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Cho S, Lee H, Han YH, Park TS, Seo SW, Park TH. Design of an effective small expression tag to enhance GPCR production in E. coli-based cell-free and whole cell expression systems. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4839. [PMID: 37967042 PMCID: PMC10682694 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play crucial roles in sensory, immune, and tumor metastasis processes, making them valuable targets for pharmacological and sensing applications in various industries. However, most GPCRs have low production yields in Escherichia coli (E. coli) expression systems. To overcome this limitation, we introduced AT10 tag, an effective fusion tag that could significantly enhance expression levels of various GPCRs in E. coli and its derived cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system. This AT10 tag consisted of an A/T-rich gene sequence designed via optimization of translation initiation rate. It is translated into a short peptide sequence of 10 amino acids at the N-terminus of GPCRs. Additionally, effector proteins could be utilized to suppress cytotoxicity caused by membrane protein expression, further boosting GPCR production in E. coli. Enhanced expression of various GPCRs using this AT10 tag is a promising approach for large-scale production of functional GPCRs in E. coli-based CFPS and whole cell systems, enabling their potential utilization across a wide range of industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seongyeon Cho
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical ProcessSeoul National UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Haein Lee
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical ProcessSeoul National UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Yong Hee Han
- Interdisciplinary Program in BioengineeringSeoul National UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Tae Shin Park
- Receptech Research Institute, Receptech Inc.SiheungRepublic of Korea
| | - Sang Woo Seo
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical ProcessSeoul National UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in BioengineeringSeoul National UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Tai Hyun Park
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical ProcessSeoul National UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in BioengineeringSeoul National UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
- Department of Nutritional Science and Food ManagementEwha Womans UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
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2
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Cho S, Park TH. Advances in the Production of Olfactory Receptors for Industrial Use. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2200251. [PMID: 36593488 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
In biological olfactory systems, olfactory receptors (ORs) can recognize and discriminate between thousands of volatile organic compounds with very high sensitivity and specificity. The superior properties of ORs have led to the development of OR-based biosensors that have shown promising potential in many applications over the past two decades. In particular, newly designed technologies in gene synthesis, protein expression, solubilization, purification, and membrane mimetics for membrane proteins have greatly opened up the previously inaccessible industrial potential of ORs. In this review, gene design, expression and solubilization strategies, and purification and reconstitution methods available for modern industrial applications are examined, with a focus on ORs. The limitations of current OR production technology are also estimated, and future directions for further progress are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seongyeon Cho
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Tai Hyun Park
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
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3
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Zhou T, Li R, Zhang S, Zhao S, Sharma M, Kulshrestha S, Khan A, Kakade A, Han H, Niu Y, Li X. A copper-specific microbial fuel cell biosensor based on riboflavin biosynthesis of engineered Escherichia coli. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 118:210-222. [PMID: 32915455 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Copper pollution poses a serious threat to the aquatic environment; however, in situ analytical methods for copper monitoring are still scarce. In the current study, Escherichia coli Rosetta was genetically modified to express OprF and ribB with promoter Pt7 and PcusC , respectively, which could synthesize porin and senses Cu2+ to produce riboflavin. The cell membrane permeability of this engineered strain was increased and its riboflavin production (1.45-3.56 μM) was positively correlated to Cu2+ (0-0.5 mM). The biosynthetic strain was then employed in microbial fuel cell (MFC) based biosensor. Under optimal operating parameters of pH 7.1 and 37°C, the maximum voltage (248, 295, 333, 352, and 407 mV) of the constructed MFC biosensor showed a linear correlation with Cu2+ concentration (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 mM, respectively; R2 = 0.977). The continuous mode testing demonstrated that the MFC biosensor specifically senses Cu2+ with calculated detection limit of 28 μM, which conforms to the common Cu2+ safety standard (32 μM). The results obtained with the developed biosensor system were consistent with the existing analytical methods such as colorimetry, flame atomic absorption spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. In conclusion, this MFC-based biosensor overcomes the signal conversion and transmission problems of conventional approaches, providing a fast and economic analytical alternative for in situ monitoring of Cu2+ in water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuoyu Zhou
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Rong Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.,Key Laboratory for Resources Utilization Technology of Unconventional Water of Gansu Province, Gansu Academy of Membrane Science and Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Shuting Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Shuai Zhao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.,Key Laboratory for Resources Utilization Technology of Unconventional Water of Gansu Province, Gansu Academy of Membrane Science and Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Monika Sharma
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Saurabh Kulshrestha
- Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Aman Khan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Apurva Kakade
- Key Laboratory for Resources Utilization Technology of Unconventional Water of Gansu Province, Gansu Academy of Membrane Science and Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Huawen Han
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Yongyan Niu
- Key Laboratory for Resources Utilization Technology of Unconventional Water of Gansu Province, Gansu Academy of Membrane Science and Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Xiangkai Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
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4
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Kwon OS, Song HS, Park TH, Jang J. Conducting Nanomaterial Sensor Using Natural Receptors. Chem Rev 2018; 119:36-93. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Oh Seok Kwon
- Bionanotechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Nanobiotechnology and Bioinformatics (Major), University of Science & Technology (UST), Daejon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Seok Song
- Sensor System Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bioconvergence Analysis, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Cheongju 28119, Republic of Korea
- Center for Convergent Research of Emerging Virus Infection, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Tai Hyun Park
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jyongsik Jang
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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5
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Zhang X, Cheng J, Wu L, Mei Y, Jaffrezic-Renault N, Guo Z. An overview of an artificial nose system. Talanta 2018; 184:93-102. [PMID: 29674088 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2018.02.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The present review describes recent advances in the development of an artificial nose system based on olfactory receptors and various sensing platforms. The kind of artificial nose, the production of olfactory receptors, the sensor platform for signal conversion and the application of the artificial nose system based on olfactory receptors and various sensing platforms are presented. The associated transduction modes are also discussed. The paper presents a review of the latest achievements and a critical evaluation of the state of the art in the field of artificial nose systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu Zhang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, PR China
| | - Jing Cheng
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, PR China
| | - Lei Wu
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, PR China
| | - Yong Mei
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, PR China.
| | - Nicole Jaffrezic-Renault
- Institute of Analytical Sciences, UMR-CNRS 5280, University of Lyon, 5, La Doua Street, Villeurbanne 69100, France.
| | - Zhenzhong Guo
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, PR China.
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6
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Purification and functional reconstitution of human olfactory receptor expressed in Escherichia coli. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s12257-014-0897-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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7
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Milić D, Veprintsev DB. Large-scale production and protein engineering of G protein-coupled receptors for structural studies. Front Pharmacol 2015; 6:66. [PMID: 25873898 PMCID: PMC4379943 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Structural studies of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) gave insights into molecular mechanisms of their action and contributed significantly to molecular pharmacology. This is primarily due to technical advances in protein engineering, production and crystallization of these important receptor targets. On the other hand, NMR spectroscopy of GPCRs, which can provide information about their dynamics, still remains challenging due to difficulties in preparation of isotopically labeled receptors and their low long-term stabilities. In this review, we discuss methods used for expression and purification of GPCRs for crystallographic and NMR studies. We also summarize protein engineering methods that played a crucial role in obtaining GPCR crystal structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalibor Milić
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen Switzerland
| | - Dmitry B Veprintsev
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen Switzerland ; Department of Biology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Zürich Switzerland
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8
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Cohen LS, Fracchiolla KE, Becker J, Naider F. Invited review GPCR structural characterization: Using fragments as building blocks to determine a complete structure. Biopolymers 2014; 102:223-43. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Revised: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Leah S. Cohen
- Department of Chemistry; The College of Staten Island, City University of New York (CUNY); Staten Island NY 10314
| | - Katrina E. Fracchiolla
- Department of Chemistry; The College of Staten Island, City University of New York (CUNY); Staten Island NY 10314
| | - Jeff Becker
- Department of Microbiology; University of Tennessee; Knoxville TN 37996
| | - Fred Naider
- Department of Chemistry; The College of Staten Island, City University of New York (CUNY); Staten Island NY 10314
- Department of Biochemistry; The Graduate Center; CUNY NY 10016-4309
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9
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Wang M, Ge B, Li R, Wang X, Lao J, Huang F. Milligram production and biological activity characterization of the human chemokine receptor CCR3. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65500. [PMID: 23755240 PMCID: PMC3670934 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Human chemokine receptor CCR3 (hCCR3) belongs to the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) superfamily of membrane proteins and plays major roles in allergic diseases and angiogenesis. In order to study the structural and functional mechanism of hCCR3, it is essential to produce pure protein with biological functions on a milligram scale. Here we report the expression of hCCR3 gene in a tetracycline-inducible stable mammalian cell line. A cell clone with high hCCR3 expression was selected from 46 stably transfected cell clones and from this cell line pure hCCR3 on a milligram scale was obtained after two-step purification. Circular dichroism spectrum with a characteristic shape and magnitude for α-helix indicated proper folding of hCCR3 after purification. The biological activity of purified hCCR3 was verified by its high binding affinity with its endogenous ligands CCL11 and CCL24, with K D in the range of 10(-8) M to 10(-6) M.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingqing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum (Huadong), Qingdao, Shandong, PR China
- Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, China University of Petroleum (Huadong), Qingdao, Shandong, PR China
| | - Baosheng Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum (Huadong), Qingdao, Shandong, PR China
- Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, China University of Petroleum (Huadong), Qingdao, Shandong, PR China
| | - Renmin Li
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, PR China
| | - Xiaoqiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum (Huadong), Qingdao, Shandong, PR China
- Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, China University of Petroleum (Huadong), Qingdao, Shandong, PR China
| | - Jun Lao
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum (Huadong), Qingdao, Shandong, PR China
- Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, China University of Petroleum (Huadong), Qingdao, Shandong, PR China
| | - Fang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum (Huadong), Qingdao, Shandong, PR China
- Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, China University of Petroleum (Huadong), Qingdao, Shandong, PR China
- * E-mail:
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10
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Britton ZT, Hanle EI, Robinson AS. An expression and purification system for the biosynthesis of adenosine receptor peptides for biophysical and structural characterization. Protein Expr Purif 2012; 84:224-35. [PMID: 22722102 PMCID: PMC3572917 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2012.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2012] [Revised: 05/29/2012] [Accepted: 06/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Biophysical and structural characterization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has been limited due to difficulties in expression, purification, and vitro stability of the full-length receptors. "Divide and conquer" approaches aimed at the NMR characterization of peptides corresponding to specific regions of the receptor have yielded insights into the structure and dynamics of GPCR activation and signaling. Though significant progress has been made in the generation of peptides that are composed of GPCR transmembrane domains, current methods utilize fusion protein strategies that require chemical cleavage and peptide separation via chromatographic means. We have developed an expression and purification system based on fusion to ketosteroid isomerase, thrombin cleavage, and tandem affinity chromatography that enables the solubilization, cleavage, and characterization in a single detergent system relevant for biophysical and structural characterization. We have applied this expression and purification system to the production and characterization of peptides of the adenosine receptor family of GPCRs in Escherichia coli. Herein, we demonstrate using a model peptide that includes extracellular loop 3, transmembrane domain 7, and a portion of the carboxy-terminus of the adenosine A(2)a receptor that the peptide is sufficiently pure for biophysical characterization, where it adopts α-helical structure. Furthermore, we demonstrate the utility of this system by optimizing the construct for thrombin processing and apply the system to peptides with more complex structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary T. Britton
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, DE 19716, United States
| | - Elizabeth I. Hanle
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, DE 19716, United States
| | - Anne S. Robinson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, DE 19716, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 300 Lindy Boggs Laboratory, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, United States
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11
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Orel M, Padrós E, Manyosa J. Structural features of the C-terminus from the human neurokinin-1 receptor. FEBS J 2012; 279:2357-67. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2012.08614.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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12
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Koutsopoulos S, Kaiser L, Eriksson HM, Zhang S. Designer peptidesurfactants stabilize diverse functional membrane proteins. Chem Soc Rev 2012; 41:1721-8. [DOI: 10.1039/c1cs15180k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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13
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Ping Z, Shi Y, Sun Y, Ma L, Wang M. Protein expression, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of chicken interferon-γ receptor α chain. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2012; 68:41-4. [PMID: 22232168 PMCID: PMC3253831 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309111046318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2011] [Accepted: 11/02/2011] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The activity of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) relies on signal transduction, which is triggered by combination with the receptors interferon-γ receptor α chain (IFNGR1) and β chain (IFNGR2). Native recombinant chicken IFNGR1 (chIFNGR1; residues 25-237) was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, purified by refolding and crystallized using the vapour-diffusion technique. The crystals belonged to space group P6(5)22, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 64.1, c = 216.3 Å, α = β = 90, γ = 120°. The Matthews coefficient and solvent content were calculated as 2.67 Å(3) Da(-1) and 53.97%, respectively. X-ray diffraction data for chIFNGR1 were collected to 2.0 Å resolution at a synchrotron source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiguang Ping
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuan Ming Yuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Shi
- Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanling Sun
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liping Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuan Ming Yuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuan Ming Yuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, People’s Republic of China
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14
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Nørholm MHH, Light S, Virkki MTI, Elofsson A, von Heijne G, Daley DO. Manipulating the genetic code for membrane protein production: what have we learnt so far? BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2011; 1818:1091-6. [PMID: 21884679 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2011.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2011] [Revised: 08/04/2011] [Accepted: 08/15/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
With synthetic gene services, molecular cloning is as easy as ordering a pizza. However choosing the right RNA code for efficient protein production is less straightforward, more akin to deciding on the pizza toppings. The possibility to choose synonymous codons in the gene sequence has ignited a discussion that dates back 50 years: Does synonymous codon use matter? Recent studies indicate that replacement of particular codons for synonymous codons can improve expression in homologous or heterologous hosts, however it is not always successful. Furthermore it is increasingly apparent that membrane protein biogenesis can be codon-sensitive. Single synonymous codon substitutions can influence mRNA stability, mRNA structure, translational initiation, translational elongation and even protein folding. Synonymous codon substitutions therefore need to be carefully evaluated when membrane proteins are engineered for higher production levels and further studies are needed to fully understand how to select the codons that are optimal for higher production. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein Folding in Membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morten H H Nørholm
- Center for Biomembrane Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Sweden.
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15
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Nannenga BL, Baneyx F. Reprogramming chaperone pathways to improve membrane protein expression in Escherichia coli. Protein Sci 2011; 20:1411-20. [PMID: 21633988 DOI: 10.1002/pro.669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2011] [Accepted: 05/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Because membrane proteins are difficult to express, our understanding of their structure and function is lagging. In Escherichia coli, α-helical membrane protein biogenesis usually involves binding of a nascent transmembrane segment (TMS) by the signal recognition particle (SRP), delivery of the SRP-ribosome nascent chain complexes (RNC) to FtsY, a protein that serves as SRP receptor and docks to the SecYEG translocon, cotranslational insertion of the growing chain into the translocon, and lateral transfer, packing and folding of TMS in the lipid bilayer in a process that may involve chaperone YidC. Here, we explored the feasibility of reprogramming this pathway to improve the production of recombinant membrane proteins in exponentially growing E. coli with a focus on: (i) eliminating competition between SRP and chaperone trigger factor (TF) at the ribosome through gene deletion; (ii) improving RNC delivery to the inner membrane via SRP overexpression; and (iii) promoting substrate insertion and folding in the lipid bilayer by increasing YidC levels. Using a bitopic histidine kinase and two heptahelical rhodopsins as model systems, we show that the use of TF-deficient cells improves the yields of membrane-integrated material threefold to sevenfold relative to the wild type, and that whereas YidC coexpression is beneficial to the production of polytopic proteins, higher levels of SRP have the opposite effect. The implications of our results on the interplay of TF, SRP, YidC, and SecYEG in membrane protein biogenesis are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent L Nannenga
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-1750, USA
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16
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New Tools for Breaking Barriers to GPCR Expression in E. coli. J Mol Biol 2011; 408:597-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2011.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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17
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An efficient production and characterization of HIV-1 gp41 ectodomain with fusion peptide in Escherichia coli system. J Biotechnol 2011; 153:48-55. [PMID: 21419812 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2011.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2010] [Revised: 03/08/2011] [Accepted: 03/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We demonstrated a high level expression and purification of recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp41 ectodomain (gp41e-FP) using glass bead approach with a final yield of 12±2mg/L bacterial culture. The proper folding of gp41e-FP encompassing the fusion peptide (FP) was ascertained by circular dichroism (CD) measurement and recognition by NC-1 antibody. The latter assay revealed stabilization of the gp41 coiled coil structure in the presence of liposome dispersion. The differential affinity of gp41e-FP and gp41e (devoid of FP) by NC-1 suggested an aggregated state for gp41e-FP and/or possible proximity of the fusion peptide domain to the coiled coil structure of gp41 ectodomain. Perfluorooctanoate (PFO)-PAGE electrophoresis experiment revealed the trimeric propensity of the recombinant gp41e-FP. In comparison to gp41e, the lipid mixing activity of gp41e-FP was two-fold higher suggesting a role of FP in promoting membrane fusion. The present approach to efficiently and quantitatively preparing the functional full-length recombinant gp41 ectodomain protein can be employed for structural and biomedical investigations and the extraction of other inclusion body-embedded recombinant proteins.
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18
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Merkulova M, McKee M, Dip PV, Grüber G, Marshansky V. N-terminal domain of the V-ATPase a2-subunit displays integral membrane protein properties. Protein Sci 2011; 19:1850-62. [PMID: 20669186 DOI: 10.1002/pro.470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
V-ATPase is a multisubunit membrane complex that functions as nanomotor coupling ATP hydrolysis with proton translocation across biological membranes. Recently, we uncovered details of the mechanism of interaction between the N-terminal tail of the V-ATPase a2-subunit isoform (a2N(1-402)) and ARNO, a GTP/GDP exchange factor for Arf-family small GTPases. Here, we describe the development of two methods for preparation of the a2N(1-402) recombinant protein in milligram quantities sufficient for further biochemical, biophysical, and structural studies. We found two alternative amphiphilic chemicals that were required for protein stability and solubility during purification: (i) non-detergent sulfobetaine NDSB-256 and (ii) zwitterionic detergent FOS-CHOLINE®12 (FC-12). Moreover, the other factors including mild alkaline pH, the presence of reducing agents and the absence of salt were beneficial for stabilization and solubilization of the protein. A preparation of a2N(1-402) in NDSB-256 was successfully used in pull-down and BIAcore™ protein-protein interaction experiments with ARNO, whereas the purity and quality of the second preparation in FC-12 was validated by size-exclusion chromatography and CD spectroscopy. Surprisingly, the detergent requirement for stabilization and solubilization of a2N(1-402) and its cosedimentation with liposomes were different from peripheral domains of other transmembrane proteins. Thus, our data suggest that in contrast to current models, so called "cytosolic" tail of the a2-subunit might actually be embedded into and/or closely associated with membrane phospholipids even in the absence of any obvious predicted transmembrane segments. We propose that a2N(1-402) should be categorized as an integral monotopic domain of the a2-subunit isoform of the V-ATPase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Merkulova
- Center for Systems Biology, Program in Membrane Biology and Division of Nephrology, Simches Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
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19
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Abstract
The mitochondrial membrane TranSlocator PrOtein (TSPO) is a 18-kDa transmembrane protein involved in various mitochondrial functions, among which the best characterised is cholesterol transport and steroid formation. Determination of its structure would be an important step to understand the mechanism of transport and its regulation. Purification from native membranes is difficult in respect with amounts of homogeneous purified proteins needed for biophysical, structural, and functional studies. Efficient heterologous overexpression in bacterial system, purification on affinity column, and biochemical characterisation has been successfully developed. Large-scale production of detergent-solubilized TSPO has been obtained with fermentation coupled to fast protein liquid chromatography procedure. Small-scale production at lower cost for isotopically labelled recombinant TSPO and/or detergent is also presented.
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20
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Hrmova M, Stone BA, Fincher GB. High-yield production, refolding and a molecular modelling of the catalytic module of (1,3)-β-d-glucan (curdlan) synthase from Agrobacterium sp. Glycoconj J 2010; 27:461-76. [DOI: 10.1007/s10719-010-9291-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2009] [Revised: 04/14/2010] [Accepted: 04/14/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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21
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Schmidt P, Berger C, Scheidt HA, Berndt S, Bunge A, Beck-Sickinger AG, Huster D. A reconstitution protocol for the in vitro folded human G protein-coupled Y2 receptor into lipid environment. Biophys Chem 2010; 150:29-36. [PMID: 20421142 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2010.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2010] [Accepted: 02/10/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Although highly resolved crystal structures of G protein-coupled receptors have become available within the last decade, the need for studying these molecules in their natural membrane environment, where the molecules are rather dynamic, has been widely appreciated. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy is an excellent method to study structure and dynamics of membrane proteins in their native lipid environment. We developed a reconstitution protocol for the uniformly (15)N labeled Y(2) receptor into a bicelle-like lipid structure with high yields suitable for NMR studies. Milligram quantities of target protein were expressed in Escherichia coli using an optimized fermentation process in defined medium yielding in over 10mg/L medium of purified Y(2) receptor solubilized in SDS micelles. The structural integrity of the receptor molecules was strongly increased through refolding and subsequent reconstitution into phospholipid membranes. Specific ligand binding to the integrated receptor was determined using radioligand affinity assay. Further, by NMR measurement a dispersion of the (15)N signals comparable to native rhodopsin was shown. The efficiency of the reconstitution could also be inferred from the fact that reasonable (13)C NMR spectra at natural abundance could be acquired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Schmidt
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstr. 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany
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22
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Schmidt P, Lindner D, Montag C, Berndt S, Beck-Sickinger AG, Rudolph R, Huster D. Prokaryotic expression, in vitro folding, and molecular pharmacological characterization of the neuropeptide Y receptor type 2. Biotechnol Prog 2010; 25:1732-9. [PMID: 19725122 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a class of membrane proteins that represent a major target for pharmacological developments. However, there is still little knowledge about GPCR structure and dynamics since high-level expression and characterization of active GPCRs in vitro is extremely complicated. Here, we describe the recombinant expression and functional folding of the human Y(2) receptor from inclusion bodies of E. coli cultures. Milligram protein quantities were produced using high density fermentation and isolated in a single step purification with a yield of over 20 mg/L culture. Extensive studies were carried out on in vitro refolding and stabilization of the isolated receptor in detergent solution. The specific binding of the ligand, the 36 residue neuropeptide Y (NPY), to the recombinant Y(2) receptors in micellar form was shown by several radioligand affinity assays. In competition experiments, an IC(50) value in low nanomolar range could be determined. Further, a K(D) value of 1.9 nM was determined from a saturation assay, where NPY was titrated to the recombinant Y(2) receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Schmidt
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Härtelstrasse 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany
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23
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Hori T, Sato Y, Takahashi N, Takio K, Yokomizo T, Nakamura M, Shimizu T, Miyano M. Expression, purification and characterization of leukotriene B(4) receptor, BLT1 in Pichia pastoris. Protein Expr Purif 2010; 72:66-74. [PMID: 20188179 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2010.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2009] [Revised: 02/13/2010] [Accepted: 02/16/2010] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The high yield expression of BLT1, a G-protein coupled receptor for leukotriene B(4), was established in Pichia pastoris for structural studies. Guinea pig BLT1 was expressed in a functional form without post-translational modifications for the rapid purification and the crystallization. Among the BLT1s from four species, only guinea pig BLT1 was successfully expressed with the comparable binding affinity to BLT1 of native guinea pig tissues for several ligands. Only Asn4 of the two putative N-glycosylation sites was glycosylated, and the mutation to Ala to avoid glycosylation did not affect the ligand binding affinity. However, the N-terminal region of the mutant was digested at the carboxyl ends of Arg3 and Arg8, as detected by N-terminal amino acid sequencing, and Ser309 in the C-terminal region was partially phosphorylated, as identified in the micro-sequencing by Q-TOF-MS/MS. To avoid chemical heterogeneity, the N-terminal peptide (1-14) truncated and the C-terminal phosphorylation-site eliminated mutant was generated. The binding affinity of the mutant's membrane fraction for LTB(4) was K(d)=6.6 nM and B(max)=50.0 pmol/mg membrane protein. The yield of purified mutant was approximately 0.3-0.4 mg from 1L culture, and the protein showed a single peak at molecular weight of 100 kDa in gel-filtration and no glycosylation or phosphorylation in MALDI-TOF MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Hori
- Structural Biophysics Laboratory, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Harima Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
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24
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Mouillac B, Banères JL. Mammalian membrane receptors expression as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli. Methods Mol Biol 2010; 601:39-48. [PMID: 20099138 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60761-344-2_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Integral membrane proteins, in particular receptors, regulate numerous physiological functions. The primary difficulty presented by their study in vitro is to obtain them in sufficient amounts in a functional state. Escherichia coli is a host of choice for producing recombinant proteins for structural studies. However, insertion of G-protein coupled receptors into its plasma membrane usually results in bacterial death. An alternative approach consists of targeting recombinant receptors to inclusion bodies, where they accumulate without affecting bacterial growth, and then fold them in vitro . We describe here a general approach that consists of accumulating the receptor in bacterial inclusion bodies, then purifying it under denaturing conditions. A simple assay is then described to screen for refolding conditions of the protein.
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25
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Koth CMM, Payandeh J. Strategies for the cloning and expression of membrane proteins. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2009; 76:43-86. [PMID: 20663478 DOI: 10.1016/s1876-1623(08)76002-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Despite the determination of thousands of high-resolution structures of soluble proteins, many features of integral membrane proteins render them difficult targets for the structural biologist. Among these, the most important challenge is in expressing sufficient quantities of active protein to support downstream purification and structure determination efforts. Over 190 unique membrane protein structures have now been solved, and noticeable trends in successful expression strategies are beginning to emerge. A number of groups have also explored high-throughput (HTP) methods for membrane protein expression, with varying degrees of success. Here we review the current state of expressing membrane proteins for functional and structural studies. We first survey successful methods that have already yielded levels of membrane protein expression sufficient for structure determination. HTP methods are also examined since these aim to explore large numbers of targets and can predict reasonable starting points for many membrane proteins. Since HTP techniques may fail, particularly for certain classes of eukaryotic targets, detailed strategies for the expression of two prominent classes of eukaryotic protein families, G-protein-coupled receptors and ion channels, are also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M M Koth
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech, South San Francisco, California 94080, USA
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26
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Dahmane T, Damian M, Mary S, Popot JL, Banères JL. Amphipol-assisted in vitro folding of G protein-coupled receptors. Biochemistry 2009; 48:6516-21. [PMID: 19534448 DOI: 10.1021/bi801729z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate numerous physiological functions. The primary difficulty presented by their study in vitro is to obtain them in sufficient amounts under a functional and stable form. Escherichia coli is a host of choice for producing recombinant proteins for structural studies. However, the insertion of GPCRs into its plasma membrane usually results in bacterial death. An alternative approach consists of targeting recombinant receptors to inclusion bodies, where they accumulate without affecting bacterial growth, and then folding them in vitro. This approach, however, stumbles over the very low folding yields typically achieved, whether in detergent solutions or in detergent-lipid mixtures. Here, we show that synthetic polymers known as amphipols provide a highly efficient medium for folding GPCRs. Using a generic protocol, we have folded four class A GPCRs to their functional state, as evidenced by the binding of their respective ligands. This strategy thus appears to have the potential to be generalized to a large number of GPCRs. These data are also of interest from a more fundamental point of view: they indicate that the structural information stored in the sequence of these four receptors allows them to reach their correct three-dimensional structure in an environment that bears no similarity, beyond the amphiphilic character, to lipid bilayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tassadite Dahmane
- UMR 7099, CNRS and Université Paris-7, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, 13 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, F-75005 Paris, France
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27
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Over-expression in E. coli and purification of the human OCTN1 transport protein. Protein Expr Purif 2009; 68:215-20. [PMID: 19567267 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2009.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2009] [Revised: 06/23/2009] [Accepted: 06/24/2009] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The hOCTN1 amplified from skin fibroblast RNA was cloned in pET-28a(+) or in pH6EX3 plasmid. The encoded recombinant hOCTN1 resulted in a 6-His tagged fusion protein with a 34 or 21 amino acid extra N-terminal sequence in the pET-28a(+)-hOCTN1 or in the pH6EX3-hOCTN1 constructs, respectively. Both constructs were used to express the hOCTN1 in Escherichia coli Rosetta(DE3)pLysS. The best over-expression was obtained with the pH6EX3-hOCTN1 after 6h of induction with IPTG at 28 degrees C. The expressed protein with an apparent molecular mass of 54kDa, was collected in the insoluble fraction of the cell lysate. Further improvement was obtained using the E. coli RosettaGami2(DE3)pLysS strain to express the protein encoded by pH6EX3-hOCTN1. After 6h of induction with IPTG at 28 degrees C, hOCTN1 accounted for 30% of the total protein in the insoluble pellet. This protein fraction was washed with Triton X-100 and deoxycholate, solubilized with a buffer containing 0.8% Sarkosyl, 3M urea and applied to a Ni2+-chelating chromatography column. The homogeneously purified hOCTN1 was eluted with a buffer containing 50 mM imidazole, 0.1% Triton X-100 and 50 mM 2-mercaptoethanol. A yield of about 3mg purified protein per liter of cell culture was obtained.
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28
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Expression, Solubilization and Purification of a Human Olfactory Receptor from Escherichia coli. Curr Microbiol 2009; 59:309-14. [DOI: 10.1007/s00284-009-9435-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2009] [Revised: 05/06/2009] [Accepted: 05/19/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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29
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O'Connor S, Li E, Majors BS, He L, Placone J, Baycin D, Betenbaugh MJ, Hristova K. Increased expression of the integral membrane protein ErbB2 in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-xL. Protein Expr Purif 2009; 67:41-7. [PMID: 19376231 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2009.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2009] [Revised: 04/06/2009] [Accepted: 04/09/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are the second largest family of membrane receptors and play a key role in the regulation of vital cellular processes, such as control of cell growth, differentiation, metabolism, and migration. The production of whole-length RTKs in large quantities for biophysical or structural characterization, however, is a challenge. In this study, a cell engineering strategy using the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein, Bcl-x(L), was tested as a potential method for increasing stable expression levels of a recombinant RTK membrane protein in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Wild-type and CHO cells stably overexpressing heterologous Bcl-x(L) were transformed with the gene for a model RTK membrane protein, ErbB2, on a plasmid also containing the Zeocin resistance gene. While CHO cells exhibited a gradual decrease in expression with passaging, CHO-bcl-x(L) cells offered an increased and sustained level of ErbB2 expression following continuous passaging over more than 33 days in culture. The increased ErbB2 expression in CHO-bcl-x(L) cells was evident both in stable transfected pools and in clonal isolates, and demonstrated both in Western blot analysis and flow cytometry. Furthermore, the sustained high-level protein expression in CHO-bcl-x(L) cells does not alter the correct membrane localization of the ErbB2 protein. Our results demonstrate that cellular engineering, specifically anti-apoptosis engineering, can provide increased and stable ErbB2 membrane protein expression in mammalian cells. This approach may also be useful for other membrane proteins in which large quantities are needed for biophysical and structural studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon O'Connor
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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30
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Eriksson HM, Persson K, Zhang S, Wieslander K. High-yield expression and purification of a monotopic membrane glycosyltransferase. Protein Expr Purif 2009; 66:143-8. [PMID: 19332126 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2009.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2008] [Revised: 03/19/2009] [Accepted: 03/23/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Membrane proteins are essential to many cellular processes. However, the systematic study of membrane protein structure has been hindered by the difficulty in obtaining large quantities of these proteins. Protein overexpression using Escherichia coli is commonly used to produce large quantities of protein, but usually yields very little membrane protein. Furthermore, optimization of the expressing conditions, as well as the choice of detergent and other buffer components, is thought to be crucial for increasing the yield of stable and homogeneous protein. Herein we report high-yield expression and purification of a membrane-associated monotopic protein, the glycosyltransferase monoglucosyldiacylglycerol synthase (alMGS), in E. coli. Systematic optimization of protein expression was achieved through controlling a few basic expression parameters, including temperature and growth media, and the purifications were monitored using a fast and efficient size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) screening method. The latter method was shown to be a powerful tool for fast screening and for finding the optimal protein-stabilizing conditions. For alMGS it was found that the concentration of detergent was just as important as the type of detergent, and a low concentration of n-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside (DDM) (approximately 1x critical micelle concentration) was the best for keeping the protein stable and homogeneous. By using these simply methods to optimize the conditions for alMGS expression and purification, the final expression level increase by two orders of magnitude, reaching 170 mg of pure protein per litre culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna M Eriksson
- Center for Biomembrane Research, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
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31
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Ren H, Yu D, Ge B, Cook B, Xu Z, Zhang S. High-level production, solubilization and purification of synthetic human GPCR chemokine receptors CCR5, CCR3, CXCR4 and CX3CR1. PLoS One 2009; 4:e4509. [PMID: 19223978 PMCID: PMC2637981 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2008] [Accepted: 11/21/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokine receptors belong to a class of integral membrane G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and are responsible for transmitting signals from the extracellular environment. However, the structural changes in the receptor, connecting ligand binding to G-protein activation, remain elusive for most GPCRs due to the difficulty to produce them for structural and functional studies. We here report high-level production in E.coli of 4 human GPCRs, namely chemokine receptors (hCRs) CCR5, CCR3, CXCR4 and CX3CR1 that are directly involved in HIV-1 infection, asthma and cancer metastasis. The synthetic genes of CCR5, CCR3, CXCR4 and CX3CR1 were synthesized using a two-step assembly/amplification PCR method and inserted into two different kinds of expression systems. After systematic screening of growth conditions and host strains, TB medium was selected for expression of pEXP-hCRs. The low copy number pBAD-DEST49 plasmid, with a moderately strong promoter tightly regulated by L-arabinose, proved helpful for reducing toxicity of expressed membrane proteins. The synthetic Trx-hCR fusion genes in the pBAD-DEST49 vector were expressed at high levels in the Top10 strain. After a systematic screen of 96 detergents, the zwitterionic detergents of the Fos-choline series (FC9-FC16) emerged as the most effective for isolation of the hCRs. The FC14 was selected both for solubilization from bacterial lysates and for stabilization of the Trx-hCRs during purification. Thus, the FC-14 solubilized Trx-hCRs could be purified using size exclusion chromatography as monomers and dimers with the correct apparent MW and their alpha-helical content determined by circular dichroism. The identity of two of the expressed hCRs (CCR3 and CCR5) was confirmed using immunoblots using specific monoclonal antibodies. After optimization of expression systems and detergent-mediated purification procedures, we achieved large-scale, high-level production of 4 human GPCR chemokine receptor in a two-step purification, yielding milligram quantities of CCR5, CCR3, CXCR4 and CX3CR1 for biochemical, biophysical and structural analysis.
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MESH Headings
- CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1
- Cloning, Molecular/methods
- Escherichia coli/genetics
- Humans
- Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Receptors, CCR3/biosynthesis
- Receptors, CCR3/genetics
- Receptors, CCR3/isolation & purification
- Receptors, CCR5/biosynthesis
- Receptors, CCR5/genetics
- Receptors, CCR5/isolation & purification
- Receptors, CXCR4/biosynthesis
- Receptors, CXCR4/genetics
- Receptors, CXCR4/isolation & purification
- Receptors, Chemokine/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Chemokine/genetics
- Receptors, Chemokine/isolation & purification
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ren
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Daoyong Yu
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Baosheng Ge
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Brian Cook
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Zhinan Xu
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Shuguang Zhang
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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32
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Skretas G, Georgiou G. Genetic analysis of G protein-coupled receptor expression in Escherichia coli: inhibitory role of DnaJ on the membrane integration of the human central cannabinoid receptor. Biotechnol Bioeng 2009; 102:357-67. [PMID: 18828176 DOI: 10.1002/bit.22097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The overexpression of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and of many other heterologous membrane proteins in simple microbial hosts, such as the bacterium Escherichia coli, often results in protein mistargeting, aggregation into inclusion bodies or cytoplasmic degradation. Furthermore, membrane protein production is very frequently accompanied by severe cell toxicity. In this work, we have employed a genetic strategy to isolate E. coli mutants that produce markedly increased amounts of the human central cannabinoid receptor (CB1), a pharmacologically significant GPCR that expresses very poorly in wild-type E. coli. By utilizing a CB1 fusion with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), we screened an E. coli transposon library and identified an insertion in dnaJ that resulted in a large increase in CB1-GFP fluorescence and a dramatic enhancement in bacterial production of membrane-integrated CB1. Furthermore, the dnaJ::Tn5 inactivation suppressed the severe cytotoxicity associated with CB1 production. This revealed an unexpected inhibitory role of the chaperone/ co-chaperone DnaJ in the protein folding or membrane insertion of bacterially produced CB1. Our strategy can be easily adapted to identify expression bottlenecks for different GPCRs or any other integral membrane protein, provide useful and unanticipated mechanistic insights, and assist in the construction of genetically engineered E. coli strains for efficient heterologous membrane protein production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Skretas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 2500 Speedway, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
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33
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Link AJ, Skretas G, Strauch EM, Chari NS, Georgiou G. Efficient production of membrane-integrated and detergent-soluble G protein-coupled receptors in Escherichia coli. Protein Sci 2008; 17:1857-63. [PMID: 18593817 PMCID: PMC2548370 DOI: 10.1110/ps.035980.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2008] [Revised: 06/19/2008] [Accepted: 06/20/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are notoriously difficult to express, particularly in microbial systems. Using GPCR fusions with the green fluorescent protein (GFP), we conducted studies to identify bacterial host effector genes that result in a general and significant enhancement in the amount of membrane-integrated human GPCRs that can be produced in Escherichia coli. We show that coexpression of the membrane-bound AAA+ protease FtsH greatly enhances the expression yield of four different class I GPCRs, irrespective of the presence of GFP. Using this new expression system, we produced 0.5 and 2 mg/L of detergent-solubilized and purified full-length central cannabinoid receptor (CB1) and bradykinin receptor 2 (BR2) in shake flask cultures, respectively, two proteins that had previously eluded expression in microbial systems.
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MESH Headings
- ATP-Dependent Proteases/biosynthesis
- ATP-Dependent Proteases/genetics
- Cell Membrane/chemistry
- Cell Membrane/metabolism
- Detergents/chemistry
- Escherichia coli/genetics
- Escherichia coli/metabolism
- Escherichia coli Proteins/biosynthesis
- Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics
- Green Fluorescent Proteins/biosynthesis
- Humans
- Protein Engineering
- Receptor, Bradykinin B2/biosynthesis
- Receptor, Bradykinin B2/chemistry
- Receptor, Bradykinin B2/isolation & purification
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/biosynthesis
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/chemistry
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/isolation & purification
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/biosynthesis
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/chemistry
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/isolation & purification
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/biosynthesis
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/isolation & purification
- Solubility
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Affiliation(s)
- A James Link
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
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34
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High-level expression, purification, and crystallization of recombinant rat leukotriene C4 synthase from the yeast Pichia pastoris. Protein Expr Purif 2008; 60:1-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2008.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2007] [Revised: 02/19/2008] [Accepted: 03/05/2008] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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35
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The Full-Length Mu-Opioid Receptor: A Conformational Study by Circular Dichroism in Trifluoroethanol and Membrane-Mimetic Environments. J Membr Biol 2008; 223:49-57. [DOI: 10.1007/s00232-008-9112-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2007] [Accepted: 05/16/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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