory pathway is compromised during the later stages of baculovirus infection.

Human tissue-type plasminogen activator synthesized by using a baculovirus vector in insect cells compared with human plasminogen activator produced in mouse cells

A cDNA fragment encoding the human tissue-type plasminogen activator was inserted into the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus downstream from the polyhedrin promoter. The induction kinetics of t-PA was followed, after infection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells, at both mRNA and protein levels. Fibrinolytically active plasminogen activator accumulated in the culture medium and reached 2.5 micrograms/ml after 120 h. The protein was compared with recombinant plasminogen activator produced in mouse cells and was found to be slightly smaller. This difference in size was found to be caused by N-linked oligosaccharides which are shorter in the recombinant activator obtained from insect cells. The molecules produced in such cells contain at least two different types of N-linked glycans, since only one out of three oligosaccharides is sensitive to endoglycosidase H. However, all glycan structures bind strongly to concanavalin A-Sepharose.