Biochemical and immunological characterization of the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) envelope glycoprotein (gp51) produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Transient expression of a bovine leukemia virus envelope glycoprotein in plants by a recombinant TBSV vector

Plants offer a unique combination of advantages for the production of valuable recombinant proteins in a relatively short time. For instance, a variety of diagnostic tests have been developed that use recombinant antigens expressed in plants. The envelope glycoprotein gp51 encoded by Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is one of the essential subunits for viral infectivity. It was indicated that the recombinant gp51 (rgp51) of BLV сan be used as an synthetic alternative antigen useful in the diagnosis of BLV infection in cattle. Here we evaluate the potential for using a viral vector based on the genome of Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) for the efficient expression of BLV envelope glycoprotein rgp51 in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. The codon-optimized gene encoding rgp51 was synthesized by the de novo DNA synthesis to replace the GFP gene in the TBSV-derived viral vector that was then delivered into 4-5 week old N. benthamiana plants by agroinfiltration. Expression of recombinant his-tagged rgp51 was verified by protein extraction followed by western blot procedures, and by purification using Ni²⁺-affinity chromatography. The molecular weight of this plant-expressed rgp51 ranged from 43 to 55 kDa and it was shown to be glycosylated. Important for potential use in diagnostic tests, purified rgp51 specifically reacted with BLV infected bovine sera while no reaction was observed with the negative serum samples.

Purification by Strep-Tactin affinity chromatography of a delete envelope gp51 protein of Bovine Leukaemia virus expressed in Sf21 insect cells

Bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) causes disease in cattle and it is related to human T lymphotrofic viruses HTLV-1 and HTLV-2. The objective of this study was to express and purify deleted and stable forms of the gp51 envelope glycoprotein of BLV using a baculovirus system. Two forms of the gp51 were synthesised: one comprised the gp51 N-terminal 174 amino acids and a single 6xHis tag (Delta(175-268)gp51-His) and the second form contained the same amino acid sequence and a C-terminal Strep-tag II in addition to the 6xHis tag (Delta(175-268)gp51-STH). The two proteins were expressed and purified by immobilized metal-affinity chromatography (IMAC) or by Strep-Tactin column. The Strep-Tactin technology was more efficient than IMAC method and achieved a high pure recombinant deleted gp51. In addition the Delta(175-268)gp51-STH protein was further concentrated by IMAC. This purified antigen could be used for the isolation of immunoreactive molecules and to develop a competitive ELISA test.

Identification and use of zinc finger transcription factors that increase production of recombinant proteins in yeast and mammalian cells

Randomized ZFP-TF libraries could induce a specific phenotype without detailed knowledge about the phenotype of interest because, theoretically, the libraries could modulate any gene in the target organism. We have developed a novel method for enhancing the efficiency of recombinant protein production in mammalian and microbial cells using combinatorial libraries of zinc finger protein transcription factors. To this end, we constructed tens of thousands of zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) with distinct DNA-binding specificities and fused these ZFPs to either a transcriptional activation or repression domain to make transcriptional activators or repressors, respectively. Expression vectors that encode these artificial transcription factors were delivered into Saccharomyces cerevisiae or HEK 293 cells along with reporter plasmids that code for human growth hormone (hGH) or SEAP (secreted alkaline phosphatase) (for yeast or HEK, respectively). Expression of the reporter genes was driven by either the cytomegalovirus (CMV) or SV40 virus promoters. After transfection, we screened the cells for increased synthesis of the reporter proteins. From these cells, we then isolated several ZFP-transcription factors (ZFP-TFs) that significantly increased hGH or SEAP synthesis and subjected these regulatory proteins to further characterization. Our results show that randomized ZFP-TF libraries are useful tools for improving the yield of heterologous recombinant protein both in yeast and mammalian cells.

Expression of the bovine leukemia virus envelope glycoprotein (gp51) by recombinant baculovirus and its use in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

The gene encoding the major envelope glycoprotein (gp51) with its signal sequence, represented by an additional NH2-terminal 33-residue amino acid sequence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV), was inserted into a baculovirus transfer vector. A recombinant virus expressing a secreted gp51 protein in insect cells was isolated. The recombinant gp51 expressed was characterized by using an anti-BLV monoclonal antibody by both Western blotting analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The secreted gp51 was used as an antigen, and an ELISA with recombinant gp51 (rgp51) was developed for the detection of BLV antibodies. This new procedure was compared with a previous ELISA method for the detection of BLV antibodies and an agar gel immunodiffusion test performed with an unpurified BLV antigen preparation. The comparative testing of field samples showed that the ELISA with rgp51 is more specific and also suitable for the testing of pooled sera.

Yeast-secreted bovine herpesvirus type 1 glycoprotein D has authentic conformational structure and immunogenicity

Bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) glycoprotein D (gD), an envelope glycoprotein, engenders mucosal and systemic immunity protecting cattle from viral infection. Production of gD with authentic immunogenicity is required for a subunit vaccine. We placed the truncated BHV-1 gD gene, lacking its putative transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, under the control of the methanol-inducible AOX1 promoter in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Truncated BHV-1 gD (tgD) was efficiently secreted into the culture medium as a 68 kDa protein using either the yeast alpha prepro or native BHV-1 gD signal sequences. The yeast-secreted tgD had N-linked glycosylation and appears to have authentic conformational structure and immunogenicity based on the following observations A panel of monoclonal antibodies recognizing five neutralizing epitopes reacted with yeast tgD. Sera from yeast tgD-immunized mice immunoprecipitated native BHV-1 gD and neutralized BHV-1 infection in vitro. Yeast tgD competitively blocked all reaction between native gD and monospecific gD polyclonal sera from cattle. Based on these data, yeast-derived BHV-1 tgD is an excellent candidate for a subunit vaccine.

Recombinant viral vaccines for enzootic bovine leucosis

Recently published studies on the development and use of recombinant vaccinia virus (VV) vaccines incorporating either the complete envelope (env) gene or only a fragment of the env gene consisting of the coding sequence for the env glycoprotein 51 (gp51) and part of gp30 of the bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) are described. It has been reported that vaccination of sheep with recombinant VV vaccines containing the complete env gene appears to protect sheep against challenge infection with BLV. The evidence for this protection is based on the lack of persistence of high titres of anti-gp51 antibodies compared with unvaccinated BLV infected controls, on the enhanced CD4 proliferative responses to specific BLV gp51 synthetic peptides in the vaccinated sheep, and on the inability to detect BLV pro-virus by polymerase chain reaction in the vaccinated sheep after 4 months following challenge infection compared with continual detection in unvaccinated sheep over a 16 month trial period. It has been suggested that cell-mediated immune responses may be an important aspect of protective immunity against BLV infection and it has been reported that large tracts of amino acid sequences within the env and pol genes are highly conserved in different isolates from different countries which is of importance in designing peptide derived vaccines.

Factors affecting homologous overexpression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase gene

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase (14DM) gene was overexpressed in S. cerevisiae using promoter sequences of the highly expressed S. cerevisiae glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (TDH3) gene. To investigate factors affecting 14DM overproduction, the levels of 14DM-specific RNAs, apoprotein, and heme protein, respectively, were determined and the 14DM-specific RNA levels compared with the RNA levels originating from the endogenous TDH gene(s). The quantitative measurements revealed that the 14DM steady-state RNA levels reached were some three- to five-fold below the theoretically expected values. With a view towards further improving expression of the 14DM gene, the spacing between the TDH3 promoter and the AUG was adjusted precisely and to rule out possible toxic effects exerted by the 14DM protein, the TDH3 promoter was placed under galactose regulation by introducing an UASG segment. Furthermore, the effects of the gene copy number on 14DM overproduction were investigated. From the analysis of the improved expression constructs five conclusions could be reached: (1) expression from the native 14DM gene is comparable to the expression driven by the TDH3 promoter-14DM fusion construct on single copy plasmid vectors; (2) expression from the TDH3 promoter-14DM construct on single-copy vectors is nearly as efficient as expression from the corresponding endogenous TDH3 gene; (3) the gene copy number has an effect on the relative expression levels of the TDH3 promoter-14DM constructs; (4) the steady-state amounts of protein produced are very nearly proportional to gene dosage; and (5) protein toxicity does not have a major impact on 14DM production. The maximum yield of 14DM was in the order of 7% of the total yeast protein and the maximum production of functional 14DM heme protein appears to be limited by the availability of heme.

Use of synthetic peptides to map sequential epitopes recognized by monoclonal antibodies on the bovine leukemia virus external glycoprotein

Six sequential epitopes (A, B, B', D, D', E) were previously defined on the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) envelope glycoprotein gp51 by their reactivity with monoclonal antibodies. A panel of synthetic peptides covering almost the entire sequence of gp51 was tested in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in order to localize these epitopes. E was shown to be included in peptide 142-161 (MCF4), B and B' in peptide 195-205, D and D' in peptide 218-237 (MCF6), and A in peptide 249-268 (MCF7). These results extend and confirm previous observations suggesting that the sequential epitopes recognized by our battery of monoclonal antibodies are located in the carboxylic half of BLV gp51.

Expression of bovine leukaemia virus envelope gene by recombinant vaccinia viruses

Recombinant vaccinia viruses (VV) containing the envelope gene of bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) were constructed. Three virus constructs were designed: VV-BLV1 which contained the open reading frame for envelope glycoprotein gp51 alone, under control of VVP7.5 promoter; VV-BLV2 and VV-BLV3 contained the entire gene (gp51 + gp30) coding sequence downstream of VP7.5 and the fowlpox virus early/late promoter (PFE/L) respectively. All three VV recombinants expressed envelope glycoproteins as determined by the agar gel diffusion assay. By immunofluorescence techniques it was shown that while VV-BLV2 and VV-BLV3 expressed envelope glycoprotein on the surface of virus-infected cells, VV-BLV1 failed to do so. Rabbits inoculated with VV-BLV1 failed to show an anti envelope glycoprotein antibody response, however, significant levels of antibodies against envelope glycoprotein were detected in sera from rabbits inoculated with VV-BLV2 and VV-BLV3.

High yield synthesis of the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) p24 major internal protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) p24 gene was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under the control of the PHO5 (encoding repressible acid phosphatase, rAPase) promoter. Yeast cells were transformed by a yeast-E. coli shuttle vector carrying the PHO5 promoter, the p24 gene and the CYC1 transcription terminator. After low inorganic phosphate (Pi) induction of the PHO5 promoter, p24 accumulated in the producing cells up to a concentration representing 10% of total soluble proteins. The expression level of p24 gene was not increased by insertion of the positive regulatory gene PHO4 on the p24 expression vector. The p24 produced in this system and incubated in crude yeast extract showed a remarkably high resistance to proteolytic degradation, a feature that presumably correlates with the compact globular conformation of the protein combined to the stabilizing effect of the N-terminal residue.